If you had it to do over, what would you pack?

[erinmarie424]

Do you know it affects the air conditioning in the rooms around you? It does, unless you are on one of the newer ships.

 

 

 

I was thinking the same thing....

 

 

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[JABrown104]

Hi,

I am the queen of over packing- but i dont really consider it over packing, i consider it being prepared for any situation. here are some things i am packing:

 

Highlighter

Post it notes

Plastic bags of all sizes

Kindle/ or books

first aid supplies

small sewing kit

Small fan

Snorkel gear- we have good stuff, plus i hate the idea of using stuff 1000 others use.

Tervis tumblers

 

All i can think of right now. Happy Cruisin!

[sjn911]

Glasses repair kit is a good one, I keep one in my make up organizer that I take traveling. I had a screw pop out of my glasses the other day, the one that held my lens in. Luckily I was home so not a big deal. Would have been a pain if it happened on the ship and I didn't have a tiny screwdriver to put it back in or lost the screw and needed another.

Thanks....it has been a while and I need to make a fresh mini pack with these little items in a small ziplock. I need to heed all the good advice and have had too many car trips in between.

 

 

 

Also, if you have reached a point in life where for better or worse you have a vitamin and several Rx regimes; I found a small padded lunch carry bag for a buck at a thrift store. Everything pill and vitamin wise go in there for every day and travel. Those large seven day things are good for not too may rx's but if you need them, get stalled, you have it all in the right bottles and yes it is the space of a bit of my carry on but it it is all there..at home and away and a grab and go when traveling here. I can easily sort and keep it all up to date this way. Sometimes I take the vitamins in a big seven day deal separate from rx and bandaid etc. bag if on a phase when taking a lot more vitamins/supplements. Those vitamin bottles are insane...

Edited September 6, 2016 by sjn911

[Frank12]

Do not forget flip flops. I did once and had to buy an expensive pair in port!

[elliair]

Bring a simple extension cord. Surge protectors have proven to be a fire hazard.

 

I have a nonsurge protected outlet with 2 USB chargers and 2 plugins. I also have a 3-pronged one and 3 USB chargers as well made by Stanley. It will say on the back of the package if it's nonsurge. I clipped the back of the package and wil pack it in case there's a dispute. But normally, we charge our stuff at night and hide the outlet during the day.

 

We also pack a room deodorizer in a can like Febreeze. It came in handy many times. I'm really scent sensitive and have bad odors in our cabin many times. I've got 2 cans packed for our upcoming cruise.

 

As for the USB charger, I bought it at Big Lots, and the 3-prong one at Ace Hardware. You can buy it on Amazon.

 

Edited September 6, 2016 by elliair

[cynt]

Cruising in the Caribbean I pack less and less. 7 day cruise - 4 bathing suits and 4 coverups; 3 shorts and 3 tops for port days. I stay in my bathing suits and coverups all day on sea days and most port days. 4 bottoms and 4 tops and 3 sundresses for the evening. 2 pair of Crocs, dressy flip flops, sneakers and 2 pair dressy sandals/heels. Prescription meds, claritin D and Advil. Toiletry bag w/ necessities. Mesh laundry bag, camera and cord, cell phone and charger; and Tervis cup.

 

I started out several years ago packing everything on those list for my cruises. Talk about a waste of suitcase space. After the 3rd or so cruise I ditched all the JUST IN CASE STUFF and decided to bring an extra $100 for incidentals. Best decision I ever made. So far I haven't had to use the $100 incidental stash. What I realized is everything I need is on the ship or at the next port. My biggest flaw now is shoes. I always seem to pack a ton of shoes. :D

[Doggielover68]

Things to leave home:

 

Bungee cords

Duct Tape

Over the door shoe organizer

Tools of any kind, including flashlights (your phone has one)

Beach Towels

Power Strips (take a three prong outlet)

Extension cords

Most meds other than prescriptions

Jewelry

Money belts

Highlighters and magnets

Door decorations

Gifts for crew other than cash

Hangers and/or clothes pins

 

These are just a few of the things that take up space are are not needed.

 

 

 

I agree with most of this with the exception of medicine. OTC meds are crazy expensive and you never know what you will need. Packing travel sized items helps to save some space. Things we commonly use: Benadryl (works for allergies, sleeping aid, motion sickness, cold symptoms), antacids, pain reliever, bandaids and neosporin, vitamin C drops etc.

 

 

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[suzycruiser2]

Travel size Lysol spray and downy wrinkle release.

[hpman247]

lol, I packed like 8 pairs of shoes last cruise. wore them all... but I'm kinda stylish, so I have to have a lot of clothes.

[erinmarie424]

I agree with most of this with the exception of medicine. OTC meds are crazy expensive and you never know what you will need. Packing travel sized items helps to save some space. Things we commonly use: Benadryl (works for allergies, sleeping aid, motion sickness, cold symptoms), antacids, pain reliever, bandaids and neosporin, vitamin C drops etc.

 

 

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minimus.biz has single dose packs of many OTC medications, I have a snack sized plastic bag with a bunch of these in it that I'm certain cost less than having to purchase even one item in the gift shop....

[ducklite]

lol, I packed like 8 pairs of shoes last cruise. wore them all... but I'm kinda stylish, so I have to have a lot of clothes.

 

 

 

You don't need a lot of clothes to be stylish. The most stylish people I know live in black with accessories to add a pop of color as needed. Or not.

[ducklite]

As far as money belts, it entirely depends on where you are traveling to. Typical Caribbean cruise? Not needed. You aren't going to be carrying enough cash or your passport. Traveling to Barcelona, Rome, Paris, etc. where pickpockets are everywhere and you might need to carry a passport ashore, bring them.

[euphscott]

I have done it over, maybe 40 cruises so far, and except for Mediterranean and Alaska cruises, I pack less and less, not more.

If I were to take half of the items suggested on CC by well meaning folk, I would need more than my sole 21" carry on piece of luggage.

 

This is the best advice - and exactly what I have experienced as I cruise - all those extras only weigh you down - and in no way make for a better cruise experience...less is more!

[beachbum53]

YoureMoving, as you can see, everyone's needs are different. What may be important to you may not be so for someone else. Making a packing list first will help you to remember the important things, such as passports, travel documents, medications (both prescription and non), personal items (such as toothbrush & razor), etc. If you're flying to your port, you'll want to keep your packing to a minimum. Remember, most airlines charge $25.00 (or more) per checked bag. As you make your list, try to keep the "just in case" stuff to a bare minimum. Start with what you definitely need. As long as it's clean, no one will notice if you wear the same thing twice. I can (and have) gotten by with three pairs of shorts on a seven day cruise. Also, by grouping related items together before packing, such as swim suit with flip-flops and sun block, electronics with their chargers, dress shirt (or blouse) with dress pants (or skirt), etc., you'll be less likely to forget something.

[Glock19]

I pack very little. When my wife and I started cruising in the 1990s we were both in our early 20s. it seemed like we packed 1/2 the house when we went away. After a few years we started packing less. Now we travel light.

[cruiseonthebrain]

I'm with the folks who say they pack less and less. It is so much easier to maneuver less luggage, unpack and re-pack clothes, shoes, etc., and bring every toiletry known to humankind.

 

On a longer cruise, I would rather have to pay to do a load of laundry than overpack.

[LostPuppy]

Red solo cups are a nice add-on. When we go to GT we buy a bottle of Rum & some Coke, take a right at the beach and we have our own party. Later we walk down to Jack's Shack and say hi to Touffer, the wonder-dog.

 

AFA "packing less", YES, I agree! My spouse & I have already done a week in NOLA followed by a B2B with one carry-on each. Getting rid of extra luggage is probably the biggest thing we've done that makes cruising more enjoyable.

[simplelife]

I second the suggestion to bring OTC meds and bandaids. These take up very little weight/space and are very expensive onboard. Also, younger ladies, bring your favorite brand of feminine supplies -even if you think you won't need them. Traveling can play havoc on cycles.There is usually only one brand available onboard and they are expensive too.

 

 

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[louanne93]

lol, I packed like 8 pairs of shoes last cruise. wore them all... but I'm kinda stylish, so I have to have a lot of clothes.

 

Ya know, I pack a lot of clothes too! I may not where them all but they all serve a purpose. I like to have choices. Not sure what I will feel like wearing that day so I will have a choice!

I used to pack all the other stuff (over the door shoe organizer etc...) the only thing I missed my last cruise was a highlighter! I will never forget to pack a highlighter again. I really missed it.

[louanne93]

As far as money belts, it entirely depends on where you are traveling to. Typical Caribbean cruise? Not needed. You aren't going to be carrying enough cash or your passport. Traveling to Barcelona, Rome, Paris, etc. where pickpockets are everywhere and you might need to carry a passport ashore, bring them.

 

My three year old son was hit by a female pickpocket in Disneyland. So they are everywhere! He had done so many chores for that $20 and insisted he keep it in his pocket. I know he was pickpocketed because a mother came up to me and told me a lady snagged $20 from his pocket. She was gone in a flash! We were holding hands and walking along together when this happened. The nerve of some people. That was 15 years ago!

[natlteam10]

Pack several shirts. I tried the "less is more" thing last time and packed only 1 shirt per day. By the end of the day my shirts were sweaty and nasty (or smokey from the casino). I will pack more shirts next time so I feel clean.

 

 

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[ducklite]

Pack several shirts. I tried the "less is more" thing last time and packed only 1 shirt per day. By the end of the day my shirts were sweaty and nasty (or smokey from the casino). I will pack more shirts next time so I feel clean.

 

 

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I typically wear two per day--one for daytime and one for dinner. I like silk knits which can be hand washed and drip dried and dry in a few hours, even in a cruise bathroom. The ships I cruise on don't allow smoking anywhere indoors. I usually re-wear a shirt at least once in the evening before it needs to be washed. Unless I spill something on it. Not that it would ever happen LOL!

 

My husband will typically shower and put on a fresh shirt for dinner, and often it is the shirt he wears the next day.

Edited September 7, 2016 by ducklite

[sprint180]

Things to leave home:

 

Bungee cords

Duct Tape

Over the door shoe organizer

Tools of any kind, including flashlights (your phone has one)

Beach Towels

Power Strips (take a three prong outlet)

Extension cords

Most meds other than prescriptions

Jewelry

Money belts

Highlighters and magnets

Door decorations

Gifts for crew other than cash

Hangers and/or clothes pins

 

These are just a few of the things that take up space are are not needed.

 

just giving it a thumbs up. I can't imagine how much space some people take up with stuff. I have never needed a bungee cord or duct tape. I can't imagine why you would need a bungee. We always have a balcony but never needed one. And if I ever needed duct tape I would ask a room steward. A money belt I may suggest to take though. Pick pockets are every where, and yes to basic first aid stuff. They don't take a lot of room and are crazy expensive on board. I found out that the hard way.

Edited September 7, 2016 by sprint180

[ducklite]

just giving it a thumbs up. I can't imagine how much space some people take up with stuff. I have never needed a bungee cord or duct tape. I can't imagine why you would need a bungee. We always have a balcony but never needed one. And if I ever needed duct tape I would ask a room steward.

 

 

I couldn't agree more. We found ourselves needing a roll of packing tape while we were in Greece. We easily were able to buy a small roll for within pennies of what it would have cost us at home while in port.

[famouschinesecontroller]

Tiny (barely bigger than my iPhone 6) fan (take this whenever I travel anywhere,) battery operated tea light, magnetic hook, magnetic bulldog clip - all fit into a small plastic bag.

 

 

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What do you use the magnetic hook and bulldog clip for? Sorry if that's a dumb question but I've never cruised on a big boat before.