Please help reform an overpacker!

[SweetSpot]

We are leaving in two weeks for the 7 day Eastern cruise and as a true compulsive over planner I have begun packing. I have gathered a list of all the things I will need and great tips from all of you. I especially love the tip for packing a days worth of clothes for each kid in ziplic bags so they can just pull a bag out each day without asking me to seek, find and coordinate.

After packing summer clothes for the cruise last night I started to wonder if I would also need pants and long sleeve shirts for the kids to wear at night after they change out of their dinner clothes. I'm assuming that the weather in November will be in the 80's during the day but does it get chilly at night? How often are they even on deck that they would need pants. Please help because I can't imagine how much luggage I will bring if I start packing "in case clothes" for all of us.

Thank you

 

[ebaynut31]

I never go anywhere without 1 set of in case clothes. Nothing more. If I need more, ie sweatshirts, I will buy them if needed. Shirts get dirtier than pants so I have no problem buying something that I would have bought as a souvenier anyways.

My daughter spent most of her time with the Oceaneers Lab and they did inside stuff at night.

Hope that helps.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Ive already started packing and we dont head to the airport until 6 wks from today (but I started the countdown at 48wks so Im getting there - lol)
For DS10 Im bringing 10 t-shirts, 7 dress/button/collar shirts for dinners, 2 pairs of dressy shorts, 5 pairs of hangaround shorts (two days each), 15pairs underwear (yup he needs them), 2 pairs of pants to hopefully wear to dinner, sweatshirt, 2 pairs sneakers, water shoes (doesnt have sandals)
I forgot the 4 bathing suits (again he may need them), each with mesh tank top

 

[randytenn]

One big packing trip I can offer is lots of underware. Being a guy, I had no idea how much underware I would go through on a cruise. It was probably two pair a day. If you get up on the morning, go to breakfast, then later go to the pool, you put on a new pair when your done. If you go on a shore excursion, you sweat quite and bit, and don't want to wear those to dinner, so you change. We ended up doing a load of "whites" during the cruise.

 

[sistert]

Our plan is to bring necessities and buy anything else we need. The night before the cruise we'll hit the laundry at the Polynesian, and the night before we disembark we plan to hit the laundry (we have one more week of honeymoon to go afterwards). This is actually a test run (packing wise) for our planned 21 day European tour next year (Rick Steves). He only let's you bring a large carry-on for the whole trip, with one laundry stop.

Here's his suggested packing list with a link to an amended list for women:


http://www.ricksteves.com/tours/packing.htm

 

[Michelle]

I used to be an overpacker but I am LONG since reformed after seeing TONS of clothes we NEVER WORE still sitting in our suitcase after the trip.

We always have a challenge with our December trip because we do the cruise and WDW, and it can be cold in Orlando in December (luckily the last three years we were there and it was still very warm, but we hit warm spells).

Even so, you do NOT NEED a separate outfit for your child for each day. Clean t-shirts and a couple pairs of underwear for each day, sure, but they can wear the same shorts more than once. For a 7-night cruise with no WDW trip included I'd pack 4 pairs of shorts that can be matched with different shirts and ONE pair of long pants (that's what my daughter will wear on the plane) plus a light jacket or sweater. She'll have two bathing suits, a couple of dresses and outfits for dinner, a t-shirt to sleep in, tennis shoes, water shoes, sandals and a pair of clogs that can be worn with dresses. That's it.

 

[tecdavidt]

This is what I learned from these boards, pack then go back through each suitcase and remove half, yes, remove half. It does work. I found for dinners we could wear our clothes twice, we went to the room put on the dinner outfits, we ate went back to the room and changed back into shorts! Nothing is worse than overpacking and bringing home clean clothes that have to be washed because of being wrinkled from suitcases.

Tip, pack a lot of underwear as previously posted.

Tip, my sister taught me this, bring Dry Cleaners wire hangers to hang your clothes on then leave them behind when you leave the ship.

Tip, dry cleaners bags do prevent nice dresses from wrinkling, I found that out by accident.

Last tip, shampoo makes a great laudry rinse out soap in case of spills on clothing. It really does take out the mess and rinses out easily. Best yet, you get it free everyday, good old Daisy Shampoo.

Have fun packing. Kathy

 

[DISNEYGATOR]

Best tip..have cordinating outfits...items of clothing, things you can mix and match, and limit yourself to 3 shoes.. two to pack, one to wear.

khakis, skirts, polos... are great items cause you can mix and match them with so many things..

My list for a 4 day cruise is
1 button blouse
2 skirts, one khaki, one more dressy ( khaki in carry-on)
1 pair of khakis
1 pair khaki shorts
2 polo shirts (1 in carry on)
3 t-shirts
underwear for 6 days (always bring extra)
1 bathing suit
1 pair of brown clogs
1 pair of sandals (in carry on)
1 gym shorts
1 pjs

(wearing jean shorts, button up top, sneakers)

I can mix and match those things a ton of ways...

I also say spend the extra money and get travel size stuff.. also, the ship's soap, lotion, and shampoo work fine for me, so I leave all that stuff at home. Also, get some of those tablet detergents, to bring just in case there is an emgerency.

I can get all of that, and my sundries in a small pully suitcase and my small carry on duffle bag (something most airlines consider carry on).

I know a 7 day is a lot different, with the formal nights but I say, try not to look your hottest.. but something that is easy to pack, easy to wash, but still looks nice and classic.. and something you can dress up and down with makeup and accessories. It's amazing how you can dress up a classic white blouse and a black skirt.. or a simple black dress.

Hope that helps.