I replied on another post with this idea, and people said it was possible to do...

You can mail your cruise clothes ahead directly to the ship/cruiseline, to avoid carrying so much yourself.

This came up when a couple had a cruise at the end of a Europe by train trip, so was especially handy.

Suze, Thanks, That is a good idea for next time. Today is Wednesday and the ship leaves Friday so I think we are too late to use that good idea this time.

One thing that I feel compelled add to this long post, is that the larger you are, the larger your clothing is. It's just not feasible for some of us to fit a few days worth of outfits into a backpack. I like the advice that said if you can't lift it yourself, it's too much.

As I never touched my big old haulking Samsonite when I was on my only cruise - I packed it full and heavy! I could "lift" it... but I didn't pack light! Go for it for the cruise!!

I just purchased Embark Compression Storage Bags at Target - they have a one-way air valve so you can compress your clothes down to nothing. I'm sure they'll be a wrinkled mess, but it will leave room for more souvenirs!

Hi AisleSeat---we've had the same dilema packing for our Alaska cruise this Saturday. I've been checking the weather for Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway every day for the past week, but have heard horror stories of people sweltering in 85 degree weather because they brought no shorts. BudgetQueen (who frequents fodors cruise board and cruisecritic) has just about convinced me to pack <b>heavy!</b>

So it's okay to wear shorts in Alaska?

Yes, but only if the Fodors Fashion Police aren't on your ship.

And only if they are black, 100% natural fiber, and were purchased in Europe with Euros you DID NOT get in the US before your trip!

Oh kswl, ROTFL ;;) !

My husband likes to wear everything he takes but if I come home with a couple of things I haven't worn, I figure I've packed just right. I deal with my own suitcase so who's gonna complain?

I also think the guy who invented wheels on suitcases should get the Nobel Peace Prize.

<i>&quot;I also think the guy who invented wheels on suitcases should get the Nobel Peace Prize.&quot;</i>

Agreed!!! :)

Packing Light to me means ending up with a suitcase and purse/bag that I can carry myself walking comfortably and that can be carried on the plane....Getting that big pile of stuff on the bed into the little suitcase/backpack with wheels next to it is another adventure, but I always manage. I used to walk to a subway station so it was important not to have too much..

Taking only one pair of shoes - the ones on my feet as I board the plane! (Slip on, of course, these days.)

&quot;A couple of years ago, I did my Europe backpacking trip with some friends. Two of us had backpacks, the other a tiny wheeled suitcase. We were taking the train from Madrid to san Sebastian. At first, our train compartment was empty except for an old Spanish couple.

Then this whole group of American high school studnets came on to our compartment - their suitcases were HUGE! (probably 29&quot; suitacases) It looked like they were all moving to spain! One girl came on with her massive suitcase and was trying to move the suitcase horizontally but it was stuck and she started having an attitude and screaming at the top of her lungs. When the old Spanish man indicated that she should turn her suitcase to pull through she screamed back at him.

Finally she got the hint. the entire group had the same size luggage and there was luggage in the aisle way -nobody could walk through.

I was so emabarressed being an American and so angry that these idiots didn't know how to pack lightly.&quot;

What made you assume they were on a short trip? It's awfully narrow minded to assume their circumstances were the same as yours. It seems very likely that they WERE exchange students staying for at least 9 or 10 months, in which case it would have been impossible for them to pack lightly. Maybe you could have given them the benefit of the doubt and helped them instead of watching them struggle?

Your post touched a nerve with me because I've just come back from living in France for 6 months. I had a very heavy suitcase and a heavy backpack and struggled a lot on trains and buses on my way back to the airport. I got a lot of stares from people (tourists assuming I was another tourist) with superior attitudes wondering why I had apparently packed 'more than I could carry' and I had a carriage full of tall, well built men watching me strain my back as I lugged my suitcase onto the train. Now I don't EXPECT people to help me but I sure would have appreciated it then. Given my circumstances, I really couldn't have packed much lighter. Upon seeing someone with heavy luggage I'd assume they were moving somewhere to live and help them, not glare at them scornfully.

I am always interested in finding tips on how to pack light for short trips but sometimes it is just not possible. Leaving all my stuff behind in a country is just not an option, nor is it for most people.

Simple.If you can RUN with all your baggage then you have packed light.

I'm beginning to wonder if the term &quot;packing light&quot; should at least sometimes be linked with the term &quot;and planning to do a lot of laundry.&quot;

In my case, I plan to send the laundry out once during a 10-day trip--usually on day 5, and mostly everything goes. On a two week trip, I would wait until day 7 and be down to one pair of skivvies, waiting for it to come back.

But that's how much I hate to check luggage.

OTOH, we just got back from an unusual 8-day Seattle trip, staying in a college dorm with a laundry room just down the hall. I did two loads there and came home with a suitcase of clean clothes. Heavenly!