I also know that many folks are traveling during the holidays. I am always surprised at the number of Holiday Cruisers we have. And, with the New Year on the way, many more cruisers and cruises will be seeking warm weather (primarily in the Caribbean). So, the topic is timely.
As I post this, we are personally just a week away from another cruise adventure. This time, it is a new ship: The Oceania Nautica, and a new part of the world: South Africa. The venue presents some packing challenges for me, as I have not been to this part of the world before. It appears to us that there is a lot of open grasslands, as well as seaside locations. It also appears that on many of our ports of call, we will be visiting animal preserves or doing “safari-type” excursions. I am also reading that it will be warm (January is said to be the hottest month in South Africa). Conditions will likely be windy, and there is a lot of sand which is also likely to be blowing around. Those things mean warm-weather clothes, but probably long-sleeved and perhaps pants (instead of shorts). As covered in this blog post, the type of fabric I prefer these days should stand me in good stead. I may have revisions to add here upon my return. In the meantime, I wish everyone a great holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year!
WHEN WE started cruising, I would basically just wing it. There wasn't a whole lot of information out there that we knew about. Sometimes books, like Rick Steves' series would help. Sometimes you could find an internet article (but there is so much misinformation out there on the "net"). Mostly, we learned by trial and error, and our own experience. I will try to point out some of the "trial" that was not "error." 😀
CRUISING HAS changed since we started. 15 years ago, the mid-range cruise lines like Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, MST, and the like, were pretty similar. They had a large main dining room with "set" tables and times. Depending on the length of the cruise, there were 2 or more nights designated as "formal night." And they were formal. Lots of men wore tuxes, and most others, at least a suit. Women wore formal wear. I packed a suit for the first 2 cruises. At some point during my "real life," I chaired a foundation board, and the duties occasionally required a tux. So, I bought one, and thereafter, for the next few cruises, I packed and wore my tux. I am a reasonably big person, at nearly 6'2'' and over 200 lbs. My clothes aren't small. The one and only time I envy some of my smaller friends is when it comes to packing for travel. 😈
ALASKA, OUR first cruise, also meant cooler weather, bulkier clothing and rain gear. The Caribbean is easier - shorts, flip flops, t-shirts. But again, for the first several cruises, the formal wear still came along. And carrying and keeping the formal clothes reasonably wrinkle-free was a luggage challenge. I eventually found that my best result was to pack in a large (check size) rolling garment bag. I was able to get everything but my needed carryon gear in that bag. But it was heavy, wide, and unwieldy. Being a photographer, I also had to bring a carryon bag large enough to hold my camera and lenses, as well as electronics, etc. It was a heavy load. But for the most part, it was doable, as we generally only had to take it from airport to taxi to the ship, and then could drop the big stuff off shipside.
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| Large Rolling Garment Bag |
THEN WE started to go to Europe. Which brings up an important point: what you pack will be influenced by your destination and what you will be doing. If you are leaving from a local cruise port that you can drive to, you can pretty much take anything you can reasonably handle (heck, steamer trunks if you are so inclined). But most of our cruises leave from a distant port which involves flying and sometimes train travel, to get to the point of embarkation. Again, given our relative inexperience, and in the early years, lack of good "intel," we were still winging it. Our first cruise (also our first trip) to Europe was in 2013. It was only our 4th cruise, so we considered ourselves beginners, still. Our cruise on the Royal Princess (a brand-new ship and class in 2013) began in Venice, Italy, and was scheduled to end in Barcelona, Spain. The subject of another dedicated post (Expanding Our Travel Horizons - "Murphy's Law"), that cruise could have been "the cruise/trip from Hell," but turned out all right. We were still doing set table, set dining at that point, as well as the formal nights. So, the huge roller garment bag was still part of the deal. We decided to spend a few nights in Venice prior to boarding the ship. That was our first acquaintance with cobblestone streets and sidewalks that are found all over Europe, and with foot bridges and steps in Venice. Dragging luggage around can be a slog!
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| Cobblestones and Bridges in Venice Copyright Andy Richards 2013 |
BUT WE also had no idea what to wear in Europe, and the information we were consuming, unfortunately, wasn't truly accurate information. At least not for the times. For example, the pundits held that in Europe, men mostly wear long pants and leather shoes. Bright colors and such were frowned upon. They were generally more stylish than we "casual Americans" were. And if we dressed like we often do here at home, we would just be being those dumb, ugly Americans. Sounds good in a travel book. And we took it to heart. But the actual, on-the-ground reality does not comport with this. I don't think those "pundits" were purposely misleading. Nor do I think they were ignorant. What I do think is that for times past, they were absolutely correct. But times had changed. Apparently faster than published works had.
we have found that shorts, tennis shoes (sneakers to some), and comfortable clothing is the norm, both for tourists and for the locals (weather permitting, of course)
HAVING BEEN in Europe now a few times, we have found that shorts, tennis shoes (sneakers to some), and comfortable clothing is the norm, both for tourists and for the locals (weather permitting, of course). It is very common to see locals wearing t-shirts, shorts and sandals. And even the pants being worn these days are for utility and comfort. Of course, there are exceptions. Visiting certain sites (like the Vatican) requires long pants for men. In some parts of the country, women are required to wear head coverings. But mostly, it is comfortable and casual.
AND, LIKE the on-the-ground changes, cruise lines have also moved to a much more informal dress code. The lines we frequent still require pants and collared shirts in the dining rooms (at least for the dinner meal). But a polo shirt and well-pressed "khakis" will easily suffice (indeed, I am informed by a significant number of online posters, that jeans - as long as not ripped or otherwise inappropriate - are now allowed on some lines). "Formal" has now been changed to "Smart Casual." By observation, these days I don't see much difference between the accepted wear from night to night - formal or not. To be sure, some folks still dress up. We even see a few tuxes around on those formal nights. But for the most part not so much. I usually wear "dress casual" pants and a button up shirt for the formal nights. The only change from that to regular nights is that I wear a nice quality polo (golf) shirt on those nights. Am I the best dressed guy in the place? Nope. But I don't really think anyone either judges or truly cares these days. A confession: I miss those days (I surely don't miss the luggage 😰). While my wife and I disagree on the point, I really enjoyed dressing up in a tux, with the frilly shirt, button studs and the (yes, I tied my own) bow ties. I still have the tux hanging far in the back of the closet, along with several bow ties, cuff links, etc. But I am probably dreaming to think I'll ever wear any of them again. These days, the idea for me is not to stand out (in a bad way, at least). The new "smart attire" is meant to be the floor. You can go as formal as you wish from there. Here are the (verbatim) guidelines from the lines I normally cruise. But you should check with the particular cruise line. Nobody likes surprises.
From Princess:
- Smart casual:
Dress the same way you would do for a visit to a restaurant at home. Skirts, dresses or trousers with t-shirt or blouse for ladies, trousers and shirt or polo shirt for gentlemen. Shorts and swimwear are not allowed in the restaurant. - Formal (optional):
Evening gown, cocktail dress or pantsuits for ladies, suit, combination or dinner jackets for gentlemen.
From Celebrity
- Women should feel comfortable wearing:
A cocktail dress, Skirt, pants or designer jeans with an elegant top - Men should feel comfortable wearing:
Pants or designer jeans with a dress shirt, button-down shirt or sweater
Optional sport coat or blazer
THESE DAYS, my packing mantra is to pack as light as possible, within the range of acceptability. So, with that in mind, here are some of my "packing" thoughts:
WHAT TO PACK:
Do Not Overpack. That's worth repeating. Do not overpack. This is my advice. I don't always follow it well. Even now, I often look back and say, I could have gotten along easily without this or that item. I didn't even use it. But I have gotten much better and have it down to a pretty good science. I normally travel with a carry-on size or the smallest check-size spinner rolling bag, and an under-seat size personal bag for cruise trips. Our trips are usually 15-20 days. I check the carryon when I use it - it's just my personal size limitation. And believe me, it is much easier to roll around on the ground and to load on and off trains, subways, and the like. But here's the thing: You don't need a separate change of clothes for every day of the trip. It is ok to wear the same item or items multiple times. Other than your close personal travel companion(s), most of the people you see, are never going to see you again. Trust me; nobody will notice that you wore that once already. And honestly, so what if they did? Isn't this about having fun and being comfortable?
Pack Synthetic Clothes. The days of cotton and heavy wool are gone. The only major exception to that may be the new, so-called, "smart wool." I am seeing claims of light weight wool that packs well and can handle multiple wearing. I haven't tried it yet. I might in the future. But so far, I have been very happy with what I have been using. Anyone my age or older remembers the original "polyester" fabrics. Yuck. Hot. Sticky. Fake looking. They were awful. But like cruising, fabrics have changed. A lot.
Shirts. I'm not sure who first came up with "performance" fabrics (think Nike "dry fit" or almost anything Under Armor makes). But they were onto something. They resist sweat and sweat odor. They stay dry and they rapidly dry if they get wet. One added major plus is that they can be hand-washed if there are no other laundry facilities and hung to dry overnight. And they are virtually impossible to wrinkle. I have 3 different types I pack. Again, the mix depends on what I am going to be doing. My "go-to" are the synthetic long sleeve and short sleeve T-shirts (Under Armour, Colombia, HUK fishing, or similar). These are light enough not to be too hot in warm or sunny weather, but have just enough added warmth and coverage. And they make a great insulating layer underneath a fleece or rain cover. I know I am going to be spending a fair amount of time every day on the ship deck (usually the back for me), and these are my perfect onboard wear. I will pack about 5 of each of them. They are feather light and take up very little packing space. Again, wrinkles aren't a worry. I also usually pack (wear one on the plane) a couple of the button up Columbia fishing shirts. Again, ultralight, comfortable, and no wrinkle worries. Finally, I pack 4-5 polo/golf shirts. These tend to be the nicer quality ones I can find in the "dry-fit" style (Nike makes a really nice, very lightweight one). These are suitable for wear in the Dining room, or for on shore if you like. You can decide your own mix and match. The point is that these fabrics pack light, are not bulky at all, and are both comfortable and acceptable.
Pants. There are going to be times when pants are required (e.g., places like the Vatican require legs to be covered). But that doesn't mean you need to be hot and uncomfortable. I travel with 2-3 pairs of Columbia (just my brand of choice - anything similar works), something like their "Silver Ridge" pant. Likewise I carry 2-3 pairs of shorts of similar fabric. These are generally 100% nylon, or a blend very close to that. They are breathable and comfortable. Best of all, they pack wonderfully well and because of their look and style, wrinkles just aren't a worry. I plan the mix depending on how warm the weather will be and what I will be doing.
Here's the thing: You don't need a separate change for every day of the trip
"Formal" Wear. These shirt and pant combinations may not work for formal night (I haven't tried). I have a very small, light, hanging "bag" that goes in the checked bag that I use to pack 1-2 button down shirts and 1-2 dressier (still usually synthetic "dress casual") pants. Wrinkle-free button-down shirts are difficult to find (in spite of the manufacturers' claims), but there is one that I have recently found from Clothing Arts. I bought and traveled with one of their button downs on my last European Cruise and with a little careful packing, it did remain truly wrinkle-free. I would recommend it. There are others out there (i.e., Proper Cloth) that make the same claim. I haven't used them yet. I also really like the Columbia long sleeve button down shirts. Like the pant, their design means wrinkles are not a huge worry. There are wrinkles, but they don't look bad. My complaint is that on the nicer, apparently dressier styles, they still have that (not so dressy) "Columbia" label in white across the breast pocket. For dress, I don't want to sport logos. That has ruled them out. Maybe someone from Columbia is reading here and will remedy that in the future. Yeah, right.😎
Footwear. This is one category in which I have struggled with the most over the years. My feet are large. I often think the advertising industry uses smaller foot sizes when hawking travel products and packing methods. I wear an 11 or 12 U.S. men's shoe. I'll bet I am not that unique. Shoes are the single most bulky item to pack and the most difficult to work with when trying to pack "small." Back in "the day," I had to pack a pair of dress shoes (to go with the tux), as well as casual shoes, walking around shoes (usually tennis shoes), and usually flip flops (for on the ship). That is almost a carryon bag in and of itself. I still see guys that pack that many pairs. No idea how they do it. I do have a larger check bag that I probably could do so with, but at the expense of more weight and size. Women? I have no words. 😇 Now that we have moved to casual, my goal (and as I write this today, somewhat joyfully, I think I may have reached it) is to have 2 pairs. One is my trusty flip flops. The other is a "hybrid" shoe that works (as the advertisement says) "equally on the beach or in the boardroom." In other words, I wanted a pair that I could get away with in the dining room on formal night, and with shorts for those times off the ship when I need them.
Footwear is the item I have struggled with the most over the years
I have learned that I can get by on shore 90% of the time with flip flops. The key here, is that they have to be good quality flips with good footbeds. On one cruise I walked around on shore with an inexpensive pair of leather flips. I didn't notice it during the week, but after I got home, I had terrible foot and ankle pain for a week or so. If you are going to wear them a lot, and depend on them for some support, it is worth paying something for them. Expect to pay $100 on average for a good pair of Vionic, Spenco, Teva, Columbia, Clarks, or the like. For me, the best combination of lightweight, support, comfort and style, has been a pair of Olukai Ohana flips. I don't get paid by Olukai (wish I did 😑). But I will say I have now used them on two 15+ day trips; worn them 80% of the time and had no feet problems. But it is worth going to a store where they have high quality flips and a few different brands so you can try them to see what is going to be comfortable for you.
Actual shoes are another issue. I have had varying success. I have a pair of Columbia shoes that are featherlight, fit like slippers and look good enough for the beach. But they just aren't classy enough to really pull of the "boardroom" look. I have some other pairs, including a Born pair that have the looks, and at first blush, seemed very comfortable. I am sure they have good support. And I would guess that with the right pair of socks, they would be o.k. I guess I didn't mention that I only wear socks at gunpoint these days. 😅 Without socks, I developed painful blisters on both little toes after about a day of walking. But I finally have found what I think and hope to be the answer. Once again, Olukai. This time the Moloa. Olukai touts them as "beach to boardroom" capable. I am not sure I would go that far, but they are certainly fine for smart casual, and also look good with shorts. I wore them much of the time on a 15-day trip to Portugal in May that had a lot of walking involved. No issues.
The Takeaway Here, is that you have to find something comfortable, lightweight and low bulk for you. For most people, I suspect that will be a non-bulky, semi-dressy shoe and sneakers
Underwear. Yep, I am really going to go there, guys. And it is an area that I promise you I can only cover from the men's perspective. 😎 It is really a pretty critical category. This will especially be the case where you are in a hot or humid environment and have to do a fair amount of walking around. I get that choice of underwear is a very personal thing. But whether its "tighty-whities," or full boxers, or whatever works for you in between, there are some important concerns. Shore excursions can include a lot of walking and is sometimes much like hiking. I am one who perspires rather easily, and things can get kind of warm and uncomfortable "down there" after a long day of walking. And many of us (a daresay most of us) can have times when there are chafing issues. So, this is an important consideration to think about and maybe even experiment with. Again, I am going to recommend synthetic fabrics. For "hiking" I think cotton is out of the question. But I have also learned you have to be careful about "what" synthetics.
A few years back, I ordered some Ex Officio brand in my favorite fit. The cheapest were white and that is what I ordered. I loved them. Enough that I bought a couple more pairs. The new ones were dyed a grey color. For whatever reason, they are not as comfortable or effective at wicking (I have read similar comments since then on some of the customer reviews on Amazon - so I am not dreaming this up). Something to consider. There are a few new "shapes and sizes" out there to address the chafing problem. It is worth some time and consideration, as being uncomfortable there can make for a really unpleasant day. I have tried a couple other brands. I keep coming back to the Ex Officio (which are - unfortunately also Ex Pensive 😜). I can't say what is best for you. But I can confidently say it is worth the some thought and planning, to avoid an unpleasant day ashore.
Do Not Overpack. Oops. Did I say this already? Well, I did say it was worth repeating. As noted above, you probably don't need near what you think you do. And by packing "small and light," you will be able to keep your baggage small and light. Not only will this help you keep within the airline weight limits, but it will save your body too. Think carefully about the other things you will or will not need. Will you spend any time in the pool or hot tub? Then you may need to consider a bathing suit or two. You don't need 5 of them. Personally, I stay away from those "petri dishes" myself. I get plenty of pool time at home. So swimming gear is not on my packing list.
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| Packing Cubes |
Packing Cubes. This is a debated topic. Some think they add bulk. Some favor the old "roll your clothes" method, or some other packing style. After several years of trying both ways, I have come down in favor of packing cubes. I am not sure they save any room. But I do think they help me to be better organized. I also like that I can pull the cubes out and put them on shelves or in drawers, without unpacking their entire contents. I have learned a couple little tricks though. First, don't pack them too thick. I find thin layers work best in a suitcase, even if it means more of them. Measure your bag dimensions before choosing packing cube sizes. The best cubes will be a good fit within your bag's dimensions. But at the same time, the cubes have to fit your clothing articles. It is likely to be a compromise. Like everything else being packed, lighter is better. You may also want a variety of sizes - but not too much variety. I have 3 different ones. I use one very small one and one larger one. The rest are all the same - a medium size. You may have to experiment. I have some cubes from a local big box store (cheapest and "flimsiest"), some from Amazon, and some from Eagle Creek. The Eagle Creek cubes are the sturdiest. They are also stiffer and heavier than the others. I have had the "flimsy" ones for several years now, and they have worked fine for a number of trips. They are not getting beat up. I like them because they serve the purpose and are very light. They pack easily. Most recently, I put some tags on the zippers of each cube, with a label telling me what is in the cube. I have been accused in the past of being anal. Maybe. But even using different colors, I sometimes forget which cube holds what. The labels will help me quickly identify what is where. YMMV.
When packing your bags, be mindful of what is permissible in checked bags, and what you can carry on. Note that the rules may not be the same for international travel. Lithium batteries are required to be carried on - not in your check bag. Conversely, liquids and semi liquids (greater than 3.4 oz) must be in your checked bag.
There are going to be certain things you don't want to entrust to the baggage handling part of travel. I carry a small "ditty" bag with travel sized toothbrush, toothpaste, and any other similar items I may need during travel or after landing that I couldn't do well without for a couple days. Medications are critical. I also realized on a recent trip that you may want to consider taking extra medication, unless you are detained out of the country for some reason (most recently, testing positive for Covid-19).
Your Other Stuff. I carry a camera and a couple lenses, and a tablet. I keep these items in my carry-on bag, along with phone, watch, batteries, passport and vaccination records, cash, driver's license, etc. Basically, anything I don't want to get lost or stolen or think I will need.
This is going to be very much a matter of personal choice. I have traveled with people who get virtually everything they need for a 2-week trip in a small carry-on bag, people who use only soft duffels and backpacks, and people who bring 2 of the largest possible check bags along with carry-on bags). As I mentioned earlier, some of this is also going to depend on how large a person you are. At over 6' and a 11-12 shoe size, my packing needs are greater than the guy who is 5'7" and wears a size 8 shoe. My best buddy is in the latter category, and he is able to travel for a week at a time with a carry-on sized bag, including a couple suits or sport jackets. Like I said, it is probably the only time I have ever envied his smaller size.
The industry seems to have landed on a set of "standard" sizes. For me, they don't really work
I am somewhere in between. Like a lot of people, I have several bags in the closet, from a rolling duffel (which is probably the ideal size for me - but I prefer the spinner style these days), a "medium" check bag and the largest permissible carry-on spinner. None of them are really my "perfect" bag. My perfect bag would be just slightly larger than my carry-on size, but substantially smaller than the check bag. Everything fits in my carry-on bag, but it is always a very tight fit. Problem is, nobody makes a bag that is "just right" (am I sounding a little like the 3 bears here?). As I will note below, I have learned to use quality stuff, even if you pay more for it. I have had all my current bags now for a few years and all have made multiple trips. They do not show any signs of excessive wear. But the industry seems to have landed on a set of "standard" sizes. For me, they don't really work. I want to travel small and light. In my current bags of choice (Travelpro), they go from my carry-on to their next size, the "medium" check bag. It is virtually identical to my carry-on; just bigger. Too much bigger. It increases by a good 5" in height, over 2" in width, and almost 3" in depth. That may not seem like much, but in terms of overall size and more-importantly, packing space, it is huge! My ideal would add maybe 2-3" to height, not more than 2 inches in width and 2" in depth. It would not be carry-on size, but it would be almost as small and manageable, which for me, is key. But nobody seems to make that bag. 😞 Any quality luggage makers reading this?
Wheels or Not? In 1986, an airline pilot designed an upright bag with wheels and a retractable handle, intending them for airline employees who are always traveling with a bag. With this "Rollaboard," the Travelpro company was founded, and shortly thereafter, most major luggage makers were offering wheeled bags. By 2004 the 4-wheeled "spinner" bags had become popular. On our first European cruise, I carried my 2-wheeled, Eagle Creek rolling duffel bag. As I have mentioned, for packing, it was really my ideal case size (just slightly larger than my carry-on). But I quickly began to envy my fellow travelers (including my wife) who all had the 4-wheeled bags. The problem with the two-wheeled bags is that you basically have to pull them behind you, which is awkward and gets tiring if you walk a long way (and these days, especially when an international terminal is involved, airports can involve long walks). The 4-wheeled bags seemed to glide effortlessly along and were easy to push right next to you. So, by the time of our next trip, I had acquired my Travelpro 25" check bag. There are pros and cons. The 4-wheelers don't roll as nicely on carpeted or rough surfaces, but you can pull them, two-wheeled style. The 4-wheelers are also more prone to breakage (particularly in the baggage handling areas). But I haven't looked back from the 4-wheeled bag.
On our last long trip, one of our companions carried a large duffel bag over his shoulder, along with a backpack. The advantage to the duffel is that it is soft-sided and you can pack a lot of stuff in it. But that creates a disadvantage in that you may be tempted to overpack. That equals more weight. And, watching him carry it on some of our longer walks, I think he regretted it. We were talking about it recently and he said, unequivocally, that the next time we travel, he will have a wheeled bag.
Hard Side or Soft Side? For years, for suitcases there were really only hard side. I still remember my parents' Samsonite ivory colored suitcase set (4 cases in total, I believe), with the hard sides and the snaps for opening and closing. No wheels. I am not sure when soft-sided luggage began to come around and eventually overtake hard-sided luggage in popularity. I suspect it had to do with ballistic nylon materials that would take a beating, manufacturing costs, and the greater variety of colors and styles. In any event, but the time I was married with my own family, our "set" of luggage was soft-sided. I hadn't seen hard-sided luggage for years. Then, sometime around 2015, we suddenly started to see hard-shell luggage again. Part of that has surely been the evolution of plastics and similar materials - now ultra-light, strong, and easy to mold into shapes.
This is one of those areas where it is simply going to be a matter of preference. My preference is soft-sided. I have seen too many hard-shell cases that are scuffed, scratched, dented (sometimes severely) and even broken. While they perhaps afford some mechanical protection to items inside, that same rigid construction generally means limiting how much can be packed inside. In my case, I don't often pack breakable stuff (at least not in a checked back). If it is something I am concerned about, I have had very good success wrapping some clothing item around the item in question. In my view a good quality, ballistic material, soft-sided piece works better. It packs more flexibly, it wears better, and it packs into a car or other area (think bins for carry-on) more readily. But that is my personal bias.
Quality? I believe quality does matter. My wife and I have a philosophical difference on luggage. She is from the school that you can buy cheap luggage and replace it and since all luggage will wear out, you are going to have to replace it anyway. I buy higher quality luggage and expect it to last (I have replaced all 4 wheels on two of her bags - it involves some tools and shop skills, and I am not sure a lot of people would be capable of doing it). And even though you can replace it, it is a royal "PIA" when it breaks down in the middle of a trip.
My usual luggage brand has been Travelpro, but I am not "married" to that brand. I know Hartmann, Briggs & Riley, Tumi, Away and Rimowa, all make very good quality bags (I am sure there are others I have missed). But they are 2-3 time more expensive, and I have not been convinced they are enough "better" than the Travelpro to justify the added expense. I recently found a bag by another company (Swiss Army) that looked like it might be that "perfect" bag I have been seeking (the case size was slightly larger than my Travelpro carry-on and most competitors too). Unfortunately, upon reading the reviews, it turns out that while the bag is nice, the retracting handle and the wheels are just not durable (I might have actually taken a flier if it were just the wheels, knowing I can replace them. But the retractable handle being a problem is a non-starter). If you are planning to buy luggage, do your research. Read the reviews. And remember, it may just be cheaper to spend a bit more money once than to buy 2 or 3 times. The last thing you want to have to deal with is a broken wheel or broken handle in the middle of a trip!
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