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 most likely be the most unforgettable experience you’ll have 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 ending in the beautiful 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) 🧴Sunscreen

Fairly obvious, but don’t make the mistake of forgetting to bring your sunscreen - it's the middle of summer after all! And if you want the skinny on sunscreen, listen up: 

You want to buy a physical sunscreen vs a chemical sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens absorb into your skin and absorb UV rays (seems counterintuitive), where physical sunscreens sit on top of your skin and reflect UV rays. 

Here’s a list of the top physical sunscreens to keep your beautiful skin protected. That way you can focus on having fun without worrying about waking up looking like a lobster the next day. 🦞

2) 👒Sun Hat

Now I have my mom’s voice in my head. “Don’t forget to bring your hat! Think of your poor alabaster skin in the European summer.” 

Pro tip: look for a hat that is made from natural fibers vs synthetic ones like polyester. You won’t sweat as much with natural fibers.

Pick a hat that has a brim (even if you don’t think it suits you; everything suits you because you’re gorgeous). 😉That way you can protect your face and neck while avoiding the label “red neck.” 

Bonus points for choosing a “crushable” one that you can roll up and fit in your bag.

3) 😎 Sunglasses

I encourage you to bring your “party sunglasses,” because it is a Pride-centered gay tour after all! 

Perhaps you have a pair of red heart-shaped lenses, or Queen Bey’s fringe glasses hiding in your closet? If you do, now’s the time to bust ‘em out and show ‘em off! 

But make sure you bring a practical pair too because you’ll need to see regardless of how fierce you look! 💅🏻

4) 🩲Bathing Suit  

Do you normally rock a Speedo? Or perhaps you have a Mankini tucked away in the back of your closet? 

Whatever it is, I encourage you to bring AT LEAST two bathing suits. A practical pair and perhaps a cheeky, barely-there pair. 🤭

Also a word to the wise… I went on a summer trip and after meticulously picking out which bathing suits to bring, I ended up forgetting all of them. It was a major facepalm moment. 🤦🏽

Learn from my poor packing mistakes. Take this list and check it twice!

5) ⛱️ 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. 

6) 🧺 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!

7) 🪭 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. 

8) 🌌Glitter

Warning: glitter will end up everywhere! 

But it’s soooo fun to use and you’ll look absolutely gorgeous for days — mainly because you won’t be able to get it off. 

You’ll be able to say, “I woke up like this,” and no one will disagree.

IF you’re a little nervous using glitter, my suggestion is to start small. Focus the glitter on your cheekbones and collarbones. 

If like me, you LOVE glitter, let your freak flag fly and put it all over your arms, face, and chest! 

Pro tip: mix your glitter with your sunscreen for an easy all-over application.

Look for biodegradable glitters because most glitters are made with plastic, and you don’t want that on your beautiful body, or in the river. 

9) 🧥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. 🤞🏼

This region tends to reach highs in the low-70s F (low 20's C) during the day, then drops down into the mid-50s F (mid-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.

10)🕺🏻Themed Night Costumes

Ok so the themes haven’t been set 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.

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! 😘