First timer tip: Plan to do laundry

[indyshea]

As we prepare for our second cruise just thought I would share for those who say 'oh I won't need to do laundry', I thought this too. We packed a week's worth of clothes, but it isn't like at home where you wear the same outfit all day. You are more active, things get sweaty or dirty or you just don't want to put them back on. You wear different clothes for dinner than for the day's activities. I was surprised that I needed/wanted to do laundry and I'll plan on it this time and find the best time rather than HAVING to do it on Thursday night or whatever night it was.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

As we prepare for our second cruise just thought I would share for those who say 'oh I won't need to do laundry', I thought this too. We packed a week's worth of clothes, but it isn't like at home where you wear the same outfit all day. You are more active, things get sweaty or dirty or you just don't want to put them back on. You wear different clothes for dinner than for the day's activities. I was surprised that I needed/wanted to do laundry and I'll plan on it this time and find the best time rather than HAVING to do it on Thursday night or whatever night it was.

Well, we always plan on at least one load of laundry on any trip. But we usually do more, since we tend to book trips of over 10-20 days. No way can I pack enough for that long a trip.

 

[Dug720]

In talking with other friends who have been on cruises, it seems that a lot depends on your laundry habits at home. Those who have laundry facilities in their house are far more likely to feel like they have to do laundry while on the cruise. Those of us who have to schlep laundry to a laundromat and feed the quarter-eating monsters to do it have a much easier time going on vacation without having to do it - either more clothes, or we've learned to pack smarter/lighter.

For example, I am in a NYC apartment and do have to schlep laundry to the laundromat to do it (or schlep it and pay them a heck of a lot more to do it for me) and schlep it back home. I've stocked up with enough clothes that I can go a couple of weeks without making that schlep, so I have no issues going without doing laundry - even did it on my 12-night Med/Venice cruise with 2 days earlier in Barcelona as well as on two 7-night cruises to Alaska that included having to have running gear for 4 races.

So I don't know that I'd say universally "plan to do laundry" - I'd say look at your laundry habits at home and on non-cruise vacations and go from there.

 

[DnA2010]

We were the opposite- I totally thought we would need to do laundry and do lots at home but we managed no problem

 

[Anna114]

I love to do laundry on vacation. Socks don't get lost and I don't have to pack so much. We enjoy time in our room (we usually get a balcony) so it's not hardship for me.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Sorry, but vacations are too short to spend even a moment in the laundry room. That's why ships have laundry/dry cleaning services. Fortunately, DCL doesn't charge outrageous fees for that.

 

[st0nehedge]

In talking with other friends who have been on cruises, it seems that a lot depends on your laundry habits at home. Those who have laundry facilities in their house are far more likely to feel like they have to do laufndry while on the cruise. Those of us who have to schlep laundry to a laundromat and feed the quarter-eating monsters to do it have a much easier time going on vacation without having to do it - either more clothes, or we've learned to pack smarter/lighter.

For example, I am in a NYC apartment and do have to schlep laundry to the laundromat to do it (or schlep it and pay them a heck of a lot more to do it for me) and schlep it back home. I've stocked up with enough clothes that I can go a couple of weeks without making that schlep, so I have no issues going without doing laundry - even did it on my 12-night Med/Venice cruise with 2 days earlier in Barcelona as well as on two 7-night cruises to Alaska that included having to have running gear for 4 races.

So I don't know that I'd say universally "plan to do laundry" - I'd say look at your laundry habits at home and on non-cruise vacations and go from there.

Yes! I believe this is true. At least, I'm hoping this is true, because we have to pay for coin operated laundry here at home (over $3/load), and I'm really hoping that I can get by with enough clothes to forgo the need for laundry while on our upcoming Alaska cruise.

@PrincessShmoo on the laundry service tag, you posted on another thread, was that per item for the laundry/dry cleaning, or for so many items (i.e. 3 shirts for ____, or 1 shirt for ___)?

 

[ceecee]

DCL laundry prices are so much cheaper than the hotel we stayed at in San Diego, it was like $3.00 for a pair of underwear! We may use that since I've been reading how crowded the laundromats get.

 

[jdb in AZ]

DCL laundry prices are so much cheaper than the hotel we stayed at in San Diego, it was like $3.00 for a pair of underwear! We may use that since I've been reading how crowded the laundromats get.

Yep. The crowds in the laundry room start forming at 6 a.m. on the longer cruises. We pack extra undies, and send out the rest.

 

[Pens Fan]

We have never done laundry on the ship - even when we were right across the hall from the laundry room on an 11 nighter. We are lucky that DH has Platinum status on Delta so we don't pay for up to 2 bags. We just bring what we need and plan on wearing things more than once. I've been known to wash out a couple of things in the sink if need be, but other than that if we needed anything else washed or pressed we would just send it out to be done.

I was intrigued by Dug720's repose. I completely get what she is saying but I'll add a slightly different twist on it. As I do have laundry facilities at my home, the idea of having to take my laundry somewhere, worry about finding a washer, either sitting and baby sitting it or timing it to get back at just the right time is foreign to me - Nope! Not interested in doing that on vacation. Now when we are at the beach it's a entirely different story. We rent a house every year for just a week and I ALWAYS do laundry. We just bring a few things with the idea I'll wash at least once or twice. The house has a laundry room, so I just throw in a load, head to the beach and forget about it until we get back - kind of like at home. That doesn't impact my vacation at all, but worrying about doing laundry on a cruise ship - not for me, but to each his own! Obviously a LOT of people do not agree with me, though, as the laundry room across the hall on our last cruise was always packed!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yes! I believe this is true. At least, I'm hoping this is true, because we have to pay for coin operated laundry here at home (over $3/load), and I'm really hoping that I can get by with enough clothes to forgo the need for laundry while on our upcoming Alaska cruise.

@PrincessShmoo on the laundry service tag, you posted on another thread, was that per item for the laundry/dry cleaning, or for so many items (i.e. 3 shirts for ____, or 1 shirt for ___)?

The prices indicated are for each piece. Except for those items indicated differently (Suits (2 piece) or Suits (3 piece)

 

[MUN]

As we prepare for our second cruise just thought I would share for those who say 'oh I won't need to do laundry', I thought this too. We packed a week's worth of clothes, but it isn't like at home where you wear the same outfit all day. You are more active, things get sweaty or dirty or you just don't want to put them back on. You wear different clothes for dinner than for the day's activities. I was surprised that I needed/wanted to do laundry and I'll plan on it this time and find the best time rather than HAVING to do it on Thursday night or whatever night it was.

Thanks for your advice; however for us, it depends on the cruise. On warm weather cruises, We are in our swimsuits all day and only put on proper clothes for dinner. For lunch, I will throw on a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. We go through very few clothes and pack accordingly.

 

[MUN]

DCL laundry prices are so much cheaper than the hotel we stayed at in San Diego, it was like $3.00 for a pair of underwear! We may use that since I've been reading how crowded the laundromats get.

Underwear? You're on a cruise!

 

[FigmentSpark]

The prices indicated are for each piece. Except for those items indicated differently (Suits (2 piece) or Suits (3 piece)
View attachment 188814

So, probably no hand washing on that list, like for delicate unmentionables?

 

[Dug720]

We have never done laundry on the ship - even when we were right across the hall from the laundry room on an 11 nighter. We are lucky that DH has Platinum status on Delta so we don't pay for up to 2 bags. We just bring what we need and plan on wearing things more than once. I've been known to wash out a couple of things in the sink if need be, but other than that if we needed anything else washed or pressed we would just send it out to be done.

I was intrigued by Dug720's repose. I completely get what she is saying but I'll add a slightly different twist on it. As I do have laundry facilities at my home, the idea of having to take my laundry somewhere, worry about finding a washer, either sitting and baby sitting it or timing it to get back at just the right time is foreign to me - Nope! Not interested in doing that on vacation. Now when we are at the beach it's a entirely different story. We rent a house every year for just a week and I ALWAYS do laundry. We just bring a few things with the idea I'll wash at least once or twice. The house has a laundry room, so I just throw in a load, head to the beach and forget about it until we get back - kind of like at home. That doesn't impact my vacation at all, but worrying about doing laundry on a cruise ship - not for me, but to each his own! Obviously a LOT of people do not agree with me, though, as the laundry room across the hall on our last cruise was always packed!

A vacation home rental I put in a different category. Since the washer and dryer come with the house, it's like being at home. I was meaning more cruises and hotel-based vacations.

At least where I live I have a few different laundromat options, so if one is uber busy I'll schlep to another one - I usually take advantage of my natural early-wake inner alarm clock and do it early Saturday morning while most everyone else in the 'hood is sleeping off Friday night's adventures.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So, probably no hand washing on that list, like for delicate unmentionables?

No handwashing. The laundry is all individually tagged by room, and then washed together in hot water with hot drying. They do wash underwear shorts and bras, but no actual mention of ladies underwear.

I've always just used the self serve laundry with no issues, or hand washed underwear in my room, if I only had a few.

 

[wombat_5606]

The laundry is all individually tagged by room, and then washed together in hot water with hot drying.

Yes, so if you are bringing delicate clothing, be forewarned. It shouldn't go in the laundry. I learned that lesson many years ago on another cruise line.

 

[FigmentSpark]

That's what I was afraid of. My kids love to throw their t-shirts in the wash, which don't shrink at home on warm or cool water, but hot may be a problem.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

No handwashing. The laundry is all individually tagged by room, and then washed together in hot water with hot drying.

Oh, that's a game-changer! I'm not doing that! Just saved a few dollars...