Cruise Preparation: Essentials, Luggage, Shoes and Clothing Tips — Part 1

Date: 2018-05-02

A cruise is typically at least a week long, and depending on the route, can stretch to 10 days or even two weeks spent on board. If you are flying to join the ship, you will also be staying in hotels before and after — which inevitably means more clothes and luggage. Deciding what to bring can be quite a puzzle. And if you want to buy souvenirs along the way, you will need to keep the airline weight limit in mind from the start.

Travelling Light

When heading off on a cruise — particularly if there is a flight involved — it is worth making a real effort to minimise what you take.

The ideal is one large suitcase to check in and one small bag to carry on board.

Some people use a carry-on-sized roller bag as their only luggage, but there are a couple of issues with this. First, lifting heavy bags into the overhead locker takes effort. Second, since more and more travellers are opting for carry-on only these days, if you board late, you may find there is no overhead space left and end up walking the length of the plane searching for somewhere to stow your bag. Either way, travelling with only a carry-on for a week or more is simply not realistic.

If you are flying with a budget airline, you will be charged for checked luggage. But with a standard airline, you are typically entitled to check one or two bags weighing up to 23 kg per person — so it makes sense to use that allowance.

If you are worried about lost luggage, some people keep one change of clothes in their hand luggage as a precaution. Lost baggage has become far less common than it used to be, though.

When travelling to another country, immigration can take quite a while, and by the time you reach baggage claim, your checked luggage is usually already going round on the carousel. So there is little time advantage to carry-on only anyway.

It is much more comfortable — and more practical — to check your large bag and simply carry a small bag onto the plane. And if you do some shopping in the duty-free, you won't have to worry about the extra items.

With a small bag, you do not even need to put it in the overhead locker — it can sit under the seat in front of you, giving you easy access to everything inside throughout the flight.

Which Shoes to Bring

The first thing to decide when packing clothes is your shoes.

Generally speaking, you will need three pairs: the shoes you travel in, a pair for daytime sightseeing (sandals or trainers), and a pair for formal Gala Nights that work with a dress or suit.

We typically travel in trainers, and pack sandals plus two pairs of dress shoes in our luggage.

Rather than flip-flops, we opt for outdoor-style sandals that properly support the upper foot and ankle — the kind you can walk in all day comfortably. These work well in warm climates and at the beach, and you can wear them from morning to night.

For Gala Nights, we bring whatever suits our formal outfits. Three pairs is generally sufficient, but I add a fourth pair of ballet flats since my silver heeled sandals for Gala Nights feel a bit too sparkly for daytime. Ballet flats go with jeans, dresses, anything — they're easy to slip on when popping out of the cabin too.

Suits and Dresses for Gala Night

Next, sort out your Gala Night outfits.

Depending on the length of the cruise, there are usually around two Gala Nights. Wearing the same outfit to both is perfectly fine. If you would like a change, women can switch just the top or bottom of a two-piece outfit, or choose a dress in a wrinkle-resistant, compact fabric. Full-length gowns are not required.

Europeans tend to go to extremes — you will see people in dazzling, shoulder-baring long gowns, and others in simple daytime cotton dresses. I usually aim for something in between: a midi-length lace dress, for instance. Lace has a quietly dressed-up feel that works beautifully without being over the top.

For men, on the most formal ships such as Cunard where black tie is expected every evening, a suit will not be enough — you will need a dinner jacket or tuxedo. For other cruise lines, a suit is perfectly appropriate for Gala Night.

To make it feel more special, choose a slightly more vivid shirt and tie, and add a pocket square. The same suit can be worn to both Gala Nights, or you can simply switch the shirt and tie for the second one.

In our case, we use a standard charcoal grey business suit, but elevate it with a high-quality pink shirt with cufflinks, a navy tie with a subtle gold pattern, and a matching pocket square. Just changing the shirt colour transforms the whole look into something evening-appropriate.

In any case, it is not worth buying a whole new wardrobe just for a cruise. Choosing a cruise that suits what you already own is really the practical approach.

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