What to Pack (Checklist)

[goldwinger88]

I found this on another forum and felt that passing it along would be helpful to some.

Copy and paste it to a Word or text document and review it.

These are suggestions of what to take. Not what you HAVE to take.

So before anyone goes into Flame mode. Use some common sense.

 

This bit of advice is obvious, but worth repeating. While traveling always keep these ESSENTIALS on your person or in your closely guarded CARRY-ON BAG:

____ Identification documents (passport, birth certificates, visas, etc.)

____ Jewelry and valuables

____ All cruise, airline, insurance and hotel tickets, confirmations

and documentation.

____ Prescription medications.

____ Wallet - As much as possible, limit wallet to necessary contents:

____ Money

____ Traveler's checks

____ Credit cards - two, in case there is a problem with one

____ Driver's license - even if you intend to use a passport as your ID,

you may need to drive a rental car, or a vehicle on excursions

____ Driver's insurance card

____ AAA card, especially if you have booked your hotel room through AAA

____ Health insurance, dental, prescription card, etc.

____ Phone cards

____ Used gift card, magnetic strip type. (Use to access the cabin safe.)

____ Past passenger card (for those on-board bookings.)

OTHER ITEMS TO PACK IN YOUR CARRY ON BAG:

____ Name and contact information of your travel agent - in case

there is a problem with the booking

____ Suitcase keys, if you use locks

____ Gum for flight

____ Ear plugs, (Ear Planes)

____ Cruse line luggage tags

____ Make-up case - The items in this are expensive and difficult to

replace while on vacation, so this counts as a valuable item.

____ Reading material

____ Spare contact lens

____ Glasses - prescription / reading / sun

____ A copy of your complete final packing list. Also leave a copy at

home to use for insurance claim purposes should your bag

unfortunately go on it's own permanent vacation.

____ Return address labels. Use these whenever you have to fill out

anything, like your color coded baggage claim suitcase labels

at the end of the cruise. Also stick them on your disposable

cameras and the non-disposable kind too. Actually stick

them on anything that you hope will find its' way back to

you, should you lose it.

____ Postage stamps - for post cards. (But remember you will need

to use local postage on the islands. Local postage stamps

can usually be purchased at the purser's desk.

____ Small address / phone number book or list ( to address postcards)

____ Personal/business cards - to exchange phone numbers with

new friends.

____ Music - tape, disk or mp3 player, ear phones, CD's, batteries, etc.

____ Cell phone - in easy to get at pocket, ready to remove for

security check

____ Small notebook for taking notes, to use later when writing

your cruise review

____ Small calculator

____ Pencil, pens

____ Magic marker

____ Highlighter - to highlight items on the ship's daily activity paper

____ Your one quart-size zip-top clear plastic bag as allowed by

the TSA containing any liquid or gel type items. Pack in

easy to access part of bag, ready to remove for security

check. (Remember that some items from your make-up case

will need to be put in here.)

____ Pouch with all usual purse contents, (Kleenex, brush, Tums, etc.)

Note: You don't want to carry your purse separately as it will count as one of your carry-on items. Occasionally only one carry-on is permitted on the plane. Also the fewer items you need to keep track of while traveling, the fewer the chances of something being lost or stolen.

HIS CLOTHES - numbers vary with length of trip:

____ Tees

____ Shorts

____ Casual long pants (i.e. khaki's)

____ Collared casual shirts, or polo shirts

____ At least one Caribbean styled floral shirt for Caribbean night

____ Formal shirts

____ Cuff links

____ Suits (jacket and pants)

____ Tuxedo, cummerbund, bow tie, shirt button studs, suspenders,etc.

____ Sport jacket & dress pants (if your ship does a semi-formal night)

____ Ties

____ Tie clip / tack / bar / chain / etc.

____ Underwear

____ Sleepwear

____ Robe - (If your cabin level does not provide robes or if "one size"

will not fit.)

____ Swimsuits

____ Light jacket

____ Sandals

____ Shoes

____ Water shoes - if planning to climb Dunn's River Falls, or

similar excursion.

HIS BATH SUPPLIES:

____ Soap (only if you prefer your own brand)

____ Toothpaste

____ Toothbrush

____ Shampoo ( only if you prefer your own brand)

____ Deodorant

____ Dental floss

____ Razor

____ Shave cream

____ Hair spray

____ Hair styling product (mousse, gel, pomade, etc)

____ Hair brush

____ Comb

____ Mouthwash

HER CLOTHING LIST - numbers vary with length of trip:

____ Formal dresses / outfits

____ Evening wrap

____ Blouses / tops

____ Shorts

____ Slacks

____ Capri's

____ Bras

____ Panties

____ Slips

____ Hose and socks as needed to match outfits

____ Swimsuits

____ Pareo wraps and/or swimsuit cover-ups

____ Caribbean style outfit for Caribbean night

____ Sleep wear

____ Robe - (If your cabin level does not provide robes or if "one size"

will not fit)

____ Slippers

____ Shoes as needed (heels, dressy, casual, sandals, tennis, water)

____ Flip-flops - to wear to the pool

____ Light weight jacker / sweater

HER BATH SUPPLIES:

____ Shower cap

____ Razors

____ Shampoo (if you prefer your own brand)

____ Conditioner

____ Bar soap ( if you prefer your own brand)

____ Comb & brushes

____ Q -Tips

____ Contact lens equipment: case, cleaner, soaker, rinse

____ Hair styling product - gel, mousse, etc.

____ Hair spray

____ Deodorant

____ Lotion

____ Floss

____ Toothpaste

____ Toothbrush

____ Powder

____ Eye drops

____ Makeup kit

____ Feminine products - selection is very limited in the on board shops

____ Hair ornaments, clips, bands, etc.

____ Hair dryer

____ Curling wand / Hair setter

____ Hand or magnifying mirror

____ Nail polish - color, clear

____ Nail file / emery board

____ Nail scissors / clipper

____ Tweezers

EXCURSION / POOL SIDE SUPPLIES:

____ Beach bag / back pack - large, for shore excursions

____ Beach bag - small, to carry up to the pool

____ Beach towels - not needed for traditional cruise

____ Snorkel and/or scuba gear

____ Small container of Vaseline - necessary for a man with a

mustache to make a snorkel mask seal across the upper lip

____ Small (six pack) cooler (use to pack refrigerated medications

during travel, then use to take a snack to the beach)

____ Dog treats to feed fish while snorkeling

____ Sun screen, pack plenty

____ Insect repellent

____ Aloe or after tan gel

____ Cruise Addicts drink bucket, or insulated water bottle (Fill with

ice tea, etc. in the buffet area to take to the pool)

____ Clips to secure your beach towel or swim cover-up to the lounge

chair at the pool.

____ Water safe on a string

____ Binoculars

____ Wet-one packages

____ Hand sanitizer

____ Ponchos

____ Umbrella

____ Large plastic bags - Always put one in the bottom of your tote bag

and camera bag. Handy to cover these items in case of rain,

or on boat excursion.

CABIN USE / ORGANIZING SUPPLIES:

____ Cruise Group flag, to fly from your veranda

____ Small framed photo of your kids to place on the night stand

____ Travel alarm clock

____ Ear plugs, in case the neighbors are noisy, or if the

disco is close by

____ Laundry bag / collapse-able laundry hamper

____ Extra hangers

____ Bottle/wine opener

____ Hand disinfecting solution

____ Kleenex (Pack your own if you want the soft kind.)

____ Wet ones pack

____ Over door hook/s

____ Air freshener

____ Back-of-door shoe pocket hanger. (This is essential for small

cabins with little storage. Hang this inside bathroom of

cabin. Holds all your shave cream, brushes, toothpaste, etc.)

____ Closet shoe compartment hanger. (This only works if there is room

enough in the closet. If so, it really helps organize your stuff.

Especially good on Princess Grand class ships, that have large

closets with no door, where all your stuff is open to view.)

____ Laundry detergent (to wash the salt or chlorine out of your

swimsuit.)

____ Shout-it-out stain remover wipes

____ Lint remover

____ Fabric freshener (Febreze) - to eliminate odors on fabrics

____ Downy Wrinkle Release spray

____ Static Guard

____ Small sewing kit

____ Scotch tape

____ Super glue

____ Nail polish remover pads

____ Duct tape

____ Extra batteries for all the electronics that you've packed

____ Charging cords for electronics you've packed(cell, mp3, etc.)

____ Small flashlight

____ Electrical extension cord

____ Electrical multiplier strip (Most cabins have only one outlet.)

____ Night light (essential for inside cabin)

____ Bungee cords - needed to hold open veranda door on some ships, if you want

it to stay open. (Actually the cruise line would prefer you not do this, but...)

Also can be used as a short clothes line.

____ Clothes pins - to hold the curtains closed when the ship rocks, to weight down

the shower curtain to keep it from "hugging" you.

____ Travel clothing steamer. (Cruise lines really frown on irons.)

____ Spray bottle - to spritz yourself while sunbathing, or to fine mist a clothing

item, if you don't take the steamer.

____ Extra soft sided, flat folding suitcase, to carry home all the extra stuff that you

bought. (Don't forget the airlines charge for extra bags.)

____ Extra zip lock baggies

____ Extra reading material

____ Cruise brochure (It has the deck plans in it.)

____ Tour guides

____ Post-it-Notes ( to leave notes for other cruisers, or your room steward.)

____ Envelopes & paper, or note cards (to write thank you notes to crew & give tips.)

____ Extra cable ties - Multiple times the number of suitcases to re-lock suitcases for

the trip home and after inspections.

FIRST AID KIT:

____ Tylenol / Motrin

____ Anti-acid

____ Sea-sickness medication (Bonine, Dramamine and / or ginger tablets)

____ Anti-diarrhea medication

____ Laxative

____ Sinus or head cold medication

____ Benedryl

____ Cough drops Antibiotic / pain relieve cream for cuts

____ Bandaids gauze & bandage tape

____ Alcohol wipes

____ Lip balm

____ Aloe gel topical sunburn medication

____ Ace wrap

____ Extra supply of prescription medications (and / or copies of prescription info to

aid replacing them if they are lost or stolen.

MORE GOOD IDEAS TO PACK:

____ Small purse to take to dinner. It need only be big enough to hold your reading

glasses for the dinner menu, and a copy of the ships daily paper. (Patter,

Capers, Daily, etc.)

____ Spare pairs of contact lens

____ Spare glasses - prescription, reading, sun

____ Compass

____ Walkie-talkies - to stay in touch with fellow passengers on-board

____ Foreign language dictionary

____ Hand held luggage scale. (A fish scale works) Remember, that 50 lb airline

luggage weight limit applies for the flight home too.

____ Your house keys. You do have to go back home eventually.

[colomom]

Great list, thanks! A good one to go through right before you leave to make sure you don't forget something important.

 

There are some great lists here which are specific for cruises to Alaska:

 

http://www.alaskacruises.com/what_to_pack.asp

[gtlovell]

There are many, many packing lists around the web. Some are overwhelming. One piece of advice: Don't over pack. And you won't get this advice until you go on one cruise. If you're going somewhere warm, mostly likely you'll be in a swimsuit most of the time. Alaska, you'll pack layers and be able to reuse some the next day.

 

Here are two links to packing ideas:

Packing Light For a Seven Day Cruise

15 Strange Items To Pack for a Cruise

[UlvaZell]

There are many, many packing lists around the web. Some are overwhelming. One piece of advice: Don't over pack.

 

These list are great for reminding you of this YOU might need, but some of these lists are so over the top. Use discretion and if you forget something you can most likley get what you need on the ship or in port....

[pikabu]

Thanks for this comprehensive list! I won't be packing alot of the items here, but i used it to double check i'm not missing anything from mine!!

[dschuch]

Me too thanks!

[jaybird from SC]

Well, that list should cover just about everything! Greetings from the other corner of South Carolina..

[suezyq50]

I always over pack. We use to drive to port. Now that we have move further north, we are flying this time. I will really watch what I pack.

[GlendaleCruiser]

I think all these packing lists are great because you can take them and add to them and take things off and make it your own. Mine has evolved over the years and it really depends, too on your destination. My Alaska list/My Caribbean list, and my Mediterranean list are similar but different.

[Lalaithem]

Loving all the suggestions, its helping me to whittle down my list!

 

Thank you everybody who has posted:)

[harber78]

Great list and even if I dont need all on list at least it promps me to think about whether I need or not.

 

Thanks

[xxoocruiser]

Generally people over pack. In fact a person generally uses less than 70% of the items packed.

 

I follow these packing rules particularly since fees are now imposed for check in baggage.

• Make list than remove 40% of the items
  
• Every item has to do double duty. If it can't be interchanged with another item , it doesn't get packed. Same with accessories
  
• I wear the same outfit for both formal nights. No one cares.
  
• Shoes only 3 pairs. 1 everyday, 1 that can be worn as dress or causual and 1 for dress. If beach cruise that I allow 4 - 1 sandals.
  
• Remember most cruise lines have a bagged laundry special. approx $20 for everything you can stuff into one bag. It only includes basic wash and fold, no pressing. helps to ellimiate that extra suitcase.
  
• The outfit I wear to dinner on the last night of the cruise is what I wear home on the plane.
  

[STARFISH*4]

REMEMBER that CLOSELY GUARDED CARRY-ON can be taken and GATE CHECKED so dont put anything of value or necessity etc in that unless you will have time to switch over to your PERSONAL CARRY ON!!

 

WOW that is quite a list and i thought I OVERPACKED:eek:

but EVERYONE has to find what works for them...if i took just what others take-the minimal i would be miserable, but if i took as much as others take i would be overwhelmed so FIND what WORKS for YOU--YOU know what you can be comfortable with or without:)