Tips to minimize luggage

[peg2001]

I've seen the "Ultimate Packing List" and it is enough to boggle my mind! I'm interested in the other extreme, what is the least I can pack for my family of 4 for a 4-day cruise? For example, could I get away with carrying only 2 dinner outfits each and laundering mid-way through the cruise?

I would appreciate any tips out there!

Peg

[markey]

I'm sure you could get away with 2 dinner outfits. Remember you will probably be in swim suits a lot, day at sea, CC, so that will cut down on outfits. I know I am probably one of the only ones who feel this way, don't want to start a debate here, BUT - I refuse to do laundry on vacation. I would rather over pack and have my husband lug it around than waste my vacation time running to the laundry room. I know you can put it in and leave, but it still takes time. When we were on the 4 day time goes so fast, so every minute is precious! We are going for 13 days, same as always and I will not do laundry, I'm on vacation! (family of 4)

[Valerie3kids]

We usually do laundry mid week when we do the 7 day. My Dh thinks I am crazy but I really hate toting home a ton of laundry. This last time I made it with just one large suitcase (which for me is a miracle) and still didn't wear all the clothes I took. I tend to have a few favorite outfits and once I do laundry start wearing the same ones again. I try to cut down on shoes for the evenings but taking outfits that I wear the same shoes with. I never take panty hose anymore because I am on vacation and refuse to put them on!

Valerie;)

[4nana]

One old trick that takes up much less space is to roll your clothes ;)

[CruellaDuVille]

Take half the stuff and twice the money.

Cruella.

[Jobro2]

I have to agree with Markey, I'd rather overpack than do laundry...it's my vacation too, which means no cooking or laundry!!!

[disney6]

I don't do laundry on vacation either! Last trip we were gone 13 days (family of 6) and I stilll did not do laundry. Found we wore our bathing suits on the boat everyday. Even in port we just threw on coverups and went ashore! We basically only wore clothes at dinner! I did leave suitcases for the post cruise trip in the car so that helped. My kids wore clothes in the clubs but since only 2 were old enough for the clubs and only 1 really stayed in the other 2 and sometimes 3 once again were in their bathing suits! So my advice: pack several bathing suits, cute coverups, a couple of shorts & tops, and dinner clothes. We even wore the same thing to dinner a couple of nights - who knew but us?

[ducklite]

I also don't do laundry on vacation--usually. When we are staying DVC in a villa I do, because the washer and dryer are literally right there in my room, so it takes me seconds at most to throw in a load in the morning. By the time we're ready to leave I can toss them in the dryer, and fold them when we get back in the late afternoon to shower before dinner.

I also had to do laundry this past January--DH ran in the WDW Marathon, and there was NO WAY I was going to have those sweat drenched clothes (which were also muddy due to the rain!) festering in the room for three more days. EEEEEWWWWWWW!!!!

Anne

[mcnuss]

I am the queen of packing light! I go on a business trip every week for 2-3 days and never take more than a tiny 19 inch rollie that I can carry-on. When I go on my cruise, I refuse to do laundry, so here are my tips.

- Shoes are the biggest space hogs. Try to bring just one pair dressy (black?), one pair sporty & one pair sneakers (if you need them)
- Coordinate your outfits a week before you go. Lay them all out on the bed (I use the guest room for this) and make sure they go with the shoes. Try to see what you can mix & match. For instance, I will take 3 tops for every bottom since my pants or skirts can usually go a few days whereas you won't catch me dead in the same top more than once. Do the same for the kids and DH.
- Accessories are kept to the barest minimum. I bring one belt and almost no jewelry.
- Take one sweater in a neutral color. I take a black mid-weight cardigan everywhere I go.
- Buy all travel size cosmetics, etc... and get one of those big hanging shower bags - mine is from LLBean (or as I've seen on these boards, a hanging shoe bag for the family's cosmetic items). Leave your shampoo, conditioner, etc... at home. Use the stuff DCL provides. Your hair will be fine, trust me! :D

The key here is not to pack for every single possible eventuality, but to pack for what you know you will be doing. For the cruise, I will have some additional items since I know that I will want a collapsable cooler and some other items. Take out anything that you've said "you might need" and that will probably get rid of lots!

We went to Europe (3 of us) for 10 days last year with one big rolling duffel and a backpack for each of us. I never washed anything but a couple of pairs of undies & socks. I have to confess, though, that we had to buy another duffel in France to cart back all of our purchases!

Good luck!

[Trekker]

Originally posted by CruellaDuVille
Take half the stuff and twice the money.

Cruella.


I'm with you on this one!

[rcostello1]

I agree with Cruella...money takes up the least amount of space :)

We're going on the 3 day with 2 days in WDW afterward. We're bringing 1 jacket, 2 pants, 2 shirts for dinners. I'm bringing way too much other stuff although I only pack half of what I used to. The one thing I don't bring anymore is T-shirts. I buy them and either wear them (or wash and wear).

Reviewing the previous posts, shoes do take up the most room. Don't ask how many shoes I had on the 7-day! *Definitely* lay out your clothes to do the mix and match. And even just the not mix and match but to make sure everything goes together. You just don't know how many blacks and blacks and whites and whites don't go together...it's very stressful! ;-)

I'm debating whether or not to bring the over-the-door shoe holder thing since it's only the 3-day we're doing.

We use the "squishy" bags that you smash and the air goes out. I guess they work...I always shoved as much as possible in the suitcase anyway. I do notice that the bags make your suitcase a lot heavier...not really the bags themselves but since you can fit more in.... :)

Happy packing...I'm ironed and ready to go...we fly down tomorrow night!

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Check out this site for great tips on traveling light...

www.oratory.com/travel

[hokie5cruiser]

Leave the tennis shoes at home unless they are your walking shoes for sightseeing. We all wore our sandals/flipflops everywhere and only wore the tennis shoes to get on the ship and off at the end since they would not fit in the suitcases.

[aprilgail2]

I read a lot of people say "we stayed in swimsuits most of the day"....to be honest I never even put on a bathing suit while I was staying on the ship...I had one for the freeport beach excursion and then again at castaway cay but the pools on the cruise are so tiny and crowded that I didn't boter going near them, I can go in a pool at home...I brought 3 bathing suits and could have just brought one and been fine,I stayed in shorts and tank tops most of the cruise. With all the warnings about sun and skin cancer now I try not to sit out in the sun and cancer bake now that I am older, though I am sure when I was younger I did a lot of damage!!

[AliPom]

I agree with mcnuss's suggestions.

Being an over-packer, I have found that it helps me to cut down on packing if I pull all my "wish list" items out of the closet a few days prior to traveling. Then I tell myself that I have to cut my "wish list" pile in half! My luggage has become manageable. I'm forced to select clothing and a minimum of accessories and shoes that mix-n-match. Everything in my suitcase gets worn. Skirts/Tops for evening -- a couple of stylish poly-knits pack & wash easily. Sandals -- a neutral pair that work day-to-evening. (I remind myself that I am on vacation, others are too busy worrying about themselves with their limited wardrobes to worry about me!) As for doing laundry on vacation, if time allows I do. You can hand wash & drip-dry. The Disney bath products are great, take advantage of them. Keep the cosmetics to a minimum (you'll have a great tan!). The pool towels supplied on the cruise ship are very nice, leave the towels at home. Do pack the swimsuits!

[abitjaded]

Mix the suitcases if you are travelling with a lot of folks. I try to pack a small one with two underwear, one shorts and two tops, swimsuits and one decent outfit for each traveller and one all purpose sleep-snorkel-wear t-shirt. Then the larger suitcase gets the dressy stuff at the bottom then additional shorts, tops and dress shoes. I fold into the suitcase as I pack, laying the flattest to the edges, with the fewest possible folds, then filling the corners with underwear. Then all the cosmetics, sunscreen and beach shoes go in a duffle. One carry-on for each kid also gets a clean outfit (in case of food disasters of primary or recycled nature) with toys, etc. My husband lugs the cameras, etc. I just take a purse with a book, stuffed into a mostly empty black tote (that doubles as a beach-shopping bag) since I usually end up lugging something someone else gets tired of carrying.

The small suitcase serves for the short stays, without having to lug in or unpack the big one (and it is nice to have the stuff divvied up in case the airline "forgets" some of your bags). Then the dirty junk goes into the small one (which always contains a supply of ziplocks and soap tablets) which can be wheeled to the laundry if it is called for. Since our trips often need an additional suitcase of snorkel gear, I usually have to do some laundry. It just has never been possible to pack for five and make it through ten days without more suitcases. I try to only pack clothes that pack small, i.e. no bouffant formals and nothing that will not go with two or three things. And nothing that can destroy the colors of a load of laundry, no red socks or white silk. ;)

I try to ship purchases home if buying gets out of control (the tax you save, at the Disney Marketplace for instance, pretty much pays the shipping) and most big places that cater to tourists will ship. We have a couple large suitcases that expand several inches, and I never allow myself to expand them when we leave home, leaving room for what cannot be shipped. Strapping tape can also be wrapped around a heavy box and made into a hand carrier (learned this from the relatives in CA and FL who give us mangos and avacados, oranges, etc.)

Carla

[disvaclub92]

Can I have one you light packers to talk to my husband?

:)

[abitjaded]

disvaclub,

The reason I have had to become so organized with my packing is because my husband would take anything and everything, except of course shirts and pants that match and enough underwear and socks or toothpaste or... Funny though he never forgets his golf clubs, or his laptop or the digital camera or the video camera or twenty guide books or six golf magazines or the cell phones or the family radios or extra battery packs for the computer or three flashlights or a selection of CDs and tapes or his briefcase (50 lbs at least, containing a weeks worth of work), three pairs of sunglasses, two hats, cell phones, car charger, wall charger..... But then that is HIS problem, and no, I WILL NOT carry your stuff, Dear.

Carla

[mcnuss]

And I have the opposite problem with my DH. He would pack nothing. Absolutely nothing. And then wonder why he had no clothes. Sometimes I wonder what it is that we moms do to our sons to make them turn out like this! ;)

Excellent point about shipping things home.

BTW -- for DD8's camp I bought this very cool beach backpack from Gap. It comes in several summery colors and has a drawstrong top. Very lightweight with pockets for water bottle, cell phone & best of all, wet bathing suit. It is mesh on the bottom so things actually dry. They are on sale now for $9.99 and so I snapped up 2 more for the cruise so we will each have one.

[rae519]

A few years ago we travelled in Europe, and were told by the tour director to save up our old underwear for the trip, then after one wearing - throw it out to make space for souveniers (etc).
As crazy as it sounds, we tried it! I guess we've always tried things that were a little "off beat" and this hint was a keeper for us!

Rae

:crazy:

[mcnuss]

Oh my goodness, that's hysterical!

One thing I do, because I am an avid reader and have to have books on my trip, is to buy cheap paperbacks at the second-hand store that I leave behind. Same basic idea, I guess...:D

[rae519]

Nothing like a good book while you relax at the back of the boat where hardly anyone ever comes and there is NO pool noise! Ohhh, guess now I've told my secret spot! Bet there are others who know some good places to get away from it all!!!!!

Love the "throw away" book idea - thanks!
Rae

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I agree... Deck 7 Aft is a wonderful getaway.

[disvaclub92]

abitjaded,

So funny you should discuss golf clubs - I just recently won that battle? He is not bringing them because where would they go in the stateroom - his side of the bed and he would have to climb over them. Once he realized this - he nixed the idea.

:bounce:

Jul

[mcnuss]

Good job! They would have driven you nuts and I bet he wouldn't use them. DH was thinking of golfing during our 7 day Western but he said he would just rent clubs if he decided to do it. Nice compromise, I thought....

[CRB#33]

One thing to keep in mind and I never even thought of it until it happened to me.

I am an over packer. Therefore, I had to pack it all back up before 11:00 the night before we disembarked. Doing a load of laundry midway through the trip would have taken a lot less time than packing it all up on that last precious night. I found I was awake so early---the pull of that verandah was extremely strong ;) . I easily could have had a few loads done and back in the room before the kids were up.

You cruise, you learn:) :D