I’ve read so many articles on how to pack for a cruise, the 5 most important things to take with you, etc but I’ve comprised my own list here and maybe someone can benefit from my experiences.
- Do not overpack. I cannot stress this fact enough. There are laundering services on board that can help with your clothing if you need to wash or have something dry cleaned. If you don’t want to pay their prices then use a little hand soap or even body wash to rinse out your clothing and then hang them up in your closet or bathroom. They will dry quickly.
- Make sure you bring your medications and preventive tablets to help with sea sickness, like Dramamine. Read the package to ensure you take motion sickness meds as instructed. Some suggest you take 2 hours prior to boarding your ship so read the labels carefully! Make sure you have Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Excedrin, or whatever pain meds you prefer most. I found that Pepto Bismol and antacids were vital for those moments when I overindulged in the culinary delights offered. Neosporin and Band Aids always come in handy for those small cuts.
- Always pack a swimsuit, flip flops, and sunglasses even if you are going on a cruise to a cold location like Alaska or taking a cruise in winter.
- Passport, driver’s license, and credit cards. We always take a printed copy of each item in case we lose them and need to call the credit card company, DMV, or the govt. offices to request another passport.,
- Charging devices for phones, tablets and laptops and a battery charging pack to use if you go on an excursion.
- Have a formal dress/suit. Most cruises have at least one night where the dining is an elegant experience. It is not black tie so you won'[t be turned away if you don’t have a tuxedo or evening gown, but it is fun to dress up. Even if you only nave a Sunday church dress/business suit and tie you won’t regret that you made the effort to gussy up for a fancy dinner party.
Sea Sickness rocked my boat! Here are some tips to avoid and prevent it along with tips for recovery in case you suffer from it.
On my very first cruise to the Caribbean I became violently sea sick the first day and could not get out of bed. The ship’s doctor recommended that I lie down as getting up would make me nauseated. He also counseled me to drink ginger ale and eat green apples and saltine crackers, which help break up the acids in the stomach. He then suggested that the very next day I return to eating but in small doses so as not to overwhelm my hurting abdomen. Small portions at every meal are the key but I was told to eat often so my stomach had something in it. The lack of food in the stomach can make you feel even more nauseated so in order to keep my metabolism working well I needed to fill up on quality proteins that release carbohydrates slowly to keep sea sickness at bay.
When I felt ready, he told me to get moving and to exercise as quickly as possible, but to start off with low impact exercises, like walking. Exercise diverts blood flow away from the stomach and helps energize. Fatigue and sluggishness occur from laying down too much or too long and can make you feel more tired and sick. So, after every meal I decided I’d walk around the ship at least four times to help with digestion and to help myself feel more human again.