Actually what to pack and what to wear are two separate articles but for the sake of keeping you from a state of overwhelm, we are going to categorize and organize everything you need to know in one article so you won’t need a vacation before you take your vacation!

First let’s talk about what to wear. Count. How many days will you be gone? Where are you going? Will you be mostly on the ship or will you be getting off in every port with scheduled excursions? Then know this. Please don’t over do it. How many times have you over packed in the past, just not needing a quarter of the things you dragged around? Not too long ago, one of the first things people thought of when they thought about a cruise was formal attire. Not anymore. You choose. If you want to “dress” for dinner even the term has lightened up considerably. Men who used to feel compelled to wear a tux, simply don’t have to. A suit and tie are fine. And women can easily wear something bordering on a cocktail dress but more relaxed, perhaps strapless soft linens or flowing cotton silks.

Forget the dripping jewels even if they are faux! It’s just not done that much anymore; with rare exceptions. Yes, there ARE exceptions. If you really want to dress to the inth degree then, Cruise lines like Crystal, Princess’Grand-class ships, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and some of Regent Seven Seas Cruises; the Seven Seas Mariner and the Seven Seas Voyager are the cruises for you!

Most cruises are casual like Carnival, Norwegian and Disney.. These cruise lines like others offer a more formal dining room if you wish.

Most of the time while cruising and even when you get off to explore you will want to be comfortable packing walking shorts, comfortable shoes and one or two lights sweaters just in case. As you count your days and nights think of underwear! Pack plenty of socks, panties, boxers or briefs. It’s amazing how important this becomes when you are far from home. Organize and economize. How many tops will go with how many bottoms. Can you get away with just taking four tee shirts versus 12? And think about laundry. The upper scaled Cruises offer laundry service with no charge but most Cruises charge and that can become expensive.

To summarize: For men: Think, khakis, navy sport coat, nice polo shirt or Oxford. Nice jeans. Dark suit if very formal. No bare chests any other place but the pool. Bathing suits should be of the boxer type.

For women: Walking shorts, nice tee’s or blouses, nice jeans, sundresses, sun visors or hats.
And for the evening if formal … upscaled casual chic, flowing cottons, linens, tencile, cotton-silk, faux suede, cocktail length. For non-formal everything from nice jeans to resort pant suits, casual skirts, walking shorts. Do not run around in your bathing suit or short, shorts! Bathing suit cover-ups can be very tasteful and attractive so if you want to keep your bathing suit on while running around, that’s a good idea.

When visiting a port you can wear pretty much what we’ve talked about while onboard. Do know though if you are going to be going to a yacht club or golf resort, check specifically as often there is some sort of dress code even today.

What to pack. It’s amazing how important your favorite emery-board becomes when you don’t have it not to mention your razor which will shave you like none other. So let’s categorize and organize. Think: bathroom stuff. Then think, hair stuff, medicine cabinet things, cosmetics. Stand in the bathroom and focus on each drawer and shelf. Take the things you can’t live without and leave the rest. Not all Cruise ships provide hairdryers. Here are just a few things that may be VERY important to not forget, tweezers, ear plugs, hand lotion, lens cleaner, band aids, germicidal handy wipes, bug spray. When you’ve covered the bathroom then move on to electronics.

Laptop? Battery charger, adaptors and converters, PDA, digital camera, and the batteries. Memory cards, night light, flash light, travel clock, walkman plus tapes. Cell phone and don’t forget the charger. If you focus on specific topics like this you’ll most likely remember everything. Then think
documents:

All tickets, passports, visas (if needed) driver’s license, insurance papers (travel and car when you rent a car) medical history or prescription proof, printed emergency contacts back home, ATM card other credit cards, some cash, Picture ID, phone card. With really important documents, have copies stashed back home to be faxed to you. Put even more copies in your luggage, purse, tote bag .. you’d be surprised how this will keep the peace between loved ones. Where there’s a document, there are three more just like it in case something gets misplaced, which it usually does. Keep thinking of each person you’re traveling with including yourself, one at a time and what specific documents each needs. This will keep you on track. Then thing miscellaneous:

Miscellaneous things would be like duct tape! We’re serious. There otta be a book written just about duct tape and all that situations that have been saved from this resourceful tape. Other things you might miss are; extra reading glasses, crazy glue, deck of cards, wine bottle opener,
zip loc bags for dirty clothes, maps, clothes pins,a sewing kit, extra buttons, small bottle of woolite in case your favorite sweater gets sloshed by something, fold-up umbrellas ( it rains a lot unexpectedly in some areas) and extra contact lenses. Keep thinking out of the box like this and you’ll love yourself for being so brilliant when far away from home.

Don’t let packing at all overwhelm you, remember the Cruise Lines live to please you and most likely if you have left that cherished personal something behind one of the staff will go to great lengths to solve your problem. Make lists! Just making the lists before you pack a sock will make you feel superbly in charge. Happy sailing!!!

What To Wear

This is a another common question that is on first time cruisers minds - “What should I bring to wear?” The biggest concern here is for the evening meal times and especially the formal nights or those nights where you are expected to where your Sunday best. Now for the women that is usually not such a concern as most women love to dress up but when it comes to putting a tie around a guys neck while on vacation then the whining usually starts.

Formal Nights

Now let me start by saying that while when you are planning your vacation and the topic of dressing up for supper pops up a common reaction is “Hey I’m on vacation, not at work, so I do not want to get dressed up”. Well coming from a guy who doesn’t wear a shirt and tie very often I must say that I don’t mind getting dressed up for a couple of nights because it makes me feel a little special. I find that after a great day of hanging out in the sun wearing shorts and tees all day it actually feels good to head to your stateroom, get showered up and throw on a nice outfit to wear to supper - it’s a great way to end your day. It’s like having a night on the town where you wear your fancy duds, go out for a great meal, and then head off to the theatre for some great entertainment. Aboard the ship these nights are very exciting for men and women alike and even the children like it as most don’t get this chance when at home. Also these times are a great chance to get a family picture taken as there are always photographers scattered throughout the ship who will take your photo and you don’t have to pay for it unless you like it.

All of the ships I have been on have had two formal nights where you are expected to dress up a little more than usual. Women usually wear your typical long evening dress but you don’t have to run out and buy the latest Christian Dior outfit to fit in as you will see a wide variety of dresses and styles including many off the shelf $30.00 dresses. For the men a dark suit with tie is perfectly acceptable but you will see some men wearing tuxedos which can usually be rented aboard the ship (that would have to be arranged before you set sail - don’t go looking for a tux one hour before dinner). So guys if you want to go all out and really impress the women here’s your chance.

Regular Evenings

For the nights that are not classified as formal you are not required to dress up but there is still some code that the ship would like you to adhere to for the evening meal. Shorts, tees, and jeans are not acceptable in the dining rooms for supper. This does not apply during the day as you can head to the same dining rooms for breakfast or dinner and the only restriction is that everyone must wear footwear and the men must wear a shirt and women must wear a coverup over their bathing suits. Now there is no need to be concerned about forgetting these rules as they are always posted just outside the door of any dining room that these rules apply to and if you forget then one of the dining room staff will very politely take you aside and explain the rules.

Daily Wear

During the days pretty much anything goes (as long as you are wearing something - and of course there are cruises available for those who might like to bend those rules). Treat being on deck in the daytime the same as heading to the beach, swim suits are the norm here. Make sure you bring sandals to wear on deck because in 30 degree weather the deck can get very hot to walk on barefoot. Please note that if you want to go to the dining room and even go to a buffet during the day you still have to wear a shirt and/or a coverup - hey it’s only common courtousy.

FreeStyle Cruising

The last ship we vacationed on was the Norwegian Sun and Norwegian has a concept that they call FreeStyle Cruising which is designed to provide an option for those of us who don’t want to get all gussied up. FreeStyle Cruising also allows you to eat in any dining room whenever you like - you don’t have a set time that you have to get ready for. So if you are having a great time up on deck there isn’t any need to stop at 5:00 pm and head to the cabin to get cleaned up for supper at 6:00. You can eat later if you like. Also they don’t require you to dress up for formal nights but they still do have two formal nights where you can pull out the shirt and tie if you like and on those nights the majority of folks were wearing dresses, shirts and ties - even though it was optional.

When we all first booked this cruise this idea seemed very appealing but the funny thing was that we unanimously determined that we actually missed the dressing up part. As a matter of fact I would say the majority of people aboard our ship dressed up anyway for evening meals even though it wasn’t required. As I said before this part of the evening is special and a great way to end the day.

For the landlubbers among us the thought of staying on a ship for 7 days or more may seem a little boring. But folks let me tell you if you get bored on a cruise ship then you must be the sort who is only happy hanging off the edge of a 300′ cliff by your fingernails.

From the moment you step on board for the first time your senses tell you that you are in for a ride. The air is electrified with excitement as you enter the main atrium and are greeted by ship staff (one ship we stayed on announced each family over the ship PA system as you stepped off the gangway into the atrium - wow, talk about making you feel special).

Here are some of the activities you can experience on board as well as on shore and I think you will agree that boredom is not an option while cruising throughout the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Pool Deck

Poolside is always a boisterous place with people swimming, hanging out in the hot tubs, sitting at the bar enjoying a drink, or just sitting around a table with friends talking about what’s next. This is where the band is setup and it is common to see people being lead into some sort of dance by a crew member. Our days usually start and end around the pool deck.

Throughout the day there will be organized events on the stage by the pool. This could be a special dance, a hairy chest contest - usually for the men, a men against the women challenge which usually involves some silly activity that both parties attempt, or some other fun event. Mind you that these activities are always tasteful and can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Sports Deck

Up top there is usually a basketball court where you can shoot a few hoops or play a full game in an event arranged by the crew, play some volleyball or as on one ship get a chance to ride a Segway - a two wheeled upright people mover. On the sports deck you can usually find a few ping pong tables, mini golf, or even an inline skate track. On Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas, as well as other’s in their fleet, they have a 30′ Rock Climbing Wall. The ship provided all the safety gear including helmets and harnesses and trained crew members took care of belaying for each climber.

SPA and Gym

If you feel like working out you will find a well complimented gym containing various pieces of exercise equipment such as treadmills, exercise bikes, elliptical trainers, weight machines and free weights. They offer aerobic classes and for any who decide to start an exercise regime onboard you can have one of the personal fitness trainers guide you through a program designed for your fitness level.

For the ultimate in pampering - hey that’s what cruises do best - you can sign up for special spa treatment such as a facial, pedicure, neck massage, back massage, or even a full body wrap. They even offer the full cosmetic treatment so you can spend the day getting ready for the formal night.

Bars and Lounges

Need a break from the sun and heat then you can head indoors to one of the many bars and lounges that your ship will offer. Do you fancy sports then head to the sports bar and watch the latest game. On our last cruise we watched the Super Bowl game on a big screen set up on the pool deck.

Maybe you are in the mood for a stogey so why not head to the cigar club, or if music is your thing head off to the piano bar for some soothing sounds and if you feel like joining in, why not, the pianist always loves a little company as you get a chance to sing one of your favorite melodies.

Once night hits you can pull out your dancing shoes and head off to the disco and for a little boogeying.

Casino

With the exception of the Disney Magic every other ship we have been on had a casino. Now I am not much of a gambler but even I tried my hand at roulette - and won! Before stepping onto a cruise ship the only gambling I did was buying the friday night lottery ticket so needless to say I was a little intimidated to take part in anything other than the slots. Now I wanted to try one of the tables, blackjack, roulette, poker, whatever but didn’t know the rules so I hung around the tables and just watched people playing trying to pick up the rules. Well the dealers are more than willing to help with the rules so you can ask them questions and they will explain the rules as you go. They even offer training sessions throughout the cruise so that you can have a chance to try your hand at a game without having to pony up any cash. Just think about it for a moment why wouldn’t they want to help you afterall the odds are in their favor that they will end up with your cash anyway. Now me and my buddies are regular fun gamblers and will head to the casino for a night or two to have a bit of fun and try to win a few bucks at the same time. I have a limit so I put aside $100 to gamble with and once it’s gone I’m gone. But you know the three times I played roulette I came out a winner each time - it feels good to go home with the casino’s money.

Kids Club

The Kids Club is a fun filled place for the younger cruisers to hang out with friends of their own age. Qualified cruise staff are always in the club to supervise the children and lead them in various activities such as games, crafts, tours, and sports. There is a separate club for each age group so you don’t have to worry about your 6 year old hanging with the teens. At some point during the cruise they usually have one night classified as a late night where the kids get a chance to stay up late with their pals. This also works great for the parents as they get a chance to dine at one of the private dining rooms sans children.

You can give permission for the older kids to sign themselves in and out of the club but younger children must be signed in and out by a pre-approved parent or guardian.

So there is no need to worry about the younger set being bored lounging by the pool all day with mom and dad. Instead you may be wondering why they seem to be having more fun than you.

Library

Did you forget to bring a book, no problem, head off to the ships library and take out novel to read or just take a break and sit in the quiet of the library and flip a few pages.

Internet Cafe

Just because you are cruising doesn’t mean that you have to be disconnected from the rest of the world, although for many, me included, that is the idea. You can head to the Internet Cafe and send an email to all your envious friends back home or just surf the net for a while and catch up on the latest happenings.

Chapel

You will find a chapel on board that can accommodate a small group - did I hear someone say they wanted to get married! On our last cruise one of the members of our group got married on board just before the ship sailed on our first day. Now that’s a romantic wedding!

Restaurants

Food will probably be one of your most memorable experiences onboard. There is lots of it and the variety will suit even the pickiest of eaters. Most will agree that the quality and quantity of food alone pays for the cruise as you could not afford to eat on land like you do on a cruise ship and spend less money than the cost of the cruise. It’s great to be able to order off a menu that doesn’t have any prices.

While the food in the main dining rooms and buffets is nothing short of fantastic for those who might like to experience more romantic dining in a quieter atmosphere there is usually separate dining rooms that you can reserve for a small fee (usually around $20 per person). I have never found the food any better but the atmosphere is certainly more romantic.

Entertainment

There is no shortage of entertainment to be enjoyed onboard. You have the pool deck band, the piano bar, karaoke, but the best of all is the evening entertainment in the main theatre. After a great meal in the dining room you can head to the main theatre where every night you get to experience a broadway like show with singers dancers and a live band. What a way to end your day!

Shopping

Did you forget something at home hey don’t worry because you can head to the shopping deck and browse around for a new shirt or dress, or buy a new sun hat. If you are in the mood to splurge you can head to the jewelry store and pick out a new diamond ring or the latest Tag Heuer watch. Most ships even offer price guarantees that protect you if you find the same item in one of the port of calls at a cheaper price.

Shore Excursions

Probably one the best parts of cruising is having the opportunity to explore some of the many islands scattered throughout the Caribbean. So not only do you get to experience great dining and entertainment on board but you also get a chance to get off the ship and head off to some exotic island for a day trip. Imagine yourself lounging on a beautiful sandy beach in St. Martin or zip lining through the jungles of Belize, my favorite. Maybe you just want to hop a cab and do some site seeing around the island.

Whatever your fancy you are bound to find it somewhere along your Caribbean cruise.

Today, I’m going to cover some of the reasons why I feel that cruising is the ultimate form of vacation.

As of about 8 years ago, my wife and I have all but forgotten about any form of travel or vacation other than cruising. Don’t’ get me wrong, it’s not that we don’t enjoy other vacation styles, it’s just the pros of cruise vacations far out weigh the cons of cruising.

We still love a good trip to Walt Disney World coupled with other Orlando hot spots such as Wet and Wild, Universal Studios, Ripley’s Believe it Or Not, and Sea World to name a few but nothing quite compares to the thought of being able to wake up in a new port of call each morning and spending each evening enjoying the warm, tropical breeze on the deck of a fabulous floating paradise otherwise know as a modern cruise ship.

I suppose the ULTIMATE vacation in my eyes at least, would be one where I cruise the seas at night and then wound up at some of my favorite land vacation spots each morning. Let’s face, that is just not going to happen unless someone knows of a way to sail from say Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida to Las Vegas Nevada to the shores of Caribbean islands like Belize and so on.

Back to reality, I’ve heard some people shy away from cruising as they fear getting seasick. I get a little nauseous riding the escalator at Sears and I’ve never had a problem with seasickness in 8 years of cruising. There have been some rough seas and tenders (the small boat that takes you from the ship to port) where I thought I might toss my cookies, but so far so good.

Cruises are expensive. I have to disagree there too I’m afraid! Sure, you CAN spend a small fortune on some of the high end cruises, but with some careful planning, you can cruise very reasonably.

If you can avoid traveling during peak times such spring Break, Christmas etc. your airfare and cruise fares will drop considerably not to mention the fact that the ship may be a lot less crowded during off peak times.

People sometimes mention that they don’t want to be “trapped” on a cruise ship or that they’ll have nothing to do. First of all, having “nothing” to do can be a very beautiful thing. How many times have you come home from vacation more exhausted than when you left? It’s happened to me and it’s not a very good feeling. To lie out in the warm air and sunshine on a cruise ship, sipping a cool beverage spending quality time with your mate is a VERY good way to do nothing.

As far as being trapped on a cruise ship, I’m not sure I understand that statement. I mean, sure you can’t just walk off and go do something else as the ship cruises along, but cruise ships of today have shopping malls, restaurants, swimming pools, spas, state-of-the-art gyms, ICE RINKS, rock climbing walls, wave pools for surfing, live entertainment, games, Vegas style shows, art auctions…the list is growing all the time as cruise lines battle each other to get your business.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first time cruiser, especially if you’re a first time cruiser, these tips will go a long way to ensure that your cruise experience is everything it should be.

1. Go In A Day Early: Unless you live within two or three hours of the pier, it’s advisable to spend the night before your departure at a hotel close to the pier. That way you take away the risk of missing the ship and you eliminate the stress that goes along with delayed or canceled flights or auto mechanical problems. You’ll wake up refreshed and be able to truly enjoy the first day of your cruise instead of being exhausted from traveling all day. It’s well worth the price of the hotel. (If you’re driving, be sure to get a hotel that allows free parking. With what the cruise lines are charging for parking these days, it can almost pay for the price of a hotel).

2. Inside Or Outside Room: Rooms on board the ship come in many different shapes, sizes, and locations, some even include a balcony. Your budget will dictate for a large part the type of room you choose. For the claustrophobic person, inside rooms with no windows may present a bit of a problem.

3. Location Of The Room: The location of the room, meaning the front, middle, or the back of the ship, can make a difference in the amount of movement you experience while in your room. If you suffer from sea sickness, you’ll do much better if you book a room towards the middle. The same is true for choosing a room lower in the boat as opposed to on one of the higher levels. To be safe, pack Dramamine.

4. Carry-On Luggage: A porter will greet you at the pier before you check in and take your luggage. Most people will turn over every bag they have and then go on their merry way to check in. A wiser plan would be to have each person carry on a small bag. This bag should contain one set of clothing for each of the following:

• Casual, such as shorts and a top.
• Swimwear and appropriate footwear.
• Evening wear suitable for dinner.
• A small variety of toiletries that would enable you to freshen up, such as deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush and hairspray.

Although it’s not common, occasionally luggage on the way to rooms is lost. A small carry-on will at least make it possible for you to function while on your cruise. Also, sometimes your luggage is not delivered to your room until after you are already at dinner.

5. Shore Excursions: The cruise ship will offer you rates for excursions at each of your destinations. Excursions will range from guided tours to scuba diving to swimming with dolphins. A service charge has been added by the ship to each package, and almost every excursion can be purchased much cheaper on shore when you reach your destination. An added side note to this, however, is that if you book your shore excursion on your own, be certain it ends in plenty of time for you to return to the ship before it sets sale. While booking the excursion on your own usually saves you quite a bit of money, if something goes wrong and you’re late getting back to the ship, it will set sail without you. If you’ve booked your excursion through the cruise line and the excursion arrives back late, the ship will wait on you and the others in your group, so the extra money you spend for the excursion does come with some peace of mind.

6. Soft Drink Cards: Although the price of your cruise includes all of your food, soft drinks are extra. Buying individual cokes can be quite expensive, but the ship does offer a way to save you money on pop. Soft drink cards may be purchased at the beginning of the cruise. They generally run around $30, and for that you’ll be able to drink all the pop you want.

7.Credit Cards: Be sure you have a credit card for check-in. The card must be in your name and have available credit. A hold will be placed on the card for any incidental expenses you incur during the cruise. If you do not have a credit card, most cruise lines will allow you to place a cash deposit at check-in, but it’s best to check with the cruise line ahead of time to confirm their policy.

Follow these simple tips and you’re sure to have a more rewarding experience. Good luck.