It’s happened to all of us. We come back from a vacation, start to unpack our luggage, and wonder why we burdened ourselves with excess clothing, shoes, and other items we never even unpacked on our voyage!

If you are planning a cruise, packing light (and carry on only) is truly the way to go. And here’s why:

Unless you are lucky enough to live in a city with a cruise port, you will most likely have to fly to your port of call, which could be half way around the world. And that is where your troubles may begin if you check in your luggage and don’t keep it with you as a carry-on bag in the overhead bin.

This collapsible luggage by Rollink is perfect for a cruise, as you can easily store it folded, out-of-the way, under your cabin bed.

Case in point: On a recent river cruise from Paris to Normandy, we encountered an aunt and her niece whose luggage was lost on transit from their home in Wisconsin to Paris, and never retrieved. They ended up wearing t-shirts purchased at the local swap meets and whatever other items they could gather at ports of call. Their luggage finally got back to them, several weeks later, but this mishap definitely soured their cruise experience, as you can well imagine.

You may balk at this concept, but it is not as difficult as you may think (even for longer cruises) since most cruise lines offer free laundry facilities (the sink and bathroom drying lines on most cruises do the job too, in a pinch).

In reality, you may think you need five pairs of shoes and countless outfits for your cruise experience, but you’ll find you can do with far less than you thought.

Here are some guidelines to follow as your cruise date approaches, and tips to preparing your bag for carry-on only:

CHECK THE LONG TERM WEATHER FORECAST FOR YOUR DESTINATION

This may seem obvious, but it is an important first step in knowing what weather conditions may greet you during your cruise, which determines what you will need to pack. Of course, if you are cruising to Hawaii at any time of the year, you’ll probably only need your bathing suit, sarong or a few Aloha shirts and shorts, but if you are traveling to colder weather destinations, or ones with changeable weather conditions, it helps to know what you can expect.

We were happy to have done our homework prior to last year’s cruise to New Zealand and Australia, when we were hit by unprecedented rainstorms. We came prepared.

If heading to a cold weather destination, you may need to wear your heavy jacket and boots on your flight, which would eliminate the need to stuff them in your carry-on. Since the air temps on airlines vary, you may find that you welcome that heavy coat if the air gets too chilly in the plane, which it often does. I personally like to use a wool shawl onboard, which serves both as a comfortable blanket to snooze under and keep warm, as well as a cozy cover on cooler nights when I am on the cruise deck or on a land tour.

If rain is forecast at your destination, having a good travel umbrella and/or lightweight, waterproof rain jacket with hoods, are always important items to pack in your carry-on. Just note that they should be “waterproof” and not just “water resistant.” It makes a difference in a real deluge.

DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT A SCOTTeVest

There’s no question. The SCOTTeVEST is your best friend on any travel adventure.

Years ago, my husband’s wallet and passport were stolen on a crowded bus in Paris and we learned the hard way how valuable a theft-proof travel vest can be. The SCOTTeVEST, with styles available for both and women, boasts 26 secure pockets for everything you need on a trip—passports, wallets, notebooks, cell phones, glasses, cameras, and more. As an added bonus, TSA security checks are a breeze. Just place the packed vest in the security bin and you are done. No need to put items into separate containers, as your vest will go through security as one scanned unit—and safely await you on the other side.

MIX AND MATCH TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR WARDROBE

Now that you are protected against the elements, there is the question of what you should pack to address all your fashion needs onboard. I found the best clothing choices for my cruise were black leggings (lightweight and washable) that I could pair with a variety of washable, quick-dry tunic tops. I also carried along some stretch “jeans” which looked the part but were much quicker to dry than the real thing.

I also included a lightweight, washable, no-iron black dress, since there were occasions on board that required “dressing up” a bit and it is easy to look spectacular in black.

In this case, scarfs are your best friend. I always pack five scarfs in my carry-on: a Pashmina for warmth and color and four feather-light scarfs you can wrap around your top to make it look as if you are wearing a different outfit each day of your cruise.

As for shoes, I get along with a pair of waterproof walking shoes (which I wear on the flight), that should be cushioned well to protect you from cobblestoned streets and on mountainous hiking trails. Also remember to invest in socks that feature specialized padding to avoid any foot problems if your cruise entails some heavy-duty walking/hiking. I also tuck a pair of flat or low-heeled, black shoes into my carry on, which take little room but look quite nice with dressier outfits. And, one pair is all I need, not five!

MEN HAVE IT EASIER

For some reason, men seem to get by with significantly less clothing needs, especially on a cruise. My husband’s standard wardrobe includes his black and tan, waterproof cargo pants; a cashmere sweater; a black quilted down filled jacket (as it can get chilly on ocean excursions any time of the year); waterproof walking shoes, and no-iron, drip dry shirts. He also packs a lightweight black travel suit for more formal cruise events, as well as for the onboard restaurants that may require a jacket for men at dinner.

Needless to say, quick dry underwear is a travel must and a space saver—for us both.

The above suggestions cover cruises where you may encounter a moderate to cooler climate. Of course, on tropical cruises packing carry on only is super easy—just don’t go overboard on too many outfits. Mix and match is also the key here, together with a UV protective hat and cover ups!

ZIPLOC® BAGS—A TRAVELER’S BEST FRIEND

You can't have enough Ziploc® bags in your carry on luggage. They take up no space, but they are incredibly useful in a variety of occasions. Also remember to be careful about liquids, sharp objects such as scissors, and other items you could otherwise store in checked baggage but may not be admissible in carry-on luggage.

It’s always a good idea to check the TSA site for current information for what items are permitted in carry on. You may miss your large checked bag if you normally travel with lots of liquids or other items not permitted in carry-on bags, but the reward of having your bag with you as you step off the plane on your voyage to your cruise is, in our opinion, definitely worth the inconvenience.

LABEL EVERYTHING YOU CAN FOR AN EASY FIND

I go even further to help organize and find my items during a trip. I purchase small travel jars and put a calculated dose of cosmetics and skin creams I need for the time I am traveling. The trick is to label them properly. I use my label maker to make certain I know what every jar contains.

Putting creams and cosmetics in travel size jars saves space and time by putting everything you need in one organized bag.

To save luggage space, I depend on my purse organizer to carry all my cosmetics for the trip in my backpack, which is a large black quilted bag that looks more elegant than your average hiking backpack but does the job. Do an online search for travel backpacks and you will find an array of options in all styles and price categories.

By using the jars, you can pack your entire arsenal of creams, cosmetics, medications and vitamins into your bag, and you will always know where to find them for easy reach.

These packing tips have helped us tour the world with carry on only, and we hope this will inspire you to do the same!

Disclaimer: We were not compensated for our recommendations by the companies mentioned in this article, and the opinions are our own.