Preparing for Cruise

[misty9960]

We are now 31 days away from our first cruise. Those of you that have cruised before at what point did you begin to get things together? I am beginning to get a little nervous and I know it is too early to pack of course but, thought some of you may have some suggestions as to what steps you take and when to prepare for your cruise?

Thanks,
Misty

 

[ivanova]

Are you kidding?? I think I started packing 2 months before our first cruise!! LOL

 

[Princess49]

I know it is too early to pack of course

You sound JUST like me!!! If I didn't need to wear the clothes they would have been packed the day I booked the cruise!!! I am ITCHING to start packing, but when my BF starts to wonder where all of his sock & underwear are.... I think I'll be caught! So I've started with toiletries & things he won't notice!! This is our 1st so I don't have an expert opinion but I'm sure you'll get one!! HAVE FUN!!

 

[iluvtink]

Have you made lists yet of what you're going to pack? I usually do that about 30 days out, so I can see if there are any clothes, toiletries, I need to buy, etc.

I stopped by the Dollar Tree yesterday and bought a couple of the over the door shoe pocket thingies, because I've read that several people use them to hold sunscreen, makeup, chapstick, toothbrushes in their holders, toothpaste, etc.

My memory is that there is precious little counter space in the bathroom and I've bought these cheap ones so I can leave them in the trash when we debark.

I never pack until a couple of days before, because I hate wrinkly clothes and I want everything to smell fresh when I get there.

I'm still more than two months away... you are so lucky that you're going so soon. By the time I go, you'll already be planning your next one!

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by Princess49
: I am ITCHING to start packing, but when my BF starts to wonder where all of his sock & underwear are....

I actually went out and bought all new socks and underwear for me and my duahgter so I could get all packed up early LOL!!

 

[KatHuss]

We sail June 5 and although I haven't started to pack yet I really want to!!! I have a stack of brand new clothes in the closet and lots of little things (toiletries, rolls of quarters for laundry, sunblock, aloe lotion, etc) that are all there waiting to get packed. I don't want things too wrinkled either but I will probably start packing about two weeks out (I cannot pack until then as our guest room bed will be used on 5/21 and that is where the suitcases will get put to be packed). I still need to get a few things but I have about finished the pre-shopping (finally!). I got the cutest new pjs for DD7 at the Disney Store this weekend for the Goofy's Giggle party and she won't see them until we are on the ship. Heck, she doesn't even know we are going yet! I cannot believe we have kept it a secret from her for so long! We will tell her in a few weeks but not until we are a little closer.

Kat




OOOOOH, I cannot wait.....31 days and counting!!

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

I always us the spare bedroom for "vacation Layout". I usually start buying things for a cruise about 3 months in advance. Everytime I go to the store I pick up something else (film, underwater cameras, suntan lotion, lip stuff, darker make-up, swim suit wrap,shampoo, travel toothpaste etc.). If you go and get all this stuff at once, you can really add up a huge bill (at least I do) so if I buy this stuff a little at a time it doesn't seem as painful. Then as I buy it, I start laying it out on the bed so that I can see what I have and know what I still need. It also gets me in the mood (even more) when I walk in there and see it all laying there.

Just talking about it makes me want to start planning another one.

 

[TheWog]

We started as soon as we booked, but probably about two weeks out we got serious. We went right after Christmas so you have to let that die down and then you can focus. DS6 and I got great Mickey PJ's from Santa to help get us in the mood.

 

[suwoogie]

3 months ahead:
Put suitcases on spare beds.
Fill with clothes that fit.

2 months ahead:
Take out clothes and iron them.
Try them on.
Toss the ones that don't fit anymore.

6 weeks ahead:
Take clothes out, try on, throw out, fill with new BIGGER clothes.
Iron new clothes.

4 weeks ahead:
Throw out all clothes due to 3 holiday events. Fill with new clothes.

2 weeks ahead:
Take out new clothes, iron, put back into suitcase.

2 days ahead:
Stress causes all new clothes to be too big. Put in closet with all other FAT clothes. Buy new clothes. Iron, put in suitcase.

WHILE ON VACATION:
Nothing fits. Go naked.

 

[Princess49]

:Originally posted by aprilgail2
I actually went out and bought all new socks and underwear for me and my duahgter so I could get all packed up early LOL
!!

So that's the trick!!!! I'm going out tomorrow to buy new ones!! YAY!!!

Originally posted by suwoogie
Nothing fits. Go naked.

if my bf had his way he would!! I swear he must've had a former life in a nudist colony the way his clothes just fall off as soon as he's home!! LOL

 

[MariettaC]

suwoogie, Thanks I needed a laugh first thing this morning.

 

[herrbeeb]

we are 51 days out and although i am itching to pack the children are statring to wear the clothes they will be taking so i have to wait.

here is my schedule; in february when the spring/summer lines came out i asked my dds to make a list of things they would need. each time we went shopping we would get an item on the list. dh and ds will resist, to the death or at least personal injury, new clothes so i will survey their wardrobes and make the necessary purchases on my own. i also make a list of personal care items and pick these up each time i go to the market, wal-mart, etc.

when we are about two weeks out i will bring the siutcases to the library and begin assembling dress clothes, shoes, hats, cameras, ie, non-daily use items. i don't pack them to avoid wrinkles. the last few days i will pack and plan for travel clothes.

my big problem is shoes. i love them and bring too many. this year we are going to wdw post-cruise and i will bring extra underwear. anything to avoid laundry.