Clothes, packing, and little boys

[kpgclark]

I have a few questions about packing. I'm trying to minimize the amount of stuff we bring onboard. I'm interested to know how many items of each type do you generally bring (eg 2 pairs of shorts) and do you "repeat". Also, how much does dry cleaning cost? I can't seem to find that information. I'm hoping to only bring one suit for my hubby. Additionally, on the more casual dinner nights are nice shorts with a tucked in shirt OK for an 8 year old? I'd hate to have to pack 7 pairs of shorts, 7 pairs of pants etc.

Thanks for your help!
Kathy

 

[benebire]

DCL requests that no shorts be worn in the dining rooms for dinner. My son was 10 on our Magic cruise and I packed 2 pairs of dockers plus 1 pair of suit pants. You definitely don't need to pack 7 pairs of pants. Just alternate the pants each nite. Drycleaning is available as well as guest laundries onboard ( in case your son is as messy as mine LOL). Your going to have a great time! Hope this helps you.

 

[kajohn]

When are you going on your cruise? I posted yesterday (see link below) a packing list for my boys to get everyones input if I was on the right track. My boys are 5, 7, and 9. I was told on another thread in the last day or two that the boys can wear shorts on tropical night with nice shorts. We go on our cruise February 8th, if your trip is after that, I can let you know how my packing worked out, i.e. did I run out of clothes or have too many etc.

Here is my final packing list after a few changes after getting replies on that thread:

3 swimsuits
water shoes
tennis shoes
sandals
dress shoes
5 shorts
8 t shirts
2 pair dress slacks or khakis
2 dress shirts
1 ties
1 suit
4 collared shirts
1 tropical shirt
9 pair underwear
5 pair socks white
4 pair socks dress

I am going to have them wear the suits twice, on formal and semi-formal night, khakis or dress slacks with collared shirts 4 nights, and shorts and tropical shirt 1 night. Also, I figure we will be in swimsuits a great deal of the time, so they will not need a new pair of shorts for everyday, but would need a new tshirt everyday because they would wear them with their swimtrunks to and from the pool and beaches etc.


Here is the link to that thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=312433

 

[tksbaskets]

for our recent 4-day Wonder cruise my boys packed (yeah ok, their mom packed)
each:
2 pr shorts
2 pr dockers (black & tan)
1 dress shirt & tie (to be worn w/black dockers)
three knit shirts with a collar (for the non-formal night dinners)
dress shoes & socks

3 t-shirts
swim suit
sandles
skivvies

They wore everything and looked very nice at dinner if I do say so myself.

They did wear shorts to breakfast and lunch but this is OK. Used everything, didn't feel the need for anything else by way of clothing.
hope this helps.

 

[kpgclark]

Yes kajohn, let me know how that packing works for you. Our trip is 3/29. Just curious, why 3 bathing suits?

Also, anyone know the price to dry clean on the ship?

 

[two4ruff]

Another option I used for my two boys was to bring a couple pair of nice zip-off leg khakis (Old Navy, Gap, or even Wal-Mart) - use as shorts in the day, casual slacks in the evening.

Good Luck!

 

[kajohn]

kpgclark

I said three swimsuits for a couple of reasons.

1. I went on a 7 day cruise a couple of years ago with two suits for myself and 7 shorts outfits. I had 3 outfits left, and was sick of wearing the same two suits. So I made a note that on my next 7 day cruise I would only pack 4 or 5 shorts outfits, but 3 suits.

2. Boys swim trunks are cheap, so I always have at least 3 or 4 for each of my boys during the summer, and they don't take much room to pack.

3. Someone replied to my thread that 3 were necessary because their kids would wear one in the morning, change for lunch, then another one in the afternoon, and many times by the next morning the first two were still damp, so they needed the third.

Hope this helps. I like the idea of the zip off shorts, one of mine already has a pair, he can wear them two nights at dinner then zip the legs off and wear them another day!