What should I bring with me on a cruise?

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TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

I have been on many cruises all over the Caribbean and here's what I suggest based on my experiences:

Always pack your passport and cruise documents in your carry on bag ONLY.

The dress on ship is casual all day until 6:00PM, so take:
-swim wear (at least 2),
-shorts, tank tops and "T's"
-sandals,
-beach shoes,
-your snorkel equipment if you have it,
-sun glasses and sun screen,
-lotions,
-a cap or big hat for the sun,
-a book if you are a reader, -
-your music player,
-sneakers and clothes to workout in if you like to use the gym, -good walking shoes,
-your camera, and
-other personal toiletries including tooth paste, mouth wash or lotions.

Your cabin will have towels and soap provided, including pool and beach towels, and a hair dryer. It will also have a generic hair shampoo so you do not need to bring that unless you like a specific brand.

After 6:00 PM they request that you wear "sports or resort casual" attire. That's attire that you would expect a person to wear in a business office, (like a bank employee), shirt with a collar, slacks, skirt, blouse, etc. You can still wear shorts and swim wear in the pools and spas but not in public areas like dining rooms and restaurants, show rooms, bars, casino, etc. Don't over pack , take clothes that you can mix and match tops and bottoms and plan to wear each piece twice. You will likely be in shorts and/or swim wear most of every day so evening clothes don't usually get much wear.

Your cruise will have two formal nights when you can wear your best stuff and get pictures taken, and maybe meet the shipâ€™s Captain. The formal nights are REQUESTED not required attire. You will not be denied entry to the main dining room if you decide not to dress up, as long as you are at least sports casual. But most people do dress up. A gown or party dress for women and a suit or tux for men. Some people dress up both formal nights, some don't.

- Its best to pack using soft-sided luggage because with space limited in your cabin it fits under the beds better if its not hard sided luggage.

- Pack using the vacuum clothing bags (about $20 for 3 at Target) so that you can get more in your bag AND so that if the TSA at the airport opens your bag they can see what's inside without rummaging through your things.

-Take a small carry-on bag for the last night of the cruise. On the last evening you will be required to put your luggage outside your cabin by about 2:00 AM so that they can start taking it down to the lower deck for offloading the next morning. So you will need a small bag for your toiletries and your clothes that you sleep in.

- If you can take a six-pack of bottled water and soft drinks in your carry-on for your cabin. You will have to pay for both on the ship and its nice to have those handy in the cabin.

- If you are taking your cell phone, MP3 player or other item that needs to be plugged in take an extension cord as the plugs in the cabin are generally not in the best places and there are usually only one or two.

- Take a small bottle of hand sanitizer and/or hand-wipes. There are generally sanitizer dispensers at the entrances of restaurants, the buffets and dining room, but some times the are not there or not working. The sanitizer helps prevent the spread of the Norwalk Virus that sometimes occur on cruise ships.

-If you plan to get into the pools or hot tub as soon as you get on ship, bring those clothes in your carry on bag; you other luggage may not get to your cabin until much later in the afternoon.

- Take a can of air freshener for your cabin bathroom. The bathrooms do not have exhaust fans.

- Take a few zip lock bags of various sizes; they always come in handy.

- Take some one dollar bills (also maybe a few $5's) for tipping the porters in the airport, at the pier (they do not work for the ship), and they will come in handy in port stops for buying small items in the markets and at vendor stands; especially bartering places.

Melody

The most important thing is your passport. Next, would be your every needs, for example, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush. Also suntan lotion.
In clothes, bring some casual clothes and some formal clothes.

June Bug

Lots of sunscreen
a good book
plenty of cute clothes
flip flops
hair ties
sunglasses
a cover up
shower shoes
nail polish & nail polish remover
camera
Asprin
playing cards
i pod
gallons of vodka

notyou311

Bring summer beach wear: bathing suit, shorts, summer pants and tops, and you will need a hat for the sun. Bring a good sunblock to prevent sunburn.
If your ship has a formal night, you will need a cocktail dress or gown and an evening bag. Take a sweater or wrap for the evening or the air conditioning.

Locked & Loaded

Try to pack things that it's OK if your clothes get a little wrinkled so you can pack your suitcase tight. Only take what you feel you would really use. Wear shorts and light shirts during the day. On our second cruise we decided not to go to the Captains dinner and saved us a ton of space in the suitcase by not having to pack the tux and formal dress. Your probably going to purchase a few things while on and off the ship, so be sure to make enough room for the extra items your bringing home with you.
Also, keep in mind that you will need to clear Customs when you return, so the less baggage you take, the sooner you can clear Customs. Don't be surprised if Customs opens a suitcase and works there way through your personal things. It can be embarrassing if certain items are out in the open for the other people around you to see. In other words, leave the sex toys at home.
Have a good time and enjoy all the great food.

Tsunami

well you need nitie, couple outfits and you hve to know that there is not alot of room to store this stuff. so be careful what you take. maybe it would be smart tobuy couple outfits here and i am not sure if it will be in summer if so get light stuff and then buy some things there you can bring back. that way you can buy outfits there. you only get a small thing to store stuff and clothes in and its not much. take care.

Christopher M

Casual clothes by day for walking, swimsuit for beach, 6 dress up outfits for dinner & 1 very formal outfit for dinner at the Captains table. A lot of money to buy a Rolex and Cuban Cigars...

Dyan

Pack light (bring clothing that is comfortable aboard the ship and whatever excursions you plan on doing.. If you plan on doing the two formal dinners, then you will need two formal outfits, but other than that, casual wear is really all you need. You will find so many thing to buy when you get there, take an empty suitcase with you to put your new things in. Don't over pack. I have been on several cruise and am learning to pack less on each cruise. Less is better. Have a ball. -:)

BigBluEyes

I would say alot of clothes! Check the Cruise web site it should say what kind of clothes you should bring like dress requirements... I alot of clothes because I never know what i want to wear till I wake up for that day.

xoheartsyou

a great tanning product, one that doesn't have mineral oil in it since it clogs your pores.

a glamorous cocktail dress for the nice big dinner they usually have on cruises.

&& a great digital camera

Orphen

Bring the cruise boat.

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