What to pack for a Crewed Caribbean Sailing Trip
If you are heading on a sailing vacation in the Caribbean, everyone hopes to hit the “sweet spot” between packing too much and not enough.
We will help you with what to pack for a crewed Caribbean Sailing Trip. Packing light is vital, but what does packing light mean?
Even our list has 25 different items to consider packing.
Packing List
- Soft-sided luggage. Storage space is at a premium on anything but a superyacht.
- 2 Swimsuits
- Six T-shirts and some underwear.
- If you are female, you probably want a sundress that can double for dinner.
- Males may want a nice short-sleeved shirt for going out to fancier places for dinner.
- A long-sleeved shirt for protection is a good idea. I also recommend a snorkeling Shirt that is quick-drying.
- A light rain jacket. If you are in storms, you cool off quickly if you get wet + windy. Your rain jacket also doubles as a light coat if you get chilly in the evenings.
Wearing shoes on your Crewed Caribbean Sailing Trip
- Two pair of shorts plus the ones you are wearing when you get to the islands
- One pair of sandals or flip-flops, perhaps only those you wear on the plane. You need to be able to get them wet. You will mainly be barefoot on the boat.
- Socks. For traveling back and forth to the islands.
- Make sure your footgear won’t leave black sole marks on a boat.
- If you have shoes that are not good for getting wet, bring a pair of water shoes as well. They will come in handy when going to beaches.
Enjoyment on your Yacht Charter
- Beach/Sailing Music (my iPhone/iPad)
- Reading material ( helpful if you use your phone or iPad!
- Your own small personal dry bag. You know it is dry (hopefully), and you don’t have to share!
- Mask & Snorkel. If you wear prescription lenses or have a comfortable, well-fitting mask and snorkel, bring it.
- Towel – Bring one of those “light skinny towels.” Even though your yacht will have towels, they don’t dry as quickly, and I often find this little towel handier for taking to the beach, etc., as it takes up so much less room.
- Earplugs. If you have problems sleeping, a disposable pair for boat noises may be handy.
- Refillable water bottle. Insulated preferred! Most of the crewed yachts now offer water bottles to their guests, so it is not a big deal. I have noticed though, that most of the water bottles on the crewed yachts are NOT insulated
Don’t forget
- Don’t forget to pack chargers and batteries for your electronics. This will keep you prepared and organized throughout your trip.
- Cel Phone/ International Roaming Package/ Local SIM card as you prefer. Quite a few restaurants and beach bars will have complimentary wifi, and virtually all crewed charter yachts will have the internet onboard, good enough for email, Facebook, and the like, but not for streaming video. Ask if your yacht has STARLINK on it! I get the $10.00 per day international roaming package from my carrier.
- Motion sickness? Get a prescription for Transderm Scop, or bring Bovine, ginger, or wristbands. Generally, this settles down if you are prone after the first 24 hours
- For your financial security, remember to carry both cash and credit cards. While most places accept credit cards, it’s worth noting that American Express is not as widely accepted. Although ATMs are available on significant islands, they may be out of cash on a Sunday, so plan accordingly.
- Passport and travel documents. Yes, even though you can fly to the USVI as a US citizen without a passport, you will need one to enter the British Virgin Islands, for example.
- Any medication you take daily and a prescription list never hurts.
Sun Protection
- The cockpits should all have good shade. But everywhere else, you’re getting direct sunlight plus reflection. It’s like being in a sun broiler.
- Two pairs of sunglasses. (One spare.) They must be polarized. Having a lanyard with them so they don’t disappear is even better!
- Hat – to keep the sun off your head all the time.
- Nonspray sunscreen. Spray-on sunscreen on the boat makes it slippery for everyone, as most ends up in the air or on the decks. Unless you have favorites, I tend to find there is usually plenty on the crewed yachts—generally what the guests the week before left!
Many destinations are starting to ban the import of sunscreen protection with harmful chemicals such as oxybenzone, octocrylene, and octinoxate. The ban includes the US Virgin Islands, a territory of the United States.
These are three UV-blocking chemicals found in most mainstream commercial sunscreen products in the United States.
Lost Luggage
It is common for luggage not to arrive with you, especially on small islands and if you have connections. In all our trips, the luggage eventually caught up with us that week on the airline’s dime.
Make sure you have the yacht phone number as well as your own when you fill out your lost baggage claim at the airport. In most cases, it will be on the next plane. They will taxi and ferry it to a closer point for you to pick up.
One of the best strategies to deal with lost baggage is to keep a swimsuit, a toothbrush, and your essential medications in your carry-on bag. This can make a significant difference in your comfort and peace of mind during your sailing trip.
You get bonus points if you keep your packing down to a carry-on!
This list is incomplete, and please remember to bring your sense of adventure. You are going sailing. Your yacht crew will have more things tucked away in a corner that they can help you with than you can imagine!
I hope you find out page helpful on What to pack for a Crewed Caribbean Sailing Trip. We have plenty more tips for you on our Yacht Charter FAQ page here
Or check out a series of blog posts we also have on Yacht Charter FAQ
- Planning a Crewed Yacht Vacation FAQ
- Booking a Yacht Charter FAQ
- Yacht Rental Charter Type FAQ
- More about Yacht Rental Type FAQ