Don't Overpack?? How much is too much-Tips please????

[devine5829]

I need specifics please....

What is overpacking?

For a family of 4 (2 A, 2 C) what size luggage for each??

Where does the luggage fit in the room?

 

[outahere]

It really depends on the length of your cruise. The 3 and 4 night cruises are very casual, and no "dressy" clothes are really needed, unless you want to "dress up". The 7 night (and longer) cruises do have a formal and semi-formal night, so you might want to bring something for those nights, however, it's really not 100% necessary on those cruises either.

We (2A 1C) usually have 2 medium size suitcases and a couple of carry-ons. We could probably get away with fewer, but we usually spend a few days in Florida after the cruise.

If the suitcases won't fit in the closet, you can lift up the foot of the bed and slide them under there. Soft sided suitcases work the best for that.

 

[rkwier]

The rule of thumb that I have generally heard is, when you are finished packing, take half out. For me that approach was too general, so I started making an exact list of what I will wear each day, right down to socks and undies. For instance, I know that I am going to spend an entire day before dinner on the beach, so I plan to wear my swimsuit, coverup, sunhat, sandels, etc. Then for dinner, I am wearing a dress, sandels, light sweater, etc. I even include what jewelry that I am planning to wear. I try to "double-dip" where I can - same slacks with different top, etc. I include jammies, windbreakers and other things that I will need. This lessens the time that it takes to actually pack. It also helps keep me focused because I tend to pack when I am tired and not able to think clearly.

There is plenty of room in the closet for suitcases (we fit our Owner's Locker in there with no problem), as well as space under the bed.

 

[kcashner]

For kids....get some gallon ziplock bags (or similar). Pack a day's outfit in eacn one--including socks, undies, etc. Then all you have to do in the morning is hand them a bag...and you know it will match, etc.

Dinner clothing can be worn more than one night...with or without different shirts. You only have these on for a couple hours...
Ladies--black sandals double as dress shoes. Guys ditto for black sneakers.

It it's not dirty or smelly, it can be re-worn! Between swim suits, changing for dinner, etc, you may not wear your "every day" clothes much on the ship.

If flying, remember to play "musical chairs" with your cases. You do not want a mommy case, a daddy case, child 1 case, child 2 case. You want to take one full outfit for each person and place it in each case. Repeat for outfit number 2,3, etc. If you are taking 2 swimsuits, pack one in each of 2 cases (or one in the carry on). Bottom line--if one bag gets lots, each person will have some clothing. Trust me....after the "mom bag" didn't make it once, I learned!!!

 

[hgon76]

Make use if the washers/dryers onboard. Even just a load or two. That way you can pack a couple of nice pants/ skirts, and mix/match with different tops. After a few days just wash a few things and you have clean clothes to mix/match for a few more days. I learned from my 1st cruise to pack less and launder if needed!

 

[lbgraves]

It depends how you spend your time on the ship. If you spend your days in a suit at the pool you won't need so much. If on the other hand, you are like us and don't spend all day in the water/sun then you will need an outfit for each day [shorts & top]. We dress up for dinner so the guys pack a few pairs of khakis and a polo shirt or dress shirt for each casual night. The girls pack a dress with matching shoes. You will need a couple swim suits and a cover up when you do go to the pool, beach or excursions. I pack a couple extra outfits just because the kids hardly go a full day without needing to change something at home. This ends up being 4 large suitcases for the four of us [2A2K] and a carryon for each of us. We dress up for pirate night so that adds to the load with boots and all. I also used to pack 5 princess costumes for DD but they didn't take up much room at all in the vacuum bags.

Last year we went on the PC repo and spend a week in CA before the cruise so packed three weeks worth of stuff for us. We had 8 large bags, 4 carryons and personal bags for each of us. If we weren't flying we probably would have had another couple of bags easily. They ALL fit under the bed by fitting the smaller ones inside of the bigger ones and the carryons inside too. I refuse to do laundry on vacation.

 

[lbgraves]

For kids....get some gallon ziplock bags (or similar). Pack a day's outfit in eacn one--including socks, undies, etc. Then all you have to do in the morning is hand them a bag...and you know it will match, etc.

That worked so well for us when the kids were younger!!! I didn't have to worry about DH mismatching DD's outfits and ending up with a bunch of stuff that wouldn't work together midweek. He just pulled out a bag and everything was there. It also made packing easy.

 

[Morgey24]

For kids....get some gallon ziplock bags (or similar). Pack a day's outfit in eacn one--including socks, undies, etc. Then all you have to do in the morning is hand them a bag...and you know it will match, etc.

I just packed DD (13) for a week at sleepaway Girl Scout camp in the 2 1/2 Gallon size ziplock slider bags (LOVE THEM). Since she is "too big" to have me match outfits anymore, I just put t shirts in one, shorts in another, etc. They are fabulous for keeping organized! Oh, yeah, and I included one large garbage bag for her to stuff all the camp-nasty clothing back into for the return home!

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

The rule of thumb that I have generally heard is, when you are finished packing, take half out. For me that approach was too general, so I started making an exact list of what I will wear each day, right down to socks and undies. For instance, I know that I am going to spend an entire day before dinner on the beach, so I plan to wear my swimsuit, coverup, sunhat, sandels, etc. Then for dinner, I am wearing a dress, sandels, light sweater, etc. I even include what jewelry that I am planning to wear. I try to "double-dip" where I can - same slacks with different top, etc. I include jammies, windbreakers and other things that I will need. This lessens the time that it takes to actually pack. It also helps keep me focused because I tend to pack when I am tired and not able to think clearly.

There is plenty of room in the closet for suitcases (we fit our Owner's Locker in there with no problem), as well as space under the bed.

I read this rule of thumb here all the time, and I have to say that I completely disagree with it. (I'm not criticizing the OP -- just the rule of thumb!)

When I'm on a cruise, I want to have some options on what to wear and I do NOT want to do laundry unless there is some sort of emergency. So my rule of thumb is to pack according to my list, and then put extra underwear, socks and t-shirts in the suitcase. The times I've pulled things out of the suitcase are the times I've been less than happy in my limited wardrobe selection. I'd much rather bring some clean clothes home with me than wish I had brought an extra pair of pants. But that's just me!

 

[lbgraves]

I read this rule of thumb here all the time, and I have to say that I completely disagree with it. (I'm not criticizing the OP -- just the rule of thumb!)

When I'm on a cruise, I want to have some options on what to wear and I do NOT want to do laundry unless there is some sort of emergency. So my rule of thumb is to pack according to my list, and then put extra underwear, socks and t-shirts in the suitcase. The times I've pulled things out of the suitcase are the times I've been less than happy in my limited wardrobe selection. I'd much rather bring some clean clothes home with me than wish I had brought an extra pair of pants. But that's just me!

My thoughts exactly!

 

[msmith07101]

I read this rule of thumb here all the time, and I have to say that I completely disagree with it. (I'm not criticizing the OP -- just the rule of thumb!)

When I'm on a cruise, I want to have some options on what to wear and I do NOT want to do laundry unless there is some sort of emergency. So my rule of thumb is to pack according to my list, and then put extra underwear, socks and t-shirts in the suitcase. The times I've pulled things out of the suitcase are the times I've been less than happy in my limited wardrobe selection. I'd much rather bring some clean clothes home with me than wish I had brought an extra pair of pants. But that's just me!

I agree with this as well...I had a few unworn things on our cruise...but I don't feel like I overpacked. We ended up with one checked bag per person (2 adults and 2 teens), and our carry ons also. Yes...you can probably wear some things more than once. But...I am not doing laundry unless I have to! And I would rather not be stuck with having to do laundry because the wind on deck 10 splattered melted chocolate ice cream all over my sweater...yes, it happened! Take what you think you will wear...just be a little conservative and you should be fine. Also...some people buy things to wear in the gift shop and/or in port, and if you plan on doing that, then you can pack a little less too.

 

[tvguy]

2 adults and 2 adult sized children here. 7 day cruise. Two large 29" Delsey hard sided suitcases, 4 carryons. Son and I each packed one suit each one dress shirt, two ties, DW and DD one formal dress each, two wraps each, one small dress purse each for the gals, one pair of formal shoes each person. One pair tennis shoes, one pair water shoes, one pair flip flops each. One swimsuit each, three shirts and three pairs shorts, 1 pair jeans, three sets underwear each. We did laundry on board on Wednesday night.
The suitcases fit under the bed, but we had to lift the frame up to get them under the bed.

 

[Morgey24]

We vary our packing based on itinerary and origination of cruise. For the Mediterranean we did 13 days in one carry-on each. It was doable, but involved sending out laundry a couple of times. In my estimation it was totally worth it because we had a land to cruise to land itinerary with planes and trains and automobiles in between...

Then there was the Western Caribbean 7 nighter that we drove to the port with 2 LARGE suitcases jam packed with everything in the world (7 pairs of shorts instead of 4, 9 t shirts, 7 pairs of shoes, etc) as well as 2 duffels - one with snorkel equipment and one with other randomness.. that was WAY over the top even though we drove there. The stuff in the cabin got out of control easily.

I personally enjoy the satisfation of doing laundry mid-way during a cruise when the ship has a laundromat. I dislike dirty laundry that much. I know, a weirdo, I admit it...

 

[tjbaggott]

Our packing will be trickier than it usually is because we are driving to Florida this time instead of flying. We are a family of 6 and my children will be by the time of the cruise 18, 16, 12 and 6. So not all their clothes are small like my 6 year olds. We are driving in a 7 passenger van for over two days before arriving in Orlando and will be spending 4 days in WDW before our Cruise.
I think I may actually have panic attacks when it comes to packing this time around!

BUT currently I'm planning on two people per suitcase thus only 3 suitcases plus some garment bags. Don't know if 3 will fit into the back along WITH a cooler of travel food but we'll do a test run before hand. and with some of the tips listed here, I just might make this work!

 

[Davids-Coco]

For kids....get some gallon ziplock bags (or similar). Pack a day's outfit in eacn one--including socks, undies, etc. Then all you have to do in the morning is hand them a bag...and you know it will match, etc.

This is how we pack too more or less... But write day #'s on it. I also roll shirts and rubber band them together with a piece of paper with a day number on them for matching days.

We will wear jeans the entire time, so I wear the one pair and wash ONLY if absolutely necessary. Same is true of DH. The kids each have a back up pair and a pair of shorts. This is one of those "I'll never do what my parents do" things - my parents travel with a pair of jeans for every day. Bulky and heavy!

 

[lbgraves]

Our packing will be trickier than it usually is because we are driving to Florida this time instead of flying. We are a family of 6 and my children will be by the time of the cruise 18, 16, 12 and 6. So not all their clothes are small like my 6 year olds. We are driving in a 7 passenger van for over two days before arriving in Orlando and will be spending 4 days in WDW before our Cruise.
I think I may actually have panic attacks when it comes to packing this time around!

BUT currently I'm planning on two people per suitcase thus only 3 suitcases plus some garment bags. Don't know if 3 will fit into the back along WITH a cooler of travel food but we'll do a test run before hand. and with some of the tips listed here, I just might make this work!

Have you looked into getting something to put on the roof of the van to store some luggage? We use one and that really frees up room in the van so the kids can be seperated for the 12 hour drive.

 

[tjbaggott]

Thanks Ibgraves. I just mentioned that idea to DH and he likes it! We do have a canvas rooftop carrier thing but he's said he'll look into a plastic one.
When I just mentioned to my soon to be 18 year old daughter, that she will be sharing a suitcase, she was not pleased at all! LOL.
The drive alone will be a kind of vacation of one sort or the other, and are now thinking of doing the first days drive over night so the kids will sleep for the longest part of it.
Thanks for the rooftop idea though, that one really rocks!

 

[lbgraves]

Thanks Ibgraves. I just mentioned that idea to DH and he likes it! We do have a canvas rooftop carrier thing but he's said he'll look into a plastic one.
When I just mentioned to my soon to be 18 year old daughter, that she will be sharing a suitcase, she was not pleased at all! LOL.
The drive alone will be a kind of vacation of one sort or the other, and are now thinking of doing the first days drive over night so the kids will sleep for the longest part of it.
Thanks for the rooftop idea though, that one really rocks!

We found a hard shelled one at a yard sale. Five years later it is still working for us. You can easily take drinks with you that way storing them under the seats. Driving is so much less stressful for me to pack for a cruise instead of flying...did that last year for the repo and I lost sleep over it. LOL! They really do fit a lot of stuff.

 

[RoadTripFanatic]

I like having options on my trips. Very rarely do I not wear everything I pack. I do NOT want to do laundry on my cruise. On a 7 day cruise we typically pack one lg 29" suitcase that DD (9)and I share. DH takes the medium sized suitcase. We also use a garment bag for our dress clothes. I do recommend only packing one formal. They take up a lot of space.
We also have one carry-on for me and one for DD. I do recommend putting your swimsuits in the carry-on so you have them to wear on day 1. I also throw an extra pair of undergarments in them just in case something happens to my luggage. My only other packing advice is to take children's cold medicine and children's tylenol. I hate not having it when something happens in the middle of the night.

 

[mainegal]

I'd much rather bring some clean clothes home with me than wish I had brought an extra pair of pants. But that's just me!

I ALWAYS end up bringing home clean clothes! Maybe because I wore my favorite shirt twice. Or I bought a new t-shirt. Or it was not cold enough (December trip) to need the long plants.