You’ve seen THOSE people in the airport: 6 suitcases —  half of which are larger than the person who packed them!  The airlines delight when they see THOSE people approach the podium for check-in.  I was feeling quite smug… until I got to the airport a few years ago, and couldn’t lift my own suitcase onto the scale.  I am officially one of THOSE people that I used to mock.

I’ve got LOTS of grievances with the airlines, but a 50 pound weight restriction on a suitcase can’t possibly be one of them.  Fifty-pounds is more than adequate for anyone… we’ve just allowed ourselves to fall into bad habits when we travel.  “The ship might not have free weights, so I’ll drop my barbells in, just in case”.  

“JUST IN CASE” needs to be eliminated from your packing self-talk, and you need to be ruthless about what you take with you.  Emerging from the pandemic – when there were daily images in the news of a sea of lost luggage at every airport, and apple air tags were in high demand – Bob and I found ourselves invited to Greece for a ship christening.  

How do I pack for two weeks in Greece and Turkey with unpredictable spring weather?  With a whole bunch of self-coaching and ruthless packing decisions, we transformed our packing process, and have been better for it ever since.  Your list might be different, but here are some guidelines that we use when we pack for a trip:

• Undergarments:  7 changes of clothes, with the understanding I will do laundry.
• TOPS:  4 different ones.  Each one will get worn twice on a one-week trip.  You’re the only one that will notice… nobody else is keeping score. 
• BOTTOMS: 2 – 3  different ones.  Each has to mix and match with the 4 tops.
• RAIN GEAR:  This is the ONLY “just-in-case” item permitted.
• SHOES:  One pair for the evenings.  One pair of walking shoes.  In warmer climates one pair of flip-flops or open toed sandals.  DON’T compromise on foot comfort.  

OTHER THOUGHTS:

• I have a packing list that I refine after every trip.  Don’t repeat packing mistakes. 
• We wear our heaviest and bulkiest clothes on the plane – it’s usually cold anyway.
• We put HALF of each of our belongings in the other’s suitcase.  This way if one suitcase goes missing, we’re not completely without.
• We err on the side of NOT taking something.  If you come back from vacation, and everything hasn’t been used, make a note so you can leave that out next time.  
• Pack clothes you can wash in the bathroom sink if necessary.  
• Formal Nights:  We don’t run into this very often, because the higher-end cruise lines are generally casual.  We choose NOT to attend the dining room on those evenings. 

WHAT IF I’M MISSING SOMETHING?   Our clients go to Europe, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and sometimes South America.  All these regions have stores if you need something. 

Hopefully this gives you some useful ideas, and you can join us in getting back to that wonderful airport sport of making fun of THOSE people that are over-packed. 

The PODCAST:  Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED

In this episode of Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED, we break down how to pack smarter, lighter, and more efficiently – whether you’re heading to Europe, going on a cruise, or travelling for several weeks.  Kim & Bob also offer up their own packing lists:

https://youtu.be/DRNqx1QfsV4

In Case You Missed It:

STATE OF THE CRUISE BIZ:  We published this a few months ago, and even with more current geo-political upheaval, these points still stand:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/state-of-the-cruise-biz/

WINDSTAR:  Imagine being on a private yacht, but without all the pretentious dinner conversation.  If you like casual elegance, with great food, take a look at Windstar:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/windstar-a-different-experience/

NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA:  These two countries are a long way away, but are a popular choice amongst our clients.  Make sure if you’re going that far, you do it right:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/down-under-new-zealand-australia/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:

WINDSTAR’S Motor Yachts carry just 320 guests, and Star Breeze is the identical sister to Star Legend and Star Pride.  Join Bob for a walk around STAR BREEZE: 

https://youtu.be/VSsLmFZPqdI

Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there.  It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!

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Today’s Travel Opportunities

WINDSTAR Yachting Experiences

Think of a private yacht with fantastic food, but without all the pretentious dinner conversation, and you’ll understand WINDSTAR.  Their ships carry between 200 and 340 guests.

WINE CRUISE in SCENIC ALASKA:  Vancouver to Juneau for 8-days:

• Start in Vancouver, and sail up the Inside Passage to visit Ketchikan, Rudyard Bay, Wrangell, Sitka, Tracy Arm, Haines, and finish in Juneau.
• 2027: Depart June through August from $4548

TAHITI:  Papeete round-trip departing week for 7-days

• Tropical Beauty, Remote Islands, Dreamy Lagoons.
• Start in Papeete, and visit Moorea, Raiatea (overnight), Taha’a, Bora Bora (overnight), and Huahine before returning to Papeete.  

• Fares from $2518
• Here’s our video blog from when we did this cruise with WINDSTAR: https://youtu.be/ctytpPPx1tM 

CHRISTMAS MARKETS RIVER CRUISES with AMA WATERWAYS

Christmas is a long time from now, but if you want to visit the Christmas Markets in Europe, space is getting tight for 2026.  Here’s a few suggestions:

RHINE: (Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland) departing December 16:

• Itinerary: Christmas Markets on the Rhine on AMA Prima
• Amsterdam to Basel departing December 16 for 7-nights
• Fares from $4099
• Optional land extensions to Amsterdam and/or Lucerne/Zurich in Switzerland.

Danube (Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary) departing December 20: 

• Itinerary: Christmas markets on the Danube on AMA Sofia.  
• Budapest to Vilshofen departing December 20 for 7-nights
• Fares from $4349
• Optional land extensions to Budapest and/or Prague.

Provence Region in Eastern France departing November 26:

• Itinerary: Colours of Provence on AMA Kristina
• Lyon to Avignon departing November 26 for 7-nights.
• Fares from $3499
• Optional land extensions for 3 nights in Paris and/or 3 nights in Barcelona.

SILVERSEA Classic Luxury

If you like butlers, fine dining and the classic luxury touches, here’s some ideas from Silversea:

CANADA & NEW ENGLAND:  New Jersey to Montreal departing October 13 for 11-days

• Start in Bayonne (NJ), and visit Newport, Cape Cod, Boston, Portland, Halifax, Charlottetown, Saguenay, Quebec City, and end in Montreal. 
• Fares from $8300

ENGLAND, SCOTLAND & IRELAND:  Southampton round-trip departing July 9, 2027 for 12-days

• Start in Southampton and visit Portsmouth, St Peter Port, Falmouth, Fishguard, Liverpool, Greencastle, Dundee, and Dover (London).
• Fares from $6700

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES

NORWAY & ICELAND:  Longyearbyen to Reykjavik departing July 10, 2027 for 10-nights

• Get NORTH of the Arctic Circle, and experience the midnight sun, the Greenland Sea, and urban Reykjavik
• Start in Oslo, and then take an included charter flight to board your ship in Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean.  Spend 3 days spotting whales, polar bears, and other wildlife in coastal Norway before heading across the Greenland Sea.  Make 3 stops in remote parts of Iceland before finishing your trip in Reykjavik.  
• Fares from $9504

GREENLAND & NEWFOUNDLAND: Nuuk to St. John’s departing Sept 13, 2027 for 17-nights

• Fly from New York, and home from Canada while still experiencing the spectacular Arctic scenery and wildlife
• Start in Nuuk (with a direct flight from New York), and then carry on to 4 more ports in Greenland, 4 stops in the Canadian Territory of Nunavut, 6 stops in Newfoundland & Labrador.  Next visit the French colony of St. Pierre/Miquelon, and finish in St. John’s, Newfoundland – a short flight back to the United States. 
• Fares from $16,832

PREMIUM Land Journeys with INTREPID TRAVEL

Northern THAILAND for 12-days:

• Start in Bangkok and visit Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Mae Taeng and Chaing Mai
• Departures year-round from $3,961

CROATIA & SLOVENIA for 16-days:  

• Start in Venice and then travel to Slovenia where you’ll see Postojna Caves, Ljubljana, Lake Bled, and Lake Bohinj.  You’ll then travel to Croatia to visit Motovun and Buzet before heading inland again to see the incredibly scenic Plitvice Lakes NP.  From there it’s out to the Dalmatian Coast to experience Zadar, Sibenik, Split, Korcula, before finishing with 2-nights in Dubrovnik.  
• This trip offers a comprehensive experience in Croatia, with some days in Slovenia, which has yet to be discovered (but it won’t be long).  
• Weekly departures April through October from $8156.

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