Well, you did. After months or years of advertising and word of mouth, you've booked your first cruise. You made your way through a long chain of choices: date, route (Caribbean, Transatlantic, Mexico, Mediterranean, Hawaii), Cruise Line and its demographics, cruise ships, the cabin type (inside a window, balcony), first and second seats. Now, what to pack for your sailing first? I love to cruise. I understand all the Wall Street Journal profile of the zillions who sold his palaces and his car and now lives permanently, 365, on a number of cruise ships, the rotation among his favorites and host birthday parties for his crew favorite. (And if you haven 't yet booked, you're sweet at the end of a very competitive market and the Internet on the market full of offers to a buyer. Of all the many discount cruises online, my absolute favorite site, the plug free is www.vacationstogo.com. Their site is incredibly comprehensive one-stop shop with links to all the cruiseline, every ship, every possible discount available in the same cruise experience. Even if you've already booked, stop and check out their tips and links .) Here are some tips for packing to ensure that your experience is as fun as the first cruise my all were. Trust me, you're going to love every minute.1. Cabin storage is limited compared to the average hotel room. A small storage room, several small drawers, and whatever else may be clearance under the bed. Less is more.2. Relax. Whatever standard you forget or run out (SPF 50, sunglasses, toiletries, casual clothing, formal Night for the waistband) is available for sale in one of the many stores of the ship. (Hint: in a typical cruise 7 days, 50% discount sales happen suddenly around day 5). So, no need to pack as if you're going to spend eight seasons with the Castaways on Gilligan's Island (How did the Howells good for all those trunks full of props plot device to the SS Minnow for a ' 3 hour cruise '?) 3. Soft-side, folding luggage hold better. But if your Virtual Stateroom Tour shows no safe, consider bringing a hard-side, lockable, theft-resistant bag to store your (less is more) valuables in an easy temptation for your hard work, but low-income, and only human, housekeeping staff.4. With the objects of value, I'm thinking of key rings, wallets (one of the joys of cruising is that it is a cashless society on board, until last night, when you tip the staff), mobile phones and their charger (you may be surprised how many islands you can get a signal on ... for when you want to call home and rave about what a great time to have). Leave the good jewelry at home. Think Casio sport, not Rolex. There is Internet access available on board, so if you're planning to bring a laptop just for email, you can safely leave home as well. You're on vacation! 5. Clothing wise, again, less is more. Cruise hot, you'll spend most of time in surprisingly few changes of shorts, shirts and beachwear. Cargo pockets are a plus, as are all the pockets that zip and fasten securely. For dinner in the dining room (and do not miss those, good food is one of the great joys), khakis and a polo shirt for men and anything cotton casual summer dress for women should be fine. Formal night (s) in the large dining room can be a fun excuse to dress nice and a nod to the traditions of a noble ship time. If you wish to participate but do not want to drag a garment bag, you can prepare complete tuxedo rental onboard. No need to overreact, even though formal Night is entirely optional, not an appeal to Queen Victoria. Women, far from simple black and would be more than good, and colleagues, even if a blazer and tie would be a nice gesture, black tie is not a requirement to claim your rightful first rib and lobster tail. . (If so, could be the motto 'No Shoes, No tux, no service ") 0.6 Do not bring several changes of bathing suits / Whirlpool wear; the set to hang to dry in the shower at night requires more time to dry it up. land Supplex fabric is a good choice, it dries faster than most of T Cotton shirts can remain wet too long; ... T nylon have an advantage beach sandals with ankle straps are good choices for deep sand a good windbreaker comes in handy even in tropical nights when the ship's average speed is 28 mph. And do not forget training gear for fitness of the ship, and for all fitness classes free offer.7. sun hats, sunscreen (SPF 30 to 50), aloe vera gel for a couple of burning inevitable, many of cheap sunglasses to be spent on $ 2 a neck lanyard sport. they will be guaranteed, just as you pull out and admire are facing the ocean by seven bridges up.8. Do not forget to bring your passport. New rules.9. Requirements in their original labeled bottles will Customs happy. There is also a medical clinic equipped with the most common medicines available if you need it.10. Bring a book or two, if you like, but remember there's a big ship's library and there will be a lot of things to do besides read. (Hint: if you xerox the relevant pages of the guides for your itinerary, you can save shlepping books themselves.) Do not carry a diary or journal, pads, pens, etc ... - You're going to have a lot of experiences to write about 11 digital camera (s), rechargeable batteries and chargers compact binoculars (with lines such as shadows) to see the coast and passing ships.12. Cruise Lines officially frown on board to bring in your luggage for alcohol consumption in the room. But many do, with discretion, to keep the tab bar-end cruise down. 13. I was surprised my first cruise to the number of people with $ 40 Wal-Mart walkie talkie. These mega ships are now so vast that it is surprisingly easy to completely lose your family or your spouse, just work your way through the buffet breakfast (unless you already have your Master Plan). So the substitute walkie talkie phones. consider getting a set, and as expedient, organize a central meeting place Plan B for the time to turn around and suddenly ... alone.Again, in case of doubt, 'less is more'. Pack smart, travel light, and have a great first cruise. Search my travel articles here in BC, and soon. Come drop by the table at second stay at times. And do not forget to try the lobster.Andrew Parramore