Before you set off on a Royal Holiday-sponsored cruise ship for days of fun in the sun and evenings spent living like royalty, make sure you have all of the essentials you need to enjoy your stay. Careful preparation minimizes the stress of traveling and allows you to focus on the adventures ahead.
Prioritize the Carry-On Bag
Your carry-on bag should contain all the items that you may need in a hurry when traveling. Include medications, toiletries, and a change of clothes in the bag. Toss in a swimsuit and dinner attire too. If your luggage is delayed on the plane, you can still start enjoying your time aboard if you planned ahead by placing your must-have items in a valise.
Investigate Dress Codes
Royal Holiday cruise ships offer a variety of activities to keep guests active both day and night. Pack your suitcase with the essentials for a day at the pool, a nightly walk on the sands of the Caribbean, a formal dinner and musical show, or a hike through the wetlands. Review the itinerary prior to packing, and pick out your favorite shoes, dresses, and suits so you are ready for all the excitement a cruise offers. You can always purchase essentials aboard ship, but prepare in advance for the events offered on your cruise in order to pack like a pro for this exciting adventure.
Evaluate Weather Conditions
Keep yourself comfortable throughout the duration of the cruise by packing temperature appropriate clothing. A cruise through Alaskan waters requires a winter coat and comfortable gloves, whereas a jaunt to Mexico or Puerto Rico calls for a bikini, a few tank tops, and flip flops in your luggage. Walking shoes are a must, regardless of the location, so you can make the most of shore excursions without tiring out your feet.
Mix and Match
Try not to overload your suitcases in case you want to bring home souvenirs from some of the fabulous destinations Royal Holiday has arranged for you. Instead of packing shorts, pants, and a shirt for every day, mix and match outfits to allow for more room in your suitcase. Choose shoes that coordinate with several outfits and avoid bringing heavy boots or shoes that take up a lot of space. You can also take advantage of the laundry services your cruise ship offers to freshen up your staple outfits throughout the week.
Remember the Basics
Even though you should not have a care in the world when cruising to your favorite destination, you need to remember to bring along basic items that cannot be purchased on board. Make a checklist of any medical equipment and medications you must have while traveling. Insert a medical card in your wallet in case of an emergency. Throw in your phone, tablet, computer or camera chargers, and batteries as well as memory cards you may need while browsing the Web on board or snapping shots of the ocean. Keep all toiletries wrapped in plastic bags to avoid any spills while your luggage is transported.
Keep Documents Close By
The last thing you want to do when boarding a big and beautiful cruise ship is hold up the line while searching for your cruise documents. Keep your ID, cruise confirmation and boarding pass handy in a purse, fanny pack or carry-on bag so they are easily accessible. Some cruises also require a passport or birth certificate, proof of immunizations or a visa, so plan ahead and pack these essential items within easy reach.
Preserve Jewelry and Accessories
Cruise ships offer plenty of opportunities to get dressed up and show off your sense of style. You don’t have to leave your favorite jewelry at home when you want to flaunt some fashion. Pack jewelry carefully, though, to avoid a tangled mess when you unpack in your cabin. Purchase a travel jewelry organizer to keep necklaces from clasping together, or thread earrings through buttons and separate them into pill containers. Place necklaces in drinking straws to avoid knots or tape them onto an index card so they don’t get tangled while traveling.
Minimize Wrinkled Clothing
An evening in a formal dining room on a cruise ship provides a special occasion to break out your dressiest attire. Make sure you look your best when dressing for evening events by minimizing wrinkles and creases in your packed garments. Iron all dress shirts, skirts, dresses, and pants prior to packing, and fold up your formal attire in tissue paper. Place tissue paper throughout the suitcase to minimize creases and wrinkles, and gently push each clothing item into place on top of one another. A firmly packed suitcase ensures your wardrobe is cruise ship ready and reduces excessive movement of your bag’s contents that can wrinkle your day wear and evening wear and transform your clothes into an crumpled mess when you open your luggage.
