Packing and dressing for your cruise

If you are looking at the flight baggage allowance and wondering how on earth you are going to pack enough clothing for a two week cruise with formal nights, be sure to read reviews of the many cruises on offer. Getting an idea how formal a ship is will help you to decide what to take, and checking if the cruise ship offers self service laundry will tell you how much it might cost you to have your clothes laundered. Nearly all ships offer a laundry service, but it can be very expensive. Staterooms on most luxury lines, and just about all suites on the larger lines, will provide you with a bathrobe (not to keep, but to wear during the voyage and leave behind!) so that’s something to check, as it can save a lot of packing room and weight. More relaxed destinations include Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean, while the Virgin Islands, Russia and many parts of Europe and the African coast have more formal requirements for port visits.