I've traveled more than a year at sea, but still overpack!
I have gotten better at packing, it's rare that I miss something, but still find I have more things than needed.
Recently my husband and I took a short cruise. We committed to using only a carry-on and we did it! There wasn't anything we seemed to miss.
Some of the things I consider before traveling:
How long is the trip
Are there formal occassions
Expected weather
Solo Travler or with others
Which cruise line I'm on
What airline I'm using (if any)
Packing Essentials
Obviously you'll need a suitcase.
Luggage
Reasonably good quality luggage is essential. Always check your luggage thoroughly before your trip. Drive it around the home, to make sure the wheels work. Despite careful checking, suitcases are handled roughly and often break. It might be a good idea to have a small amount of duct tape on hand for emergencies packed in your carry on.
Another hint, always close your suitcase at the top of your luggage to avoid stress on the zipper, and avoid your belongings falling out the bottom.
For Carry-on luggage,it is essential to have a bag that rolls well around the airport. I don't want to get tired just getting to the gate. I have a a small 20 inch case, with another bag that attaches on the handle. This size is perfect for packing my essential items. I travel often so I've invested in this nifty set.
The bag on top is large enough to hold many items yet still fits under the seat. The strap that attaches to the 20 inch case is crucial. If I have to gate check, I have room to keep my essentials with me.
The largest suitcases can be 28-30 inches. The challenge with these is managing weight. If I'm traveling with my husband, we tend to use one Large size suitcase for our formal wear and backfill it with lighter items (cruise ducks are a great example!)
The 24-26 inch suitcases are usually a good pick for us and tend to keep us within weight limits for check-in.
One of the things that helps us, if we do get to the checking counter and are over weight, is using packing cubes. You can easilyt grab a cube and move it to another case.
Have you ever had to switch around your luggage at the bag-drop? This can be a hassle, but packing cubes can help.
Packing Cubes
We use an assortment of "Compression" Packing Cubes and Regular Packing Cubes.
Compression Packing cubes are great for your carry on luggage. These are a must when you are traveling with your carry-on's only.
I have a short list of clothing that I always take as carry-on for cruising. I use a large compression packing cube to help me get it organized. The items that are must haves for me are; A weather appropriate alternative outfit/change of clothes, Swimwear ( there is always somewhere to swim or jacuzzi on a ship, in cold weather having morning coffee in a steaming jacuzzi is one of my favorite rituals) and a set of pajamas.
I highly recommend taking your swimsuit with you in your carry on when boarding. The first day of a cruise there are few people who have their suits with them, so you can often have a pool or jacuzzi to yourself since the rest of the passengers are waiting for their luggage to arrive.
I do not use compression cubes for all of my packing for a couple reasons.
Compressing all of your clothes may put your suitcase overweight
Compression cubes aren't transparent, and they can cause wrinkles.
Non Compression Packing Cubes are a must. They come in a variety of sizes to organize your clothes into like items. They typically have mesh or see-through tops to see what is packed inside. I place all of my undergarments, socks in one, another with casual pants/gym clothes. I organize my things so they can just be slipped into cubby's or drawers on the ship. It literally takes me about 10 minutes to unpack. I also tend to leave my formal wear on hangers....just call me lazy!
Some other tools we use to keep our packing on track is a clothes rack. I have a husband who likes to dress up. I do too! I have a dozen formal ball gowns.
A clothes rack, helps us make sure we have all the things we need for those formal nights and dinners. We can also make sure our outfits don't clash if we intend to take photos.
Not everyone has the space to store a rack, but if you do, it might help you organize your items and potentially reduce what you take with you.
Magnets
Magnets are a must for the chronic cruiser. Keeping your things organized in your statemroom makes you feel more at ease, and helps your steward keep things tidey. All the walls, ceilings are made of metal on ships.
There's a secret, though. If your hanging clothing, coats, anything heavy, put the magnets on the ceiling. The 80 lb magnets below truly hold 80 lbs, but they will just slip down the wall.
When we travel on long journeys, magnets are a great way to hang dry laundry on hangers in your stateroom, or even your balcony (only when in port, don't let your clothes fly away).
We also use magnets to help us organize the abundance of paperwork for invitations, excursions or the daily planner. These are light enought to use on the walls of the cabin.
Closet Organizers, Hanging Shoe holders, etc.
Depending on the cruise line you are using, you may find a closet organizer, shoe organizer etc. may help you keep track of your things. These may also be useful if you have 3 or 4 guests in a single statement. You can use magnets, or hang in the closet to give you extra space to keep organized.
Other tricks
When I pack, I put a large light colored flat sheet over my bed. I start with the things I want to take, then narrow by color coordination, necessary shoes, all kinds of strategies to reduce the number of things I take.
Once I've determined my inventory I do another check for each of the outfits to ensure I have all the pieces. I think head to toe, and often find I've forgotten a belt of special under garment for a gown.
Jewelry
Since I mentioned we really like our formal wear, we also want to make sure we have the lovely jewelry to match. I don't know where I got this case, but it is my go to travel item. It holds large watches, bracelets, an abundance of accessories without any of them mixing and knotting.
This is a fairly large case, but also has a layer that will fold up to a smaller case for shorter or less formal trips. It is small enough to fit in the safe, however.
Toiletries & First Aid
I have a pretty good arsenal of remedies in my Toiletries bag. Headache, seasickness, colds, cuts and scrapes are all covered. I also make sure to have a few safety pins and small sewing kit. Make sure you are taking prescriptions in your carry-ons!
These are my tips and tricks, I hope they help you on your next Travel Story!
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