What did you pack... but NOT need?

[xlxo]

Thoughts....

• You can start with a carry-on for your flight.... but then buy what you need in the ports.
• do you want to bring something special for formal/semi-formal night?
• Vancouver is a fairly modern city.... you can find Gold Rush supplies during your pre-cruise. As long as it fits in your cabin... there is no limit to what you want bring aboard
• post-cruise.... there are many donation bins to unload what clothes you don't want to take back on the flight home
• I don't plan to spend my port and cruise time doing laundry... as a result, I travel heavy.

 

[RedSox68]

Thoughts....

• You can start with a carry-on for your flight.... but then buy what you need in the ports.
• do you want to bring something special for formal/semi-formal night?
• Vancouver is a fairly modern city.... you can find Gold Rush supplies during your pre-cruise. As long as it fits in your cabin... there is no limit to what you want bring aboard
• post-cruise.... there are many donation bins to unload what clothes you don't want to take back on the flight home
• I don't plan to spend my port and cruise time doing laundry... as a result, I travel heavy.

I have co-workers who travel to DisneyWorld for a week four times a year, with three kids, and they ONLY travel with backpacks. I wish I could pack like that! I think it gets harder the older you get because there are more meds and other needs to pack.

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

My cell phone. I understand you can use the app and most people use it for their camera... but leave it in the safe.

 

[RedSox68]

My cell phone. I understand you can use the app and most people use it for their camera... but leave it in the safe.

Yeah -- and who wants to pay those roaming fees LOL

 

[dreadpiraterose]

Bring about 3 less tshirts that you think you will wear because you will be
Buying tshirts on the ship.

Truth. I always say I won't...and then I do anyway!

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

And if they do, it's the nasty all-in-one gym type stuff. When I'm on Disney, I leave my shampoo and conditioner at home - but on any other line, it comes with me.

I'd still recommend bringing a small travel bottle just in case (if you've never been on Disney). DCL shampoo/conditioner don't cut it for me at all. They leave my hair like frid straw.

As a side note, I've never been on a cruise that didn't supply soap, shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel.

 

[Dug720]

I'd still recommend bringing a small travel bottle just in case (if you've never been on Disney). DCL shampoo/conditioner don't cut it for me at all. They leave my hair like frid straw.

As a side note, I've never been on a cruise that didn't supply soap, shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel.

HAL and RCCL supply it - but it is the nasty all-in-one goop like at a gym.

 

[TestingH2O]

Yeah -- and who wants to pay those roaming fees LOL

The app and camera don't need roaming. For me, it easier to keep up with my daughter if I carry the phone rather than the paper navigator and my camera. But, I never use it as a phone or for email.

 

[redsonja76]

Travel insurance.... haven't needed to use it yet.

When our travel insurance saved us the 1500 Euros we had to spend on train tickets to get home I was so thankful I had bought it. I never cruise without it!

 

[tlprice]

I always fly Southwest and each person can check 2 bags for free, so I just pack whatever I want and don't worry about it. I would rather have more than I need than wish I had brought something and didn't. If I flew another airline, I might pack differently. After my first cruise the only thing I packed less of was books. There is so much to do that I didn't get as much reading in as I thought I would.

 

[starvenger]

When our travel insurance saved us the 1500 Euros we had to spend on train tickets to get home I was so thankful I had bought it. I never cruise without it!

I almost think it was said in jest. I mean, I haven't had to use my home insurance yet, but I'm not going to cancel it.

But with that said, there is no requirement to buy travel insurance, and so it's up to each person/family to decide whether to purchase it.

One other thing that I thought of is that if you have those big over the ear headphones, you may consider leaving them at home and just using in-ear versions. Some big headphones are admittedly quite nice, but it's going to be rather uncomfortable wearing them in warm weather. However, if you are flying in and you can't live without the noise-cancelling functionality, it's probably better to just bring them.

 

[Ariel484]

We just got back from the Magic on Friday...my answers are ones that have already been said here. We both brought tumblers that we ended up barely using, and we both packed too many clothes (especially me).

We did bring a small "med kit" with things like bandaids, Ibuprofen, Tums, etc. and while we didn't use that, I definitely don't regret bringing it!

 

[tigerchic89]

I love this thread. Keep em coming!

My first ever cruise is in May, and without kids! (Mom and I are going... It'll be magical.)

Do you think a 7 night cruise to Alaska (with 3 nights in Vancouver prior) is do-able in a carry on, or is that too ambitious?

For Alaska, I'd recommend packing a lot of layers. We wore our rain jackets daily and went through a few polar fleece jackets. I didn't bring but wish I had brought gloves and waterproof rugged hiking-type boots. I would have worn the hiking boots every day, my feet were wet and cold a lot of the trip. Also bring binoculars

 

[amberwc]

For Alaska, I'd recommend packing a lot of layers. We wore our rain jackets daily and went through a few polar fleece jackets. I didn't bring but wish I had brought gloves and waterproof rugged hiking-type boots. I would have worn the hiking boots every day, my feet were wet and cold a lot of the trip. Also bring binoculars

Alaska in May will be COLD. Unless you plan on wearing 5 layers on the plane, or doing laundry everyday; I think a carry on is overly ambitious. 4 people = 4 largish suitcases and I can't think of anything that we packed and didn't need.

 

[RedSox68]

I always fly Southwest and each person can check 2 bags for free, so I just pack whatever I want and don't worry about it. I would rather have more than I need than wish I had brought something and didn't. If I flew another airline, I might pack differently. After my first cruise the only thing I packed less of was books. There is so much to do that I didn't get as much reading in as I thought I would.

It is a cultural shock when you have to fly overseas -- and they only allow one checked bag and one carry on -- and they are so strict you cannot believe it! They don't let you get away with anything -- not even an extra inch LOL. They DO make you put your carry on into that little container and if it doesn't fit, you have to check it no matter what. That was a hard one for me the first time!

 

[aksearaven]

Thought this would be an interesting twist to the packing list threads...

What did you bring with you on the cruise, that ended up just taking up space? What did you NOT need?

We are on the Fantasy that leaves on Dec 24th (our very first cruise) and honestly I feel like I am planning to bring too much stuff. LOL I'm curious if I can learn from you seasoned cruise folks and figure out what I can pare down!

to many pairs of shoes!! I really only needed 1 pair of sandal/flipflops and a pair of tennis shoes. I brought workout clothes but did better just walking around the deck then using the gym. using the gym when in port was fine but using it when the ship was moving .. not really that great! I also would not have packed any shampoo or conditioner as our room steward kept us fully stocked with the disney stuff which was wonderful. You don't need a hair dryer as the rooms all come with full size ones in the vanities. note: you have to use them in the round plugs at the vanity or they don't get enough power to work well. I would always pack 1 hoodie, night wind can chill a little and sometimes the rain is not as warm. we were not big on the whole dress up night so that saved me more space as the guys wore khaki shorts and nice shirts and my daughter and I wor nice sun dresses and sandals.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Just curious, as I was planning on checking out the gym. What were the issues with using it while at sea? Was it not stable enough to be safe?

 

[phinz]

Just curious, as I was planning on checking out the gym. What were the issues with using it while at sea? Was it not stable enough to be safe?

Some people have a problem with treadmills, etc. when the ship is moving because you are looking out the window and the sea is moving perpendicular to your movement on the machine. It's visually disconcerting which can end up being difficult on the equilibrium and make people sick. It's easier for a lot of people if the gym windows face forward, but on the Dream Class (I'm not sure if it's the same for the Magic/Wonder as I've never been in their gyms) the gym is slightly aft of forward, on the starboard side, so you do not face forward.

 

[WDW Enabler]

I always pack too many shoes. We are flying for the first time and grateful that it is Southwest, but really going to have to think about selections for our 14 day WBPC. We will definitely be doing laundry.

 

[starvenger]

Shoes are always a tough one to gauge. I usually bring 4 - runners (wear on plane/walking track), sandals (ports of call), "dress" shoes (for dinner/formal night) and flip flops (just about everything else).

I brought aqua shoes once, and that was specifically because I was doing Dunn's River Falls. I didn't find a use for them otherwise.