Essential Packing?

[cinnabunjay]

So my friends and I are going on not just our first Disney cruise but our first cruise ever in November of next year. We're at least partly sure we've figured out most of the things we'll need to have with us, and we've built a pretty substantial wishlist of things we want to start buying and storing away in preparation for our trip (with things like dramamine, sunscreen, etc being purchased within the month prior to the actual trip).

We both, however, are nearly obsessive planners. We have eleven months but that just means plenty of time to get our ducks in a row! That being said, just in case we missed something, what essential things should we obtain/pack for our cruise?

(And for those who've used them, are packing cubes REALLY worth it? I keep seeing that, but we've never used them, and were on the fence about getting them.)

 

[lklgoodman]

I use packing cubes for my dd and myself. I really like them. We each have a set of different sizes. I pack our clothes in order that we will wear them. I have found I can fit a lot more stuff in the suitcases when using the cubes. When we get to our cabin, I take out the cubes, toss them in the drawers and the suitcases go under the bed for the entire cruise. Anything that I want to hang up, will be packed in a cube and I will hang up right away. Makes finding things so easy. I take a couple of laundry bags that we put in the closets. Once trip is over. I just toss the full bags of dirty clothes in the suitcases. My dh doesn't use cubes, but he also packs a lot less clothes than dd and I do. We always take a battery nightlight to put in bath. Turn it on when we go to sleep, much easier than trying to find the right light switch in middle of night. I would also suggest seabands and ginger candy since you haven't cruised before. We've been on 7 cruises and I've gotten seasick on 3. I now carry ginger candy with me at all times and if I start feeling quesy I use it and it really helps. If you get some make sure it's real ginger and not just ginger flavoring. I always bring things like waterproof band aides, various over counter meds, sunburn gel, travel sewing kit, extra batteries, travel bottle of dish soap to wash water bottles. They sell these items on the ships, but they cost a lot more and have very limited choices. I always pack a lot of stuff we never need, but I'd rather have it and not need it than not have it and need it.

 

[CrowMomma]

Packing cubes are great when you have combined luggage with someone else, but over the years I've transformed into a minimalist packer, so not bringing many clothes, I don't find them very useful anymore.

Instead of soap for cleaning water bottles, I buy a cheap sponge, soak with dish soap, let dry and cut into small squares. I'll take a couple with me and they work really well. They also sell the paper towels presoaked with dawn, but it's a bit too soapy for my taste.

The walls, ceilings and door are magnetic. I bring hooks for lanyards, nightlight for the bathroom, air freshener with a magnet glued on the back and this magnetic cup meant for dry erase markers that I use to hold my toothbrushes and toothpaste.

 

[Cheburashka]

So my friends and I are going on not just our first Disney cruise but our first cruise ever in November of next year. We're at least partly sure we've figured out most of the things we'll need to have with us, and we've built a pretty substantial wishlist of things we want to start buying and storing away in preparation for our trip (with things like dramamine, sunscreen, etc being purchased within the month prior to the actual trip).

We both, however, are nearly obsessive planners. We have eleven months but that just means plenty of time to get our ducks in a row! That being said, just in case we missed something, what essential things should we obtain/pack for our cruise?

(And for those who've used them, are packing cubes REALLY worth it? I keep seeing that, but we've never used them, and were on the fence about getting them.)

I recommend that you avoid overpacking. Think carefully about how much space each item will take up & how much it will weigh, vs. how necessary it is, before packing it.

There are self-service laundry rooms on the ships, so if for some reason you need more clothes than you have with you, it's easy enough to wash & rewear something. You don't need your own detergent as that will be available in the laundry rooms, too. You don't even need cash to use the laundry room, just your ship KTTW card. Buy water bottles onboard (or order them in advance from DCL) rather than bringing your own- their water bottles are metal now, btw, so no plastic waste.) Unless you're the obsessive type, don't bother with poo-pourri or air freshener- they aren't necessary. If for some reason your bathroom smells a bit stale (more likely on a classic ship than on a Dream class ship), just pour some water into the p-trap in the floor. I don't bother with packing cubes but have nothing against them. They're not necessary.

Don't forget your hairbrush- that's my top bit of "you must bring this" advice, as I forgot mine in October, and the ship's gift shop hairbrush was small & hard plastic, not good for your hair. A pop-up laundry hamper to keep in your closet for dirty clothes is useful & weighs almost nothing & takes up very little space in your luggage when folded up. Bring a sturdy plastic bag to put damp swimsuits in, if you plan to swim or soak in the hot tub on the last night & don't want to put them in the dryer prior to heading home. Again, a plastic bag is extremely light & takes up almost no space. If you're planning on exploring ports besides Castaway Cay, then you might want to have an umbrella or poncho with you in case rain is forecasted. This does weigh a bit & take up some space, but imo it's worth it if you're going to want to stay dry at a port. It poured for a while when I was in Nassau, so I was very glad to have my umbrella & not get soaked.

I like to put a large character magnet on my stateroom door- a fair percentage of Disney cruisers choose to do this. This takes up a bit of space but not much, since it's flat. You can buy one on Etsy if you are interested but don't want to make one yourself.

 

[tvguy]

When it comes to clothing, mix and match is your friend. And some laundry soap to wash out some items in your room and then let them line dry in the shower.

 

[auntlynne]

If you have a balcony or oceanview room, a clothes pin to keep the curtain closed.

A wristlet bag to carry phone and key card. Or a small cross body bag.

 

[meliscan]

I am a hideous over packer so I will chime in to not over pack. You don't need that much to wear and you can rewear. Laundry is not terrible. Also no one will notice/judge you if you are in the same clothes multiple times.
I love my packing cubes. Not only do I put everyone's clothes in their cubes but we typically travel in the day before the cruise and it is nice to have a cube with the next days clothes all together after a night in the hotel.
I will add in a Lanyard and a card holder. I love that I can put my key around my next and walk freely. Your Key to the World Card is truly that and keeping in handy is helpful. Plus the lanyard removes the risk of laying it down somewhere. My son once tossed his in with the dirty towels on the pool deck.

 

[Travel60]

Repeating....do not over pack. You will need half the clothes you think. Pack a couple pair of shorts/casual pants depending on temps. If female a couple of skirts for excursions and dinner and a couple of dresses. If male, a couple pair of nicer pants. Then pack 5-6 shirts and a couple of sweaters or a jean jacket. If you keep bottoms to a color palette and tops solid colors that coordinate, everything will mix and match. Two pair shoes...walking and dressier. Swimsuits and cover up. Workout clothes. Jammies.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

We use packing cubes/compression cubes to limit the number of clothes we bring.
Don't overpack. Lay everything on your bed then put half back in the closet/drawers.
What cruise and how long? We did the EBPC (eastbound Panama Canal), 14 nights on the ship, with each of us pulling one carry-on luggage. Don't overpack and use the laundry. I bring Wash-EZE a sheet with detergent/softener/static guard. Easy packing.
If you have a verandah, get some nice (not expensive and not heavy) binoculars.