- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 5
-
Sparkle (1)
If there's one thing I know a little something-something about, it's packing. I am, in fact, a champion packer. I could pack in the Packing Olympics, if such a thing existed, and I would bring home -- at the very worst -- a bronze medal. (Hey, it helps not to be too cocky about these things, you know? Truth be told, I'd probably get the gold, but I'm going to let you keep believing I'm modest.)
So when Kristen came to me with a packing challenge, I knew I had to step up to the plate.
The Packing Challenge: A festive two-week birthday cruise.
The Date and Place: February. Starting in San Juan, hitting seven other islands.
The Mission: "We'll be doing lots of active things," says Kristen, "so I don't know how many of those clothes I'll be able to wear again without washing. Also, I'm training for a race, so I'm going to actually work out and run while we're gone (wait, why are you laughing? No, really, I am. I am! But early, you know, before I start in on the boat drinks.) Any advice you have for packing without bringing 16 bags would be awesome."
So how do you pack for fourteen days on a cruise ship, doing active things, celebrating your birthday, looking spectacular while doing it, and not sinking the boat with your twelve tons of luggage? Well, my friends, I'd say we need to do a little multi-tasking. Here's how:
First of all, staterooms on cruise ships are notoriously small. Let's aim to get everything into one bag so Kristen isn't tripping over her luggage the whole time; if she's got a soft, fold-up-able one -- like a backpack or a big duffel -- that's even better. She can unpack and hang her clothes once she gets to the room and roll the bag up so it's not taking up valuable space in the stateroom.
I like to start packing by counting out the days I'll be gone and planning what I'll wear for each of them. Yeah, I know, it sounds a little neurotic, but it works---you'll find yourself crossing off pieces you thought you'd neeeeeeeeeed to bring in favor of those good old versatile black pants that go with everything.
Which brings me, fairly seamlessly, to Kristen's daytime staples; let's get those out of the way first. Since she'll be doing a lot of "active" stuff during her cruise -- which I assume means climbing and hiking and exploring, oh my -- I'd throw in four pairs of shorts (or capris, whichever she's more comfortable with. Personally, I always go with the latter, but she probably has better legs than I do.) If she can wear one of these pairs of shorts to work out in as well, so much the better, but let's add a pair or two of yoga/running pants too, so she can alternate between them.
When it comes to tops, I like to go with a half tank top/half t-shirt ratio; having the option to cover up your shoulders, either to protect them from the sun or because you're exploring a church or temple that might require a little more modesty, is huge. Since Kristen will be gone for 14 days and t-shirts and tops are fairly thin and lightweight, I might pack four of each, or possibly five of each, depending on space constraints. At least three each of these t-shirts and tank tops should go with at least two of the aforementioned shorts -- let's increase our potential to mix and match! -- and at least two each of them should go with ...
... a floaty skirt. Ah, the floaty skirt: Such a perfect vacation staple. Depending on the number of shore excursions that'll be less about climbing up volcanoes and more about shopping in exotic markets and sipping drinks in picturesque sidewalk cafes, I might bring two floaty skirts. They'll make a nice alternative to the shorts + t-shirt/tank top combo, and mixing them up with a variety of tops means Kristen can get at least three wears from one floaty skirt. If space permits, I'd bring one sundress along too.
Shoes-wise, I'd bring a pair of sneakers (make sure they can do double-duty on the outdoorsy stuff and the working-out-in-the-cruise-ship-gym stuff) and a pair of flip-flops to be worn with the floaty skirt, the sundress, and---on days she's not doing anything that requires a good grip---the shorts as well.
So that's the day stuff taken care of: Kristen will mix and match her t-shirts
