Trying to Pack Only 1-2 Purses!

[resjes]

So I'm going to bring a wristlet, evening bag/fancy bag, and then I'm hoping to get away with the below bag for the rest of the trip..like in ports and stuff. Is it large enough? I'm also going to be alone so I wanted to make sure I could swing the bag to the front and zip it...oh and on ports where I will be on the beach, will have a beach bag too. Tips/tricks for packing light in the purse, I would appreciate it lol I typically use a tote on day-to-day basis...

 

[Hoyaheel]

I travel with a smaller bag than I use daily (I typically travel with a lesportsac nylon classic hobo bag I can wear crossbody). I switch to a smaller wallet and ONLY include stuff I need - the grocery store cards can stay home, etc) I don't take all the keys or all the lip glosses or....Because I'm switching purses, it's easy to sort through what comes out of the daily purse and decide if I need it for travel or not. I can't (don't want to...) travel with an even smaller day bag because I like to have a water bottle with me, need to carry my lens wipes, some lip balm, phone, whatever else is necessary for me as I'm out and about....

 

[waterbug123]

34 minutes ago, resjes said:

 I'm hoping to get away with the below bag for the rest of the trip..like in ports and stuff. Is it large enough?

 

 

 

That depends entirely on what you plan to do while in port, and how much stuff you like, or think you need, to carry with you. 

Often we just get off the ship to have lunch and that's it; I stick a lip balm in one pocket and my phone in the other.  My phone has a case on the back that holds an ID, seapass and credit card.    If we're going to be in port a bit longer or are leaving the immediate port area, I might take a small cross body bag that holds those plus a few other random things.  If we'll be gone all day or are on some sort of action-adventure excursion we take a small backpack or a tote bag to hold water bottles, any different attire/footwear that might be needed for the activity, hats or visors, etc.

[resjes]

It never allows me to edit posts!! I should have mentioned that I will have at least 1 water bottle (probably 1 liter) with me. I hope it zips in that bag!

[GlennaRoseGoes]

I personally wouldn’t pack an evening bag for a cruise. I don’t see the point of a purse onboard when I only need to carry my room card. It’s not like Vegas where the Choo clutch always comes along!

[Hoyaheel]

I carry stuff with me to dinner (lip balm, phone for photos, tissues) and don't usually have pockets, so I need something. I've noted in another thread for many trips I have a wristlet that is large enough to hold what I need for evenings and I use it as my wallet in the day bag. Nothing "extra" but fits my needs perfectly 🙂

[waterbug123]

9 hours ago, GlennaRoseGoes said:

I personally wouldn’t pack an evening bag for a cruise. I don’t see the point of a purse onboard when I only need to carry my room card. It’s not like Vegas where the Choo clutch always comes along!

 

Well, you are not the OP, and maybe the OP DOES see a need to carry something.  I usually carry a wristlet in the evening because while I don't carry much, I do carry more than my Seapass.   At the very least, I also have a lipstick or lip balm, and usually casino chips.  Sometimes I also have my phone; we often cruise with friends and frequently text while onboard so we can know when and where we are meeting up after separating for whatever reason.

[GlennaRoseGoes]

4 hours ago, waterbug123 said:

 

Well, you are not the OP, and maybe the OP DOES see a need to carry something.  

Maybe. Maybe not. Title states they want to pack 1-2 purses, then they listed the 3 (an integer greater than those stated in the title) they are thinking of.....so I assumed they might want to know what others would eliminate. If they need to carry the items you mention, then I feel the wristlet would suffice and the evening purse is duplicative.

[Lois R]

Hmmmm…the question is a good one because we are all different people. Personally, I would bring the 3rd item.  A small evening bag (for me, it is a crossbody) works really well.  Some of us carry more than just our key. I have meds so I don't have to go back to the cabin and get them....my key, tissues, money if I am going to the casino. Oh and my glasses. I have a pair for distance and a pair of readers..when I am in the dining room, I use my readers for the menu.....(getting old LOL). When I am not using them I need to put them away.  The distance ones are for exactly what they say, distance

 

Of course, the answer is up to you and what you are most comfortable with we can only give you our thoughts!  Oh….one other thing....the bag does not take up much space at all!

[Barb Nahoumi]

If you do bring the beach tote, you could pack the day purse and wristlet into it.

[OCruisers]

There was a time when I took MANY purses with me on cruises ... But No Longer! 

I take my regular purse on the ship and change to "our" (his things are there too ) smallish medium cruise purse with a shoulder strap ... which is black. 

It goes with me everywhere ... even on formal nights. 

Going to the beach ... no problem ... just drop it into our beach bag.

 

 

[Nebr.cruiser]

All I take is a small crossbody bag--much smaller than the picture--and some kind of very small bag for evenings--usually a wristlet.  I need it for reading glasses, tissues and toothpicks.

 

I'm not a purse person though and although I always carry a purse, I don't need or want big ones.  For days on shore my purse is big enough for my small camera, tissues, glasses and whatever I need for credit cards or money.  I usually don't carry water with me due to size and weight.  

[twoznuff2]

I used to take little wristlet to dinner and then a small crossbody on shore excursions but as my eyesight has changed and I need glasses to read the menus I carry a small crossbody all the time one stat I can put into my beach bag if I am doing a beach type shore excursion. I have become a fan of many of the Vera Bradley bags such as this little crossbody/wristlet

 https://www.verabradley.com/us/product/Lighten-Up-RFID-All-in-One-Crossbody/23120-23120M23 or this one below is the Mini hipster has room for cards-cash a phone-lipstick and my glasses. She also sells a cute lanyard that works great to carry your sail card and some cash.  I like that the products are lightweight and in some cases, water repellant and they come in so many patterns and sizes

*****I have zero affiliation in any way with this company but I do wish we had the outlets here in California. 

[resjes]

I guess the title of this topic should have been "I would like to bring 1-2 purses but have 3 to choose from". Thanks for the tips, all! Maybe I will skip the evening bag, unless I have space for it. I will definitely bring my crossbody bag and a wristlet at least.

[angie7911922]

Skip the evening bag, you won't need it. I tend to only take one purse with me when I travel. If it doesn't fit in that purse, I don't need it. I would bring the crossbody bag and call it good 🙂

[cb at sea]

I like to have a SMALL purse for daytimes around the ship.  I like to have comb, lipstick, tissues, etc...for touchups while I'm out and about.  Don't want to have to go all the way back to the cabin to fix my hair or my lipstick!  Handy for your ship's key, too!

 

I use my normal purse for going ashore, if I'm shopping or sightseeing.  If we are doing a beach, I just stick the SMALL purse into my beach tote.

[sydbarrett]

For Caribbean I have a backpack for port (doing all active excursions) and a small leather cross body bag that can be dressed up or down for evenings on ship. I also have a thin nylon bag that folds into nothing that I can use as a beach bag if I need to keep sandy items out of my backpack.

 

If Europe, I would wear the crossbody bag for both (mostly city exploring).

Edited April 15, 2019 by agibeault
Added info

[Lois R]

If your wristlet works for evenings for you? Then go for it. I just got back from an 11 night cruise...brought 2 bags for evenings....used both and neither took up much space at all.

[ABCGreys]

To travel, I pack my purse stuff into a backpack (so I don't bring my every day bag) and bring a small evening bag for on board for lipstick/balm, room key, phone, etc. I used to use a wristlet but my phone had outgrown the size of the ones I have and DH looks at me cross-eyed what the Coach or D&B boxes get delivered so I haven't gotten a larger one yet.  

 

During the days on board, I use a lightweight day pack for the above items plus camera, towel clips, bottled water. Depending on what we're doing in port, I use either a cross body purse or the day pack. 

 

I guess it depends on what you like to carry and the most efficient way to ensure you have what you need without over packing. 

[SadieN]

On 3/13/2019 at 11:09 AM, resjes said:

It never allows me to edit posts!! I should have mentioned that I will have at least 1 water bottle (probably 1 liter) with me. I hope it zips in that bag!

I wouldn't carry a one liter bottle, I'd carry two half-liter disposable bottles, filling them up every night.  The one used first can be crushed down to size.  Puff air into it to bring it back to shape.

Think about what you absolutely need to carry.  We are all different in our needs.  Reduce the size of your wallet, many wallets these days are huge.  A men's wallet could be a good choice.  For some travels you might need a small coin purse.

 

[57redbird]

I can't remember who mentioned Joy Susan clutches/wristlets but THANK YOU!  I love mine --- just the right color & size.

[Dermotsgirl]

Kipling bags are very popular in the UK, as they are very light weight, and come in all shapes, sizes and colours.

 

Here's a link to the US site. https://www.kipling-usa.com/

[Lois R]

I love Kipling

[clo]

On 3/13/2019 at 8:49 PM, GlennaRoseGoes said:

I personally wouldn’t pack an evening bag for a cruise. I don’t see the point of a purse onboard when I only need to carry my room card. It’s not like Vegas where the Choo clutch always comes along!

I carry my key card, lip balm, phone for photos (yes, I'm one who takes pix of her food).  I have a little drawstring bag that a rain poncho goes in.  It's perfect and takes up zero room.

[ducklite]

On 3/13/2019 at 12:59 PM, resjes said:

So I'm going to bring a wristlet, evening bag/fancy bag, and then I'm hoping to get away with the below bag for the rest of the trip..like in ports and stuff. Is it large enough? I'm also going to be alone so I wanted to make sure I could swing the bag to the front and zip it...oh and on ports where I will be on the beach, will have a beach bag too. Tips/tricks for packing light in the purse, I would appreciate it lol I typically use a tote on day-to-day basis...

 

 

Depending on the places you'll be visiting, instead you should be asking if it's small enough.  A lot of museums and historical places have a strict regulation on bag size.  That one is bigger than some will allow.