How to pack like a pro for a cruise across the Mediterranean in Autumn

Now, what about the shoes? This can be a big stumbling block, especially for women or shoe aficionados. We all know that shoes make an outfit! My tip here is to be ruthless.

I always pack my black Nike sneakers – they pair well with almost every casual outfit and are the most comfortable walking shoes I’ve ever owned. I also tend to bring a pair of sandals or pumps for relaxing on the ship or wearing with dresses and skirts. If you choose the second pair carefully, it can double up as your shoe choice with formal outfits – strappy, sparkly sandals or leather slingback pumps can both stand up to formal attire.

Accessories are another thing to consider. As they always say, they can add variety and style to your outfits without taking up loads of extra space or weight. Whatever you do, you’ll want to include at least one hat and a pair of sunglasses.

I always opt for a wide-brimmed hat for both sun protection and style – but a fedora or baseball cap are both good options too. I also add a lightweight silk or cotton scarf, which I can use to cover my shoulders in places like cathedrals, add an extra layer of warmth on cooler nights, or wrap around my waist at the pool in place of a sarong.

It goes without saying that you have to be practical when it comes to packing for your Med cruise over October. But the easiest way to do this, and my best packing pro tip, is this: make sure everything you pack pairs well with at least three to four other items of clothing. You might feel like this forces you to stick to neutrals or boring choices, but it really means building a portable capsule wardrobe so you’ll always have options even when you’re a week in and accidentally spilled pasta on your favourite pair of jeans. If that one shirt you LOVE only pairs well with a certain style of jeans, leave it behind.

If there’s something crucial you’re missing, like a raincoat in South African summer season, remember that you can often order online and send it to the hotel you’ll be staying at the day before you depart for your cruise.

Finally, look into packing cubes or even just large Ziploc-type bags. Not only can these save space, but they can also make it way easier to find your clothes. You can either pack complete outfits into these, or separate them out by tops, bottoms, underwear, and so on. I also like to set one bag or cube aside for dirty socks and underwear as the trip goes on, so I’m not rifling through my socks desperately trying to find a clean pair when I’m in a rush.