What I’d Pack for a Cruise

I’m a huge fan of those what’s in my suitcase style posts and I’ve written a number of packing guides from what to take on a fitness bootcamp to what to pack for sin city. This post is all about those essentials items you need to squeeze into your suitcase for a luxury cruise. Now, I have been on a cruise before (a Caribbean one in case you were wondering) and I love them because you can fit in the maximum amount of fun into one trip and I prefer the sea any day to boarding a plane. However, cruises are notoriously difficult to pack for as they are all kinds of holidays rolled in to one. First there is the standard sunbathing attire for those lazy days on deck, not forgetting a few formal outfits for the evening (think really dressy). Oh and then there is the day trips so don’t forget to pack a few looks that are city chic. You might want to burn off a few of those delicious cruise ship dinners with a workout so don’t forget your gym gear. Have I missed anything?

The trick to packing for a cruise is to pick a few key pieces that you can mix and match (think Gok Wan). This cuts down the amount of garments you need to squeeze in to the case while maximising your outfit options without compromising on space in the case.

The Bardot Top-You simply can’t go wrong with a few bardot tops. Ideal to throw on over your bikini when you are on deck with shorts but perfect for day trips, a summery white top is the ultimate in versatility. Remember to roll these up rather than fold them for optimum use of space.

The One Piece Swimsuit-I love how popular one piece swimsuits have become. Not only are they ideal for sunbathing and relaxing on the ship, you can add a pair of denim shorts for a day trip.

The Shoulder Bag-Idea to take on day trips as you can wear it cross body and keep it close to you and ideal to match all of your evening outfits, a neutral coloured shoulder bag will go with everything.

Nude Heels-Shoes take up a lot of valuable space in your suitcase and one way to get around taking ten pairs to complement every outfit in your holiday wardrobe is to invest in one pair of fabulous nude heels.

Fancy Flats-Opt for a pair of dressy gold flats that can be worn night and day.

Trainers-You are going to want a comfy pair of trainers that you can wear on active day trips not forgetting that occasional trip to the gym.

Denim shorts-These shorts can be the foundation of many an outfit and are a must have for your cruise closet.

If you are going on a cruise this year, JD Williams have put together a handy infographic that you can use as a packing checklist. Here are the eight outfits you need for your days at sea.

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Cruise Packing Guide by http://www.jdwilliams.co.uk