When do you unpack?

[Maggie'sMom]

It depends on when the luggage arrives. I'll unpack our carry on bag as soon as we get in the room. I've had some cruises when the rest of our luggage arrived soon after our room was available and we unpacked immediately. Usually it arrives a little later and I'll get a little unpacked before the muster drill, but will have to leave the rest until later in the evening.

 

[Dug720]

I've been lucky enough that the bag usually arrives within moments of being able to get in the cabin, so I just do it then. Of course, being a solo adult who finds pools disgusting anyway and doesn't need a "Here's where this is" tour any more, it's easier.

This next trip (and probably the one after that) I'm going with just carry-on, so I'll do it as soon as I'm in the cabin. It won't take super long, and then I'm free for the rest of the afternoon and evening (other than Muster of course).

 

[Cruising Engineer]

We are strictly carry-on so as soon as we have access to the room, I have everything unpacked, in the drawers or hanging up, bathrooms set and luggage under the bed in about 15 minutes. We don't over pack. Bing...Bang...Boom

 

[Birdie dog]

We unpack as soon as we get our suitcases. I feel like I can't relax until I'm settled. It doesn't take long and then I don't have to think about it until I have to pack again.

 

[TestingH2O]

I have always found time to unpack on day 1. We get lunch and make any dining/tasting reservations we need. Then the rooms are open, we drop our carry on bags, and I put up our door decor. Often, we start getting suitcases at this time, so I can start unpacking before Muster. Sometimes we all just hang out during this time, and sometimes I stay back while DD goes exploring with DH or my parents. She is not at all helpful in the unpacking process.

Anything that can't be done before Muster gets done before dinner. Once we are unpacked, I honestly feel like vacation has really started.

 

[Numtini]

We unpacked before the life boat drill and then finished before and while getting ready for dinner. FWIW we never ever unpack on vacation, but do for cruises. There's just no space for a suitcase.

 

[Chemist]

We use color coded packing cubes for each member of our family.
We have a "family color" as well for pajamas/swim wear.)
Each person is then assigned a drawer.
Its takes about 30 seconds to toss everyone's cubes into their own drawer.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

We try to be a strictly carry-on family, so that makes it easy to unpack asap. Maybe the errant large suitcase-certainly for Alaska we had checked bags, just because we needed rain gear etc. and we were gone so long. Anyway- I unpack as soon as possible/bags delivered. Someone on the board here recommended packing cubes and now I swear by them. I stay organized and out of the suitcase and into a drawer. Hang up anything that needs hanging. Then vacation starts!

 

[Sytrace]

I was just looking at a personal navigator, and saw a ton of fun things to do embarkation day!

Ship tour
Kids club open houses
Sail away party
Evening show
Movie
Dinner
And more... (including the mandatory drill)

When do you find time to unpack and organize your stateroom?

We are in BG 1 so our luggage is usually on the ship and outside our door between 1:45 and 2:15. I unpack as soon as it arrives and after that officially start my vacation. Husband and kids find things to do to stay out of my way while I unpack and organize....I am a bit OCD and like to put things where I want them.
If I left it to kids and husband it might get ugly. lol

Our upcoming cruise we are trying concierge for the first time out of 20 cruises and so we will just go right to our stateroom after visiting the lounge. Might not even check the bags this time as it is just a weekend cruise. I expect I will unpack right away though as normal and be that much more ready to enjoy the ship and environment.

 

[CamColt]

We board, eat lunch, go to the adult pool bar for a drink and to check out who the bartender is. By then its 1:30 and we go to the room. If any bags are there yet we start then. If not, we will take care of business (gift cards on acct, sign up for anything we need, etc...)go to satellite falls then, and occasionally check for the bags. Most times we have them all and are unpacked before the life boat drill. Then the work is done and the cruise begins!

 

[ajo]

We use color coded packing cubes for each member of our family.
We have a "family color" as well for pajamas/swim wear.)
Each person is then assigned a drawer.
Its takes about 30 seconds to toss everyone's cubes into their own drawer.

This is exactly what we do. It makes life so simple and we love it. Just throw the cubes into drawers and head out the door!

 

[hcox31]

If the suitcases arrive (and they have 3/3 times!) before Muster drill. After we have lunch, we visit the kid clubs and let the kids burn some steam, then head to our room.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

We unpack as soon as the luggage arrives making it done before sail away. That way we have the whole night ahead of us.

 

[Cheerio]

Most times our luggage arrives between 1:30 and 3pm, so we all pitch in and get it done. Kids all take a drawer and then put away toiletries, we have two rooms, so the bigger kids just use suitcases rolled under the bed. Tons of storage.

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

We are strictly carry-on so as soon as we have access to the room, I have everything unpacked, in the drawers or hanging up, bathrooms set and luggage under the bed in about 15 minutes. We don't over pack. Bing...Bang...Boom

This is us!

 

[Davistigers]

I agree with those that unpack as soon as possible...it signals the official point of being able to relax. Seeing luggage hanging around makes me feel anxious like it's a stressful "travel" day and not an "enjoy and relax" day of vacation. So the sooner that glorious feeling can start the better! I like everything to have a place in the drawers, closet or on shelves in the bathroom. Usually it's the two of us and two teens in a room so keeping the stateroom as clutter-free as possible is my goal. My husband would live out of a suitcase if I let him, but I won't.

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

I admire anyone who can pack well enough to live out of a suitcase. I just cannot do it. I find i am much less stressed if I unpack everything. Otherwise by about day 3 I am out of my mind looking through bags for things.

Not to mention the space you save when you unpack. Throw the suitcases under the bed and fuggetaboutit!

 

[breakingd_awn]

I like to unpack as soon as our luggage comes. Unpack, organize, delegate drawer space, all toiletries in its designated bathroom, magnets on door, suitcases under the bed. Then my vacation begins lol