Disclaimer: This to-do and packing list is a starting point, not an all-inclusive guide. Not every item will be relevant to you, so please use it as a checklist to remind you of what's important and customize it for your own unique trip.
To-do List
✔️ Purchase or verify travel insurance
✔️ Complete guest registration form
✔️ Book flights and accommodations for pre and post cruise stays
✔️ Schedule an appointment for travel clinic and get all the necessary vaccines (and certificate if possible)
✔️ Download and register cruise line's App
✔️ Reserve transfers, shore excursions, dinings, shows, etc. (if necessary and as early as possible)
✔️ Check embarkation guide for your cruise line
✔️ Assign embarkation time in the App (I suggest to embark as early as possible, so that you have time to tour the ship before everyone is onboard)
✔️ Online check-in (if possible, for both cruise and flight)
✔️ Print cruise luggage tag (if possible)
✔️ Double confirm your itinerary and all your bookings and reservations, make last-minute changes if necessary
✔️ Add all the destination ports to your phone's weather app and monitor them
✔️ Consider requesting Hold Mail Service.
✔️ Before you go, shut off the water and electricity if necessary and make sure the monitor is fully charged.
The Ten Essentials
1️⃣ Passport & Visa (and print two copies)
2️⃣ Photo ID (and print two copies)
3️⃣ Cruise tickets & boarding passes
4️⃣ Flight tickets & boarding passes
5️⃣ Credit cards & cash
6️⃣ Travel insurance information (and print two copies)
7️⃣ Emergency contact information (and print two copies)
8️⃣ Ginger powder (to prevent or relieve motion sickness)
9️⃣ Phones and cables
🔟 Travel first-aid kit and necessary medicines
Good to Have
👗 One or two formal wear for the gala evenings
💳 Debit Card with Worldwide ATM access and no ATM fees (such as Fidelity Debit Card or Schwab Bank Debit Card)
🔌 Power strip with USB, and travel adapter
♨ Portable humidifier (the rooms on cruise can be quite dry)
🫙 A large-capacity thermos
🔭 Telescope
WIP: For kids, for beach