| I
became a confirmed packing list maker following my very
first cruise on the SS Norway. I forgot one little grooming
essential that I really really needed--my tweezers. One of
my tablemates forgot to bring her hairdryer. We were both
able to find suitable replacements ashore but we spent two
days at sea before arriving in St. Martin where we could
shop for them.
Aha!
A light went on in my brain! If I had a checklist, I would
be less likely to leave something out of my suitcase. What
simplicity... why hadn't anyone thought of it before? Mind
you, this was a dozen years ago, the Internet was in its
infancy, and there were no cruise-specific packing
lists making the rounds. No lists at ALL, in fact. So I
devised one with everything I could think of and, when
fellow cruisers on Prodigy, AOL, CompuServe, and the
newsgroup rec.travel.cruises heard about it, my email box
was flooded with requests for "the packing list."
Now, mind you, it contains just about everything
anyone would need so there are many items you can just cross
off.
Thus,
my web site was originally created to share the packing
lists! A new career was born and I now lecture on ships
about packing light. Yes... it's true! I can pack everything
I need for a two week cruise in an airline regulation size
carry-on and my backpack purse.
A
cruise is unlike a resort vacation. There's no local
supermarket or drugstore to pop into when you need
something. Although many ships stock a variety of sundries
these days, they can cost considerably more than comparable
items at home.
I
hope the lists and articles linked from the right-hand
column here are helpful to you. If so, let me know. If you
have a suggestion, I'd love to hear that as well.
Bon
Voyage!
Linda Coffman, the Cruise Diva
(& Packing Guru)
*****
The
Cruise Planning Timeline
— Practical
considerations to take care of before your cruise
Cruise
Travel First Aid Kit —
Be prepared for small emergencies.
Have
DUCK Tape, Will Travel
- A cruise travel necessity.
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Cruise
Luggage
What to consider when selecting luggagePacking
for Women
The original
list and a
printable version.
Packing
for Men
Special needs
for guys and a
printable version.
Packing
for Babies
From a Mom & Pediatrician
Planning
& Packing Tips for Cruisers
Organizing
before you even open your suitcase.
Printable Lists:
Packing
It In
Scale down your
needs. It CAN be done!
Cruise
Wear
Your cruise
wardrobe.
Cool
Cruising
Get ready to go
north to Alaska and other cold climates.
Alaska
Packing Suggestions
Special
requirements for Alaska cruises.
HOT
Cruise Tips
Little hints to
make your cruise more enjoyable.
Cruise
Diva's FOCUS is on Cruise Fashion & Packing
- Trim Your
Wardrobe, Pack Light—Be Fashionable & Practical
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