Packing for a Cruise vs. a Dive Trip: Key Differences and Must-Have Essentials

When  it comes to diving trips versus cruises, packing can look completely different. For one, cruises may not involve traveling with any scuba gear at all, and may involve more along the clothes line. Below I’ll be giving some thoughts and tips on packing for a cruise vs. a dive trip!

Packing for a cruise

Cruises can be a lot of fun. However, to maximize your experience, there are a few tips you should know. 
1. Pack a swimsuit in your carry on. 
Your room may not be ready yet when you first board (actually it is almost never ready). Your bags oftentimes won’t be delivered until later so if you want to make the most of the first day, the pool is open. The best news? Nobody else brought their swimsuit in their carry on, so you have the whole pool to yourself! 
2. Bring more nice outfits. 
On a cruise you have potential to be eating more nice dinners than on a dive trip. Cruises also have white parties or formal nights depending on when you are going. 
3. Don’t bring your dive gear! 
On a cruise it is probably wise to not bring your scuba gear. It probably won’t be used a majority of the time unless you have planned on diving multiple stops. It also takes up a lot of space. 
4. Snorkeling is more popular. 
Bring what you like to wear before and after snorkeling. A lot of times on cruise stops, many people go snorkeling so focus on bringing a quality snorkel (oftentimes a dry snorkel) and a mask that fits (see post for how to know if your mask fits). 

Making sure your mask fits

Packing for a scuba diving trip 

Here are a couple tips for packing for a trip dedicated to scuba diving.. 
1. If you are bringing your own gear, bring more gear and less clothes. 
Many people also want to bring a camera. How to cut down on some of the bulk is to bring more gear less clothes. How do you combat running out of clothes and items starting to smell? See my next tip!
2. Bring tide pods. 
Whether you are washing in the sink or in a washer and dryer, bringing tide pods gives you an option to wash the few clothes you bring. 
Ok but what clothes should I bring? 
3. Since you will be spending more time diving, bring dive friendly clothes. 
These include t-shirts, shorts, undergarments, and flip flops. If you are a runner like me then new tennis shoes might be an option but they are very bulky. And if you have a travel partner like me who decides they want to eat one nice meal out (and decides on the fly), bringing one nice outfit might also be a good idea. Definitely go heavy on the t shirts, though, but also leave room to buy more. 
4. Pack your regulator in your carry on. 
We all have the lost luggage fear. When bringing your own dive gear, you obviously don’t want any of it lost. If they lost your bag, the one thing you wouldn’t want to have to rent scuba gear wise is the regulator because that goes in people’s mouth. So save yourself half a headache and just pack it in your carry on. 

My #1 tip for packing for anything is to remember you will buy something when you are there, so leave space for it in your bag. 

A good fit

Whether you are going on a cruise or a dive trip, a mask and a snorkel is an essential. Snorkeling is a great way to spend your surface interval while still in the water and is a very popular cruise excursion. I linked a blog post above about a mask but I will link another blog post below about finding a good snorkel. Enjoy!

Finding the Perfect Snorkel