What to pack - carry on only - 7 night QLD cruise

[OzKiwiJJ]

2 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

When we have gone to Sydney by air to board a cruise, I have often taken my heavy evening clothes in my hand luggage, then hoped that it wouldn't be weighed. Luckily it wasn't. My rationale was that I had to be ready in case they had a cocktail party on the plane. 😁

I've built up a nice collection of very lightweight evening clothes so that's never a problem, but for the rest I'm a chronic overpacker! 🤣

[Aus Traveller]

1 minute ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

I've built up a nice collection of very lightweight evening clothes so that's never a problem, but for the rest I'm a chronic overpacker! 🤣

My weight problem with evening clothes is with two very nice beaded outfits.

 

I am not a light packer. I wouldn't manage with just carryon luggage.

[OzKiwiJJ]

6 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

My weight problem with evening clothes is with two very nice beaded outfits.

 

I am not a light packer. I wouldn't manage with just carryon luggage.

I gave up on beaded outfits. Too heavy! I've picked un a collection of Camilla silk kaftans on sale which are superlight and never crush, plus I bought some gorgeous lightweight tops in Macy's when we visited the US in 2018 and 2019.

 

I actually started focusing on lightweight evening outfits before we started cruising. I had the opportunity to tag along on one of Rolf's business trips to India where we had several internal flights with a checked baggage limit of 15kgs, so I had to pack extra- light as Rolf had business clothes as well as casual. I got very creative - one of my most complimented tops is a super lightweight floaty "jacket" which I wear over a black shell top. It's black with dusky pink and blue feathers printed on it. It's actually a pool coverup and cost a whole $7 on sale at Myers.🤣

[Aus Traveller]

1 hour ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

I gave up on beaded outfits. Too heavy! I've picked un a collection of Camilla silk kaftans on sale which are superlight and never crush, plus I bought some gorgeous lightweight tops in Macy's when we visited the US in 2018 and 2019.

 

I actually started focusing on lightweight evening outfits before we started cruising. I had the opportunity to tag along on one of Rolf's business trips to India where we had several internal flights with a checked baggage limit of 15kgs, so I had to pack extra- light as Rolf had business clothes as well as casual. I got very creative - one of my most complimented tops is a super lightweight floaty "jacket" which I wear over a black shell top. It's black with dusky pink and blue feathers printed on it. It's actually a pool coverup and cost a whole $7 on sale at Myers.🤣

Sounds good. Sometimes I take my beaded outfits and sometimes I don't. It depends on the length of the cruise.

[Cbtours]

2 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

When we have gone to Sydney by air to board a cruise, I have often taken my heavy evening clothes in my hand luggage, then hoped that it wouldn't be weighed. Luckily it wasn't. My rationale was that I had to be ready in case they had a cocktail party on the plane. 😁

Love it lol

[Aussieflyer]

On 5/15/2022 at 3:33 PM, OzKiwiJJ said:

There are three port days in a row on that cruise. Depending on what they are doing on those port days that may limit when they can do laundry.

 

Personally I would not want to have to do laundry on a seven night cruise, especially the first cruise for a long time. 

 

If the concern is congestion at airports, using carry-ons won't solve that completely as a lot of the congestion issues were while going through security screening. 

 

Certainly take a change of clothes and valuables in carry-ons. We always cross-pack our suitcases so if one goes missing we still have a selection of clothing to wear. 

 

There are two formal nights on that cruise.

Whilst there may be congestion, I am pretty sure the OP is concerned about the luggage not arriving in time for the cruise. Plenty of QF people still waiting for theirs. It will depend who they are flying with but QF has 10kg carryon across all classes. Jetstar is pretty draconian and weighs total carryon for all pax - handbag, coat and carryon bag.

[MicCanberra]

I tend to wear my heaviest clothes for travel, especially when flying, as in jeans, jacket and shoes.

[Sparky74]

29 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

I tend to wear my heaviest clothes for travel, especially when flying, as in jeans, jacket and shoes.

I never take jeans when traveling. They’re heavy, bulky, and take forever to dry when you wash them. JMHO

[MicCanberra]

28 minutes ago, Sparky74 said:

I never take jeans when traveling. They’re heavy, bulky, and take forever to dry when you wash them. JMHO

Not when there is a laundry service

[losfp]

33 minutes ago, Sparky74 said:

I never take jeans when traveling

 

100% agree. I've switch pretty much exclusively to quick-drying lightweight pants from Kathmandu, Uniqlo or similar. They fold up in half the space of a pair of jeans, and dry much much quicker when you have to wash them.

 

Hell, I never wear jeans anymore, fullstop.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Just now, losfp said:

 

100% agree. I've switch pretty much exclusively to quick-drying lightweight pants from Kathmandu, Uniqlo or similar. They fold up in half the space of a pair of jeans, and dry much much quicker when you have to wash them.

 

Hell, I never wear jeans anymore, fullstop.

Unfortunately the womens sizes on pants like that rarely go above a size 14-16 and US companies who do make plus sizes don't sell them in Australia, not even online.

[Aussieflyer]

3 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Unfortunately the womens sizes on pants like that rarely go above a size 14-16 and US companies who do make plus sizes don't sell them in Australia, not even online.

And they don't come in a short, chubby size and often can't be taken up very well. I wear capri pants as full length! 😀

[OzKiwiJJ]

1 minute ago, Aussieflyer said:

And they don't come in a short, chubby size and often can't be taken up very well. I wear capri pants as full length! 😀

We need someone from the US who is coming here for a cruise and is prepared to bring an extra bag of stuff for us. Columbia make some great pants that are light, quick drying and easy to take up, but they don't sell online to Australia. I got some sent to a friend's place in California but the postage from there was horrendeous.

[Sparky74]

1 hour ago, losfp said:

 

100% agree. I've switch pretty much exclusively to quick-drying lightweight pants from Kathmandu, Uniqlo or similar. They fold up in half the space of a pair of jeans, and dry much much quicker when you have to wash them.

 

Hell, I never wear jeans anymore, fullstop.

Yeah, I’m not sure that I still own a pair. 

[MMDown Under]

12 hours ago, Aussieflyer said:

Whilst there may be congestion, I am pretty sure the OP is concerned about the luggage not arriving in time for the cruise. Plenty of QF people still waiting for theirs. It will depend who they are flying with but QF has 10kg carryon across all classes. Jetstar is pretty draconian and weighs total carryon for all pax - handbag, coat and carryon bag.

I was amazed when I saw Jetstar weighing everyone's hand luggage whilst they waited to queue to board at the Gold Coast airport.  They even wanted to weigh what I was eating.  last Jetstar flight.  I needed a picnic lunch in Melbourne as it was so far. .  .  

[MMDown Under]

11 hours ago, Aussieflyer said:

And they don't come in a short, chubby size and often can't be taken up very well. I wear capri pants as full length! 😀

Me too!  I'm a petite large off the shelf in the US.  Why not here?  

[OzKiwiJJ]

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

Me too!  I'm a petite large off the shelf in the US.  Why not here?  

The Australian market is small compared with the US, and for some reason US manufacturers seem to think all Australian women are tall and thin.

 

I buy a lot of pants from Marks & Spencer. They usually have three lengths to choose from. Good prices and free delivery if you buy over a certain value at a time. 

[Cruisers47]

Hi

 

i have been thinking about packing as we are three days in Paris before joining a cruise in Amsterdam which is going around the UK.

 

I bought a reasonable size case from KMart which had a smaller case inside.   I did a trial pack of the carry one and have found it holds enough for my three days in Paris.   It was under the 7 kilos.   That means if there are problems with my larger case at least I have some clothes!

 

ofcourse husband never takes advise and will do with his large case!

 

eileen

 

 

[OzKiwiJJ]

27 minutes ago, Cruisers47 said:

Hi

 

i have been thinking about packing as we are three days in Paris before joining a cruise in Amsterdam which is going around the UK.

 

I bought a reasonable size case from KMart which had a smaller case inside.   I did a trial pack of the carry one and have found it holds enough for my three days in Paris.   It was under the 7 kilos.   That means if there are problems with my larger case at least I have some clothes!

 

ofcourse husband never takes advise and will do with his large case!

 

eileen

 

 

I always pack a change of clothes in my carry-on but haven't carried more than that. But we also cross-pack our checked bags so if one goes wandering off on its own journey we each have some of our clothes to wear. 

 

Have fun in Paris. If you're anywhere near the Iles Saint Louis at any time I highly recommend Aux Anysetiers Du Roy for a excellent traditional French cuisine at reasonable prices in a quaint  17th century building that still has original murals on the walls.

Edited May 18, 2022 by OzKiwiJJ

[Cruisers47]

Since we have been in Paris and had dinner at the Eiffel Tower a couple of times.   I have booked dinner at Le Train Blu.   It looks lovely online and was surprised that I could book without having to pay a deposit!

 

Really looking forward to our trip.

 

time to start life again!

 

eileen

[OzKiwiJJ]

15 minutes ago, Cruisers47 said:

Since we have been in Paris and had dinner at the Eiffel Tower a couple of times.   I have booked dinner at Le Train Blu.   It looks lovely online and was surprised that I could book without having to pay a deposit!

 

Really looking forward to our trip.

 

time to start life again!

 

eileen

I'm looking forward to hearing about your dinner at Le Train Blu. It's supposed to be wonderful. Of course it's the other end of the scale from our favourite little bistro.

 

We once had a memorable meal at La Truffière, a restaurant near the Place de la Contrescarpe that specialises in truffles. They loved that we were from Australia and we had a superb meal, great wines, excellent service, and at the end of the night the chef came out to meet us and gave us a copy of the menu as a memento.

[CDaze71]

Hey Lou, I am also on your cruise on the 26th June. I am a notorious over packer, especially when I cruise from my home port of Brisbane, so I am probably not much help. But my NYE 9 night cruise is going from Sydney and we will be flying and I will make sure I bring checked in luggage. 
For this Brisbane cruise, I will take extra things 'just in case' and because I can, as we are only a taxi ride away from the BICT. So in saying all that, if it was me, I would check in a bag, because I wouldn't be able to pack light and it's a winter cruise, and Qantas includes checked in luggage. Even though we are heading north, I feel the cold and will need wintery things. Plus I will take a couple of things in case we have a theme night (possibly Island Night and Country and Western).

[arxcards]

4 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

I was amazed when I saw Jetstar weighing everyone's hand luggage whilst they waited to queue to board at the Gold Coast airport.  They even wanted to weigh what I was eating.  last Jetstar flight.  I needed a picnic lunch in Melbourne as it was so far. .  .  

We have hit that a couple of times, once on Jetstar and once on Virgin. I swear they look around the waiting area and rub their hands together if it looks like someone has something that appears to be oversize or overweight. Dimensions for domestic carry-on are smaller than international for those flights, and they catch a few out.

[arxcards]

17 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

I tend to wear my heaviest clothes for travel, especially when flying, as in jeans, jacket and shoes.

I will if the weight is close to the limit. I much prefer to fly in my most comfortable clothes though. Newcastle to Brisbane, no probs. Sydney to Darwin, never again.

[arxcards]

16 hours ago, losfp said:

 

100% agree. I've switch pretty much exclusively to quick-drying lightweight pants from Kathmandu, Uniqlo or similar. They fold up in half the space of a pair of jeans, and dry much much quicker when you have to wash them.

 

Hell, I never wear jeans anymore, fullstop.

I meet this halfway and throw in a pair of dark chinos, as they are easily adaptable for any MDR. Even better if they are stretch, so I can wear on day 1 or day 11. Any lighter, I don't want to be accused of wearing slacks, and I don't do trendy very well either.