What to take with you to the sailing?

Seemingly this is a simple question, but how you answer it, will depend how comfortably you feel onboard the ship. We’ve analyzed different recommendations and comments from various seamen regarding this question and compiled a list of things, which will be useful to you at sea. Moreover, we will give you some advice regarding preparation to your voyage. Of course, all the lists are highly indifidual and many things depend upon the position you occupy oboard the ship.

Clothes

Recommendation №1:

Take clothes according to the weather conditions throughout all the course of the ship. It is also necessary to take into consideration the weather in the place where you fly to and fly away after you leave the ship.

T-shirts or tank tops – up to 5 pcs.

Shorts – 1 pc.

Swimming trunks (there can be a swimming pool onboard the ship) – 1 pc.

Pants or jeans –2 pcs.

Track suite for making sports – 1 pc.

Sweater, a fleece jacket, or some warm coat – 1 pc.

Cap/durag/peak cap – 1 pc.

Regular socks – 10 pcs.

Underclothes – 7 pcs.

Shell jacket – 1 pc.

Regular shirts – 2 pc.

Belts - 2 pc.
Turtleneck and/or sailor shirt х 3
Shoulder straps – 1 pair

 

Please, don't forget to take some of those, if your course lies through some cold countries:

Thermal underwear – 1 pc.

Warm jacket, but not a down-parka – 1 pc.

Warm hat – 1 pc.

Warm scarf – 1 pc.

Warm socks – 2 pairs

Woolen inner sole for your shoes – 2 pairs

 

Responsible crewing companies provide with a uniform (a couple of overalls, a jacket, a pair of shoes). If you’ll need to wear a uniform, but the company did not take care of it, then help yourself:

Uniform pants – 3 pcs.

Uniform shirts – 3 pcs.

Sweater – 2 pcs.

White T-shirts (for wearing under the shirt) – 2 pcs.

 

Recommendation №2

If you need to buy a uniform, look some second-hand examples online. Take the uniform which you would easily through away in case of damage or if necessary, with no regret.

Shoes

Recomendation №3. All the shoes you take should be sensible and rational.

 

Sneakers or gumshoes – 1 pair

Boots/dress shoes – 1 pair

Sandals – 1 pair (flip-flops or mules or step-in shoes are forbidden onboard).

Rubber slippers  – 1 pair

Sanitary and hygiene items

Recommendation №4. You'll be provided with a soap, toilet paper onboard the ship. You can take any other items you would need, depending upon the length of the sailing time.

 

Tooth brush and paste: 2 pcs minimum.
Face creme, hand and foot creme
Cleansing gel
Hair shampoo
Shower gel / body wash
Deodorant (3 pcs. / 50 ml.: enough for half a year)

Shaving gel
Cotton pads
After-shave lotion

Cotton swabs
Chapstick
Razor with spare cassette or a set of disposable razors
Scissors or nail pincers

Hair brush or a hair trimmer

Face towel

Body towel (you can use the one you'll be given onboard)

Bed clothing (as an option)

 

First aid box

To cure stomach: «Mezym» or any type of enzymes, «No-Shpa» or drotaverine, «Enterosgel» or any other sorbent, «Festal», «Immodium» or loperamide (you can put it into your hand luggage during flights).

To cure headache: «Citramon», «Analgin» or metapyrin.

Antipyretics: «Aspirin», «Fervex», «TheraFlu».

For curing damager, bruises, cuts, stremmas, etc.: “Spasatel” (life-saver) crème or something similar.

For disinfection: hydric dioxide – 1 bottle, “Miramistin”

For curing toothache: «Ketanov»

For curing diarrhea: activated carbon, «Sorbex», «Loperamid»

For curing nausea: «Dimenhydrinate», «Dramina»

Baby powder (if your itinerary goes through hot countries)

Sleeping pills: «Sondoks» (relevant for steam ships because of the high level of noise).

For eyes: «Visin». 
For curing skin fungal rush : «Klotrimazol».

For sore throat:  «Septefril», «Lisobakt».

Vitamins: «Calcemine» (especially during long-term sailing).

How well the ship is supplied with medicines depens from the decency of the crewing company. In the hospital you should find everything, including all the above items, strips or plasters, roller-bandages and etc.  

It is obvious that if you're prescribed with some medicines, you should take them with you onboard.

 

Recommendation № 5.  If you don't have a good reason to take with you some medicine, leave it at home. Before finalizing the drug list, search online about what medicines and drugs are forbidden in different countries. Moreover, it is reasonable to have an offician medical prescription document for your medicines.

 

Documents

Passports

Certificates

Contracts

Other certificates or qualification docs

Tickets

 

Recommendation №6. While traving or during a flight, don't leave your documents in your luggage, always bring them with you and carry around.

Money

200 USD in small bills

100 EURO in small bills

Visa/Mastercard with some amount of money

Recommendation №7. Keep the money always with you. Buy a small satchel with a shoulder strap to carry the money and the documents around.

 

Gadgets

Laptop/tablet

Mouse

Headset

Watch

Mobile phone

Camera

External hard drive with movies or educational films, books, 1 Tb

Memory stick

Chargers from all devices

Power supply adaptors (essential for the US, South America, Asia, Australia, etc.)

USB-cable, 5 meters long

3G USB- modem (mind the rates!)

E-book

SIM-card

Miscelaneous

Sunglasses

Support band for your lower back (will be useful for those who work on deck, you can buy it in a sports shop or on the market), depending upon the reason you use this band.

Stitchings, black and white

Needle

Folding knife with a cap lifter and a cork-screw

A mug from a stainless steel

Tea spoon

Small portable water heater

Tea strainer

A big pack of good tea

Pens – 2 pcs.
Note book
Pocket pack tissues
Copy books – 2 pcs.

Test meter and a screwdriver (for electrician).

Many of the basic consumer goods can be bought onboar the ship or in ports. Do not forget about seaman's clubs.

 

When flying, try to wear as little metal goods as possible (like watches, belts or glasses). You'll have to take them off and on over and over again and it takes time. A backpack is also rather a useful thing. You can put there your laptop and other essentials.

Fasten the zipper sliders on your luggage with plastic straps; you can also use packing or sticky tape to wrap your bag into it. You might have some time and occasion to go to the city center and buy something, so it is reasonable to leave some empty space inside your luggage for the case of shopping.

 

Distribute your things efficiently. Mind the things you would put into your hand luggage (which are allowed to be taken onboard the plane) and into the other luggage.

Piercing and cutting objects of any kind, as well as liquids/pastes in tubes or cans over 100 ml are not allowed into the hand luggage. You may pack your sanitary items, some gadgets, chargers, documents and wet wipes into a transparent plastic bag.

If you fly as a seaman, you can take up to 40 kg of luggage and 1 piece of hand luggage. The luggage will be weighted. You can take only 2 pcs of luggage: max. 23 kg and 17 kg. Hand luggage is often not weighted at all, but it should not exceed 8-10 kg and 50 x 40 x 25 cm. These figures differ from airline to airline and this will be carefully checked at the airport.

Recommendation №8. Take into consideration the length of flight. Estimate the number of necessary items and things. The list we gave you above is just a hint for you, which you can print out and tick while packing your luggage.

Recommendation №9. After you return from the sailing, cross out the items, you did not use. Keep the corrected list ready, so that you can use it any time.