Camo print clothing or accessories
                Some places actually have rules about dressing in camo print because their police or military wear the pattern on their official uniforms. It’s like how you can’t have red and blue lights on your car in most places in the US because it’s too much like police lights. Barbados, Jamaica, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia all outlaw camo for non-military members. 
 
Walkie-Talkies
                Same thing, walkies are sometimes considered “military equipment” and in places like Cuba you can get in trouble if you’re found with them.
 
Drones
                Drones are tricky for 2 reasons: first you need a license to fly them in most places and second, most cruise lines don’t want amateurs (or worse, professionals) taking high-def ariel footage of their boats or guests. Especially their guests. Drones can be used to spy on the private parts of the boat or of a person’s vacation so you are usually made to surrender your drone on arrival. If you get clearance to use it ashore by the appropriate governmental agency you may be able to check it out when you disembark in port and check it back in on return, like alcohol purchased ashore.
 
Anything with wheels that goes under your feet
                Heelies, skate boards, roller skates, hover boards, Segways—anything you can accidentally launch yourself off the boat off of is typically banned. And people do fall off boats so please just don’t and make sure your kids don’t either.
 
Towel
                The boat has towels and towels you can take off with you even, the fee for losing a towel is probably a lot less than what you actually paid for your towels at home. Towels are also bulky and inconvenient to pack. Don’t bring your own towel.
 
Pillows
                Similarly- don’t bring a pillow unless it’s for a very good (medical?) reason. The boat has a variety of pillows and even the smallest beds and cabins have extras and you can ask for more or different pillows if you need them. I do like to bring my silk pillow sleeve and weighted eye mask, however, to ensure good hair and quality sleep on board no matter the hour.
 
Devices with Lithium-Ion batteries
                Now, these devices aren’t banned- it’s just a broad suggestion for all cruisers to please minimize how many lithium batteried devices you bring onboard. They are a fire risk, that’s why you can’t check them in your luggage and why they require special shipping and handling in transit. Believe it or not, a LOT of cruise ship fires happen every year—you just don’t usually hear about them. Even on your own boat if there’s a fire you may not know about it. Typically the firefighting crew (yes, there are people specially trained to fight fires and ALL crew have basic fire safety training) puts it out before you ever hear an alarm in a public zone but fires happen with some regularity. Help prevent them by cutting down on how many potential exploders you bring.
 
Hair dryers
                This is a tough one for me-- have you seen my hair? It’s five feet long or something. I am used to a powerful hair dryer and sometimes using the one on the boat is a big time-suck. So why not bring your own? It’s the voltage. Each cabin has its own electrical circuit and, luckily, if you short out your room you aren’t shorting out the whole floor. That would be way more embarrassing than it already is to call someone to fix the electricity … three or four times … per cruise. Your cabin steward isn’t cleared to fix it either, they’ll have to get an engineer to flip the breaker to reset your cabin electrical. You will still be able to open the balcony door, front door, bathroom, and the water will continue to work- don’t panic. If you trip your breaker in your room, you are never trapped. While we’re at it: don’t plug anything except an electric razor into the bathroom either.
 
Alcohol
                The internet is full of interesting and strange ways to smuggle alcohol on board a cruise ship. There are fake suntan lotion bottles, the mouthwash system which involves a touch of blue dye, and the “re-sealer” where you fill bottles and re-seal them like they left the factory. I’m not saying it isn’t possible- I’m not even saying it’s that difficult BUT why?
     A typical drink on an NCL cruise costs $6.50 if you pay cash. You no longer sign the receipt to tip on every alcohol purchase (which I know brought up the cost of drinks for chronic over-tippers). I live in Seattle where a typical drink at a club costs around $13.00. Literally double. So, for starters, you aren’t being fleeced the same way you are when you go out to enjoy drinks at a bar or downtown club. NCL also runs 2 for 1 happy hours driving prices down further. Plus, once you’ve cruised you typically can enjoy “free at sea” deals on most semi-inclusive cruise lines like Royal Caribbean or Norwegian which means we haven’t paid for drinks in like 8 years.
                Plus if your super clever system to smuggle booze on board fails, you’re going to have alcohol soaked clothes and on-board laundry is not cheap (around $40 a bag). That’s 6 drinks. Or god forbid you get caught—what then? You are banned from your favorite cruise line because you didn’t want to pay for a liter of drinks?

Weapons
            I'm going to preface this by saying I take my Safety Cat everywhere and it has never been confiscated on a plane, train, or cruise ship. 
        You should not attempt to bring weapons on board a cruise ship. You will go through a metal detector prior to boarding. Pocket knives often get overlooked, check your pockets before you board. If they find a gun you will not be boarding today, you could be banned. If you flew to your cruise port you probably already removed all the obvious stuff from your luggage and clothes but Cork Screws, Box Cutters, Ice Picks, and Craft Knives could all be confiscated and not returned. 

We're Going to Cuba! 

​The trip is booked- this April we are sailing on Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas on a 5 day cruise which includes Nassau Bahamas, and an overnight stay in Havana. We will dock in Havana at 8am and not depart until 8pm the following day. 

Two full days in Cuba! We are hoping to take a classic car day tour from OldCar Tours. We'll get outside of the city on day one, and then explore within Havana on day two.  On the list is the town of Vinales- located West of Havana- the area is known for its beautiful valleys, and countryside where tobacco for cigars is grown. 

Of course we will post a blog when we return with all the photos, questions, and details about traveling to Cuba as Americans. *UPDATE* THE BLOG IS UP UNDER OUT CUBA TAB WITH HELPFUL TIPS FOR EASY ENTRY TO CUBA HERE.

Right now what we're obsessed with is the amazing culture and style of Cuba. Much of the Caribbean comes across as very beachy, tropical, resort-wear style clothes. This is not the case with Cuba. Replace those Hawaiian/tropical print with rich, vibrant florals. A very traditional Spanish feel meets the heat of the Caribbean. Test your style limits by complimenting loose flouncy outfits and structured elements like brimmed hats and chunky heels. 

​Check out bold floral prints and botanical patterns on dresses and jumpers. Make your group outfits complementary patterns and colors to stand out from the crowd. 

​Try accessory tassels on your belt, earrings, dresses and hats. Bold earrings can provide a pop of color when you prefer neutrals on your body and can bring head-to-toe glamour to a swimsuit and the right sandals. 

We've been on quite a few Norwegian cruises at this point (it's no secret that they're our favorite); one of our favorite things about NCL cruises is the glow party! ​

We've been on quite a few Norwegian cruises at this point (it's no secret that they're our favorite); one of our favorite things about NCL cruises is the glow party!

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What is the Glow Party?:

The glow party is an all-ages party that is typically on the last sea night of your NCL cruise. On the bigger ships like the Epic, Breakaway, Getaway, and Escape the party takes place  at the Spice H2O.  Spice is an  adults-only outdoor bar area at the aft (back) of the boat. During the day Spice H20 offers an adults only lounging area with hot tubs, a bar, and even a private grotto on some of the ships! 

For those who have cruised Norwegian before this is the same party that used to be the "white hot" party but I think the glow theme is way more fun. 
​Plus it reminds me of a rave at sea. 

​Does everyone attend the Glow Party? 

​​Basically. It is definitely one of the more popular events on the cruise. You will find people of all ages getting down as the DJ takes you through the decades of top hits. The cruise sells some glow/light up items on board but we feel it's best to come prepared! Glowsticks, accessories, and neon clothing ensure that you'll fit right in for this great party. We love to bring a few extra accessories and hand them out to new friends on board. 

​Do I need to Dress up? 

​​Absolutely not! If it's not your cup of tea, that's totally fine! You'll have plenty of fun laying back in your khaki shorts and just taking in the sights. It's a high energy party with various areas for drinks, sitting, dancing, and of course...people watching! 
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​Here are some of the must-haves for decking out for the glow party at the end of your cruise. 

Why Wedges?

Here are a few of the cutest and most comfortable shoes we love to take with us when we travel. Most of these are Easy Street and A2 by Aerosoles. They're super comfortable so you can wear them all day without having to switch into flats.

On our cruises we walk about 10,000 steps per day so you need to have comfy shoes. 

Sneakers? 

Sneakers are definitely a go-to for many cruisers. Unfortunately for both of us- Sporty was never our style. That being said there are many super cute sneakers that we've found that are cruise related. We have featured a few pairs in the shop that offer comfort, while maintaining an island vibe. 

How many Pairs?

I would say we average 3-4 pairs of shoes on each cruise.  1-2 Pairs of a dressier wedge that we can use for the majority of our outfits, a night time stiletto type shoe, and then a flip flip or low wedge for poolside. 

Shoes are one of the heavier and bulkier items you'll need to pack. We have also recently started bringing along a pair of folding flats that can be kept in a purse. We are only one size difference in shoe size so we bring one pair and if someone  ends up with blisters they can use the backup shoes. 
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These are some of our skin-saving must-haves for cruise travel and keeping your skin in great shape year-round, no matter how much fun in the sun you have! ​

What are these?

These are some of our skin-saving must-haves for cruise travel and keeping your skin in great shape year-round, no matter how much fun in the sun you have! Also, a few of our favorite makeup related items we bring on every cruise. These are all items you can actually find in our bathrooms right now. 

This is a Cruise website, why beauty items?

Caribbean cruises are incredibly popular. While you're enjoying the warm weather you're also likely to showing some skin, and contending with some water and humidity. You can't do a full face of makeup while swimming, and you definitely don't want dry skin on those freshly shaven legs. These are the little extra items to keep you beauty ready for cruise time. 

The second lightweight dress also comes from Amazon and was really inexpensive! This high-low dress is a poly blend and has button closures and elastic loops. I love a deep V and the fluttery ruffles at the bottom are super romantic. Everywhere I went I got compliments on this dress. Fits a wide range of sizes. 

Eyes

The sun in the Caribbean is no joke. We always end up taking  a few different pairs to ensure that we have at least one that is both cute, and helping to protect our eyes. As you're closer to the equator the rays are stronger, and you may need darker lenses. 

Our "Shop" has a whole selection of the cutest sunglasses so that you can make sure to have a few to choose from. I've found that especially if you're wearing contacts it becomes very easy for your eyes to become irritated and sensitive from the harsh sun. Make sure you always have sunglasses, and some moisturizing eye drops to make sure that you don't spend the evening rocking that red-eye look. 



Check out some of our favorite sunglasses. These are under $10 and literally everyone on Earth is obsessed with them.  
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Lips

Lips are often overlooked when it comes to sun protection! Think about how thin the skin is on your lips, and how easily it can become damaged. While we agree that gorgeous color, long wear, and comfort are important-  so is making sure those bad boys are protected!

It's important to ensure that you're wearing a lip product that features SPF and moisturizes your lips. Being out in the sun all day can be brutal. 

​The lips below feature: