Packing for a cruise can be time consuming and confusing, even for those who have taken a cruise before. Deciding what you should bring versus what you want to bring can prove slightly challenging. A way to solve this dilemma is to create an essential P&O Cruises packing list.

To save the constant rotation of clothing and other holiday items from the suitcase, it is helpful to create a list of the items you need to bring as well as a list of the items you want to bring. By creating a list of items you need to bring, you can avoid purchasing these vacation necessities onboard for double or triple the price later.

Essential Items

There are some essential items that should go on the need-to-bring list. They will most likely include your P&O cruise documents, airline tickets, passports and visas as well as vaccination certificates if required. A valid driver’s licence is useful in the event you wish to hire a car when onshore. Smaller items such as pre-paid phone cards, guidebooks, a currency converter and business cards to pass along to new cruise friends are always handy to have.

Clothes

For items you want to bring, a few handy packing tips to keep in mind are to bring items that are reusable. For women, this can include a skirt that can be dressed up for formal nights or dressed down for casual daywear. For men, bring a blazer that can be used with a tie for formal nights or with an open neck shirt for a casual evening.

Keep in mind that most P&O cruise ships offer laundry services as well as self-service facilities. This means you can do your washing while onboard so packing items that can be used for more than one event will make for less clothes and more room for souvenirs.

If you’re not keen on bringing clothes for a formal night you don’t have to. It is an option to order room service on that night or take your meal at the Lido restaurant, keeping things casual. The midnight buffet is always informal.

Pack

Never pack anything that you cannot stand to lose forever. This is a good rule of thumb when it comes to deciding to take along expensive items such as electronic equipment and jewellery. If you’ve decided to bring expensive items onboard, make sure to have them locked in the purser’s safe. Ship insurance does not cover items in the room safes. Better still, leave the valuables at home.

Sliding a medium sized, collapsible bag inside your suitcase provides a great way to get your souvenirs home without having to buy another bag at inflated prices. Tape your name, address and phone number inside your suitcase and always carry your passport, airline tickets and other valuable information on your person and not in your suitcase. These tips will come in handy if your luggage is ever lost.