Passport? Tickets? Dress? Have I forgotten anything??

Find yourself asking these questions...
... here's a quick checklist for you to ensure smooth sailing...

6 months before your cruise

Check expiry date on your passport. Some countries require a upto six month unexpired on your passport.
Do you need any visas for the countries you will be visiting? Check with your agent or cruise line as they may be taking care of this
Have you booked a "cruise-only" fare make sure you have made flight arrangements
Have you booked your hotel stays

3 months before your cruise

Check out the cruise line's shore excursion programme, You may need to pre-book.
Ensure that you have made your final payment on your cruise. Sometimes your travel agent/cruise line may not send you a remainder.
Do you need any vaccinations for the areas of the world that you are visiting.
Have you booked your travel insurance. If you are travelling several times a year, consider an annual policy.

2 months before your cruise

Is your cruise a fly cruise or cruise only? Do you need to book parking facilities either at the port or in the airport.
Do you need to book any coach transfers or train tickets?

1 month before your cruise

Have your cruise tickets arrived through the post. Check that you have been assigned a cabin number and that you have the dinner seating you requested, and enough luggage labels and that you have the correct details for any arrangements made for you including hotel and flights.
Have you done your holiday clothes shopping? Have you got your swimsuit, shorts sun hat, t-shirts, sandals and formal evening wear if required?

Shopping List:-

Camera/Film/Digital Camera accessories
Sun Lotion/sun hat/After sun lotion
Insect repellent/Plasters/band aids
Mini bottles of shampoo, show gel, conditioner, face creams
Books/magazines
Tapes/cds/I-pod
Boiled sweets/mints
Consider a safe wallet/money belt
Back at home make arrangements for pets/children. Arrange to have newspaper/milk stopped if appropraite
Ensure you have given someone your contact details on the ship (Telephone number, fax number) in case of emergencies

2 weeks before your cruise

Try on your cruise clothes, try them on an do a dry run of your packing. Is your suitcase big enough?
Polish/clean your shoes, get your dry cleaning done
Ensure you have your adequate supplies of over the counter and prescription medicines that you require
Do you wear glasses or contact lenses? Make sure you have a "back-up" pair and adequate contact lens solution.
Get your hair cut/coloured

1 week before your cruise

Do your laundry
Get your foreign currency/travellers cheques
Re-check flight times and check-in times
Check that you can use your credit card in the places that you will be visiting, also take emergency contact details (in case of loss or theft)

3 Days before your cruise

Do your ironing
Luggage labels - complete the details including your name and cabin number. If you are doing a fly cruise and will have to collect your luggage at the airport do not put your cruise line labels on your luggage until you are pier-side and ready to hand over your luggage to the porters who will take it onto the ship.

2 Days before your cruise

Book your taxi/lift to the port/airport
Do your final packing
If you have more than 1 suitcase try to "cross-pack."
Remember some empty carrier bags to bring worn clothes back home.
Place your details on a piece of paper including name, flight and cruise details and travel dates home/mobile telephone numbers and address into your suitcase before you close it. This is just incase your external luggage labels are torn off

Checklist the night before you leave

Passport (Photocopy in case of loss/theft)
Air and Cruise tickets
Hotel Confirmation voucher
Driving licence (If you are renting a car or for ID purposes)
Travel insurance documents including policy number and emergency assistance phone number
Currency/travellers cheques (consider a money belt)
Camera and charger
Valuables/jewellery
Credit crds/ emergency contact details
Prescription medications
Tissues
Ipod, chargers for mobile phone
Adaptors (if required for European or US conversion)