OK, I think I have my dinner outfits figured out. We'll be travelling for 17 days thru the canal over the holidays and I figured on 3 formal and 3 semi formal nights but the items I have could do 4 formal or 4 semi formal. I have a long black skirt, dressy black pants, dressy pink pants, mix and match tops in black, gold, red, white, with mix and match jackets in black, gold , red, and white. (Don't worry, no red with pink. I may be a fashion dunce but I got that figured out.) Many of these items are shiney, statiny, sparkley things. I also have "a little black dress" and 4 other sun dresses for casual nights. I think I counted on wearing each dinner item twice. I have dressy black sandals and dressy gold sandals and casual brown /multi colored slide sandals.

My questions are what do I need for day time? Are 2 swimsuits enough? One pareo and one beach dress? Should I take shorts and capris? Maybe 2 of each with mix and match casual tops like Ts or blouses? I have walking sandals (advertised as hiking sandals) and Okibashi sandals (black or tan? not sure yet). Okibashi are sturdy plastic sandals with "pressure points" for massage, or something like that. Great for pool or water excursions. Ok, for short walks like shopping.

I also plan on taking 2 workout outfits (shorts and Ts) as I like to jog or ride an exercise bike especially on sea days. Of course that means one pair or running shoes or cross trainers.

What am I missing or what have I got too much of? Oh, I'll bring an evening bag and a tote for beach or shopping, probably a waist pack for longer excursions.

Thanks for all help I get form all you seasoned cruisers. Someday, I'll have the experience to share, too. Well, I hope so, anyway.

I forgot to add that I won't be around the rest of the evening or much of the weekend. But I hope to check back in a day or two. I just don't want anyone who answers to think I've disappeared.

Sounds to me like you've got it all together. We did 14 days Panama Canal, 3 formal nights, 4 informal and the rest dressy casual - and I saw a lot of people using for instance, a skirt with a very dressy top, then dressing it down with a more casual top - I didn't do that, but easily could have if I had thought it out a bit. We are doing a b2b 17 day next year on Voyager - 10 nights one segment + 7 nights the other, and I am promising myself to pack more efficiently. However, just make sure your shoes match - ummm check some of the other threads for Ngaire's "shoe issues" - anyway, please let me know how it works, and give me your advice when you return - we will be doing Europe next August - so there is lots of time to figure it all out, but all the help I can get will be great, as I did overpack for our recent Sept 9 night cruise plus 1 night New York and 2 nights Montreal.

Hey Colleen,

Looks like you almost have your wardrobe together for the cruise. With sunny days, you may want to include some sort of hat or sunvisor. That's the only thing I see missing.

Wish I was going with you. Take good notes and report often.

Beth

Colleen,

Sounds to me you are all set. I agree with Beth about the hat. Have a wonderful cruise.

JoAnn, Cute!

Betty

Sounds to me like you are all set - Joanna Don't forget sunglasses and sunscreen if you need it - I don't use it why I'll probably look like a prune in a couple of years - Joanna

Thanks for the encouragement. I didn't include the accessories with my litany up there because I was more concerned with a minimze and match kind of thing. I have a few sun visors that pack easily and one collapsable hat. I also have to remember to pack the appropriate undergarments for the various dresses (LOL). No hose, skipping hose altogether but I will take "tan in a tube". I use the same stuff Karen does.

My shoes match (and I have read Ngaire's various posts on the subject) because I have already packed them. Yup, all the dinner items mentioned above are in the spare room closet, cleaned and ready to go. If I need dressy clothes before then (highly unlikely - maybe one Christmas party) I have plenty of others I can wear. I'll be putting the sandals in there soon as it's a bit too cold now and I'll wear the jogging shoes on the plane with my jeans.

In the next few weeks, I will pack the shorts and capris as I'll be living in jeans.

Oh, in 4 days I get to start picking excursions!!! YEAH!!!

Which tan in the tube????

L'oreal, I think. Karen posted a picture either here or on cruise critic in the middle of the summer. The formula I like is tinted so you can see it going on but they have other formulas.

My problem is not the clothes packing.. always take way too much.. cuz' "You just never know how you'll feel" lol.. but the real cruise menace is SHOES!
Need a trunk for those cute things

Colleen, do you mean this? I love this stuff!