Accessories to Pack for Cruising

So, you're going on a cruise? Congrats! I'll be posting more tips on what to bring along on your cruise and what to plan for, but for now, let's talk about the size of cruise cabins. Even the big ones aren't usually that big, so here are some ideas on how to get the most square footage from your cabin without tripping over all your stuff every time you're in there.

Here are some items that will keep your stuff off the floor, but still handy:

Magnetic hooks/clips

Cruise ships have metal walls, which means you can hang things up all over the place. You can get these heavy-duty hooks that come in a bunch of colors and can come apart to pack easier in your bag. These come in a pack of 20. If you'd rather go with clips (or want both), these colorful magnets can be used at home and on your cruise and they come in a 24-pack.

Over-door shoe organizer

Use it for shoes, but also for all those little things you bring back and usually just throw on a counter or table. Your space is as a premium here, so bring along a shoe organizer to stash all those things easy at-hand, but also not in the way. It comes in fun or classic colors and the slots are mesh, so you can see everything inside: great for snacks, souvenirs, sunscreen, sandals, charging cords, and whatever else you don't want to keep digging in a bag for. 

Travel power strip

Pack a small power strip, because like hotel rooms, staterooms are woefully lacking in outlets. I like this one from Belkin and have one in my travel bag at all times and two at home. I also like the Anker one above, because it has some mobility to it and you don't have to keep trying to plug things in behind something. It's also great if you have a lot of things that charge via a USB plug. 

Magnetic motion-sensor puck lights

Cruise cabins can be really dark and you may not always want to turn on a big light in the middle of the night to get to the bathroom or to get a drink. I usually bring a night light that plugs in and turns on when the lights go out that can just go in the bathroom, so you have that little light to guide you, but you can also get these magnetic puck lights and put them wherever you want in the room, since they will stick to the cabin walls. These are motion sensing, to only turn on when you walk in front of them.

Pop-up laundry basket

Keep your dirty clothes separate from your clean ones by bringing along a mesh, pop-up hamper. I bring a larger basket, but you may want a taller, skinnier hamper that fits in one of the cabinets. I tend to take mine down to the laundry to clean everything before I leave so I don’t go home, or to my next destination, with a bag full of dirty clothes. If you're doing laundry, make sure to bring quarters and laundry strips to make your life easier.

Collapsible Carry-on

You can put your bags in one of the closet cabinets, but you probably also want to hang stuff up and they aren't usually super spacious, so having a bag that you can make smaller to take up less space or slide under the bed is wonderful. This one from Travel Ready has great reviews, the Travigo has a lower profile and a hideaway handle, or the Rollink Vega is more heavy duty and is water-resistant and comes in a bunch of pretty colors. 

I hope this helps you make the most of your cruise ship cabin, so it's much more comfortable in there and doesn't feel smaller than it already is. What are some of your favorite items to take with you on a cruise?

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Taking Better Vacation Pics

Today is National Camera Day and while most of us don't travel with a traditional camera, we all carry one in our pockets all the time. Your phone is probably your number one travel buddy, so making the most of the pictures you take with it is a way to capture your amazing memories. Here's a guide to taking a great selfie, which is a big portion of the photos I take on my trips, that can also help you take better regular photos. 

This infographic is provided to you by Shutterfly, the leading online provider of photo books, cards, photo sharing and more.

I hope this helps you capture those vacation memories better and make you feel better about any photos you take of yourself, so you can make your friends even more jealous when you post on your socials. Do you have some tips on how you make your own vacation pics, selfies or otherwise, awesome?

Packing Your Perfect Mix and Match Summer Wardrobe

If, like me, you're going on a summer trip (or trips) and are looking to pack a perfect bag and not spend all your money on baggage fees, then I'm here for you. It's all about the capsule wardrobe. Most travel sites will suggest the 5-4-3-2-1 strategy, and I also love the 3-3-3 strategy, but I'm going with 3-3-1-2, unless you're going on a long trip. 

What the heck am I talking about? Quick catch-up: 

The 5-4-3-2-1 packing method is 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 dresses/shoes, 2 bags/swimsuits, and 1 bag/sunglasses. I will agree with 5 tops for most trips, but the rest is just too much. The 3-3-3 method is 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 shoes. It's pretty minimal, and I like that, but it also limits you pretty hard, especially when you are going to hot destination and will need to rewear things. No one wants to do laundry every other day.

No, we go with the 3-3-1-2 packing method, which allows you to bring everything you need, but also can fit in a small carry-on, and gives you a good variety. Let's look at what those numbers mean: 

• 3 tops, which actually ends up being 4, because you're going to wear one on the plane or in the car, if you're road-tripping
• 3 bottoms, 2 of which you pack and 1 of which you wear on the way there (this is usually how I bring a pair of pants or a long skirt with me)
• 1 dress that can be worn for sightseeing, but can also be dressed up for a nice dinner or a show
• 2 pairs of shoes that go with everything. I always choose a pair of sandals that I can walk in all day and wear to the pool/beach and then a pair of nicer shoes that you can also walk in all day, like some cute ballet flats

You're going to need some wildcard pieces. In addition to your normal all-day clothing, you want to include a wrap (this one is insect-repellant, can be used as a beach towel, a sarong, and even a wrap shirt in a pinch), sunglasses, a swimsuit, a lightweight, packable rain jacket, and comfy pajamas that are good for lounging, too. 

When you pick a color palette to pack, everything should go with everything else. I chose a pink base here as a way to show how you can go with a brighter color and still maximize your small wardrobe. Not everything has to be boring neutrals. Choose your own fave color and work around that. 

First up, I chose these berry-colored water shorts from Columbia. You can wear them to the pool and you can wear them shopping and sightseeing, so they are a great multi-use item. Depending on what you're doing, here are some ways to wear them:

• With a cute white (or black) linen tank and matching sandals. I'm a fan of Clarks shoes. They are always classic and they are comfortable to wear all day long, no matter what you're doing. I love the fun lace details on these.
• Cover up a bit in the A/C by throwing this button-up from Columbia on over the top.
• Pair a complimentary pink tee from Columbia with these berry shorts. You will be cool, since the whole outfit is moisture-wicking.
• Add that button-up back for a different layered look.
• Wear the button-up alone for a easy casual look.

Next up, a longer neutral short from Prana in "mud" color: 

• With a cute white (or black) linen tank and matching sandals or some nude/cream ballet flats. I wore these Cleo Skechers all over Las Vegas and they were both cute and super comfy.
• Hide your shoulders with the button-up from Columbia on over the tank.
• Give a Neapolitan vibe pink tee from Columbia. Brown and pink always reminds me of ice cream.
• Add that button-up back for a different layered look.
• Wear the button-up alone for a easy casual look.

If you're going to be inside where it's cooler or the temps drop a bit at night, we're going with these lightweight Prana joggers in gray that I would have worn on the plane with a cropped tee or another comfortable top to sit in for hours in fluctuating temps:

• With a cute white (or black) linen tank and matching sandals or some nude/cream ballet flats. 
• Add a little flair with this button-up over your tank.
• Get a little sporty by wearing with the pink tee.
• Throw on your button-up over it for a casual patio dinner.
• Wear the button-up alone with your flats for just a wander through a museum. 

Lastly, let's check out this sporty travel-friendly dress from Prana. I have several dresses from them and they are so comfortable and flattering, plus they all have pockets! 

• Wear it alone with sandals while out and about. 
• Add your wrap and ballet flats for going out somewhere a bit dressy.
• Layer your pink tee over the top of it to give it a skirt feel.
• Toss on the button-up for a little extra sun protection or to cover up the open back if you're inside somewhere that needs a bit of modesty.

So, there you go. You can make almost 20 outfits with just 8 pieces and you have shoes that go with everything you've brought. Save even more space by wearing your flats on the plane, though if you don't have PreCheck, then you might not want to take them off and go barefoot in through security. Of course, you can always pack a pair of slipper socks for that. I like to wear those while lounging around my room, too. 

Now you can spend your vacation budget on awesome foods and activities. Don't forget your sunscreen! See how I put together my own mix-and-match wardrobe on my Instagram.

Where are your summer travels taking you?

Disclaimer: Support Shereen Travels Cheap by using the links in my posts to shop. I receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) so I can continue to create helpful free content. I earn from qualifying purchases made to the featured retailers. Thank you. I appreciate your support!