This is a truism for any type of travel, and especially for cruise travel: the less luggage you bring along, the better. Less luggage is easier for you to handle and keep track of; airline baggage fees can add up if you have too many or overweight bags; and, you’ll want to have some extra luggage space for gifts and mementos you acquire while cruising. So, here are some tips for packing small.
Start by making a
list of what to pack, because an hour or two of wardrobe planning can help prevent
overpacking. Make a list of things that are right for the climate where you’ll
cruise; add any special items for theme parties or shore excursions, as well as
essentials like a swimsuit, pajamas and underwear. Then, take a deep breath and
pare the list down, keeping only items that can be mixed and matched to make multiple
outfits. Be sure to ask your professional travel advisor about your ship’s
laundry and dry-cleaning services; using them may help you pack even less.
Special note for
cool-climate cruises: instead of bulky sweaters, pack lighter items you can
layer.
Shoes deserve
special attention because they take up a lot of luggage space. Try to limit
yourself to one pair for daytime excursions and one pair for evenings on board.
If you don’t have shoes versatile enough to go with everything in your suitcase,
a new pair of fashion sneakers may be a good investment.
Many travelers
swear by rolling clothes, rather than folding them, to save luggage space;
there are some good online videos on this topic. As you pack, try to put smaller
items inside others: for example, put rolled socks inside your extra shoes or
rolled t-shirts inside a sunhat.
Some travelers use
packing cubes to help keep different types of clothes neat and organized, or to
keep the pieces of an outfit together.
Also, don’t pack
large containers of toiletries or medications; put enough for the length of
your vacation into smaller containers.
Finally, be sure
that one of your bags is a carry-on that will stay with you. In addition to
essential paperwork and medication, use it to store a pair of pants or shorts
and two tops. This will give you a little more room in your main suitcase and ensure
you have fresh clothes if your luggage is delayed at any step on your journey.
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