If you aren’t into these kinds of logistics, stop here. This post is for the packing geeks among us.

Santiago 🇨🇱 100 degrees 🥵 (2 days) followed by Antarctica 🇦🇶 -10 to 40 degrees 🥶 (12 days). Then the family convenes in Mexico City 🇲🇽 48-69cloudy 🌧 ☁️ (5 days) and Merida 🇲🇽 70-80 sunshine ☀️ (5 days)

See my problem?
If you don’t know already, I am fairly dedicated to traveling with a carryon compliant suitcase and a small backpack. Usually this is not difficult.
But Antarctica requires special gear: polarized sunglasses, goggles, glove liners, gloves and mittens, plus three layers of wool thermals, a layer of down and expedition weight – really thick – wool socks. On a research vessel I could live in those thermal layers 24/7. This is more of a luxury cruise and I’ll admit it, I want to look good.

So I need to have lounge wear and dinner attire that isn’t my long Johns—or at least not obviously. And with warm weather bookends in Santiago and Merida Mexico, I will need to include shoes that really multi task. Including a heel! Yep, our friend MariJo hooked us up with tickets to the premier of her new movie in Mexico City! Vanity dictates a special outfit and at least a little heel. Shoes are the key to packing light IMO.

Now that the challenge is clear, here’s my plan:

Pack Antarctica gear first: The ship provides a parka, and I am able to rent waterproof pants and boots. That lightens my load a bit.

So, in first go my expedition layers: Thin poly base layer; Icebreaker mid layer leggings (2) and Uniqlo (UQ) fleece lined pants; Icebreaker mid layer tops (2) 260 weight long sleeves, 260 halfzip, 300 hoodie); and UQ down vest (black and lavender) and UQ full sleeve (black).

Next the gloves (icebreaker liners, UQ mid layer, Acteryx outer layer), two pair expedition socks, goggles with lenses for cloudy and clear conditions, polarized sunglasses, hat, balaclava, neck gaiter.

All of the expedition gear I place in two Eagle Creek packing cubes. I am giving cubes a try this trip thinking I will benefit from the compression. Fingers crossed.

Finally the “mud room” shoe. After reading several other blogs, it was recommended that I bring a cozy set of shoes to slip into after the expeditions. Apparently when you return from being on the continent you slip out of your heavy duty boots and leave them in the mud room for sanitation. You need a shoe that you can slip into easily to walk back to your state room. Some people bring slippers that they can discard at the end of the trip; other people bring shoes that they don’t intend to bring back. I chose the latter. I am bringing a stretched out favorite with added shearling liners so that I can slip my socks off and my feet in to this toasty warm set of shoes.

For onboard (with only mild vanity) I packed four pants: black, olive, black/grey stripe, and an onyx. I then put tops and sweaters with them that could create at least three outfits each. My Jen George scarf elevates an outfit slightly and pairing the heel elevates slightly further.

I add a black icebreaker jogger, a workout legging/top, and my swimsuit (in case I have enough courage to take the polar swim or do laps in the pool while folks are eating on the perimeter). Undergarments, PJs (the kind that I can wear with a cabin mate that isn’t my husband).

My suitcase is already nearly full.

Shoes: I opt for a solid set of brogues, a flat, and the black heel. (Plus the mud room shoe.) At one point I had a broader array of color but in the end, I swapped the orange flats for a black pair. I shove them into the crevices along the edges of the suitcase after compressing those packing cubes.

95% full now. I have a thin exterior pocket that I will use for Santiago so that I don’t have to unpack for the two day stay. In goes my blue linen pant and a couple of tanks to hold me over.

No room for Mexico City and Merida. Using same set of pants but have additional casual lighter weight tops, plus a fancy top for the premier. (Which I can wear it for NYE on the cruise as well. How did I forget NYE attire? I throw in some corny necklaces and a black purse.)

I change tactics. I will place irreplaceable expedition gear in my backpack. Eagle Creek cube with gloves, goggles, etc. go into my backpack and Mexico/Merida clothing go into the suitcase.

Everything out. Mexico City/Merida go on the bottom. Then expedition cube and loungewear cube. Undies. PJs. UQ vests/parka. Shoes in crevices. Sit on it. Zip it.

Stuffed.

Backpack next. Said Eagle Creek with gloves, goggles etc. Binoculars. Birds of Antarctica Guide. Toiletries, sea sickness medicine. iPad. Chargers. Fresh shirt for when I land in Santiago. Contigo. Dinner on Duane 2023 tote bag. Blatant plug for Friends of Duane Park 🙂

Ready.

Sorry in advance about the formatting. It is easier to lay this out on a computer but as you can see, I left that behind. I’m tapping this on my phone from Santiago because I didn’t get a chance to post before leaving NYC.