How to Pack for a Bermuda Cruise

How to Pack for a Bermuda Cruise

Carnival Cruise Lines

If your idea of cruising to Bermuda includes visions of chandeliered dining rooms, tuxedos and afternoon tea, time for a reality check. Today's ocean liner is anything but your father's cruise ship. Sure, surroundings are elegant, but not every cruise line expects passengers to dress as though they were heading for a Titanic redux casting call. Before you grab a suitcase, consult cruise line literature to guide your wardrobe selections and then adopt tips from this article as you prepare to sail off to this jewel of British ambience in the Atlantic Ocean.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:
  • Suitcase Cruise line dress code Backpack Fanny pack Casual wear Formal wear
  • Suitcase
  • Cruise line dress code
  • Backpack
  • Fanny pack
  • Casual wear
  • Formal wear
Step 1
Use the practical portion of your brain to select items for your Bermuda cruise. Opt for light, wrinkle-free fabrics over linens and silks, include a few loose-fitting items to offset too many midnight buffets combined with excessive lounging. If you've got separates made of soil-repelling material, be sure to include them.
Step 2
Follow the advice of the U.S. military: roll your clothes rather than folding them for insertion into your suitcase. Maximize space by rolling underwear and tucking items into shoes and purses to conserve space. Attain a Zen-like mastery of cruise ship packing by selecting just three colors for your entire travel wardrobe. Everything will match, even if you dress in the dark.
Step 3
Pack a variety of daywear to take you from activity to activity as you cruise to and from Bermuda. Include several bathing suits, shorts, lightweight shirts, cover-ups, sundresses, flip-flops and floppy hats. Wear jeans on the plane transporting you to the ship so you don't have to pack them.
Step 4
Consider formal dress optional if you're sailing Norwegian or Windstar freestyle cruises. Booked on Crystal, Cunard, Regent or another luxury liner? Use the company's guidelines to determine whether to bring formal garb. Ask about onboard tuxedo rental; some ships offer this service. Finally, you may feel undressed without them, but leave the diamonds and Rolex watches at home so you can relax and have fun without worrying about lost valuables.
Step 5
Adopt Midwest winter etiquette for evening strolls on the deck. Layer garments to avoid bringing outerware. Tote a casual jacket for day and a dressy one for night as weather can get cool, even off the coast of Bermuda. Substitute a luxurious pashmina wrap and you'll be ready for everything from the midnight buffet on deck to a church service in the ship's chapel on Sunday morning.
Step 6
Add a backpack to your gear. Put everything you can't live without in it: identity papers, eyeglasses, medicines, one complete change of underwear, mobile phone, cash, credit, medical and debit cards, camera and backup card plus batteries, film (if you're not digital), rechargers for PDAs and a collapsible umbrella for infrequent sun showers. Study each item you plan to put into your suitcase and ask this question: Can I obtain this on board? If the answer is yes, leave it home.

Tips & Warnings

 
Are you confident enough to leave home without a handbag? Bring a fanny pack instead so you never have to worry about where on the ship you last left your purse.
 
Are you confident enough to leave home without a handbag? Bring a fanny pack instead so you never have to worry about where on the ship you last left your purse.

Article Written By Gail Cohen

Based in Chicago, Gail Cohen has been a professional writer for more than 30 years. She has authored and co-authored 14 books and penned hundreds of articles in consumer and trade publications, including the Illinois-based "Daily Herald" newspaper. Her newest book, "The Christmas Quilt," was published in December 2011.

Write for Trails.com
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