Need some help with packing for your cruise? While packing for a vacation may seem like a no-brainer, there are actually a few guidelines you should follow with respect to packing for cruises.

First, don’t expect to pack extremely lightly and then buy most of your essentials on board. While you will find some available merchandise, toiletries, and even clothing on the cruise ship, most items will very likely be overpriced (because of premiums), and may not be exactly what you’re looking for or what you need.

Find out whether the cruise you’ve selected is formal, casual, or both, and then pack accordingly. Keep in mind that in most cases, formal means “semi-formal” on cruises. This means that instead of donning your best tuxedo and fancy ball gown, opt for a nice suit and a pretty cocktail dress instead. Think of dressing for a nice church wedding, and you’ll be set. If you’re on a formal cruise but don’t want to dress up, eat at different times, ask about casual meals, or order room service.

Pack non-bulky, lightweight clothes that don’t wrinkle easily, and that you can wear several times on the ship. For example, a nice pair of dark jeans can be dressed up or down, a lightweight men’s blazer can also be dressed up or down, and a simple black skirt can be worn with different tops, blouses, and jackets for different looks.

Plan to do laundry at least once during your cruise, as most cruises have self-serve laundry facilities on board. This way, you can avoid over-packing, particularly if you’re going on a longer cruise. Another way to cut down on the amount of clothing you pack is to plan to wear any souvenir clothing you know you’re going to buy on the cruise, which will save you some space, and won’t force you to “make room” for your purchases for the trip home. For toiletries, use smaller containers and sizes, like travel-size shampoo, soap, and toothbrush/toothpaste.

Pack according to where your cruise ship will take you, and what season it is. For example, if you’re on a tropical cruise (no matter what time of year), pack very light cotton layers. If you’re not sure, find out what the climate is like in that area and at that time of year, or ask your cruise agent.

It’s not recommended to pack any of your most expensive items, as you’ll likely worry about them getting lost or stolen for the entire cruise. Leave them at home and bring along cheaper substitutes. Keep all your necessary valuable items—money, documents, identification, medicine, camera, cell phone—with you on your carry-on.

Finally, check with a cruise agent to make sure you’re aware of any special requirements or restrictions (for example, most lines won’t let you bring alcohol with you) with respect to packing for your specific cruise.

Depending on what type of cruise you go on, and where
you are going, you will want to make certain that you
pack the correct type of clothing. Here are some
things that you might want to take with you on your
cruise:

Formal clothing

Most cruises have at least one formal dining night, so
you will want to make certain that you pack something
appropriate. A long dress or skirt and top are
appropriate for women, for men a tuxedo is a good
idea.

Dressy clothes

Even when it’s not a formal night, you are expected to
dress nicely for dinner if you are eating in the main
dining room. Something that you might wear for
business would be appropriate, no shorts or jeans.

Casual clothing

Again, depending on where you go, you will want to
make sure that you have clothing that you can wear
around the ship. A bathing suit, shorts, comfortable
shoes, short-sleeved tops, and a cover up are good for
warm destinations. If you are going somewhere that is
a cooler climate, like Alaska, you will want to take
jeans, sweatshirts, and jackets with you.

It’s always a good idea to check with your travel
agent to find out what the dress code is for the ship
so that you are comfortable and you fit right in with
everyone else. There is nothing worse than feeling out
of place because you didn’t bring the right attire.
When you are prepared, you can enjoy your cruise and
not worry about wearing the wrong thing.