SoloAlaska

sunscreen on Celebrity was only a little bit more on ship vs on land. It’s the brand I usually buy which I admit is expensive. I was pleasantly surprised they weren’t gauging though.

Always pack some muscle relaxants when I travel. In Canada they are OTC so I carry a sheet of them in my toiletry bag all the time since they are impossible to get in a lot of places.

I’ve cruised Alaska in September and loved it so much I’m returning again this year. Expect pouring rain and be ready for it. We had only one day without rain. Backpacks should be waterproof if you’re planning to go hiking or make sure it brings lots of big ziplocks to put all your stuff in. It’s a rainforest in the rainy season, rain is what you will get. My mom says the pictures of me soaking wet in Alaska are the happiest she’s ever seen me though.

I’ve only been to cologne but it is right in the middle of the city. Across the street from beautiful area of restaurants and walking distance to everything you’ll want/have time to see. The only time we took a taxi was when we wanted to go to the chocolate museum after the cathedral and that was to give our feet a break and not waste our energy.

There are several companies. I go to Cologne yearly and if I remember there are 3 river cruise companies with docks there. Absolutely incredible city and the Dome is an absolute must see even if your not religious.

Celebrity and Royal Caribbean use the long skinny ones. I have a set of each depending on the line I’m going on.

I carry a euro to USB on cruise to take advantage of those outlets on ships that don’t have many place to plug in.

A smile and positive attitude.

I was shocked at how some people dressed in the MDR on chic nights. Like the 60 year old woman in leggings and a printed tshirt. I typically wore a bellow the knee dress with accessories and often felt overdressed in the MDR. I would not bring a gown on an Alaska sailing with Celebrity.

Also great amount of outlets and USB outlets on Millennium. Loved the staterooms on this ship, they were well designed.

It depends on your phone. For my family and friends we all use WhatsApp when traveling. My ex bf and I always used WhatsApp because we both travelled so much it was easier that way. I am in the US for 4-6 weeks a year and Europe for 1-3 weeks a year so my roaming costs would be brutal.

I’ve set it up that I switch it when I cross the border. It can operate with both numbers but i haven’t tried that yet.

Not an issue as mentioned already. I just started getting a US phone plan since I cross the border so much. With Roger’s it was cheaper to just skip the charges and have two phone numbers on my phone. My phone has an Esim option which makes it a lot easier. When I’m in Europe I do the same thing.

As someone in her 30s I think Elvis impersonator would be great. Big band my 83 year old grandmother wouldn’t even be interested in to be honest.

So true cross packing is such a great tip. I usually travel solo so not an option for me.

Part 2 the plan before I leave Here’s an example of my upcoming TA. Flying from Canada to Rome and I have a few connections so the risk is higher for luggage being lost. I get in in the afternoon and will take the train from the airport to downtown. The next day mid morning I plan to board a train to the port. That leaves almost 22 hours if there is no delays to be in Rome. Before I go I look for stores I’m familiar with in the city I’ll be in to make shopping easier. I always find things that are convenient with a priority for department stores to get as much in one location as possible. Most major cities have a Sephora so I can get some of my toiletries and makeup replaced. I also find out if the department store offers personal shopping or stylist services. Stylist mood board is my magic trick. I had a stylist make a Pinterest board for me. The board features my colours, styles, and outfit ideas. I also keep my measurements in the notes section including shoe and hat size. I can send that ahead to a store with a stylist to pull clothing for me or I can use it as my own reference. This visual reference is especially handy for overcoming language barriers. Reimbursement: check what will be reimbursed. Different countries require airlines to reimburse different amounts based on delayed luggage. Does your travel insurance offer protection? last but not least I have AirTags EVERYWHERE. I have them in my checked and carry on luggage all the way to my knitting bag just in case. I track my luggage throughout my travels to see if it’s making the connection. Do you have any tips for dealing with lost luggage? I’d love to hear them.

part 1 : how to pack I’ll preface this by saying I love to plan. Planning helps sooth my anxiety. Last year on a business trip the airline lost all of my luggage and it took 2-3 weeks to get it back. Depending on trips sometimes I wouldn’t have time to replace items or might forget something. Getting aboard a cruise ship with the clothing on my back is a nightmare. So here’s the way I plan for the possibility. 1. “personal item” in addition to my normal in flight items like snacks and entertainment I pack the absolute essentials. This bag has any electronics, prescription medications, battery powered devices, travel documents, wallet, house keys etc.. In addition I always add a pair of socks, underwear, and a tshirt. If everything else is lost I can check into a hotel and go shopping the next morning. Hotels can usually provide basic toiletries if your luggage was lost so just ask if this happens. 2. “carry on” packing. Ever flown in a tiny plane where you can’t bring your carry on? Are the overhead bins too full and you need to gate check your carry on? Was your bag just slightly overfilled and you have to check it? Yep it happens but boarding early, making sure your bag fits the airline dimensions easily can help prevent this from happening. The carry on is where I put hard to replace items or more expensive items. Airlines and insurance only cover a certain value for lost luggage so I don’t check anything that would be expensive to replace. This items go into my carry on. Also if your checked luggage is lost the airline will usually pay for “reasonable essential toiletries and clothing” so anything that doesn’t fit in that category I put in my carry on. As I pack I use a list to know what is in each bag. I lay everything out from my checked luggage on my bed and take a photo. I can refer to that photo if everything is lost as proof to the airline or as reference for myself.

I’m taking a TA with NCL and it had no single supplement. Lots of singles means filled rooms but less people which will be great.

That wrench can happen from a multitude of directions. Delayed flight, bad weather, getting injured or sick etc. You can plan only so much but realizing things happen and learning to go with the flow is the best way to enjoy in the moment. I am an over planner. I literally have a plan if my luggage is lost how will I replace my essentials before boarding a cruise. I hope to never use this plan (the time they lost my luggage I didn’t have a plan) but it reduces my anxiety to know the plan is there and I’ve done my research. I love this series of posts you have been doing. They are so detailed and make me think every time.

Absolutely. Thought it was just perfumes you were avoiding. I react to a lot of laundry products by breaking into hives. So many options of tips and tricks and products, always great to hear what other people do.

Flatter by Soak makes an un scented version.

The problem with that is that every country would have to agree, the power could never go down, and the internet has to always be working… that fails in first world countries sometimes never mind third world countries. I was stuck at the border one day because the secure file transfer needed for a certain piece of paperwork to be forwarded was down across Canada. Literally pretty much all cross border commerce stopped for half a day because of that. it’s nice to dream but the passport book is just the safest bet. But maybe it could be made in a more durable material to start.

Visas are inside the passport booklets. This is why booklets have pages. Just saying getting rid of the booklet and using a plastic card wouldn’t work for a lot of people and a lot of places one may travel to.

Not so much when it comes to visa details. I know that doesn’t apply to many but as someone who often needs a business visa to travel they always refer to the dates in the booklet.

Also keep in mind if you’re in rough seas you’re probably not going to want to be drinking. If I’m stumbling and feeling nauseous I don’t need alcohol to make it any worse.