packing – California Girl Going Global

Planning a spring break cruise and don’t know what to pack? I have you covered!

Bathing suits (duh)

This one is obvious if you’re going on a cruise, but how many should you bring? Well, that depends on how long your cruise is, how light you want to pack, and if you care about wearing the same suit twice. I lie somewhere in the middle of all of these, so for my seven day cruise, I packed three swim suits that were easy to mix and match. That way I didn’t overpack, but I also had enough options to mix it up on my Instagram.

Cover Up

For my coverup, I had a pair of red flowy pants (borrowed from a friend, bought from Target). For the most part, I didn’t need to cover up the top of my bikini on our boat, but I wanted to throw some pants on for some coverage. A cute pair of flowy pants, a lightweight dress, or even a kimono-like shawl will work! My advice would be to find something that can go from the beach to a restaurant so you don’t have to slip into jean shorts with wet bathing suit bottoms.

Sun dress

While this can double as a coverup, it’s also a good idea to bring regular clothes for when you’re not in a swim suit. Such as in the evenings when you’re eating dinner, at an on-board comedy show, or at the various clubs and bars on the cruise ship.

Shorts and Tank Top

For any excursions that don’t require a bathing suit! If you plan on hiking or going to see ruins or anything else remotely athletic, I suggest bringing a pair of shorts and a tank top (very versatile).

Senor Frogs will always have a place in my heart! Worst margaritas ever.

1 nice dinner outfit

There’s usually one nice restaurant on a cruise ship and it’s fun to get dressed up with your friends for one night. I brought a black romper and black heels, still warm weather clothes but nicer than my coverups.

Shoes: Sandals, sneakers, heels

You won’t need much, but sandals/flip flops are a must if you’re going to be by the pool or at the beach all day. Sneakers for any excursions. And heels to complement your nice dinner outfit.

Sunscreen, sunglasses, aloe vera (inevitable)

Sun protection is super important! Especially if you live in a place that hasn’t seen the sun much this winter. Sunscreen is expensive to buy once on board or on a tropical island so I suggest bringing your own. And, as is inevitable, pack some aloe vera for the sunburn. I was so good for the first four days about sunscreen and drinking water, but day five got the better of me and I ended up burning my chest pretty badly. And of course, sunglasses! But beware of falling asleep in them, no one wants those tan lines.

Making sure to stay covered after I got sun burnt but without missing the fun!

Pro-tip: pack less.

Really. I packed a full suitcase for my cruise and used maybe 1/3 of it. But hey, from one chronic overpacker to another – better to be safe than sorry, right? Well, if you pack less clothes you might have room to fit more alcohol so there’s that.

Dana’s Do’s:

Pack sunscreen!
One nice outfit can’t hurt, and it’s actually kind of fun.
You don’t need as much as you think you do.

If you’re planning on traveling to Rome with just a carry-on, then I have the perfect packing list. I spent five days in Rome and came with just a backpack (thank you, Ryanair for your harsh restrictions). During December, Rome can be cold, but not too freezing. A good coat is all you need to stay warm. Since it’s a European city, it tends to be on the trendier side of fashion, so leave your athleisure at home. Below you’ll find all you need for a week or less in Rome, or anywhere else in Europe with a similar climate.

Weather in Rome: Dry, 10°C-15°C (50°F-60°F)

Basically, it was chilly but I wasn’t ever cold besides early in the morning.

What I wore on the plane: Heaviest items, but still comfortable

– White Coat

– Black leggings

– Black Sweater

– Sneakers

The rest of the list I packed in my backpack – black North Face Borealis Classic.

Clothes:

– 1 Pair of Jeans – black wide-leg cut-offs

– 1 grey sweater

– 1 white long sleeve

– 1 white short-sleeve crop

– 1 bra

– 1 pair of PJ’s

– 2 pairs of socks

– 6 pairs of underwear

Toiletires:

– Toothbrush/Toothpaste

– Hairbrush

– Makeup Wipes

– Moisturiser

Makeup:

– BB Cream

– Mascara

– Blush, Highlighter, Bronzer

Misc:

– Lonely Planet Guide

– Phone Charger

– Wallet – holds Passport, cards, cash, boarding pass

– Printed Documents – passport, visa, hostel and tour confirmations

– Purse – cross-body; can hold book, wallet, phone, charger

I saved space by re-wearing my jeans and leggings, just mix and matching with different tops. I also brought minimal makeup and toiletries because I was only gone for five days and I wasn’t planning on going anywhere too fancy. Since the flight was short, I was able to re-wear my outfit on the flight back as well, saving space.

My Air Force One’s are comfortable to walk in all day, even on all the old cobblestone streets in Rome, and cute enough to wear out in the evening, so there was no need to pack any other shoes. I only packed one short-sleeve, which I ended up wearing on the warmest day so that worked out.

I brought an extra cross-body bag so I could leave my backpack in the hostel locker during the day. That way I didn’t have to lug around extra weight, but I could still carry what I needed to.

Hopefully, this helps you realise you don’t need as much as you think you do – I say this as a recovering over-packer.

Dana’s Do’s: