I'm a fold person but I lay my clothes using the size of the suitcase and only fold the bits that don't fit. I can stack a lot like this. I use the empty space around to place underwear and socks. I also put whatever I can inside shoes to fill that space. I prefer packing makeup and skincare in small pouches that can fit in between other items. Packing is an art! 😊
I pack small zip lock bags for toiletries (creams and such). Once empty...garbage. They take up no room and I don't carry them home. Also, I take 3 dresses, 1 short and 1 yoga pant, 3-4 t shirts, 1 loungewear. My colors are Navy blue, white, and versatile print. Puffer jacket for Alaska. Everything packs very small if you choose lightweight clothes. Wash in the sink. Nobody knows or cares that you're wearing things again. It's fun to find a dress or something on our travels. Don't bring anything you'll only wear once.
I plan to do the same thing (zip lock) for some items. On my long cruise, (21 day) I plan to shower, twice a day, to keep clothes from getting smelly. (and change when I get back from an excursion)
We have found that a good packing list developed for a 7-day cruise and a 14-day cruise is very helpful in packing the correct amount of clothes. Also, always evaluate at the end of the cruise the clothes that you did not wear and adjust your packing list accordingly. We do on occasion wear evening attire twice, but we do pay attention to not wear the same outfit to the same dinning venue (especially if you are sharing a table in the main dining room with the same guest). Another tip is on embarkation and debarkation day , we normally wear jeans or long pants and wear gym shoes to cut down on the amount of packing space required. The gym shoes makes walking safer (sometimes you are required to walk a considerable distance) and the long pants help if you are traveling back to a cold climate. As soon as we are on the ship and have access to our room we change clothes to match the climate. Last fall on a 11-night Caribbean cruise, we met two ladies on debarkation day that were traveling together and they had managed to enjoy the cruise with only having two outfits each, extra underwear, and swim suits that they had packed in their carry-on luggage. The airlines had lost their luggage and were not able to get it to them while on the cruise. You may surprise yourself what can be done with a little laundry and a few t-shirts in a pinch.... Take care...
Though I know it’s totally unnecessary, I like to think of a cruise as the best place to wear things I don’t get to wear often at home and be a slightly more extra version of myself. For example, I wore a fur vest, a dress shirt with cape sleeves, shiny shirts, and bright prints/colors for Alaska. With how many pics/vids people tend to take anyways, it’s fun to be a little stylistic and stand out along with it also being fun conversation starters. A bit harder to do if the intent is to pack light and it doesn’t help guy clothes tend to be thicker/heavier as well in general, but worth the fun still to me even if I get weird stares of judgement at times.
I do some laundry on most cruises. I take laundry detergent sheets or packets as well as some miniature clothes pins.I also take 1 or 2 Rick Steves fold up microfiber towel to roll the wet laundry in. My husband and I take an end of the towel and wring the laundry out over the bathtub or shower floor, then hang them on the laundry line to dry. If needed, we wring the towel out again and repeat the process. The clothes dry faster and your bath towels are dry for your shower!
As someone who has had a travel job for 33 years, you are spot on with your packing suggestions. I always say; less clothes and shoes and more underwear 😉 Fabulous video 👍🏻👍🏻
Having a wardrobe where you can match two or three tops with two or three bottoms is good wardrobe planning in general, and not just planning a cruise wardrobe. Three tops that can match with each of three bottoms gives you nine outfits. Add three pairs of shoes, and you have 27 combinations. And on longer cruises, you can make those outfits go further by taking advantage of the ship's laundry service.
We always take the Scrubba. It is so much better than doing washing in the sink. We wring the laundry in beach towels and hang to dry from a line and hangers suspended from the ceiling on neodymium magnet hooks. Worked great on Transpacific, Transatlantic, Mediterranean cruises.
@@donnaschindlbeck7457 It is a washing bag with a bit of a washboard inside. You put your clothes, detergent sheets, and water (use the shower for no mess) and seal it. Then you massage it and let it sit for a bit. Then empty it (in the shower), add clean water to rinse, empty and squeeze out the water.
It’s not so much packing for the cruise it’s the airlines that are killing us! Especially internationally when they limit to 1 checked at 23 kg and 1 carryon OR handbag no more than 8kg!! Makes it hard to do those land cruise 20 day packages…as I struggle over here. Great tips!
I’m in trouble! We are going to the Med in winter for 32 days and cruising back via transatlantic. If that’s all I can bring, I must re-think everything 😅
Isn’t that the truth. We refuse to check luggage. A carryon of only 22# each was tough for 18 days, so we are paying for laundry. We packed early and really did some thinking.
Leaving in a couple of days for our 17 day Panama Canal cruise. Carry on only! International flight = 22# in carry on bag. It’s a challenge, but we are packed. I take only about 3 liquids. Even my lotion and bug stuff are solids. I fold clothing in compression packing cubes. Shoes were tough. Hubby is 6’4” tall and not a small man, but we managed to get everything in.
I'm a folder. I just don't have luck rolling. I agree with you about wearing things more than once. I think most of us are in the habit of washing things more often than they really need it just because it's easy to toss something into the washer at home. But on a cruise "Wear and Air" is a good motto!
I plan my outfits according the the itinerary and that is what I pack. My aim is never to "pack light." I'm not sure why I would want or need to do that? But, then, we live in Florida so we are able to drive to several different ports thereby eliminating the flight restrictions on baggage.
While long-term cruising this year, I've found it absolutely imperative that I pack the right things, and don't pack anything that I don't need. Amazingly, I've managed to cruise from October to December (for about 9 weeks) with just one suitcase - I've amazed myself this time, ha! See you on the next cruise!
I agree with all your tips, and want to add one. Bring some laundry strips. I use Tru Earth. I use them to wash my undies in the sink on a daily basis. They take up minimal space in an envelope.
I have a few pieces of Merino wool clothing and they don’t wrinkle like r smell. They are good to interchange to make more outfits. They keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Lucky me. As a guy, packing light is easy. I get 3 days from a shirt, 10 days from underwear, and 3 weeks from pants. And as Elite on Princess, I get FREE, unlimited laundry and dry cleaning.
I love your advice of a "capsule wardrobe". Mixing and matching is the key to efficiency. I find a mix of navy, khaki (or cream), and white tops and bottoms give me so many outfit combinations! Then I accessorize with colorful scarves, jewelry, and hair ornaments. So fun! Thank you, Ilana, for another great video!
so glad I'm an old guy. so much easier by the looks of it. regardless of cruise duration, 12 pair of underwear, Jan/Feb/March/April...couple shirts and pants and done. I can even get it all in a grocery store bag.
I have been using bar soap, shampoo, and conditioner for years. I’ve used a number of brands, but my absolute favorite is Lush. They sell online if you don’t have one of their retail shops near you. They have different shampoos and conditioners for different hair types, and their soaps are so yummy you may never use shower gel again. They are also heavily into ethical sourcing and cruelty-free, which is important to me. I have a favorite rose-scented soap that instantly takes me to Casablanca, the first place I ever used it. The best travel garment for me right now is my black evening pants. They are a jersey knit, never wrinkle, wash and drip dry easily and always look good. They go with every top, from casual-smart to the full-bling gold sequin job and everything in between. They also double as day wear if necessary and look terrific with a blazer. Scarves, different bits of costume jewellery, a glitzy clip-on shoe buckle are things that don’t take much space and can elevate an outfit from low-key to full-formal. And, Ilana, BTW, I love your cruise clothing style. Your things are not only practical, but look great on you, and are always just right for the occasion.
@@jbob1548 The pair I’m wearing at the moment are the house label of an Australian fashion chain called Taking Shape. The favorite travel pair get replaced from time to time as my size goes up and down. I’ve got a dumpy, aging bod and getting a good fit involves a fair bit of stretch fabric and good luck. When I feel the need for new ones, I treat myself to a day in the big city, and just try on pants until I hit the perfect fit. The fit is the important thing. A relatively inexpensive thing that manages to fit well looks way better than a really pricy one that is too loose in one place and too tight in another. I also look for a straight, very slightly tapered leg - too narrow doesn’t flatter, and too wide looks good with fitted tops, but not with swingy, loose fitting tops. Lovely thing about synthetic jersey-type fabrics is how forgiving they are about fit, and how well they wash, even if just rinsed out in a bathroom basin and drip dried. Unless you are also a dumpy old bod, what fits and flatters me wouldn’t work for you, so just keep trying them on.
This I have to go off on... I usually go solo balcony, minimum. A life long friend had a birthday on a cruise date I was scheduled for so I got him on in time. Really? Zsa Zsa Gabor with 9 bags arrived? I had a backpack and suit holder. He had pajamas for every day! It was a 7 day cruise! If you forgot something at home I assure you that you can find it at a port of call
When packing I tend to roll mosty things while my Mother folds. She also places every piece in a light weight individual plastic bags and I use the packing cubes. I prefer the packing cubes as then I just have to take them out of my suitcase and place them in the drawer or on the shelves and not worry what the prior cruiser had used it for.
I keep a cruise packing list I simply update with a few new items. We also buy full-sized sunscreen at the local grocery store at the cruise port before boarding. Finally, we love laundry detergent strips - so convenient and environmentally-friendly too! Happy cruising!
We just got back from a month away in Japan including a 12 day cruise. Mostly warm weather but cool weather too. We got away with a carryon and backpack each only because while on land we were doing a lot of train travel and didn’t want to deal with large pieces of luggage. Our plan worked out great. While on land we did laundry in coin operated machines in hotels (lots of laundromats available too). While on the cruise we used our Scruba bag (we love it) for washing anything we needed that couldn’t wait until we were land-based again. We squeezed out the wet laundry in two pool towels (make a sandwich, roll it up and step on the roll on the bathroom floor). The clothes would dry in a few hours. Sounds complicated but so easy… only took a few minutes and ready for the next day….and no worries about waiting to fill a bag or waiting for ship laundry turnaround. Not having to deal with big suitcases… priceless.
Just looked up the Scruba bag and bought one for my 15 day Panama cruise leaving next Sunday 🚢☺ THANKS for this tip, my companion has to wear compression stockings so this little gizmo should be perfect 👍🏻
Since we take only warm climate cruises, we have a unique way of packing. We have clothing that is very lightweight and is ONLY used for cruising. When we get home, we strip out all of the packing cubes that are filled with dirty clothes, wash all of the clothing, and then repack for the next cruise. We find that the clothing that we wear on a cruise is really appropriate for hot and humid climate and less so for Arizona hot and dry climate. When we get ready for the next cruise, all we need to do is to pack our backpacks with travel documents and medications.
Sometimes cruise ships stop in Gamboa. I highly recommend eating at Don Caiman restaurant. The setting is very beautiful! You can see turtles sunning on branches .
We did a 33 day cruise last spring and except for having to bring some cold gear (Norway) we took pretty much the same as we do for a 7 day. We were on Princess so we used the laundromat a couple of times. You are right that nobody cares if you wear the same thing a few times (just not 2 days in a row) as long as they are clean.
I went on my first cruise in September and I completely over packed! I'm cruising to Greece next year and I will probably pack half of what I did last time. Lol. I guess you learn as you go.
Do you have a favorite comfortable and supportive strapless bra that you would recommend? A lot of your dresses are so pretty but require a strapless bra…I can never seems to find one I like.
Uggh always a struggle. For a while I used a good strapless from Victoria Secret, but it’s not as easily available these days. However I have found a strapless bra on Amazon I like & use. I’ll try and add a link to my videos.
Great tips and like this style of video. I’ve transitioned to mostly 30 days or longer cruises now and still pack for 7 days plus some specifics for the region. Luckily I now have free laundry on HAL😉. I have used bar shampoo for years and never travel without it. But I have very short hair so it makes it quite simple to wash. And I always use packing cubes and the same five pouches for my various things like toiletries, make up, technology, first aid, etc. I have it down to a science now, happy cruising!
Hi Ilana, we just got back from our first cruise ever. I did not want to go because I was scared out of my mind. Yes, you guessed it, we have our next cruise booked already. I used a lot of your tips. Thank you! We definitely overpacked for our 8-day cruise. One thing I forgot to pack was long sleeved anything. I expected to be hot, but we hit rough waters and cold temperatures. I was cold in the Bahamas. Go figure.
My clothing plan - cruise or at home - is to have mostly grayscale clothing. I wanted to use browns (I look good in brown), but finding brown shoes that look good with all my other brown clothes is really difficult. So gray it is. Then I buy coloured stuff. If I find an emerald top that I love, great. A fantastic scarf? Got it. I can then put on a grayscale outfit, with the coloured thing/things as the focus of attention. My whole wardrobe is like that. It works for me.
I LOVE the Kitsch brand bar shampoos and conditioners. I was skeptical at first, but now that I’ve used them for several months, I will never go back to bottles!
I absolutely agree, plan ahead. Your packing sheets are very helpful. I also review what I did or did not need on my latest cruise. ie too many shoes. My next trip is to the Christmas Markets, a very different cruise than my most recent Hawaii trip. Mix and match has been been very helpful for me. Always save a bit of room for your purchases even if you don’t intend to buy anything because you most likely will do so.
I use the Ethique brand shampoo and conditioner bars both while on travel and at home. The Matador soap bags work great for holding the bars in my toiletry case. I bought a blue one and a black one so it is easy to identify which bar is which.
Thanks just got back 3 day cruise Ncl joy packed in personal item only spirit air $26 flights each way from Detroit to FLL. We went to Margaritaville Resort in Nassau as per your recommendations.
Going on a 4 month cruise takes lots of planning planning planning. Weather changes. Dress codes in countries. Comfy shoes. Versatility. So i am packing clothing as if for a solid 2 weeks with both hot and snow weather. Coordinate everything so all pieces play well together. Layer up and repeat! Plan on laundry. Its really all the other stuff that will take a whole suitcase by itself😝. Love your tips Ilana.
Doing 14 days plus 2 days before. In addition to what I wear going - 2 pair pants, 2 swim trunks/board short, water shoes, 4 underwear, 4 socks, toiletries, vitamins. Ship laundry service. 2 times
We are going to be out for 6 weeks. Will pack 8 days of clothing, including FORMAL (TUX & GOWNS). Thinking about your Panama Canal cruise, pack a rain PONCHO. It will rain!!! Spray those sneakers with water repellent product. Great video.
I always wear waterproof sneakers now so they are already made of gortex. Just something to think about ;) My jacket is a raincoat, a sporty Marmot, I lucked upon at Marshalls. I'm from a very wet area... Maine.
I have a higher Latitudes status with NCL, so I take advantage of the 50% off or free laundry service mid way through the cruise. I can wear the same things in different combinations for all new outfits! A friend packs 3 colors and mixes and matches with only a few items. Doesn't work for me because I love color!
We are doing the Panama Canal crossing as I write this, it is 14 days, I think we did pretty well, we have to take a plane back from LA, so weight was very important!
I just made my deposit for my very first cruise! It will be a knitting cruise, 11 days to Alaska (rt from SFO, I live in Portland) on the Ruby Princess. Thankfully it's not until Aug. 2025 so I have planning time. I have to bring some knitting supplies as well, but they don't take up too much space. I've already started a list based on your packing and cabin hacks, thank you for the recommendations! I chuckled to myself that I'm going on an Alaska cruise, but I lived in Anchorage for 12 years, my sister has been there for over 30 yrs and it's my home away from home! But I've never been to SE Alaska so I'm really looking forward to it. One thing I desperately need is a new suitcase. You said you've been working with Level 8 for a couple of years, will you do a follow up video on your luggage? I'm hearing some horror stories about hard sided suitcases on the cruise port, but it looks like Level 8 is the 'right' kind of material. Looking for your long term use of these pieces. I know everyone takes a carry on, but I hate those things on the plane! I will probably pack a change of clothes and needed items in my backpack and call it good. Thanks for all your great videos! I will get the cruise planner at some point as well. 💖
Don't forget that you can book excursions, from the cruise line, many, many months in advanced. The only downside is that you have to pay for the excursions when you book them.
Great tips Ilana. We have done a number of 10 or so day cruises. Probably do overpack most times. Enjoy the Panana Canal! We did a Celebrity Edge cruise to the Canal last November. One tip make sure to have some rainwater. I got soaked on excursions during the cruise. The day started out pretty yet rained several times during the day. It is the rainy season Have a great cruise.
When you stop in Port get to a laundry mat and wash your laundry I also did my clothes in a sink think out of the box. I also worked for an airline 20 yrs ago but all over pack
I'll be trying my carryon sized Level 8 bag for an upcoming cruise, but only because I'm not flying to embarkation. It weighs a whopping 7.7 lbs when empty, something to keep in mind when you have to swing your bag into the overhead bin. I might need weight training to fly with the bag. :)
We over packed for our 15 day hawaii .First cruise ever...but now have a btr idea how to downsize next time and cant wait to take our level 8 cases...we had probs with our reg cases on carpet on the ship... tx for all your videos... they made our first cruise go smoothly just becuz we knew what to expect....
The Level 8 Voyager luggage looks great and I would love to purchase a set, however the shipping costs to Australia cannot justify the purchase even with a discount. It's a pity that Level 8 don't have an outlet in AUS or NZ to enable us to purchase what appears to be good quality luggage without excessive shipping costs. Keep up the good work Ilana, your tips are always very helpful.
To hear your vid, I even turned off my hard rock playlist! Terrific vid and I continue to subscribe, because ALL your info is great for a trip to another location! Your different subjects from the sunny Bahamas to Alaska are great for wherever I go! (Road trip from SoCal to Taos NM. BRRRRRRR) 🥶
I'm going to have a 12 night cruise and 2 days at the departure port, right at New Year time. Even though that is Asia itinerary cruise trip, but I think the weather will be cold in N. Vietnam. Also, I need warm clothes to flight from and back home. So, maybe it's little harder to pack, but I look forward to this trip. As 1st time cruiser, I've been watching almost every video of your channel and read almost all of comments for the tips. Thanks, everyone.
Very helpful tips! My big question regarding what to take and not to take is this: I'm leaving in 11 days on my first cruise to the Bahamas on Anthem and don't know if I need to bring my cell phone and smart watch. I've read horror stories about unexpected roaming charges and people saving they wound up paying hundreds extra. Why would anyone need their cell phone on a 7 day cruise? Can you get by with an ordinary watch and no phone? I'd really like your input of that as I haven't seen any videos addressing this. Thanks so much!!
Also cruising on Dec 2nd, Carnival Magic!! By the time I pack, I’ll probably be overpacked, again!! I know better since I’ve watched Life Well Cruised videos many times! 😂😂😳🛳️🛳️
Wish I had seen this before our October cruise to Canada - soft sided luggage plus rain = damp clothes! Hard-sided luggage is on our Christmas list this year.
On full size toiletries, fine if you pack them in your checked luggage, though they will take up space. If you are taking them in your carry on luggage, there may be a maximum size they will let you take through airport security. And the maximum size isn't really all that big.
Thanks for the tips! I am doing 14 days Scandinavia cruise with my mother next year. It’s our first cruise! We agree to bring less clothes because we sure are going to buy some. But we will pack lots of sea sick and food meds and full size toiletries as we won’t be flying.
I know that being a woman you have given great advice to women as to what to pack, do you have suggestions as to what a man should pack? I really like the advice that you give because it has all helped as to planning for a cruise. Most of your advice is for women and I would like to know what you'd suggest that men take with us. Thank you!
I absolutely love your videos. I would really like to see You're dresses that you wear on the cruise ships and the links to where to purchase them. Thank you.
I’ve had a few people mention they’d like a guys packing video. I have one about what to pack for men, but I can definitely do more of a how to pack or pack with me video with my husband or son :)
First cruise in April and I'm already packing on paper in your cruise planner!😂 Have taken pictures or screenshots of what I want to wear or get before we go and keep in a album on my phone. Helps me to visualize and organize! Happy Sailing!!🚢
I find your videos very helpful, thanks! Getting ready for a 4 month around the world cruise, Help! Right now my philosophy is to pack for 2 weeks and then repeat. Any ideas from anyone would be greatly appreciated.
Bring separate pieces that you can mix and match. Keep your bottoms neutral (choose a palette, for example in the black or navy, etc family), camis and or short sleeves top that you can dress up with accessories. You might need warmer clothes and consider layers: a lighter jacket that you can layer with a warm inside sweater or hoodie.
I am taking my first cruise and it is 34 days long. I will bring a carryon suitcase and a smaller backpack! Toiletries to me are the biggest issue for me. 34 days on cruise and another 34 days at end. The cruise is mostly warm weather in South America but also going to Antartica so packing will be tricky! I am not worried about cruise dress code or theme nights. Just not my thing when I travel. I will eat at buffet on formal nights if needed. I leave in about 17 days so will start packing soon to make sure I have room, etc. I will buy toiletries before I get on ship and just carry them on.
I think buying full size toiletries in the embarkation port is a good idea. Tip - you can order & have Amazon deliver your items to your hotel precruise (just ask first)
@@LifeWellCruised I am staying with friends in LA for a few days before cruise. I sent some Amazon packages to their house during Prime Days! Also buy some coke in cans and toiletries at Target there. I am well traveled but not the cruise life!
Hi Illana flying out Sunday for my 9 day Beyond cruise on Monday…i am trying to stick to your suggestions. As you know i am a toiletry gal. But i did transfer my shower gels, shampoos etc into the smaller plastic bottles. Some items i can roll but others will come out so wrinkled even my downy wrinkle release had a hard time on my last cruise in April….btw was the Panama Canal…have a great time on yours🚢😊
I like your information videos .. .. .. BUT .. .. .. I am a solo male traveler. I am sealing from and live in Tampa FL. Can you do a video for male packing ??
