What I Wish I'd Left Behind: Hard-Learned Packing Lessons from Norwegian Prima

I stood in the cabin of Norwegian Prima, staring at my overstuffed suitcase with the kind of regret usually reserved for questionable life decisions. My husband Mark was already on the balcony enjoying our first sunset at sea, while I was surrounded by a mountain of stuff I absolutely did not need. This wasn't my first cruise, but it was definitely the one where I finally learned what NOT to pack. Let me rewind. We'd booked a week-long Norwegian Cruise Line sailing from New York to Bermuda on the beautiful Norwegian Prima, and I was determined to be prepared for everything. Or so I thought. The problem started about three weeks before departure when I couldn't stop myself from the "what-if" packing spiral. What if the weather changed? What if we got invited to a fancy dinner? What if I needed business casual? Before I knew it, I'd packed enough clothes for three weeks, not seven days. The moment our luggage arrived in the cabin, I realized my first mistake: I'd brought way too many shoes. I'm talking nine pairs. Nine! There I was, staring at pumps, sneakers, sandals, flip-flops, dressy flats, casual flats, boat shoes, workout shoes, and one pair of fancy heels that I somehow convi…