I have had plenty of time to choose my clothes, shoes, and accessories.  Now it is time to start packing.

For this cruise, I decided to use packing cubes.  This is something very new to me so I’m not sure exactly how it will work out, but I’m going to give try it.  I started out by ordering some GONEX packing cubes from WalMart.  It comes in 3 sizes and in a variety of colors.  Since I would need to order some for my mother to try, I order 3 in different colors, Blue, Yellow, and a turquoise color.  I received them very quickly and decided to give them a trial run.  I tried rolling my clothes and I tried just folding my clothes.  I have decided that these will not work for me for a 7-day cruise but can still be used for the smaller items.  I next turned to Target and found some things I thought would work great for my husband and I so I ordered said items.    I was able to use the extra large and large cubes to fit my clothes in.

I decided to use the large cube for what I consider daytime clothes… shorts and shirts to wear around the ship and at the various ports of call.  I tried the rolling technique and the regular folding and found that regular folding works out best for me.  Everything fit in the cube nicely and doesn’t feel like they clothes are shoved into the cube.

I used the extra-large cube for the evening clothes which are the outfits I will be wearing to dinner and around the ship afterwards.  My cruise-elegant dresses will be packed in a regular garment bag.  The evening clothes fit nicely into the extra large cube and I can probably add some more to it if I wanted to.  But I don’t want to.  I’m trying NOT to over-pack on this cruise.  I guess time will tell if I have succeeded or not!!!

I purchased a bead container at Hobby Lobby along with some plastic bags to use for my jewelry as I have seen people on YouTube use them with great success.  I was amazed with how easily everything fit into the container and now I do not have to worry about anything becoming tangled!!!

My travel first kit has been packed and is busting at the seams!!!  But keep in mind, I’m packing for 9 and I feel the need to be prepared for any emergency that may come along.  I am keeping everything in a cosmetic case I purchased at Tuesday Morning.  Everything fits in nicely unless I think of some other items I might need.

I am using a ditty bag I found at Tuesday Morning for our suntan lotions and after sun lotion.  Everything fits in nicely and will come in handy while hanging out on deck or on the beach.  There is also enough room for the mosquito repellent wipes I purchased, but not for the Bugables.  So it looks like I need to do some more shopping!!!

And last of this packing series, I have packed my hair care products into a cosmetic bag I purchased at Tuesday Morning.  Everything fits well and will be easy to access for our pre-cruise stay.

In the next segment of Getting Carnival Vista Ready, I hope to be able to pack my cosmetic bag and also our overnight bag.  Plus some other essentials I will be taking and how I hope to pack them.