Clothes -- Packed!

(I started this entry in December and then finished packing on January 1, 2012)

Everyone seems curious about how do you decide what clothes to bring on a world cruise.  Interestingly, Cunard does give you a good chart of information on the formal, semi-formal and elegant casual dress nights.  On the internet, you can find plenty of people who have given their opinions about how to pack.  We have learned over time that each person is made comfortable in their own way on long trips.  Translation:  pack everything you think you might need or use, keep it light fabrics and buy when you are on the trip anything you may have forgotten.  The clothes category can be broken down into 6 categories:  Formal, Semi-formal, Elegant Casual, On Ship attire, Off Ship attire and exercise/swim.  Then, keep it simple, coordinate colors and be comfortable based on weather/temperatures where you will travel.  This is our strategy.....we will let you know how it works out. 

In the meantime, we have four suitcases packed and ready to be picked up for delivery to the ship.
All toiletries and any medicine are to be hand carried on so we have two more suitcases to load with not just toiletries but our computers, ipads and plugs.

Yep, we are movin' in for just over 100 days!
15 weeks, 105 days (99 days on Queen Elizabeth and 6 days on Queen Mary 2)

I'm sure many of our Florida friends who go up North for the summer months can relate to what you need to manage let alone in a one room cabin on a cruise ship.

DETAILS

There are so many little details to attend to when you decide on a world cruise. 

Passports - Obviously!  However, at least 10 extra pages in your passport.  More passport pictures to bring along for various visa requirements along the way.  Visas that the cruise line doesn't take care of for you - INDIA.  And making sure immunization records are current and you have a copy to bring along.

Clothing - another challenge.  How many formal nights - 31!!  How many semi-formal nights 32!!  The remainder are Elegant Casual.  Shopping for new clothes a side benefit except for trying to make sure you are in the 'right' size before you leave. 

Oh - shoes!  How many do we need?  For bad feet people....I'm sure you understand you need a lot!

Excursion selections - so much to do and see - can't do it all - work on agreeing on most desired by both travelers. 

Cash - how much to bring of what denominations to use when off the ship on excursions?

Technology - two computers or only one?  two ipads? one ipod? speakers?  cameras?  and all those chargers and cables!

Who will take in mail?  Who will watch house?  Who will let in service people while gone?

This is the month finalizing the details. 

Packing by January 4 so we can ship bags to the cruise ship.

And we celebrate the birth of Jesus this month!

Merry Christmas!