How To Pack For A Cruise

With travel bouncing back and cruising becoming safer than before, you might be planning a cruise trip. While there are lots of ways to save on a cruise, what about packing for a cruise? Just because there are so many different things to do on the ship, it doesn’t mean you need to bring your whole closet. In fact, you can still pack light and have everything you need for your cruise.

Photo by Adam Gonzales on Unsplash

• Bring multi-purpose items, like a top that you can dress up or down depending on the situation. A plain black tank top can work for a formal night when paired with a statement necklace and a light wrap.
• If you want to really dress up for those formal nights, invest in a bag like a Skyroll, that incorporates a garment bag in the design. You can pack all your regular stuff and then the garment bag wraps around it. Both are carry-on size, so you don't have to check them and *hope* they make it to your cruise. Another option is this 2-in-1 garment duffel.  I would still opt for a few pieces that can be reworn in different ways, even if it's just a little black dress or great pair of pants.
• A nice pair of sandals can also be worn for formal nights, so you don’t have to pack a pair of heels that you’ll only wear a few hours the whole time you’re cruising.
• Men can bring a lightweight sport coat and a few ties to dress up any outfit…and not have the same look twice if there’s more than one formal night on your ship.
• Aside from these things, bring what you normally do: 5 tops, 3 bottoms, a pair of really good walking/running shoes, a rain jacket, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. If you need more help packing light, here’s a post for you.
• Stage, roll and stuff. To avoid overpacking, set up a staging area where you can lay out everything you are packing. Make two piles: one with essentials and one of things you might need. Roll and pack your essentials first, then see how much room you have left for "maybes". Stuff shoes with socks, belts and other small items. Think of your bag like a game of Tetris and fill in all the available space of each layer. This will eliminate shifting and wrinkles as much as possible. You don't have to stuff your bag to the point of having to sit on it to close it though, because remember that you might want to buy some things at your ports of call. 
• Don't forget your passport if you aren't going to a closed-loop U.S. port.
• If you "check" your bag at the port authority, it may be an entire day before you get it delivered to your stateroom, so make sure you either don't check your bags (you can wander the ship with them, which you might find annoying) or have a smaller carry-on or tote bag with necessities like your bathing suit, extra clothing, sunscreen, camera, etc. I always have a packable tote in my bag just in case. This is a great way to use it.
• Take along a pop-up mesh laundry hamper. Not only does this keep your clean and dirty clothes separate, but it gives you something to carry your dirty clothes to the laundry room. You aren't going to be doing something 24 hours a day on your cruise, but having to do a bit of laundry will remind you to slow down and take a breather. Plus, you can always start your load and hit the buffet while you wait.

I think you're ready to head out on the open seas now, with an excellent mix-and-match wardrobe that doesn't weigh you down too much.

What are your favorite cruise tips?

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Know Your Travel Rights

We've all been there. You get to the airport and sit down to wait for your flight and then wham! Flight Delayed! Or worse, your flight is totally cancelled. What the??? Now what? 

With staff shortages and fewer routes due to Covid, delays and cancelations are becoming more normal. Airlines are still trying their best, even if they are also still overbooking. 

If your flight is cancelled
In this worst-case scenario, the airline will rebook you on the next available flight. If there's another flight on another airline that leaves earlier, you might be able to talk them into transfer you over, at their expense.

If your flight is delayed or you get bumped
Yeah, this sucks, but not as much as your flight being totally cancelled. Most airlines overbook flights, meaning if everyone checks in, someone's not making it on the plane, because there aren't enough seats. If you don't mind waiting, you can volunteer to get on the next available flight and make someone's day. (Sometimes you are made aware of overbookings on the airline's app. The last time I flew, I got a push notification asking if I wanted to leave on a later flight for a voucher.) Even if you don't want to and are the unfortunate one to get stuck at the airport, it's not the worst thing ever. Here's what you can do though:

• Next time, get to the airport earlier. Like 2 hours before your flight. 3 hours if you're flying internationally. Or, just check in as soon as you can and hope you make it to the airport before the flight starts boarding.
• If you get bumped, make sure you're comped. 
  • For flights that arrive one to two hours later than your scheduled arrival time, you're entitled to the one-way fare of your ticket up to $400.
  • If you're delayed two to four hours from your original scheduled arrival time, you're entitled to 200% of the one-way fare, up to $700.
  • If you arrive more than four hours later than your scheduled arrival time you're entitled to 400% of the one-way fare, up to $1400. If this requires an overnight stay in a hotel, the airline will almost always pay for it and also give you vouchers for meals.
  • Ask for cash, instead of vouchers. Cash works just as well and has no black-out dates or other stipulations. Plus, you can use it on another airline if you find a better deal, or blow it all on your trip when you finally get on it.
  • If your flight arrives an hour or less than your original arrival time, you aren't entitled to anything, but that doesn't mean you can't maybe ask for miles, a free drink or something similar. Be nice about it though, because that's really the only way the gate crew are going to want to do a little extra for you.
• Unfortunately, flight delay rules only apply to delays that result from a foreseen circumstance like a plane change. If the delay is weather-related, the airlines aren't required to comp you at all. Anything they give you is up to the representative's discretion.

If your flight has been changed
This always sucks, but it rarely happens that flight times change more than a few minutes either way. In even more rare cases, you may be informed that your flight departure destination has been changed. Um, what? If either of these things happen and have made your travel inconvenient for you, the airline is only obligated to refund your purchase price and send you on your way. 

Of course, some airlines are more generous than others, and better at customer service. We had to wait on the tarmac on one flight for about an hour and when I got home from my trip I had an email giving us both $50 flight vouchers for our troubles, which I didn't even feel was that big a deal. It was nice though and one of the many reasons Alaska is my preferred airline.

Always check each airline's terms and conditions when it comes to delays and cancelations. And if you end up getting stuck in the position where one of these things happen to you, don't just settle for standing in line to talk to a gate representative. While you're in line, get on the phone with the airline (or use their text-back system) or get on their social media to see if you can get helped sooner than the line moves.

I hope your future trips are all awesome, but if they aren't, you are, at least, armed with knowledge. Carry snacks in your bag, just in case, and some non-digital entertainment. 

What's your worst flight delay or cancelation story? 

How To Travel With Your Dog

Traveling with your dog is not always cheap, or easy, but with a little bit of prep, you can make it more enjoyable for everyone. We did quite a big of road travel with our dog

WHEN YOU DRIVE

Bring their comforts

Dogs can be stressed when they're away from home and in unfamiliar situations. Even if your dog loves the car, it doesn't mean he's going to love it for hours and hours. My pup has her own seat in the car so she can see out the window, but I also bring a dog bed for when she starts to get tired and wants to stretch out. I take that bed into hotels with us, that way she has consistency, and her bed from home. I also found out that she is very picky about her dishes, so I need to bring those with me as well. I take her normal food and snacks with me, so she doesn't have tummy problems. If your dog has special toys, then take one or two of those along as well.

Stop often

Your dog can't tell you when they have to potty, so I plan to stop often. Before I leave home, I check out all the dog parks along our way and make a note of them. I also keep an eye out for rest areas, because even if I don't have to go, it's nice to get out and stretch your legs. Your dog will think so too. I plan a stop every two hours. 

Stay on a schedule

I know it's difficult to stay on a normal schedule when you're spending a ton of time in the car, but if your dog has a regular feeding time, make sure you stick to it. They can't understand why they have to wait, so make sure you plan one of those rest stops for a dinner break at their regular time.

Keep water readily available

At home your dog can probably get a drink any time they want. Also, the car can be a lot warmer than your home, so make sure your dog has plenty to drink. I make sure any time we stop at a rest stop, park, gas station or anywhere else, I offer some cool water. Bring a thermos or a few bottles of water in your cooler just for them, as well as a dish from which to drink from.

Find dog-friendly restaurants

Your dog doesn't want to stay in the car while you eat. Look for places that are dog-friendly and have outdoor seating. Most places that welcome dogs will let you know on their website or you can check out dogfriendly.com to find eateries when you travel.

Bring some drugs

Okay, not actual drugs, unless your dog requires medication. If your pup gets stressed over certain things, bring something that will comfort them or help them chill. A Thunder Shirt works for a lot of dogs, but I find that Bach's Rescue Remedy for dogs works great for mine.

Don't forget the necessities

If it's cold where you're traveling, don't forget their coat and boots (because frozen feet aren't fun). If it's hot where you're going, bring a cool collar and anything else that might help. We've used a collar similar to this. Also, remember their leash and collar/harness and potty bags.

WHEN YOU FLY

The same rules apply as when you road trip, but because you can't schedule stops when you want, you need to make the ones you are allowed to make count. Try to plan for layovers that are long enough to allow you to have a good potty break. Most airports have pet relief areas, but many make you go outside to use them, so you need to make sure you have enough time to make it back through security with your pup.

More and more airports are incorporating indoor pet relief areas for convenience, which is really nice. They aren't fancy, but at leas they can pee and stretch their legs before having to get back in their carrier. Make sure they get a snack and a drink before they have to get back on the plane.

Remember, as uncomfortable as you are flying (and hungry and thirsty and needing to use the restroom), you can control your actions and aren't confined to a small bag. Let them do their business before you do, so there are no accidents.

Where have you traveled with your pup?

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