If you’re a traveller, the greatest innovation of the past century hasn’t been space travel or insulin, but rather wheels on luggage. This has changed everything.
No longer are you restricted by your own ability to lift and manage your own bags. You can now bring just about everything you own, and simply be able to push it along a sidewalk until someone much stronger than you can lift it onto a conveyor belt.
This explains why new luggage comes in the same sized box as a refrigerator. It’s a comedy of errors watching some people attempt to manage their own stuff.
For some, this catastrophe-in-waiting is remedied by packing light. This has always been my preference. I also had to rethink my luggage strategy when I combined a backpacking trip in Europe with a cruise.
There are a number of services out there that will pick up your luggage a few days in advance of your travels, and deliver it to your embarkation point or hotel. Imagine how nice it is to get up on your date of travel, grab your carry-on, and leave for the airport. No overhead cranes to get your luggage in and out of your trunk; no wheeling through the airport with your half-ton of stuff – it takes away a lot of the pain of travelling.
So if you’re a notoriously heavy packer, or even if you just don’t want to be bothered dragging stuff through airports, it’s probably worth checking one of these services out. For a few dollars more, you solve a refrigerator-sized problem.
Now… think about how much more stuff you can bring!
When I’m away for more than one week, I simply plan on doing laundry, which takes a lot of pressure off. Below is Bob’s packing list. There’s no doubt it is easier for men, however women have the option to accessorize and mix and match to create different outfits.
- GREAT shoes (waterproof shoes or boots depending on the destination and season).
- 7 changes of undergarments.
- Two pairs of pants for daytime activities. Two more dress pants for night.
- 2 shorts or bathing suits, depending on the trip.
- 4 shirts
- A raincoat, and maybe rain pants.
If jackets or heavier clothes are necessary, they can be worn on the plane, so you can pack lighter.
VIDEO BLOG: Kim and Bob have been discussing my weekly blog post on YouTube, so if you want to see their conversation about WHAT TO PACK for vacation, here’s the link:
Have something to say about this?
Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid0NdUE1V9VGRR5fsGuhWfYQKbCbnWbkwJCRWzQSJvcys3mpyHN4eDWkP8tCX4JcS4sl
Today’s Travel Opportunities
UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER COLLECTION
Uniworld is offering an early booking discount of up to 20% for 2026 departures. Uniworld includes an open bar at all times, a choice of shore excursions in every port, all gratuities, and transfers.
TULIPS & Windmills from Amsterdam to Antwerp for 10-days
- Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Haarlem (for Keukenhof Gardens), Hoorn, Nijmegen, Rotterdam (Kinderdijk), Veere, Bruges, Antwerp (overnight)
- Departures March 21 through May 1, 2026 from $3359
VENICE & Northern Italy for 7-nights
- Visit Venice (several spots), Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia.
- Departs every Sunday from April – October 2026 from $3199. This is far more cost-effective than staying in a hotel in Venice for a week.
There are a number of add-ons you can make to this cruise:
- ADD: 2-nights in Milan
- ADD: Lugano (Switzerland) & Lake Como
- ADD: Train to Istanbul. If you want to add to your country-count, then transfer from the ship to board the train in Venice and stop in Trieste, Ljubljana (Slovenia), Belgrade (Serbia), Montenegro (beaches every bit as spectacular as Greece, but undiscovered), Bulgaria, and 2 nights in Istanbul.
- ADD: Rome 3-nights. Includes a city tour, and a tour of the Vatican.
- ADD: Train from Budapest, then visit Vienna, Innsbruck, Zurich, Lake Como, Verona, Trieste, Lake Bled, Ljubljana.
Here’s a link to our video blog when we did this cruise: https://youtu.be/QRIHi6SED6g?si=IJvnYEJlqJt_iV4n
PORTUGAL & SPAIN departing Porto for one week
- Visit Porto, Douro valley, Regua, Pinhao, Pincinho, Vega de Terron, Salamanca, Barca d’Alva, Afurada.
- See the vineyards and estate wineries, traverse the locks, take in spectacular scenery, visit castle ruins, see paleolithic art, and enjoy architectural treasures.
- Optional extensions to Lisbon.
- Departures in July, August, or November, 2026 from $4679
If you want to see the entire list of 20% OFF river cruises, here’s the link:
https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/current-offers/2026-early-booking-savings
OCEANIA Up To 25% OFF
Oceania is the small-ship cruise line with a strong focus on the culinary offering, and they are offering up to 25% OFF on 42 select itineraries. Here’s a link to the full list:
All voyages include onboard gratuities, specialty dining, AND a choice of the beverage package or an on board credit. Here’s a few examples:
ALASKA: Anchorage to Vancouver departing June 10, for 7-days
- Visit Hubbard Glacier, Icy Strait Point, Haines, Juneau, Ketchikan.
- Veranda fares from $3240 including beverage package OR $300 per person OBC.
- See our ship tour video: https://youtu.be/KvgJJ2bE1OU
PANAMA CANAL from Miami to LA departing December 3, for 17-days
- Visit Jamaica, Santa Marta (Colombia), Cartagena, full daylight transit of the canal, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta.
- Verandas from $6499 with complimentary Beverage Package OR $500 pp OBC.
JAPAN & ALASKA from Tokyo to Seattle departing May 6, 2026 for 20-days
- Visit Tokyo (overnight), Aomori, Hakodate, Kushiro, Kodiak, Anchorage, Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Wrangell, Prince Rupert, Seattle.
- Fares from $5499 with complimentary Beverage Package OR $500 pp OBC
OCEANIA CULINARY. We get lots of inquiries about Oceania’s food and wine program, so we put together this Video: https://youtu.be/O0Que9codHo
ATLAS YACHT Cruises to REMOTE DESTINATIONS
This company has 3 yachts (launched in 2021, 2022, 2023), all holding 196 guests. In our winter months, these ships are all in Antarctica, but the rest of the year, they are doing “Cultural Expeditions” and “Culinary Expeditions”.
Fares include open bar, daily refresh of minibar in room, prepaid gratuities, specialty dining, butler service, and some shore experiences. Here’s a few examples.
ICELAND & SCOTLAND from Reykjavik to Dublin departing August 29 for 7-nights
- Visit 3 ports in Iceland, then head over to northern Scotland to see Stornoway, Tobermory, and the Isle of Man before finishing in Dublin.
- Fares from $4444
IRELAND to PORTUGAL from Dublin to Lisbon departing October 11 for 10-nights
- This sailing is hosted by TV personality Chef Christy Rost, and vintner Jon Schlegel
- Visit Dublin, Waterford (Ireland), La Rochelle (France), Bordeaux (overnight), Bilbao, Gijon (Spain), Lisbon (overnight).
- Fares from $4499
SOUTH AMERICA: Falkland Islands and Patagonia departing October 27, for 13-nights
- Visit Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Punta del Este (Uruguay), 5 stops in the Falkland Islands, Punta Arenas, Garibaldi Glacier, Ushuaia.
- Fares from $6529 (represents 20% off)
Learn more about Atlas Ocean Voyages here: https://inspires.to/experiences/the-atlas-ocean-voyages-experience-wx208
LUXURY RAIL JOURNEYS with Rocky Mountaineer
Check out these domestic (and Canada) luxury train trips for spectacular scenery and wildlife spotting, all while enjoying fantastic food and wine.
Denver to Las Vegas for 6-nights
- Denver (2), Glenwood Springs, Moab (2), Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas
- Prices range between $5215 and $6270 per person based on your departure date, and level of service. Departures available April through October
Vancouver to Banff for 6-nights
- Vancouver (2), Kamloops, Banff (2), Calgary.
- Prices range between $2988 and $6004 per person based on your departure date, and level of service. Departures available April through October.
Circle Journey: Vancouver round-trip for 12 -nights
- Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff (3), Lake Louise (2), Jasper (2), Quesnel, Whistler, Vancouver.
- Prices range between $8254 to $11,983 per person based on your departure date, and level of service. Departures available April through October.
In Case You Missed It:
TAUCK All-Inclusive Journeys: Tauck offers the highest-end, all-inclusive options on land, on the ocean, and on rivers. Check out more here:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/what-about-tauck/
NATIONAL PARKS: You’ve been asking about domestic options, and keep in mind that you can visit our National Parks in comfort… you don’t have to go camping if you don’t want to:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/time-to-visit-our-national-parks/
Latest YOUTUBE Post:
DEMYSTIFYING EXPEDITION: If you think you need to be an Olympic athlete to enjoy an expedition cruise, then you’ll want to watch this interview where Bob chats with Alex McNeil – the Chief Expedition Officer for HX Expeditions. You might be surprised who goes on Expedition Cruises, and what they’re all about:
Recently booked a Viking Cruise?
Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online, by phone, or on board. Our clients worry that if they book on-line, that they’re cutting us out, but if you let us know after you’ve booked, then we can still help you with your reservation (even if you booked ON BOARD).
We’ll check over your reservation to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, and we will also add some onboard credits that are not available on direct bookings.
We can add at least $100 per person onboard credit to any direct Viking reservation made in the last 60 days.
There is never a situation where you’ll get a better deal by booking directly with Viking (or any other cruise line).
If you recently booked a Viking Cruise, please let us know as soon as possible.
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
