Help needed with packing!

[Lindsey Disney]

Hello!

I'm going on my first Disney Cruise. It is a seven night cruise. I am taking separate outfits to wear to dinner since there is a particular dress code. Two of the seven nights have their own outfits (pirate night and formal night) but I've gotten stuck with the other 5 nights. Would you recommend bringing 2 outfits to wear and re-wear over the course of those nights, or 3?

Thanks in advance

 

[Bear3412]

.....Would you recommend bringing 2 outfits to wear and re-wear over the course of those nights, or 3? ......

3. If they are bathing suits.

 

[BigredNole]

I have not been on a cruise either. If I have the space, I over pack like crazy. Simply because space is usually not an issue. It is easier to pack stuff you might not need rather than having to find somewhere that has it if you do need it. However, a cruise is slightly different. You don't have all the space like other trips. Reading through these forums, people that have cruised often have learned what is necessary. People seem to pack less and do laundry if necessary. I am in the 1 suitcase per person for all their clothes and personal items, 1 backpack as a carryon each, and 1 additional suitcase for all necessities/common items. That last suitcase is medications, sunscreens, mask/snorkel, and whatever else.

 

[over50visits]

In 25 years now of cruising with Disney (we're Grand Slam Plus), the topic that's caused the most concern for many people has been the dress code, and IMHO that should be the least concern.

Many folks love dressing nicely for dinner, and it shows. On the other hand, many folks like to stay casual (and I mean casual, shorts and tees) and enjoy their dinners just as much. There are pirate nights, formal nights, Captain's dinners, etc…all elegant evenings designed to enable those who want elegant cruise dinners to have them. Yet, some large percent (25%, 75%???) will not participate in the dressiness, and everyone will have just as enjoyable an evening.

So, don't even think of packing too many clothes, because no matter how little you take they will be enough! Dress up if you want, but if you don't you'll be very comfortable and fit right in. And remember, half the fun is the anticipation! Keep reading this board, look for videos online, look over shore excursions…..it's a stress-free time of your life.

 

[missyp]

I like to have a fresh outfit for dinner since I shower before I go. I do dress up a little on regular nights and I wear a cocktail dress on formal night. I do like to look nicer than I do walking around the ship during the day but you will see everything. Anything hoes!

 

[RedSox68]

Every night except formal night(s) are cruise casual. I have worn dress capris with a blouse, slacks with a blouse or even a sundress to dinner. A lot of times I will wear a nice blouse or shirt for dinner, and then wear the same top for an excursion the next day -- making multiple use and not having to pack so much. Can't answer for formal night since after 15 cruises we are done doing formal night except for slacks and a blouse, and a dress shirt and tie for husband.

 

[tinkerone]

We mostly do b2b's so 14 nights in a row. I pack one pair of black dress pants (think a velvetine type material and you would be close) that are light weight and need no ironing. Then I pack 3 or 4 dress tops and rotate them with the bottoms. Since I only put the top on just before dinner and then we go right back to the room to change before the show it is only on for no more than an hour and a half each evening in an air conditioned area so I have no problem with that at all. I doubt very much the people around me notice or care what I am wearing. If I do need to do some laundry there is a place to go so I'm not worried.

I personally do not want to be bogged down in weight when I am flying in and if I can get by with one suitcase each I'm thrilled. Even when we drove, less is more.

 

[JoAnnPan]

Going on my first 7-night Disney Cruise in November (first cruise ever) - For dining - right now i plan on bringing 1 pair of white capris and 1 pair of black capris for dinners - i will bring different tops. Also bringing a pair of nice white shorts to go with fancier tops/sandals.
Not doing formal night.
Enjoy your cruise!!!

 

[PlanoNana]

Bring mix and match and do laundry if necessary. We limit ourselves to one suitcase and one small carry-on each. We try to dress appropriately but it will definitely be cruise casual. I plan to bring velvet pants and top for formal night on our Very Merrytime Cruise just after Thanksgiving. Exactly what else I pack will depend on what the weather looks like for that time.

 

[Tinked]

I agree with Tinkerone. I tend to overpack so I do two pairs of black dress slacks. The important thing is to pick one color dress slacks or skirt and then coordinate your tops to go with them. For dress nights I pack something with a little more bling to it. For long cruises I send my slacks to be pressed at the dry cleaning service which costs half the dry cleaning price and they look great when they come back. Don't forget to take a light weight sweater or shawl to carry at night. I find the theaters a little cool and need something extra. No one who matters will know if you wear something twice. Relax and have fun.

 

[rcchello]

Dress in what makes you comfortable. If you were on vacation for that period and going out each night what would you wear? Do you want something dressier for formal night and have pictures taken? Are you into the pirate dress-up thing?

We tend to wear slacks and nice shirts each night and my wife wears a dress on formal night and Palo. I wear shorts and my wife wears summer dresses most other times bathing suits are not appropriate.

It is your vacation and the only places that have an enforced dress code beyond no bathing suits are Palo and Remy's.

 

[trickiwoo]

I usually pack a pair of black pants and a pair of kahkis for dinner, and then a different shirt for each night of dinner. Since you eat with the same people every night for dinner and have the same servers, I tend to not re-wear outfits more than once!

 

[wombat_5606]

I sometimes wear outfits more than once. If I'm on a itinerary with more than one formal night, I have been known to wear the same dress. It's not that big a deal, in my opinion.

 

[Sir William]

I usually pack a pair of black pants and a pair of kahkis for dinner, and then a different shirt for each night of dinner. Since you eat with the same people every night for dinner and have the same servers, I tend to not re-wear outfits more than once!

We wear the same casual outfit to dinner at least 2-3 times per any given cruise. We wear a different outfit for Pirate Night, and since we like to dress up we wear the same outfits for both Formal and Semi-formal night, just changing the accessories a bit. We travel as a couple and are seated with other couples, and I've noticed that we all wear most of our dinner clothing at least twice. Since are dining and not engaged in active activities these outfits stay relatively clean.

I sometimes wear outfits more than once. If I'm on a itinerary with more than one formal night, I have been known to wear the same dress. It's not that big a deal, in my opinion.

I like to take a tux and I wear it for both Formal and Semi-formal nights to justify the space and weight. One night I wear it with a cumberbund and the other night with a vest. I take a second shirt, which I tend to wear more often than not. DW wears the same dress but changes jewelry, etc. we may be a little overdressed one night but we don't mind as we enjoy dressing up for dinner when cruising.

 

[Transit]

I am going with less, and wearing things twice. I'll have two dresses for the dressier nights (two in the main dining room, one in palo), but am not taking a real formal, just something I'd wear to a nice dinner. For the other nights, I'll have skirts and tops that I could wear with casual skirts, jeans, or shorts. I'm ok with sending stuff out for cleaning while I'm on the ship, I'd rather do that than take an extra bag.

 

[GrannyDee]

I'm with the folks who say dress as you feel comfortable dressing. My husband and granddaughter dress up every night for dinner while on vacation, I prefer to be more casual. I wouldn't think anything of repeating an outfit at dinner, regardless of who my dinner companions are or what they might think.

We cruised this past January on Celebrity, shortly after they'd relaxed their dress codes for formal night. My granddaughter (five at the time) got compliments on her outfits from everyone around us. The one night we skipped the MDR, people said they'd looked forward to - and missed! - seeing what she'd wear at dinner. She loved the attention. The people at the next table asked to have their picture taken with her!! LOL.

I'm more than content to dress casually and let her - and others - bask in the limelight of the well dressed.

 

[Geomom]

We did a Disney Wonder Alaskan cruise in August. I dressed up for formal night and semi formal night, and one night I changed out of hiking clothes to a black blouse and nice jeans--otherwise I just kept on the clothes I had that day for dinner--t-shirt and jeans. I didn't feel out of place dressing casually most nights.