PACKING TIPS - What's yours?

[PATTERSON PARTY OF 3]

I am in a facebook group and we were discussing tips for 1st time cruisers. This got me thinking about my OCD packing skills.

Here are my top 2 tips:

1. After unpacking the first afternoon, leave your suitcase open and slide it under the bed. Repack dirty clothes as you go. This keeps the Cabin tidy and save you from the crazy last night packing rush.

2. I use a Vera Bradley Lunch date bag for a toiletries bag. It is durable, pretty & lined with plastic for no hassel cleanup. I pack everything in 4 bags.

Bag 1 - Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash & floss.
Bag 2 - All my makeup
Bag 3 - Haircare products (shampoo, conditioner, etc.), bodywash.
Bag 4 - Deo for my BO, perfume, lotion, other misc.

Makes getting ready easy. Just grab a bag, use it and put it back. NO digging, no cross contamination, or everything laying everywhere.


So you know my OCD packing secrets... Tell me yours!!

 

[valbob89]

I hate packing, both for the trip and especially the night before we have to leave our cabin. We have a packing list that we each use for each trip and then update when we get home. We also find our luggage scale a valuable tool

But the best item we have every bought to make this task easier is our travelpro platinum magna rolling tote. Everything that we can, we put on a hanger. On one hanger I put a complete outer outfit; slacks, top, sweater. Our large travelpro holds 10 hangers on each end. There are 4 corner pouches that my shoes fit in (not his size 12s). When we unpack and repack the last night of our trip, all we have to do is move the hangers to and from the closet. Other clothes items, such as night clothes and underwear I put in clear storage bags, the ones I found at my dollar store even have handles. I leave my items in these bags when I unpack, just moving the bags to and from the cabin drawers. The tote fits under the bed.

In our second checked bag I put our none clothes items; FE, door decorations, travel mugs, pins, etc. All are packed in storage bags too. When we get back from our trip these items are gone through but then left stored in this same suitcase.

 

[luv2cruisedisney]

My packing tips is as follows

1) Lay out all items for cruise
2) Put 1/2 of the clothes back because I won't wear them

 

[momof2n2]

My packing tips is as follows

1) Lay out all items for cruise
2) Put 1/2 of the clothes back because I won't wear them

This is me for all my vacations. Glad to know the technique works for cruising, too!

 

[momof2n2]

Bag 1 - Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash & floss.
Bag 2 - All my makeup
Bag 3 - Haircare products (shampoo, conditioner, etc.), bodywash.
Bag 4 - Deo for my BO, perfume, lotion, other misc.
:

Brilliant

 

[wcw57]

Brilliant

I'm sorry, I just don't get the four bags in a bag thing....you don't want the bottles to touch and spread cooties? If they are in a bag why have sub-divisions of bags. why not subsets such as 1 bag for whitening toothpaste & one for breath freshening????

Of course, all I bring on board is what I have on, 1 pair of underdrawers, 1 toothbrush, 1 bathing suit.....and THAT'S for a 7 day cruise

 

[Ravenne]

I make a Google Doc to keep track of what I want/need to pack. That way, I can access it while I'm on the go because chances are, I'll forget when I get home. Also, I can reuse the list for subsequent trips and just modify it accordingly. I can also share it with my DH so if he thinks of something, he too can modify it. I make everything I haven't packed yet in bold print. As I pack them, I unbold the things I've packed.

 

[lorrie322]

I make a Google Doc to keep track of what I want/need to pack. That way, I can access it while I'm on the go because chances are, I'll forget when I get home. Also, I can reuse the list for subsequent trips and just modify it accordingly. I can also share it with my DH so if he thinks of something, he too can modify it. I make everything I haven't packed yet in bold print. As I pack them, I unbold the things I've packed.

OMG! I think I've just found my twin!

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I have a cruise packing list I reprint each time.

But my number one packing tip is this:

-Don't pack anything until you have your travel docs (passports) packed. Mine usually stay in a designated area, (which I check out of some morbid fear regularly), and then as it gets closer to the cruise, they move up in front of my computer monitor where I can see them staring back at me regularly. With about a week or so, I input all the cruise check in online stuff and print, and then they get packed into my Embarkation Backpack. The Backpack sits on my kitchen table for a week or a few days prior to the night before leaving. That bag gets packed into the car the night before we leave, before any other thing gets packed. And then I looked at it, and I have my honey peek into the backpack with his own eye balls to make sure that there are IN there.

Passports and Rx are the number 1 and 2 most important things. Everything else you can replace. The rest, I use my checklist for, including pirate gear and tiaras and tails and shells etc.

That's my tip. Whatever methods you use, never never wait for the travel docs. And when you BOOK your trip, pull up your passports and check the dates for expiration. (My honey's is up 2016. Close but ok for 2014's cruise next year.)

Here's my Embarkation & Park Backpack!
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1005122_135940513274874_593050221_n.jpg

Aw yeah! Girls section at Sears baby! $5!

 

[wiigirl]

My packing tips is as follows

1) Lay out all items for cruise
2) Put 1/2 of the clothes back because I won't wear them

 

[lady9]

My packing tips is as follows

1) Lay out all items for cruise
2) Put 1/2 of the clothes back because I won't wear them

You can also add:
1.) Lay out the money you plan to take on the cruise
2.) Take twice as much!

 

[momof2n2]

I'm sorry, I just don't get the four bags in a bag thing....you don't want the bottles to touch and spread cooties? If they are in a bag why have sub-divisions of bags. why not subsets such as 1 bag for whitening toothpaste & one for breath freshening????

Of course, all I bring on board is what I have on, 1 pair of underdrawers, 1 toothbrush, 1 bathing suit.....and THAT'S for a 7 day cruise

You only grab the bag(s) you need before you go in bathroom. Not all of it!

 

[kapoof]

Everything of value ie airport tickets, wdw and cruise docs, passports etc goes right into my purse. I pack a weekender to carry with in plane, p.j.s and extra set of clothes and swimsuit. This is in case the luggage gets lost of late, I can at least sleep and have an extra days worth of clothes on me.

 

[TheRatPack]

I have absolutely NO tips for Cruise packing (yet) but I purchased collapsible totes from Thirty-One and pack those for the dressers or dining table. The kids were always bringing in their lanyards, stickers, cell phones or maps....etc and just laying them everywhere. Now they know to put all those little nick nack things in the tote so we don't lose it under a bed or dresser. I plan on taking those on the Cruise too.

We take the velcro shoe organizer that hooks over the rod in the closet for our hairbrushes, gel/hairspray, toothpaste....etc since it hangs right there beside the sink in the WDW rooms. I've read that these are not allowed on DCL though, so I may have to figure out another divided way to store all that stuff.

 

[jlk51496]

Anyone ever use their Vera Bradley X-large and cover them some how! I don't use them when I go on planes bec I'm sure they would be ruined - but are they rough housed on the ship like they are at the airport? We are driving down and I love how much they fit and how they collapse when empty (perfect for small cabins)

 

[TheRatPack]

What is the best carry on? I've never had to deal with carry on luggage for a cruise or otherwise. My husband has flown a few times and takes a decent sized carry on but we'll definitely need a few more for the cruise.

 

[NurseDave]

What is the best carry on? I've never had to deal with carry on luggage for a cruise or otherwise. My husband has flown a few times and takes a decent sized carry on but we'll definitely need a few more for the cruise.

If you're talking about your carry-on for embarkation, then something easy to carry is the best since you'll have it with you at lunch and walking around the ship. We use backpacks and shoulder beach bags.

 

[SZ2016]

Anyone ever use their Vera Bradley X-large and cover them some how! I don't use them when I go on planes bec I'm sure they would be ruined - but are they rough housed on the ship like they are at the airport? We are driving down and I love how much they fit and how they collapse when empty (perfect for small cabins)

I assume you're speaking of the XL duffle? I tried to take really good care of it but then the first time I used it on the flight back from NYC the overheads were full and it was put under the plane and ended up getting snowed on in NYC/rained on in TX. After that I just accepted that it's going to get dirty, but it doesn't ruin it, if it gets bad I toss it in the washer. They do toss the luggage around on DCL just like they do at airports so if that worries you don't take it, or put it in a trash bag which would help against weather/spills. If you do this though make sure your luggage tag for DCL is on the trash bag AND your Vera.

 

[Coconut8473]

My three biggest tips:

1) eBags packing cubes. These are essential not just for cruises, but all of our trips. They help to keep suitcases neat and orderly, and keep clothes separated (we have different colors for each family member so they're easily identified). Unpacking is a breeze as well, as they fit in most hotel and stateroom drawers - you simply unzip them. These also allow me to start packing things in advance without having to get out all of the big bags or suitcases right way.

2) Before a cruise or big trip, I prepare a spreadsheet listing each day, broken out by activity and daypart (i.e. Morning/Excursion, Palo Brunch, Castaway Cay, Dinner Attire, Bedtime), and detail EVERYTHING I will be wearing for each day or daypart (right down to specific undergarments, jewelry/accessories and shoes). Once I have everything listed, I then go back and start editing to eliminate unnecessary items (i.e. realizing that I can wear the same sandals with all of my dresses, that I don't need new pajamas for each night, etc.). Then when it's time to pack, I print out the spreadsheet and pack everything I've listed. I'll usually include an extra "emergency" outfit and possibly a sweater or hoodie, but other than that, breaking everything out by daypart really helps keep me from overpacking, or conversely, forgetting something essential.

3) I also keep a separate running list for non-clothing items and toiletries, and starting a month out, will write them down as they come to me (even writing down the "obvious" things like passports, sunglasses, my son's favorite stuffed Mickey, camera chargers, contact lenses, etc.), then I go down the checklist the night before our trip to make sure I haven't forgotten anything. I've found that once you have a general "master list" like this, you only have to make minor edits for each new vacation.

 

[com_op_2000]

Men use a black/brown reversible belt.