‘You won’t need it’: Cruise packing mistake many travellers make
Every week, nine.com.au Travel shares a top travel tip from our readers, industry experts,or something our writers find. Have something to share? Email us at travel@nine.com.au for a chance to be featured in an upcoming story.
As Destination Director on a luxury small cruise ship, author and historian Dr Dean Allen is used to mingling with guests and has noticed a common mistake many cruisers are making.
Dr Dean Allen is about to join a leg of the world’s longest cruise. Dr Dean Allen
The expert has spent four years of giving on-board talks and is about to join the ‘world’s longest cruise’, lasting more than 660 days and visiting 230 ports.
But no matter how long a cruise goes for, he said too many travellers end up loading themselves with too much luggage.
“Try to pack as lightly as possible,” he told nine.com.au. “Not only will you not need that third pair of trousers, but our ship has excellent launderette facilities.
“Remember too, that you can buy what you need at most destinations.”
Most ships have laundries, with some self-service and others doing it for you for a fee. If you have loyalty this may even be free.
As for those travel destinations, Dean said many passengers get on board with an idea of what the ports will be like.
They can be dismissive of places and miss out.
“Often it’s the ports that are least expected to deliver wonderful experiences that do just that,” he said.
Oceania Regatta is on a world cruise. Oceania Regatta
The author and historian is from the UK but now lives in Cape Town.
He is currently on board a world cruise with Explorations by Norwegian, which has chartered Oceania Cruises’ Regatta with Ignite Travel Group.
It’s heading for Australia, taking in counties as diverse as Finland, Spain, South Africa, Madagascar, Thailand, Malaysia on the way.
And while some passengers will be aboard for the full cruise, shorter legs are on offer.
Of course, he said guests should head to one of the lectures like his, which are also run by many other cruise lines.
Cape Town is one of his favourite places to visit by ship. iStock
“It’s always worth the effort to learn more about the different countries and to make the effort to explore ashore,” he said.
As for his favourite place to sail, it’s his home town.
“I find every destination of interest but if I had to choose, then many of the African ports are special. There is nothing like arriving into Cape Town for example, with Table Mountain towering over you.”
A world cruise obviously offers the chance to take in a huge number of varied places.
“They really are special as they allow you the time to savour each destination as well as compare different countries and continents,” he said.
As for the many questions he fields from less experienced cruisers, one stands out.
“Guests ask some funny questions on a cruise ship. My favourite being, ‘do the crew live on board?’”
