We got married on a cruise ship ten years ago — just the two of us, the officiant, and a few crew members as witnesses. Quiet, intimate, and exactly how we liked it.
If I could change one thing though, I wish my kids had been there. But maybe next time, when we renew our vows, I’ll make sure they’re front row with tissues and cocktails in hand.
And now, we’re about to sail again — hopefully this time with fewer arguments about my overpacking.
It feels poetic, really. We started our marriage surrounded by ocean — no escape, no Wi-Fi strong enough to argue over — and somehow, that’s still the perfect metaphor for us. Calm seas, occasional storms, and a buffet somewhere nearby.
We love traveling all over the globe several times a year, but cruising is our favorite. You only unpack once, and every morning you wake up in a different country. And sure, there are interior cabins with no windows or small portholes — but we always book balcony rooms. That’s where we eat breakfast sometimes, sunbathe without having to fight for a chair, or read while staring at the endless blue. If we’re lucky, we’ll spot whales, dolphins, or even flying fish — it all depends on where you’re sailing and the time of year. Totally worth it. Every layout and size varies, but trust me, it’s nothing like those dramatic cruise documentaries on Netflix.
My better half, he’s calm, practical, and somehow healthier than I’ll ever be. Meanwhile, I’m the walking pharmacy. I’ve got vitamins A to Zinc, hypertension meds, eczema creams (different ones for face, body, and scalp, because why not complicate things), fish oil for my dry eyes plus eye drops when those don’t work, anti-itch for mystery bites (bugs see me as a buffet while he’s bite-free), and backup allergy meds in case I’m allergic to the first allergy meds. Add my “just in case we get stranded” snacks — he says it’s a cruise, not Cast Away — and I’m basically a floating drugstore with chocolates and chips.
Though to be fair, I can’t always afford the weight limit for snacks. My carry-on is usually a backpack because I like having my hands free (and less judgment from TSA, who already give me that “random pat-down” like it’s a quarterly tradition). So bye-bye, Pringles. Luckily, cruise ships have enough food to feed a small nation — or one Filipino wife with midnight cravings.
Marriage, I’ve learned, is a lot like cruising. You spend most of it trying to keep your balance, learning when to lean, and packing more baggage than you really need — both emotional and actual.
It’s not always love songs and sunsets (picture a string quartet at dusk — not the Titanic version). Sometimes it’s grumpiness before coffee or him pretending not to hear me from across the room. (Or vice versa, but I’ll never admit that was intentional.) Still, laughter sneaks in when you least expect it — and sometimes I think, I wish we met sooner so I could love him longer.
We met when I was 38 and he was 48. I was a single mom of five, still rebuilding after a storm I never thought I’d survive. He had already raised a son from his first marriage and wasn’t exactly looking for more chaos — yet somehow, there I was.
It wasn’t love at first sight either. I actually avoided him at first. (😂 True story.) But life had a sense of humor. We married when I was 43 and he was 53 — so when I say I wish we’d met sooner, trust me, that’s the healed me talking.
If you do the math though? Yeah… no. That would’ve made him a cradle-snatcher. Hard pass. (And no, he’s not Prince Andrew — I got myself a King Charles! 👑😂) Timing really is everything.
He’s ten years older and wiser. Me? I’m just thrilled when I remember where I left my reading glasses. Honestly, my brain never fully graduated preschool — it’s still coloring outside the lines and losing things under the couch.
Anyway — back to the cruise. We’re loyal to Holland America. And no, I’m not in their affiliate program (yet! but I’m open to it). After years of sailing with them, we’ve earned fancy perks — early boarding, welcome champagne, and robes so soft they could end wars.
Pro tip: stick with the same cruise line, airline, and hotel brand. Points add up faster than wrinkles.
Now, confession time: I’m a serial over packer. I own multiple luggage scales because I keep losing the last one — menopause brain is a full-time job. And since airlines no longer offer free checked bags (looking at you, Southwest — thanks but no thanks!), I’ve been researching ways to downsize.
Some packing lists make sense. Others sound like people planning to move onto the ship.
Here’s what I actually bring after a decade of cruising (two to three times a year — not bragging, just saying):
✅ Passport & Real ID (especially for U.S. citizens) – Obviously.
✅ Bathing suits – Even in cold weather; spas and heated pools exist for a reason.
✅ Cell-phone wrist strap – Because watching your phone fly off the balcony is not a spiritual experience.
✅ Luggage tag holders – Practical and reusable.
Before your cruise, you’ll print out luggage tags provided by your cruise line. I highly recommend buying the clear plastic holders made specifically for those tags (different from the usual ones you use for flights). They keep your printed tags from getting wet or torn, which helps your luggage actually make it to your cabin in one piece.
If you’re not planning to cruise again soon, just fold and staple the printed tags to your suitcase handle — but if you’ll sail more than once, those plastic holders are worth it.
✅ Camera – Sometimes, the phone just doesn’t capture the magic.
🍫 Snacks – You can bring some, within reason.
Technically, you’re not supposed to take food off the ship, but you can bring packaged snacks on board — things like granola bars, trail mix, or crackers. I always pack a few for excursions that don’t include lunch or go longer than expected. They’re light, TSA-friendly, and perfect for those “why am I suddenly hangry?” moments between buffets.
And here’s what I don’t bother with:
❌ Your own toiletries. Unless you’re allergic to everything, skip it. Holland America uses Elemis — that’s spa gold. And my super sensitive skin can take it.
❌ Overstuffed medicine kits. One list I read had Imodium, Pepto, antifungal cream, antibiotics, probiotics (twice!), UTI meds, Pedialyte, decongestant, Neosporin, bandages, liquid bandages, and every vitamin from A through Z known to mankind and so on... Gurlll, that’s not a travel kit; that’s a pharmacy franchise. Bring the essentials — the rest can wait. For me, it’s just prescriptions, anti-itch cream, and headache meds. If you try to bring the whole list, you’ll never use it — and your bag will need its own boarding pass.
❌ Over-the-door organizers, travel fans, magnetic hooks, magnetic signs for the door, magnetic toothbrush holder, cruise ducks, silicone toppers, extension cords, motion lights, blue tape for the light if its too bright…
It’s giving “moving in,” not “vacation.” Towels are always provided, and beach bags usually are — but it depends on your cabin category. So, to be safe (or if you like something bigger or cuter), bring your own lightweight one. No need to pay overweight-luggage fees for half of Walmart.
And about those magnets — yes, they really stick because the cabin walls are steel. A couple of people we met went all out and brought a whole set of magnetic everything. Meanwhile, I kept wondering if those things set off alarms at the baggage scanner. (Can you imagine explaining that to TSA?) 😂
Honestly, I could write a whole “Packing with Menopause Brain” post next time. That list had me sweating more than the tropics.
Ten years in, our marriage is less fireworks, more peace — the kind of love that hums quietly in the background. He’s the calm to my chaos, the salad to my dessert (and yes, I still hate salad). We still bicker about suitcase space, but he’s learned to give me the bigger one — and honestly, that’s love. He’d even let me bring the entire family of small, medium, and large bags if I wanted to. (Though, between us, we get free laundry on the ship — so really, I have no excuse.)
Here’s to another cruise — and hopefully to me not bringing the entire closet this time.
💭 Reader Question:
What’s one thing you always overpack — and one thing you wish you’d packed more of (besides patience)?
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