Ladies~How do you transport formal evening wear to the ship?

[bizybea]

Hello all! I have 2 formal evening dresses that I plan on bringing on the cruise with me. The problem that I am facing is that they are both so long that I cannot take them in a garment bag without them being bunched up at the bottom. If I have to go this route, would it be hard to get any wrinkles out, and how would I go about doing this if I can't take an iron onboard? I would not trust the "community" iron on these dresses either! I think that I may be able to fit them into a clear, dry cleaning bag, but would that be tacky? And then I wouldn't want to carry them around until the room was ready! I don't know what to do, can you give me some advice? What do you do in this situation? Thanks!

 

[VondaP]

I had the same problem last time we cruised. I am fairly tall, so my dresses were longer than the garment bags. What I did was tape additional clear plastic bag bottom from one dry cleaning bag to the other. I put the dress in the "real" garment bag and folded the bottom up. I did not carry the garment bag with me. As soon as I boarded, I took the dresses out and hung them in the closet. They were fine.

I'll be sailing again in September, if anyone has a better suggestion please let me know!

Vonda

 

[ducklite]

Put a plastic drycleaning bag over the hanger, and tape another on to the bottom of the first. Then put the dress on the hanger over the bag(s). Then slip another dry cleaning bag over the top. Take the bottom of the dress and "flip it up" so it folds over the bottom of the bag. Next put tissue loosely in the folds at the bottom of the dress. Then pull another dry cleaning bag over the bottom and tape it to the top bag. As soon as you get on board, take it out and hang it--and its probably a good idea to let the steam from the bathroom get to it.

If it's really bad, just send it out and have it steamed/pressed.

Anne

 

[imgoingtodisney]

my idea of formalwear is a long skirt with matching top -

 

[abitjaded]

If they have to go in a garment bag, use two hangers, the first for the shoulders, the second on the hem. Use a skirt hanger with soft clamps to fold up the hem to the length of the bag, using a tie or ribbon to lower the clamp hanger to a level in the bag that allows the fold to go as low on the skirt as possible. If the dress has just thin upper straps, also clamp it in at the top of the bodice, don't hang by the straps. Place a rolled up towel or some such to keep from creating a sharp fold. But unless the dress is really fluffy, you may find it will look better if you fold it into a suitcase, there may be less shifting, lessening the wrinkles at the sides. Take it out of the bag on arrival and place in a steamy bathroom to shake out the wrinkles. Or do like a rich friend, get a wedding gown bag and buy a seat on the plane for the dresses!

 

[Wonderwoman1982]

I like all the above ideas. They're all basicaly the same idea. It's what I did. BUT, you CAN take your own iron on board. They just ask you don't use it in your own room. But you CAN use YOUR iron in the laundry room, Just so you are aware...

 

[mrsltg]

I must speak up and risk being flamed! I have read so many posts about irons on this board. Whenever I've cruised in the past, I have ALWAYS brought my own iron to use in my cabin. This is not allowed on any cruise that I know of. For all of you daring scoff-laws out there, here is what you do... put a towel over the coffee table or dresser. Put your clothing to be ironed on top. Iron to your hearts content!!! Just PLEASE turn your iron off before leaving the cabin. I go so far as to wait for it to cool down (only takes a few minutes with a travel iron), put it in it's heat resistant bag, and put it away. But then again, do this only if you're interested in walking on the wild side!


Erin

 

[mmouse37]

I always pack long dresses that have lycra in them so they never wrinkle. Much easier that way. I pack all our formal wear in the regular suitcases in dry cleaner bags on hang as soon as we get to our room. Never a problem with wrinkles.

MJ

 

[Anita Williams]

When you get on board just send everything out to the dry cleaners to be pressed. It doesn't cost much, and all the clothes look like they've never been packed. I wouldn't bring an iron on board though. There has to be a good reason they're not allowed, and I would hate to be the one who burned down the Disney Magic!

 

[Mjasp]

Mrsltg...I'm sure you are very careful with your iron, but some may not be and it can be VERY dangerous. Although there is water everywhere to put out any fire, its not the water you really want to come in contact with.

I sent all my families (4 of us) formal clothes to be pressed only and it cost us all of $16.75. Downy wrinkle releaser works unbelievably for shorts, Tees and capris. I even use it at home now.

 

[MrsG]

The dry cleaning bags worked great! Also, for the trip we purchased a rolling garment bag. It had an ex-tra long fold out piece that fit my floor-length gown. Check around. Not all rolling garment bags have the extra-long fold out piece. It was probably the most useful piece we've ever bought.

 

[mcnuss]

Ok, I know this sounds totally lazy, but if I needed to carry something extra long (which, since I am 5 ft tall on tippie toes, is not usual for me), I would take it to my local dry cleaner and ask them to help me. I bet they would fold it correctly over the hanger with tissue, etc.. and take very good care of you.

 

[bizybea]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the wonderful tips! I think I will take advantage of most the tips and combine them, so to say. If they still have wrinkles (we are driving down from Ohio the Thursday before the cruise, so they will be packed away for awhile...) I can send them to the cleaners to get pressed. I did not know that they could do this, how long does it take to get them back? Do I have to take them somewhere or will the room steward take care of it? I don't mind the price, I don't want wrinkles! I had planned on bringing Downey wrinkle releaser, but there is NO WAY that I am using that on these gowns! Imgoingtodisney, I'm sure that I will be extra dressy compared to some, but this is my first cruise, and perhaps my only (according to DH ) so I am taking advantage and going all out! He is wearing a tux on the formal nights and I will be wearing my gowns, and I can't wait!

 

[bizybea]

MrsG~Do you remember where you bought the rolling garment bag? Not only do I have my gowns, but I have DH's tux and vests as well. I would love to have one of these, it sounds so handy.

 

[mcnuss]

You can get them anywhere you can buy luggage. I got mine at Marshalls! Just watch out bc some are very heavy (it's the frame). Mine is ok, but I have seen lighter ones, I was just not willing to pay the price.

ABN

 

[bizybea]

Thanks, mcnuss. I don't think that there is a Marshalls anywhere near me...

I will keep a lookout, could you tell me what brand of luggage yours is? Sorry for all the questions, but when I've checked into luggage (this is our first big trip and we don't own luggage!) I've not seen anything like a rolling garment bag. Thanks again.

 

[Kaa]

We just purchased a Samsonite rolling garment bag from Dillard's about one month ago. It has the extension piece for extra-long garments.

 

[bizybea]

Thanks, Kaa! I KNOW that there is a Dillards near me!

Samsonite is easy to find most places, too. Thanks.

 

[PiperG]

Ok, I know this sounds totally lazy, but if I needed to carry something extra long (which, since I am 5 ft tall on tippie toes, is not usual for me),

Lucky me, as I am also a small fry at 4" 11 1/2". However, I do concur with the dry cleaning bag solution. For those rare instances where I have something long, the bags work great.

 

[prymsu]

I take a little travel steamer with me, and that works pretty good...