This Cruise Line Keeps Its Destinations a Secret Until the Night Before—so I Packed These 14 Foolproof Items

Travel + Leisure

2 days ago

As a lifelong solo traveler, keen snorkeler, and beginner sailor, I love an adventure that allows me to dip and dive amongst different landscapes and cultures. So, you can only imagine how enticing a mystery voyage with Variety Cruises was to me. Each year, the private cruise line hosts a mystery cruise where you only find out where you're sailing into on the night prior; last year was the Greek islands, this year: Malta's Valletta to Naples, Italy, with the deep promise of plenty of Sicilian gems that are best reached by small vessels.
Since details of the voyage were strictly under wraps, putting together a packing list was a challenge, but as a frequent cruisegoer, I knew that what I brought needed to be versatile and functional; outfits that can be thrown on and off for watersports and boat trips, but still cooling and comfortable for walks around ports and archaeological sites (plus something nice for dinners on board), as well as sturdy closed-toe shoes for potential hikes and pebbly beach strolls. Below are my 14 tried-and-true cruise essentials that fit the bill, even when I didn't know what the itinerary would entail, so if you find yourself booking a mystery cruise, the only mystery will be the undersung coasts you'll dock at next—not what to pack.
While Variety Cruises prides itself on its tiny, intimate vibes on board (there's only one restaurant and one bar, and no dress codes or themes) and laidback itineraries—guests are more like a gang of like-minded, low-key adventurers who like a dash of comfort and ease when in transit, but don't go for the over-the-top indulgence of some of Sicily's screen-popularized, moneyed haunts—a decent maxi dress to wear around the fancy yacht never feels out of place.
This J.Crew dress' already-crinkled look meant no stress about wrinkles, and it was nice enough to wear off-ship, too. The sky blue color paired with the red hand-smocked accents feels perfectly Mediterranean glam, and the ease and length of this number is great for dancing, sitting on steps to watch music, and shuffling respectfully through churches on some of the late-night island tours you find yourself on with Variety. Plus, there are on-seam pockets for your phone, sunglasses, and other tiny essentials.
The only other type of short dress I'll consider wearing on a cruise is a tighter cut that is still decidedly nautical-elegant. The '90s feel of this J.Crew sweater dress gem feels classic and smart, simple to dress up for any special night on or off board, but I would particularly choose it for an evening somewhere cosmopolitan like Palermo or Amalfi after a day exploring and boating. Something special from Variety Cruises that you don't get on bigger vessels is the local excursions to tiny villages for a traditional dinner; once or twice during a sail, the team chooses a local taverna or restaurant run by locals in the Ionian or Mediterranean for a culture-rich evening of food and music.
When at sea, I, more often than not, like a throw-on outfit to wear over my bathing suit so I can easily get changed when walking across pool decks and walkways. This Petal & Pup romper is made with 100 percent cotton, so it's moisture-wicking, breezy, and easy to hand-wash in your stateroom's bathroom sink if needed. It's particularly ideal for plodding around cities or towns such as the capital city of Valletta or Sicilian marina spot Porto Empedocle, where traditions and merged cultures still make for rather reserved and pared-down atmospheres around places of worship or town squares. $45 at Amazon $55 $39 at REI
The best thing about being on a small ship is the access to lesser-trodden routes and the opportunity to hop on even smaller boats to quaint island hubs like Favignana in the Aegadian Islands off southern Sicily's Trapani or Lipari in the Aeolian Isles towards Naples. Often, the Variety Voyager will dock just far enough from land to swim off the deck, with a stack of SUP paddle boards and kayaks ready to go. This privacy and oneness with the deep blue feels very VIP yacht—and this sporty skort is excellent to wear over swimwear with its quick-drying fabric. $98 $49 at REI $98 at Vuoriclothing.com
I've learned the pink and peeling way just how powerful the Mediterranean rays can be. June through August is roasting hot from Valletta through Naples, with the coastal breeze bringing some relief, but days on or in the water are deceptive to the UVA rays' potency. Now, I run no risks of sunburn during watersports or snorkeling adventures with this UPF 50+ rashguard from Vuori. The stretchy, moisture-wicking fabric was also great for hikes or cycling, or scooting around the likes of Vulcano or Palermo. Subtle pockets for glasses, sunscreen, or waterproof cameras are also nifty. $118 at Vuoriclothing.com
Onboard the Variety Voyager, everything is air-conditioned, except for the top two decks where you can watch sunrise, practice yoga, sip cocktails, and enjoy dusk as you sail through the changing kaleidoscope of the Mediterranean from port to port. I particularly liked wearing these light-colored Vuori Mushroom Villa Pants to pull on quickly for sunrise or to dress up for barbeques on deck, smartening them up with a simple belt and flats.
A simple tank or T-shirt pairs well with these, and the tapered waist with elastic allows for ample pasta sessions without the worry of tight waistbands. They were also ideal for tours to Pompeii or local villages to visit artisan studios or churches, where it's important to cover up. $100 at Zappos $100 at Teva.com
If you're a serious snorkeler with an aversion to flippers and a love for climbing over rocky terrain to get to the best reefs or caves, but also seek a shoe that's supportive enough for light hikes where your feet are likely to get splashed or slightly soiled with mud, moss, sand or pebbles, the Teva Hydratreks are the pair for you. I found them particularly handy when exploring the coves and bays of the Egadi archipelago and the pumice beaches and volcanic terrain of the Aeolian Isles, as well as paddling around the rocky bay in the cruise's start point of Valletta.
With cut-out panels for breathability and flexibility, plus maximised surface area, these shoes really let water escape easily, through great engineering underfoot that disperses it evenly. Teva claims that they are built for high-adrenalin activity, with tree-frog and spider-inspired grip and stability. They're pretty stylish, so you can also wear them with your favorite cruise dress or outfit if you want to be comfy.
For longer hikes and early morning port runs, I like my Salomon Speedcross Trail Shoes that are robust enough to handle dirt and sand but stay waterproof and breathable. They also have a "grippy connection to the ground and faster mud evacuation," and whilst I hope not to encounter much mud during a Med cruise, sometimes a little adventure off board is just what you need to escape the crowd and touch earth. However, if you're looking for something that looks more street-ready than trail-ready, I recommend the Salomon XT-4 OG Sportstyle Shoes, so they double as a pair of walking sneakers. Naples is also a great place for runs and long walks, though early in the morning or after dusk is more feasible during the summer months.
I'm a baseball cap lover, but sometimes they don't provide enough coverage, or match the dress code. This classy small cruise called for sun accessories that were a little more elevated, which is why I brought my Madewell Lantern Straw Hat. This 100 percent raffia delight is entirely packable, so it won't crush or mess up in transit, and the various colors are equally timeless and adaptable to any muted and soft cruising wardrobe. It's a safer bet than a wide-brimmed, wind-unfriendly sun hat and a little more subtle, though it still has some stylish flair that dresses up anything from white shirts to flowy rompers.
In my constant bid to move away from baseball caps but not lose hats to the ocean comes my attempt to revive headscarves, which I haven't worn since I was a pre-teen. My go-to Liberty London silk scarf did the trick with its oversized design, but you can achieve the same look for $15 with Amazon's Fonyve Mulberry Silk Scarf. When we docked in Palermo for two days, my headscarf saved my head from sunburn while searching for the perfect arancini.
After swimming with a floating dry bag, which also serves as a safety float and spotting device, in the rivers and lakes of Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, and Zurich, I was changed forever. Now, everywhere I travel, I take this Stover Waterproof Backpack (it also comes with a waterproof phone case).
It can feel curious at first to trust the bag with all your stuff, but it's incredibly freeing if you're in busy ports, bays, or beaches that make you uncertain about leaving your valuables ashore unattended.
I went years winging it with wrinkle-free clothing, but one day I had to accept that not all creases could always be so easily bypassed. I can honestly testify that the Steamery Cirrus 3 travel steamer is head and shoulders above others I've trialled, and I like to minimize the onboard laundry teams' already mammoth workload (plus the hefty ship costs of laundering and pressing) by carrying my own steamer.
What I love best about this Scandinavian-designed steamer are features like its auto-shut off, a featured hanging loop, and a long cord length. It also has limescale traps and a steaming pad, and both the steamer and iron functions work very effectively and quickly, too.
As a carry-on-only traveler, keeping my toiletries simple and minimal at sea is vital. However, there's always room in my toiletry bag for some aloe vera in case I overdo it in the sun, whether it be from too many hours exploring underwater or sunning during hikes or tours on land. This 100 percent organic aloe vera from Seven Minerals comes in a handy TSA-friendly size and packs on the soothing moisturization when my skin needs it (pro tip: I like to keep it in the fridge in my stateroom for an extra cooling touch). $45 at Amazon $69 at Nordstrom $45 at Kiehls.com
Saving the most vital packing tip for any Med adventure and my most important cruise essential for last, a high-SPF sunscreen. This lightweight sunscreen face serum from Kiehl's protects your skin from the sun's harmful rays while enriching it with collagen-boosting peptides and other healthy ingredients. Beyond making an exceptional sunscreen, I love Kiehl's because you can also bet to find one at any duty-free store around the world.
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