Basic Cruise Packing List

Probably the number one question that comes up in my conversations with clients, expecially first-time cruisers is, "What should I pack for a cruise?" This is by no means a complete list for every cruise line and every passenger but it will serve a a good starting point. This is a basic list for a typical 7 day cruise. You will need to adjust accordingly.

Clothing

A Shirt for Every Day of the Vacation
2 to 3 Pairs of Pants/Skirts
Your Formal Night Outfit times 2 for a 7 day Cruise
Your Swimsuit
T-Shirts or Polo Shirts for Day Wear-For the Men
Comfortable Blouses for Day Wear-For the Women
Shorts for Day Wear
Cover-up for Swimsuit if Needed
Pajamas
Comfortable Shoes or Sneakers-Suitable for Walking
Flip-Flops or Sandals for the Pool or on Deck
Water Shoes-For Excursions if Needed
Dress Shoes for Formal Night
Underwear-1 per Day plus One Extra
Bras-1 per Day plus One Extra-For Women
Socks-1 per Day plus One Extra
Hose as needed for Women
Comfortable Hat or Visor
Lightweight Waterproof Jaket with Hood

Toiletries

Shampoo & Conditioner-As Desired, Most Cruise Lines Provide in Shower on Board
Soap-As Desired-again Most Cruise Lines provide
Deodorant
Makeup Essentials for the Women
Feminine Hygiene Products
Razor or Electric Shaver
Shaving Cream-if Needed
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Floss
Brush / Comb
Hair Care Products and Accessories
Nail File--Clippers
Tweezers
Germicidal Hand Cleaner
Dramamine of Other Sea Sickness Cure if Desired
Aspirin
Ear Plugs-if Needed
Prescription Drugs as Needed
Small First Aid Kit (pain reliever, band aids, histamine blocker)

Accessories

Sunglasses
Suntan Lotion
Aloe Vera Gel-For When you Forget the Sunscreed
Eyeglasses / Contacts-Consider an Extra Pair if Essential
Collapsible Tote Bag or Fanny Pack
Insulated Mugs-Hot Drinks Hot and Cold Drinks Cold to take Back to Room or to the Pool
Books
Camera / Film / Memory sticks
Binoculars
Snorkel and Mask-if Snorkeling
Underwater Camera
Games / MP3 Players
Playing Cards
Post-It Note Pad-To Leave Notes for your Cabin Steward
Small Flashlight-Just in Case
2 Watches (just in case one stops)
Jewelry
Alarm Clock / Batteries
Small Amount of Duct Tape-Roll some off the Big Roll onto itself-You will thank me when you need it for a minor repair to torn luggage, etc.
Power Strip-Most Cabins only have a Couple of Outlets
Bungee Cord-if you are in a Balcony Cabin-To Hold Door Open for the Wonderful Sea Air
Passport
Cruise Documents
Wallet with Credit Cards and a Little Cash for Tipping

Remember on most ships there are coin operated laundries available so if you need to you can do a load of clothes. Plus, most cruise lines have a laundry special on the second to last day of the cruise. You will not need to pack beach towels-the cruise ship will provide for you daily in your cabin. Above all, don't stress---Your on Vacation!! There is always the souvenier shop if you run out of clothes, I am sure they will sell you something to wear.

The Perils of Getting Sick Aboard a Cruise Ship

I am always looking for ways to educate my customers on the incredible benefit of travel protection insurance. Here is a fantastic post from Anne Campbell in her Cruising Blog. Please take heed of this valuable information.

Today on the Cruise Log, journalist Gene Sloan cites a report of a man getting kicked off a Carnival ship in Roatan, Honduras because he was sick. The unfortunate passenger had to pay thousands of dollars to get himself home in order to get the medical care he needed.

That’s the way all cruise lines handle passengers who are too ill to be treated by the ship’s medical staff. If you have travel insurance you’ll be lifted by air ambulance to the nearest U.S. or, if the distance is too great, best hospital in the region. If you don’t have travel insurance you can either pay $20,000 for an air ambulance or go to a local hospital.

This is why I believe you’re very foolish to travel anywhere outside the U.S. without purchasing travel insurance.

My father came down with the flu aboard Queen Elizabeth 2, spent days in bed with a nurse checking in on him frequently. If you come down with a virus like Norwalk, you’ll be confined to your cabin until you’re no longer contagious. Ships can handle viruses, a scraped knee and sunburn but little else.

Ships aren’t equipped to handle serious illness. There are no diagnostic tools, surgery or intensive care. While there is medicine for sea sickness and flu, not much else is available. Ships do have CPR machines but beyond temporarily stabilizing someone who suffers a heart attack, the staff can do little more.

A ship’s physician told me about a passenger whose life was saved because he had travel insurance. A passenger suffered a stroke and because he had travel insurance, the ship’s doctor was immediately patched through to a neurologist in Houston. An air ambulance quickly evacuated the passenger, taking him to a Texas hospital where he was successfully treated. However, if he hadn’t had insurance, the ship’s doctor would have had no choice but to put him ashore in the nearest port, Cartagena, Columbia, where, the doctor believed, he would have died.

I don’t know about you, but to me the thought of getting sick and being forced to go to a Third World hospital is terrifying.

Here’s another insider’s tip: Should the ship’s doctor make a misdiagnosis or provide poor treatment, forget trying to sue. Like the spa and gift shop, doctors and nurses are independent contractors. The cruise line doesn’t hire doctors and nurses; they are employed by outside employment agencies. Hence, the cruise line has no liability.

I hope I’ve scared you enough to get travel insurance before your next cruise. My favorite company is Travel Guard which you may purchase online or through travel agents.

Do you buy travel insurance? Have you ever had to use it?