What to Pack for
Your Hawaiian Cruise
What to bring and the things you won't need
Of course it's always tough to decide what goes in your suitcase, whatever the vacation. Yet cruising brings some different challenges.
The weather can be very varied, from howling gales (hopefully rarely!) to wonderful sunshine, reflected off the ocean.
There are usually many dining options, from delightfully formal, to casual and relaxing.
Entertainment will be varied, with the opportunity to show off a ball gown and tux (really, you can!), to laid back leisurewear, for those loose, loose yoga sessions!
And we haven't even started to explore the possibilities for all those exciting shore excursions. It can be pretty blowy too up an extinct (or otherwise!) volcano. And don't forget what you are going to wear while you browse the stores - you just can't wear anything you know!
So, that's just a start on the clothing front - and there's more to think of as well. So, let's make a start with the ladies. Here's some thoughts on what you will need, and maybe a few ideas on what you can leave behind.
Cruise Packing the Ladies Must Consider
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*Digital Camera with plenty of memory cards!
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*Video Camera (especially with children along)
- Headgear that protects from the sun
- Suitable shoes for going ashore (remember you might be tempted by a hike too!)
- Your very best skin mosturizer to deal with effects of the drying breeze and sun
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Folding rucksack suitable for when you're on the hike!
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Warm gear for the excursions and sea breezes
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And don't forget some long-sleeved gear as well as all those short-sleeves - you never know when you will need them
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Something to relax with - a great book; your i-Pod (fully loaded); Sudoku even!
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Excellent quality glasses - and not just the designer label, they will have to have a great UV protection too.
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A wrap you can use with a dress
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Beautiful outfits and gowns for those extravagent evenings - check your numbers
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Poolside wear - depending on the type of cruise and your own daring
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Enough shoes to get you through the length of the cruise, for fully experiencing all the events on offer (don't forget the dancing!)
- A full range of casual gear to cover all the extremes of your energy (if you're going Royal Caribbean, don't forget the climbing outfit!)
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Strong sun protection, depending on your skin type, you might need to start with at least an SPF 30
*If travelling alone - otherwise, it's probably a 'guy thing', trust me!
What the Guys Need to think Of
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*Digital Camera with plenty of memory cards!
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*Video Camera (especially with children along)
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A full range of casual gear to cover all the extremes of your energy (if you're going Royal Caribbean, don't forget the climbing outfit!)
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Enough shoes to get you through the length of the cruise, for fully experiencing all the events on offer (don't forget, she'll probably want to dance!)
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Something you'll look OK in by the pool - if you can do Speedos, fine, if not get real and think carefully. Don't put someone off their lunch
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General leisurewear that will help you be cool and look pretty cool too!
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A nice casual jacket for casual evenings
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Cool trousers that can be used on and off ship
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Don't forget some long-sleeved gear as well as short sleeves, for all sorts of reasons
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Suitable shoes for going ashore (remember you might be tempted by a hike too or even one of those downhill mountain bike things - yea!)
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Posh gear, depending on the type of cruise you go on - maybe even patent for the tux evenings
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A nice sweater maybe for taking the air at midnight after your exquisite dinner and dance
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A great rucksack or other designer backpack for onshore excursions
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Relevant toiletries, especially for sun protection (SPF 30 to start with) and making you look and feel good (well, good enough anyway)
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A neat hat, not based on what it says on the front, more what it does to protect you from the harsh rays - that goes for the sunnies too!
*This is probably your job, so don't screw up!
And Don't Forget the Kids
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Sun protection for little ones needs to be bigtime, say around SPF 30-50 (do you know that, on average, kids get up to half their sun exposure in a year just on vacation - and my guess is that this does not refer to cruising, when it's probably way higher)
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I didn't mention the hat did I - well now I am!
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Lots of clean socks - you don't want to wash stuff, do you?
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Shoes that they can walk in, play in, get wet in, look smart in even
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Clothes that will act as coveralls in case they get sunburnt or cold
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Maybe a cheap camera - digital is best, so that they don't waste film and there are some excellent cheap digital ones out there now
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Practical swimwear that works for them
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For smaller kids, remember that those onshore excursions are going to be long and maybe tiring, so make it easier on yourself and take something to transport them
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Make sure that kids have some of their own things to comfort them at times - there will be loads of distractions to amuse them and they will need to feel at home some of the time
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