Summer Cruise Packing List

Hey friends!

What's on your summer travel list this year? Every summer, my husband and I go on a cruise (our favorite line is Royal Caribbean). It is my absolute favorite - no phones, lots of sun & fun drinks, great destinations & best of all, time to hang out. My husband even proposed to me on a cruise!

Whether you're going on a cruise with your friends, family, or husband/boyfriend, I've got you covered with a packing list. Some of these items are no-brainers, but others are tricks that I've learned over the years that are great bring-alongs for cruising.

1. Swimsuit - Yes, this one seems obvious, but it's a really good idea to take 2-3 swimsuits on a cruise because you'll be in one almost the whole time. Here are some of my favorites!

2. Reef-safe sunscreen - A lot of great cruise ports feature snorkeling excursions. But alot of the main stream sunscreen brands have chemicals in them that can harm the wildlife/reefs that you'd snorkel above. Reef-safe sunscreen will keep you protected without harming and nature.

3. Cover up - Again, another obvious one, but seriously - pack a few of these & make sure they're cute. It's what you're going to be wearing in nearly half of your photos! I have this macrame one from Amazon & I'm a size S (5'0") and this one from Lilly Pulitzer & wear an XXS.

4. Good walking shoes - This is something that I've learned the hard way. When you're on a cruise, you climb so many floors each day and walk a TON. You walk a lot when you're at ports, too. I've made the mistake of wearing flimsy flip flops the entire week. I get it, you don't want to wear sneakers with a bikini or a cute outfit. So here's some cute sandals with support that will keep you comfy & stylish. Mine are from Steve Madden kids because I wear girl's sizes, but these are adults:

5. Reusable water bottle - When you're walking around ports or going on excursions, it's a great idea to carry a reusable water bottle with you. There are some places where you'd pay $5 for a water bottle when you could have brought your own for free. Personally, there are some ports where I don't want to drink the local water, so I always fill mine up on the ship.

6. Backpack - when you're at port or going on an excursion, there's going to be a few things you need to carry with you. You'll have your phone/camera, a towel, maybe a change of clothes, your water bottle, a snack, sunscreen, your cruise ship card, etc. Make your life easier by carrying a back back rather than a tote bag. Don't worry, you won't look nerdy, everyone else carries them too :)

7. Nice outfits for dinner - I cannot stress enough the importance of bringing nice outfits for dinner. The main dining rooms on any cruise line are really nice and deserve to be dressed up for. Some dining rooms have a dress code such as no shorts, jeans, flip flops, swim wear. There is always a formal night (or two) on cruises, and you don't want to be underdressed. Plus, who doesn't love an excuse to dress up and feel great? Here's what I've got my eyes on for my upcoming trip -

8. A jacket & leggings - There are so many activities at night on a cruise ship. Game shows, theater shows, the piano bar, comedy shows, etc. After a day in the sun, the AC at night can sometimes make you feel chilly, so be sure to pack some leggings and a jacket to keep you warm. Quite a few of Royal Caribbean's ships have ice skating rinks too, so it's always good to have a warm outfit handy!

9. Wedding Ring alternative - I don't know about you, but I don't like to wear my wedding/engagement ring when I'm on vacation because I'm too paranoid about losing a diamond in the water or losing it somewhere in my hotel room. Silicone rings are a great choice to wear instead of your ring because they're inexpensive and durable. But I also love these dainty stacking rings because they go well with nicer outfits (like your dinner or evening outfit) and look just like your normal ring in pictures.

10. UPF shirt - Every cruise I've been on, I've seen people who underestimate how strong the sun is down where it's tropical and are burnt on day 1. Do yourself a favor & pack a sun shirt to either prevent this or cover yourself up if you do get burnt so you don't have to hide indoors for the rest of your trip. I also wear one every time I snorkel so I don't have a burnt back.

11. Trash bag/plastic bag - I don't know about you, but I'm a last second morning-of repacker when I'm getting ready to go back home from a trip. I always bring a grocery or trash bag to put wet swim suits in so they don't ruin any of my other clothes. I always bring an extra to put dirty clothes in so that I can just put un-worn clothes away.

12. Swim ear & bug bite cream/gel - It's so easy to get water stuck in your ears from the pool or ocean, and it's a great idea to bring some Swimear drops to fix that so you aren't miserable. Likewise, you're likely to get bugbites from being outside, and you don't want to be itchy.

13. Work out clothes - Every cruise ship that I've been on has an amazing gym outlooking the ocean. They also have tracks for running & walking as well. There's nothing like a runners' high or feeling buff after the gym when you're hanging out in your swimsuit all day.

safe travels! :)

xx Lil