8 day cruise, is doing carry on realistic?

[Grayce]

Husband and I did a 15 day transatlantic with just a carry-on each. We even took formal outfits. We did do some laundry. The trick was to have coordinating outfits. I tried to take things that I could mix and match. We bought shampoo, sunscreen etc when we got to Florida so no hassles with liquids in our bags.

 

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[luvtheships]

22 days in Europe 21 inch roll on!!

 

 

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[Sumsss]

How early do you get in? Do you have time to hit a Walgreens or CVS before you have to be at the port? If you have time, pack an empty bag in your carry on and then hit if for toiletries.

[losijon]

If you can do it, more power to you. That's great. Don't know how the heck my wife and I would be able to accomplish this. Good thing is though we can drive to port. We don't have to fly.

 

 

.....................................................

Carnival Pride 7 day Mexican Riviera: September 2008

 

Carnival Inspiration 4 day Mexican Riviera: September 2013

 

Carnival Miracle 15 day Hawaii: coming October 2015

[Baby_Bear]

How early do you get in? Do you have time to hit a Walgreens or CVS before you have to be at the port? If you have time, pack an empty bag in your carry on and then hit if for toiletries.

 

Our flight lands around 11 am. I deliberately picked the early flight in case of any delays. I think I will plan to tell the cabbie to take us to a CVS that's en route. And he can leave the meter on while we run in to get what we need. Great idea about packing a bag! I have a nice beach tote I can bring and it packs totally flat.

[sirenitas]

We've done 10 days at Disney with just carry-ons. We each have a 21" rolling suitcase (I loooove my American Tourister Splash) and a backpack (tote for me). At WDW I do one load of laundry - I pack 2 tops/1 bottom so had to wash shorts. For 5 days in Puerto Rico I travelled with just a tote.

 

For our cruise in Oct (7 nights plus one day in Miami and one in Ft Lauderdale) I figure it will be just as easy (and no laundry) -

 

- DD and I have enough soft, light dresses for 7 nights. They fold as small as shirts!

- 2 Sea days are swimsuits (2)/cover-up (1).

- 4 Port days are tees (4)/shorts (4).

- Embarkation/debarkation days will be a maxi skirt (1) and tops (2).

- Travel days are jeans (1) and a top (2 but only pack one since I wear one on the way down).

- Comfy outfit 2 tops, 1 bottom

- 2 pjs

- 9 unmentionables

- 2/3 pairs of shoes. Sport sandals for sure but still debating about bringing just one pair of nice wedges that match everything or cute flat sandals that match everything. Might take both since the flats are super light and pack flat.

- denim jacket

- 1 wristlet

- hat

- couple of cute jewelry sets

 

In my tote I carry cameras (yep, multiple), Kindle, snacks, cardigan, small crossbody, glasses and sunglasses, chargers, notebook and folder with all our documents/schedules etc., small hairbrush and what little makeup I use (Chapstick is my lipstick!).

 

I collect toiletry (and laundry) samples throughout the year to take on trips. But on this one we will stay right across the street from a Publix before our cruise so will buy whatever we need - sunblock, shampoo, sodas etc.

 

edit - forgot to add that I also pack a duffle for extra stuff we get while on vacation.

[GranthamMommy]

Another option is to each pack your carry on with things you couldn't live without. Then check one bag with toiletries (full size stuff) etc. If that bag was lost, you'd still have all your clothes and time to replace. But you wouldn't have to worry about sizes going through security.

[ducklite]

Yes. My longest with carry on so far was three weeks. See my signature.

 

Wash out underwear and bathing suits each evening and they will be dry by morning. Most items can be worn twice, dinner separate for example. Wear the black blouse with the white pants one night and a scarf and black pants another, and no one will notice.

 

Use the toiletries provided or take sample sizes. Most people use way more shampoo and conditioner than they actually need.

 

Items like stick deodorant, bar soap, and medications do not need to go in the 3-1-1 bag.

Edited July 10, 2014 by ducklite

[againin13]

Woah, thanks so much for sharing this video! I'm definitely doing this on my next trip!

 

 

Thank you so much for posting this I am definitely going to try this in November

 

 

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[sgttami]

I sailed the Splendor 8 day cruise from NY three times since February and it is possible.

 

The first time I took an extra tote and realized I could have fit everything in one bag. By the second time, I had it down and by the third, I took even less!

 

Never did laundry and actually came back with some things never worn.

 

I just make sure that everything I pack matches everything I pack! I usually stick with black/white and tan. 3 pair of shoes.

 

I'm going again in October and am doing carry on again since I'll be flying home from San Juan. Don't want the hassle of checking luggage at the airport.

[MsTabbyKats]

We just take carry-ons.

 

Does it really matter if people you will never see again see you in the same top multiple times? They probably won't even notice....

[hopeful2]

We always do only carryon also. I know people don't want to do laundry on vacation but there is laundry on the breeze you can do yourself. I put some dryer sheets in the carryon (which keeps things smelling nice and also incase i do laundry onboard).

 

We usually fly in day before cruise and go to a store and buy shampoo and stuff and i also look for laundry soap. If i don't do a load and like to wash out bathing suits after using and hang them in shower.

 

Breeze is a beautiful ship enjoy. Don't forget to look for the secret doors.

[092306]

I think you can definitely do it. Also with the fav shampoo/conditioner, you can buy the small 2oz bottles to transfer it into, but instead of bringing 1 each, I bring 2, that way I won't run out. Once, a couple of weeks before a trip, I used the 2oz bottles at home just to see how long it took me to run out of it so I could better gauge what to bring.

[sjcruiser]

I've managed to get down from two suitcases, a carry on and laptop bag to eliminated one of the suitcases via mix and match. I also resolved to wear swim shorts and tanks or tees during the day since we're at the pool or Serenity deck until the afternoon. This cruise we have another nice size party with some newbies, which mean I'll probably end up in the MDR more than I like, and I'll have to add more clothes and shoes than usually. Thankfully SW lets you check two free bags, and a carry on+personal/laptop bag. Carry on for a cruise? I couldn't do it.

[cruise_girl2002]

of course its possible! This is coming from a girl that packed 1 carry on for and 18 day trip for work. roll your clothes. I wear the same thing twice (4 outfits?) 1 pair of dress slacks for the main dining room, a couple of nice tops, 1 dress for elegant night, 1 pair of flip flops etc. easy to do!

[Casco Bay Kid]

I would say no but that's just me. I take 2 huge suitcases, a carryon and my laptop case for a week cruise. I need more than 7 pairs of shoes for 7 days and change outfits 3x a day. Workout clothes, swimsuit and shorts or port clothes, dinner clothes and evening clothes (comedy club or casino comfy clothes). Makeup, polish, hair products, sunscreen for 7 days (which is def. not travel size).

 

Yikes. High maintenance.

 

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[092306]

Some people use this video as a way to pack

 

 

I did this bundling method last year and it worked great! I was using a larger

suitcase, but my bundle of all my clothes actually took up only half of the suitcase. With the standard folding or rolling method, it would have been mostly filled. Unbundling was a bit tedious, but since you only do it the one time on a cruise, it's not a big deal.

[Kao2293]

In my opinion I say yes go for it! Go on Google or pinterest to see how to pack tightly (for example I roll a lot of stuff and squeeze things in random spaces). For girls its much easier because all we have are usually swimsuits, dresses, and shorts and tanks. Guys its a little harder but still works! Good luck!

[fireofficer5]

Paying for laundry almost equals the baggage fees.

plus the time waster on vacation doing laundry.

 

 

Just don't wear smelly clothes.:D

[kay1864]

Remember that you get two pieces of carryon per person--one standard 22x14x9 carryon bag, and one "personal item" that can be a makeup bag, large purse, etc. However, you do not get one carryon, one personal, and one purse--purse must fit in your carryon.

 

We got by just fine with one carryon and one backpack per person. But then, we had only 3 pairs of shoes per person. Shoes take up a LOT of space.

 

BTW...if you get the Delta Skymiles credit card, your first checked bag is free.

 

Also, we got by with the standard 3x3x1 liquids, but our can of spray-on sunscreen didn't pass muster, so we had to check one bag.

Edited July 10, 2014 by kay1864

[kay1864]

But be sure to check your carryons at the port terminal. You don't want to have to roll them around the ship when you board and have lunch.

 

Let the porters deliver them to your room, and carry your backpack/large purse with your swimsuits and expensive items (cameras etc).

[ducklite]

In my opinion I say yes go for it! Go on Google or pinterest to see how to pack tightly (for example I roll a lot of stuff and squeeze things in random spaces). For girls its much easier because all we have are usually swimsuits, dresses, and shorts and tanks. Guys its a little harder but still works! Good luck!

 

 

My husband also packs carry in only. For a warm weather cruise he would pack two bathing suits, a couple of rash guard/reef/tek shirts (think UnderArmor type), two pairs of slacks, four shirts (combo of Cuban style and polo), 3-4 t-shirts, a couple pair of shorts plus what he wore to the ship. If he was going to need a jacket/tie he would carry the jacket over his arm into the plane, pack a dress shirt and tie. One pair of shoes for all dinner outfits, his sneakers (he would wear to the ship) and sports sandals.

[ducklite]

Remember that you get two pieces of carryon per person--one standard 22x14x9 carryon bag, and one "personal item" that can be a makeup bag, large purse, etc. However, you do not get one carryon, one personal, and one purse--purse must fit in your carryon.

 

We got by just fine with one carryon and one backpack per person. But then, we had only 3 pairs of shoes per person. Shoes take up a LOT of space.

 

BTW...if you get the Delta Skymiles credit card, your first checked bag is free.

 

Also, we got by with the standard 3x3x1 liquids, but our can of spray-on sunscreen didn't pass muster, so we had to check one bag.

 

 

I don't take a purse on vacation. It would just sit in the room the entire time. I use a small wristlet that is slightly larger than a wallet. It has a main compartment with slots for credit cards/license and is large enough for my Epi-Pen a travel hand cream, a couple tissues and a lip gloss, and a zipped outer compartment that I use for coins. To be honest I have never used it while on a cruise, just for pre and post cruise days in whatever city we are visiting. While on the ship I carry my room key in my pocket and return to the room for anything else I might need (my husband outs the EpiPen in his pocket for meals) and in shore excursions I use either a cross body bag or just the pockets in my cargo shorts.

[ducklite]

Paying for laundry almost equals the baggage fees.

 

plus the time waster on vacation doing laundry.

 

 

 

 

 

Just don't wear smelly clothes.:D

 

 

If your clothes smell after being worn in AC for a few hours, I would suggest either better personal hygiene or a visit to a doctor.

 

Don't you wash out your bathing suit after wearing it? It doesn't take any longer to wash out a shirt and some underwear.

 

Some ships have a great laundry package.

 

I don't check bags because I don't want to wait for them or Don't want my stuff to go missing. One our cruise in 2012, one coil,e's bags didn't show up in Rome. They spent their first day trying to track them down, second day in Rome shopping for replacement items, and the bags still hadn't arrived when we boarded the third day. They finally caught up with this couple a week later. So who used their time and money more wisely? Those who carried in and sent some items for laundry, or them?

[sgttami]

But be sure to check your carryons at the port terminal. You don't want to have to roll them around the ship when you board and have lunch.

 

Let the porters deliver them to your room, and carry your backpack/large purse with your swimsuits and expensive items (cameras etc).

 

For me, the whole point of doing a carry on is to NOT check bags at the terminal.

 

I now try to board when I know the cabins are ready but it's really not a big deal to "wheel it" as it's only for an hour or so. It's the only bag I have with everything in it...