This is exactly what I did when I was offered to join an Asian cruise by Royal Caribbean. It was my first time onboard a cruise ship, and though I have never enjoyed being at sea, there was something about a cruise that intrigued me. I was set to ride the Legend of the Seas for a Four-Night Isles of Southeast Asia Cruise. The ports of call for this package were Singapore; Kuala Lumpur through Port Kelang, Malaysia; Phuket, Thailand; and back to Singapore.
The cruise ship was a moving hotel that took us from one destination to the other. I liked the fact that the cruise thinks about every possible thing you would want to do while traveling, whether you want a relaxing trip filled with lounging and pampering, or a fun, action-packed trip for your whole family.
There’s plenty to do in a ship full of people, and even more activities when exploring on land. Sightseeing, shopping, relaxing at the beach, and eating out—with all that going on, I honestly felt ill-prepared as I wasn’t able to pack all my beauty and travel essentials.
But I was in luck, as I was able to ask questions and take notes from two of the most traveled people I know.
Cheryl Tiu, managing editor for Lifestyle Asia and production manager for Mega Publishing Group, and David Celdran, host of ANC lifestyle shows “ Executive Class” and “View from the Top,” and editor in chief of men’s lifestyle magazine Vault, are both travel connoisseurs. They give us advice on what to pack for a cruise and how to travel in style.
What products did you bring for this trip?
Cheryl: I travel a lot and it has come to a point where I buy two of everything. I have a “travel” toiletry kit, which is already packed with a toothbrush, toothpaste, moisturizer, comb, razor, shampoo, conditioner, tissue, etc., and I just chuck the kit it into my suitcase every time I have to go overseas. For the cruise, I packed what I normally bring to any of my trips because apart from being on the ship, we had a jump-off point in Singapore, and shore visits to Thailand and Malaysia, and we also had Captain’s Night, which was a little more like a cocktail reception, and I didn’t want to have forgotten anything.
David: One of the advantages of cruise ships over commercial jets is the amount of luggage you can bring on board. Because there’s no need to pack midget-sized toiletries that conform to airport security standards; you can bring all your favorite grooming and bath products along in their original size and packaging. And unless it’s a legendary hotel, I can never trust what they put in those complimentary bottles in the dresser and bath. So I always make sure to have a permanent set of critical toiletries on standby for when I travel: Kiehl’s moisturizer, sun block, lip balm, shaving cream and hair-molding paste; Marvis toothpaste and Oral B brush; Phyto shampoo and protective hair-styling gel; Anthony Logistics deodorant; Acca Kappa hairbrush; Hermes Terre D’Hermes Eau de Toilette; Molton Brown bath gel; assorted medicine, vitamins and bug repellent; generic nail cutter and Johnson & Johnson’s ear buds.
Since traveling is part of your job description, you both must be experts when it comes to what to bring. Can you share some of your tried-and-tested products you can’t be on a flight without?
Cheryl: I always bring my basics: liquid foundation, pressed powder, brown eye shadow (day), gray eye shadow (night), black and brown eyeliners, eyelash curler, mascara, blush, and two to three shades of lip gloss. You never know when you have to go from casual to cocktail to formal in one trip, or even one day, so I’ve learned to always be prepared.
David: Plane cabins get awfully dry, so it helps to apply lip balm and some moisturizer before a flight. Since you can’t bring mineral water anymore, I ask for lots of water or wash my face in the WC frequently. I also swear by L’Occitane or Evian facial spray when the dryness gets unbearable and you’re too sleepy to wash. I usually work straight out of a flight, so a toothbrush and toothpaste plus a hairbrush is necessary to look and smell fresh on the ground.
Got a beauty question? E-mail the author at ask.kellymisa@gmail.com.