What to bring, and what to leave at home

A jacket, flat shoes and sunscreen. That is the whole list for most charters. The rest is below, for those who like being prepared.

The jacket everyone forgets

Twenty knots on the water does not feel like twenty degrees on the quay. Apparent wind makes a difference people consistently underestimate, and it is worst on the flybridge, which is exactly where everyone wants to sit.

We carry spare blankets. We do not carry spare jackets for twelve.

The shoes

Flat ones. Heels and teak do not mix, and you do not want to be the person who marked the deck on a Princess.

Plenty of people go barefoot when it is warm, which is fine. Bring socks anyway; the deck gets cold once the sun drops.

Sunscreen, even when it is overcast

The water reflects, and it is easy to burn on a grey day without noticing until the evening. Particularly if you lie still for an hour and swim.

If you are swimming

Swimwear and something to put on afterwards. We have towels on board, so those you can skip.

The water is warmest in August. In May and June it is primarily a test of character.

Food and drink

If you are bringing your own, bring a cool box if it is warm. The galley has a fridge but it is not unlimited.

Glass is allowed but we do not recommend it on deck. Not because we are strict, but because broken glass on a boat makes for a bad evening for everyone.

What you can leave at home

• Towels. Already on board.
• Life vests. We have them for everyone, in every size.
• A speaker. The boats have sound systems. Bring your phone and a playlist instead.
• Seasickness tablets. Rarely an issue in the inner Oslo fjord. If you are unsure, say so and we will plan a sheltered route.

For whoever is taking the pictures

Bring more battery than you think. Cold and a screen in sunlight drain faster than on land. And mind the strap; a phone that goes over the rail is gone.

We will happily fish out a cap. We will not recover an iPhone from twenty metres.