Packing for a holiday is different for everyone. There’s the packed three weeks in advance people, and those that leave until 10 minutes before you have to leave. Either way, everyone has those items that they have to take, the ones that often lead to profanity in the car if forgotten, and those novelty items, imperative to the individual, but often unusual from an outside perspective.
With a mini-cruise you don’t have to worry about baggage restrictions, fantastic when deciding what to pack. So the question is, what should you take?
Clothing
Naturally, when packing you need to consider 3 things: destination; climate; activities. A winter break to Northern Holland may inspire quite different attire in comparison to a summer of water-activities in southern Germany. For the crossing, you might want to pack for that sea breeze, even in the spring and summer months, as it can get chilly up on deck, and make sure you have some comfortable shoes for walking around the ship. Maybe leave some room in the case for some souvenir native apparel; clogs or lederhosen, perhaps?
There’s a reason why all mothers recommend layering. Relying on one heavy coat to keep you warm isn’t a great idea, as it’s easy to get too hot when you’re walking around all day and going in and out of museums and attractions. Use lighter layers that can be taken off or put on according to the temperature.
Bags
It’s great having no restrictions on how much luggage you can pack, but one must resist the temptation to pack everything that takes your fancy! You don’t want to be lugging it about from place to place, and you still have to get your bags onto the ferry and to and from your hotel if you’re extending your stay. Instead, try to plan an outfit per day, max, and consider outfits that transition well from day to night. This saves more room in your suitcase for trinkets and treats to bring home.
Travel guides
Even though our smartphones give us instant access to a wealth of information, a good old-fashioned travel guide is a useful addition. The most obvious perk being that it doesn’t have battery life, so it will never fail you. Good travel guides will give you tips on everything from attractions to restaurants, and many have local maps and language guides to help you get around. Hotels often provide free city maps with destinations and routes highlighted. Make sure to mark an ‘X’ where the hotel is so, no matter where you are, you can find your way back
Planning what you want to see before you get there is a good idea, too, so you can make the most of your time at your destination. Our travel guides highlight some of the best bits of Northern Europe’s favourite cities. Note down which ones interest you most, and mark them on your map, too.
Entertainment
There’s so much to do onboard, you’ll find your crossing flies by. It’s always important to pack a book, magazine or some music to listen to, however. You might find a beautiful little coffee shop in a quiet courtyard in France that invites you to order a coffee and enjoy a chapter in your book, or a bustling Belgian city that’s accompanied perfectly by your favourite song.
If you’re a parent it goes without saying that you need to bring things to keep the kids entertained. We have fantastic play areas and entertainment onboard our ships, but when the kids just want to sit and chill out it’s great to have something prepared to keep them occupied – stay traditional with a board game or colouring book or go modern with the latest game for your tablet.
