Getting Ready

Before you leave for your cruise, there are few things you'll need to take care of and pack.  

Flights

Your Chief Scientist will be asked to have all participants arrive a minimum of three days prior to departure, as we require all participants aboard the ship two full days prior to departure.  You will be requested to fly out no earlier than the day after arrival.  More information is on the Embarking and Disembarking page.

Passport and Visas

Passports are required for all participants (even if departing and arriving from the nation that issued your passport).  Visas may also be required.  Please refer to the Passport and Documents page.

General Packing List

CLOTHES

In addition to your normal clothing packing list, please bring:

• Shoes (three pairs)

  • Steel toe shoes are required for those involved in deck and hangar operations, cargo-handling, or other work around heavy items and are strongly recommended for everyone.

  • Working shoes - Shoes should be close toed and have nonslip soles.  These are to be worn in laboratories and other public areas.

  • "Clean" Indoor shoes - clean shoes for wearing in the lounges, conference rooms, staterooms and other clean public areas.  These should be distinct from what is worn in laboratories and other public work areas.

  • Steel toe sea boots, a.k.a. rubber boots (optional) - for deck work in wet conditions.

• Lab wear (including lab coat, long pants and close-toed shoes).

• Clothes that can get dirty - for working on the Work Deck, Starboard Launching Bay or in the Wet Lab.

  • Long sleeve shirt and/or sweatshirt  - for abandon ship drills, air-conditioned interior spaces and sun protection.

• Pair of pants - for abandon ship drills and air-conditioned interior spaces.

• Rain or cold-weather gear (as appropriate).

• Sun-blocking hat/cap - for abandon ship drills and/or working on deck.

• Work gloves.

• Sunglasses.

• Warm hat (if appropriate).

There are laundry facilities available so you many not need many sets of clothes.  Laundry detergent is provided.

Note about foul weather gear - If we are operating in a warm area with calm seas where water does not often wash on deck you might be okay without them. Sea boots and foul weather gear are NOT provided, however, so plan on bringing them if you think you will want them. Even if you do not need sea boots or foul weather gear, you need to have steel toed shoes/boots on deck.  Remember that warm, equatorial regions can be very wet even though they are not cold.

Safety Equipment - Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs - a.k.a. life jackets) and hard hats are required on the back Work Deck and other work areas and will be provided on board. You are welcome to bring your own but they will be inspected aboard to ensure that they meet the ship’s requirements. PFDs, in particular, have stringent requirements and must be equivalent to the type 1 devices provided on board. Float coats and work vests usually do not meet this requirement.

BASIC TOILETRIES

• Body Soap.

• Contact lens solution and storage container / Eye Care Solution - Multi Purpose.

• Dental Floss.

• Deodorant.

• Ear plugs - ships can be very loud, especially if you are sensitive to noise while sleeping.  Stateroom walls are thin and may not provide the level of sound insulation that you're used to.

• Eyeglass Repair Kits.

• Facial Tissue.

• Feminine Hygiene Items.

• Hair Shampoo/Conditioner.

• Hair Comb/Brush.

• Hand sanitizer.

• Lip Balms.

• Lotions.

• Nail Clippers.

• Powder (Antifungal, Baby, Talcum powder).

• Razor.

• Sewing Kit.

• Shaving Cream (non-aerosol).

• Sunscreen SPF 30+.

• Toothbrush.

• Toothpaste.

• Toilet Paper, laundry detergent/bleach, towels and linens are provided by the ship.

GEAR

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate for the work in which you will be involved.  This may include safety glasses, nitrile gloves, work gloves, protective clothing and other laboratory safety items.  Falkor (too) will provide hard hats and personal flotations devices (PFDs/lifejackets).

• Alarm Clock.

• Flashlight - headlamps are nice to have so you can use both hands to work.

• Electrical adapters, cables, and earphones - Falkor has both US and European electrical outlets and power in the labs, but only European outlets in the cabins. The power outside of the laboratories is non-standard (230V, 60Hz) and is supplied by European outlets. It is recommended to bring along at least one adapter, if not several.  More information here.

• Spare batteries/Battery rechargers.

• Pens and notebooks.

• Memory stick or external hard drive.

• Personal computer (Wi-Fi provided).

• Insulated spill-proof mug for coffee/tea.

• Water Bottle.

• Laboratory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if not packed with your science equipment.  This includes lab coats, safety glasses, disposable gloves, etc.

GENERAL TRAVEL CHECKLIST

• Paperwork.

• Passport (including an immunization card if necessary).

• Visa(s) (if required).

• Electronic copies of travel documents (Passport, visas) sent to SOI before your arrival.

• Port information - Location, directions & contact information.

• Itinerary/ Reservations (copies for SOI so we know when you are traveling.

Money

• Before traveling, let your banks and credit cards know you are traveling.

• If possible, two different types of credit cards in case one is shut down.

• Petty cash in currency of destination in case credit/debit cards are not accepted.

Medical

• Blood donor card or written account with your blood type and any allergies.

• Sufficient prescription medications (should be documented with medical officer prior to arrival; in case there is an incident, it is helpful to know what you are taking).

  • We strongly recommend bringing at least an extra week or two worth of medications.

  • Many individuals use a different amount of medications while at sea.  Please discuss your needs with your healthcare provider.

• Over the counter medications (e.g.) Pain relievers, cold/allergy capsules, anti-diarrheal. The ship has a limited supply as well in case of emergencies.

• Persons who believe that they are prone to get seasick need to bring their own medication with them.  If such a medication is taken for a prolonged period - greater than three days - while on board, they must inform the Ships Medical Officer. The ship has seasickness medication on board but only for emergencies, not as a regular supply.  It is recommend that seasickness medication is only taken during the first 3 days of a cruise or during periods of rough weather.  Taking seasickness medication for the entire length of the cruise is not recommended due to side effects. Exemptions are natural remedies like Ginger tablets or seasickness wrist bands which may be used the entirety of the cruise without causing unwanted side effects.

What Not to Pack

• Plants, seeds and animals (including chia seeds). Be sure to clean your clothing prior to packing it so you can prevent inadvertently importing organic material. For example, be sure there are no seeds on Velcro®, mud on boots or grass inside cuffs. It is prohibited to remove any materials such as wood, bone, eggshells, feathers, and plant or animal parts (this includes sea shells).

• Illicit Drugs (please also review the legality, in the countries you'll be visiting, of over-the-counter and prescription drugs you may be bringing).

• Alcohol.

• Weapons of any kind.

• Some nations are particularly strict about what may be brought into the country without high customs duties.  Please familiarize yourself with requirements, limitations and duties prior to traveling.

• Countries may have strict rules about bringing certain items into the country.  Please familiarize yourself with requirements, limitations and duties prior to traveling.

  • Brazil, for example, has a ban on bringing vaping materials into the county.  Consequences for breaking the rules may be be significant.

Luggage - Please see note about 'Soft Luggage' below:

Please plan on storing all of your luggage in your cabin as there are no “public” areas to store empty suitcases, etc. Many participants find duffel bags and soft luggage to be more convenient on board (if somewhat less convenient at the airport) since they do not take up much room once emptied. Each person has, in their cabin, a wardrobe with a shelf and hanging storage where clothing and other gear may be stowed. Be very mindful of what you bring to avoid forgetting something crucial as well as avoiding overpacking. Most people find that they use less clothing than they anticipate.

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT MEDICATIONS

Please ensure that you bring sufficient supplies of any medications that you require. Do not forget to account for your travel time, time in port and any personal travel you are planning. We recommend bringing along an extra week or two worth of medications to allow for contingencies.  Many individuals use a different amount of medications while at sea.  Please discuss your needs with your healthcare provider.

Please be aware that laws regarding medications vary from country to country and the repercussions for violating local laws can be severe. Please ensure that you research local laws and restrictions before bringing any medication into a foreign country. What is “over the counter” medication in one country may be prescription only or a controlled substance in another.  

While the ship maintains a small supply of medications for headaches, coughs, colds and the like, it is always a good idea to bring your own for any minor illness that you may suffer.

Special Note About Illnesses Aboard the Ship

If you have a communicable illness like flu or covid while on board, we may try to avoid outbreaks (and protect the ongoing cruise) by quarantining you in your cabin. Please be aware and prepared for this possibility; this occurs more often on ships than ashore, as ships provide good conditions for transmission of illnesses.