Struggling with packing for 1st cruise

[phinz]

We fit a massive Tumi as well as a full-sized rolling hanging garment bag under the bed, along with my carry-on camera case and my wife's carry-on with plenty of room to spare. Unless you're bringing a steamer trunk you'll have plenty of storage. If it gets tight, store your smaller bag inside your larger bag. That's what we do with the carry-on when we've emptied the Tumi, since all except my camera carry-on are collapsible to some extent.

 

[Sir William]

Before my first cruise I found a number of cruise packing lists both online and in various guide books at the library. I consolidated them, removing any items that didn't apply to me, and then I tailored it to the cruise itinerary I was going on. Like others, I looked at my planned activities for each day and chose my clothing accordingly. I don't bring extras for contingencies; I'll just make do as necessary.

Before the cruise I do a prepack a few days prior to (1) make sure I've got everything I need, and (2) that it all fits in my suitcase without danger of an explosion (or being tagged with an overweight charge at the airport). I lay things out for each day as it's easier for me to visualize if I'm missing anything. I then unpack the clothing to reduce wrinkling, leaving everything else in my bag so I don't need to track it down again.

When I unpack in our cabin, everything goes either in the drawers or the closet, and the suitcase goes under the bed. Every couple of days I repack anything that I won't be wearing again. When it comes time to repack, I empty out the drawers and closet, then put back anything I'll need for the last night and disembarkation, and what is left gets packed.

When I get home I go over my packing list, noting items that were too many or too few (or not at all). I rarely make any changes now and I rarely bring too much or too little.

 

[Celeste115]

Don't forget to bring clothes pins to hang the swimsuits in the bath/shower area. There is a retractable clothes line. You can wash some things b hand in the sink and hang to dry.

You do not need shampoo, conditioner or soap.

Thanks for this awesome tip! I would have never thought to bring clothes pins!

 

[jrabbit]

we also bring wire clothes hangers. Yes your room steward will sometimes be able to get you more (this "perk" seems to be gone, thus us bringing our own). An advantage of the wire hangers is that they take up a lot less room than the wooden ones. The big disadvantage is the amount of room in the suitcase that is needed for them and then for sure we are paying airline fees because I'm confident that TSA would not let us through security with them.

 

[kmix78]

we also bring wire clothes hangers. Yes your room steward will sometimes be able to get you more (this "perk" seems to be gone, thus us bringing our own). An advantage of the wire hangers is that they take up a lot less room than the wooden ones. The big disadvantage is the amount of room in the suitcase that is needed for them and then for sure we are paying airline fees because I'm confident that TSA would not let us through security with them.

For what it's worth, I carried on a garment bag with wire hangers and nobody batted an eye

 

[PrincessShmoo]

we also bring wire clothes hangers. Yes your room steward will sometimes be able to get you more (this "perk" seems to be gone, thus us bringing our own). An advantage of the wire hangers is that they take up a lot less room than the wooden ones. The big disadvantage is the amount of room in the suitcase that is needed for them and then for sure we are paying airline fees because I'm confident that TSA would not let us through security with them.

We've never had a problem getting extra hangers.

 

[HollyMD]

We will be doing WDW for 6 days AFTER the cruise(only way it would work with our days off), so we have to bring luggage/packing for that on the cruise, as well, so like you, I'm hoping it all will store well! I do plan to maybe use the laundry service to wash up atleast Fri and Saturday's and get back to us on Sunday and can re-wear those outfits in WDW- I know it only saves 2 outfits per person, but every little bit helps!