Essentials You Should Pack When Going on a River Cruise

Going on an exotic river cruise is definitely a dream come true to most of us, but it also means that you should forget your usual packing routine! As you already know, since you will be visiting places with a different climate than the city you live in, you should come prepared for whatever the weather and your activities might throw your way.

As you may expect, packing for an Amazon river cruise will be quite different from packing for a weekend away at the mountains, so you could probably use some advice along the way!

So, the recipe for a holiday of a lifetime is packing smart, and we will make sure that you are fully prepped no matter what. As long as you put some of our tips to good use, you should be fine at all times during your travels!

Without further ado, let's get straight into the essentials you should pack when going on an exotic river cruise!

Clothing

As you may have expected, the clothing you pack for your cruise should be comfortable. This means that packing an occasional dinner dress is fine if you plan on sitting down and enjoying some local cuisine on your cruise ship at the end of an exhausting expedition, but other than that, you will want to make sure that your clothes are breathable and comfortable!

Most rivers' climate is quite humid, so you should also make sure that your clothes are dry-fit, due to the fact that you will be sweating (a lot!).

Another thing to keep in mind is that since it will surely get hot on your expedition, you will want to be protected from the sun and the infamous mosquitoes, so the best thing to do is to wear long sleeves and long pants. And since mosquitoes tend to bite through tight-fitted clothes, you will want to wear something loose-fitting and light-colored clothes (since they are also attracted to dark colors).

Shoes

When it comes to your choice of footwear, you will want to pack a variety of different shoes. While most cruises tend to offer you with their own rubber boots, you can always bring your own.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you should pack a pair of shoes for your flight back only! Most of your belongings will be damp from the humid climate, so packing a pair of shoes for your return is surely the smartest way to go!

As for your free time on your cruise ship, you will probably be best off with a pair of flip-flops, sandals, or breathable sneakers.

A backpack

Speaking of the humid climate, you will also want to make sure that your personal documents, cameras, and mobile devices are dry and safe. This is where a water-resistant backpack comes in and saves the day!

Headwear

Another important thing to keep in mind is that if you want to be fully protected from the sun and the mosquitoes, you should pack a wide-brimmed hat that also covers your shoulders. And the same goes for hats as it did with the clothes you should pack, they should be light-colored and dry-fit!

Also, if you have longer hair, you should make sure to stack up on headbands and hair elastics.

As for the sunglasses, you should make sure that they are UV protective and that they are cheap. This means that you should leave your designer sunglasses home because you wouldn't want to lose them in the jungle, would you?

Lifestraw

Depending on where you are traveling to, you will want to make sure that you always have a source of fresh and drinkable water. As expected, you'll be safe when traveling on a luxury cruise ship when it comes to water, but if you are planning on anything other than that, you should stick to the saying 'better safe than sorry'!

For example, breathtaking Cambodia's, Vietnam's, and Laos' drinking water availability is limited only to bottled water so you will want to make sure that you always have your with you!

Medication

If you have a health condition that requires specific medication, you absolutely have to pack all of it. The chances that you will find anything you need somewhere else are quite slim, so bring all you need for the duration of your trip.

On the other hand, even if you don't have a health condition, you will want to bring any medication that will help soothe your stomach because most travelers have a hard time adjusting to the new climate and the different cuisine.

When it comes to the other essentials you should pack for your exotic river cruise, you should definitely bring along some extra Ziploc plastic bags, lots of bug repellents, and cash!

If you make sure to listen to our tips, your Aqua Expeditions cruise will definitely be an adventure of a lifetime!