Trish Berry, April 7, 2025
You have a cruise planned from Miami, Florida, to Cartagena, Spain. You will be at sea for 12 days crossing the Atlantic. No leaving the ship at any port until you get to Ponta Delgada, Azores, (an autonomous region of Portugal) on day 8 and then back at sea until you get to Spain on the 12th day.
Packing should be minimal for the cruise. Two pairs of walking shoes, two pairs of shorts, two blouses, two swimsuit coverups, two swimsuits. Throw in a couple of non-wrinkle polyester dresses for main dining, which can be enhanced with two scarves that you have packed. Two long pairs of pants and a hoodie. (Do not forget any medications and toiletries you need and pack enough to get you there and back.)
The cruise ships have a laundry service where you stuff a white bag that is provided by the cruise line, so your underwear packing can be flexible. The laundry service has a fee of $39.95 at this time, but if you are at a higher tier level with your preferred cruise line, there will be no charge. We use Royal Caribbean, and we had no charge for our laundry.
Check the weather in Spain and other countries you might visit for their weather during your stay. You will know what to pack according to their weather. You can rent a car in Spain and travel to other countries, much like driving from Florida to South Carolina. You can take a cruise around the Mediterranean Sea while you are there.
When it is time to return home, you can fly with your lightweight suitcase or take a cruise ship back for another 12 days.
There will be a time change. Adjust your watches.
Check the weather in Spain and other countries you might visit for their weather during your stay. You will know what to pack according to their weather. You can rent a car in Spain and travel to other countries, much like driving from Florida to South Carolina. You can take a cruise around the Mediterranean Sea while you are there.
Check the style of clothing in the countries you are going to visit. Sundresses are preferred over shorts of any type in many countries.
When it is time to return home, you can fly home with your lightweight suitcase or take a cruise ship back for another 12 days.
There will be a time change. Adjust your watches.
While you are on the ship for 12 days, you will have plenty of ways to be entertained. There is always social interaction at the main dining room or other dining venues.
Most transatlantic cruise ships have libraries, so you can read a book while in the solarium. Below are pictures of the solarium, a quiet, restful place to relax.
A cute guy to watch over you in the solarium.
All Royal Caribbean ships have arcade rooms where you can play video games. The games are like the ones you find on a boardwalk on a beach in the USA.
There are putt-putt golf courses on almost every Royal Caribbean ship.
There are rock climbing walls.
There are a number of water slides.
There are card rooms and libraries, especially on a transatlantic cruise.
There is almost always a Starbucks. There is almost always a Karaoke Bar.
There are Royal Theaters where Broadway shows can be seen, as well as Las Vegas performers. The ice skating shows are phenomenal, very elaborate and breathtaking.
There are multiple swimming pools.
There is always a gym for workouts on every Royal Caribbean ship. The gyms are large. The picture below only shows one side of the gym. Multiple treadmills, weights, and any kind of workout machine invented is available.
There are many shops to walk into and feast your eyes on pretty things, much like the malls of yesteryear.
