So the days are fast approaching to getting on the cruise ship and airline luggage requirements are still strict and costly. An efficient packer for the cruise is a must. The similar packing tip and hint for cruising IS to PACK LIGHT, but this is easier said than done. What if I need this and can’t live without that? Hopefully, in this posted blog you can get organized so you can be successful with your minimal luggage and yet still be appropriately and comfortably dressed from casual to formal. So let’s get started...
Tip No. 1 Begin with a calendar and know how many days you will have to prepare for your attire. I sent a matrix form of our cruise days with an extension of pre and post cruise days. You can use this if you like. If you need another copy feel free to contact me and let me know. This is very important as you should plan to bring only the appropriate outfit for the days you need. For our Celebrity Mediterranean cruise the following link which can help you decided the number of outfits you will need for the cruise and then add your before and after outfits as well. Remember…you can wear your outfit more than ONCE. And there is laundry service available on the cruise ship for a mid-trip wash, if you need it. The success of this tip is to coordinate your outfit daily so you know what you specifically have to take.
Tip No. 2 If you are a concierge class category guest on the Celebrity Summit cruise ship, it would be helpful to know what that means as this will help you eliminate a number of items that you thought about bringing with you. Here is a link to what the Summit offer. In addition, Alex has shared that the Concierge Class also includes: Celebrity Tote Bag, Personalized stationary, Complimentary use of Umbrella and Binoculars. Hair dryers are also included on the ships and check your hotel as most places have this feature as part of their amenities. You’ll save space and weight in your luggage.
Tip No. 3 As some of you loyal blog readers know, Kay had previous shared that Celebrity has a new dress policy for cruise guests. Yup if any of you know Roger, the answer is YES, he is gonna have to change his “I Buy Japanese Sword” T-Shirt attire.
Samples of “Smart Casual and Above” as well as “Formal” attire are noted in the following.
SMART CASUAL AND ABOVE Ladies: Skirt or pants (no holes, rips or tears) complemented by sweater or blouse. Gentlemen: Pants (no holes, rips or tears) with sports shirt or sweater. Shirts must have sleeves.Note: T-shirts, swimsuits, robes, bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps and pool wear are not allowed in the main restaurant or specialty restaurant at any time. Shorts and flip flops are not allowed in the evening hours. Additionally, guests are asked to follow the "Smart Casual and Above" dress code in the Celebrity Theater for all evening performances.
FORMAL Ladies: Cocktail dress, gown or dressy pantsuit. Gentlemen: Tuxedo, suit or dinner jacket with slacks
Tip No. 4 Mix and Match as well as color coordinate your outfits! My personal favorites are the colors, Black and Red for most of my outfits. I mix and match garment pieces and I also use scarves, jewelry, belts and wraps to accentuate my outfits to look different as well as reflecting a more casual to dressy look. Items such as these are small and can easily be packed with minimal space. Layering pieces also allows for options in look and also keeps you warm. Men should also color coordinate and mix and match. For men’s formal wear, Roger likes the convenience of formal rental through the cruise ship. It does make life easier.
Tip No. 5 Cruise ship staterooms are not as luxurious in size as a nice hotel room, unless you are in a larger suite. So space can be limiting especially when you share it with two or more individuals. So take this helpful hint that I have used. Take a foldable Closet/Pantry Pocket organizer for the back of your bath/room door and a collapsible closet shoe organizer. These two items will be a wonderful addition. You can keep items in the bathroom at an easy reach and offer alternatives to minimal counter space, especially in the bathroom. Additionally, the closet shoe organizer makes additional shelves that can hold items such as your scarf, evening purse, ties, cummerbund as well as organize your evening wear for that night.
Tip No. 6 Here’s a must…make a list of your items you will be packing in your suit case. Two things about this one task…this will help you get organized as to what you have to wear and need for your trip. And it will also double as a back-up in case you lose your luggage. Be sure you keep a list on-hand in your carry-on as well as a list in your suitcase.
Tip No. 7 Unlike being at home with your closet full of clothes to choose from. Your cruise closet will be limited to your suitcase. So here’s two major helpful travel clothes tips…1. Avoid white or light clothes. You can count on them staining with some sort of red sauce during the trip. 2. Avoid wrinkle clothes. There are clothes made with fabric like crinkle gauze, cotton jersey, Tencel® /Lyocell, spandex blends or cottons that have been treated to avoid creases and all wear well during travel.
Tip No. 8 Okay now you have a list of all your items. The horror of September 11th has changed the way we travel. So go over each item you have and be sure you check your Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations to be sure you don’t have those illegal item which not only include weapons or can be weapons like knitting needles and/or liquids . There are exceptions as always and so planning and preparation is necessary. So check the guidelines.
Tip No. 9 Our technological world these days has me doing research on what to do about all our electronic toys we just seem to need to take with us. Whether your cell phone, IPOD, Blackberry, Laptop or some other gizmo and gadget I forgot to mention, the cruiser needs to be prepared. The Celebrity Summit concierge class has two 110V and two 230 outlet near the desk as I found out through the Cruise Critic Message Board. Additionally, there is one 110V in the bathroom for a shaver and I believe I read on yet another Cruise Critic member response for the Summit that someone found one also behind the TV. Because of the limited available electrical outlets many experience cruisers bring a power squid, strip or even a plain extension cord. A 230 volt European adapter would also expand your outlet usage.
Tip No. 10 Resources these days seems endless with our access to the internet. I’ve highlighted some of my favorites for packing links. Linda Hoffman, Cruise Diva happens to be one I use often. But I have also added some other links to help you with ideas for coming up with what works for you. So allow me to introduce you to these websites and I hope you will find them as helpful as it has been for me over the years … Bon Voyage here we come.
Photo provided by Target.com (See tip no. 5 for shopping resource)
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