More than anything else, you will probably want to be comfortable on the cruise as well as on the shore, when you get off to see the sights. You will want to take along comfy pairs of walking shorts, well-fitting shoes, and a couple of casual sweaters, just in case the weather is not warm enough. Count out the number of days and nights you’ll be spending on the cruise and be careful to pack plenty of under things. You do not want to run out of clean socks, panties, boxers or briefs. This is of tremendous importance when you are traveling. Organize your packing well in advance and be economic. Figure out which tops you can wear with which bottoms. Will it do to carry just four tee-shirts? You also need to keep laundry in mind. Some upscale cruises do not charge anything extra for laundry service, but most do and laundry on board is pretty expensive.

To put it in brief: men need to pack khakis, a navy blazer, some nice shirts or polo-necked tees or Oxfords, a pair of jeans, and a dark suit, if there is going to be any formal party on the ship. You shouldn’t flaunt your bare chest anywhere but at the pool. Note that your bathing suit should be of the boxer kind.

Women should have some walking shorts, a few pretty tops, fitted jeans, a sundress or two, and a hat. If there will be formal evenings on the cruise you need to throw in stylish evening-wear, including a breezy cotton dress, some linen, maybe cotton-silk, faux-suede or a cocktail dress. It is not proper to move around much in your swimsuit or tiny shorts. Bathing suit cover-ups look more refined, so make sure you take one along if you want to run around with your bathing suit on.

When you are sight seeing at a port you can wear just about everything we’ve mentioned before. But if you are going to a yacht club or golf resort, you should check in advance if some of them have a precise dress code (some still do).

Your good old emery board becomes vital when you do not have it with you, and you should meticulously pack your razor that shaves like no other. Be categorical and systematic. First, look at the bathroom things you’ll take. Then add hair care products, essential medicines, and make up. Go into the bathroom and pick things you’ll need out of every cabinet. But choose only what you cannot do without; leave the rest. All cruises DO NOT provide things like hairdryers. Here is a list of crucial things you must not forget- tweezers, ear-plugs, hand lotion or moisturizer, lens cleaner, band aids, germicidal face wipes, and bug spray. Move on to packing electronics only when you’ve finished with the bathroom.