I am not even sure why I am writing this blog post.  My wife should be writing it, but she is working on another project now, so I guess she will have to edit it to make it right.  I am sure that I will forget something that she would want or need.

As with the list for the men, remember, you are packing much lighter than you usually do.  They charge extra for those suitcases on the airplane, so cut it down a bit.   Also, I have heard from others that when packing for a cruise, follow your list and do your packing, then take a break.  Come back a day or two later and remove half of what you packed.  Sounds good to me.
Also, as with the list for the men, I suggest that the women also decide now, black shoes or brown shoes.  You can only pick one.  Ok, since you chose black shoes that means a black belt and mixed and matched outfits that go with black.  Right, everything goes with black.  That is why I chose it.  I love my wife in red shoes, but we are trying to pack light here!

Enough said about that unless you are planning to dress up; then bring the skirt or dress that works with the black shoes.  Don’t make the mistake of bringing the brown skirt when you are bringing the black shoes.

I prefer the freestyle cruising, so I am leaving most of the dressy stuff at home.  If I were packing my wife’s stuff, it would be shorts, a blouse or two, hat and sandals or walking shoes. This is a vacation, right?  Well, let’s be truthful here.  If my wife wants to have a dressy night at the Captain’s table, who am I to deny her that special event?

On this list I am including things for a tropical cruise as well as an Alaskan cruise.  So, if you are going north, you may want to opt for warmer clothing.  If you are going south, leave the heavy coat and gloves at home, and take more shorts and lightweight shirts.

Finally, since I wear glasses, you will see that I suggest bringing an extra pair. Also, since I don’t want to lose my glasses as I look over the edge of the ship to the water below, I always use eyeglass straps to keep the glasses from dropping.  I can take them off and they just hang down like a pair of binoculars.  And speaking of binoculars, there will be another list of general items to bring along but are not included in the clothing and sundries lists.

Clothing

• Underwear (Bras, include strapless, panties, camisole/slips.)
• Sleepwear (Lingerie, pajamas, sleep shirt, robe, etc…)
• Shoes & Belts (Black, remember we already decided.)
• Sox & hose, as needed, to go with shoes
• Shoes  (Yes, add some sandals, flip flops, walking shoes, etc…)
• Thongs (You can decide which ones I am talking about.)
• Exercise wear, including a jog bra, if you are into working out
• Purses, please no more than a couple
• Swimsuits and cover-up
• Jewelry and accessories
• Dress, skirts, blouses
• Dressy wear for the Captain’s dinner
• Shorts, Capris, Slacks
• Windbreaker
• Sweatshirt
• Heavy Coat, Hat & Gloves, if needed
• Raincoat with hood, if needed

Sundries

• Leave the blow dryer and curling iron at home
• Leave the iron at home
• Ladie’s version of the DOPP kit with the various sundries that you need.  Don’t forget to squeeze out the air and put the liquids in a Ziploc bag.
• Lighted makeup mirror
• Nail polish & remover (Don’t forget the cotton balls.)
• Nail file, clippers, etc… (In the checked baggage.)
• Band aids and Antiseptic Cream
• Seasick Tabs (ginger root)
• Lip Balm
• Cold medicine/Pepto Bismol
• Aspirin/Tylenol/Midol/Excedrin, etc…
• Sleep Aid

Miscellaneous

• Don’t pack your jewelry; put it in your carry-on baggage or purse or fanny pack.  With that in mind, leave your fancy jewelry at home. Thieves target women with lots of fancy jewelry.
• Make sure to pack your prescription meds with the prescriptions, also in your carry-on baggage.
• Pack light.  Heavy suitcases are a pain in the back and cost more when you fly to the ship.
• Camera and Charger
• Smart Phone and Charger
• Power Strip
• Extra memory cards for your camera
• Extra pair of glasses or contact lenses
• Duct Tape (to patch suitcases, etc…)
• Maps and Travel Guides
• Books or Kindle
• Copy of Passport
• Flashlight
• Alarm Clock

Click Here for a Printable Packing Checklist

———————————————————————-

Turning Dreams into Memories,
One Vacation at a Time.
Bon Voyage!!!

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our travels as well as from other travelers. I hope it has been of value to you.  Check out the important links below.

                    Packing Checklist    Parent Authorization Letter For Unaccompanied Minors

                Medical Treatment Authorization Letter     Travel With Minors-Permission Letter

Don’t hesitate to email us when you return from your trip with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow travelers!