Those new to cruising, often ask…. what do I need to pack?
Going on a cruise is a little different to many other holidays. On our first cruise we had no idea what to pack and packed towels and lots of other things we did not need; and of course did not bring things we did need such as clothing for theme nights.
Rather than recreating what is already available on the website, here is some go to places to find out what to pack.
Cruise Line Websites
Most cruise lines do have packing information on their websites. Go to your intended cruise line website and search for ‘what to pack’, you will find the results in the first few results.
To save you some effort, below are the current link to the What to Pack page for the main Australia cruise lines:
- www.pocruises.com.au/en/plan/know-before-you-go/what-to-pack
- www.princess.com/cruise-tips-vac … zZ6eud97Zs
- www.carnival.com.au/already-book … lmCbCST.97
- www.royalcaribbean.com.au/beforeyouboard/whatToKnow/whatToPack.do
Online Sources
Regular cruiser David Buckingham has an excellent and comprehensive website which lists what to and not to pack. This website can be found at this link: http://www.gdbucko1.magix.net/#/Homepage
David also has a facebook page where you can ask him questions.
Some tips from us
IMPORTANT THINGS: Camera, Passport, Medication, Money (Credit Cards), toiletries and personal supplies, glasses (don’t ask why we added this one, its hard watching shows with prescription sunglasses on)
CLOTHING: Smart Casual clothes for the day, more formal clothes for the night, clothing for theme nights and clothes for you’re off ship activities (beach, etc)
NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: Most cruise lines allow a maximum of 12 cans of soft drinks (not bottles), loosely packed in carry-on luggage, but check with your cruise line for specific requirements.
ALCOHOL ONBOARD: Not allowed (however Princess do allow one bottle of wine per passenger, any more that one bottle and you are charged corkage at $15 per bottle).
ELECTRICAL DEVICES: Use common sense, but generally electrical appliances are not allowed, except personal grooming devices and approved medical equipment.
TOWEL: No need to pack either bath or beach towels, these are supplied.
…and like the popular song, don’t forget the sunscreen !
What if you forget something
All moderns Cruise Ships do have shops onboard which carry most essential items and clothes. The bigger the ship, the more comprehensive the shop. However you can also buy what ever you are missing at your first port. For Sydney & Brisbane cruises this is likely to be Noumea – right across the road from the Noumea cruise terminal is a ‘Casino’ brand supermarket. Yes, sometimes you will pay a little more for something you have forgotten, but you are paying for the convenience.
We hope you found this helpful ?
Have we missed anything or got something wrong, if so please leave a comment below.
If you would like us to post on another interesting topic, please let us know what topics you would like.
Lynda Barry
CruiseReview.net.au