What should I bring on a cruise to the Bahamas?

Question

I noticed on someone else's question for Jamaica cruise is that you had to wear formal after 6:00pm. Is this true for Bahamas too?

And what should I bring on the cruise? This is my first time going.

Here are a few things I have:

Clothes [casual]

Swimsuit

Swim cover-up

Sunscreen

Sunglasses

Ipod

Tennis shoes

Flip Flops

Hat

Light Jacket

Purse

Personal toiletries

anything else I'm missing? [my mom is bringing the stuff such as sunscreen ect.]

Answer 1

It depends on the cruise line; for some, "formal" means no jeans or shorts. Others expect you to wear la-di-da outfits. Go to the cruise line's website. Or post on here again, giving the name of the cruise line, so people w/experience can answer.

Answer 2

I use to work on cruise lines and most cruises (no matter where they go in the world) will insist on formal dress for dinner in the main restaurant after 6:00pm.

So if you take the early sitting in the restaurant or you eat in the pizzeria, you don’t really need to dress up.

Many people having the late (second) dinner sitting will dress up formally because they then go to one of the ships floor shows afterwards, or dancing or to the cocktail bar.

You certainly don’t need to wear a ballgown or go over-the-top on the formal wear – at the same time - jeans or a mini-skirt with your b***s falling out, would certainly be frowned upon by your fellow diners.

You can buy pretty much everything you need (from clothes to toiletries) in the ship shop or at ports of call – so don’t stress too much about what you should pack.

Keep it simple, your suggestions are really good, here are mine:

Casual clothes for roaming around the ship during the day or during day trips in port.

Formal clothing for evening dinner / disco / entertainment.

Swimsuit – once piece for swimming and a bikini for sunbathing.

Even in the Bahamas it can get cool at night (especially if on the open sea travelling between ports) so a light jacket or jumper is a good idea.

A pair of comfortable, flat, plimsolls (tennis shoes) because the deck can get slippy. Sometimes when going into port the ship can’t dock, so you have to travel on a tender boat and getting into one of those wearing fancy fashion shoes is a nightmare, especially if the sea is a bit choppy.

If you are doing a cruise of one week or more, you may want to bring mix and match clothes, rather than whole individual outfits. That way you can be perceived to be wearing something different but in reality you are just mixing your pieces. That way, you won’t get too bogged down with masses of suitcases.

If you are on the pill or using conception, make sure you take your own. Same goes for general medication. The ship has a doctor but he can have limited supplies.

My biggest suggestion is to buy some sea sickness wrist bands. Lots of people get seasick and it can ruin a cruise. Taking sea sickness tablets makes you drowsy and you can’t drink alcohol whilst taking them. You buy these bands and wear one round each wrist (yes, very trendy!) but they really work very well, I used them a lot.

Must say.....I am very envious.

EDIT:

Yes, a smart outfit (and good manners) is expected for children if eating in the main dining room after 6pm.

If eating in the pizza joint or elsewhere on the ship, you can wear jeans.

Why don't you look on the website for the cruise liner and see what they suggest bringing.

I use to work one of the "posher" cruise liners, maybe the liner you are travelling on is more relaxed in their attitude.

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