How Many PIECES of Luggage to Take?

[catjammies]

We have a family of 4.
How many pieces of luggage should we expect to take???
Do you ever take more than one garment bag?
Can you carry on just a simple duffel bag loaded up???
Ladies, how many dresses or very nice outfits do you usually take?
Do you think 2 sundresses & a Princess outfit is sufficient for a little girl (along, of course, with playclothes....)???

 

[callahanjulie10]

I always overpack BUT I really enjoy dressing up. We always take 2 garment bags, 1 suitcase each, and an overnight hanging bag containing all bathroom items and medicines. In addition- we have a soft sided rolling cooler- and a day bag. We easily store our bags under the bed.
As for clothes- I always take DD-11 a dress/outfit for everynight- due to the fact that if she does spill/drop food it is no big deal. I usually take about 3/4 pairs of shorts, a different top for everyday and a couple of bathing suits/coverups.
This will be cruise #5 for us and I have done this every cruise- it works for me!

 

[TootyJane]

We are a family of 5 and usually take 3 large suitcases (we don't have a garment bag), a makeup case and 1 carry-on. They kids each have a backpack to carry their gameboys, books, etc. We're going on the Voyager this August and have purchased our own snorkel equipment so we will be adding another smaller suitcase. As for what I bring usually a nice dress for formal night and then I have skirts and tops to mix and match for the rest of the week. I never wear pants to dinner. I can't comment on what you should bring for your little girl -- I have 3 boys!! HTH

 

[4myguys]

I think the limit is 2 each (including kids) for checking luggage. You can add to that carry ons. I think we ended up with a garment bag, 3 med-large suitcases, and 2 carry-ons. DH rented tux, so didn't have to worry about that. Make sure you take shoes for each outfit. They take up alot of room too. Sandals work great. When you get in your room, make sure you stack small suitcases inside of larger ones for more room.

 

[MrsG]

FYI

Someone I know took one very large suitcase for her and her husband. The airport charged her for every pound over the 50 that was allowed (it worked out to over $75!). She tried to explain that she and her DH were sharing so they should be allowed 100 lbs. Nope, 50 lb limit per bag.

Moral of the story, if in doubt about wt., take 2 pieces.

 

[debkay]

catjammies-
I usually pack seven dress outfits for me, DD-13, DD-11 and DH. That alone takes up two rolling garmet bags. We take our own snorkel equipement. Four sets take up a rolling duffel bag. I pack our shorts/swimsuits/etc., in another rolling duffel bag. We check those four pieces. DH and I each carry on a bag. He carries ALL his electronic equipment, I carry all the documents & other things.

From reading other posts, I am debating if I should wheel on a cooler.

Since we are driving down, I don't have to worry about weighing. If we fly, I weigh numerous times. Especially since last fall when they dropped the free per bag limit to 50 lbs.

 

[callahanjulie10]

I love the rolling cooler! We wheel our drinks that take on (usually cokes, some liquor, and water bottles)- unload in the room- fold the cooler flat for storage. When we go to the beach- I take food/drinks from the ship as well as towels, sunscreen, etc. When we get ready to depart from the ship- we pack any souvies in it and check it unless it contains breakables. It is a necessity!!!

 

[MNmom]

Hi catjammies--

Re- your little girl (i have 2). Just remember that they recommend no shorts in the dining room. As long as she has skirts, pants or capris for dinner, other than the sundresses, I think you will be fine. My girls wore sundresses and capris almost every night for dinner as a matter of fact, so did I

 

[debkay]

callahanjulie10-
I think from your post that I am going to buy a rolling cooler and roll it on the ship! Do you check yours or roll it on?
Thanks.

 

[karenTX]

Do you find such a cool rolling cooler!?!?!

 

[hydster]

last Fall we packed 3 Suitcases, 4 backpacks and a toiletry bag full of medicine, makeup and such. We also carried on our hips camera bags. I read on these boards about people who put outfits together for their kids. My kids are younger so I would take a ziploc bag (freezer bag) and put an outfit a day in each of them, then leave the corner unsealed, roll it up and then seal it. That way they didnt have to worry about where their socks were or what shirt goes with what shorts..they were already packed up. Then since we stayed at the Poly for the 1st 3 nights we packed everything for those 3 nights in 1 suitcase, then the stuff for the 4 day cruise for all 5 of us in another suitcase and finally the 3 days After the cruise at the POR in the 3rd and final suitcase. The ziploc bags worked great and we could put wet stuff in them as well. We took a bottle of Downy Wrinkle Releaser for when the kids got dressed but surprisingly we didnt need much of it. We only used it for the nice clothes for Tritons and other than that they wore pretty much jean shorts and a T-Shirt. It worked well, we were under the weight limit and we didnt have to unpack all 3 suitcases to find something they were packed how our trip went! We left the other 2 suitcases locked up and packed up and only used the suitcase for that leg of the trip. It was SO nice to not have to look for socks or try to find out what suitcase we put the swimming suits in or whatever!

Heidi

 

[December99]

I have seen the rolling coolers at Totes Outlet stores but I don't think I've seen them anywhere else.

 

[callahanjulie10]

I bought mine at Sears. You can get them just about anywhere though- Wal-Mart- Target, etc. They average about $22 but are worth every penny. We carry on since we usually have bottles/cans. When you depart- you can check unless you have breakables.

 

[joyfull]

We bought our at SAMS Club. It also has a built-in bag on top. A great place for towels and sun lotion. It cost about 20.00 with tax.