If you’re like me, the first time I went to sea for several days, I had no clue what to pack beyond swimwear and sunblock. I’m like, do I need dress clothes for dinner, blankets, beauty supplies and the list(or lack of one) goes on. While you’re bound to have an amazing experience, don’t picture your last cruise vacation or resort stay in the Caribbean.
Turns out that I couldn’t even bring a suitcase, so all the ideas I had, or at least a large percentage of them, were ridiculous. First of all, packing for a cat cruise means bare essentials and having a list is key to not forgetting anything or overpacking.
A duffel bag is ideal for cat cruises because you can tuck them away. Your lightest clothing,(as few as possible) a light jacket, natural skincare and protection, insurance, charter contract, plastic bags, and more are among the essential items you’ll need. If you’re on a budget, take food items too, since eating at each stop can cut into your budget.
Here’s a helpful list of what to bring when going on a catamaran cruise for several days.
Personal Documents and Boat Paperwork
Do not leave home without the necessary paperwork for your boating trip, including your driver’s license and boat registration, and your passport if you’re traveling outside of the United States. Read up on the different types of boating licenses that exist.
Small Daily Bag
An emergency kit should contain the following items: an emergency wallet or purse that you can quickly take and go to; a cell phone; a passport; prescription medications; credit cards. Also, carry a written list of emergency contact names and phone numbers, your insurance policy number and number, and the names and phone numbers of your doctors.
Duffel Bag (no suitcase)
First and foremost, keep in mind that catamaran storage space is typically limited, so bring only one large or two compact soft-sided bags or backpacks that can be easily folded away.
Make sure you pack lightly and only bring duffel bags, which are easy to store.
Putting hard baggage into closets and cabinets is more challenging. In addition, they are hard to store or might potentially scrape or harm the wood.
Skin Protection
This one should be self-explanatory. Pack more sunblock than you think you may need. Non-oil-based sunscreens should be used to protect the upholstery and woodwork of your yacht. Insect repellant and sun protection lip balm are also advised.
Sunglasses & Goggles
Passengers should wear sunglasses, but drivers should always wear them. When you’re out on the water, the reflection of the sun’s rays might make it difficult to see. The eyes of a boat operator are protected from splashing water by sunglasses as well.
UV-protected Polaroid sunglasses can help keep your iris open wider and improve your vision by reducing the amount of reflected light that enters your eyes.
When the weather is very terrible, some sailors swear by keeping goggles on board for protection from rain but without tinted lenses.
Resealable Plastic Bags
When going to the beach for the day, ziplock or dry bags come in handy for more than simply keeping cash and devices dry. If you have opened snack packages that need to be sealed, Ziplock bags are an excellent solution. Ziploc bags can be used for a wide range of purposes on any type of trip.
Medicines for Motion Sickness & Prescriptions
Bringing motion sickness or anti-nausea medication is a good idea if you’re vulnerable to seasickness, which is common no matter how much you go sailing. Always have plenty of your prescription drugs with you when traveling for an extended period.
Medical Kit
Before embarking on a trip, ensure sure your airtight or weatherproof first aid box is properly equipped with the obvious ones like gauze and band-aids. In addition, you’ll want to stock up on things like flares, matches, a waterproof flashlight, and fire extinguishers.
Headlamp
Make sure you have an extra flashlight on board, one that isn’t part of the first aid box. Hands-free map reading, as well as engine bay inspections, are even more convenient with a headband light. Spare batteries should always be present.
Electronics and Entertainment
There’s the iPod, the E-reader, and so on. All the things that can keep you relaxed or entertained during the downtime.
It is always better to bring your DVDs or CDs than to rely on streaming services because they are more reliable and don’t necessitate the use of specialized equipment that needs to be recharged.
Pack the tablets and cell phones too, as most vessels have charging ports. Keep in mind a few novels and periodicals in addition to games, decks of cards, and a few writing instruments. Birdwatching binoculars and cameras might also come in handy.
Flotation Devices
There should be adequate personal flotation devices (PFDs) for everybody on board in the correct sizes. Everybody on board should be made aware of the location of the personal flotation devices (PFDs).
Hats
Carry many hats to shield your head from the sun, wind, and rain. Keep your head and neck warm in the winter with a microfibre cap, and keep your head cool in the summer with an oversized hat. Also, you might lose it to the wind, so we recommend at least three.
Light Clothes
Onboard a catamaran vessel, light summer attire is suggested, like swimsuits, lightweight t-shirts, skirts, plus shorts.
As a result, it’s pleasant and sunny throughout the day but might get chilly at night, necessitating the wearing of a sweater or light jacket while sailing.
We suggest taking a few extra pieces of clothing, such as backup shoes and a second swimming suit, to avoid overpacking. Being prepared for the possibility that things will get wet on a boat means that you’ll be more comfortable in the water.
Gear for Inclement Weather
You’ll need more than a hat while it’s raining. When going on a long boat journey, make sure to pack a raincoat as well as bib-pants, thick socks, plus appropriate sea boots. Carry synthetic pieces, such as thermal underwear as well as a neck warmer, regardless of the weather. This will ensure a more comfortable experience.
Gloves
Gloves are essential if you plan on sailing and handling ropes, which can cause blisters and rope burns. To protect your hands when working with sails, halyards, and anchoring rides, you should wear full-length sailing gloves.
EPIRB/Locator
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to get in touch with the authorities, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) can help. Personal EPIRBs can be purchased if desired to supplement your yacht’s EPIRP.
Strobe lights are offered on some of these gadgets, which can be quite helpful if a person falls overboard.
Portable GPS device
As a backup to the captain or for day-hiking on land, a portable Gps device might be useful.
Ensure the galley is filled with enough food for the course of your expedition, sufficient to get you to the port if you insist on hunting your daily meal each day.
Don’t Forget the Shoe Rules When Going on a Cat Cruise?
While on board, we ask our passengers to adhere to the bare feet guidelines. It’s best to wear tennis shoes or a pair of white rubber-soled sandals when on the deck.
However, stiletto heels can harm the wood flooring while black-soled shoes can create unattractive scars, earning them an automatic no. If you’re going ashore, don’t forget to remove your land shoes when you return to the ship.
Never Go to Sea Without a Knife
Consider wearing a lanyard-attached knife and marlinspike for added security and portability. The marlinspike can be used to force open threads of rope for splicing with the knife.
Three-inch folding knives with marlin spikes function in crises. However, straight blade rigging knives with their sheath and marlinspikes are preferable.
How to Pack for Children on a Cat Cruise
We recommend that you bring everything you’ll need for your infants, including:
- Bottles
- Wipe
- Diapers
- Their favorite toys
To avoid damaging the boat, do not bring pens, or small toy pieces. Someone could step on them and get seriously injured from falling. Also, pack:
- Backpack,
- Cap,
- Sunglasses,
- Beach sandals,
- Children’s sunscreen,
- UV-protection swimming suit,
- Goggles, and
- Bug repellent
All these items you may wish to include in a small bag for the children.
Catamaran Essentials to Keep Onboard
When you initially buy your Catamaran, you only need to pack a few things into it. They consist of:
- Bath towels,
- Beach towels, and
- Kitchen utensils
- Cleaning supplies including a vacuum
- Toiletries
- First aid kit
- Tool Kit
- GPS Device
Anything personal item that helps you survive daily must always go on a trip with you. Otherwise, once you get to most ports, you’ll get the things you need but they won’t be cheap. This is particularly the case in popular tourist towns. Enjoy!