This post is the first of a series of posts focused on the Social Media Research Cruise Experience.
Packing Tips for a
Cruise Liner
(Dr. Karley Goen - Assistant Professor of Communication
& Texas Social Media Research Institute Board Member)
You know the
daunting task of trying to figure out exactly what you are going to wear for an
experience that is sure to be invigorating, life-changing, and filled with
excitement, but with all of these expectations how to do you plan and pack for
all these various travel expectations?
When I
started off packing for my Spring Break experience, a study abroad educational
endeavor with undergraduate students headed to Belize, Honduras, and Cozumel
via a cruise liner, I and my fellow colleague Dr. Winslow (my cabin mate)
focused on the divide and concur motif. Dr. Winslow manufactured a list of items
that were suggested to bring on a cruise (i.e. toiletries, close hamper, chargers
of various types, etc.), while I feverously waited until the last minute to
pack and grab my items that I was asked to bring. I stayed up the night before
running from one end of my apartment to the other, trying to figure out what
was absolutely essential for my cruising experience. I packed countless wardrobe
pieces that I thought I could separate out for various other looks, magazines
to read, floppy hats, bulky curlers, a dryer and a straightener, beauty regiments
I was dying to try (now that I would have some down time), you get the picture.
But, as the as the hour approached to when we were meeting up on our college campus
to head to Galveston, I realized that my pile that I had created, was much more
impractical. I feverously rolled and stuffed all my essential belongings into
my various luggage pieces and prayed that it would be sufficient for me to “walk
on” the cruise ship. (I didn’t want to check my bags). I ended up with a
backpack, two rolling suitcases (the size suitcase that fits in the overhead compartment
on commercial airplane, and a large sized purse). Whew….if I only listened to my
mom’s advice, and focused on some essential packing tips and my own travel
experiences, I would have saved myself a lot of panic and unnecessary artifacts
that could have stayed at home.
The average
hotel room size, according to a report done by USAToday in 2009 entitled “My
Square Foot-An Examination of Hotel Room Size,” the average hotel size in the
United States is 325 square feet. The average interior stateroom on a Carnival
cruise liner is 185 and an ocean view stateroom is 220 square feet according to
the Carnival website. Knowing the living quarter dimensions within a stateroom,
here are some tips to take into consideration when packing for a cruise liner
experience:
1). Use
Gallon Ziplocs-using Ziploc bags when packing is like using a space bag (without
the cost) and compressing space with a household item will keep your garments
organized. Add a dryer cloth, and your clothes will stay fresher longer.
2.) Use
Tic-Tac Containers- these everyday compartments are great for bobby pins,
travel sewing kits, paper clips, medication, or even your favorite spice to
incorporate on meals.
3.) Contact Lens
Cases-are great for organizing jewelry (i.e. earrings) for that elegant formal
wear you have packed.
4.) Hard
Shelled Sunglass Cases-can help with protecting iPods, chargers, jewelry (i.e.
beaded or jeweled necklaces), and anything else you don’t want smashed.
5.) Old Pill
Bottles-great for storing cotton balls.
6.) Lastly,
stash wardrobe pieces within your packed shoes. This is a great way to minimize
space.
We have all
heard to wear your most bulky items on travel days, but hopefully these tips
will lend themselves the next time you pack for an experience of a lifetime.
The Texas Social Media Research Institute (TSMRI) is a group of faculty, staff, and students at Tarleton State University with a mission of conducting social media research; sharing social media best practices; and providing social media education for students, non-profit organizations, state agencies, school districts, and higher education institutions.
Contact us:
Texas Social Media Research Institute
Follow Us on Twitter - @TSMRI
Call Us - 254-307-8211
Join Us for Our #TXSocialMedia Weekly Twitter Chats on Thursday Nights at 8pm CDT
texassocialmediaresearch@gmail.com
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