When do you start packing?

[EPCOTatNight]

I would like to know the average time that people start packing. We're at T-minus 22 days and I started packing weeks ago. Let me clarify. When we got our cruise documents, they went in my carry on along with other important paperwork (DCL online form, hotel reservation, passports, dog immunization records for boarding, etc...). Basically, I pack something when I think about it, so that I won't be trying to remember everything that I need the morning that we leave. Over the next 3 weeks, I will pack anything that I won't need/wear before we cruise. Anything that is for "cruise only" will go in immediately. The reason that I do this is because it's a lot less stressful, and I get little bursts of excitement every few days. Also, if i realize that my suitcase is too full or too big, I can change/buy bags before the last minute. Now, my wife is different. I LOVE her to death, BUT she will wait until she is forced to pack. We leave on a Friday, she will be finished packing on .......Friday. I will make sure that I, and our son are ready to go no later than Wednesday. I will also try to encourage her to not wait, but I'm not to optimistic. So, are you more like me or my DW? When do you start packing?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[egesicki]

I am more like you, my DH is more like your DW. I am very type A and actually had tasks and a packing list in my Outlook over a year in advance of our cruise. I kind of see it as therapy, when work was stressful I could take a quick peek at vacay and imagine myself relaxed!

 

[Allanaw]

I work best under pressure. I make sure I have everything I need a week before but things don't start being put into the suitcases until the day before I need to leave. Last trip there was nothing left behind so it worked for me.

 

[love280mickey]

I don't sail again till August, 2014, is it too soon? Seriously, though I did already print out a magnet and made a couple of requests for others!

 

[PWammy]

I start working on my list a couple of months out and throwing stuff in the suitcase (especially when we travel off season). I'll start real packing a couple of weeks out. I was worse when she was a baby/toddler, but when it comes to cruises and land resorts out of the US, I don't want to miss a thing and have to pay a ton for a bandaid.

 

[TiszBear]

I am so glad I saw your post as my office and I were talking about this same subject but as vacations in general!


I start packing at least 6 -8 weeks before. I have 2 rubbermaid bins with all travel toiletries that I go thru and if there is anything I need I can pick it up.

Each trip (if I have more than 1 in a planning stage) is in a different colored folder and clearly marked with the trip name and dates and inside are my travel docs and passports.

Usually the week of my leaving for the trip I am finalizing the last minute packing and then I am good to go.

Now I have a trip planned for this August but nothing again until September 2014 and I already have lists made up for the September 2014 trip!

 

[minximom]

I don't sail again till August, 2014, is it too soon? Seriously, though I did already print out a magnet and made a couple of requests for others!

Lol... I'm sailing in Aug 2014 too and I have started to look at magnets too....waiting until nearer the time to print them out (erm..like next week probably lol)

 

[MikeAndNick]

If I am lucky I start packing 2 or 3 days before the cruise. Most of the time I am up the night before our flight packing and trying to figure out what we have forgotten. Of course it might be easier because there are just two of us and we are both boys.

 

[Dixielady908]

I would like to know the average time that people start packing. We're at T-minus 22 days and I started packing weeks ago. Let me clarify. When we got our cruise documents, they went in my carry on along with other important paperwork (DCL online form, hotel reservation, passports, dog immunization records for boarding, etc...). Basically, I pack something when I think about it, so that I won't be trying to remember everything that I need the morning that we leave. Over the next 3 weeks, I will pack anything that I won't need/wear before we cruise. Anything that is for "cruise only" will go in immediately. The reason that I do this is because it's a lot less stressful, and I get little bursts of excitement every few days. Also, if i realize that my suitcase is too full or too big, I can change/buy bags before the last minute. Now, my wife is different. I LOVE her to death, BUT she will wait until she is forced to pack. We leave on a Friday, she will be finished packing on .......Friday. I will make sure that I, and our son are ready to go no later than Wednesday. I will also try to encourage her to not wait, but I'm not to optimistic. So, are you more like me or my DW? When do you start packing?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

More like you...with that being said, I do have some "last minute items" that go in on travel day...and the night before, I do go through the luggage to make sure everything is in there that should be in there....whew....I just have packing OCD...

 

[shandrananette]

I try to start a week out for clothes but because of work I find myself packing at midnight the night before for 90% of my vacations. Best laid plans.

I do keep a folder of needed documents-passports, tickets, etc for all vacations so I can grab it and have all our travel plans. Works awesome until you forget that folder-I managed to leave it on the counter with our Halloween party tickets for Disneyland one year. Realized it half way to the airport and had to race home to get it. We made our flight by some miracle, though. That's a mistake I probably won't make again. Next cruise is 7 days and the first vacation with two kids. I have high hopes of packing earlier than the night before we leave this time!

 

[safeti01]

Cruising in Feb 14, have two totes that when we see things we want to take, we put them in. If not completely packed a week before, I'm behind. My wife is a more casual about it.

 

[Luv2Diz]

I started packing a few weeks ago for our cruise next month, so about 7 weeks in advance! I generally start packing as I buy new things for the trip or when I think of things that we already have. The final week before vacation I get out the packing list and pack the "last minute" stuff.

 

[jjje]

I have a list made up now for the cruise I have coming up in seven months but I probably won't start packing until I'm about a week out. My husband will leave all his packing to be done the night before or even the day we leave. Makes me crazy.

 

[Ravenne]

Our trip isn't until next year. If I had my way, and enough underwear, I'd start packing now. My husband on the other hand, he packs the night before. Then when we get to our destination and I bust out something very useful, he says, "I can't believe you packed that! I would've never thought of it!" It's ok honey. I've been thinking about it for over a year, that's why I thought of it.

 

[wallawallakids]

We fly out on Monday and I haven't packed a thing yet! (AND I have 6 people to pack for!) I will probably pack on Sunday and finish up Monday morning. I am a last minute packer. But I keep a handy list in my luggage with everything I could possibly need so I can usually pack for all 6 of us in an hour.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Glad I'm not alone.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[TLSnell1981]

. Over the next 3 weeks, I will pack anything that I won't need/wear before we cruise. Anything that is for "cruise only" will go in immediately. The reason that I do this is because it's a lot less stressful, and I get little bursts of excitement every few days. Also, if i realize that my suitcase is too full or too big, I can change/buy bags before the last minute. Now, my wife is different. I LOVE her to death, BUT she will wait until she is forced to pack. We leave on a Friday, she will be finished packing on .......Friday. I will make sure that I, and our son are ready to go no later than Wednesday. I will also try to encourage her to not wait, but I'm not to optimistic. So, are you more like me or my DW? When do you start packing?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I have everything ready to pack weeks ahead. I use space saver bags, so I just throw them in...about a week out. Sadly, my DH is like your DW. It drives me crazy, which is probably, why he does it. He actually forgot to pack his pants...any pants for a business trip.

 

[omalley1118]

I would like to know the average time that people start packing. We're at T-minus 22 days and I started packing weeks ago. Let me clarify. When we got our cruise documents, they went in my carry on along with other important paperwork (DCL online form, hotel reservation, passports, dog immunization records for boarding, etc...). Basically, I pack something when I think about it, so that I won't be trying to remember everything that I need the morning that we leave. Over the next 3 weeks, I will pack anything that I won't need/wear before we cruise. Anything that is for "cruise only" will go in immediately. The reason that I do this is because it's a lot less stressful, and I get little bursts of excitement every few days. Also, if i realize that my suitcase is too full or too big, I can change/buy bags before the last minute. Now, my wife is different. I LOVE her to death, BUT she will wait until she is forced to pack. We leave on a Friday, she will be finished packing on .......Friday. I will make sure that I, and our son are ready to go no later than Wednesday. I will also try to encourage her to not wait, but I'm not to optimistic. So, are you more like me or my DW? When do you start packing?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

LOL!!!! I thought for sure you were the wife when I was reading this... My HDTV wouldn't know to pack if his life depended on it. I am the same as you. I love to pack those initial things to save time and get excited about the trip. It makes it more real for me. I also am a great lover of lists!!!!! It depends on what season, etc. we are sailing in Nov, so summer clothes won't be worn here daily. That allows me to pack them early. I may not actually put them in a bag, but I will make piles in the corner of the room. Wat can I say, packing makes me happy. PS: I also have to unpack as soon as we are on board or in a hotel....

 

[robyn654]

I start packing about 6 months ahead. I put my suite case out in my room and add things as I think of them and mark them off the list I made the day I book just to be sure I bring everything !

 

[Sarahlawrence]

We are 22 days out and I started today! My kids want to wear all their brand new outfits since it is mildly warm. Nope. I'm packing it up! It will get trashed I am sure on vacation, but it will start out nice