Packing for a vacation is never an easy task, but you can ease the worry a bit by letting your destination and activities decide on the kind of clothes and other essentials that you will need to get along. However if you are traveling by flight, then you do need to keep in mind that you will have certain baggage restrictions on size, quantity and weight. You will also not be allowed to carry certain items like sharp objects, liquids and matches onboard a flight. As these rules always keep on changing, it is best to find out the latest rules from your local airport.

Packing clothes for the day is depends a lot on the kind of activities that you might be doing throughout the day. Since the Caribbean has a tropical climate, you should carry summer clothing like shorts, T-Shirts, skirts and sundresses for the women and shorts and T-shirts for men. If you are planning on going snorkeling, you are advised to take along a light shirt to protect your torso from sunburn. If you are going touring with a jeep, you are best off carrying a hat or sun visor. As always for sunny climates, sun glasses are a must. You should also pack all the sunscreen you need for it will cost a lot more at a beach. As shoes take up a lot of space to pack, it is best to take a pair of multi-purpose, water-proof walking shoes or flip-flops for the beach and another pair of dress shoes. Shoes are required for the beach as some of them might have rocks or coral which might hurt your feet. An umbrella is also required as it rains often in tropical environs.

What you want to wear for the evening also varies with the expected activities. Formal dresses are not really required on board, except for the Captain’s dinner. You are usually expected to turn out in formals with a black tie for the occasion. Tuxedos are not mandatory, but a lot of people do wear them for the dinner, and they may even be available for rent on board.

It will take some time for you to get accustomed to the rolling of the ship and for you to start walking while it rolls. As it will take some time, do avoid high heels to avoid nasty falls. Some areas of the ship may require formals and women are advised to wear dresses or a trouser based outfit for the occasion, while slacks and a button-down shirt will do for the men. Some areas of the ship might be air-conditioned so you might need to dress accordingly.

Swimsuits, wraps and cover-ups are a must, as is a beach bag or backpack. You will need the bag to carry essentials like swimsuits and sunscreen as well as use it for shopping. You can also keep books and music players in it.

Last but not least, do not forget your passport or any other important papers. You should also take along any prescription drugs that you require as well as any over the counter medicine that you use regularly. Commonly packed medicines are those which are anti-diarrhea, anti-inflammation, and anti-nausea. You should also keep a photocopy of your prescriptions in case you lose your medication. As always you should carry extra film, memory cards and batteries for the perfect picture. You can use the ships safe to store any valuables, though you would be better off leaving your jewelry at home. A few dollar bills are also necessary in order to tip when required on the ship.