What do I need to leave behind?

[ultimate_ed]

Our summer Dream cruise is fast approaching (especially compared to October 2011 when I booked it). I've been pouring through threads for months to pick up insights for our first cruise.

One trend I see is people saying they brought too much stuff onboard with them. But, I generally don't see specifics.

So, I'm curious what kinds of things people brought with them that they found they didn't need? I'm trying to figure out how many suitcases I'll need for the family and will be limited by what will fit in the trunk of a town car, so I want to avoid bringing stuff I won't need. We're also going to stay at Universal for a few days before the cruise and I plan to do some laundry the last night before we head to the port.

 

[moomy-san]

My husband says fewer shorts, more shirts next time.
I have learned to leave most hair products behind- the humidity makes anything more than a basic style pointless.

 

[su_A_ve]

Since you are going in the Dream, you don't have a formal night - many still show up in shorts and sandals or flip flops. I prefer a good pair of jeans and a polo shirt...

 

[Luv2Diz]

I learned to take about half the clothes I thought we'd need. It's okay to wear things twice! We definitely overpacked the clothing on our first cruise.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

We bring fewer and fewer clothes with each cruise (and shoes).

 

[wendyoconnor]

You don't need beach towels, DCL provides them around all the pools. The towels can be taken on excursions, even non-DCL ones and you can grab some on your way off the ship to use on Castaway Cay.

 

[neg58]

I'd base it all on shoes. Figure out what shoes you want to wear (sandals, walking shoes), limit it to 2, and make everything work with those 2 pairs. Two bathing suits, a tee or cover up, and that's it.

I do need more shirts because, sadly, I'm a spiller. I'd love to wear the same shirt to dinner every night, but it would begin to look like a poster of what the MDR's are offering each night.

Nancy

 

[angela1044]

Bring at least 2 bathing suits and only two to three pairs of shoes.

 

[noahdove]

I would only take my 1 pair of sandals for dinner and then my flip flops!!! I only took 1 pair of capris and a couple of shirts to wear to dinner...then a couple pairs of shorts and a tank tops for the rest....My luggage was light to start off with, as I am not an over packer....good luck...

 

[NickAndAnt]

Since you are going in the Dream, you don't have a formal night - many still show up in shorts and sandals or flip flops. I prefer a good pair of jeans and a polo shirt...

I've read in many forum posts that they have a "dress up night" and that while not required and some dress waaaaaay down, many wear tuxes and gowns. We rented tuxes to be part of the fun for our May 19 Dream cruise. Can anybody clarify what they've seen in the past?

 

[bzkds]

I took a refillable water bottle for each of us and we didn't use any of them at all.

Everyone says to pack less clothing.. I took a shorts/top outfit and a sundress (for dinner) for each day plus capris for traveling on the plane. It was not nearly enough. I got so sweaty during the afternoon and did not want to wear a dress all evening after dinner, but my earlier clothes were gross from being sweaty. This time, I'll take a few more shirts or else plan on doing laundry! And maybe fewer dresses, and just wear capris to dinner most nights.

 

[BoosGram]

I've read in many forum posts that they have a "dress up night" and that while not required and some dress waaaaaay down, many wear tuxes and gowns. We rented tuxes to be part of the fun for our May 19 Dream cruise. Can anybody clarify what they've seen in the past?

We did a b2b on the Dream in Feb, and really didn't see anyone dressed up like they do on longer cruises. I'm pretty sure I didn't see one tux and there were very few suits as well. The shorter cruises are definitely more casual (saw lots and lots of shorts worn by both genders despite the requests from DCL that they not be worn in the MDRs).

 

[CT Mom of 3]

I definitely over pack shoes and even though I KNOW I'm doing it, I still do it. I just keep shoving stuff in my suitcase till it feels like 50 lbs. LOL

 

[SG101]

I overpacked shoes as well -- don't pack hair dryer (there's one in the stateroom). On the 7 days, I wore 2 dresses and the rest of the time just capris and a top for dinners. Never wore the other 2 skirts I packed. For some reason hubby brought a jacket & 2 sweaters - crazy guy -- only need a light jacket or sweater for the ship (that's it).

 

[jrabbit]

For the guys. Instead of two polo shirts per day. Start with a clean shirt in the evening for dinner/show, then wear it the next day. You can cut down by about half the number of shirts you need if you wear them this way.

My assumption is that you don't "pit them out" in the evening, and you do during the daytime activities (and then it goes into the dirty clothes)

Dressing up for formal and pirates night will put a little kink into this plan, but if you pre-plan - and remember the plan, it will save some luggage space.

 

[tweis]

I've read in many forum posts that they have a "dress up night" and that while not required and some dress waaaaaay down, many wear tuxes and gowns. We rented tuxes to be part of the fun for our May 19 Dream cruise. Can anybody clarify what they've seen in the past?

There is an optional dress up night and while this will be my first 3 night cruise on the Dream, on my 5 night I don't remember if I saw a tux or not but I do remember several suits and really fancy gowns. I intend to dress just as nice for my 3 night as I did on my 5 night. While DCL may not turn you away for wearing shorts in the dining room, I will not be wearing them.

Dress as nice as you want!

 

[flyersfan1129]

Every packing list I saw said to bring bigger mugs for the drink stations, but the only one who used these was our DS, because he made ice cream floats. They were wasted space for me and the DH. The only time we used the beach towels we brought was at Castaway Cay, and that was just so that we could find our chairs easier. I agree with leaving the hair products at home, as well. Even for formal night, I just pinned my hair up.

 

[noahdove]

2 years ago, we were on the 3 night cruise and I saw no one dressed up..maybe a couple of ladies in skirts, but, not in our dining room....I think if you have Palo or Remy, you need to dress up...

 

[elaine amj]

I took a refillable water bottle for each of us and we didn't use any of them at all.

Everyone says to pack less clothing.. I took a shorts/top outfit and a sundress (for dinner) for each day plus capris for traveling on the plane. It was not nearly enough. I got so sweaty during the afternoon and did not want to wear a dress all evening after dinner, but my earlier clothes were gross from being sweaty. This time, I'll take a few more shirts or else plan on doing laundry! And maybe fewer dresses, and just wear capris to dinner most nights.

ThT was me on our last cruise. After all the overpacking threads, I was determined not to do the same. I ended up having to hand wash several tops for us as we ran out of clean clothes because it was hot during the days. We did end up with lots of evening wear as I packed a separate outfit for each of our 5 nights. This trip, I packed two sets for each day (day and night clothes). Because its the Dream and our evening clothes are dressy tops and polos, we can easily wear our evening tops again - so that will do as spares. We should have plenty of clothes this time around.

 

[oliverdj]

ThT was me on our last cruise. After all the overpacking threads, I was determined not to do the same. I ended up having to hand wash several tops for us as we ran out of clean clothes because it was hot during the days. We did end up with lots of evening wear as I packed a separate outfit for each of our 5 nights. This trip, I packed two sets for each day (day and night clothes). Because its the Dream and our evening clothes are dressy tops and polos, we can easily wear our evening tops again - so that will do as spares. We should have plenty of clothes this time around.

That's similar to how I pack for my family. A day & night outfit. 2 bathing suits, flip flops, nice shoes for palo & sneakers for our excursion. & cover ups like sundress for our in between time.