I wrote out my packing list from my voyage about a month ago and quickly realized it needed to be two posts. There was just so much to talk about! I definitely overpacked for my voyage, but it’s four months of your life out on the ocean so I will take no judgement. This section is the non-clothes items. I want to preface this by saying: Bring whatever you need. I brought lots of medicine and personal items because I have to avoid a lot of medicines due to my other prescriptions. I wanted to be sure I was prepared for all circumstances. As for the personal items, this was the farthest I have ever been from my family and the longest time period. I wanted pictures and my own blanket and even notes from my family to read when I was missing them and couldn’t talk to them. So bring what you want to bring! This is just what I suggest…

TECH:

This is the section you really need to think through. Technology is often heavy and easily stolen. So, I suggest only bringing what you absolutely need. Also, not a single other country uses US outlets, so there’s also the problem of only having so many adapters in the friend group, meaning only so many things can be charging. This is what I would pack if I were leaving next week…

• Laptop | Duh bring your personal one.
• Kindle | There are so many Kindle types, but this is the one I recommend. It’s waterproof and has a glare free screen. Perfect for pool reading on the top deck!
• Wall Adapters | My roomie had this thing and it was a lifesaver. It easily plugged into the outlet in our room (all SAS rooms have European outlets), allowing us to charge more than one thing at a time, and then it also had all kinds of different plug adapters for in country. I did not think about the in-country charging and I only brought a European adapter. You need to invest in multiple like this pack.
• Portable Charger | This was the perfect power bank for every situation. It gave my phone 2-3 full charges and was so slim, making it easy to pack. I could fit it in my Lululemon belt bag or any going out purse, making my anxiety decrease significantly in new places.
• Chargers | This is up to you! I obviously don’t suggest bringing every single piece of technology you have, but whatever you bring will need chargers. I think any type of video game equipment or projector is so unnecessary because hopefully you will not be in your room much. I brought my iPad because I didn’t own a Kindle at the time. It was great for playing games, note taking, and reading. Just make sure whatever you bring is going to be useful because you always run the risk of it being broken or stolen.

PERSONAL:

I suggest buying these magnets and then bringing a bunch of photos. The doors are magnetic, and this is a great way to make the room feel like your own without taking up lots of space in your luggage. You are going to be away from home and the people you know for four months, so it’s important to fill your space with reminders. Here are my other recommendations…

• Mucinex | With my prescriptions, this is one of the only cold medicines I can take. I barely used any, but I am so grateful I brought it just in case.
• Pepto-Bismol | You are going to be eating some terrible food on the ship as well as entirely new types of food in country. Bring this!
• Benadryl | Just in case allergies hit you at any time, this took up so little space.
• Tylenol | Duh! I got a lot of headaches from the waves, so this was a must.
• Prescriptions | I had lots of these personally, but also my voyage required some. We were required to take malaria prevention pills. My doctor also gave me some stronger than Pepto digestive meds and an antibiotic in case I got sick. Also, the ship does give allergy shots if you need them to!
• Journal | I HATE journaling, but I knew I needed to do it for this once in a lifetime opportunity. My aunt got me this journal where I just needed to fill a page a day and it was perfect.
• Blanket | I was gifted this blanket before I left and it was so great. It was super soft and always made me smile. I did get teased for having random pictures of myself all over my blanket, but it was really good for my homesickness to see pictures everywhere.

RANDOM:

Now for the stuff that doesn’t fit in any other category…

• Wraps | Many of the hottest countries you’ll visit also have strict modesty requirements for either the entire country or their religious places. This kind of wrap was perfect when you needed to keep your shoulders covered in 100 degree heat. I recommend grabbing one of these for sure!
• Hats | I am not a hat person, but I was so grateful I brought a baseball cap for the pool. We were on or by the equator most of the semester, and the hat really helped me keep my face from burning every single day.
• Sunglasses | Obviously you need these for a variety of reasons, but this pack is just perfect. They’re super durable and cheap, so if you lose or break a pair, it’s not heartbreaking.
• Snacks | I recommend the following…
  • Clif Bars – There may not always be time for breakfast in-country.
  • Cheez-Its / Goldfish – These were good in-between meal snacks on the ship.
  • Green Tea – For the hot water…
  • Gum – You may not find the kind you like in-country and this is needed for flights.
  • Peanut Butter Crackers – A good protein source if you have allergies (Ex: India, I was allergic to everything)
  • Salad Dressing / Condiment – Their dressings and condiments are slim pickins, so if you have a favorite, it’s worth it.
• Clotheslines | Since you’ll be washing your clothes in the sink, you’ll have to use these to dry those clothes.
• Scrubba | I used this to wash my clothes. Says it’s like a portable washing machine, but I think it was just a better alternative to washing everything one by one.
• Insulated Water Bottle | You definitely need a Brita or other kind of filtered water bottle. The ship uses purified ocean water for everything, including drinking water, so an additional filter helps a lot. I also recommend insulation because ice is hard to come by so you want to keep your water as cold as possible for as long as possible.
• Post-Its | Some people used these to decorate their doors, but I think they were a fun way to leave messages on other people’s. We left birthday messages or just cute uplifting ones on so many people’s doors.
• Tote Bag | This was perfect for classes. You don’t need much, so a tote bag was the perfect size. Also, because it was so easy to pack, I brought it home no problem. A school backpack was just too clunky to pack because I already had my travel backpack.
• Bug Spray | I went to a lot of countries where malaria was a concern, so this was so needed. Also, if you plan on doing outdoorsy activities like hiking and nature tours, this will come in handy for sure.
• Travel First Aid Kit | I tend to be the “mom” of the group wherever I go, but I really did appreciate having this. You just don’t know what might happen, and I prefer having extra supplies for sure.
• Travel Mug | There is always coffee and hot water for tea in Berlin, but the mugs are only there during meal times. Also, you can’t leave the dining halls with the mugs. SO, if you plan to drink coffee or tea during any other time, I recommend bringing a mug.
• Beach Towel | Another quirk of the MV World Odyssey is that you are not given towels for the pool and the shower towels cannot leave your room. So, you need to bring your own for the pool and any other in-country adventures. This one was easy to pack and dried off fast.
• Carry On Backpack | This backpack was perfect for in-country adventures, compact but fit a lot. I also love this after the voyage because it fits under the seats of most planes, making it a perfect personal item.
• Hangers | I brought way too many clothes, and I will be the first to admit that. However, I did bring enough hangers for all my clothes. Each closet only has 5-6 hangers, which is obviously nowhere near enough. To really maximize storage in a triple, the hangers were a great choice.

Let me know if you have any questions! Bon voyage!