Travel advice

Packing for a cruise can be quite daunting. Especially if you've never been on one before. If you're travelling on a Saga cruise, there's no need to ball up your socks to save space (unless you want to)! Many must have items will already have been taken care. Here's our guide on what you won't need to worry about packing when sailing on a Saga cruise.

DON'T... pack a travel kettle

Yes, we all know the Brits' love of a good cuppa is legendary, but don't even think about packing one of those tiny travel kettles or cup immersion boilers.

Firstly, you won't be allowed to take it on to the ship, for obvious health and safety reasons. But there’s a far more enjoyable second reason – free 24-hour room service!

When you’re in the comfortable cocoon of your cabin, you can phone at any time for a tea or coffee, day or night.

If you always like a cuppa at a certain time when you wake up, just let your cabin steward know, and they’ll bring it every morning.

It doesn't end there either – you can use room service for snacks, a dine-in meal for two, or soft drinks. It's there to be enjoyed, so make sure you do.

The hardest part is returning home and having to learn to make coffee for yourself once again!

DON’T… worry about wine!

'What? Don't bring a couple of bottles, you say? But surely the prices for drinks are astronomical, and once I'm aboard I'll be forking out all the time?' Actually – no.

When you cruise with Saga, not only are table wines included at no extra cost, but all other drinks such as cocktails and branded spirits are included too.

With our all-inclusive cruises, you’ll be free to spend a little more on excursions, souvenirs, or indulgent pleasures like spa treatments.

DON'T... take too much local currency with you

Saga's cruise ships are ‘cashless’, with all purchases added to your on-board account via your room keycard.

And with everything in pounds sterling, there’s no mental gymnastics needed to work out how much you’re spending either!

But if you want to take control of your budget when heading ashore, just change up money as you need it on board – there's a bureau de change at Reception which makes it quick and easy.

Or draw it out when you step ashore – most ports have an ATM so you can get foreign currency quickly with your debit card.

DON’T… pack a stack of books

Holiday reading. It’s easy to bring a mobile library for those lazy days at sea, but you really don’t have to.

Both Saga’s ships have spectacular libraries – relaxing spaces with panoramic views and elegant wood shelves lined with reference tomes, fiction and non-fiction.

What about guidebooks, you may wonder. Well there's a better solution – free Wi-Fi! This means you can use your smartphone or tablet and surf away.

DON’T… overfill your washbag

It’s easy to go overboard with the toiletries – not literally, you understand!

You can either spend a fortune on those pygmy-sized bottles in the chemist or get messy and decant your favourites into travel containers. But why bother?

Waiting for you in your cabin on board will be Saga’s exclusive range of toiletries. If you run out, they’ll be magically replenished, free of charge.

Other inclusions in your cabin are a hairdryer and bathrobes, plus free towels beside the swimming pools, so you can comfortably leave all those necessities at home.

Find out what's included on a Saga Cruise.