1st time cruisers HELP don't want to overpack!

[SUNNY D]

Hubby and I are going on our 1st cruise in October. 5 days on Carnival Inspiration. I have learned alot of what to wear on a cruise in the dining room and on formal nights. Does anyone have a basic packing list (for clothes) for a first timer? I have read that so many people over pack and I really don't want to bring alot of things I won't need.

 

It's probably a dumb question, but what do you wear during the day? Everyone talks about what to wear to dinner and on formal nite, but what is appropriate during the day and when you go to breakfast and lunch? Do people dress nice for breakfast, then change in to shorts and swimsuits, then change again for lunch and again for dinner? That seems to be way to much and I can't see how I would avoid overpacking if I am changing that much to meet "appropriate dress". I need advice for myself and my hubby. DH is the cargo shorts and t-shirt type guy so I'm concerned he will need alot of help picking out some cruise attire.

 

I know to bring more than one bathing suit, a formal dress, and a nice outfit for dinner each nite but what else? I'm thinking DH needs to wear docker type pants and polo shirts to dinner right? He does own a navy blue coat, a dress shirt and a tye for formal nite. I'm certain he won't do a tux, so this is the best I can hope for.

 

Please help fill in the rest of our suitcase. Thanks!! :)

 

Dawn

[MrsMoose2001]

Hi, I'm also going on my frist cruise, go to *************** she gives great advice on what to bring on a cruise.

[MrsMoose2001]

ok that didn't go through cruise diva (oneword .com)

[mrsred]

There are several things which would determine your wardrobe requirements.

 

For example: what excursions are you going to go on? What will you be doing during sea-days....

 

My experience on Carnival was that they are very laid back. Shorts, tanks, t-shirts, etc. were the norm around the ship during the day. It was very much about comfort.

 

As a rule of thumb, I found that I needed 3 outfits a day if I was going on an excursion since I like to shower and change into clean clothes when I returned to the ship, but didn't want to dress for dinner right away since we had the 8pm seating. I usually don't change after dinner, but that's me.

 

If it was a sea day, then I only required two outfits (one day, one evening).

 

I do send out laundry so that I can cut down on packing.

 

If you haven't already, make yourself a list. That always helps me organize my thoughts and ensures I have what I need without bringing too much.

 

For example:

Day 1 beach: red swim suit, pink cover up, white t-shirt & green skirt (for later), red gown (dinner)

Day 2: (sea day) red silk tank, black skirt (day), green gown (dinner)

 

You get the idea....

 

Best wishes,

~e

[MrsBoo]

Just a "heads up", the lounges and dining room can be chilly. Except for formal night, attire is fairly casual, but shorts are not allowed in the dining room at night.

 

Have a great cruise.

[Straughn]

As someone who was very guilty of overpacking on our first cruise, I can offer the following lessons learned from my experiences. On sea days, I spend most of my days in a swimsuit and coverup. After the first cruise, I bought a very nice long t-shirt dress/beach cover-up that I could wear, over my suit, to the casual dining restaurant and around the ship. For port days, you will need the appropriate clothing for your excursions-that might be shorts and shirt for a land tour and swimwear for a snorkeling or boating tour. The first time, I packed a pair of shorts and a T-shirt for every day and ended up taking half of them home unworn. I have learned two things-take half of what you think you need and utilize the ship's laundry.

 

It is very casual around the ship during the day, so DH's cargo shorts and t-shirt will be just fine. You idea of dockers and polo shirts for dinner for him will work perfectly.

[caviargal]

 

It is very casual around the ship during the day, so DH's cargo shorts and t-shirt will be just fine. You idea of dockers and polo shirts for dinner for him will work perfectly.

 

I agree. A 5 night cruise on Inspiration will be quite casual. Bathing suit and shorts for daytime, and polos and dockers for DH in evening. His blazer for formal night will not be out of place on this ship, when worn with shirt and tie for formal night.

 

You can have breakfast and lunch in the buffet with a simple cover up over your bathing suit but the dining room will ask that you wear at least shorts and top and shoes.

 

Enjoy!

[Happy ks]

I actually have a harder time packing for a shorter cruise than I do a longer one. I guess because I pack just as much, on a short cruise I don't want to send laundry out. The above mentioned site is a good one www.*************** she shows how to pack using a chart. I use the chart to see where I can mix and match clothes to cut back on clothes.

 

Your husbands casual clothes sound fine for daytime wear. Don't go out and buy yourself "cruise clothes", you probably have much of what you already need. Shorts, sundresses, T's and tanks are mostly what are worn aboard ship and for shore excursions. Casual night dinners are khaki pants, short sleeved button up shirts (DH) and for me, pants and a nice top, you already know formal.

 

I think the real packing problem comes with all the extras people haul along. Don't take along anything that you cannot survive with for the week. Besides a full bottle of sunscreen, you only really need a good camera and lots of fil/memory. Leave home all the extras you read about on these boards, everything will be provided for you. We have found that travelling uncluttered is easier and far more pleasant. We no longer take our own music, clocks, cups, pens, tape, paper etc... We do take along our cell phone, we have found it makes travel day easier (calling shuttles, hotels, airline if there is a problem with flights, calling home) and I've never used a hair dryer more than I like my own.

 

Pack a simple toiletry kit and a small first aid kit, cut back on shoes where you can. Wear pants twice, we wear the same outfit to embark and disembark, ditto for first and last nights dinners. Carnival does provide some toiletries, but they are horrid, so don't believe what you read about that stuff!

 

:eek: I guess they really don't want us to mention Cruise Diva! I wonder why, she's not a travel agent and I know she does participate (or used to) on these boards. She is a very knowledgeable and very nice lady.

[SUNNY D]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I've learned so much on this site. We are cruising with another couple who has cruised once before but I'm filling them in on things they didn't know yet. lol :) Thanks again!

 

Dawn

[caviargal]

I never worry about overpacking unless my cruise involves carrying my own bags at some point in the trip, as on a Med cruise.

[Gabsabunch42]

SunnyD, You can also double up on slacks. On our recent 7-day cruise, I took 3 slacks to wear for dinner and in the evenings afterwards, and wore them twice each with different tops.

 

My daughter and I each took one formal dress and we were going to swap on the second formal night, but decided to each wear the same dresses for both nights, hair and accessories different.

 

As another previous poster, I pretty much wore my bathing suit and coverup during the sea days, and brought a couple of shorts with a few T-shirts to wear for shore excursions.

 

We also took a lot of extra stuff that I will leave behind next time. We did love having our alarm because it has a large lighted digital display on it. And we did use post-its, tummy medicines (change in diet), and the door organizer, but the rest of it is staying home next time!

 

Have a great cruise!

[eyzwdeshut]

i will be adding the power strip to my packing list... if you take your cell phone, rechargeable batteries (as some people have them for cameras), and MP3 player (mine is rechargeable), you need more outlets than you can find... & i am going to take a nightlight. i always find myself stumbling around in the dark!

[mrsred]

I second the "wearing something twice" idea. Items such as my black skirt, DH's khaki's, etc. were sent out to the laundry, and then worn again later.

 

One thing that DH brought (which came in really handy) was a folder. You can just use one of those laminated, glossy paper ones with pockets you find in the school supply areas of most stores.

 

We (he) used it to keep the daily papers in (the ones you receive with port info), our gift cards from the TA and captain, our formal night photo, post cards...etc. It came in handy especially when backing to come home. Everything was nice and neat...and not folded or wrinkled. Gotta love an organized man!

 

Just a thought :rolleyes:

 

~e

[Gabsabunch42]

One thing that DH brought (which came in really handy) was a folder. You can just use one of those laminated, glossy paper ones with pockets you find in the school supply areas of most stores.

 

We (he) used it to keep the daily papers in (the ones you receive with port info), our gift cards from the TA and captain, our formal night photo, post cards...etc. It came in handy especially when backing to come home. Everything was nice and neat...and not folded or wrinkled. Gotta love an organized man!

 

Just a thought :rolleyes:

 

~e

 

Yes, we saved everything too, but I just slipped everything into a suitcase pocket and everything stayed in good shape. A folder is a good idea though! Where did you get that organized man? lol

[RachelD]

I know it can be somewhat confusing on what to bring your first time. You will definately learn what works for you and what doesn't after this cruise. What you pack generally has a lot to do with what you and DH plan to do.

 

Your best bet is to pack mix and match items. I packed lots of things, but found that I kept going back to my favorites.

 

sea days: bikini (bring about 4) and sundress

land based excusions: shorts and tank top

water based excursions: tank top, board shorts and bikini

tops: tank tops, couple of tees, dressier tops, cardigans for cooler rooms

pants: black dressy to mix and match, yoga pants to lounge in

formal outfits: 2 dresses, but also black pants if needed with dressy top

casual dinners: sundresses, cropped pants, skirts

 

We ate at the buffet for breakfast and lunch as we wanted the freedom of going about our day without having to keep to a schedule or worry about what to wear.

 

You will find that the ships are more casual by day, it's just a bit more dressier as night approaches.

 

DH will be fine in his cargo shorts and tees during the day. He might want to get some swim trunks that have cargo pockets if that is what he is used to. It makes it nice for when you go on excursions, as he can still use the pockets for sunglasses and whatever.

 

Other ideas: a water wallet, alarm clock, Downy wrinkle release and a couple of socks just in case...

 

Have a great time and enjoy. :D

[Stacylee]

For me and my family - we always change 3 to 4 times a day! At least 2 showers a day.

Shower and dress for breakfast - maybe a bathing suit underneath depending on what shore excursion we are going on.

Then after a trip ashore from swimming, shopping whatever - I am all hot and sticky.

Time for another shower and change into pool clothes or shorts/t to play bingo or lounge around.

Change again for dinner.

Maybe change again after dinner for the show or casino. I usually have a sweatshirt or sweater for this time of the day because after sun all day, the ship is chilly.

Multiply that by 4 people and we take ALOT of clothes. I just can't cut down - I have to shower 1st thing every morning to function, and then after being in the caribbean sun and sea all day I just feel yuck. Fortunately tshirts and shorts are easy to pack. Then we will always buy a few during trip.

I would just rather have it then worry about washing.

 

However - one tip.... I ALWAYS bring an extra cloth duffle tucked into the suitcase for the trip home. All those clothes NEVER fit back in the way I packed them.

[Stacylee]

Also men are so much easier! They can wear dress pants more than once and that dress shirt he needs to take... well he can wear it another night with no tie. Or even just take another tie.

 

My biggest problem is shoes for dinner! When someone figures out how to reduce the pairs of shoes I'll pay for the info...

flip flops, sandals, slippers, tennis shoes, dress shoes to match all my outfits....

[DKB1670]

Better to overpack then underpack! :)

[Happy ks]

I tend to disagree that overpacking is better than underpacking. I find I want to use my time on vacation to enjoy myself, not worry about what to wear next. I swear, sometimes even after carefully planning shoes and accessories, I just pitch the whole idea and wear what is comfortable during the day. If I have on a pair of shorts one day for 2 hours, I'll carefully fold or hang them up to wear again. It's so much nicer on the return trip home to be able to fit everything back into the suitcases and have a lot less laundry to do when we get home.

 

I also find that during a cruise, we never seem to have enough time to fuss over clothes. We just get dressed and go. I like to take clothes I'm familiar with, stuff I wear all the time. Vacation is also not a time to discover that the new blouse you're wearing has a scratchy collar and you can't do anything about it because you're on an all day excursion.

 

My boss uses a plan that works for her (depending, of course on weather), she packs the clothes she has worn during the last 2 weeks.

 

The only thing I overpack is probably underwear and bathing suits. But those don't take up much room.

[Gabsabunch42]

Multiply that by 4 people and we take ALOT of clothes. I just can't cut down. I would just rather have it then worry about washing.

 

.

I agree with this totally. For the 4 of us we brought a lot too, but I would rather have more stuff and choices than not enough. The amount of shoes you need for 4 people is awful too. I am sure we took at least a dozen pairs of shoes total.

 

But there is no way I am washing clothes on the ship. The time flys too fast as it is. When we get home all clothes get washed whether we wore them or not. I don't mess with separating anything when I am packing to go home. I am too depressed because I am leaving the ship :(

[B-Anne]

....are you kidding me?? I take almost as many as a single traveller!! You need to teach me how to pack!! ~B~

[Happy ks]

No one has to wash clothes on a cruise. Just give them to your room steward in the laundry bag in the morning, for a few well spent $ you get them back the next day clean and pressed. It's actually a whole lot cheaper than buying new outfits that you may not ever wear again.

 

Shoes....I decided a long time ago, after our first couple of cruises, never take a pair of shoes along that only go with one outfit. One pair of black dressy shoes, one pair more casual for other nights. Your most comfortable sandals for daytime, one pair of flip flops for the pool, I have my sneakers along for walks on deck, but I wear them on the plane (not fashionable, but I have a fear of someone dropping a carryon on my feet!).

 

I see the mountains of luggage people take along, I swear, the last cruise we were on my cousin and her husband had more bags for the 2 of them than we had for all 4 of us. Of course, I have to be well organized and would go crazy with a cluttered cabin all week. DH is worse than me, the cabin attendants probably love him, they never have to make our bed. He can't stand even getting ready in the am with a messy bed! I walk by and glance in some cabins, I don't understand how they can tolerate the chaos and mess!

[EagerToCruise]

We always buy souvenir t-shirts when we travel and that's what we wear to come home in (could we BE more obvious tourists?). We also try to find a souvenir sweatshirt to wear in the cold Illinois winter to remind us of our tropical adventure. And one or two pair of slacks with coordinating tops is definitely the way to go for dinner outfits. In fact my husband took one pair of khaki's (besides his formal suit) for our 5 day cruise and several shirts. He dripped chocolate sauce in a very conspicuous place the FIRST night at dinner. We sent them out to be cleaned and pressed and they were back in our cabin before dinner the next night for, I think it was, only $4! Spotless.

[Snoopywy]

I'm new here and a first time cruiser.... Can anyone tell me what I should bring for formal dinner ? also, can I wear causal to have my bf, lunch n dinner as well ? As it is a vacation, is it really a must to wear formal during dinner or just a formal dinner ?

 

Many thanks

[Barb Nahoumi]

I actually have a harder time packing for a shorter cruise than I do a longer one. I guess because I pack just as much, on a short cruise I don't want to send laundry out. The above mentioned site is a good one www.*************** she shows how to pack using a chart. I use the chart to see where I can mix and match clothes to cut back on clothes.

 

Your husbands casual clothes sound fine for daytime wear. Don't go out and buy yourself "cruise clothes", you probably have much of what you already need. Shorts, sundresses, T's and tanks are mostly what are worn aboard ship and for shore excursions. Casual night dinners are khaki pants, short sleeved button up shirts (DH) and for me, pants and a nice top, you already know formal.

 

I think the real packing problem comes with all the extras people haul along. Don't take along anything that you cannot survive with for the week. Besides a full bottle of sunscreen, you only really need a good camera and lots of fil/memory. Leave home all the extras you read about on these boards, everything will be provided for you. We have found that travelling uncluttered is easier and far more pleasant. We no longer take our own music, clocks, cups, pens, tape, paper etc... We do take along our cell phone, we have found it makes travel day easier (calling shuttles, hotels, airline if there is a problem with flights, calling home) and I've never used a hair dryer more than I like my own.

 

Pack a simple toiletry kit and a small first aid kit, cut back on shoes where you can. Wear pants twice, we wear the same outfit to embark and disembark, ditto for first and last nights dinners. Carnival does provide some toiletries, but they are horrid, so don't believe what you read about that stuff!

 

:eek: I guess they really don't want us to mention Cruise Diva! I wonder why, she's not a travel agent and I know she does participate (or used to) on these boards. She is a very knowledgeable and very nice lady.

 

 

I was able to reach her website by key wording Cruise Diva. She has some great advise.

 

Barb