FOXNews.com: How to pack for a cruise

FOXNews.com FOX News Network - We Report. You Decide. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

How to pack for a cruise Jun 25th 2012, 12:50 If you're wondering what to pack on a cruise trip, check out these suggestions to help you select clothing appropriate for your cruising destinations and bypass excess baggage fees that invariably accompany over-stuffed suitcases. Carry-on necessities Include all crucial personal items such as airline tickets, medications, electronics and cruise documents in your carry-on luggage, in addition to a swimsuit and a change of clothes in the event your luggage gets lost or experiences on-board delivery delays. On-board dress codes Pay attention to dress code. Jo Kling, president of cruise events company Landry and Kling, says, "Most cruises include a mix of casual, smart casual, and formal evenings." She says that shipboard attire can range from casual to formal and is at the cruise line's discretion. Plan for one formal evening during short cruises (three to five nights), and two formal evenings for seven-night cruises. Before embarking, check out Cruisecritic.com's article that details dress codes for each cruise line. Women's attire For indoor daytime activities, Kling encourages female cruisers to wear comfortable shorts, pants, jeans, skirts and sundresses. Outdoor activities require swimsuits and more casual apparel, such as T-shirts, shorts and poolside cover-ups. Try a long scarf or pashmina that can double as a stylish accessory or, as Kling recommends, a wrap for air-conditioned rooms and cooler nights. Men's attire A simple sport coat, khakis and a nice T-shirt or a button-down is a standard and versatile outfit suitable for just about any activity. Consider khaki or jean shorts for daytime and on-shore wear. Kling counsels men to pack at least one suit and tie that can be worn as formal wear in place of a tux. Correspondingly, CruiseOne travel agent Alan Rosenbaum says that men who want to pack light should consider renting a tux while on the ship, which can be arranged in advance or after boarding. Footwear tips When deciding on shoes to bring, aim to bring multi-purpose styles. Kling says sneakers are a must-have for "taking advantage of fabulous fitness centers or sports facilities." Casual sandals are essential for men and women and can accompany daytime casual wear. Strive to color-coordinate formal wear so that you only need to pack one pair of formal shoes. Think about bringing an over-the-door shoe holder (perfect for toiletries, jewelry and other small, easily lost items) for added space in a cramped cabin. Destination-specific suggestions Due to tropical destinations' notoriously unpredictable weather, a light-weight waterproof jacket is an essential packing item when traveling to the Caribbean. On the other hand, Kling advises Alaska and Northern Europe cruisers to bring sweaters and jackets with removable layers for chillier weather. Hats offer sun protection and warmth, depending on your cruise destination. Rosenbaum advises packing for the activities that you expect to participate in, whether swimming, horseback riding, hiking or ice skating. "Find out what activities are available on the ship before you go," he says. Miscellaneous everyday items Rosenbaum recommends bringing an outlet strip because there are usually only one or two outlets in a room, and if you want to charge your cell phone, computer, and iPod, you're going to need more outlets. Other important non-clothing items include: travel guides, binoculars, tote bags, backpacks, cameras and sunscreen. Laptops, music players, tablets and e-readers are popular choices for at-sea entertainment. Make sure to inquire about your cell phone carrier's roaming rates before leaving, especially if planning to use your phone as an alarm clock, to avoid incurring exorbitant fees off-shore. ** Omelets and apple crisp: easy-to-make recipes for camping trips Unless you go glamping, you probably don't have a gourmet chef around to cook for you during your camping trip. These recipes have been selected with tent-camping in mind, since you have many more options if you are hanging out in your RV. Get your tin foil ready! What makes a champion camping dish? Laura Meadows, who words in food services at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, says a good camping dish is one that can be cooked fairly quickly. You also have to keep in mind that it is hard to control the cooking temperature when you are playing with fire. This is fine for roasting marshmallows and cooking hot dogs, but using a Dutch oven with coals or a gas-powered Coleman stove give you the control needed for more precise cooking, she says. "Part of camping is having fun cooking techniques and involving everyone," says Meadows, who describes herself as an avid camper. Here are two that she has used with family and friends. Egg-cellent personal omelets  For an entertaining breakfast, have everyone make their own omelet in a bag. Take sandwich-size zip lock bags, Meadows says, and have everyone write his or her name on theirs. Have each person add raw, scrambled eggs or egg beaters and whatever else they want – cheese, cooked bacon or sausage, pre-cut veggies. Seal the bags, making sure to get all of the air out, and put each one into a pot of boiling water for two to three minutes. Carefully pull them out of the pot and enjoy your omelet. Dutch oven apple crisp If you have a Dutch oven, you can make a tasty apple crisp under the open sky. Cut six to eight fresh apples and place them in a foil-lined Dutch oven. Add a stick of unsalted butter, one box of cake mix and one cup of brown sugar. Cover the Dutch oven, then using 15 to 20 hot coals from the fire pit, let it cook for an hour. Preparing and prepping tips   Meat stores better if you cook it ahead of time and then freeze it. Meadows advises cutting your vegetables and doing as much prep as you can at home. If you decide to bring along raw meat to cook over the fire, freeze it in large zip lock bags. "I like to have at least two coolers," Meadows says. "One [I use] for beverages, which will be opened and closed throughout the day.  I take a second one for cooking items." Instead of using standard bagged ice, use the longer-lasting block ice or freeze water in milk jugs to keep your food cold, Meadow suggests. Power snacks for camping If you are looking for some snacks to help you power through a strenuous hiking or camping trip, Baltimore-based health coach and amateur chef Helene Leeds suggests bringing a trail mix made from cacao nibs (which are basically raw, unsweetened chocolate chips made from actual cacao beans), macadamia nuts and raw coconut flakes. Throw in some goji berries, hemp and sunflower seeds, almonds and other dried fruit (like cherries) and you are good to go.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions