What all should I take on a four night, five day cruise? What do they allow?

Question

My husband and I are going on a cruise the end of September and we have never been on a cruise before, so I was just wondering what all I should take with me and what all they allow you to take with you. I'm sure about anything you want but I don't actually know. We are doing the Imagination Carnival fun ship 5 day western caribbean cruise from Miami. We will visiting Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios, has anyone been? Is it a lot of fun?

Answer 1

lots of swimming suits.

cute little dresses.

one fancy outfit.

beach cover-ups.

casual clothes.

a jacket.

i have done two of those cruises.

hard to get bathing suits dry.  lots of sunning on the deck.

it's warmer down there than it is here.

so shorts also.

Answer 2

Go to the Carnival website and they have a section on Frequently Asked Questions, that should answer most if not all of your questions. Only suggestion I have is take something warm,  at night when the ships going at a pretty good clip it can get chilly

Answer 3

I think you should take me.  I will sleep on a pool chair so you wont have to worry about me in your room.  Plus I will sneek into the buffets so you don't have to buy my food.  Its win win.  i get to go on a cruise and you get to tell everyone you brought a little poor girl some happieness.

Answer 4

If you take an prescription meds, take 2 weeks worth.  Put half in your checked luggage and half in your carry-on luggage.  Be sure the meds are in the original bottles w/the prescription label.

Get one or two of the XXL Ziploc bags to take home the yucky, sandy clothes.

Take any over-the-counter meds you might need.  While the ships have on-board gift shops, the items are expensive.  Take a few packages of Dramamine just in case.  Start taking just before you board to prevent motion sickness.

Less is more when packing.  You will have to handle your luggage at the port.

Tag your luggage handles with colorful yard or plastic marking tape from the hardware store.  There is an enormous amount of black luggage in the port.

Don't book your return flight home too soon after scheduled debarkation.  This is a long process.

Take a good amount of $1, 5, and 10 in cash for shopping in the markets and paying taxi cabs.

If you are soda drinkers, I highly encourage you to purchase the Fountain Drink card.  All of the soda you can drink for a fixed amount.  Otherwise, $1.75 per can.  Bar drinks will run $4-12 each.

Answer 5

Carnival is fun, I had a great experience on the Valor ship to the Eastern Caribbean.

As per what to bring, you aren't allowed to bring your own alcohol on board with you. You can buy it in the ports but they will keep it and give it back to you at the end of the cruise. Don't need to bring any food or drinks. Water is safe to drink. Pop is no free but what is free is lemonade, fruit punch, iced tea, hot tea, coffee and apple juice.

There will probably only be one formal night on a five day cruise. To this dinner you are expected to dress up, suits for men, cocktail type dress for women. Its a fun night, you usually get to meet the captain and get free drinks!!

It should be warm and sunny so bring sunscreen. Don't forget a hat.

For the ports the cruise offers shore excursions, which are very expensive. What we do on our cruises is just take a cab to the beach. The Caribbean beaches are beautiful. Great snorkeling, scupa diving etc. The ocean is filled with tropical fish, turtles etc.

When departing from the ship, unless you are catching a flight home early that day, don't rush to get off. Have a nice breakfast, and just get off around 10 or so.

Enjoy your cruise!

Answer 6

First make sure that you have a passport if you need it. Bring lots of money, food is free on the cruise but the drinks cost alot. Make sure you have your regular essentials...toothpaste, stuff like that. And you will need formal or semi formal wear. One of the nights on the cruise you have to dress for dinner. Take plenty of film, batteries, digital media cards, what ever you use. I went on the carvinal ensenada tour and had lots of fun, I just wish I knew that everything was expensive, I would have been more prepared.

Answer 7

Go to Cruisecritic.com  and you will get all the info you need. This is the best place for cruise research.

Answer 8

bring a warm sweater. those places are experiencing unseasonly cold weather

Answer 9

the cruise that i went on i froze to death...i think many cruisers did because we was all wearing the big white robes everywhere, even to the shows after dinner so bring a warm outfit just in case.

Answer 10

I took a 4 day cruise on the Imagination in November of 2005.  We cruised from Miami to Key West and Cozumel, Mexico.  This was in November and it was in the 80s every day we were there (and incredibly humid in Miami and Key West).  The Imagination is a great boat and we had a great time.  I know others who have taken the same cruise you are and they especially loved Grand Cayman.  I think you will enjoy your cruise.  

You may want to check Carnival's website for a list of prohibited items (I assume this is what you are asking about).  They have a list up there somewhere, I have seen it before, of things that are allowed and things that aren't, as well of a list of suggestions of things you may want to pack just-in-case (like a light jacket, etc).

Oh and some people have said to bring tip money.  Carnival gives you the option now to pay your tips up front when you pay for the cruise itself.  I highly recommend this (I did this when I went), that way you don't have to lug a purse around everywhere because the tips are already paid!!!  

Hope this helps!  Happy sailing!!

Answer 11

on a cruise for dinner they usually have causal, semi- formal and formal night. so clothes to dress for them. i say on 4 nights they will have one formal night which is the last night..

bathing wear.. sun glasses..

food will be free pretty much so bring an appetite

drink are not free.. but you charge everything to the cabin

and bring money to tip... usually for waiter.. head waiter.. cabin boy.. you pay that on last night..

but just have fun .. cruises are great

passport of course.. meds.. money