Packing for a 14 night cruise - any tips?

[StarryEyedMama]

Hi All,

My DD and I are going away on a 14 night cruise and I'm wondering what on earth and how much to pack?

There is a launderette service which will be helpful but I don't want to spend half of my holiday washing.

Also, don't have "many" clothes so may have to go shopping. If anyone has an idea of a packing list please do let me know!

TIA

Are you going somewhere hot or cold ?
Some suggestions anyway:-
Swim gear
Something really glam and smart for evening/high heels(?)
Casual clothes
Walking shoes/trainers
something warm
something cool
Umbrella
Sun cream

Need to know where you are going first please!

Done cruises before so can help but what ports are you going to?

I'm sure I read a handy tip to pack gaffa tap to stop the clothes hangers moving and making a noise when the ship is moving, but I might have imagined this.

My tip, 2 small clutch bags, one black/glittery and one ivory/silvery, for the evening and they will go with most outfits.

Take as much dressy clothes as you can. We were on a 14 night cruise last summer and I really wish I had taken much more evening wear than I did. Nobody seems to make much of an effort during the day, its just like a normal holiday, but in the evening, it was dress central. Depends on which cruise you are going on though. We went on Thomson Dream, very relaxed, but some of the ladies had very nice attire of an evening.

Hi All

Thanks for your advice so far.

I'm going on this cruise

I have two main concerns/queries

Firstly: I need to work out the "amount" of clothes to take, as in how many trousers/tops etc and if I don't have enough I'll have to go shopping

Secondly, I'm quite a large girl and I don't have much evening attire, and I'm not really comfortable in high heels etc. I'm thinking of smart black trousers and a few of dressy tops and I also have a black maxi dress which I thought might work - what do you think?

Any help much appreciated!

Looks lovely. I'd keep to some base colours for bottom half and some flats pump shoes which will look nice with trousers or leggins with big floaty tops. Floaty patterned tops ideal as they can pack quite small and don't look too wrinkled, can jazz up for evening or look nice for day with jeans and 3/4 length mac / coat for sightseeing. You are going to look have to look snazzy at these ports of call. I'd take a lightweight coat for going at that time of year. It can be really nice or a bit rainy. Again, plain, either black or another base colour. Take a couple of nice lightweight cheery coloured scarves so you can jazz up a plain day look over a black mac. Not wool. Cotton. Big bag.

this sort of thing, layers and stuff ..
www.dailymakeover.com/blogs/beauty-street/Shu_Pei_Qin_sm.jpg base colours boring blacks white but look nice with sunshaded and scarf, big chunky bag

Don't like the tassels on that scarf, but thats cuase i got large norks and it draws attention to my chest. Go for one without tassels if you are not a skinster!

I am so jealous!!! I have been lucky enough to go on 2 cruises in the last few years. (sadly unless I win the lottery, I will not be going on one again for a long while)

You can pack less then you think. For example one pair of dressy shoes (it doesn't matter if they are heels or not) for the formal evenings, no-one notices if they are the same pair. I took one pair of black heels (only low as I too don't do heels) and I wore those to dinner, formal or not as you still have to look smart even when not an official formal night. I took 2 dresses and one pair of dressy black trousers and a couple of skirts with various tops which were fine to wear. Obviously I took casual clothes that you would normally wear whilst holiday sightseeing/sunbathing.

You will have a fab time, the staff can't do enough for you and you will visit lots of interesting place. If you need someone to carry your bags, just let me know!! :)

I'd go with 4-5 pairs of 3/4 length or linen trousers and tops that you can wear with those. That should see you through port days. A couple of pairs of shorts that will see you through sea days plus swimmers.

Your maxi dress will do you fine. Is it a smart one for formal nights?

Smarter trousers and a smarter top for dinner but if you can't be bothered to dress up remember to just have dinner in the buffet.

Resign yourself to the fact that you will have to probably do one wash during your trip. Save it for a sea day as your ports are good so you don't want to miss any of that. Or send a few bits to the ships laundry service. Ok, a bit expensive but needs must.

As for shoes I'd take a pair of flip flops, a pair of pumps if you don't do heels and a pair of trainers.

I have only ever taken two evening outfits, and been careful not to mess them up.

Thanks all for your advice. Does anyone else have any suggestions of items to take/how much etc?

wotznotnow do you think this jacket would work?

I suggest taking separates so that you can mix and match, wear different jewellery and footwear with each ensemble. Pretty jewelled sandals can be worn for days or evenings. Have a small evening bag for when you go to dinner and entertainment on the ship, and a good sized shoulder bag for the days, excursions etc which will also double as your hand luggage. You probably won't need a beach towel unless you are going to a beach or aquapark on shore, ships usually provide pool towels for sunbathing on the ship only. Comfortable footwear for sightseeing.

Take sanitary protection with you. On-board shops only open at certain times of day, and if you are at sea with no access to shops it can be a bit difficult if you or DD need it suddenly. Panty liners are useful to extend the wear of your pants, if you put clean pants with liner on after your shower before dinner, you can put in a fresh liner in the same pants to wear next day.

For a fortnight, I would make use of the on board laundry. I'd calculate enough clothes to make seven different outfits for day wear, plus what you will wear to travel in on the first day, and then add in evening wear, swim wear, foot wear and under wear. Add a coat or jacket and a cardi or sweatshirt if weather is a bit cool. Evenings at sea can definitely be cool, not so much in port. May need a cagoule or mac as well.

Starry that jacket looks lovely. Just the thing. I went for a weekend trip to Nice and Cannes and all the women looked très chic. So yes.

I had only packed a cheap waterproof mac from millets and I wouldn;t allow myself to wear it. I was so ashamed and wet!

The famous quote is when you travel take half the clothes and twice the money. I really don't know how much to suggest that you take, I always take too much.

OOOh we are going on the same cruise but on Oceana on 16th April ! So am reading all this advice too ! I know we have 4 formal night one of which is black and white night so Im going to make sure I take something for that. Ive been getting advice from cruise critic and the P and O forum too.

Most people seem to dress up but maxi dress/smart trousers seem to be fine.

What sort of weather are you expecting ?