As soon as we board a cruise ship, my family and I have one thing on our minds: water! My kids head straight to the pool, and my husband and I head straight for the hot tub.

However, waiting on our swimsuits to arrive with our luggage can be a very unpredictable and lengthy ordeal, so we always pack them in a small carry-on bag.

Immediately after boarding, we go to the public restrooms and change. Before the boat leaves the dock, we're all in our swimsuits, and our vacation is well underway.