What would YOU pack/What would you NOT pack?

[mdvlprof]

Link to my pared-down packing list is in my signature.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

DH and I try do avoid doing laundry when we're cruising. (Takes up precious time when we'd rather be relaxing, or doing something else.)

Also, (to each his own) but I've never been a believer of pack 'less than you think you'll need.' I'd rather have things and not need them, than to need them and not have them.

 

[spel]

Do you pack a full outfit (shorts & tee shirt) for each child for each day? Do you pack an evening outfit per night for them as well? Seems like a lot of clothes. First time cruiser-with-kids. Thanks!

 

[MickeyEarrings]

Ditto the binoculars: if you go out to the verandah and want to use them, they've fogged up. And when they clear, that ship on the horizon that you'd like to see goes from a tiny blob to a small blob. Leave 'em at home.

Also, on my last cruise (my first seven night) I took way too much very day clothing. I was in one of my two swimsuits most of the day and never really needed shorts and t-shirts.

 

[jplee3]

DH and I try do avoid doing laundry when we're cruising. (Takes up precious time when we'd rather be relaxing, or doing something else.)

Also, (to each his own) but I've never been a believer of pack 'less than you think you'll need.' I'd rather have things and not need them, than to need them and not have them.

A couple considerations for when you may want to do laundry:

A) flying in before cruising (vs driving there or getting dropped off as local departure) and possible airline restrictions or extra baggage fees. In our case, we flew into Orlando several days before the cruise, so unless we wanted to pack over a week's worth of clothing, doing laundry had to be an option for us.

B) If you have kids, doing laundry might make things easier - my brother and his family did their laundry on board and I think it made things easier for them (not having to worry about packing away so many dirty baby/5yr old clothes or if they'd be short, etc)


If my wife and I flew straight in and cruised right away without doing the WDW/UOS/IOA tour, we probably would have been OK not doing laundry. In fact, we probably could have gotten by without doing laundry at all but I think we both would have felt a bit gross re-wearing a lot of worn stuff.

 

[Leslie41]

I am going to be on the Magic for 19 days starting in May. I will be bringing lots of small bills. Lots of ones and fives for tipping room service. You can add it to the bill but they prefer cash. I also bring a few extra tens/twenties to give extra to the crew that goes above and beyond the pre-charged tips.

Since I will be spending a long time on the ship, I am definitely doing laundry. I will bring a small bag of dry detergent and dryer sheets. I also have bleach tabs in case I want to do a bleach load. (people use far more laundry detergent than they really need to).

Dryer sheets are also awesome for a lot of other purposes, like hanging in the closet or tucking in drawers for a touch of scent, stuffing in workout shoes, or rubbing on anything that is static-y (not that that's usually a problem on a cruise, but...). They take up zero room.

Because the toilet room has ZERO ventilation (unless I'm mistaken!), I'm bringing that industrial-strength concentrated orange/citrus bathroom spray.

 

[CruzinTink]

Downey Wrinkle Release - I spray our clothes as soon as I unpack to get wrinkles out!

Antibiotic hand soap for bathroom.

Scentsy air freshener.

Fabreeze scented trash bags for dirty clothes!

Zip lock bags for shells and other beach treasures!

 

[jplee3]

I am going to be on the Magic for 19 days starting in May. I will be bringing lots of small bills. Lots of ones and fives for tipping room service. You can add it to the bill but they prefer cash. I also bring a few extra tens/twenties to give extra to the crew that goes above and beyond the pre-charged tips.

Since I will be spending a long time on the ship, I am definitely doing laundry. I will bring a small bag of dry detergent and dryer sheets. I also have bleach tabs in case I want to do a bleach load. (people use far more laundry detergent than they really need to).

Dryer sheets are also awesome for a lot of other purposes, like hanging in the closet or tucking in drawers for a touch of scent, stuffing in workout shoes, or rubbing on anything that is static-y (not that that's usually a problem on a cruise, but...). They take up zero room.

Because the toilet room has ZERO ventilation (unless I'm mistaken!), I'm bringing that industrial-strength concentrated orange/citrus bathroom spray.

LOL @ the industrial-strength bathroom spray. I don't know for the Magic but on the Fantasy the bathroom was pretty well-ventilated.... uhhh for drying clothes and stuff...yeahhh

 

[jplee3]

Downey Wrinkle Release - I spray our clothes as soon as I unpack to get wrinkles out!

Antibiotic hand soap for bathroom.

Scentsy air freshener.

Fabreeze scented trash bags for dirty clothes!

Zip lock bags for shells and other beach treasures!

A note on collecting shells, etc. I'd caution people against this as they may likely take away anything you attempt to bring back (that isn't purchased) at the gangway when boarding the ship from port. I saw a woman put her bag through the scanner and they had her take out a dry box and dump out a ton of shells that she had collected and tried to bring back on.
BTW: I hear it's 'bad luck' to remove sand/shells from native lands. Either way, it's best to leave stuff where it is and appreciate it there - take pictures if you really want the memories

 

[Bear3412]

Waterproof watch

 

[jmedrew]

It's our first cruise ever! Cruising the Dream in June. I want to start making a packing list so I can slowly jot things down as I think of them. What are some things you wished you would have packed? Things you are so thankful you packed? Things I should pack that I may not think about packing? I know that the over the door shoe holders and extra outlets and cords are no longer permitted. I am traveling with DH, DS(11, 7 and 2) and DD(9) as well as some extended family. Thank you in advance. I am so anxious to see what everyone suggests!

Over the door holders are not permitted???

 

[cris0809]

Over the door holders are not permitted???

Nope. Not allowed on the doors anyway. They were scratching and the weight/wedging them in the frames was forcing them out of alignment. Stateroom hosts are removing them if they see them and there can be a fee assessed for repairs.

You could still bring one and hang it from a hook or in the closet. I find them unnecessary.

 

[mdvlprof]

Totally unnecessary. I have never brought one. Extra junk I'd have to organize? Not gonna happen,

I follow old rule: pack happy, pack heavy. Pick one.

 

[rentayenta]

Take: a couple of loose dresses. a couple of swimsuits. OTC/prescription meds Sandals or flip-flops charging cables for any electronic devices 5-port USB charger big floppy hat sport wash Passport Leave home: Pretty much everything else

My plan exactly.

 

[TCB in FLA]

A watch or clip-on pocket watch! I don't wear one at home since I always have my phone to check the time. Planning to ease off the iPhone on board but need something for the time so I'm not late to Mixology!

 

[minniemouse1]

Do you pack a full outfit (shorts & tee shirt) for each child for each day? Do you pack an evening outfit per night for them as well? Seems like a lot of clothes. First time cruiser-with-kids. Thanks!

I pack an outfit for every night for dinner for all kids, several swimsuits and then casual clothes for during the day. I too do not want to do laundry onboard although all of our previous 7 day cruises I have done atleast one load.

The kids usually have one to two clean outfits when I pack the last night and we stay in FL after the cruise for 4 days so it works well for us. I am a firm believer when it comes to kids to pack at least one more outfit than you think you will need that way when someone does have an accident they don't have to sit in the room and wait for a load of laundry to wash and dry for something to wear.

 

[Jerseymomof2]

Documents. Double check now that yours are where you think they are and that they are not expired.

Meds, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, swimsuit: all in a carry-on to start using ship right away.

Less clothing. Far less. A nice outfit only if going to Remy or Palo. After that, you probably don't need what you think you need.

Not that.

Not that either.

Nope.

No, you don't need that.

Nope.

Maybe that sundress, because it doesn't take up any room.

Not that.

Not that either.

I know you think you need that thing, but you don't.



I am saying all of this with a smile. Truly, we have overpacked every cruise. For a three night Bahamas, you just don't need much at all. Have fun!!

I so overpacked for our 1st cruise. I didn't want to do laundry so I made sure we had enough clothes.

way too much! I brought an over the door organizer (this is back when they were allowed) never used it.
had more then enough room in the bathroom for our stuff.
I packed a bunch of snacks because I was afraid the kids would have nothing they liked to eat. they loved everything on the ship.

the only think I regretted not bringing was some childrens fever medicine. It was late at night and the shops were closed. I didn't want to go to the dr and pay that bill. Next time more meds and less everything else!

Have a great trip!

 

[livie1205]

I bring plenty of OTC meds, min clothing , one phone charger and some of those purex washer/ dryer sheets ( all in one) since I am a early riser I have no problem taking less then 2 hrs washing a load of laundry. I will also wash our clothes the last night so when we pack up all the clothes are clean. I dont want to pack much and we stay one night at wdw te day we get off so its just easier.We are taking one suitcase and one duffle for 2 adults and 1 child.

 

[johnlatv]

great stuff. I am such an over packer, i need to stay disciplined for this cruise. Watch was great idea, use to always wear my watch but since i use my cell phone all the time no need, but i'll need the watch on the cruise.

 

[LemonPie]

If you have smaller children it is handy to pack a full outfit (socks, undies & clothes) in a gallon size zip lock baggie. You can squish the air out of them so they are pretty flat and will pack nice then you have the baggies to use if you should need them. It also makes it easy to just pull out a change of clothes without having to dig through stuff or find stuff that matches. Space saver, time saver