AXW Travels

What was supposed to be a normal Seattle to Raleigh-Durham flight turned into a six-hour ordeal, complete with a surprise landing in Baltimore, a broken ramp, and enough lightning to keep us parked on the taxiway. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, you find out fast what you should have packed. Here's how it went down, and the habits that got me through it.

Packing for a cruise that spans multiple climates — think 90-degree penguin reserves and 40-degree Cape Horn winds in the same trip — requires a completely different mindset than a typical vacation. After 17 days on a Viking Ocean cruise through Chile, the Falkland Islands, Uruguay, and Argentina, I've got the layering strategy, laundry logistics, electronics tips, and hard-won lessons that will help you pack smart, pack light, and actually enjoy your trip.