I packed for a 7-day cruise with just a carry-on. The biggest article of clothing I brought was a total waste of space.

• When I took my first cruise on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, I regretted packing a dress.
• I packed a dress for formal nights, but I found that the dress code wasn't enforced. 
• Leaving the dress at home would have saved space in my carry-on suitcase for one more outfit.

Formal clothing is the bane of my existence. 

Since I was a kid, I've never felt comfortable in fancy dresses or delicate shoes. As an adult, I have to dress formally occasionally and I mistakenly thought my first cruise would be one of those times. 

In April 2022, I cruised onboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. It was my first cruise ever, so I wanted to make sure I packed everything I would possibly need — as long as it could all fit in my carry-on suitcase since I prefer to avoid the possibility of lost luggage. 

I had heard that cruises have formal nights where the dress code is enforced, so I reluctantly packed one nice thing: a poofy gold empire dress I found at a thrift store. 

With only shorts, shirts, thin pants, and bathing suits in my clothing bag so far, I noticed that the dress would take up more space than anything else. It took up so much space, in fact, that I tossed a T-shirt and a pair of sweats back into the closet. 

Cut to my cruise: On the first formal night of the voyage, I pulled my dress out of my suitcase to wear to dinner. But when I got to the restaurant, I noticed that the dress code wasn't strictly enforced. People wore a variety of outfits, from evening gowns to T-shirts.

I was instantly relieved that I was able to relax my look for the cruise's other formal nights, but the dress felt like a waste of the limited space in my suitcase.

Had I known it wasn't necessary, I would've left my dress at home and been a lot more comfortable.

While formal nights weren't enforced on my cruise, they could be on others. So for my next voyage, I'll research the formal nights — and maybe have some room left over space for one more comfy outfit.