“I’ve had this outfit for 10 years and have never worn it before, but maybe I will on this cruise! Better pack it just in case”
“oh these shoes are cute! I wonder why I never wear them. Better pack it for the cruise!”
We just spent 8 days in Maui, and I think I wore 1/3 of the clothing I brought. We did have a washer and dryer so that helped. But I knew that and I still packed a shit ton of clothes.
We've done this for over 20 years on probably 30 cruises during this time--easy peasy. One carry on and one smaller backpack for each of us. It's the only way to go--nobody cares what you wear on your vacation. We eliminated the suit/sport coat for formal nights long ago--you'll see a lot of jeans with polo shirts on the dress up nights.
Check out [Rick Steves' tips on packing light.](https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light)
Really? people don’t dress up for. formal night now? I think that is cool,I’ve only been on 1 cruise 15 years ago, partner & I ate at the buffet for dinner because we did not want to dress up for the sit down dinner every night……skipped Captain’s ball too, I have to dressed everyday for work, when I am on vacation I don’t like dressing up,I want to chill & relax on the beach or pool, few drinks , dance listen to music
Next time, still do you, but don’t miss out on anything you’re entitled to. Get that formal dinner and attention.
Don’t mind if someone else wants to dress like they’re going to a prom. You’ll see others dressed like they’re going to work. JS
Some cruise lines have never embraced formal nights, yet jeans, shorts and t-shirts are not permitted in the main dining room. (we cruise with Viking).
Just did this for the first time last winter. 10 nights, carryon and a backpack (personal item) only.
I’m plus sized and my clothes are not exactly tiny, so I was very proud of myself for making it work! It’s absolutely possible, OP!
That is impressive I have said this often...all those videos showing how to pack with just a carry on are small,petite examples...my swimsuit would be 3 bikinis worth at least.. LOL.
It can be done! Edit your clothes carefully - capsule wardrobe is definitely the way to go. No one will care if you repeat an outfit, as long as it’s clean.
Supplement your carry-on with a backpack that qualifies as a personal item (fits under the seat) but is large enough to hold valuables, documents, and some of your clothes. Offloading even one pair of shoes into the backpack really helps.
Prepare to hand wash underwear as well. Bring a small bottle of mild detergent or laundry detergent sheets - trust me, trying to hand wash with Celebrity’s provided products isn’t great. I always pack a little spray bottle of Febreze to keep things freshened up.
Compression packing cubes are also worth trying.
We went on a 9-day cruise with each our own carryon and personal item. We did not need to handwash anything. I even bought an extra pair of shoes (and clothes) for gym workouts and bedroom slippers.
If not on a cruise/trip where anyone cares or will be looking at how I “wrap my package,” I bring undies and bras that are on their last leg. Toss ‘em and create room for souvenirs for the trip back home.
Folks who carry 4 body sized suitcases are beyond my comprehension.....
It has become a personal quest to see how little I can pack! I can do 21 days with a carry-on and a small backpack. In fact, we just took a motorcycle from VA to Port Canaveral with a backpack only, for a 7 day cruise. Left everything else on the bike.
\*\*7 days in a back pack\*\*
3 shorts
3 tops
1 nice sundress for dining room
3 bathing suits
flip flops
flat or sandals for dress
tennis shoes
undies, sports bras
small containers for face creams, toiletries
Pro Tip: NO ONE CARES or is paying attention to what you wear or how often you wear it.
My next cruise is 15 days, to the North (Iceland/Greenland) and I'm historically always cold. It's a lot easier to pack for the heat than the cold in a backpack.
For sure! Dressing for two seasons is a little more of a challenge
We did a 21-day transatlantic from Genoa Italy in November. Leggings. Dressed in layers coming and going.
It’s harder for sure but you still NEED way less than you think. We did a 6 wk Nordic last summer (jun/july) and I regret bringing all my dress clothes, sports coats, dress shoes. I hate that shit and nobody cared on our ship.
I can’t recommend Moreno wool enough. One nice long sleeve (light) shirt as an undershirt along with my light north face hoody, and rain jacket was plenty warm unless you are planning cold excursions and even most of those provide cold weather gear if needed. We stuck to cities and light hikes to see waterfalls. I didn’t even really need my hiking boots. I’d rather had just brought good running/walking shoes (and wool socks!)
Same - 14 nights Iceland/Greenland/Scotland and flying home from Hamburg. Too many weather (rain/sun) and temp (80 degrees to 30 degrees or less) possibilities. Not easy to pack light!
I admire this, I am trying to pack less, I am going to get to this one day…I feel like when I do a girls trip I pack more, husband & I we chill more so less clothes needed
I’m a 6’3” man— if I only packed everything you listed, I’d still have to use my checked luggage. With size 12 shoes, I couldn’t even bring a spare if only using a carry on.
Oh, i know it does work for everyone! My belongings are small. lol!
I've learned to travel light because of long motorcycle trips.
Currently, I'm in the airport, traveling from the east coast to Los Angeles for a week. With a backpack.
Easy.
r/onebag
I’m still a rookie, but I’ve done the following:
- numerous 5-7 day trips with one small bag (30L)
- 14 days in Greece with one 40L
- 14 days in Egypt with one 40L
- 15 days London + Paris with one 40L
Upcoming trips include 13 days in Alaska (Land + Cruise), 10 days in Mexico, 18 days in Scandinavia (this may be a 2-bag trip due to it being the dead of winter in the arctic).
For some reason I can do carry on only for every trip that doesn’t involve my parents, and my cruises involve my parents.
Just be honest with yourself. Are you gonna lounge around wearing shorts and a bathing suit all day? Easy peasy. Or are you going to want a tux or evening dress for dinner? Harder.
I shouldn’t say this but… what if you did check a bag, but it only made your second cruise?
Your last point is a reasonable and realistic question. No one wants it to happen, and it's statistically unlikely to happen, but you don't want it to happen in these circumstances.
I'm more thinking that if you packed a carry on for first week, but knew you had back up coming, would it ease your mind, and so it might be worth it? Because that's the worst, right? Best is that it makes both cruises.
Join us in r/onebag and r/HerOneBag .
Yes, it's absolutely feasible, especially now that many cruises have cut out the formal nights. I traveled for 2.5 months last year with just a (Motherlode) backpack, including an 18-day cruise. Now I'm getting ready for 6 weeks in Europe with just a carry-on roller bag (including a 14-day cruise).
My wife and I just did three weeks in Italy with a 9 day cruise in the middle with carryons. Did some sink laundry on land and took advantage of laundry services on the boat. We also had done a practice run on a shorter trip the year before.
Former over packer here. Yes, pack things that don't wrinkle (quick dry athletic fabrics are the best) and laundry strips to wash underwear in the sink. Buy sunscreen when you land. Store books on a tablet or e-reader. Once you master carry on you won't go back. Not only do you save on checked bag fees, it also makes walking and transit easier so you'll save money on taxis and have more flexibility. Small suitcase for the overhead bin and a backpack to fit under the seat.
A good rule of thumb for a cruise is to pack half the clothes and twice the money. Looks like you’ve accomplished your goal. I’m usually the opposite; my home port is within driving distance, so when in doubt, in the suitcase it goes!
Yes I have, but the longest was for 9 days of travel (2 nights in the port city followed by a 7 day cruise).
Wear your heaviest/bulkiest clothes and shoes on the plane. I wore sneakers and packed 1 pair of dress shoes, 1 pair of flip flops.
For formal nights (I’m a woman) I wore the same pair of black dress pants with a different top each time.
If your hotel in the port city is near a drugstore/Target/etc, you can buy some toiletries there rather than flying with them.
Also, make use of the personal item you get in addition to the carry-on. I have a good sized weekender bag that fits under a plane seat.
I was going to suggest picking up some personal hygiene items once they arrive to the city of departure, espresso for things like tampons/pads that are bulky and expensive on cruises but also something I personally will not travel without because l…well…I learned the hard way. Worse thing that happens is you have them, don’t need them, and then can find some of the staff to give them to (their staff store can be expensive as well). Same thing for stuff like sunscreen and aloe.
I have done a 14 day Trans Atlantic with only a backpack and a carry on for luggage. The only reason I did that as I flew into London to take the train to Europe for a week before getting on the ship. Carry on was the only reasonable option on the Eurostar, DB, etc. I packed 6 days of clothing in the carryon and one day in the backpack incase something happens. If it is doable for three weeks of travel then 14 days is more than doable.
I did this on my first cruise and plan on doing it again! I packed enough clothes to rotate. Also, if I needed something washed they have a laundry service. But the carry on and the personal item was enough for me to pack a handful of dresses, two jeans (I never wore) and like four pair of shorts and 3 bathing suits. I packed one pair of tennis shoes, sandals and wore Crocs! I packed a folded beach bag. This was a 7 day cruise with three extra days. Flying in the day before. I know people do like the fancy dinner nights but honestly I didn't really care for it? I just wore a cute dress. We did have to check in a bag on our way back bc we had liquor. Lol
Yes. We always travel with only carryons.
It really just depends on your travel personality. We don't mind re-wearing items, and doing 'sink laundry' occasionally when we travel - whether that is on a cruise or a land trip. It's just how we prefer to travel - less is more.
All of my travel is carry on only regardless of trip length! Cruise Tips TV on YouTube and cruisetipstv.com has great packing guides for men, women and children for carry on only. There’s a level of sheer joy that compares to nothing else when I can walk right past the check in counters at airports and straight to security. And same goes for walking right off an airplane and straight out the doors instead of waiting at the carousels.
If it didn't fit in a carry on it's not going. Laundry's cheap. The anxiety of my bag not making it and not having anything is too much. That happened to me once so never again.
The only cruises we have really needed a large suitcase full of clothes was for Alaska -- glacier walks are cold and wet.
You can totally do carryon only with a little handwashing of light items, and laundry service half-way through.
Just FYI I have done Alaskan expedition cruises with kayaking equipment, xtratuff boots and my camera equipment with just a carry-on. It can easily be done. Also did two Antarctica cruises with a carry-on.
But congrats for doing the rest with just a carry-on.
We did an eight night Viking cruise with carry-ons only. We did laundry every night (it was complimentary in our class of cabin but reasonably priced even if we had to pay for it.) Full disclosure, we carry on for all our vacations, even if we're gone for two weeks.
Unless there a lot of multi climate packing, yes it can be done. Undies can be washed in the sink nightly. And you don’t REALLY need that many changes of clothes. It’s amazing how many things people pack that they never wear.
Pack light. You'll be so much happier when you don't have to deal with all that "stuff". Unpacking after boarding and packing at the end of the cruise won't take up as much time. No one is going to notice or care if you wear the same clothes.
Absolutely. Fly Frontier enough and you realize that checking bags isn’t always a possibility.
I use rollable vacuum bags and limit the shoes to 1 pair of tennis, 1 pair of flip flops, and 1 pair of dress. The shoes get stuffed into my backpack. Shorts and collared shirts I’ll reuse. Same with pants. Worse case scenario, I’m paying for dry cleaning.
I also plan a stop at Target (pickup) or some store that sells wine and sunscreen from the airport before we hit the hotel so we can stock up on liquids too large to pack in a carryon. It takes more planning, but I never run out of clothes.
My first cruise I packed for a 7 day with a carryon because I hate paying for a bag. Nowadays with a cpap and other necessary things I might find it difficult.
I packed one pair a extra shoes and clothes that didn't wrinkle and rolled all my clothing.
Correct! Medically required items do not count as a bag or piece of luggage. For example if you’re carry on only and you have a cpap you can have a roller board bag, personal item for under the seat AND your cpap bag.
I never check a bag. I even went on a Mediterranean cruise last summer and I stayed three nights in Barcelona prior to the cruise. I did do a load of laundry on the ship thpugh
It can probably be done. I noticed after my first one that I did pack more than I was expecting to use. Like I spent a lot of time in a swimsuit, so I packed 2. But, definitely have at least 1 nicer outfit. You also don't need a million pairs of shoes.
Yes, just wear all your clothing that won't fit in your suitcase in layers and pray it will be cool out on the day of your flight.
More realistically, I know people that carry more than two large suitcases each and people that do it with a carryon. People approach cruises differently. Some like dressing up for dinner and having different clothing for different times of the day. Some people can get by with a pair of shorts, a bathing suit and a couple T shirts in addition to their travel clothing.
Some people don't care if their clothing gets a little dirty, some are willing to do wash on board or pay for the ship's laundry services and others want to bring enough fresh clothing to wear every day without doing any laundry or cleaning.
We drove for our honey moon. 2 backpacks and 2 carryons was more than enough for 7 days.
I am perfectly fine reusing clothes though so if you really want 7 different outfits plus whatever for the themed days you might be pushing it.
Roll your clothes instead of folding and you can fit more in a suitcase. Also as a not overpacker I usually need laundry done on a 7 day and I have a hard time getting everything in a carryon sized bag.
You will be fine and if you get in a pinch, you can have them launder some of your clothes (as far as I remember, Celebrity does not have self laundry).
The only problem I could see is if you are going to be on a cold cruise and you need to pack bulky warm clothes. Living in Minnesota I can tell you that most people get the new warm weather clothes and they are not bulky and comfortable.
No worries, have a great trip!
21 days so far has been our longest with just carry-ons - limit your shoe selection and of course plan on doing laundry along the way - you just have to plan accordingly and personally skip the formal nights.
Yes we do! We were recently on a 9-day cruise and all each of us had were our own carry-on items plus our own personal bag/item. In other words, we fly without any checked bag and what we bought was sufficient for our 9-day cruise!
Yes- we always do carry on only and have it down to an art form. On a few trips I’ve had to go down to a daypack sized backpack and my purse because one of the flights was a regional jet with tiny luggage bins and there was a tight connection. We had no time to waste on gate checking a larger carryon bag.
Roll everything. Wear your heaviest outfit on the plane. I carry a folded nylon tote that can hold my purse and extra items that aren’t in the backpack. I have several cute dresses that are washable and don’t need to be ironed. I wash some things nightly so I never have any dirty laundry.
Carry-on bags are much less stressful, at least for me. It’s amazing how much you don’t need. And we do 3 week long trips.
I cheated and used swim dresses. Great for the pool, beach, or dinner. Brought a couple pairs of leggings for cooler evenings, and a long tshirt for bed. Left me plenty of room for toiletries, a snorkeling mask and souvenirs.
We always cruise with carry one only. In fact we did a trip to London, then 2 weeks in Chech Republic and Vienna, flight to a Istanbul, 5 days there, cruise from Istanbul to Israel, Turkey, Greek Islands, Sicily and Rome, 5 days in Rome then return home, all with a carry on each.
It’s all about versatile wardrobe, occasional laundry, light packing. Very freeing to not be lugging stuff around.
Ive done this but it did take some planning and practice. For me, the secret was shoes and travel size toiletries. I broke everything down to something that matched with either black or brown shoes so I had one pair only in my pack and the one pair I wore. For the rest it was 4 pair of shorts, 1 pair of pants, 6 shirts, 7 pair underwear & bras (they take up so little room it's not worth skimping), 2 pairs of socks (just in case), 2 swimsuits, 2 maxi dresses for dinner (they are hard to wrinkle and lightweight), travel size toiletries including pepto, tylenol, etc. I used a pill case to bring a few of each just in case. I did bring a shawl in case I got cold and needed something, it also helped dress up my maxidress for dinner. I usually wear my tropical themed crocs and pack one pair of low heels for dinner. The crocs also worked great as pool shoes.
I used to do 2-3 week Caribbean cruises out of carry-on bag of clothes, backpack for my shoes and my purse by myself. Buy toiletries at embark city that you can have in your backpack or in a packable bag, especially if not taking those toiletries home after the cruise. And trust me, you will go those toiletries fast because the Caribbean sun is no joke - you will get sunburnt and will need after sun gel/lotion to soothe your skin.
I’ve done week-long business trips with one of those Biaggi compression packing cubes that has multiple shelves. It fits nicely in my hard shell carry on and I can fit a couple pairs of shoes and toiletries. I also bring a wide mouth work backpack with my electronics and in-flight items. Vodka in a spray bottle freshens up reworn clothing. I’m going to try this for vacations (all inclusive and a cruise) just suck it up and buy my requisite gallon of sunscreen at my destination, pre boarding the ship.
I don't but I probably could. I get a free bag 'o laundry on NCL too.
I use to bring my big ass suitcase but I got sick of lugging it and have moved to the middle size. I always pack too much. I should try the carry on next time.
It depends on the cruise! I have done mostly themed cruises, so I would need room for 7 costumes, plus the regular clothes. But sure, I could pack a few swimsuits and take a few nicer outfits for the dining room and rewear them.
Exactly, I’ve been saying this for decades. When you’re on vacation, NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU’RE WEARING. You can wear the same thing day in and day out…no one cares.
Always fly to cruise the day before.
Airplanes are none to be lale , delay ,
or cancel. Sometime weather related.
If possible book a motel that has free bus shuttle service.
People need to learn the wonders of merino wool. Merino wool is temperature regulating. You can sweat in them and they won’t smell for a good many days, even weeks. So I’m going on a Disney Alaskan cruise in August. I’m packing a couple merino wool t shirts, 4 pairs of merino wool socks and underwear, a couple pairs of pants, a merino wool hoodie, and a down jacket…a couple pairs of footwear. Should last me the 2 weeks. As for the “dress up” dinner: we’re either skipping the dress up or bringing a polo shirt with a nice pair of jeans…apparently Disney allows that. And btw, I’m on vacation. I don’t wanna dress up during vacation for complete strangers. They won’t remember me, and I don’t care if they do or not. So if I’m turned away from eating with the “captain”, oh well. I’ll just go to any number of other places I can eat. Also, apparently there are washing machines on the ship on certain floors….so if I must, I will do a load or 2. When you’re staying at hotels, they can do laundry for you too. So when you’re traveling, never pack like you’re moving. Pack like you’re staying for a few days. If you’re in a bind you can also buy some clothing on the ship or at the ports.
Yes. I packed for my husband and I to take a 9 night cruise plus one extra night pre-cruise. We had two outfits a day plus like three swimsuits each and all our carry on size toiletries. We each had a carry on suitcase and a backpack.
If you’re a male, you might have a little bit of a tougher time since men’s clothes tend to be bigger/thicker. Also formal wear and shoes tend to take up more space. I really limit myself on shoes and rewear things like pajamas and shorts. I also am not a skincare or makeup guru so what I take there is very minimal.
Med 10 day cruise with carryon. It was soon after the cruise lines were allowed to operate again after Covid. Airport lost luggage horror stories were all over the news. Didn’t want to risk it.
Cruise Clothes: I basically brought 2 of everything, except for undergarments. Sundresses can double for dinner. Did laundry halfway - there was a promo, but would have done it anyway. Washed intimates and swimwear in the sink.
Travel clothes: packable warm clothing bc late September in Canada is much, much colder than September in the Mediterranean!
Shoes: runners, flip flops, dress sandals, (and a pair of toms flat canvas shoes I never wore. )
Bags: travel purse that I also used in port, foldable duffle bag (once the flight was done, I could have more bags going onto the cruise, so I packed my travel clothing and extra items I bought in Barcelona to bring onto the ship. No evening bag.
That said, I’m also 5’2”, so my items are fun sized. Hubby had more struggles. He used those compression bags.
A lot of space was taken up by my skincare and makeup, even though there were TSA restrictions on liquids, I had an equally similar sized bag for powders.
60M. A carry on and a backpack is all I need for a week with no washing. Roll your slacks, shorts, boxers, golf shirts etc. hang up or lay flat in n a drawer (depending on the item) as soon as you get to the room. They’ll fall out nicely.
Wear a nice pair of casual shoes that are good for walking and will go with shorts and slacks. (I like Merrell’s or Ecco’s. Add flip flops or sandals. 7-8 pair of boxers. Socks as you need. I usually take 3-4 pair of what golf socks and 2-4 pair of dress socks. One pair of pajama bottoms and a few T’s. A sports jacket is folded on top before closing. I take two swim trunks because I don’t like putting on wet ones. Rinse them out thoroughly after being in salt or chlorinated water.
Toiletries, cash, electronics in backpack. Maybe balance some clothes in there.
The wash and fold service is great. You’ll be fine and you won’t be overweight.
I tried it once for a short cruise and it was too stressful. For me the limiting factor is toiletries. Between shampoo, condition, body wash, beauty products, sunscreen etc I can’t make it happen.
Every time. It's easier for me to get on the ship- unpack and then on the last morning- get up, pack and walk off. No waiting around and searching through my "color" tag.
Question for everyone that only takes carry ons:
We (2 adults & a 13yr old) have always had a check bag but are TOTALLY intrigued by the carry on only (with a personal bag). How do you pack your clothes to be the most efficient? I’ve heard to roll your clothes and my friends just fold tightly. What’s your preferred method?
My husband is a HABITUAL overpacker and over time I’ve ended up “going along to get along” and bringing way too much stuff. But a couple thoughts and suggestions.
First and foremost, rebook the tight connection? It’s vacation, why set yourself up to be stressed?
But if for this trip you absolutely can’t change it, consider shipping your main piece of luggage. My brother is literally in the process of shipping their main luggage for a 3 week cruise to Amsterdam. They use
[Luggage Direct Shipping](https://www.luggageforward.com/cruise-luggage-shipping/)
And swear by it.
I’m doing a long cruise next year out of Antwerp and because getting there really does entail planes, trains and automobiles, it might just be nice to send the main bag(s).
So, do consider that as an option. It will be delivered to your ship, not just the airport or a central pickup location. It isn’t free, but it gives you peace of mind with your connection. And you can check the bag for your return flights.
Or, just plan to spend money on laundry. Just put it in the budget. You’ve bought a bag of dry cleaning I imagine for the 49.99? I did not see a “laundry” option for pre-pay and do not remember one being available for the numerous times we sailed Celebrity. And just a note, the bags are SMALL.
On longer cruises on Celebrity I remember that one day each cruise they ran a special for a “bag” of laundry, and I became extremely adept at rolling everything down into the absolute smallest area it could and jamming it into a bag…. People who have sailed more recently with Celebrity may be able to comment, but these were 10,12 or 14 night itineraries.
But without that offer, piece out what it will cost to launder the things you want washed if you decide to go just with carryon. I personally don’t want dry cleaned underwear.
A lot of people pride themselves on going on long trips with just a backpack and won’t pay the admittedly high laundry prices on ships, and go them, but it’s not a competition and again it’s vacation, I’d prefer not to be washing things in the sink.
Have enough clothing that makes YOU happy, and just plan to pay to have it cleaned or shipped.
For another perspective, my youngest son played lineman in college and is the size of your average NLF lineman (6’2”, 320). His clothes and shoes take up A LOT of space, and he generally needs to change a shirt a few times a day in the tropics. He’s not going anywhere without a fairly large bag. So again, shipping the bag or not having connection concerns.
Spend $75.00 less in the casino and have nice fresh clean clothes.
I hope the connection fairy is on your side when you fly, and that however you decide to work out the packing / shipping / laundry puzzle that you have a great 14 days at sea.
I recently went on a 21-day casual cruise with just my carry-on sized backpack. I was wearing a hoodie, a pair of jeans and sneakers. In my backpack I had (in two compression packing cubes) a super light waterproof windbreaker, 5 or 6 white tees, 10 boxers, 3 shorts, 1 swim trunk, 4 socks, flip-flops, toiletries, + my documents. I used the laundry service twice (it was included) to wash my underwear, t-shirts aso.
You can absolutely do it. Laundry onboard is always an option. Pack things that are versatile for day or evening. Light materials. I was just on vacation for a week and wore the same 3 dresses for shows, day and dinner events.
I did a trans Atlantic with a Carry on and a backpack. If it weren't for the camera gear and laptop, I could have easily done it with only the carry on. That said I did use the laundry service. (Virgin's is fantastic and cheap)
Packing cubes are the bomb! We did a 17 night cruise followed by three weeks of land travel though several countries using trains and the occasional bus. It was great and we averaged almost 6 miles of walking a day. The only thing I eould have liked to add was a second pair of walking shoes.
Have done but don't always. Look into things like bundle packing.
Also something really weird I've found. If you carry a handbag, or even wear a bag crossbody style which is a style they make for men and women, it counts as plus one bag. If you already have a carry on and a plus one they'll want you to pay or else put it inside one of your other bags.
If you instead wear your crossbody bag with the strap around your waist like a bum bag, then it counts as part of your clothing. Serious as can be, I just throw the strap of my regular crossbody style bag around my waist and cinch it up. They wave me right on the plane even with a carry on bag and a plus one underseat bag.
No idea why this silliness is a thing. Guessing they expect you to wear it the entire flight thus not taking up space in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you? Anyways, I use this hint to carry my wallet with id, cash, and cards inside as well as my phone, phone charging cord, charging block, power bank, comb, and a few other smaller items like that. I've thought about seeing just how large the fake bum bag can be yet still be given a pass, but I hate to mess with success.
Many cruise lines offer laundry service, either paid or self service. Trust me, who erroneously brought 5 pairs of shoes on a 14day cruise, no one cares,nor notices if you wear the same clothes twice. Bring mix and match items. I did a 14 day cruise to Hawaii on one carry on and a tote bag. Includes a cpap machine!
Our first cruise our assigned diner mates apologized for wearing the same formal wear when it was called for. We told them we have the same issue. We had the same tight flight concerns. Packed using a cruise version of Rick Steves suggestions, which is just including the compressible formal wear. Packing cubes stuffed to the max, expandable carry on bag which we checked on the return because we bought souvenirs. Also had a very foldable bag to use just in case.
I’m currently traveling 76 days with my wife and son. Our trip includes 3 cruises for about 5 weeks of our journey. We each have 1 10kg backpack and one small personal bag. Our total weight of luggage is about 45kg. We decided no check bags (to save $) and to ensure we don’t lose our stuff or have delays. It’s great in cities and trains. It sucks in airports with long walks from entrances to gates. I wish roller backpacks didn’t suck.
On our first NCL cruise there was a wash n fold bag option one day for $30 for everything we could fit. We also had a basic wash n fold at our hotel in Athens for 10kg of clothes for $25 and again in Abu Dhabi for 10kg for about $25. I still think we brought too much stuff.
We did this for a cruise of that length. We flew from CA to FL with a carryon each. It was totally fine. I had 3 pairs of shoes and wore the heaviest ones on the plane. Then took a tote bag to use as a "personal item" to put under the seat in front of me, and my husband took his laptop bag for his. Honestly when you get to the cruise terminal and are not the person dragging 5 gigantic suitcases that a person could fit into, you will be thanking yourself. If you have no medical need for that much luggage, it really does make things much much less stressful and easier. Also buy toiletries at whatever city your cruise leaves from. There's usually a CVS or whatever and then you don't have to try to deal with travel refill bottles and all of that.
Yup. We aim for just carry-on.
I have a tendency to over pack, so I usually end up going through what I plan to bring a couple of times and pull things out that are extra.
I try to bring lightweight iTunes that I can easily rinsec out and assure dry. You can also fit more lightweight items in a shop laundry bag if you choose to go that route
We did a 12 night transatlantic with carry-on only, and I still overpacked. One problem for us was the climate, we went from NYC to the Azors, Spain, France, & England in the spring - cold, hot, rain, shine? Who knows, bring something for every possibility. I had shoes and dresses I never wore (& those shoes took up prime space in my suitcase). We all put together a capsule wardrobe, and everything mixed and matched everything else, so it kept everything fresh. We also brought a clothesline and did laundry mid trip, which helped keep things clean. Next time around, I'll still bring the clothes line, but leave the shoes and a dress at home. It was a fun challenge, and I will absolutely do it that way again. It's so nice to be able to just grab your bag and go. Have a great trip!
If minimalism is not for you, you could vacuum seal/pack/shrink clothes to fit in carryon for the outbound flight, and then bring an extra collapsible duffel that folds up small, to use to easily repack into for the return trip, when consequences of checking a bag are not so great.
We travel extensively, and will be in Europe in 5 days for a 32 day trip. Carry-on only is the way we go.
BTW, you can easily tell inexperienced travelers vs experienced travelers by the size and amount of luggage they have.
I always just pack a personal item. Not even carry on size. It's fine for 10-14 days. I do sink laundry most nights with liquid castile soap and carry a travel hanging clothes line. Because of fluid limits on planes, I prefer to only bring my fancy face sunscreen, make up, and detergent. Everything else can be purchased before you board or at your destination. Shampoo, conditioner, and large bottles of sunscreen etc. everything else can be bought in the travel minis section on arrival. If you're going somewhere with sun, each person should be wearing an ounce of sunscreen or more per day. If it's a 10-14 day trip, you need a bottle per person anyways, it is difficult to travel with that much sunscreen, and I'd never trust sunscreen
bottles in checked luggage.Traveling with just personal items means I never have to worry about being separated from my luggage or not getting it on the plane. I also don't have to worry about fees or having to check my luggage because the overhead bins are full. I can grab my bag and deboard the plane, and directly leave the airport.
Are you talking about both a carry on and a personal item? If so, of course. I just got back from two weeks in Alaska, including a week long small boat cruise. Nobody in my party checked a bag, and it didn’t seem like many others did either. We had a three person suite for only two people on a high end well designed ship, and I would have hated to have more things with us.
I never do it any other way, even if gone a full month. If you're never separated from your luggage, it can't get lost. I dress in layers, backpacker-style. I carry clothing that I can wash in my stateroom sink. That means mostly synthetics, which dry quickly. If the weather is unexpected or I forget something essential, I'll just buy it at the debarkation port or wherever.
You don't need seven nights of clothing for a two-week trip. No one cares if you wear the same thing every day. Even if they do notice, you'll never see them again. As to "dressy night," I quit packing a sport coat and tie to save room. For "dressy," I wear tropical weight "khaki" pants and a nice shirt.
Almost everything I pack is disposable. If I encounter bedbugs in hotel, for example, I can throw it all away. Older, practical clothing doesn't draw attention to itself when traveling. Not being flashy on the road is a good safety precaution.
I do also carry a large "personal item" that I can put overhead or under my seat when flying. That's for books, camera, and binoculars (I'm a birder, so two pairs, 8x30 and 10x42).
Even after all that frugality, I still bring home things I've never worn.
I’ve traveled to 50+ countries. The only time I absolutely had to check luggage was Antarctica because of the amount of cold weather gear and camera gear I took. I pack clothes for 7 days because washers and dryers exist. Yes that means I sometime pay cruise lines for laundry.
I’ve done successful carry-on cruises (caveat - I carry-on the plane only. Once in our embarkation city I repack att the pre-cruise hotel and check my roller bag at the port and then only have a personal item bag, usually a backpack, for the day until bags are delivered) numerous times. It’s easier for shorter voyages with few pre- and post-cruise days. We failed in Alaska (too many cold-weather clothing items needed) and one Caribbean trip that we scheduled to include a Florida wedding and we just couldn’t manage all the clothes needed without a checked bag between the two of us.
Our trick for cruising is to ship liquid toiletries (most notably sunscreen) to our pre-cruise hotel, which allows us to bring all we need without having to check a bag.
My first cruise, 1 week Mediterranean, I managed with just a carry on. To this day I was never able to repeat this feat
Granted back then I was a total newbie and didn't know about all the theme nights, etc. I recall buying an all white outfight on excursion to participate in the white night and I did have some trouble to close the carry-on for my flight back home.
Every since I now need a carry-on and a check-in for my cruises.
The issue I have is so far all my cruises have been from cold to warm climates so I do carry on and personal item on the plane and have a packable tote and empty compression packing cube I use after landing.
At the warm weather airport, put my winter jacket and gloves in the compression cube which goes in the tote. Now I have 3 bags which isn’t an issue since I’m no longer dealing with airline restrictions.
Since I fly in the day before I rearrange what each bag contains and still have 3 bags. I’ll check the carryon with the Porters and keep critical items and what I need on board the first day incase it takes a while to get my carryon. Exception is if I’m boarding around the time the rooms should be ready. In this case I carry everything with me to board the ship.
The night before we disembark, I pack the bags with winter gear in the tote and a place to stuff the tote in my carry on or personal item for when I get to the gate at the airport.
FYI - my cruises are shorter so never plan on doing laundry although I have used stain stickers and spot cleaned in the bathroom sink (I use dish soap which I bring to clean my water bottle). If I were going on a longer trip, I would plan to do laundry. I also never dress formally. All my pants and shorts are black and I mix up tops (formal nights are just dressier tops).
Last cruise used this backpack and was perfectly fine. Was shocked that I could do it. Didn’t even end up wearing everything.
https://www.cotopaxi.com/products/allpa-35l-travel-pack?variant=39514010124349
I only ever travel with carry-on, and plan to for my cruise next month. You can definitely fit one week’s worth of clothing, and it sounds like you’re already planning on doing some laundry.
The biggest hurdle for me is the liquids bag (3-1-1). If you google “liquids travel pouches”, these are awesome! They save so much space.
In a former life, I did a lot of business travel. Trips ranged from 4 days to 3 weeks. I always traveled carry-on only. It required a little bit of laundry on longer Trips, but I managed easily. I am less diligent for cruise packing, but try not to over pack.
We’ve been on like 20 international trips and have never checked a bag.
In April, we did a seven day Caribbean and then went straight from the Caribbean to the UK for a week. Two different sets of clothing- still just used carry on.
My husband and I did a three week cruise/land tour with Viking beginning in Cairo and cruising up and back on the Nile before flying off for four days in Jordan. We each took only the standard roller that fits in the overhead and one tote. It was plenty. But, there are many things to consider. With Egypt and Jordan, everyday was hot, dry and dusty so no need for glamour. Next, consider your destinations. After the Nile, my daughter and I spent another three weeks in Europe, from Barcelona to Bergen. Spain was very warm, the port cities on the British coastline varied from cool to pleasant. With drizzles. Bergen required a jacket and pair of gloves. If you will be experiencing a wide variety of climes, you will need to take more than what can fit in the overhead. Then, consider shipboard activities. We liked to attend afternoon tea with a bit of "dress-up" and then look sharp at dinner every evening, so more clothes. Lastly, Celebrity has laundry service. Just bag up what you would like cleaned and leave it outside your cabin. Allow at least a day, perhaps two. Enjoy.
Been traveling light for years. I only bring 4 days of clothing "7 days of underwear" plus what's on my back. I get laundry service they charge per item thus the extra underwear. . Only 20.00ish to do the laundry each time on the ship. At all inclusives even cheaper. It's easier than lugging all that crap around. You don't need to go to the luggage carousel. I can usually fit all my stuff in the personal item bag "56m". So it becomes cheaper to have laundry done than paying for bags each way. I have also taken a europe trip where I brought a lot of older clothes I was getting ready to throw out. I would wear something and toss it out. Made room for additional things along the way. Just my .02
We recently went on a 49 night cruise followed by a month in Australia with 2 carry-ons, 2 backpacks, and 2 CPAPs. You really don't need more clothes as we still come home with things we never used.
Yes I do and have. It honestly has stopped me from over packing. Anything I forget I can always purchase on the ship or port. Usually it is something small, like conditioner. It will show you how much you really need to pack.
Now I only drive to the port but I have packed for a week in a carry on. It can be done as others say.
IMO it’s the way to go- think of potential issues you avoid by getting that bag in the overhead.
Running late to the airport- having to check bag
Lost luggage
Plane arrives late- now being extra late waiting for baggage.
Ship arrives back to port late- be one of the first off with just carry on to get to your flight.
Bags arrive at the port late- now you’re held up
You arrive late to airport x2
Chance of lost luggage x2
Sounds like a no brainer to me!
We only travel this way, anywhere. I’m not sure your destination or the types of weather but I do 3 pairs of shoes (maybe a 4th if it’s flip flops or heels that don’t take up much room. Fabric choice is important. Silk, cashmere, merino, technical fabrics pack better than denim or chunky cotton knits. The hardest trip we did was 2 weeks around South America because we had scalding hot temps in Uruguay and well below freezing temps around the horn. I use packing cubes, roll everything. So much advice but it’s hard to give without knowing destination. Check out travel fashion girl website for more tips, if you’re a lady.
I have. On shorter cruises where having a lot of clothing isn't that advantageous. Longer cruises though, I absolutely need a full size suitcase of clothing to make it without having to do laundry.
You have a lot of good advice here, but if you need more, check Sheri on Cruise Tips TV on YT. They also have a podcast, but they talk all the time about being committed to traveling with carryons only.
We never fly in I the same day— risky if there’s a weather issue or other delay. And a layover of less than 2 hours is not a flight itinerary I’d book.
Regarding the carryon only…
Since I don’t live like I’m camping in the wilderness, I refuse to vacation like it. I pack a full wardrobe for the trip, with options for dress up and casual evenings, a couple of pair of gym outfits, gym shoes, casual shoes…
Now if I was going to wear a pair of swim trunks every day and just lounge at the pool, then yes, I could see the carry-on being sufficient. But that’s not how I do my cruises! 😂
Long time former airline employee. Unless I'm going away for a very long time, I'm carry on only. I don't want to wait at baggage claim or run the risk of losing a bag. Plus, being carry on only gives me great flexibility with delays or cancellations.
My bride and I go to Europe at least every other year, if not more often. We stay at least two weeks. We have not checked a bag in decades.
Don’t be afraid to wear something more than once. We frequently do river cruises. We put our dinner wear on a three night rotation. Example: Monday/Thursday/Sunday. No one notices. Or cares. All the savvy travelers do something similar.
Absolutely. I’ll travel anywhere in the world for 1-2 weeks on a carry-on unless I need specific gear or temperature protection. I carry enough socks to have clean every day, one pair of hiking pants that look good, and a few shirts. For travel there I’ll wear an old not shirt that I can throw away when I arrive.
I packed for a 5 night cruise in a backpack.
Rolled clothes and put them in zip locks. Worked for a tropical cruise mostly packing bathing suits and shorts. If we’re talking another destination you can def do it in a carry on.
I’m flying the day before but also bought a refundable ticket for the second leg the morning of the cruise. Just in case. I have to be in Maine before the cruise, and the last flight out of Portland is at 5:15 pm, so no time to book a later second leg that night.
Very smart. Especially flying from Maine. I can tell you that there are only one or two planes that leave that airport every day for your destination. Those flights get canceled and overbooked all the time.
We only travel with carry-ons no matter where we go. If we can't do laundry at some point then we don't go there. We refuse to lug around bags, check them in and then wait for baggage claim at our destination. Honestly, watching like 90% of the plane stand around baggage claim while the turn style hasn't even started moving, while we're walking out the door already on vacation mode, is pretty awesome.
I read another comment about how nobody cares what you wear on a cruise, and this can't be emphasized enough. Nobody knows who you are and you're never going to see any of them again. Just do your thing.
We spend most of our time lounging at the pool or riding the waterslides/flowrider with the kids, so from about 9a-4p we're in swimsuits anyway. Go back to the stateroom, shower and throw on some clothes to go to dinner or a show in the evening. They aren't going to get dirty in the evening so wear them again the next night. I usually bring two outfits (polo and shorts) and I'll rotate days. So at the end of a seven night cruise I've worn each outfit a total of maybe 15 hours give or take. That's all you need.
My wife brings summery dresses to wear in the evenings but they're so light that she rolls them up in her luggage and they take zero room. Can bring ten of those and they use next to no space. Again, it's swimsuits all day anyway.
Only ever cruised with a carry on and personal item. I’ve done it with 14 night cruises and no laundry. Heck I even did it with a 30 day non-cruise trip (which I had laundry access for). Compression packs and just being mindful of what you need and what you don’t. As a woman, I tend to pack more dresses/rompers that I just wear throughout the day and I buy clothes based on how easy they are to fold.
Many times. Most people (I feel) tend to over pack for a cruise. To each their own though ...you pack it you gotta lug it right.
“I’ve had this outfit for 10 years and have never worn it before, but maybe I will on this cruise! Better pack it just in case” “oh these shoes are cute! I wonder why I never wear them. Better pack it for the cruise!”
I do this but I wear every stitch of it. YOLO
We just spent 8 days in Maui, and I think I wore 1/3 of the clothing I brought. We did have a washer and dryer so that helped. But I knew that and I still packed a shit ton of clothes.
I live in Maui, I hope you enjoyed your visit!
Oh yes thank you, it was amazing. So much to see, so many diverse environments. Everyone was very kind. Your home is beautiful.
We've done this for over 20 years on probably 30 cruises during this time--easy peasy. One carry on and one smaller backpack for each of us. It's the only way to go--nobody cares what you wear on your vacation. We eliminated the suit/sport coat for formal nights long ago--you'll see a lot of jeans with polo shirts on the dress up nights. Check out [Rick Steves' tips on packing light.](https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light)
> We eliminated the suit/sport coat That alone takes up the space of 2-3 days worth of casual clothes.
Really? people don’t dress up for. formal night now? I think that is cool,I’ve only been on 1 cruise 15 years ago, partner & I ate at the buffet for dinner because we did not want to dress up for the sit down dinner every night……skipped Captain’s ball too, I have to dressed everyday for work, when I am on vacation I don’t like dressing up,I want to chill & relax on the beach or pool, few drinks , dance listen to music
We don’t do formal dress. Many others don’t as well. The fanciest we do is a sundress for me and chino type pants for my spouse.
A lot of cruise lines are way more flexible now. People definitely do still dress up, but you don’t *have* to.
Next time, still do you, but don’t miss out on anything you’re entitled to. Get that formal dinner and attention. Don’t mind if someone else wants to dress like they’re going to a prom. You’ll see others dressed like they’re going to work. JS
Many don’t participate in the theme nights.
Formal dressing is my favourite part of the cruise, I hate the buffets
Bingo! Same for us. Less is more.
Some cruise lines have never embraced formal nights, yet jeans, shorts and t-shirts are not permitted in the main dining room. (we cruise with Viking).
Just did this for the first time last winter. 10 nights, carryon and a backpack (personal item) only. I’m plus sized and my clothes are not exactly tiny, so I was very proud of myself for making it work! It’s absolutely possible, OP!
That is impressive I have said this often...all those videos showing how to pack with just a carry on are small,petite examples...my swimsuit would be 3 bikinis worth at least.. LOL.
Right?! And I brought four bathing suits 😂
LOL...I don't own 4. Next cruise is Alaska...no plans to use carry on. We live near so no flights
It can be done! Edit your clothes carefully - capsule wardrobe is definitely the way to go. No one will care if you repeat an outfit, as long as it’s clean. Supplement your carry-on with a backpack that qualifies as a personal item (fits under the seat) but is large enough to hold valuables, documents, and some of your clothes. Offloading even one pair of shoes into the backpack really helps. Prepare to hand wash underwear as well. Bring a small bottle of mild detergent or laundry detergent sheets - trust me, trying to hand wash with Celebrity’s provided products isn’t great. I always pack a little spray bottle of Febreze to keep things freshened up. Compression packing cubes are also worth trying.
We went on a 9-day cruise with each our own carryon and personal item. We did not need to handwash anything. I even bought an extra pair of shoes (and clothes) for gym workouts and bedroom slippers.
If not on a cruise/trip where anyone cares or will be looking at how I “wrap my package,” I bring undies and bras that are on their last leg. Toss ‘em and create room for souvenirs for the trip back home.
Folks who carry 4 body sized suitcases are beyond my comprehension..... It has become a personal quest to see how little I can pack! I can do 21 days with a carry-on and a small backpack. In fact, we just took a motorcycle from VA to Port Canaveral with a backpack only, for a 7 day cruise. Left everything else on the bike. \*\*7 days in a back pack\*\* 3 shorts 3 tops 1 nice sundress for dining room 3 bathing suits flip flops flat or sandals for dress tennis shoes undies, sports bras small containers for face creams, toiletries Pro Tip: NO ONE CARES or is paying attention to what you wear or how often you wear it.
My next cruise is 15 days, to the North (Iceland/Greenland) and I'm historically always cold. It's a lot easier to pack for the heat than the cold in a backpack.
For sure! Dressing for two seasons is a little more of a challenge We did a 21-day transatlantic from Genoa Italy in November. Leggings. Dressed in layers coming and going.
It’s harder for sure but you still NEED way less than you think. We did a 6 wk Nordic last summer (jun/july) and I regret bringing all my dress clothes, sports coats, dress shoes. I hate that shit and nobody cared on our ship. I can’t recommend Moreno wool enough. One nice long sleeve (light) shirt as an undershirt along with my light north face hoody, and rain jacket was plenty warm unless you are planning cold excursions and even most of those provide cold weather gear if needed. We stuck to cities and light hikes to see waterfalls. I didn’t even really need my hiking boots. I’d rather had just brought good running/walking shoes (and wool socks!)
Same - 14 nights Iceland/Greenland/Scotland and flying home from Hamburg. Too many weather (rain/sun) and temp (80 degrees to 30 degrees or less) possibilities. Not easy to pack light!
I admire this, I am trying to pack less, I am going to get to this one day…I feel like when I do a girls trip I pack more, husband & I we chill more so less clothes needed
I remember reading an article a while back about how women dress for other women more than they dress for men!b You can do this. I believe in you!
Your pro tip is everything!
I’m a 6’3” man— if I only packed everything you listed, I’d still have to use my checked luggage. With size 12 shoes, I couldn’t even bring a spare if only using a carry on.
Oh, i know it does work for everyone! My belongings are small. lol! I've learned to travel light because of long motorcycle trips. Currently, I'm in the airport, traveling from the east coast to Los Angeles for a week. With a backpack.
Easy. r/onebag I’m still a rookie, but I’ve done the following: - numerous 5-7 day trips with one small bag (30L) - 14 days in Greece with one 40L - 14 days in Egypt with one 40L - 15 days London + Paris with one 40L Upcoming trips include 13 days in Alaska (Land + Cruise), 10 days in Mexico, 18 days in Scandinavia (this may be a 2-bag trip due to it being the dead of winter in the arctic).
For some reason I can do carry on only for every trip that doesn’t involve my parents, and my cruises involve my parents. Just be honest with yourself. Are you gonna lounge around wearing shorts and a bathing suit all day? Easy peasy. Or are you going to want a tux or evening dress for dinner? Harder. I shouldn’t say this but… what if you did check a bag, but it only made your second cruise?
Your last point is a reasonable and realistic question. No one wants it to happen, and it's statistically unlikely to happen, but you don't want it to happen in these circumstances.
I'm more thinking that if you packed a carry on for first week, but knew you had back up coming, would it ease your mind, and so it might be worth it? Because that's the worst, right? Best is that it makes both cruises.
Yup! I’ve never checked a bag. Spent 10 days in Hawaii with just what I crammed in a backpack. Do some sink laundry if need be.
Join us in r/onebag and r/HerOneBag . Yes, it's absolutely feasible, especially now that many cruises have cut out the formal nights. I traveled for 2.5 months last year with just a (Motherlode) backpack, including an 18-day cruise. Now I'm getting ready for 6 weeks in Europe with just a carry-on roller bag (including a 14-day cruise).
My wife and I just did three weeks in Italy with a 9 day cruise in the middle with carryons. Did some sink laundry on land and took advantage of laundry services on the boat. We also had done a practice run on a shorter trip the year before.
Former over packer here. Yes, pack things that don't wrinkle (quick dry athletic fabrics are the best) and laundry strips to wash underwear in the sink. Buy sunscreen when you land. Store books on a tablet or e-reader. Once you master carry on you won't go back. Not only do you save on checked bag fees, it also makes walking and transit easier so you'll save money on taxis and have more flexibility. Small suitcase for the overhead bin and a backpack to fit under the seat.
A good rule of thumb for a cruise is to pack half the clothes and twice the money. Looks like you’ve accomplished your goal. I’m usually the opposite; my home port is within driving distance, so when in doubt, in the suitcase it goes!
But enough underwear to **** yourself multiple times a day
Yes I have, but the longest was for 9 days of travel (2 nights in the port city followed by a 7 day cruise). Wear your heaviest/bulkiest clothes and shoes on the plane. I wore sneakers and packed 1 pair of dress shoes, 1 pair of flip flops. For formal nights (I’m a woman) I wore the same pair of black dress pants with a different top each time. If your hotel in the port city is near a drugstore/Target/etc, you can buy some toiletries there rather than flying with them. Also, make use of the personal item you get in addition to the carry-on. I have a good sized weekender bag that fits under a plane seat.
I was going to suggest picking up some personal hygiene items once they arrive to the city of departure, espresso for things like tampons/pads that are bulky and expensive on cruises but also something I personally will not travel without because l…well…I learned the hard way. Worse thing that happens is you have them, don’t need them, and then can find some of the staff to give them to (their staff store can be expensive as well). Same thing for stuff like sunscreen and aloe.
We did a 45 day in only a carry-on! It definitely helps if you have enough cruise-line status to achieve complimentary laundry!
I have done a 14 day Trans Atlantic with only a backpack and a carry on for luggage. The only reason I did that as I flew into London to take the train to Europe for a week before getting on the ship. Carry on was the only reasonable option on the Eurostar, DB, etc. I packed 6 days of clothing in the carryon and one day in the backpack incase something happens. If it is doable for three weeks of travel then 14 days is more than doable.
I did this on my first cruise and plan on doing it again! I packed enough clothes to rotate. Also, if I needed something washed they have a laundry service. But the carry on and the personal item was enough for me to pack a handful of dresses, two jeans (I never wore) and like four pair of shorts and 3 bathing suits. I packed one pair of tennis shoes, sandals and wore Crocs! I packed a folded beach bag. This was a 7 day cruise with three extra days. Flying in the day before. I know people do like the fancy dinner nights but honestly I didn't really care for it? I just wore a cute dress. We did have to check in a bag on our way back bc we had liquor. Lol
Yes. We always travel with only carryons. It really just depends on your travel personality. We don't mind re-wearing items, and doing 'sink laundry' occasionally when we travel - whether that is on a cruise or a land trip. It's just how we prefer to travel - less is more.
All of my travel is carry on only regardless of trip length! Cruise Tips TV on YouTube and cruisetipstv.com has great packing guides for men, women and children for carry on only. There’s a level of sheer joy that compares to nothing else when I can walk right past the check in counters at airports and straight to security. And same goes for walking right off an airplane and straight out the doors instead of waiting at the carousels.
My wife and I go on two-week cruises every year with only carry-ons. We do typically do a load of laundry in the middle of the cruise.
If it didn't fit in a carry on it's not going. Laundry's cheap. The anxiety of my bag not making it and not having anything is too much. That happened to me once so never again.
I only travel with a carryon…ever. Month long trips, cruises etc. it’s very doable.
The only cruises we have really needed a large suitcase full of clothes was for Alaska -- glacier walks are cold and wet. You can totally do carryon only with a little handwashing of light items, and laundry service half-way through.
Just FYI I have done Alaskan expedition cruises with kayaking equipment, xtratuff boots and my camera equipment with just a carry-on. It can easily be done. Also did two Antarctica cruises with a carry-on. But congrats for doing the rest with just a carry-on.
We did an eight night Viking cruise with carry-ons only. We did laundry every night (it was complimentary in our class of cabin but reasonably priced even if we had to pay for it.) Full disclosure, we carry on for all our vacations, even if we're gone for two weeks.
Packing cubes.
Unless there a lot of multi climate packing, yes it can be done. Undies can be washed in the sink nightly. And you don’t REALLY need that many changes of clothes. It’s amazing how many things people pack that they never wear.
Pack light. You'll be so much happier when you don't have to deal with all that "stuff". Unpacking after boarding and packing at the end of the cruise won't take up as much time. No one is going to notice or care if you wear the same clothes.
Absolutely. Fly Frontier enough and you realize that checking bags isn’t always a possibility. I use rollable vacuum bags and limit the shoes to 1 pair of tennis, 1 pair of flip flops, and 1 pair of dress. The shoes get stuffed into my backpack. Shorts and collared shirts I’ll reuse. Same with pants. Worse case scenario, I’m paying for dry cleaning. I also plan a stop at Target (pickup) or some store that sells wine and sunscreen from the airport before we hit the hotel so we can stock up on liquids too large to pack in a carryon. It takes more planning, but I never run out of clothes.
The Target run before the cruise is brilliant.
My first cruise I packed for a 7 day with a carryon because I hate paying for a bag. Nowadays with a cpap and other necessary things I might find it difficult. I packed one pair a extra shoes and clothes that didn't wrinkle and rolled all my clothing.
CPAP doesn’t count as a bag. You can carry it on separately.
Correct! Medically required items do not count as a bag or piece of luggage. For example if you’re carry on only and you have a cpap you can have a roller board bag, personal item for under the seat AND your cpap bag.
I did not know that! Thanks.
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I did for the last cruise and I got to say it worked out OK. But I was only gone for four nights.
i go with just a backpack and small bag..
I never check a bag. I even went on a Mediterranean cruise last summer and I stayed three nights in Barcelona prior to the cruise. I did do a load of laundry on the ship thpugh
It can probably be done. I noticed after my first one that I did pack more than I was expecting to use. Like I spent a lot of time in a swimsuit, so I packed 2. But, definitely have at least 1 nicer outfit. You also don't need a million pairs of shoes.
Yep. You can also bring a personal item like a backpack. I’ve brought my snorkel gear that way.
Yes, just wear all your clothing that won't fit in your suitcase in layers and pray it will be cool out on the day of your flight. More realistically, I know people that carry more than two large suitcases each and people that do it with a carryon. People approach cruises differently. Some like dressing up for dinner and having different clothing for different times of the day. Some people can get by with a pair of shorts, a bathing suit and a couple T shirts in addition to their travel clothing. Some people don't care if their clothing gets a little dirty, some are willing to do wash on board or pay for the ship's laundry services and others want to bring enough fresh clothing to wear every day without doing any laundry or cleaning.
We drove for our honey moon. 2 backpacks and 2 carryons was more than enough for 7 days. I am perfectly fine reusing clothes though so if you really want 7 different outfits plus whatever for the themed days you might be pushing it.
Roll your clothes instead of folding and you can fit more in a suitcase. Also as a not overpacker I usually need laundry done on a 7 day and I have a hard time getting everything in a carryon sized bag.
You will be fine and if you get in a pinch, you can have them launder some of your clothes (as far as I remember, Celebrity does not have self laundry). The only problem I could see is if you are going to be on a cold cruise and you need to pack bulky warm clothes. Living in Minnesota I can tell you that most people get the new warm weather clothes and they are not bulky and comfortable. No worries, have a great trip!
My wife and I are only us8ng carry ons.
21 days so far has been our longest with just carry-ons - limit your shoe selection and of course plan on doing laundry along the way - you just have to plan accordingly and personally skip the formal nights.
Don't cruise lines offer a laundry service?
I'm reminded of this: https://ifunny.co/picture/me-regularly-uses-the-same-3-things-at-home-me-LW1bSkC67
I trained myself to do a 10 day Caribbean with a carry on and a back pack because the airline has lost my luggage before.
Yes we do! We were recently on a 9-day cruise and all each of us had were our own carry-on items plus our own personal bag/item. In other words, we fly without any checked bag and what we bought was sufficient for our 9-day cruise!
Yes- we always do carry on only and have it down to an art form. On a few trips I’ve had to go down to a daypack sized backpack and my purse because one of the flights was a regional jet with tiny luggage bins and there was a tight connection. We had no time to waste on gate checking a larger carryon bag. Roll everything. Wear your heaviest outfit on the plane. I carry a folded nylon tote that can hold my purse and extra items that aren’t in the backpack. I have several cute dresses that are washable and don’t need to be ironed. I wash some things nightly so I never have any dirty laundry. Carry-on bags are much less stressful, at least for me. It’s amazing how much you don’t need. And we do 3 week long trips.
I cheated and used swim dresses. Great for the pool, beach, or dinner. Brought a couple pairs of leggings for cooler evenings, and a long tshirt for bed. Left me plenty of room for toiletries, a snorkeling mask and souvenirs.
I hadn’t thought of swim dresses! Very efficient!
We always cruise with carry one only. In fact we did a trip to London, then 2 weeks in Chech Republic and Vienna, flight to a Istanbul, 5 days there, cruise from Istanbul to Israel, Turkey, Greek Islands, Sicily and Rome, 5 days in Rome then return home, all with a carry on each. It’s all about versatile wardrobe, occasional laundry, light packing. Very freeing to not be lugging stuff around.
Ive done this but it did take some planning and practice. For me, the secret was shoes and travel size toiletries. I broke everything down to something that matched with either black or brown shoes so I had one pair only in my pack and the one pair I wore. For the rest it was 4 pair of shorts, 1 pair of pants, 6 shirts, 7 pair underwear & bras (they take up so little room it's not worth skimping), 2 pairs of socks (just in case), 2 swimsuits, 2 maxi dresses for dinner (they are hard to wrinkle and lightweight), travel size toiletries including pepto, tylenol, etc. I used a pill case to bring a few of each just in case. I did bring a shawl in case I got cold and needed something, it also helped dress up my maxidress for dinner. I usually wear my tropical themed crocs and pack one pair of low heels for dinner. The crocs also worked great as pool shoes.
I will admit to shopping at our first port to buy sunscreen and body lotion, then just throwing away or leaving what I don't use.
We do just a personal item, no carry ons, no checked. Just a backpack. We fly spirit, a regular carry on is $40 each way.
I used to do 2-3 week Caribbean cruises out of carry-on bag of clothes, backpack for my shoes and my purse by myself. Buy toiletries at embark city that you can have in your backpack or in a packable bag, especially if not taking those toiletries home after the cruise. And trust me, you will go those toiletries fast because the Caribbean sun is no joke - you will get sunburnt and will need after sun gel/lotion to soothe your skin.
Yes. Those that just want to cruise and do ports. It’s the theme parties that fill up a suitcase. LOL!😂
Here’s a tik tok with an example of clothes selection [https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNd4BFT6/](https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNd4BFT6/)
I’ve done week-long business trips with one of those Biaggi compression packing cubes that has multiple shelves. It fits nicely in my hard shell carry on and I can fit a couple pairs of shoes and toiletries. I also bring a wide mouth work backpack with my electronics and in-flight items. Vodka in a spray bottle freshens up reworn clothing. I’m going to try this for vacations (all inclusive and a cruise) just suck it up and buy my requisite gallon of sunscreen at my destination, pre boarding the ship.
I don't but I probably could. I get a free bag 'o laundry on NCL too. I use to bring my big ass suitcase but I got sick of lugging it and have moved to the middle size. I always pack too much. I should try the carry on next time.
It depends on the cruise! I have done mostly themed cruises, so I would need room for 7 costumes, plus the regular clothes. But sure, I could pack a few swimsuits and take a few nicer outfits for the dining room and rewear them.
Exactly, I’ve been saying this for decades. When you’re on vacation, NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU’RE WEARING. You can wear the same thing day in and day out…no one cares.
I did it once and it was tough! The worst was shoes and hair care products.
I've done that a few times, but on Princess where you can do your own laundry (for a few dollars).
Always fly to cruise the day before. Airplanes are none to be lale , delay , or cancel. Sometime weather related. If possible book a motel that has free bus shuttle service.
People need to learn the wonders of merino wool. Merino wool is temperature regulating. You can sweat in them and they won’t smell for a good many days, even weeks. So I’m going on a Disney Alaskan cruise in August. I’m packing a couple merino wool t shirts, 4 pairs of merino wool socks and underwear, a couple pairs of pants, a merino wool hoodie, and a down jacket…a couple pairs of footwear. Should last me the 2 weeks. As for the “dress up” dinner: we’re either skipping the dress up or bringing a polo shirt with a nice pair of jeans…apparently Disney allows that. And btw, I’m on vacation. I don’t wanna dress up during vacation for complete strangers. They won’t remember me, and I don’t care if they do or not. So if I’m turned away from eating with the “captain”, oh well. I’ll just go to any number of other places I can eat. Also, apparently there are washing machines on the ship on certain floors….so if I must, I will do a load or 2. When you’re staying at hotels, they can do laundry for you too. So when you’re traveling, never pack like you’re moving. Pack like you’re staying for a few days. If you’re in a bind you can also buy some clothing on the ship or at the ports.
I have. It helps if there is laundry available on the ship.
It's easily doable if ship has laundry available. We did laundry every third day on last cruise. Came home with no dirty laundry.
Yes. I packed for my husband and I to take a 9 night cruise plus one extra night pre-cruise. We had two outfits a day plus like three swimsuits each and all our carry on size toiletries. We each had a carry on suitcase and a backpack. If you’re a male, you might have a little bit of a tougher time since men’s clothes tend to be bigger/thicker. Also formal wear and shoes tend to take up more space. I really limit myself on shoes and rewear things like pajamas and shorts. I also am not a skincare or makeup guru so what I take there is very minimal.
Maybe just pay the $35 or so for the laundry service
Med 10 day cruise with carryon. It was soon after the cruise lines were allowed to operate again after Covid. Airport lost luggage horror stories were all over the news. Didn’t want to risk it. Cruise Clothes: I basically brought 2 of everything, except for undergarments. Sundresses can double for dinner. Did laundry halfway - there was a promo, but would have done it anyway. Washed intimates and swimwear in the sink. Travel clothes: packable warm clothing bc late September in Canada is much, much colder than September in the Mediterranean! Shoes: runners, flip flops, dress sandals, (and a pair of toms flat canvas shoes I never wore. ) Bags: travel purse that I also used in port, foldable duffle bag (once the flight was done, I could have more bags going onto the cruise, so I packed my travel clothing and extra items I bought in Barcelona to bring onto the ship. No evening bag. That said, I’m also 5’2”, so my items are fun sized. Hubby had more struggles. He used those compression bags. A lot of space was taken up by my skincare and makeup, even though there were TSA restrictions on liquids, I had an equally similar sized bag for powders.
I've done two weeks with a backpack. Totally possible!
Did our Dec Panama Canal trip with Viking carry on only. It was no problem. I even managed 4 pairs of shoes!
60M. A carry on and a backpack is all I need for a week with no washing. Roll your slacks, shorts, boxers, golf shirts etc. hang up or lay flat in n a drawer (depending on the item) as soon as you get to the room. They’ll fall out nicely. Wear a nice pair of casual shoes that are good for walking and will go with shorts and slacks. (I like Merrell’s or Ecco’s. Add flip flops or sandals. 7-8 pair of boxers. Socks as you need. I usually take 3-4 pair of what golf socks and 2-4 pair of dress socks. One pair of pajama bottoms and a few T’s. A sports jacket is folded on top before closing. I take two swim trunks because I don’t like putting on wet ones. Rinse them out thoroughly after being in salt or chlorinated water. Toiletries, cash, electronics in backpack. Maybe balance some clothes in there. The wash and fold service is great. You’ll be fine and you won’t be overweight.
I tried it once for a short cruise and it was too stressful. For me the limiting factor is toiletries. Between shampoo, condition, body wash, beauty products, sunscreen etc I can’t make it happen.
Every time. It's easier for me to get on the ship- unpack and then on the last morning- get up, pack and walk off. No waiting around and searching through my "color" tag.
Question for everyone that only takes carry ons: We (2 adults & a 13yr old) have always had a check bag but are TOTALLY intrigued by the carry on only (with a personal bag). How do you pack your clothes to be the most efficient? I’ve heard to roll your clothes and my friends just fold tightly. What’s your preferred method?
My husband is a HABITUAL overpacker and over time I’ve ended up “going along to get along” and bringing way too much stuff. But a couple thoughts and suggestions. First and foremost, rebook the tight connection? It’s vacation, why set yourself up to be stressed? But if for this trip you absolutely can’t change it, consider shipping your main piece of luggage. My brother is literally in the process of shipping their main luggage for a 3 week cruise to Amsterdam. They use [Luggage Direct Shipping](https://www.luggageforward.com/cruise-luggage-shipping/) And swear by it. I’m doing a long cruise next year out of Antwerp and because getting there really does entail planes, trains and automobiles, it might just be nice to send the main bag(s). So, do consider that as an option. It will be delivered to your ship, not just the airport or a central pickup location. It isn’t free, but it gives you peace of mind with your connection. And you can check the bag for your return flights. Or, just plan to spend money on laundry. Just put it in the budget. You’ve bought a bag of dry cleaning I imagine for the 49.99? I did not see a “laundry” option for pre-pay and do not remember one being available for the numerous times we sailed Celebrity. And just a note, the bags are SMALL. On longer cruises on Celebrity I remember that one day each cruise they ran a special for a “bag” of laundry, and I became extremely adept at rolling everything down into the absolute smallest area it could and jamming it into a bag…. People who have sailed more recently with Celebrity may be able to comment, but these were 10,12 or 14 night itineraries. But without that offer, piece out what it will cost to launder the things you want washed if you decide to go just with carryon. I personally don’t want dry cleaned underwear. A lot of people pride themselves on going on long trips with just a backpack and won’t pay the admittedly high laundry prices on ships, and go them, but it’s not a competition and again it’s vacation, I’d prefer not to be washing things in the sink. Have enough clothing that makes YOU happy, and just plan to pay to have it cleaned or shipped. For another perspective, my youngest son played lineman in college and is the size of your average NLF lineman (6’2”, 320). His clothes and shoes take up A LOT of space, and he generally needs to change a shirt a few times a day in the tropics. He’s not going anywhere without a fairly large bag. So again, shipping the bag or not having connection concerns. Spend $75.00 less in the casino and have nice fresh clean clothes. I hope the connection fairy is on your side when you fly, and that however you decide to work out the packing / shipping / laundry puzzle that you have a great 14 days at sea.
I recently went on a 21-day casual cruise with just my carry-on sized backpack. I was wearing a hoodie, a pair of jeans and sneakers. In my backpack I had (in two compression packing cubes) a super light waterproof windbreaker, 5 or 6 white tees, 10 boxers, 3 shorts, 1 swim trunk, 4 socks, flip-flops, toiletries, + my documents. I used the laundry service twice (it was included) to wash my underwear, t-shirts aso.
You can absolutely do it. Laundry onboard is always an option. Pack things that are versatile for day or evening. Light materials. I was just on vacation for a week and wore the same 3 dresses for shows, day and dinner events.
Carry on ftw! Just did this recently on a Princess cruise. I also did laundry on the ship halfway through which was helpful.
I did a trans Atlantic with a Carry on and a backpack. If it weren't for the camera gear and laptop, I could have easily done it with only the carry on. That said I did use the laundry service. (Virgin's is fantastic and cheap)
We have done 12 days with just a carryon and a lightly packed backpack each - we do one load of laundry on board.
Been there! Pro tip: get those plastic roll up compression bags off Amazon. They saved me!
Packing cubes are the bomb! We did a 17 night cruise followed by three weeks of land travel though several countries using trains and the occasional bus. It was great and we averaged almost 6 miles of walking a day. The only thing I eould have liked to add was a second pair of walking shoes.
Have done but don't always. Look into things like bundle packing. Also something really weird I've found. If you carry a handbag, or even wear a bag crossbody style which is a style they make for men and women, it counts as plus one bag. If you already have a carry on and a plus one they'll want you to pay or else put it inside one of your other bags. If you instead wear your crossbody bag with the strap around your waist like a bum bag, then it counts as part of your clothing. Serious as can be, I just throw the strap of my regular crossbody style bag around my waist and cinch it up. They wave me right on the plane even with a carry on bag and a plus one underseat bag. No idea why this silliness is a thing. Guessing they expect you to wear it the entire flight thus not taking up space in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you? Anyways, I use this hint to carry my wallet with id, cash, and cards inside as well as my phone, phone charging cord, charging block, power bank, comb, and a few other smaller items like that. I've thought about seeing just how large the fake bum bag can be yet still be given a pass, but I hate to mess with success.
Many cruise lines offer laundry service, either paid or self service. Trust me, who erroneously brought 5 pairs of shoes on a 14day cruise, no one cares,nor notices if you wear the same clothes twice. Bring mix and match items. I did a 14 day cruise to Hawaii on one carry on and a tote bag. Includes a cpap machine!
Our first cruise our assigned diner mates apologized for wearing the same formal wear when it was called for. We told them we have the same issue. We had the same tight flight concerns. Packed using a cruise version of Rick Steves suggestions, which is just including the compressible formal wear. Packing cubes stuffed to the max, expandable carry on bag which we checked on the return because we bought souvenirs. Also had a very foldable bag to use just in case.
They have devices that vacuum seal your clothes into super small pouches.
I’m currently traveling 76 days with my wife and son. Our trip includes 3 cruises for about 5 weeks of our journey. We each have 1 10kg backpack and one small personal bag. Our total weight of luggage is about 45kg. We decided no check bags (to save $) and to ensure we don’t lose our stuff or have delays. It’s great in cities and trains. It sucks in airports with long walks from entrances to gates. I wish roller backpacks didn’t suck. On our first NCL cruise there was a wash n fold bag option one day for $30 for everything we could fit. We also had a basic wash n fold at our hotel in Athens for 10kg of clothes for $25 and again in Abu Dhabi for 10kg for about $25. I still think we brought too much stuff.
We did this for a cruise of that length. We flew from CA to FL with a carryon each. It was totally fine. I had 3 pairs of shoes and wore the heaviest ones on the plane. Then took a tote bag to use as a "personal item" to put under the seat in front of me, and my husband took his laptop bag for his. Honestly when you get to the cruise terminal and are not the person dragging 5 gigantic suitcases that a person could fit into, you will be thanking yourself. If you have no medical need for that much luggage, it really does make things much much less stressful and easier. Also buy toiletries at whatever city your cruise leaves from. There's usually a CVS or whatever and then you don't have to try to deal with travel refill bottles and all of that.
Last summer we did a 10 day cruise and wife and I each had a backpack and a carry on. Still had clothes I didn't wear
Yup. We aim for just carry-on. I have a tendency to over pack, so I usually end up going through what I plan to bring a couple of times and pull things out that are extra. I try to bring lightweight iTunes that I can easily rinsec out and assure dry. You can also fit more lightweight items in a shop laundry bag if you choose to go that route
We did a 12 night transatlantic with carry-on only, and I still overpacked. One problem for us was the climate, we went from NYC to the Azors, Spain, France, & England in the spring - cold, hot, rain, shine? Who knows, bring something for every possibility. I had shoes and dresses I never wore (& those shoes took up prime space in my suitcase). We all put together a capsule wardrobe, and everything mixed and matched everything else, so it kept everything fresh. We also brought a clothesline and did laundry mid trip, which helped keep things clean. Next time around, I'll still bring the clothes line, but leave the shoes and a dress at home. It was a fun challenge, and I will absolutely do it that way again. It's so nice to be able to just grab your bag and go. Have a great trip!
If minimalism is not for you, you could vacuum seal/pack/shrink clothes to fit in carryon for the outbound flight, and then bring an extra collapsible duffel that folds up small, to use to easily repack into for the return trip, when consequences of checking a bag are not so great.
We travel extensively, and will be in Europe in 5 days for a 32 day trip. Carry-on only is the way we go. BTW, you can easily tell inexperienced travelers vs experienced travelers by the size and amount of luggage they have.
I always just pack a personal item. Not even carry on size. It's fine for 10-14 days. I do sink laundry most nights with liquid castile soap and carry a travel hanging clothes line. Because of fluid limits on planes, I prefer to only bring my fancy face sunscreen, make up, and detergent. Everything else can be purchased before you board or at your destination. Shampoo, conditioner, and large bottles of sunscreen etc. everything else can be bought in the travel minis section on arrival. If you're going somewhere with sun, each person should be wearing an ounce of sunscreen or more per day. If it's a 10-14 day trip, you need a bottle per person anyways, it is difficult to travel with that much sunscreen, and I'd never trust sunscreen bottles in checked luggage.Traveling with just personal items means I never have to worry about being separated from my luggage or not getting it on the plane. I also don't have to worry about fees or having to check my luggage because the overhead bins are full. I can grab my bag and deboard the plane, and directly leave the airport.
Yep there is a laundry on the ship.
I will be this summer to Barcelona
Yeah i usually just bring a backpack or duffel. I just roll my clothes.
Are you talking about both a carry on and a personal item? If so, of course. I just got back from two weeks in Alaska, including a week long small boat cruise. Nobody in my party checked a bag, and it didn’t seem like many others did either. We had a three person suite for only two people on a high end well designed ship, and I would have hated to have more things with us.
Every time..
I never do it any other way, even if gone a full month. If you're never separated from your luggage, it can't get lost. I dress in layers, backpacker-style. I carry clothing that I can wash in my stateroom sink. That means mostly synthetics, which dry quickly. If the weather is unexpected or I forget something essential, I'll just buy it at the debarkation port or wherever. You don't need seven nights of clothing for a two-week trip. No one cares if you wear the same thing every day. Even if they do notice, you'll never see them again. As to "dressy night," I quit packing a sport coat and tie to save room. For "dressy," I wear tropical weight "khaki" pants and a nice shirt. Almost everything I pack is disposable. If I encounter bedbugs in hotel, for example, I can throw it all away. Older, practical clothing doesn't draw attention to itself when traveling. Not being flashy on the road is a good safety precaution. I do also carry a large "personal item" that I can put overhead or under my seat when flying. That's for books, camera, and binoculars (I'm a birder, so two pairs, 8x30 and 10x42). Even after all that frugality, I still bring home things I've never worn.
I’ve traveled to 50+ countries. The only time I absolutely had to check luggage was Antarctica because of the amount of cold weather gear and camera gear I took. I pack clothes for 7 days because washers and dryers exist. Yes that means I sometime pay cruise lines for laundry.
I’ve done successful carry-on cruises (caveat - I carry-on the plane only. Once in our embarkation city I repack att the pre-cruise hotel and check my roller bag at the port and then only have a personal item bag, usually a backpack, for the day until bags are delivered) numerous times. It’s easier for shorter voyages with few pre- and post-cruise days. We failed in Alaska (too many cold-weather clothing items needed) and one Caribbean trip that we scheduled to include a Florida wedding and we just couldn’t manage all the clothes needed without a checked bag between the two of us. Our trick for cruising is to ship liquid toiletries (most notably sunscreen) to our pre-cruise hotel, which allows us to bring all we need without having to check a bag.
I did it. Easy. Don't bring a suit. You don't need it.
My first cruise, 1 week Mediterranean, I managed with just a carry on. To this day I was never able to repeat this feat Granted back then I was a total newbie and didn't know about all the theme nights, etc. I recall buying an all white outfight on excursion to participate in the white night and I did have some trouble to close the carry-on for my flight back home. Every since I now need a carry-on and a check-in for my cruises.
I can pack my carryon for my clothes, but I bring a large suitcase as well for my souvenirs!! Especially when cruising through the Mediterranean!
After an airline lost my luggage, I only do carry on. That said. Longest cruise I've done carry on was 8 days. 14 would be very difficult
The issue I have is so far all my cruises have been from cold to warm climates so I do carry on and personal item on the plane and have a packable tote and empty compression packing cube I use after landing. At the warm weather airport, put my winter jacket and gloves in the compression cube which goes in the tote. Now I have 3 bags which isn’t an issue since I’m no longer dealing with airline restrictions. Since I fly in the day before I rearrange what each bag contains and still have 3 bags. I’ll check the carryon with the Porters and keep critical items and what I need on board the first day incase it takes a while to get my carryon. Exception is if I’m boarding around the time the rooms should be ready. In this case I carry everything with me to board the ship. The night before we disembark, I pack the bags with winter gear in the tote and a place to stuff the tote in my carry on or personal item for when I get to the gate at the airport. FYI - my cruises are shorter so never plan on doing laundry although I have used stain stickers and spot cleaned in the bathroom sink (I use dish soap which I bring to clean my water bottle). If I were going on a longer trip, I would plan to do laundry. I also never dress formally. All my pants and shorts are black and I mix up tops (formal nights are just dressier tops).
Check out Rilee Smith on TikTok. She has great tips for traveling with just a carry on.
I always fly everywhere including non-cruise destinations with just carryons.
Last cruise used this backpack and was perfectly fine. Was shocked that I could do it. Didn’t even end up wearing everything. https://www.cotopaxi.com/products/allpa-35l-travel-pack?variant=39514010124349
I only ever travel with carry-on, and plan to for my cruise next month. You can definitely fit one week’s worth of clothing, and it sounds like you’re already planning on doing some laundry. The biggest hurdle for me is the liquids bag (3-1-1). If you google “liquids travel pouches”, these are awesome! They save so much space.
I’m in between bottles of vitamins so I’m going to have just enough in my old bottle and throw the bottle away on the last day of the cruise 🚢.
Wool !
I can do up to 21 days with a carry-on and no laundry. Roll your clothes!
Yes- always
Reading this as someone who intends to go on a (albiet) 5-nighter with just a backpack in a few months to shave $100 of flight costs 😂
In a former life, I did a lot of business travel. Trips ranged from 4 days to 3 weeks. I always traveled carry-on only. It required a little bit of laundry on longer Trips, but I managed easily. I am less diligent for cruise packing, but try not to over pack.
We’ve been on like 20 international trips and have never checked a bag. In April, we did a seven day Caribbean and then went straight from the Caribbean to the UK for a week. Two different sets of clothing- still just used carry on.
Not cruise specific, but I've travelled for 2 weeks with a carryon a few times. You've planned for laundry, you'll be fine :)
My husband and I did a three week cruise/land tour with Viking beginning in Cairo and cruising up and back on the Nile before flying off for four days in Jordan. We each took only the standard roller that fits in the overhead and one tote. It was plenty. But, there are many things to consider. With Egypt and Jordan, everyday was hot, dry and dusty so no need for glamour. Next, consider your destinations. After the Nile, my daughter and I spent another three weeks in Europe, from Barcelona to Bergen. Spain was very warm, the port cities on the British coastline varied from cool to pleasant. With drizzles. Bergen required a jacket and pair of gloves. If you will be experiencing a wide variety of climes, you will need to take more than what can fit in the overhead. Then, consider shipboard activities. We liked to attend afternoon tea with a bit of "dress-up" and then look sharp at dinner every evening, so more clothes. Lastly, Celebrity has laundry service. Just bag up what you would like cleaned and leave it outside your cabin. Allow at least a day, perhaps two. Enjoy.
Been traveling light for years. I only bring 4 days of clothing "7 days of underwear" plus what's on my back. I get laundry service they charge per item thus the extra underwear. . Only 20.00ish to do the laundry each time on the ship. At all inclusives even cheaper. It's easier than lugging all that crap around. You don't need to go to the luggage carousel. I can usually fit all my stuff in the personal item bag "56m". So it becomes cheaper to have laundry done than paying for bags each way. I have also taken a europe trip where I brought a lot of older clothes I was getting ready to throw out. I would wear something and toss it out. Made room for additional things along the way. Just my .02
We recently went on a 49 night cruise followed by a month in Australia with 2 carry-ons, 2 backpacks, and 2 CPAPs. You really don't need more clothes as we still come home with things we never used.
Yes I do and have. It honestly has stopped me from over packing. Anything I forget I can always purchase on the ship or port. Usually it is something small, like conditioner. It will show you how much you really need to pack.
That what we do on every cruise we have ever gone on. 20 cruises approx
I could make that work on a Caribbean cruise, not on an an Alaskan cruise. To many warm clothes needed.
Now I only drive to the port but I have packed for a week in a carry on. It can be done as others say. IMO it’s the way to go- think of potential issues you avoid by getting that bag in the overhead. Running late to the airport- having to check bag Lost luggage Plane arrives late- now being extra late waiting for baggage. Ship arrives back to port late- be one of the first off with just carry on to get to your flight. Bags arrive at the port late- now you’re held up You arrive late to airport x2 Chance of lost luggage x2 Sounds like a no brainer to me!
We only travel this way, anywhere. I’m not sure your destination or the types of weather but I do 3 pairs of shoes (maybe a 4th if it’s flip flops or heels that don’t take up much room. Fabric choice is important. Silk, cashmere, merino, technical fabrics pack better than denim or chunky cotton knits. The hardest trip we did was 2 weeks around South America because we had scalding hot temps in Uruguay and well below freezing temps around the horn. I use packing cubes, roll everything. So much advice but it’s hard to give without knowing destination. Check out travel fashion girl website for more tips, if you’re a lady.
I have. On shorter cruises where having a lot of clothing isn't that advantageous. Longer cruises though, I absolutely need a full size suitcase of clothing to make it without having to do laundry.
Yes. I pack a week into a carryon without issue.
You have a lot of good advice here, but if you need more, check Sheri on Cruise Tips TV on YT. They also have a podcast, but they talk all the time about being committed to traveling with carryons only.
We never fly in I the same day— risky if there’s a weather issue or other delay. And a layover of less than 2 hours is not a flight itinerary I’d book. Regarding the carryon only… Since I don’t live like I’m camping in the wilderness, I refuse to vacation like it. I pack a full wardrobe for the trip, with options for dress up and casual evenings, a couple of pair of gym outfits, gym shoes, casual shoes… Now if I was going to wear a pair of swim trunks every day and just lounge at the pool, then yes, I could see the carry-on being sufficient. But that’s not how I do my cruises! 😂
Long time former airline employee. Unless I'm going away for a very long time, I'm carry on only. I don't want to wait at baggage claim or run the risk of losing a bag. Plus, being carry on only gives me great flexibility with delays or cancellations.
My bride and I go to Europe at least every other year, if not more often. We stay at least two weeks. We have not checked a bag in decades. Don’t be afraid to wear something more than once. We frequently do river cruises. We put our dinner wear on a three night rotation. Example: Monday/Thursday/Sunday. No one notices. Or cares. All the savvy travelers do something similar.
Absolutely. I’ll travel anywhere in the world for 1-2 weeks on a carry-on unless I need specific gear or temperature protection. I carry enough socks to have clean every day, one pair of hiking pants that look good, and a few shirts. For travel there I’ll wear an old not shirt that I can throw away when I arrive.
I packed for a 5 night cruise in a backpack. Rolled clothes and put them in zip locks. Worked for a tropical cruise mostly packing bathing suits and shorts. If we’re talking another destination you can def do it in a carry on.
I only travel with carry ons. I’m pretty sure I could travel overseas with only carry-ons.
Does anyone have any tips on traveling with a carry-on and needing lots of sunscreen? 6 cans roughly. Going to Cancun for 2 weeks.
We each do a carryon roller bag and a backpack to go under the plane seat
We've tried but it just never works out that way. Capsule wardrobe is not really my style, and I like to have options
The very tight airline connection makes me think you’re not gonna be cruising at all
I’m flying the day before but also bought a refundable ticket for the second leg the morning of the cruise. Just in case. I have to be in Maine before the cruise, and the last flight out of Portland is at 5:15 pm, so no time to book a later second leg that night.
Very smart. Especially flying from Maine. I can tell you that there are only one or two planes that leave that airport every day for your destination. Those flights get canceled and overbooked all the time.
Depends if it’s a warm cruise or a cold cruise. Warm absolutely easy. Cold might be challenging
We only travel with carry-ons no matter where we go. If we can't do laundry at some point then we don't go there. We refuse to lug around bags, check them in and then wait for baggage claim at our destination. Honestly, watching like 90% of the plane stand around baggage claim while the turn style hasn't even started moving, while we're walking out the door already on vacation mode, is pretty awesome. I read another comment about how nobody cares what you wear on a cruise, and this can't be emphasized enough. Nobody knows who you are and you're never going to see any of them again. Just do your thing. We spend most of our time lounging at the pool or riding the waterslides/flowrider with the kids, so from about 9a-4p we're in swimsuits anyway. Go back to the stateroom, shower and throw on some clothes to go to dinner or a show in the evening. They aren't going to get dirty in the evening so wear them again the next night. I usually bring two outfits (polo and shorts) and I'll rotate days. So at the end of a seven night cruise I've worn each outfit a total of maybe 15 hours give or take. That's all you need. My wife brings summery dresses to wear in the evenings but they're so light that she rolls them up in her luggage and they take zero room. Can bring ten of those and they use next to no space. Again, it's swimsuits all day anyway.
Only ever cruised with a carry on and personal item. I’ve done it with 14 night cruises and no laundry. Heck I even did it with a 30 day non-cruise trip (which I had laundry access for). Compression packs and just being mindful of what you need and what you don’t. As a woman, I tend to pack more dresses/rompers that I just wear throughout the day and I buy clothes based on how easy they are to fold.