Before you dive straight to the list, let’s agree to the fact that the travel we do while joining ship is entirely different to what people normally do. The anticipation of the coming journey and the anguish of leaving your loved ones behind kicks in hard. Sometimes you travel to change 25% of the crew and sometimes its just you, greeted by long sleepless layovers, dingy stays and adverse weather at destination port.
Let’s hope the hacks and accessories mentioned here will ease your travel, so you are all ready to climb up the gangway.
Table of Contents
Stay hydrated
The least you may think it matters, it is most prominent change one face when they leave home. You seldom think of drinking water at regular interval unless you get extremely thirsty. Blame it to the thought of peeing during travel or the necessity to carry a water bottle, we don’t stay hydrated as soon we leave home. If carrying a bulky bottle with storage limitations worries you, have a collapsible water bottle. Stay smart, stay hydrated.
Have your documents handy
Your travel becomes automatically eases up when you don’t have to take the backpack off your shoulders for that document in the folder. There is a particular set of documents that you need to clear immigrations and port authorities. Keep them handy in a messenger bag, which is light weight, water proof and looks cool. It also helps to carry your shore-pass and passport out on shore leaves.
Also Read
7 important travel documents you should know as a seafarer.
Cover for passport
Your passports are valid for 10 years. Make it outlive those years with a passport cover. And why just passport, we seafarers have other booklets as CDCs, COCs, respective flag certificates and many other. Till you get your passport labelled (tepra) by your third officer, keep it safe and trendy.
Organize your luggage
No matter how difficult it is for the ladies we are pro in packing our luggage, but fate comes into play when our main luggage is frisked and it never looks the same again. You ignore it thinking we have reached our vessel but your new socks won’t see the lights of your cabin until its time to pack again. To make sure that doesn’t happen get travel organizers, they help you to get the most out of your storage capacity and lets you fit your duty package very neat.
Steal quick naps
You will definitely find it outlandish to carry one of these, but trust me they help get some ache-less naps through your journey. The mistake we do is to buy this at the airport with no possibilities to return or exchange it if it doesn’t suits you. So, to the seafarers who are enjoying their vacations, please try one of these till you get the best fit for yourself.
Travel adapter
This is a no-brainer, even a first-timer will have one of these with them. Smart thing is to get one that can act as a backup to your charging adapters too. Yes, it will cost more than the regular ones but will save you from an unseen charging trouble onboard. The product mentioned here has a USB-c fast charging port.
RFID wallet
You may see airport as a place that is accessible to certain class of people or in fact the port city you are going to join may seem welcoming but you should never let your guard down when it comes to your hard earned money. Always have a certified RFID protected wallet or card holder during your travel and stow it close to you with a zipper.
Backpack is a must
Travelling with a single luggage is never an option when you have set of documents required for your joining. You need a backpack for your laptops, document folder and other accessories. You cannot risk throwing them in main luggage and regret when you do not find it on the airport belt at your destination. We have endless options for backpacks, still a 40L one seems a smart choice.
Let your legs breathe
Count me in as someone who would want a perfect balance between fashion and comfort if not more comfort. Please avoid wearing skinny jeans during travel, you are already unsettled emotionally why you wish to extend it physically. Let your legs breathe while you travel. Cargo pants that are waist fit i.e. requires no belts (will definitely give you peace while security checks) are best when it comes to travelling and with lots of sensible pockets. They can make your k-drama crazy girlfriend fall in love with it.
Slip on shoes
As cargo pants are for legs, a good pair of slip-ons are to your feet. Never compromise with footwear as your feet will be engulfed in those safety shoes for most of the time. Slip-ons helps you get your feet in-out quickly without worrying about laces.
All weather Jacket
A good jacket is like a perfect partner for the journey. It hugs you, comforts you in all kind of weather and can you can slip in-out of them in seconds. One should always consider a mid zipped reversible as their go to travel partner.
Flash drive backup
In worst case your smartphone or laptop can go “kaput”, be prepared for such times, always make a backup of all your necessary documents in a USB flash drive and carry it with your wallet. You may also think of making a recovery drive for your laptop, if you rely solely on it for your recreations.
Pocket Perfume
You can buy a pocket perfume or if your favorite perfume doesn’t comes in a pocket size, you can create one for yourself. Though it won’t guarantee extra attention from your air hostess.
Carry spare socks
Keep a pair of boxers and one pair of socks in your backpack as you need to change it on the go. Most of the times seafarers are in transit for more than a day with the same set. Do change your socks before it starts to stink.
Gum game on
Flights for some are an unpleasant realization of having ears, chewing gums help easing out the pressure variations through the flight. They become extra sensitive when you have a cold, so always keep a pack with you before you take off.
Every seafarer must have a memorable joining once in their career, through which his planning and adaptability was tested on shore. In this hope that those who have read this post till now will make their joining journey little less painful and remember it for how smooth it was.
Do share your own hacks which you follow during your travel and this article in your sea circle. Happy Sailing.
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