Cruises - kitting yourself out

Dressing Up for the Holidays

If you're a family embarking on your annual holiday no doubt your check list of things to pack is positively huge and your luggage will be full to absolute bursting point! But with some careful planning you can take everything you need to make your voyage on royal caribbean cruises a successful one and still have room for some souvenirs at the end of your vacation! Obviously if you're planning on heading to one of the world's warmer destinations with your cruise deals you quite possibly won't need to pack as much clothing, although it is worth remembering that dinner is a major event each evening onboard ship and you'll no doubt want to look the part as a family. Life on this style of package is fairly informal and for the most part you'll be fine in shorts, T shirts and summer dresses on most cruises and not to worry if you forget to pack a particular item of clothing as every vessel has a whole host of shopping outlets aboard ship. If you plan to sunbathe by one of the numerous deck pools, which is of course a popular past time, don't forget to pack your sun protection cream and sun hat, cruise deals ruined by sunstroke are, it's sad to say, an all too common occurrence! Think carefully about your destination and the climate you are likely to encounter, after all the best way to enjoy Princess cruises is to be fully prepared for every eventuality.

Comedy Live

"My friend and I had a superb cruise in March 2006, the sfatt were so friendly and helpsful the food was even better. I loved the ARTS CLUB the painting, the music and talks." - Marriott, Ashford on 10th Jun 2006 (Fred. Olsen Cruises)

Through Winter and Through Summer

Of course will so many different destinations available you may well find yourself needing to pack far more than summer attire, after all it's ludicrous to imagine winter cruises around the Baltic would require anything less than decent winter clothing! Naturally the ships offer the very latest in heating systems, where light clothing will suffice, but what about when you venture out to the deck area or go on an excursion when you dock at a Bulgarian port? You're going to need some serious protection from the cold! MSC cruises sail frequently to the Baltic and Black Sea areas and with the location's breathtaking winter scenery, their Christmas voyages prove to be very popular. The photographic opportunities they provide are amazing and with cruise deals representing such excellent value for money you can buy yourself a new camera to pack in your luggage! Taking the correct clothing means you can really get the most out of the adventure and irrespective of the line you are on, be it NCL Cruises or one of their competitors being prepared is the way to go! It's an easy equation to work out, for colder climes make sure you take some decent Gortex hiking boots, protective waterproof clothing and hiking related accessories and for cruises where the temperature is less likely to be inclement, thin cotton clothing, hat and sunglasses will suffice. By their very nature storage space is always at a premium in the cabin's wardrobe but by packing sensibly it will be far less of a crush.

Excellent Epernay restaurant

"The entertainment was excellent with plenty of activities throughout the day.The highlight of this cruise to Hamburg was the send off from Hamburg Port, it was a unique experience having hundreds of boats and the people of Hamburg line the river to see us off." - Reddy, Reading on 20th Jul 2006 (Cunard Cruises)

Looking the part

If you're familiar with cruise deals on a leisure vessel you are no doubt well aware that one of the main events of any voyage is being invited to dine at the captain's table and with invitations being on a pot luck basis there is every chance you will be the honoured guests of the captain! In any event dining on a cunard cruises ship is always a glamorous event with the ladies looking resplendent in lovely evening dresses and gentlemen in smart jackets and ties, it may sound formal but believe you and me it makes for a memorable dining experience on these cruises. Dressing for the occasion is somewhat of a departure from our regular lives and to be honest it's what life on a leisure voyage is all about, escapism! P&O Cruises certainly fulfil all the criteria when it comes to providing passengers with an unforgettable experience, with their illustrious heritage conjuring up images of gents in tuxedos, sipping strawberry daiquiris on an oriental voyage. Fortunately cruise deals have made this high society lifestyle accessible to all of us, even if it is for a brief amount of time, but the experiences and memories will certainly last forever. fred olsen cruises have long been advocates of traditional voyages and their seasonal packages are hotly anticipated by loyal passengers who adore dressing for the occasion. Magical cruises can be had by all on a luxury liner, just make sure you pack all your finery!

Night life aboard QV

"food chioce was exceptional,cabin was spacious,comfortable and clean,activities werw aimed at all age groups, fantastic holiday and look forward to the next." - brown, GT YARMOUTH on 17th Jul 2006 (Island Cruises)

Aruba to Alaska

Cruise deals are tailor made for you and therefore you should tailor your wardrobe to suit the voyage in question and aside from the clothing think about the other items you are likely to need both aboard ship and the multitude of ports you are likely to visit. Winter voyages to Canada, Alaska or Greenland require you to take some strong lip balm and a hip flask whereas caribbean cruises would benefit from the inclusion of strong sun protection cream and of course some form of insect repellent! And whilst it may seem a mundane topic, make sure you keep all important documents to hand! Passports, tickets, credit cards and travellers cheques are an essential part of cruises and whilst they are undoubtedly replaceable, if lost, it's a hassle we could all do without when you're trying to enjoy your well deserved vacation. Leisure voyages are all about fun and entertainment and celebrity cruises certainly don't fall short in this department, so if you're booked onto one of their packages please make sure you take enough outfits for every night! With destinations as diverse as Aruba and Alaska what you pack will have a significant impact on your holiday and also on your back! Just think how many kilos those unnecessary outfits add. Cruise deals provide the perfect opportunity for you to enjoy yourselves and if standing on an icy deck in the Arctic taking in the breathtaking scenery is your thing it's essential that you're suitably attired in leisure clothing to endure the harshest of cruises.

Ventura - Ramblas

"Entertainment on board was very good. Our cabin was basic level but lacked nothing in terms of comfort and was spacious enough. Over all Costa offer good value for money and we will cruise with them again as long as they keep the smaller ships in operation."-Hey, Barnsley on 13th Jul 2006 (Costa Cruises)