Tips on Packing for Your Cruise Vacation

Cruising has become a popular way of vacationing, but if you have never been on a cruise, here are some tips of things you may want to pack and a few things that are not allowed on a cruise ship.

Let's first start with a few items that are just not allowed on a cruise ship. These items are banned from cruise ships for safety reasons most dealing with fire prevention. Electrical Transformers, coffee makers, irons, candles, flammable liquids, and explosives are strictly prohibited from cruise ships. Illegal drugs and alcohol from home are also not permitted on Cruise Ships. Some cruise ships do allow you to bring your favorite wine on board to be served at dinner, but they will charge you a cork fee usually about 10 dollars.

Here are few more items that might sound a little crazy. HAM radios are also prohibited on cruise ships this is because that can interfere with the ships communications and can be a safety hazard. Although you are allowed to bring on walkie talkies on some cruise ships, others have radios available to rent for a nominal fee. Skateboards and surfboards are also prohibited on cruise ships. These two are pretty self explanatory skateboards would be hazardous to not only the rider but also other passengers. Surf boards are provided on cruise ships that have the wave makers and most beach locations have water equipment for rent. The really odd prohibited item is hockey sticks. Now you may ask why this item is on the list, who would bring a hockey stick on a cruise ship? Well there are some cruise ships that have an ice rink in the center of them. Hockey sticks though are not allowed for safety reasons as the game of hockey can be rather violent and dangerous. So leave those surfboards and hockey sticks at home. As with all forms of transportation and public safety there are no guns, knives or weapons of any sort allowed on cruise ships.

Now lets move on to items that you will want to bring on to the cruise ship. One of the perks to cruising is that all your meals, drinks and accommodations are provided. This means the most important items for you to pack is your clothes. Here are a few tips on packing clothes for your cruise. Pack your swim suit , in fact pack two. This way you will always have a dry one. Try to pack your clothes conservatively, as there is not a lot of storage room in your cabin. Here is a trick for packing fewer clothes, pack clothes that can be interchanged. Pack 3 pairs of pants and shirts that can be interchanged to make several outfits. You will also need to pack a few dressier outfits for dinner. On a cruise there is always at least one formal evening where cocktail dresses are required for the ladies and tuxedo's or suits for the gentlemen. Your cruise may have more than one formal evening and possibly even have a smart casual evening where jackets are required for men and dress suits or nice dresses for the ladies. You will also want to pack a beach cover up to get back and forth from the pools. There is also gym areas on the cruise ships so you may want to pack a few workout outfits. Now depending where you are cruising too will depend on the type of clothes you will need to pack. Keep climate in mind when packing. Even if you are cruising to the Caribbean you will want to pack a light jacket as it does get a bit cool on the decks in the evenings.

Most cruise ships have a weight limit of baggage that a person can bring on board. Check with your cruise ship for exact weight amounts most are 200lbs per person. So keep in mind that you may want to wear your heaviest shoes on board to reduce baggage weight. You will also want to pack your bags to use the most out of the space. Place your jewelry in your shoes or stuff your sock down in them. You may also want to pack an empty bag to put all your goodies in at the end of your cruise.

Be sure to pack a carry on bag with a change of clothes, swim suit and any medicine that you may need for the first day as your luggage will be delivered to your stateroom and may not arrive there until later in the evening. You will also want to include your camera in this bag to catch every moment for your memories.

Most cruise ships will also have a welcome package in your stateroom. This usually contains shampoo, condition, moisturizers and even razors for him and her. It is like a hotel on water so all you will really need is a tooth brush. There is no need to pack beach towels as your stateroom will come supplied with both bath towels and pool towels.

The most important thing to take on a cruise is the attitude to have a good time. Cruising is quickly becoming a favorite vacation option and for good reason. You can see the world with out having to change hotels and deal with lines at the airport. Use these packing tips to help make your first cruise or second cruise a smooth sail.