Wear the parka onboard. lol Hey, at least it won't be taking up space in your suitcase! Or- get some of those space bags and suck all the air out before you pack, that could really help.

I would pack all my clothes that coordinate, like khaki, white, olive green and black. That way everything mixes and matches nicely. You can always shop along the way, Jodi! lol I did that on a vacation once and it really worked well for me.

You're going to have the BEST time, I just know it. Did you decide on a wedding present yet?

Try and fit it all in a 25" suitcase and one carry-on, preferably a smaller roll-on duffel. If there's one thing that frosts my cookies it's when folks take on 21" rolling suitcases and shove them in the overhead compartment. They always take up way too much space, leaving minimal space for other passengers. Just because the airlines tell you a 21" bag is okay for a carry-on doesn't mean you should use a 21" as a carry-on. Have good airline etiquette ;o)
As far as the larger (28") bags, they might well be over the weight limit and they're a b!tch to maneuver. Dang!...I had a 28" and I felt like I was (literally) rolling/carrying a dead body around LOL. I gave that one away. I agree about packing coordinating clothes. Stick to 3 or 4 basic colors. As far as formal wear, I would go with dressy wide silhouette slacks or ankle-length A-line skirts in an easy care fabric, like georgette or silk, and maybe one dress. Georgette packs well and takes up minimal room. Basic black, navy, gray, burgundy for the slacks and/or skirts, and a selection of different dressy tops. That way you can wear one pair of slacks or a skirt more than once. And limit yourself to 2 pairs of dressy shoes, both that can go with any of the dressy outfits. Two more pairs of shoes should be all you'll need. One pair for walking and one pair that's a little more stylish for touring.
And layer, layer, layer. Do the mix and match thing and you'll get alot more mileage.

Shoot, I exceeded the luggage weight limit!

Layout all the stuff that you think you want to take along, then reduce to bare essentials - remove maybe half of the stuff. Since you will be sailing the north Pacific, favor bad/cold weather gear.

Flamey, at the pace the ship moves from port to port, there will be very little time at each port. There won't be much time to shop for anything other than Furoshiki cloth. Besides, I just spent that last three weekends clothes shopping.

I did some homework on Japanese weddings. Tradition is for each guest to give a cash gift of $300-$500 to he bride and groom. What!? I about fainted when I read that.

This particular wedding is a two parter. The first half hour or so the bride and groom get married in a "Western" style wedding (FYI, this does not mean Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger will be there. LOL). The second half consists of a traditional Japanese wedding that lasts two hours. Two hours of eating, drinking, and telling stories. At the end of the two hours, the bride and groom give all the guests one of more gifts.

With that tradition in mind, both Marilyn and I would need to come up with some serious cash. So I called the bride's father, Tetsuro (a long-time friend from childhood) and asked him what to do. He suggested we attend only the first half hour and then hit the streets of Tokyo for some sight seeing, meeting everyone back at the hotel two hours later for some more partying throughout the night. His reasoning for this is that A.) we will be bored out of our minds as two hours of speeches in Japanese go forth B.) we will feel less guilt for not forking out $300-$500 each. With that said, he said we are welcome to attend both ceremonies and not have to fork out any money, but he knows me well and knows I'd feel guilty.

But, this is all a moot point if the captain of the ship doesn't grant us shore leave. We found out last Friday that this is what has to happen before we can attend the wedding, which takes place 24 hours after the ship leaves Tokyo.

But, to answer your question, no, I have not decided on a wedding gift yet. Tetsuro had nothing to suggest. I did like Alisande's suggestion to frame one of the many photos I've taken but I just won't have time to get that all done before I leave. However, I might buy a digital picture frame and load some of my photos on that. They will be able to add their own and have the option to delete mine.

It did occur to me a couple days ago to use space bags and I might use one or two but that doesn't solve the weight limitations.

Whenever I travel, all of my outfits coordinate. I wear primarily black... slacks, (and in the case black dresses as well) and shoes and then a variety of tops for different looks.

MrsMarv, in the past I have always taken a small bag as carry-on or just my purse but since I'm going on an 18 day cruise, my options for clothes shopping will be very limited and expensive should my bags get lost and I've been told that United does not have a good reputation when it comes to reuniting you with your luggage at your destination. And I really don't want to spend my free time in ports shopping for clothes.

I bought the 28" suitcase this weekend and I know what you mean about it feeling like a dead body, and I don't even have clothes in it yet! I'm almost positive I'll be returning it this coming weekend.

Glenda, you may not have gone over your weigh limit for your particular destination. This is just what United requires for flights going to Japan.

JemDandy, I'll be laying all my clothes out in the next day or so, if the trauma of having to cull out my favorite outfits doesn't kill me, I'll be back. :-)

Jodi-

Russia?
Alaska?
Take boots and warm socks. Gloves too and perhaps a hat.
Cabellas sell wonderful silk underwear; lightweight and soooooo warm.

Other than that I have no advice.

Sounds like a cool cool trip though.
I hope you get shore leave for the wedding!

Lori

Don't forget your meds, if you have any, and a letter from the DR it you do along with a prescription. Also you might take some tynol and Imodium, just in case. Even on ship it is good to have your own stuff.

Seems to me Jodi is the ultimate traveler!
I'm jealous!

Only wish I can, ONE day, in my lifetime!

Happy traveling!

I don't think so Glenda, I just happened to be lucky enough to have a friend who finds incredible travel deals and a sweet DH that says to me "why don't you go, you deserve it." :-)

Besides, I'm just trying to keep up with you!

Jodi-

This probably isn't at all helpful..but when my DD went to Australia some of the adults said they bought thrift store clothing to wear on the trip and left it in the hotels for the employees there. That way they were left with an almost empty suitcase at the end of the stay which gave them lots of room for souveniers. I wish I had talked my DD into doing that because the very first week (it was a 3 week trip) she lost half of the new clothes I had bought her!

My friend in Japan never emailed me back about the wedding gift ideas. I changed my email address since I last emailed her, so I think I may have ended up in the Junk folder. Sorry.

No problem Lydia.

When I first started mentally packing three weeks ago I chose a bunch of clothes that I didn't care if they got lost or not, then I went shopping and before I knew it, I had bought an entire new wardrobe which of course now I want to wear on the cruise.

When Marilyn and I went to Antarctica we had a couple formal nights including drinks with the captain because Marilyn had used that cruise line before. But we weren't really all that prepared for formal nights. This trip I want to do it right.

Jodi-

Well I wish I could fit in the luggage, but I'd be left behind because of the weight of the luggage.

Only advice is to have a really safe and pleasant trip.

Gayle

All I can say is - my next wedding will be held in Japan! lolol Wow, those are some pretty expensive gifts. Maybe you should hope you don't get shore leave! lol, I'm just kidding, I know you want to go and experience it and see your friends, Jodi. And please don't feel pressured into shopping for Furoshuki cloths! (I'm not saying DON'T do it, mind you, just don't feel like you have to!) lol

And you're right- space bags would only encourage you to pack MORE stuff. All new clothes for the cruise, that's so fun! I just know you'll get it all worked out, yer a schmart cookie! Isn't it grand to have something wonderful to look forward to?

I have a cruise/land tour booked for June and was told the key to the Alaskan trips are layering your clothes. She said some days will be warm even on trips north. I bought a light weight, water resistant nylon coat that can be smashed. I opted to take two 25 inch suitcases because of the weight problem and my carry on is a small duffel bag with a change of clothes and my electronics, camera, binocs, etc.. It has a shoulder strap so I can carry the small duffel on my shoulder like a purse then pull the other two suitcases. I fold my panties in a narrow strip then roll them and store in a gallon freezer bag marked clean. I take an extra bag for the ones I have worn. I bought a jewelery storage bag meant to be hung in the closet and cut it in half and will use that to take my jewelry in, it is flat and see thru. I just bought an RFID blocking passport wallet as a safeguard against, ID's being stolen. Gotta end this the cable guy is here and he is going to disconnect my ATT DSL. I will make another post later.

Glittery tops/jacket?

Last Sept when I went to Puerto Vallarta, I did 2 things that I would do again.

1: I packed mostly old clothes so I could leave them there and have room in the suitcase coming home

2: I didn't worry about the weight going over. The penalty was only $25 and I could go over the weight limit. I paid it and was really light coming home.

I can't wait to hear about your trip! I am so envious and I bet you'll have a fantastic time! Pics Pics!