Who loves January!?!
I would bet some money that you just said to yourself – who is this girl?
I’m usually with ya on that statement, BUT, every year Chad and I try to go somewhere warm and with sunshine to get out of the gloomy Michigan winters in January or early February.
This year, we are off to Miami and a 3 day Bahama Cruise! Here I come fruity drinks, the pool and sunbathing.
Only thing that I don’t look forward to about a trip is the packing that comes with it. I am the WORST at making decisions about this top or that or spending valuable time deciding on the what if’s when it comes to trying to plan for every scenario. Basically the stuff that doesn’t matter for the big picture and end game. Which is, this case, going on this amazing sun filled vacation. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
So, l’m going to make it a little easier for you. Whenever I go on a trip like this I always start with a packing list. Here is what I packed for spending 2 days in Miami and spending 3 days on Sky Norwegian Cruise ship with two stops in the Bahamas.
Click this link to print!—– Bahamas Cruise Packing List – The Cheers Lifestyle
Carry on Tote
The carry on tote is mainly packed for if you were to carry on your luggage. I try to carry on my luggage as many times as I can. You tend to make some changes after you arrive in Hawaii but your luggage doesn’t. Trust me girls, its worth it. My tote also has any overflow of items that won’t fit in the carry on suitcase.
Empty Water Bottle you ask? Well, this will come in handy in two places.
1. The Airport – don’t be the person in security with a full refillable water bottle. Wait to fill it up after security to keep you nice and hydrated while in and out of those planes.
2. On the Cruise Ship – they have fillable water bottle stations. They offer water packages but they are rather expensive.
Two Pairs of Sunglasses? I know this sounds excessive but there is a reason, I promise. I could never trust myself with nice sunglasses like a pair of Ray-Bans, but, Chad surprised me with a pair before our honeymoon back in August! One thing I didn’t forget to take with me though? My second pair of sunglasses I wouldn’t care if they got lost in the Ocean or dropped on an excursion. I am definitely taking that same mentality on the cruise.
*Marriage Travel Tip* your husbands luaggae is almost never as full as yours. If he ain’t gonna use it-you mind as well!
*Bonus Tip* Some extras that are always in my tote bag when I travel are chapstick, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, Kleenex, brush, antacids, gas-x, aspirin/Tylenol
Carry on Suitcase
Fashion
As I stated, this packing list is for a carry on suitcase. So, add or subtract items as you please. Think of this as a starting point and I think it can be a great tool to get you started.
Here are the three outfits I wore on the ship for dinner and our nightly adventures!
Toiletries
I am a stickler when it comes to bringing my own travel size shower essentials like shampoo and conditioner. No need to ruin all of your hardworking you do at home on your luscious locks while your at home with your favorite hair products! Your favorite grocery store like Meijer or my fave- Target – has a wide array of travel size products. Those products also include hairspray and dry shampoo! Make sure to put them in a separate make up bag or quart size ziplock for unexpected spills.
Additional Items
Wristlet & Clutch – You won’t use a full size purse the entire trip! Everything will be in the beach bag or in a backpack. On the ship you only need your card to buy food and drinks. In Miami I just used a small clutch for dinners and exploring.
Portable Speaker – Even though the pool speakers may be loud enough for you a small portable speaker may be nice for the day at the beach or while you are poolside at the hotel before you port out.
Magnetic Hooks– Did you know that all of the walls of your room on the ship are magnetic? Here is the perk of those walls – magnetic hooks! Use them to hang towels, wet bathing suits and even your hanging toiletry bag. Click here for Magnetic Hooks
Beach Towel Hooks– It can get a bit windy on the top of the deck while you are sitting poolside or at the beach. They also will save your seat at the pool while you go to the bathroom without leaving your entire bag behind. I snatched these up on Amazon for $8 for a pack of 8. Click here for Beach Towel Hooks
Nightlight – These rooms get DARK. Like, batman’s cave dark. A nightlight in the bathroom for the middle of the night would have been a toe/hip/knee saver in the middle of the night.
Sea Bands – They aren’t the most stylish things but if you suffer from motion sickness they are a lifesaver. I used them whale watching in Maine and never got nauseous once! It’s better to have them than wish you did. I used them the second two nights while sleeping because I think we were going against the current of the ocean. You can grab them from your local drug store for $13.
Power Strip – I was really surprised that almost every plug in our suite was a European plug! There was literally 2 US plugs behind the TV and thats it. Thankfully they were placed well so I could use them at the vanity. So, bring a power strip to turn 1 plug into 4!
ZipLoc Bags – bring some ziplock bags for pack some snacks while your on land or if you are back in your room and you are too lazy to go to the buffet. We have all been there, no judgement.
What I Wish I Packed:
I wish I packed the power strip and the nightlight. I decided against both at the last minute and I totally regretted it.
What I Wish I Left Behind:
Fancy Tank Tops – I packed a couple of cute tank tops for the trip and only wore one in Miami before the cruise. While I was on the cruise I was either in my swimsuit & cover up or in the outfit for the evening which was a dress every night.
Less swimsuits: I only ended up wearing 3 out of the 4 swimsuits I packed
I hope this saves you some time and a headache with packing. Don’t be me when it comes to making these little decisions rule over the larger picture of going on this amazing trip and experience.
Happy Exploring!
Cheers!
