We are headed to Europe in MAY 2026. We are flying Calgary to Rome. We have 3 days in Rome before getting on a Cruise Ship for 7 days visiting Italy, France and Spain. Then we have 2 additional days in Rome before flying to Sweden for 7 days. What are the must haves, the leave behinds for all aspects of the trip!?
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
6969 posts
Must haves: credit and debit cards
Leave behinds: the kids
Seriously, there are packing tips in the Travel Tips section. And lots of tips in this section. Plus hundreds of packing lists for all situations online. For your cruise- check any dress codes that your cruise line has for the Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants. Dress codes apply to kids, too.
Posted by
2144 posts
What ages are the kids? How many are there? Maturity level makes a big difference in packing. Packing for a 5 year old is much different than a 14 year old.
Posted by
Alberta
747 posts
Well the Sweden part changes things. I was going to say to assume you will have good weather and leave the coats and warmer clothes behind, but I imagine you will need some for Sweden. Thin layers are usually the easiest to pack.
My personal "kids" rules when we used to travel with them, were that they needed to be able to carry their own bag if they were school aged or above. This means if you are small you have a smaller bag. Two pairs of shoes tops. A couple of favourite toys, but not stuff you will lose in a hotel bed and be upset by. Plan to do laundry on the cruise ship at least, and maybe one other time. Shirts can be rinsed out at night, so you can pack less of them.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
5141 posts
I assume you know that even a 4 yr old can handle their own small backpack and small roller bag.
Posted by
3 posts
With kids, think layers, comfort, and flexibility. Pack light but smart: comfortable walking shoes, compact strollers/backpacks, basic meds, copies of documents, and mix-and-match outfits. Leave behind bulky items and “just in case” extras—you’ll move a lot between cities and transport.
Plan like a rénovation à Lyon: good preparation saves stress later. Just as pros like DME Batiment plan phases carefully to avoid surprises, map essentials for each leg (Rome, cruise, Sweden) and keep a small buffer for weather and kid needs.