Tips to NOT overpack??

[ML_LovesDisney]

Hi all! We leave in 11 days for our cruise and I am already packing. I see lots of opinions on here that say don't overpack. My question is, how is this possible? I feel like I need TWO outfits for everyday. Since you have to dress in certain clothes for dinner, and then "play" clothes during the day. Please help a chronic overpacker not to overpack

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi all! We leave in 11 days for our cruise and I am already packing. I see lots of opinions on here that say don't overpack. My question is, how is this possible? I feel like I need TWO outfits for everyday. Since you have to dress in certain clothes for dinner, and then "play" clothes during the day. Please help a chronic overpacker not to overpack

The best trick I've read about is, lay out all the stuff you think you'll need and don't pack 1/2 of it. Be brutal about it. Yes, it works.

For regular days, I generally wear shorts (or capris, or long pants, depending on weather and what we're doing). And wear it for dinner and evening activities.

For those days that are formal in the evening, I generally wear the same dress/outfit for formal & semi-formal nights, with different accessories. So those days I would be wearing 2 outfits, but I'd be wearing them twice.

Take items you can mix and match. 3 shirts and 2 bottoms that mix can give you 6 outfits. No one will remember that you wore that shirt with a different bottom earlier. Really.

Also, items that can double. My Pirate night skirt can also be worn as a formal/semi-formal skirt with a sparkly top.

And there are washers onboard for any laundry you find you may need to do.

 

[MikeAndNick]

let your husband pack and do not look at what he is packing. You will be able to go in one suitcase.

Reality... remember the only thing you have to have is your passport and credit card. The rest is just extra.

 

[nannylori]

The best trick I've read about is, lay out all the stuff you think you'll need and don't pack 1/2 of it. Be brutal about it. Yes, it works.

For regular days, I generally wear shorts (or capris, or long pants, depending on weather and what we're doing). And wear it for dinner and evening activities.

For those days that are formal in the evening, I generally wear the same dress/outfit for formal & semi-formal nights, with different accessories. So those days I would be wearing 2 outfits, but I'd be wearing them twice.

Take items you can mix and match. 3 shirts and 2 bottoms that mix can give you 6 outfits. No one will remember that you wore that shirt with a different bottom earlier. Really.

Also, items that can double. My Pirate night skirt can also be worn as a formal/semi-formal skirt with a sparkly top.

And there are washers onboard for any laundry you find you may need to do.

Absolutely perfect!!!!!!

It took me about 3 cruises to get to that point,but I finally figured all the above out---- that I was always going to be more concerned about my outfits than anyone else.
Really, NO ONE is going to notice or care that you're wearing the same black capris' with different tops on two or three different days, and that little black dress works on BOTH formal & semi-formal nights.
Plus, on sea days,you might spend most of the day in a bathing suit & cover-up,which means you only needed one outfit, for the evening.
Which is why I'm not packed yet for our 3/9 cruise-I'm still wearing most of the clothes I'm bringing on the cruise-no need to buy new clothes........

Just follow what Princess Shmoo says-she's got it down to a science!!!

 

[jlwhitney]

I tend to pack two outfits a day and do tend to wear that and sometimes more and end up doing laundry.

 

[WonderinAland]

Okay, now how do I apply this to Alaska? How much cold-weather stuff should I pack? Snow boots or just hiking boots? Shorts??

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Okay, now how do I apply this to Alaska? How much cold-weather stuff should I pack? Snow boots or just hiking boots? Shorts??

For Alaska, I took 2 sets of thermals, 3 t shirts, 3 blouses, 2 pairs of long pants, lightweight jacket, parka (most people don't need this, I do ), ski hat, gloves, raingear (pants and jacket with hood), dress slacks with sparkly top and wrap. We were on a 12 day land tour/7 night cruise, so this is a little more than you would need for a typical lower Alaska, 7 night cruise (dpending on what excursions you will do).

 

[jrabbit]

I feel like I need TWO outfits for everyday.

For a 7 night cruise .. My practical advice for men is "shift" your shirts ...
Day 1 (boarding): Shorts 1 and Polo 1 (polo 1 done)

Evening 1: Slacks 1 and Polo 2​

Day 2: Shorts 2 and Polo 2 (polo 2 done)

Evening 2: Slacks 2 and Dress Shirt 1 / suit (assuming formal night, along with a coat / tie)​

Day 3: Shorts 1 Polo 3 (shorts 1 and polo 3 done)

Evening 3: Slacks 3 and Polo 4​

Day 4: Shorts 2 and Polo 4 (shorts 2 and polo 4 done)

Evening 4: Slacks 1 and Polo 5​

Day 5: Shorts 3 and polo 5 (polo 5 done)

Evening 5: Slacks 2 and dress shirt 2 and tie (assume semi formal)​

Day 6: Shorts 4 and polo 6 (polo 6 done)

Evening 6: Slacks 3 and polo 7​

Day 7: Castaway Cay - so swim suit / tee shirt - maybe short 3 and polo 7 back on board before dinner

Evening 7: Slacks 1 and polo 8​

Day 8: (Leave the ship) Shorts 4 and polo 8

so for 7 nights and "two outfits per day" you have ....
Shorts: 4
Slacks: 3
Polo shirts: 8
Dress Shirts: 2
Tee Shirt: 1 for Castaway Cay, maybe a couple of others for daytime around the pool
Couple of swimsuits

instead of
Shorts: 4 to 8
Slacks: 3 to 7
Daytime Shirts: 7
Nighttime Shirts: 5
Dress Shirts: 2

It does not save a lot, but it saves some.

I understand that this is totally unsatisfactory for the fairer sex, but for most guys it will be adequate.

 

[wdwwishes]

For AK in July of 2011 on the cooler days I wore a base layer (smart wool or ice breaker long sleeve top) under a 1/2 zip top. Some days the base layer and a turtle neck. Some days just a crew neck long sleeve top. Our coldest day was our glacier viewing day. cloudy and windy temps upper 50s/low 60s. The rest started out a bit cloudy, then the sun came through and we had upper 60s. One day at sea I think it got into the low 70s and everyone was rolling up pants. I would definitely plan on layers. Think the Patagonia or North Face down vest, layered look with a wind stopping/water proof outer layer. Bring gloves for a windy day on deck or an activity on a glacier. I'd pass on the hiking boots but would advise to do Gore Tech shoes/boots or a good water proof brand. As for the evenings on board, everyone was dressed for summer in short sleeves or sleeveless. I wore a lot of black and white; navy and white dresses and capri pant outfits. Also, lots of the base layer items are designed to go several days before washing. They do. We chose ice break and smart wool base layers. Took 3 and rotated them. Same with socks. Sounds yucky but this stuff is made for those who hike and can't take lots of stuff or do laundry. Check out your local "outfitter" type store, REI or Patagonia on line. Dress/layer like you would on a 60 degree fall day.

 

[ab2008]

let your husband pack and do not look at what he is packing. You will be able to go in one suitcase.

.

This made me LOL. He packs twice as much stuff as I do. For our 3 night cruise, I took 2 suitcases for me, 2 kids and all our FE gifts. He had 1 suitcase to himself and the cases were all the same size!!

 

[WonderinAland]

Thank you!

I am looking at the glacier landing/dog sledding excursion. Would waterproof shoes be okay? (Please say I don't really need snow boots for 5!)

 

[mom2aredhead]

I barely wore any of the shorts/t-shirts that I packed. Went from pajamas to bathing suit/cover-up, then showered and got into dinner clothes. If I did wear the shorts, it was only for a short time (matinee show on sea days) so I could re-wear them. And my cover-up was kind of long and looked like a dress, so I was comfortable walking around the ship, shops etc.

For dinner, I brought way too much. I have already decided for our next cruise I would bring 1 little black dress for formal and semi-formal night with different accessories, 1 long black skirt, 1 short black skirt and a few tops to mix/match. And 1 pair of strappy sandals to go with all of it. On any given night in the dining room you will see everything from cargo shorts and flip flops to a tuxedo and evening gown. Believe me..no one will care if you wear the same skirt or dress two or 3 (or more) times in a week...I promise.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

let your husband pack and do not look at what he is packing. You will be able to go in one suitcase.

Reality... remember the only thing you have to have is your passport and credit card. The rest is just extra.

You are ABSOLUTELY right about the husband thing We may end up with a suitcase of only socks and swimsuits but YES he will get it in one suitcase if he's packing haha!

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

The best trick I've read about is, lay out all the stuff you think you'll need and don't pack 1/2 of it. Be brutal about it. Yes, it works.

For regular days, I generally wear shorts (or capris, or long pants, depending on weather and what we're doing). And wear it for dinner and evening activities.

For those days that are formal in the evening, I generally wear the same dress/outfit for formal & semi-formal nights, with different accessories. So those days I would be wearing 2 outfits, but I'd be wearing them twice.

Take items you can mix and match. 3 shirts and 2 bottoms that mix can give you 6 outfits. No one will remember that you wore that shirt with a different bottom earlier. Really.

Also, items that can double. My Pirate night skirt can also be worn as a formal/semi-formal skirt with a sparkly top.

And there are washers onboard for any laundry you find you may need to do.

Sounds like a plan! Thank you

I tend to pack two outfits a day and do tend to wear that and sometimes more and end up doing laundry.

This is where I'm at right now but want to cut down even if it's slightly.

I barely wore any of the shorts/t-shirts that I packed. Went from pajamas to bathing suit/cover-up, then showered and got into dinner clothes. If I did wear the shorts, it was only for a short time (matinee show on sea days) so I could re-wear them. And my cover-up was kind of long and looked like a dress, so I was comfortable walking around the ship, shops etc.

For dinner, I brought way too much. I have already decided for our next cruise I would bring 1 little black dress for formal and semi-formal night with different accessories, 1 long black skirt, 1 short black skirt and a few tops to mix/match. And 1 pair of strappy sandals to go with all of it. On any given night in the dining room you will see everything from cargo shorts and flip flops to a tuxedo and evening gown. Believe me..no one will care if you wear the same skirt or dress two or 3 (or more) times in a week...I promise.

I like the one dress for two nights idea!

 

[jilljill]

Thank you!

I am looking at the glacier landing/dog sledding excursion. Would waterproof shoes be okay? (Please say I don't really need snow boots for 5!)

Waterproof shoes should be fine. I have a pair of waterproof Clark shoes that I wore and was fine. DH and DD wore sneakers. We also did the dog sledding on a glacier.

 

[4407mark]

Depends on whether you are going on a cruise or to a fashion show....you are on vacation! Relax and enjoy yourself and don't sweat having so many outfits. As other posters have said, take clothes that can mix and match...for a three or four night cruise, I take two pair of dockers and three shirts (I am in these typically less than three hours a night), a swimsuit, two pair of shorts, three t-shirts and I'm usually fine. For a seven night, three pairs of Dockers and four shirts (I always buy a shirt or two onboard).

As the one poster said, lay out what you want to take and then take half of that. You won't have a problem.

 

[tinkerone]

this is the truest most honest answer you can give anyone. it amazes me when people talk about what to pack and they list everything for every possible scenario. I figure if I cut my finger I can buy a bandage.
op, just remember that there is laundry as a pp has mentioned so only pack half of what you think you need and take a break from the hustle and bustle and do a load if need be. I wear the same two pair of slacks over a seven day cruise and just switch out three tops for them. three shorts, four tops. one pair of casual sandals and one pair of dressy sandals. two pair of light pj's. one pair of jeans and one pair of socks (cause I will not need to wear them till on the way home). other than undies that's pretty much my wardrobe.
hubby is pretty much the same but I take into account that he is a bit of a spiller so maybe an extra shirt.
good luck what ever you decide. don't stress over it and have a great time.

 

[Sir William]

The best trick I've read about is, lay out all the stuff you think you'll need and don't pack 1/2 of it. Be brutal about it. Yes, it works.

For regular days, I generally wear shorts (or capris, or long pants, depending on weather and what we're doing). And wear it for dinner and evening activities.

For those days that are formal in the evening, I generally wear the same dress/outfit for formal & semi-formal nights, with different accessories. So those days I would be wearing 2 outfits, but I'd be wearing them twice.

Take items you can mix and match. 3 shirts and 2 bottoms that mix can give you 6 outfits. No one will remember that you wore that shirt with a different bottom earlier. Really.

Also, items that can double. My Pirate night skirt can also be worn as a formal/semi-formal skirt with a sparkly top.

And there are washers onboard for any laundry you find you may need to do.

Best summation I've seen of what to take. Pretty much what I do as well.

 

[lbgraves]

The don't take half thing doesn't work for me. I do pack a dress for dinner each night and an outfit for each day with an extra one just in case for DD and I, then a dress shirt for each night for DS with a few pairs of dress pants. We have always used everything that I have packed, other than the emergency outfit sometimes. We take lots of pictures and I scrapbook, so not going to wear the same thing at dinners. Makes it easier to keep the days straight that way for me.

 

[KristiPynz]

Pack a couple fantastic LBDs and mix it up with accessories and shoes... Of course my shoes took up more space than my dresses!