Pre-departure - What to Bring

In order to help you prepare for the voyage, The Scholar Ship has created the following packing guidelines. As this is only a guide, please use your discretion in packing according to your needs.

Documents and Money
Keep your travel-related documents (i.e. passport, visas, travel itinerary) and money securely with you at all times during your travel to the voyage. The amount of cash to bring is at your discretion. You must bring a credit card or US currency/traveler’s checks with you. 

You will get a shipboard card which you will use for anything you buy on the ship. To deposit money to your account at the beginning of the voyage you may use United States currency cash, traveler’s cheques or your credit card, or you can arrange a direct wire transfer in advance or at any time during the voyage. 

In port, you can either exchange currency or you can use an ATM card to withdraw money in local currency.
Be sure to notify your bank or credit card company that you will be using your debit, ATM, and/or credit card outside of your home country to prevent a stop of services.

Make sure you bring:
• Passport with all appropriate visas
• Copies of passport photo page
• 4 extra passport photos
• Identification Cards (ex. driver’s license, student identification card)
• Voyage Boarding Pass
• Emergency contact information
• Credit, debit, and/or ATM cards
• Cash (Traveler’s checks may be difficult to cash in some ports.)
• Money belt

Personal Hygiene Items
Most of the items on this list will be available at the ship store or in port should you need or prefer to purchase them. Remember that you may also need personal hygiene items in easily portable sizes for shorter trips while in port. 

• Hair brush/Comb
• Soap/Body wash/Face wash (soap is provided in your cabin)
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Hair gel/mousse
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Mouthwash
• Dental Floss
• Deodorant
• Cotton swabs
• Sunscreen
• Body Lotion
• Lip balm
• Shaving cream/After shave
• Razor blades
• Feminine hygiene products
• Tweezers
• Facial tissues (travel size packs)
• Nail care items
• Hand sanitizer
• Anti-bacterial towelettes 

Medical/Health Needs
Some medicinal items will be available for purchase at the ship store and, if needed, from the ship doctor. We suggest, however, that you bring any medicinal items you regularly need with you (i.e., aspirin, sinus medication, vitamins, adhesive bandages, anti-fungal foot cream, and aloe gel). If you are taking prescription medications remember to bring a sufficient quantity to last the entire duration of your voyage in your carry-on luggage. Please note: It is necessary to carry prescription medications inside their labeled packaging and to have a physician sign an authorization for verification of legal possession.

Clothing and Shoes
Although your voyage may be almost four months long, we recommend that you pack clothing for approximately two weeks. Please consider that you will need clothing for both warm and co