Coming to the rescue, MSC Cruises has assembled a team of super packers. You’ve had holiday reps before, so now it’s time to meet the ‘Holiday Preps’.
This is music to my ears as I have officially called myself the worst packer in the world and have even been known to offload weight from my luggage to my husband and friends so not to be charged from the airline for being over the limit!
Did you know, 35% of Brits find packing stressful, with one in ten people saying even saying they find it so stressful, they do not want to go on holiday?
The team, who are sharing their top tips, comprises of: Emily Norris, the resident family packer; Jeannine Williamson, pro-cruiser and travel writer; Yaya & Lloyd, travel influencers AKA Hand Luggage Only, and Nicola Lewis, the professional organiser. Between them, they are helping hopeless packers prep for their holidays, eliminating the stress so they can get back to focusing on fun. What’s more, guests who book a trip on MSC Virtuosa sailing from Southampton have the chance to book 1-2-1 video consultations with a Holiday Prep for bespoke advice and guidance on what and how to pack for their cruise.
Antonio Paradiso, UK Managing Director of MSC Cruises said: “At MSC Cruises we want to make exploring the world as easy as possible for our guests. Whether it’s providing new and exciting destinations to visit without the need to fly, or assembling a team of experts to give the best tips and tricks on how to pack reducing that pre-holiday stress, we want our guests to get back to the important bit – enjoying their holiday.
There are still a lot of misconceptions around cruise holidays, such as thinking that you have to dress up every night or that there might not be enough to do onboard. At MSC Cruises we want to make cruise holidays more accessible and break down those myths around cruising, and what better way to help guests than right at the start of their holiday with their packing. Whilst there are plenty of opportunities to dress up, there is always a more relaxed option available too so however you want to holiday there is a cruise for you.”
With potential packing lists longer than a queue at Stansted, cruise holidays can be seen as particularly tricky to pack for. From formalwear to poolside attire, planning for different climates and excursions with some cruises taking in six different destinations in seven days. There are hundreds of onboard activities from high ropes courses to spin classes, so for tentative packers it’s hard to know where to start.
Fortunately, MSC Virtuosa is departing from Southampton from April – November season, so it is airport – and ‘baggage panic’ free – handy for the 35% of Brits who worry about restrictions, so guests can feel prepped for their holiday, whether they are hiking in the Norwegian fjords, basking in Barcelona or simply relaxing in the MSC Aurea Spa.
Research shows we all struggle with what to take on holiday as 60% of Brits admit to being serial over-packers. Two in three women and half of men[5] do not wear all the items they pack and 17% of Brits confess to being disorganised packers – leaving everything to the last minute.
It’s also a point of contention for holidaying couples, with 25% of married couples arguing over packing too much and another 25% arguing over packing unnecessary items. And the more kids to account for, the more arguments to expect – 64% of those with one child have rowed with their other half over packing, going up to 77% for those with three or more children.
This may be why 33% of parents with three or more kids would be willing to pay someone to pack for them. Fortunately, MSC Cruises’ Holiday Preps service is free…
To request a packing consultation with a Holiday Prep, guests sailing on MSC Virtuosa this year can visit the MSC Cruises’ Facebook page or the MSC website for more details.
The MSC Cruises Holiday Preps’ tips can be found in full via their Instagram pages here:
- The Family Packer: Mrs Emily Norris
- The Travel Guys: Hand Luggage Only
- The Professional Organiser: This Girl Can Organise
- Don’t forget to pack your Kindle!
Keep reading for Top Tips on Packing…..
For more information on MSC Virtuosa click here.
For more information or to book now visit www.msccruises.co.uk, see your local travel agent or call 0203 937 7570.
Leave a Comment