Why packing for a cruise ship is different to other holidays

Packing for a cruise is different to packing for a land-based trip. And while cruisers always crow that they need only unpack and repack once, their real happiness depends on what they put in their case in the first place.

I’ve done it all – embarked on a 10-day cruise without a book to read, taken 100 teabags when there is no kettle in the cabin and left about 15 baseball caps on 15 different ships. These days, I don’t move without a checklist. And two baseball caps.

Essentials such as travel adaptors and charging cables are top of the list but check whether your cabin has US (110V) or Euro (220V) sockets. Smaller individual plugs are easier to use than bulky combination ones, and power boards are generally not permitted.

Also on the list of the bleeding obvious are copies of your passports, visas, flight tickets and credit cards. Sure, they’re accessible on your phone – until you lose your phone. In fact, put everything you hold dear in the safe in your cabin, including house keys, car keys and Woolies’ reward cards. Not because anyone is going to steal them, but because they are all there in one place when you start packing for home.

Don’t forget you will be in the middle of the ocean, at the mercy of the elements. If you want to do a two-kilometre walk on the top deck every morning, then pack a puffer jacket or poncho; it can be as windy as hell. Likewise, a sunhat is essential when sunny but will blow off when the wind gets up – that’s when a beanie is your best friend.

Take a small fluorescent highlighter to mark the things you want to do on the printed daily program. Pop in a pair of binoculars if you’re going somewhere spectacular, like New Zealand’s Milford Sound. Take a small kit for diarrhoea (Imodium, electrolytes) if you’re an adventurous eater. And always take ear plugs because the woodwork in your cabin can creak and groan all night like a poltergeist.

Make sure you read up on your cruise line’s dress codes in case there is something you want to pack for any formal or themed evenings (usually reserved for longer cruises). I was once caught short on Holland America when it came time for the traditional Dutch-themed orange party because who on Earth travels with anything orange? So far, I have managed to avoid pirate nights on Disney ships and white nights on both Caribbean and Carnival for not owning a bandana, cutlass or anything white.

Lastly, take a small carry-on with you. It will come into its own when you have to put your big case out in the corridor for the transfer ashore on the last night aboard. At least you’ll have somewhere to keep toiletries, medications and a good book. If you remembered to pack one.