Formal or casual? How to pack for a cruise

Remember to pack some loose-fitting clothes. Most passengers find they put on few pounds during a cruise.

Trial and error
I am a big advocate of wearing outfits more than once. If it looks good and is appropriate, who cares how many times you wear it?

Linda Coffman, editor of the cruise Web site Cruise Diva and author of “Fodor’s Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises” agrees. She says to concentrate on dressing from the waist up and to wear the same slacks, skirts or shorts throughout the trip.

“A simple scarf and jewelry can change the look of a basic outfit,” Coffman says. She’s also a big fan of reversible women’s clothes, which give many different looks for minimum packing.

If you’re concerned about running out of clean clothes, don’t worry. Most vessels have self-service laundromats along with valet laundry service for a fee. And remember, if you forget to pack something or don’t want to do laundry, most ships offer a good selection of clothing, swimwear and accessories in their onboard shops. What you can’t get on board, you can easily find in any port of call.

How to pack
When I was a flight attendant, I lived out of a suitcase 165 days a year, and I learned a few packing tricks. If you follow these basic, common-sense tips, you can pack just what you need, safeguard expensive items and keep track of important paperwork.

• Pack your airline tickets, cruise documents, jewelry, medication, eyeglasses, makeup, camera and computer in your carry-on luggage, not in your checked baggage. Also, bring photocopies of your passport and prescriptions in case these items become lost.
• Also put a swimsuit and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag. It sometimes takes hours for your luggage to be delivered to your stateroom, and you don’t want to miss any ship time stuck in your traveling clothes.
• Pack heavy items like shoes and toiletry kits before packing the more delicate ones.
  Use shoe covers to pack shoes, and stuff socks, belts and other little items inside shoes to save space.
• Turn jackets inside out and fold them in half, then put them in dry cleaning bags. The plastic bags minimize wrinkles, which is why dry cleaners use them.
• Pack the bottom of your suitcase with trousers, letting the legs hang over the edge of the bag. Then pack the rest of your clothes, with lighter materials on top. In the end, fold the trouser legs back over the pile; they’ll keep their crease.
• Mark your luggage with bright colored yarn or tags to make them easier to spot and less likely to be picked up by someone else by mistake.
• Bring an empty soft bag for souvenirs, but don’t forget to claim it when you get off the ship. I recently did this; fortunately, I remembered it before I left the pier.
• Watch the weight of your luggage; airlines have a 50-pound limit on bags. If you go over, be prepared to pay a hefty surcharge.

Packing is a chore, but if you pay attention to the details, you can pack your cares away.

Bon voyage!

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