PHOTO GALLERY Ultimate Cruise Ship. Weighing 54,000 gross tons and stretching over two football fields, the Seven Seas Explorer is no ordinary boat. GAME OBJECTIVES Run a cruise liner business and get rich! Sail the Seven Seas, upgrade your ship, buy new facilities, look after your passengersand entertain them. Not all cruise ship staterooms are created equal. Some offer all the plush comforts of a luxury resort—private verandas, butler service, wet bars, and even a baby.
Ultimate Cruise Packing List Packing for your cruise vacation can be a challenge. The only thing we can think of that you might dread more is unpacking when you get home! NOVA follows a pioneering team of ship builders as they embark on what is advertised to be a milestone in maritime engineering.
You’ll be walking around during shore excursions, and many call for specialized equipment. That means you need to pack comfortable walking shoes and clothing on your cruise, even if you won’t need them on the ship itself. As to how heavy/light to travel, the Caribbean is hot and steamy pretty much all the time, and the Mediterranean in summer can come close. But weather in other popular areas such as Alaska, New England, and inland European rivers are a bit more problematic.
Your best bet is to check the weather forecasts just before you pack for your cruise. And be prepared for rain. What to Pack for a Cruise: Everywhere Else. We sometimes tend to forget that we don’t need to pack a full closet full of personal- care products and accessories in our travel toiletry kit. They actually do sell toothpaste, batteries, and Kleenex most places in the world—and also on the cruise ship, albeit at stiff prices.
The latest packing challenge is with gadgets. I, for one, would have withdrawal symptoms if I couldn’t get online every day, so I would select a cruise ship with the latest Internet connectivity and pack my laptop. On the other hand, if you want to get away from it all, a cruise ship is the ideal place—and you don’t have to pack any devices, converters, and such. When packing for the pre- and post- cruise flights, figure out what goes in your carry- on and what gets checked. You will probably want to check a bag. If you’re big on collecting souvenirs and buying local handicrafts, leave room in your suitcase for what you bring home. You don’t want to get hit with paying for another checked bag or hauling both your regular carry- on and a shopping bag of loot on your flight home.
A Final Word About Your Cruise Packing List. My most essential recommendation for what to pack for a cruise: Don’t get obsessive about it. Do your best and plan to cope with whatever problems you encounter along the way. More from Smarter.
Travel: Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuses every day at Smarter.
New river ship explores hidden Myanmar. River line Avalon's newest vessel is sailing to remote parts of the Irrawaddy River. Join pioneering shipbuilders as they embark on a feat of maritime engineering. Airing February 8, 2017 at 9 pm on PBS. WATCH: A Review of NOVA’s View our family of ships for vacations of a lifetime. Discover the ultimate vacation experience.