1.Pack some bottled water in your suitcase. You'll know why when you see how much they charge for water on the ship! Or - buy some water at your first port of call.

2.Pre-cruise stays are key to unwinding before the cruise and avoiding unnecessary stress in getting to the ship on time.

3.Pack lightly. You can always buy extra items onboard or in port. And there are laundry facilities on most ships.

4.Book your cruise early.  

5.Get a passport. It's not required for most cruises, but you should have one anyway.

6.Upgrade to an Oceanview or balcony cabin.

7.Wash your hands to stay healthy.

8.Know where you are going. Get to know in advance the culture, politics, and sites at the ports you will be visiting. This makes your visit much more enjoyable.

9.Schedule your flight home after 1 PM on the day your ship disembarks to allow plenty of time to clear customs and travel to the airport. 

10.Read the ship's daily activities schedule. You will not want to miss out on items of interest to you.  But, remember, you don't have to go to everything!  Plan for some leisure time also!

11.Pack a collapsible bag for the last evening when they take your suitcases away

12.Order a cappuccino at dinner where it is free versus the specialty coffee shops where there is a fee

13.If traveling to the Caribbean and plan on taking in the beaches, get a taxi to take you to the beach.  Ask the locals for the best convenient beaches.  No need for a tour and much less expensive.  Most taxi drivers tell you all about their island along the way.  Just make sure you watch the time and get back to the ship in enough time.

14.Stay away from the drink of the day.  Most other cocktails are less expensive.

15.Don't bother packing a beach towel.  Use the one supplied by the ship and eliminate the sandy, dirty towel on the remainder of the cruise.

16.Don't bring hairdryers, shampoo, conditioner or lotions.  These items are supplied by the cruise line.

17.Bring a small clock for your room.

18.Take a small bag to the pool, just big enough to hold lotion, a good book, and your room key. 

19.Put the clothes and shoes into a separate bag for the very last day you are on the ship so that if you are in a hurry at the last minute (parties the night before), you can just pull it out without thinking. I have seen many barefoot passengers disembarking.

20.Bring a roll of duct tape.

21.Pack a colored Highlighter to highlight the activities you are interested in on the Cruise ship's daily newspaper (Carnival Capers, Princess Patter, etc) so that you don't miss out on anything.

22.Sticky Notes also come in handy, and can be posted on your mirror to remind you of hair, spa appointments, etc.

23.Since cabin bathrooms tend to be small, pack a small can of air freshener, your cabin mate will be glad you did.

24.Always pack my shampoo, cream rinse and other toiletries in large zip lock bags. This way if they happen to open in your suit case it does not get on everything else.  Also pack 1 gallon and two gallon zip lock bags to put wet bathing suits or water shoes in.

25.Pack a disposable flashlight and keep near the night table in case you need to get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. Could prevent injuries.

26.Take a small packet of Kleenex for off the ship excursions.  They don't take up much room and they sure come in handy when there is no toilet paper available.  Take a small container of hand sanitizer too!

27. Obtain a deck plan of your ship and keep it handy the first few days until you get your bearings and can find your cabin

28. Always bring a copy of your address book or print names and address on stick-on labels for those post cards

29. Bring 2-3 spring type clothes pins -- holds the curtains closed against morning sun

30. Pack a collapsible bag for both the beach and extra space for souvenirs.

31. Your cell phone will work on most cruise ships. Contact your cell carrier about "international roaming".

32.  It's okay to order more than one entre or desert from the menu. They really don't care!

* This list was compiled by The Cruiseman & several of his agents. We hope these suggestions help to make your cruise experience even more enjoyable.

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