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Choosing a Cruise

Choosing the right cruise is a personal matter. The magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, has published a special section on how to pick the perfect ship.  The issue names the cruise ships and lines for families with kids, sybarites, students, foodies, night owls, romantics,nature lovers, spa goers, and landlubbers. It’s worth studying if you’re going on your first cruise.

Speaking of cruising, Crystal Cruises has been voted best cruise line by Conde Nast Traveler readers. For a record 15th year, Crystal Cruises was voted the “Best Large-ShipCruise Line” by readers. Crystal’s overall score of 93.1 topped all cruise lines in the large and small-ship categories. The luxury line’s 15 “wins” is unprecedented by any cruise line or hotel in the world. The line is renowned for service, space, quality, and choices. 

Packing for a Cruise

Plan color scheme: Choose a color scheme well in advance of departure and build from there. Accessorize dresses with scarves or overblouses. Skirts and slacks look different with various tops. Buy new wardrobe items only if they can be used with two or three outfits.

Shore Excursions: These call for layering clothes in case of weather changes. In the tropics. sudden rainstorms may occur and in northern and southern coasts in summer, you should take a warm raincoat or windbreaker. Pack a pair of already broken-in walking shoes for unpaved roads or street markets and short hikes. Dress conservatively on shore–don’t stand out as a “rich American.” Tuck a $20 bill in yhour shoe for emergencies.

Checklist: Make a checklist so you won’t forget necessities, such as evening wear, shoes, shorts, casual and dressy slacks and skirts, short-sleeved shirts or blouses for daytime, exercise wear, and a bathing suit. Don’t forget socks, stockings, pajamas, slippers, underwear, sweater, scarves, and accessories.

Carry-on Items: When you depart,carry on your person cruise tickets, passport, photo ID, medication, jewelry, sunglasses, raincoat, travelers checks, travel insurance papers, camera. Wear clothes for the air trip to the port and for the first night onboard the ship. Your luggage may not get to your cabin for several hours after departure.

Don’t worry if you forget something–your cabinsteward can probably find it for you or you can buy it at the ship’s store or in the first port of call. Bon Voyage–have a fantastic time!