Do you have packing issues – sorry – I should rephrase that for modernity’s sake, would you say that you are packing-challenged? I know I used to be. You’d know it too if you saw what I took with me on a “backpacking” trip. Two suitcases and a giant hockey bag! Overpacking out of excitement is something many of us often (or so I tell myself), but don’t fret. I have some tips here that might help you on your vacation or cruise.
Febreze. If you’re even somewhat sensitive to smells or dislike stale air, bring a bottle of this stuff. It’ll freshen up the more stale areas of your bathroom, or combat the smells of food, perfume, or whatever crazy stuff can go on in the halls.
Ginger. You can use it to cleanse your palate when having sushi, or use candied ginger to help remedy motion sickness. Today’s big boats have less, but if you get motion sickness, you’ll need to get over it – and ginger works!
Don’t stuff things in. Your suitcases will fit a lot more if you fold clothes as flat s they can be, kind of like when they’re new. If you don’t, not only will you be able to fit less, the wrinkles will really set in, giving you more work to do after you unpack.
If you’re a couple, mix your clothes up a little. Each suitcase should contain items of clothing belonging to both of you. Why? In case one suitcase gets lost or misplaced, you’ll have things to wear!
Check the dress codes. If you’re planning on having dinner with the crew and there’s a formal dress code, plan accordingly. If you don’t plan on doing that sort of thing, and simply want to lounge on the deck – bring appropriate clothing.
Don’t pack everything. Figure out what your itinerary is like, and plan your clothing and other needs based on that. You could lay out your outfits on the bed, maybe on the shower rod, and look at them sequentially.
Check if your cruise has onboard laundry. Most large ships do, and most of the gay cruises in 2009 are also using those ships, so in this case, pack a little lighter, and buy some souvenir shirts along the way!
Go easy on the “just in case” scenarios. I remember when I told myself, “what if I’m backpacking Thailand and I don’t find any clean water? This giant water purifying kit from the makers of the ultimate juice squeezer will save my life!”
Make sure your bags remain closed. You could pay for that plastic wrap service at the airport, but cheaper solutions might be to use wire tires and duct tape. Admittedly, duct tape is not the most elegant solution, but at least it won’t be your underwear on the conveyor belt.
Double tag your bags. You really don’t want to take any risks when it comes to your luggage. Put on an extra set of tags with your information, just in case.
Suitcase identity crisis! Everyone has the same brands and styles of luggage these days, so what can you do to set yours apart? Why not decorate it? Use oil-based paints, spray paints, anything that doesn’t come off. Some people have started to put their internet names like Funkmast3r, but do what you want, go crazy! Especially on themed cruises and gay cruises, this will really help you stand out.
