A Packing Checklist for Men ( a totally "copycat"post idea)

I RECENTLY read in one of the blogs I follow, a suggested "packing list" for men for warm weather cruising. I started following the Life Well Cruised Blog after discovering her on YouTube. I have learned a lot of good information, tips and suggestions from both her blogs and videos and would generally enthusiastically recommend both the blogs and the YouTube channel. Like anything your read online, it is not necessarily gospel and I think it is smart to read things with an open mind and sometimes even skeptically. It is also true that we all come to information sources (whether we are the seeker or the provider) with at least some subject bias, more often than not bounded by our own experiences. Having said that, I want to (gently) challenge some of the points in that blog - and make some suggestions to pare down that list. This post will make more sense if you follow the link about and look at that list (toward the end of her blog).

My shortened list almost guarantees you can get through a cruise with a carryon sized bag and a small personal bag

THE DESCRIPTION in the narrative for "non-formal" nights is perfectly fine for formal nights too. The post implies that you need to have something more for the formal or gala nights - like a jacket and maybe dressier shoes, shirt and slacks. I haven't taken a sport coat or suit on a cruise for years now (and I used to be a full tux guy). I have "chino" or similar pants that I take on cruises mainly for the MDR and nicer specialty dining venues. They are equally sufficient for normal nights and formal nights. I generally take at least one long-sleeved button down shirt which I do wear on formal nights, but I have to say that I see many men in the restaurants with nice golf/polo shirts on formal nights too. I also see guys with sport jackets over T-shirts that I would personally consider inappropriate even on a normal night. But they are wearing a jacket?😒 Based on my experience and observation, it is fine to wear slacks and a shirt without a jacket and I would estimate that 50-60 percent of other cruising men who frequent the MDR agree with me. I see lots of men without jackets. On the other non-formal nights I generally wear a nice golf shirt or a "camp" style shirt that is understated and would pass the "country club" casual test in my mind.

SHOES? I am a 6 foot guy who wears 11-12 shoes. For men, shoes are the single most challenging item to pack as they take up tons of room (and add lots of weight) in bags. These days on a Caribbean Cruise I take a pair of casual shoes that will work for dressier ocassions, and flipflops (I am not a runner/walker on cruises, so no sneakers for me). I am wearing one pair and that makes the flips the only footwear that is in packed luggage.

nobody . . . is going to notice if you wear the same thing more than one time

 MY OWN approach to "formal" dress has nothing to do with disliking dressy clothes or being disrespectful of the rules of the cruise ship. That is why I do try to make my "business casual" attire as nice as possible. My reason has everything to do with packing and carrying. There are two issues I think we face (men and women) when packing "formal" clothing: keeping them wrinkle free, and packing light. When it comes to men, the average male is big enough that packing suits and shirts and trying to keep them wrinkle free; and then adding 2-3 pairs of shoes demands a fairly large bag in my experience. Before the dress codes were relaxed, I carryed the largest rolling garment bag I could buy, along with the largest carryon I could get onto an international flight. If you are flying, that is a hassle. They are ungainly and heavy. When you arrange for shore transportation, they take up scads of space in the Uber, taxi or other vehicle.

IN THE Caribbean, the balance of your time doesn't require heavy dress needs. It is warm weather, so you will generally be able to get along with shorts and T-shirts. The post concludes with a "packing list" specifically for warm-weather (essentially the Caribbean) cruises. I think (and I do) pare the suggested list down considerably. As noted above, I generally bring one pair of shoes that can be dressed up or down. I wear them. I only pack one other pair of footwear - my flipflops. I have several, but still, I am only going to need one of them for the cruise. The list says 3-4 pairs of shorts. I generally bring not more than 3 and could honestly get by just fine with 2. I don't swim or hot tub on cruise ships (another post for another day), and rarely go to the beach. But 3 pairs? C'mon. We are men. With modern cloth one should be sufficient (two if you are the cautious type). Most men I know don't wear pajamas to sleep in (usually gym shorts and maybe a t-shirt). Leave them home. Live dangerously.😄

For men, shoes are the single most challenging item to pack

AGAIN, I don't wear jeans very often, but when I do, I consider them cold weather wear. You are going to be in the Caribbean. Do you really need 2 pairs of jeans? They are heavy and bulky to pack. And in my experience, they don't travel well. On the off chance I will need casual long pants, I take a pair of "Columbia (or similar) ultralight, wrinkle resistant pants. They never come out of the packing cube. A suit? Nah. Not only have we gone casual, but you will be in the Caribbean. See above. Nope on the tie (unless that is important to you personally - likewise the suit and special dress shoes - but they are bulk that you may want, but don't need).

ONE ITEM I personally would add to the list is a couple long-sleeve T's. I usually pack the same material as my regular T's (some kind of synthetic/athletic blend), generally Columbia, Huk, Patagonia, or similar. They are essentially weightless, can be worn out on deck or on shore, and provide good sun protection.

EVERY SINGLE time I travel anywhere for an extended period, I come back and lament how much stuff I packed that I really didn't need (and in many cases use). Each time I get a little smarter and a little lighter. A couple things I have learned. First, and perhaps most important, nobody (well, maybe your spouse) is going to notice if you wear the same thing more than one time (multiple times even). That is why I don't think you need 4 pairs of shorts. I usually have a khaki and a navy blue pair. I do take a few t-shirts as they pack light and are the things for me that seem to get soiled most. The second thing is that we have a wonderful advantage these days with modern, ultra-lightweight, wrinkle free (or at least resistant), stain and sweat resistant clothing. All of my travel T-shirts are the "dry-fit" type (I personally prefer the Under Armor brand), and my shorts are generally the blended fabric that Columbia, and similar companies sell. They can all be handwashed if necessary and will hand-dry very quickly. A plus is that wrinkles really aren't an issue.

Because we don't fly, we are free to bring whatever we want

MY SHORTENED list almost guarantees you can get through a cruise with a carryon sized bag and a small personal bag.

DISCLAIMER: IT is easy for me to preach all this above. I do it when we travel to Europe, but there I generally need more, and greater variety of clothes. For that trip I use a larger (but still not huge) roller bag that is put in checked luggage. I can still get by with that and a hand-carry bag. The Caribbean Cruises have become more of an indulgence for us. We live in Clearwater, Florida. We really don't need that "winter break." Indeed we often find that our friends and family find winter a good excuse to come and visit us in our warm weather climate. Yet we still take Caribbean Cruises. Lots of reasons for that. Except for one time many years ago, we have never just gone on our own on a Caribbean Cruise. We are usually joining others and usually they are seeking a break from their frigid winters. We get it. We once did that too. Because it is an indulgence, and because we almost always cruise from a Florida cruise port, we don't fly. Because we don't fly, we are free to bring whatever we want (within reason, of course) and I do bring a larger bag - and more clothes. Because I can. 😉

How About A Holiday Cruise?

Celebrity Apex New Year's Cruise - 2024
Copyright Andy Richards 2024 - All Rights Reserved

IT IS that time again. Actually, the commercial interests push it forward more and more every year. I saw Christmas displays in some stores and places before Halloween. Geez. Lets get through Thanksgiving first; can we? We are now into December, and radio stations, malls and stores are playing non-stop Christmas music. Sales are everywhere and displays are holiday-oriented. I even have my outdoor lights hung (usually that is my Thanksgiving weekend project). I though it might be an appropriate time to discuss a holiday cruise.

Celebrity Apex - Sail-a-way from Ft. Lauderdale - New Year's Cruise 2024
Copyright Andy Richards 2023 - All Rights Reserved

WHAT DO you think about a holiday cruise? To me that means during the Christmas/New Year season. For us, beginning with Thanksgiving, that time of the year is the time we get with - often far flung - family. Not just immediate family, those who we may not see much of any other time of the year.

What do you think about a "Holiday" Cruise?

IT HAS also been our perception that holidays are among the most expensive times to cruise. Our 2024 New Year Cruise in the Caribbean certainly bore that out. Along with higher cruise fare prices, other modes of transportation - in particular, airfare - also will be more expensive that time of year (especially if you don't plan well ahead). For all those reasons, we had never really considered it. We have some friends (Paul and Linda, for those who have followed here for a while) who may be some of the busiest people we know, with a large, close family, a successful consulting business, and just a lot of social obligations, we try to do some kind of trip together as often as possible. We have been on three cruises with them and we had all agreed it was time for another one. After comparing schedules, it turned out that one of the best times for them to get away was actually the week after Christmas. We are retired and generally more flexible on our scheduling, and we ultimately agreed on that week, boarding the Celebrity Apex in Fort Lauderdale a couple days before year end, 2023.

Celebrity Apex New Year's Cruise - 2024
Copyright Andy Richards 2024 - All Rights Reserved

THAT ACTUALLY turned out to be a good time to travel for us. Since it was a week-long cruise, on an "older" demographic leaning cruise line, it had the typical passenger mix for us and felt neither crowded, nor overwhelming with young families. It was also a welcome diversion from the cold weather in Michigan where they live. Formerly Michigan residents, we now live in Florida, so it is no longer about the weather for us in the Caribbean. But we still love the sun, the cruise atmosphere, visiting some of the islands, and above all, the company.

San Juan - Celebrity Apex 2024 New Year Cruise

Copyright Andy Richards 2024 - All Rights Reserved

I DON'T think either of us would have seriously considered it over Christmas, as that is one of the times that is important for family. If you were able to take the whole family along, that might be different, but there are still logistics that make being away on a cruise ship for one of our most traditional and family-oriented holidays potentially problematic. That's us.

we ultimately agreed on that week, boarding the Celebrity Apex in Fort Lauderdale a couple days before year end, 2023

IF YOU are a couple with no children, or children who have other Christmas plans, or a small family who can all travel together, a Christmas Cruise might be in the cards. If you would rather be out traveling and partying than being home for more "traditional" holidays, based upon our experience, a holiday cruise is definitely a fun time.

Celebrity Apex New Year's Cruise 2024
Copyright Andy Richards 2024 - All Rights Reserved

FOR SURE the ship goes all out with its decorations and activities on a holiday cruise. I suspect there are menu choices in the dining rooms that are perhaps elevated. In our case, the food was good, but I don't remember anything over the top. One thing we knew. We would be spending New Year's Eve, and ringing in the new year on one of the centers of activity on board. There were a few, including a special area set up on deck for dancing, a light show and a "ball" drop. WE ended up in the Martini Bar, a long - central feature on Celebrity ships. On the Edge Class ships (Apex is one) they really re-imagined the Martini Bar, making it perhaps the central entertainment area on board. It was decorated lavishly and even had its own mini-ball drop. One of the fun parts of the night was an extended family seated right next to us. They were about our age, and were a couplew sisters and brothers and spoused. Before the night was over, we were holding hands in a large circle and singing Auld Lang Syne, (along with some Detroit style music, like "We Are Family"). Turns out they have been doing this particular cruise for several years and it has become a tradition for them. Who knows, maybe we will see them again one year?

New Friends - Celebrity Apex - New Year - 2024
Copyright Andy Richards 2024 - All Rights Reserved

OUR CRUISE was 7 days and we only made 3 stops: San Juan, Tortola BVI, and St. Kitt's. San Juan. San Juan was a bit odd, as we didn't actually arrive in port until very late afternoon. Really not enough time to do anything much more than walk around a bit. The Old San Juan plaza was nicely decorated for Christmas. We did a little mini-pub crawl and then got back on the ship to watch the BCS college football National Championship game (Michigan was in that game so we had some interest). in Tortola, we hired an open air truck to give us a tour of the island. One of our stops was Pusser's Bar, which is reputed to be the first one (there are a few of them), specializing in Pusser's Rum (a particular favorite of mine). I bought a shirt. We had "painkillers." You can probably imagine. A couple each. The final day, the ladies did some gift shopping and I finished a mission I had started a year ago that didn't work out then but did this trip. Long story. Short version: I bought a watch. Then Paul and I sat at the bar in the middle of commercial shore area, had some beers, and people - watched. Overall, it was a laid-back few days, with the at sea days spent out on deck relaxing. I might have had a cigar (or 3). 😂

Would we do it again? Yeah. Probably. Maybe. Sure 😀

WOULD WE do it again? Sure. If the timing was right. I think we are more likely to head into the Caribbean later in the year (more like February). But it was fun. Whether it sounds like enough fun to do it more than once may well depend on your view toward holiday vacations and cruising in general. Would we recommend it at least once in a lifetime? Yeah. Probably. Maybe. Sure. 😀 Would love to hear your opinions and holiday cruising experiences. Please jump in and let me know in the comment section below.

Rules of the Road - V: Who Has the Right of Way

2 Cruise Ships and a Car Ferry converging on the narrow passageway into Stockholm, Sweden
Copyright Andy Richards 2022 - All Rights Reserved 

LAST TIME we talked about rules and right of way, we distinguished between sail and engine power. What about between boats in the same power configuration?

BEFORE WE delve further into more situations, there are a couple terms that will help in our understanding of these Rules of the Road:

• Give-Way Vessel - If you are the Give-Way vessel, you must act as if the "stand-on" vessel has the right to keep going the way it is going. It is your responsibility to signal your intentions to the stand-on vessel, and it is your responsibility to maneuver your boat around the other in a safe manner. Also known as a "Burdened" vessel, as it has the burden of giving way.
  
  
• Stand-On Vessel - If you are the Stand-On vessel, it is your responsibility to acknowledge the intended actions of the give-way vessel. You must also maintain your current course and speed until the give-way vessel passes, or you enter a dangerous situation.

MOST OF us have observed situations where there are multiple cruise ships and/or other commercia or military ships of varying size and type moving within the same harbor or mooring spot. This is where the above terms come into play. Assuming none of the vessels are solely under sail power, these vessels must observe the rules vis-a-vis each other:

• when two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her starboard side (the give-way vessel) must keep out of the way

• Each vessel in a meeting situation must alter course to starboard so that each will pass on the port side of the other. At night, you will recognize a head-on meeting situation if you see both red and green side lights at the same time.

• At times there may be some doubt whether the situation is a crossing or a head-on meeting. In case of doubt, you should assume that it is a meeting situation, in which neither vessel has a clear-cut "right-of-way," and each must act to avoid the other

• Any vessel overtaking any other vessel must keep out the way of the vessel being overtaken. The former is the give-way vessel and the latter is the stand-on vessel. This rule applies even if the overtaking vessel is propelled by wind, paddle or oars.

THESE RULES are underpinned by common sense. Much like the rules that charges the person in control of the vessel with acting in a manner that insures the safety of both vessels, the common sense rule when navigating a narrow channel holds that the operator must avoid larger vessels that can only travel in the channel. Even if your vessel is operating under the rules otherwise, you must give way to a boat that could potentially run aground or get into a collision if they left the channel. That would seem to cover most situation where a collision might be an issue with a cruise ship. My comment in the last Rules post was that I cannot imagine any smaller boat wanting to "play chicken" with a ship, no matter what the rules. I'll stick by that one. 😅