Detours Gay Travel Blog

10 Travel Essentials for a Pride River Cruise

• Detours
• Oct 16, 2024

Have you heard the gossip on the street…

Well, it rhymes with shmooze, involves water, and will probably be the most unforgettable experience you’ve had all year.

I’m talking about a River Cruise!

And Detours just so happens to be hosting our first ever PRIDE River Cruise next July 31–August 7, 2025. 🏳️‍🌈⛴️

The cruise starts off with a full weekend at Amsterdam Pride — yes, the one with the boat parade! 

From there we'll see diverse destinations including Rotterdam, Kinderdijk, Dordrecht, and Bruges before the cruise ends in the heart of Belgium, Brussels.

This is an all-inclusive trip on a brand spanking new boat, so you don’t have to lift a finger if you don’t want to. 

So, I thought it was necessary, as a good trip leader, to provide you with an essential packing list. 

If you haven’t been on a cruise before, how would you know what to bring? 

We’ve all been there. 

The night before you set off…

Clothes strewn all over the floor…

In a mad panic trying to decide, “But what will I wear?” 😫

Don’t worry, Detours’ got you covered. We want you to have the most laid-back, flexible experience and leave all the worrying to us. 

So dust off your best duds, and maybe even buy that feather boa you’ve always wanted — it’s Pride after all!

Let’s get into it!

1)🔌Travel Adapter

It seems our friends over in Europe like to use different electrical sockets than us. I’m sure you’ve heard horror stories of exploding phones, blow dryers, and other such appliances. (Or is that only in the movies?) 🤔

Well, whether it’s true or not, buying a universal travel charger is just a good thing to have in your travel bag. Plus when you can get them online for as cheap as $20 why wouldn’t you get one? Why not leave the exploding phones for the movies? 

2) ⛱️ Parasol

I mean how adorable are these? You’ll look fabulous AND keep the sun off your face. It doubles as a skin protector and a prop! In my opinion, a “Pride River Cruise” must-have! 

Get ready for endless compliments and perhaps a few, “Can I borrow that?” inquiries. 

3) 🧺 Travel Laundry Bag 

A must-have for any seasoned traveler. For those who know, know. 

It's by no means glamorous, but super handy to have — there’s nothing worse than your dirties mixing in with your cleans, am I right? 

Having a separate bag for your dirty clothes can help keep things tidy, organized, and smelling fresh — so you can look your best!

4) 🧥Just in Case Layer

The Pride River Cruise starts in the middle of summer in Europe, so warm days and sunny skies are hopefully on the menu. 🤞🏼

In July, this region tends to reach highs in the mid-70s F (mid 20's C) during the day, then drops down into the low-60s F (high-teens C) at night.

As we know, Mother Nature has a mind of her own and there’s nothing worse than needing a rain jacket or warm sweater and not having it. 🌧️

It’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. (Anyone else starting to hear their parents' voices in their heads?)

Pro tip: check the weather forecasts before the trip to get a better idea of what layers you should bring.

5) 🕺🏻Themed Night Costumes

Ok so the themes haven’t been decided yet, but the fact that there are themed nights happening aboard the River Cruise is giving me, “Why wouldn’t I go?” vibes.

There will be an email sent out with all the themed party details 90-days prior to the River Cruise. So that gives you lots of time to dig through your tickle trunk and pick out your perfect themed outfit!

Is it going to be ’90s, disco, or perhaps underwater themed? 🧜🏻‍♂️Only time will tell.

6) 🃏Games 

Do you want to know one of the best ways to meet new people and experience endless social opportunities? Bring your favorite (travel sized) game! 

I learned how to play Dominoes on a recent trip, and I can’t even begin to tell you how many people I ended up playing with. (And yes, there’s more to playing Dominoes than just setting them up and knocking them over!)

Even if you don’t speak the same language, games are a wonderful ice breaker and a great way to meet new friends. Bring a deck of cards — I guarantee you will learn three new games by the time the cruise is over.

7) 💊Medication 

Ok, so the ship isn’t riding waves out at sea, but it is, after all, a boat, and they’ve been known to sway. 

Motion sickness pills are useful to the motion-averse if you do happen to fall into that category. Even if you don’t, it’s better to have some on hand than not at all. 

Also Tylenol or Advil is always a wise choice no matter where you’re traveling. 

In this case, it might come in handy if you happen to dip into the open bar a bit too hard. 👀

8) 🪭 Fans

If you’re not necessarily a parasol person, but you still want some flair — try a fan! Classy, elegant, AND it cools you down? Yes please! 

And did I mention it’s the perfect flirting tool? Cover your face if you’re feeling shy, motion “come thither,” or stop them dead in their tracks with a “not now I’m busy” movement.  

9) 👔Bring a Range of Outfits 

So the ship that you’ll be on is, if I say so myself, pretty dang fancy. AND there is a renowned chef onboard who’s responsible for cooking some fabulously delicious meals. 🤤

So, while you can leave the tux at home, here are three things you might want to consider when packing for the River Cruise: 

We will be spending a lot of time walking around the towns along the way, so having comfortable attire for exploring is recommended! 

For dinners onboard, dress to impress! Put on your Sunday Best and dine in style. 

It’s Pride in Amsterdam — need I say more? 🌈

10) 🧊Packing Cubes/Compression Bags

If you haven’t spent much time on a boat before, let me be the one to tell you that cabins on a cruise ship aren't known for their size. This is one of those times when size does matter!

Trying to maneuver a giant suitcase around isn’t going to be pretty, believe me. Packing cubes/Compression Bags are a wonderful way to store your things without taking up half your cabin. Plus they’re super handy if you want to keep all your things organized!

So there you have it… 

Your 10 Travel Essentials for a Pride River Cruise. 

And one of the best things about the River Cruise is that you only have to unpack one time! Easy peasy lemon squeezy. 🍋 

If you’ve never experienced Pride in another country, this is the time to do it! 

Don’t miss out on endless social opportunities while floating down the river exploring authentic European towns. 🇳🇱

And with this handy packing list you’ll be able to accomplish The Five P’s — proper planning prevents poor performance.

See you on the cruise! 😘