Looking for advice from veteran cruisers to a first time cruiser

[Ravens girl]

I’m about to book my first cruise on the Dream in May 2022. Having never cruised before I could use some advice. What should I pack? Ladies how many swimsuits should I pack. Do I need a jacket? I’ll be traveling with a friend, we will both be celebrating our 60th birthdays.
Any ideas, thoughts or advice will be most appreciated.

 

[MomOTwins]

I do two swimsuits. There is a clothes line in the shower that I use to dry off suits between uses after giving them a rinse in the tub, and with alternating two suits I always have a somewhat dry one to put on that way—hate the feeling if putting on a wet suit. Of course, I could always use the hair dryer in a pinch too.

You DEFINITELY need a light sweater or jacket of some kind. The dining rooms and theater seem to always have AC turned down low. I usually pack a cardigan regular dinners and a nice shawl for semi formal night.

 

[Travel60]

Pack half what you think you will need. Seriously.

You don't say how long your cruise is....for a warm weather 7-day, I take:
**2 pair shorts/capris,
**two pair nicer long pants (maybe a white and a black), could sub a skirt
**5-6 tops that match all the bottoms,
**2-3 dresses. (Since you are celebrating, if your cruise is long enough to have formal/semi-formal nights, you may want to go long dress or even all out formal.)
**a couple of dressier sweaters that go with the tops and dresses

I find it useful to pick a color scheme and stick with it so everything coordinates: Black/white/Royal blue or
White, Navy blue, pink or
White, khaki, red.
Most of my clothes, except shirts, are solid color, shirts can be prints.

*1 pair walking shoes,
*1 pair dressier shoes or sandals, nude matches everything
*1 pair flip flops,
*1-2 swimsuits, one cover-up
*2 sets workout clothes (optional).

If cooler weather (like Alaska), i would leave out shorts and add jeans, make the tops long sleeved and add a couple scarves, jacket.

 

[Keterrill]

That's a great list. I've been on 13 cruises and have overpacked every time. Also on DCL, there is a self service laundry available. Because I'm traveling with kids, I always bring some tide pods and try to wash at least once. That cuts my need for clothes way down. On a 3 day cruise I probably wouldn't bother. & days, definitely.

Some non-clothing things that are helpful:
Your own refillable cup or mug
A nightlight for the bathroom
Some magnet hooks or suction hooks
A small purse or fanny pack type of thing that you can take when walking around on and off the ship
Cash- I still like to leave cash for my room steward
Sun hat
A swim cover-up that is modest enough to wear inside. I personally like a dress type of thing that I can throw on over my swimsuit and go into the dining room or wherever for lunch.

 

[Ravens girl]

Thank you so much. Our plans changed a little bit. My friend couldn’t go so my husband is going with me. This is a 4 night cruise, Bahamas.
The advice about not overpacking will be a tough one but I’ll try.