A: Camera. Sunscreen. Swimsuit. Okay, now that we've got the basics out of the way, here are a few must-have cruise items that'll help make your vacation more comfortable, enjoyable and memorable.

On the first day…
For the first day of your cruise, pack a small carry-on bag with your travel documents, a change of clothes, bathing suit, workout clothes, and any medications you may need. That way you don't have to wait for your checked bags to arrive in your stateroom.

Onboard attire…
Shorts, t-shirts, slacks, trousers, casual skirts, blouses and sundresses are all perfect during the day, whether indoors or out.

For lounging by the pool, pack two bathing suits (an extra suit in case the other is wet) and a pair of casual shoes (e.g., flip-flops, sandals, sneakers). You'll also need some casual shorts and a couple of t-shirts or a cover-up for getting to and from the pool areas.

If you're planning to visit our onboard fitness center, be sure to bring extra shorts, t-shirts and socks that you won't mind working out in - plus a pair of tennis or running shoes/sneakers.

Dinner attire…
Meals in the main dining room follow this schedule:

3-4 and 5-night cruises:	one formal night; the remainder of nights are casual
6 - 7 and 9-night cruises:	two formal nights, one smart casual and the remainder of nights casual
10 - 13-night cruises:	two formal nights, two smart casual and the remainder of nights casual
14+ nights cruises:	three formal nights, four smart casual and the remainder of nights casual

For formal nights you'll need cocktail dresses for women, suits and ties - or tuxedos - for men. And for the smart casual nights bring dresses or pantsuit for women, jackets for men.

Remember, shorts, T-shirts, and bathing suits are not considered appropriate attire in the dining rooms at dinner. Casual dress dining is available nightly in the Windjammer Cafe. And be aware you'll also need smart casual attire for some of our specialty restaurants.

Cruise lines offer tuxedo rentals for formal dinners and special occasions.

Onshore attire…
You'll need comfortable walking shoes, as well as a hat and sunscreen for protection from the sun.

If you are cruising to Northern Europe or Alaska, remember that nights on deck can be cool. Bring sweaters, jackets and long pants. And if you'll be touring any museums, cathedrals or churches, it's always wise to dress conservatively. You may also want to bring a raincoat, hiking shoes and a travel umbrella. And don't forget your swimsuit - it may be cool outside but it's always warm in our Solarium.

For fun …
There are four very important types of books you'll want to consider packing:

Travel guides :	to help you explore new destinations
Poolside pleasures :	nothing beats a great read in the sun
Journal :	keep an account of your adventure for sharing and reminiscing
Address book:	send your friends a postcard to make them jealous

Binoculars are another often forgotten, yet indispensable travel item. Be sure to pack a pair for magnified excitement onboard and onshore.

Save space…
Be sure to leave some room in your luggage for all those souvenirs and mementos. Some space-saving ideas include: Bring shirts and pants/skirts that mix and match, turning three outfits into five or six.

Wear your heaviest shoes during embarkation and disembarkation so you don't have to pack them.

Pack small items inside larger ones (like jewelry inside shoes) for efficiency and safe-keeping.

Bring an additional empty bag for those acquired extras.

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A: These are the top 10 things you need to know about those moments just before and after you hop onboard.

1. For the first day of your cruise, pack a small carry-on bag with your travel documents, a change of clothes, bathing suit, workout clothes and any medications you may need. That way you don't have to wait for your checked bags to arrive in your stateroom.
2. If you've never been to the departure port before, you can find and print directions.
3. You'll need to give yourself at least 60 minutes to check in and go through security at the pier. If you have not checked in 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure, you will be considered a no-show, and your reservation will be cancelled and cancellation penalties applied.
4. Friends and relatives are welcome to come to the pier to see you off. However, for security reasons, they will not be allowed to board the ship at any port.
5. We now use single-color luggage tags for all ships in the fleet to help your bags get where they need to go. Luggage tags are now personalized with name and stateroom number. Tags for different ships are identified by bolded ship name for ease of identification.
6. If you’re a member of certain privileges’ in a certain cruise line, be sure to take advantage of priority check-in and the private departure lounge.
7. When you first come aboard, be sure to check out your stateroom. There you'll find our Cruise Compass with schedules for all the onboard activities.
8. If you're traveling with family, be sure to check the Cruise Compass for the "Family Welcome aboard Show" times. This entertaining performance will tell you all about the activities available for families and includes registration for our Adventure Ocean Youth Program. (Royal Caribbean)
9. If the spa or fitness classes are your thing, try to make your appointments on the first day, as the most popular treatments and times fill up fast.
10. Hungry? Head up to the Café and restaurants - they'll be offering snacks, sandwiches, salads, and more throughout embarkation.

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A: WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND CARRYING A PASSPORT VALID FOR SIX MONTHS BEYOND THE DURATION OF YOUR TRAVEL.

U.S. and Canadian citizens: Beginning on January 23, 2007, with the implementation of the first phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all persons, including citizens of the United States, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to have and carry a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States by air. This is an important new requirement for our cruise guests booked on Alaska and Eastern Canada/New England cruise itineraries. In addition, this new requirement will also impact our Canadian guests that travel by air to or from any of our U.S. embarkation ports. The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport

As early as January 1, 2008, with the implementation of the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all persons, including citizens of the United States, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to have and carry a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States by air, land or sea. Prior to the final implementation date, U.S. and Canadian citizens may travel without a passport on itineraries that do not require re-entry to the US by air. In these cases, all U.S. and Canadian citizens must carry the following documents as proof of citizenship for travel within the western hemisphere countries listed above: 1) picture identification issued by an official government agency AND an original or certified copy of birth certificate from the state or province of your birth; or 2) picture identification issued by an official government agency AND a U.S. or Canadian Naturalization Certificate.

For travel outside of the western hemisphere countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens must have and carry a passport valid for six months beyond the duration of the cruise.

Non-U.S./non-Canadian citizens: :
You must have and carry a passport valid for six months beyond the duration of the cruise. Please carefully verify the existing identification requirements for your particular travel situation. In addition, non-U.S. citizens who have previously been admitted to the United States for permanent residence must carry their Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), commonly known as a Green Card. Resident aliens not in possession of this must obtain one at the nearest office of the U.S. Immigration Service.

Visas:
Some countries require that you obtain official authorization (called a visa) before entering the country. Usually there is a fee required. You are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas. If your itinerary requires a visa prior to boarding, Holland America Line will send a visa information letter to your travel agent. The visa letter will have information for U.S. and Canadian citizens. Citizens of other countries should contact the nearest representative embassies or consulates for the proper information.

Non-US or -Canadian citizens
may be required to hold a Canadian Visa when traveling to Alaska or Canada. Please visit the Canadian government website at http://canada.gc.ca to verify your nationality's requirements.

Schengen Visa holders (applies to those EU-Member citizens only):
New requirements pertaining to proof of medical insurance coverage have been adopted for all Schengen Visa holders. This requirement does not apply to US or Canadian citizens. All guests should keep themselves advised of changes in government requirements. If you have questions about visa requirements, call Zierer Visa Service at 866-788-1100 or local (202)745-4470. You may also choose to send an E-mail message to: hollandvisainfo@zvs.com or visit their website at: www.zvs.com.

MACHINE-READABLE PASSPORTS
Effective June 26, 2005, travelers from the 27 countries participating in the United States' Visa Waiver Program (VWP)must have a machine-readable passport to enter the United States.

If you are in possession of a passport issued by any of the 27 countries listed below, please contact the passport issuing authority to ensure that you are in possession of a machine-readable passport.

The 27 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program include: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Additional information regarding the Visa Waiver Program is available online at www.dhs.gov.

Please note that boarding may be denied to Travelers from VWP countries that do not have machine-readable passports.

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