Cruise Vacation

When you take a transatlantic flight from JFK to Heathrow for a week’s casual stay in the British capital, may be you take a spare suit, a couple of dress shirts, a night gown and a few pair of socks. But your cruise travel packing list, when you are taking a pleasure cruise in the Caribbean or somewhere else for that matter, could be a mile long. The reasons for this great anomaly are not difficult to judge. In the former case, you are covering two large internationally famous metropolitan cities where everything is available at the drop of a hat whereas in the latter, all that you get for free are waves of the brackish water. As for the availability of consumer durables when you get ashore, it is mostly uncertain and inexplicably expensive. The only alternative, under such circumstances, is to carry your home in your lap. This could be quite bothersome for many, but then, what else to do.

Things have changed a lot in the last decade or so as cruising has become immensely popular. These days the cruise liners not only offer a lot of activity and immense comfort for cruiser, but there is everything that someone may be in the need of, and so, if you want to buy something, the cruise probably has it. But in most cases the price charged would be quite high. And in some cases the cruise liner may not have it – in such as case you might have to face a problem. Then there might be compatibility problems. For example if you are in the habit of a particular brand of sun screen lotion (this can be an important item if you are planning to spend some time on the deck) and you do not find it on the liner and so have to try out another, then it can cause medical issues.

This is why you must create a cruise travel packing list while you are planning your cruise holiday. In fact, planning a cruise vacation is never complete unless you have made this list. The best time to make such a list is after you have booked your holiday and at least a week before you are traveling so that you have enough time for shopping if you need a few items.

Here is a travel packing list which may be altered or amended according to individual taste and requirement. Do also remember that the change may be necessary based on where you are going cruising. For example, a cruise holiday to the Caribbean and one to Alaska may need different things to be included in your cruise travel packing list. Do always keep this in mind when travel packing.

This list will help you in packing for your cruise holiday.

Travel documents and credentials

1. Cruise tickets and itineraries
2. e-ticket or airlines ticket confirmation
3. Passport and visas
4. Citizenship proof
5. Driver’s license, plus auto insurance (if you go for car rental offshore)
6. Credit cards
7. International Debit card (if provided with)
8. Medical insurance card
9. List of medication currently used or copy of prescriptions
10. ATM card
11. Pre-paid card for making calls
12. Cash or Traveler’s check (Receipt kept in a different location)
13. A chart for converting currency conversion

Electronic items, camera, etc

1. Plug converter and adaptor
2. Cell phone with charger
3. PDA charger
4. Digital camera with additional memory cards
5. Disposable underwater camera
6. Batteries for your digital camera
7. Extension cord or the power strip that has many plug in’s
8. Small alarm clock for the cruise cabin that works on a battery
9. Handy flashlight
10. Night light for the cabin

Guide books, glasses and notebook

1. Glasses, Contact lens and contact lens cleaner
2. Extra reading glass
3. UV protected sunglasses
4. Guidebook on scheduled ports of call
5. Notepad with pen or pencil
6. Few paperbacks – for casual reading while at the pool
7. Business card to be given out to newly acquired cruise friends
8. Postal addresses of relatives and friends to send picture postcards

Medical kit

1. Your own kit for first aid containing Q-tips, band aids, antibiotic cream, anti-diarrhea medications
2. Prescription drugs or any other essential medications especially directed for use
3. Hand lotion
4. Rubbing alcohol
5. Germicidal cleaner
6. Bug spray for use on shore
7. Sun screen; lip sun block
8. Ear plugs or ‘ear planes’

A few other items

1. Name tags for your luggage
2. Bags with zip-loc (preferably water-resistant)
3. Duct tape or strapping tape
4. Crazy glue
5. Sports gear for snorkeling
6. Shoe horn
7. Miniature kit for sewing and scissors
8. Folding umbrella
9. Clothes pins
10. Cork screw