What We Packed for Our European Cruise
Genelle’s Packing List
Clothing
- 4 Black Tank Tops
- 3 Black Bodysuits
- 1 Black Button Down
- 3 Colored Button Downs/Jackets
- 2 Black Skirts
- 2 Pairs of Shorts
- 2 Pairs of Black Leggings
- 1 Rain Jacket
- 1 Puffer Jacket
- 2 Pairs of Sneakers
- 1 Pair of High Heels
- 2 Pairs of Sandals
- No Show Socks for Sneakers
- 3 Pairs of Tights
- Underwear
- 1 Swimsuit
- 1 Pajama Shorts (can use tank tops as a PJ top)
The clothing portion of packing is always the most difficult, especially when you’re traveling to places that can have wide ranging temperatures. This particular trip was supposed to be a lot cooler than it actually ended up being, but the variety of clothing I brought worked well. I try to take into account whether or not there will be laundry services available at some point, and thankfully the ship does have free laundry. We ended up doing laundry one time, which worked out perfect. Worst case scenario, you have to hand wash some items in the sink/shower at some point.
To figure out what to pack, I create outfits out of the items I am thinking of bringing, and make sure that each item is versatile enough to wear with different things. This is why I typically pack black base layers such as bodysuits and tanks, and then add color with a button-up/jacket, bottoms, or just accessorize with jewelry. I know some people love to pack individual outfits that aren’t interchangeable, and that’s great - but I don’t like to pack too heavy. Accessorizing is a great way to pack light and still feel like you’re changing things up.
As much as I love a good coat or boots, I also realize those are the most heavy/bulky items you can travel with. Learn from me and leave the boots at home unless your plans require them. Most people everywhere we went wore sneakers, even when dressing up! Comfort is everything when you’re walking as much as we do. I was able to dress up my black sketchers with my tights/skirts and still be super comfy. I also left my bulky coats at home, and instead brought a rain jacket and a puffer jacket that were both very compact.
My tip is to realize that it’s perfectly okay to repeat outfits. I wore the same skirt and bodysuit combo to dinner on the ship everyday. I just switched up the button-up top I layered over it and the shoes. I did bring a pair of high heels, but in all honesty, I could have easily left those at home and wore my dressier sandals or sneakers/tights combo instead.
Accessories
- 3 Sets of Earrings
- 2 Necklaces
- 2 Rings
- Fake Wedding Ring (I recommend leaving the real one at home)
- Scarf (for mosques and churches)
- 1 Hat (collapsible/easy to pack)
Necessities
- Small Bottle of Body Lotion
- Face Moisturizer
- Face Toner (in travel bottle)
- Cotton Pads
- Travel Size Deodorant
- Hair Leave-in Conditioner (in travel bottle)
- 2 Bottles of Conditioner (I use more than most people)
- Small Bottle of Shampoo
- Silk/Satin Scrunchies
- Hairbrush
- Travel Hair Rollers (I don’t use a curling iron)
- Electric Toothbrush + Charger
- Travel Toothpaste
- Travel Mouthwash
- Contacts
- Eye Glasses + Case
- Make-up
- Sunscreen Stick
- Self Tanner + Glove
- Razor (I use conditioner as my shaving cream, works great!)
- Tweezers/Small Electric Shaver
- Nail Clippers/Tools
- Nail Polish Remover Pads + Polish
- Vitamins in Mini Bags
- Wrinkle Release/Refresher for Clothing
Technology
- Sound Canceling Headphones + Charger
- Samsung S22 Ultra + Charger
- Battery Bank
- Extra Earbuds (just a cheap pair)
- 2TB External Hard Drive
Backpack + Purse
- Backpack
- Hand Wipes
- Face Tissues
- Pen/Paper
- Book
- Chap-stick
- Eye Mask
- Travel Pillow
- Passport
- Travel Purse
- Wallet/Cards/Cash
- Sunglasses
First-aid
- Bandages
- Bonine (motion sickness)
- Motion Sick Patches
- Pain Medication
- Anti-Nausea
- Cold Medication
- Tooth Repair Kit
- Thermometer
- Healing Ointment
- Biofreeze/Muscle Patches
- Cough Drops
- Ginger and Peppermint Lozenges
- Antacids
- Electrolyte Hydration Powder
A good first aid kit is a MUST, at least it has been for us. I learned the hard way the first time we went to Europe. It is not always easy to find your usual go-tos when you have an issue. For example, during the last trip, Mike was battling a cold. Unfortunately I couldn’t find cold medicine in Italy, which meant he wasn’t able to good some good nights rest. I’m all about natural remedies, but when you’re trying to pack in as much as you can in a short amount of time, sometimes the medicine route is better. This time around, I lost part of my tooth when we were walking around Turkey (no idea how), and my mom’s cap came off her tooth while eating. Now I know why people bring tooth repair kits because even the ship didn’t have anything to help. Long story short, when traveling abroad, a well-stocked first aid kit is a good idea!
Mikes’s Packing List
Clothing
- 4 Button Down Shirts
- 8 T-Shirts
- 1 Pair of Jeans
- 2 Pairs of Pants
- 2 Pairs of Shorts
- Boxers
- Socks
- Rain Jacket
- Puffer Jacket
- Zip-Up Black Sweatshirt
- 2 Pairs of Sneakers
- 1 Pair of Flip-Flops
- 1 Pair of Dress Shoes
- Swimsuit Bottoms
- Hat
- Sunglasses
technology
- 82mm Variable ND Filter
- 82mm Variable ND Lens Filter Cap
- USB C Hub
- 2TB Extreme Portable SSD
- Power Bank
- USB C GaN Charger 30W
- Anker USB C Charger
- Samsung S23 Ultra + Charger
Backpack
- Osprey Backpack (smaller and lighter weight for walking around)
- Camera Backpack (used as my carry-on/personal item)
- Flexible Padded Storage Bag
- 82mm Variable ND Lens Filter Cap
Additional Items
- Bright Suitcase Handles + Tags (helped SO much)
- Travel Bottles
- Samsung Galaxy Smart Tags (alternative to Air Tags)
- UK and European USB C Travel Adapters
- Shoe Bags
- Compression Packing Bags
- Umbrella
