What to Pack on a Cruise (featured on TravelFashionGirl.com)

A few months ago, I was asked to write a few posts on cruising for TravelFashionGirl.com! The first is about packing for a cruise, specifically 7 things to bring!

Wondering what to pack on a cruise? With so many cruise dress code guidelines things sure can get confusing. 

A cruise ship is like a floating city. It has restaurants, entertainment, staterooms, and most everything you could want – but there are some limitations. So you don’t show up over packed or under prepared, here’s a list of what to bring and what to leave behind...

Read the rest of the article here!

A few other cruising articles:

Cruise Packing List for Men

Cruise Packing List for Women

Mix & Match Cruise Wardrobe

Why Cruises Are the Best Group Vacation

10 Things You Should Know Before You Cruise 

Why Cruises are the BEST Group Vacation

Looking to travel with a few of your favorite couples? Plan an vacation with all of your extended family? Bachelorette party or trip with 10 of your closest girlfriends?

Growing up, we went on cruises with my parents, grandparents and uncle. My grandparents loved it because they could play cards all day and have dinner with us at night. My parents loved it because it was easy. And my sister and I loved it because we had so much freedom on the ship and there were fun activities to meet other kids our age.

In college, my girlfriends and I planned a cruise as our graduation present to ourselves. As an adult, I've taken cruises with other couples or just a mishmash of friends, and it's all been great!

If you're trying to plan a group vacation, a cruise is perfect for you. And here's why.

1 - Cost Per Day
Cruises, when broken down, are one of the most affordable ways to vacation around, unless you're only taking busses from one location to another and sleeping in hostels (which is absolutely NOT a vacation). If your dates are flexible, there's a lot of money to be saved. We recently booked a 5 night cruise for 2 for right around $700. That breaks down to $350 per person, or $70 per day for all of our food & lodging, not to mention our "transportation" from one port to another. We're eating lobster. We're having dessert. I'm not looking at the prices - because there aren't any.

Even if you spent $5 on breakfast, $10 on lunch, and $15 on dinner, that only leaves you $40 for your hotel that night. An $80 hotel for 2 people might not be that bad, but you definitely won't be eating surf & turf.

2 - Time Together & Time Apart
Ah, vacation with the family. There comes a point in the trip where everyone will need their own space or want to branch out and do something different. That's the beauty of cruises. If the guys want to hang in the casino while the girls lay by the pool, awesome. If the kids want to dominate the put put course while the adults do karaoke, even better! There's a little something for everyone on the ship.... but you'll always have a place to eat a beautiful meal together and talk about your day.

3 - Maximize Your Travel (with minimal effort)
On a 4-5 day cruise, you'll hit up 1-2 different ports. On a 6-9 day cruise, you'll visit 4-5 ports. Mexico, Caribbean, Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, Honduras, DR, Haiti.... these are just a few of the different places I've been on cruises before. The best part is, all you have to do is go to sleep in your cabin, and you'll wake up in a new tropical paradise.

Additionally, on-island activities are a great time to split up by interest. In the past we've cruised with people who are/aren't certified in SCUBA. Some folks did some diving, the others took a catamaran out for the day. Or, maybe part of your group wants to explore Mayan ruins while the rest want to swim with the dolphins or go shopping. The possibilities are endless, and there's no reason everyone can't find something they'd like to do.

4 - It's Easy to Make Everyone Happy
Have a picky eater or someone who "doesn't care where you eat dinner" but veto's every single option you throw out there? Cruises eliminate the need for excessive decision making. Your options are: formal dining or buffet. Some cruises offer additional dining options (like sushi restaurants or steakhouses) for an up charge, but I'm here to tell you the formal dining room is your friend. Having a hard time deciding between chicken and steak? Order both. Decide you want soup AND salad? Ok! Each night there are so many new, different items to choose from, everyone in your party will find something delicious to try. Eliminate arguments that start with mexican vs. italian, and enjoy the peaceful dining experience!

5 - You Make 1 Decision and Your Trip is Planned
The hardest part of booking a trip with a group is picking a date. With a cruise, that's practically your only decision. What's not to like about low-stress travel?

Seriously - try the group cruise. There's a little something for everyone and it's a great way to get your crew together.

Have you ever taken a cruise with a group?
xo

PS - More cruise tips!
10 Things You Should Know About Your Cruise
Cruise Packing List for Men
Cruise Packing List for Women
Mix & Match On Your Cruise (How to Pack Carry on Only!)

Our 4 Day Cruise to the Bahamas

As I write this, it's 46 degrees and raining in Nashville, and I was here just two short days ago.

This is depressing.

It really was a fun little cruise with friends. Two different stops in the Bahamas & one day at sea. We ate a lot of food and soaked up the sun!

before snorkeling at Paradise Cove Beach Resort in Freeport, Bahamas

the snorkeling was amazing!

Halloween on board!

Morticia & Gomez Adams for Halloween :)

at the front of the ship in Nassau, Bahamas

Junkanoo Beach in Nassau

with the girls in Nassau

with Matt in Nassau

I personally prefer the Eastern Caribbean cruise route, but we had a good time in the Bahamas. Here are a few tips of what to do on a cruise to the beautiful Bahamas!

In Nassau

• Avoid the "Straw Market". It's chock full of tourist-trap garbage you can find on any island. Here's a list of souvenirs to avoid.
• You can walk (about 1 mile) to Junkanoo beach where you can lay out for free, or rent chairs and ship cocktails.
• Try the conch here. Everyone says it's the best place in the tropics!

In Freeport

• Take a cab to Paradise Cove Beach Resort and go snorkeling. The reef is amazing & there are so many gorgeous fish!
• One of the local beers is SANDS & it is brewed in Freeport! You can do a brewery tour or just sip this fresh brew on the beach. 

My packing list worked out great! I could have brought even less, because nothing had to be re-worn except my travel clothes to and from the cruise. Matt and I packed all of our clothes in this Dakine suitcase below. It worked out really well!

It's back to reality, and now I'm putting all my efforts into planning Italy! I can't wait!
xo

Have you been on a cruise? Here are a few other cruise posts you might enjoy if you're planning one:

• Cruise packing list for men & women
• What to wear on your cruise
• 10 things to know about your cruise

This Week in Travel Vol.2

There are so many travel blogs & publications I read on a daily basis! Wanted to share some of my favorite links, articles, info graphics and tips from around the web this week.

• Shoutout to Southwest for randomly sending me drink tickets (I have no idea why they did... but I'll take it!) Here are 5 ways to score free drinks with Southwest.
• I'm not a Harry Potter fanatic, but if you are, this hotel is really cool!
• 5 ways to save on flights for Thanksgiving (it's not too late!)
• Reasons Travelers Like the iPhone 6. Your thoughts?
• This post about "questions American ex-pats are asked" made me laugh.... especially because I was asked #4 consistently when I lived in London!
• The 12 best things in continental Europe. 6 of them are in Italian cities I'll be visiting.... YAY!
• What do you think about the Windowless Plane?
• 5 things smart travelers do in November. I know #2 is true from experience last year and the year before!
• We don't have babies, but if we did, this list would be super helpful!
• Now you can stalk your fellow flight passengers before a flight. 
• I love this write up on Sanibel. It will always be one of my favorite places!
• Out of this world travel... literally.
• I've been to a few of these, but would love to complete the list. 17 Places to Visit Before They Get Popular
• 10 things to do in Italy in November. I'm sad to be missing the Truffle festival!
• Virgin Atlantic vs. British Airways is really just AA vs. Delta. Interesting battle. I personally love BA & Delta, so I'm torn.

What you might have missed around here:

• 10 things you should know about your cruise
• How to Travel for FREE
• Cruise Packing List for Men & Women
• The Best Credit Card for Traveling
• What Souvenirs to AVOID & How To Choose the Best Souvenirs 

We just got back from our cruise a few hours ago.... and it's back to the grind! I am extremely thankful we were able to take a little weekend vacation in the sun & could help celebrate Taylor's 30th birthday! Details on our cruise weekend coming soon.

xo

10 Things You Should Know About Your Cruise

Cruises are a really simple way to go on vacation. They require almost no thought to plan and book - it's awesome.

Here are 10 things you should know about cruises that will help you pack well and save money. Who doesn't love that? 

Packing

• Leave Your Towel at Home
• There will be beach towels in your stateroom (make sure you bring them back, you'll be charged otherwise) and additional towels on the pool deck. Leave the bulk at home! Check out my packing list for women & men to keep your luggage light.
• You Don't Need a Passport
• If you're a US citizen & don't have a passport for some reason (why don't you have one?! Go apply today!), you can bring other documentation to board the ship. 
• The easiest is a birth certificate + photo ID, but learn more here.
• You Have to "Check" Your Luggage
• Your suitcase will be scanned through and delivered to your room by the cruise staff. This can take hours, leaving you without your bags until after dinner. 
• Pack a small "personal item" (a beach tote for me, a backpack for Matt) to get you through the day. 
• Bathing suit, sunscreen, sunglasses, make up, any medications, and a change of clothes for dinner - just incase your bag is the last one to be delivered or ends up in the wrong room.

Food & Beverage

all the desserts.

• There Are Some Free Drinks
• While cruise lines make most of their money off drink sales, there are definitely ways to get around it. All cruise lines offer free water, coffee & juices throughout the day for you to sip on.
• BYO
• All cruise ships allow you to bring 1 bottle of wine or champagne per passenger (up to 2 per stateroom) to drink at your own leisure - for free. Sorry for the beer & liquid lovers, but YAY for the winos! Lucky for me, Matt doesn't drink wine so it looks like I'll have 2 bottles all to myself :)
• If you bring your bottle to dinner, there will likely be a corking fee. Check with your cruise line to be sure, but it will end up being more affordable regardless.
• Some cruise lines (like Carnival) allow you to bring a certain amount of non-alcoholic drinks. Check with your cruise line before bringing a 12 pack of Sprite.
• Duty Free Liquor
• Yay! Tax free booze! Sounds like a great idea for the rest of your cruise. However, you'll be forced to hand it over to the cruise staff until you're back on US soil.  
• 90% of the Food is Free
• The buffet, formal breakfast/lunch/dinner, room service and all snacks (pizza, ice cream, burgers) are free.
• There are some options you can pay for, such as specialty coffee or an exclusive restaurant.
• Consider the Late Dinner Option
• Most cruise lines have an early & late dinner (6 or 8pm)
• Our upcoming cruise has 2 ports, they go until 5pm & 7pm. 
• Rushing back to get ready for a formal dinner is no fun. We'll have a snack if necessary & take our time in the Bahamas!

On Board 

• They WILL Leave You Behind
• Just like an airplane, you need to be on time. If the ship leaves at 5pm, be there by 4.30 just in case. 
• Also, even if you're traveling to a different time zone, your trip will always operate on "ship time" (the time zone you departed from).
• Tip At The End of Your Trip
• Your lovely wait staff & housekeeping staff will be some of the kindest & hardest working people you'll ever meet. Make sure you take care of them at the end! You can add this to your "tab" or leave cash.

Hope these tips were helpful. I know I wish I would have known about these before my first cruise! Do you have any others that I missed?

xo

Other Posts You Might Enjoy

Cruise Packing List for Women

Cruise Packing List for Men

How to Change your Name for Travel

How to Pack Light & Always Carry On

What to Pack for a Cruise: Guide for Men

While cruises are casual, there are definitely formal dinners to think about... and Matt is not always as excited about packing nice clothing (he would live in shorts and flip flops if he could). 

To make things a little easier, I made him a little packing list, too.

Equipment oversized shirt / Reef strap sandals / Canali accessory, $48 / RetroSuperFuture stone sunglasses / Ralph Lauren Black Label Anthony Notched-Lapel Tuxedo / Men's Clothing - Shop Everyday Deals on Top Styles - J.Crew Factory -... / Hurley Level Boardshorts / 21 MENS Marled V-Neck Cardigan / BOSS HUGO BOSS San Bellino Fine Stripe Henley / Scotch & Soda V-Neck T-Shirt / PATAGONIA Wavefarer boardshort / J.Crew 770 jean in resin crinkle wash / BILLABONG Transitional stripe tank / Witchery Cuba Short, $70 / Dolce & Gabbana V-Neck Cotton-Jersey T-Shirt / Loake Mens Black Polished Oxford Shoes, $235 / ALDO Tancredo Sneakers

Cruise packing list for men power play items:

• One suit. He can drop the jacket on a more casual evening and sub in the cardigan.
• Nice dark jeans. These can be worn on travel days and can also be mixed in for more casual dinners. 
• Mix of board shorts & regular shorts. Guys are lucky. Their bathing suit works as a cover up and as regular clothing. 
• A selection of shirts. These can be used as under shirts for dinner and being on island and on the ship. 

His suitcase will likely be lighter than mine, even thought my cruise packing list is super light!

Matt finally picked up a nice suit for a formal wedding we attended. The jacket works with jeans and the pants work alone or with a sweater. It's been a really great investment.... from Forever 21. It was $50. The fit is right and he looks HOT! It will be a great piece for evenings on the cruise. Find some other options at the bottom of this post.

I'm so excited for this little trip! 

Suits Under $100

H&M

Forever 21

Suits Under $200

ASOS

Zara

What to Pack for a Cruise

We are gearing up for a 4 day cruise for my friend Taylor's 30th birthday. I'm so excited! But after our cruise last year, I'm thinking about what to pack for this cruise (without overpacking).

Growing up, we went on cruises for several family vacations. I have to say, it really was the BEST vacation to me as a teenager. We had total freedom on the ship, tons of activities for our age group, and we got to island hop & tan. From my parents perspective, I understand why they chose cruises: they are crazy affordable (especially for Florida residents) and incredibly easy to plan. Think about it - you book one thing (the cruise) and you get to see several different countries. PLUS your lodging, food and entertainment is covered. It really couldn't be more simple.

In my adult life, I've been on two different cruises. One was a week after I graduated from college with these loves.

We were all so tan in 2008.

The second one was last year. We took a cruise with 4 other couples and it was a BLAST!

From my experience on cruises, you definitely need a wide variety of clothing as your activities are across the board!

• Formal dinners (cocktail dress, black tie)
• Casual dinners (sundress, business casual)
• At sea days (pool, relaxing, casino, shopping)
• Island hopping (hiking, tours, walking, beach, etc)
• Travel days (to and from the ship)

Last years' cruise was when I realized I was consistently overpacking. For 7 nights, I brought a HUGE suitcase that was packed to the brim. It was WAY TOO MUCH. I knew it had to change. 

For the last year, I've packed in nothing bigger than a carry on and it's completely changed how I travel.

Now that we're about a week out from the cruise, I'm thinking about what to pack and cringing about my huge suitcase last year! So here lies the question: what to pack for a cruise without bringing your entire closet? 

Here's what I'm thinking for inspiration....

Little Mistress strapless maxi dress, $105 / U Knits sleeveless dress / Topshop strappy black dress / Mela Loves London cocktail dress, $42 / H M shirts top, $24 / Abercrombie Fitch white racerback tank top / T By Alexander Wang linen tank top / VILA black jacket, $71 / Roxy swimsuit cover up / Distressed jeans, $42 / Current/Elliott shorts / American Eagle Outfitters wide cropped pants / Adidas clothing / We Are Handsome tankini swimsuit top, $130 / Melissa Odabash bandeau top, $140 / L Space lspace swimwear / Tory Burch suede shoes / Asics sports shoes, $240 / Metallic flat sandals / Beach Collection metallic bag, $32 / Michael Kors leather purse / Diamante necklace / Maya brenner jewelry / Alexis Bittar yellow gold earrings / Michael Stars fedora hat / Faliero Sarti scarve, $205 / D&G mirror sunglasses, $985 / LEATHER CLUTCH GOLD

Some power players on this packing list:

• Sandals that can be casual or dressy. They transition from the pool to casual dinners.
• Dresses that go from day to night. My little black dress and floral maxi can be dressed up with heels and a blazer or scarf. 
• Bathing suit cover ups that double as a dress. I can lounge by the pool and hop back inside without feeling awkward or under dressed.  Can also be worn on-island.
• Scarf & long sleeved shirt/cardigan. These ships are COLD. You might be in the sunshine during the day, but don't be fooled - dinner and a show will always be sub zero. 
• Swim suits that mix and match. I would never bring less than 2 suits on a tropical vacation (putting a cold, wet suit is the WORST). Choosing pieces that mix & match will give you options.

I'll be taking a slimmed down version of my Florida packing list & making sure every item can be worn two ways. I really want to pack light and get creative. It's the beach, after all - no reason to overpack! Packing carry on only for a cruise should be a simple.

With the temperatures dropping in Nashville I am looking forward to soaking up some sun. Our island stops are Nassau & Freeport - have you been there? Any must-see/must-do sights or activities in the Bahamas?

xo

Travel Necessities: What's In My Carry On

1: Bobino Cord Wrap // 2: Larabar // 3: Vapur Collapsable 

Water Bottle // 4: West Elm Travel Set (sold out) // 5: iPad with Smart Cover

You literally won't find me on a plane without these things. 

After years of overpacking on the "what if's" (read: scarves & shoes) and leaving out some essentials (like a snack), I think I've finally mastered it. But the great thing about every item up there is that 

Bombino Cord Wrap

You can find similar alternatives to this little cord keeper, and any of them will do. But I will so that I love grabbing my headphones and not spending 15 minutes sorting out the tangles every time I want to use them.

Larabar

Once again, this is personal preference. But I find that short flights (like the one-hour-and-some-change Nashville to Chicago) is always the time I'm the most ravenous. Since gems like American Airlines don't even serve a crummy little bag of peanuts or pretzels anymore, it's wise to have something to much on! I find granola bars are a good choice because they can live in your purse for a quite a while and still be edible. Almonds are another go to. I personally prefer Larabars because they  contain very few ingredients, and all of which can be read without a translator & purchased easily at a grocery store (the coconut one has: dates, unsweetened coconut, almonds, cashews, and extra virgin coconut oil. THAT'S LITERALLY IT.)

Vapur

I'll never forget the day I invented this. I was sick of buying bottles of water when I was out, but also sick of carrying around a HUGE reusable canteen or Nalgene just incase I was thirsty. I thought to myself, "What if there was a re-usable Capri Sun type bottle that I could fill up with water, and leave flat in my purse when I wasn't using it?!" I swore I was going to be a millionaire.... until I googled it and found out it was already invented. Dang it. Well, if I'm not going to be rich, I'm just glad it's already a thing, because I use it constantly. I got mine on Amazon (certain colors go on sale from time to time).

Travel Set

I've found that being short on airplanes comes at an advantage & a disadvantage. The advantage? Leg room is not an issue for me. However, my head is always being pushed forward/down by the headrest, because it's where everyone else's necks are. A neck pillow seemed like a nice option, but the inflatable ones were sticky plastic and the plush ones took up too much space... so I just skipped it. UNTIL I found this great set at West Elm! The jersey knit cover makes it soft, but the pillow itself is a blow up... best of both worlds! It's awesome. The West Elm set is sold out, but here's a similar one.

iPad Mini & Smart Case

I never thought I'd get an iPad, especially a mini one (I'm definitely one of those people who thought they were just oversized phones), but I'm so glad we have it. On trips where we're only doing light work, we just use that instead of hauling a laptop. Plus, the iPad can have books, movies, magazines (all Condé Nast magazines include a free digital subscription!), and the battery lasts forever. We load it up with movie rentals from Amazon & use the Smart Case to prop it up. The Smart Case was a non negotiable to me when we decided on getting an iPad. But, we're cheap, so we got one off eBay that came with a hard case for the back, too. 

So there you have it! Those are my essentials. Do you use any of these when you travel? Think it's over the top? What are your must-haves?

2013: A Year in Travel

I find I'm at my best when I have a trip coming up. It's something i've been addicted to a long time, and have always been happiest spending my money on plane tickets! Here's a review of where I went in 2013

January

Fort Myers, FL/Sanibel Island, FL/Orlando, FL - visiting my family and seeing friends... always a good time. Not to mention - Matt's first trip to Disney (since he was 8... and he doesn't remember at all).

With my Prince Charming (cheesy... I knoooow)

Sky bar with Alicia!

Bunch Beach

Sanibel Lovers

Ford's Garage, Ft Myers, FL

March

Ogden, UT/Antelope Island, UT - I've never been to Utah, but I can safely say it's one of the most beautiful and unique places in the US. If given the chance, GO FOR IT!

view from our cabin - unreal, I know.

on location, Antelope Island. Filling in for the makeup artist :)

In and Out - haven't been here since high school! Luckily the milkshakes don't have meat :)

Chattanooga, TN - for a beautiful wedding of our friends Danielle and Josh! They were married at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Gardens with a reception on the 34th floor of a hotel.

April

St Louis to visit my friend Kim. A short 36 hour trip, but i'd never been before! We saw the arch, ate yummy food, and went on our 2nd Budweiser brewery tour... and also became Brewmasters.

BREWMASTER OLSON

Kentucky - Road trips. It's only like 45 minutes away... so why not take a trip up for some diner food?

May

Seattle: My first time. You can read more about it on Wednesday!

Bauhaus Books and Coffee

Hiking Poo Poo Point

June

Chattanooga for my niece, Avery, turning 1!

Also - Kitty's first road trip! He was a trooper... basically slept on my lap the whole time.

My sister and her adorable family

July 

NYC #1 - Gotta love a good excuse for a trip to NYC. My old Sanibel posse was there, including my friend Libby (who moved back to London less than a month later)... so I joined.

'ello new york.

CUP in Greenpoint - the sweetest staff in NYC

Buttermilk Channel in Brooklyn Heights with Casey!

King Noodle in Bushwick - it's off the beaten path, but it is incredible.

brunching with the Sanibel crew!

August

Tulsa, OK - also my first time here.... lots of time with my girls to help Jess G get hitched!

 Chicago, IL - for maybe the 100th time.... but it never gets old. I love visiting Ash! ALSO this time was maybe the best time, because we got to see Jimmy Eat World!

At Bongo Room - one of my favorites!

JIMMY!

September

Atlanta, GA - I've been through atlanta millions of times, but this was the first time i stopped to appreciate it

Kylie's gorgeous wedding!

Matt's first stop at Ikea

Photo booth at West Egg Cafe - check out that first pic. We look good.

NYC #2: Thanks to our credit card miles for this entire trip... and for the sweet digs at the Conrad New York. Such a nice hotel! Our main purpose of visiting was the Lord Huron & Alt+J show in Central Park - which was awesome!

Conrad

Hotel Bar

Touristing

Matt's contemplating this as a tattoo

Sup, Jersey.

Got to hang with my cousin, NYC's newest resident.

A good crew at Sweet Chick BK

BK Heights has the best view of the city!

Lord Huron - and Alt+J was amazing!

Yes... we are still in September. It was a crazy month! And this last trip went into October

Orlando + Caribbean: We road tripped down with two other couples to Epcot Food and Wine Festival... and then ventured on our 7 day cruise (and met up with 2 other couples, for 5 couples total!) Our ports were: Cozumel, Belize City, Roatan, and Costa Maya.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival! This was actually the first day of the event.

Cultured.

CRUISIN!

Peace out, America!

Self-imposed 80's night. 

Roatan. The best.

November

Atlanta #2 - We liked it much more than we thought! So we took a lovers getaway here for a day and a half to do some eating, drinking, and Ikea-ing (to fill up our almost renovated house!)

He's fun :)

i LOVE the quote on the wall!

 Capella Ixtapa - aka, heaven on earth. This is where we spent Thanksgiving and celebrated our anniversary (it's also where we went our our honeymoon, so it's sentimental for me!) Read more about Capella here and here.

December
LA... for a few hours - We had an 18 hour layover leaving Mexico - so we got to see some wonderful friends!

Bozeman/Big Sky, Montana - it's a winter wonderland for sure. It was also a bit of an arctic tundra this time... with nothing ABOVE -20 degrees the entire week we were there. Brrrrrrrrr. At least it's pretty. We usually snowboard but I only mustered up the courage to go into the cold ONCE. :)

the Bozeman airport is the CUTEST

Layer 1 of 25

Matt's eyes + Flash = nonexistent 

Bismarck/Fargo, ND - after Big Sky, we road tripped back to North Dakota with Matt's family. I also got to see my long lost roommate, Ashlee!!!

It was a crazy/amazing/wonderful/adventurous year. I wouldn't do it any different.

We have a few things penciled in for 2014, but not a whole lot set in stone.... except the trip I'm going on Friday - stay tuned for details of that in Wednesday's post! :) I haven't been to Europe in about three years... and i'm itching to go back! I'd also like to explore some new cities in the US - DC, Portland, Maine (anywhere in Maine, really), Asheville.... my list always goes on and on.

Where are you going in 2014? What's your goal? Domestic, international... tell me tell me!

xo