Ship's laundry-proof clothing

[islandwoman]

Where can I find clothing that can stand up to a ship's laundry without shrinking, fading, or being damaged?  I have always used the passengers' laundromat for much of my clothing.  But I have an upcoming cruise on Holland America where there is no passenger laundromat.  Where/what can I buy for the cruise that will not be damaged in the ship's laundry? It's a 51 day cruise, so packing enough to last without laundering is not an option.  I prefer to wear knits and I realize that they are even more difficult to launder without damage. At home I wash them in cold water and hang to dry.  

[jsn55]

I sent some knit pants out on HAL once with no issue.  But the rest of my clothing gets hand-washed.  I just do it automatically.  Before I get in the shower, I put my things in the bathroom sink with warm water and shampoo.  Swish them around for a while, leave them there and swish some more when I get out of the shower.  Wrap in a towel, hang up and they're dry quickly.

[crystalspin]

On 6/17/2023 at 2:52 PM, islandwoman said:

I have an upcoming cruise on Holland America where there is no passenger laundromat.  ...I prefer to wear knits and I realize that they are even more difficult to launder without damage. At home I wash them in cold water and hang to dry.  

HAL ship's laundry will wash cold and air-dry. Just write in the conditions. Air-drying will probably mean an extra day before returning, so take enough outfits to have that extra day!

 

The easiest is to buy unlimited laundry; the more economical is the laundry by the bag. It is a strong canvas bag and bigger than some other cruiselines paper bag; you can get a lot in it. But again, you have to have enough outfits to (1) wear enough to fill the bag, while (2) have things to wear in the meantime.

[islandwoman]

5 hours ago, crystalspin said:

HAL ship's laundry will wash cold and air-dry. Just write in the conditions. Air-drying will probably mean an extra day before returning, so take enough outfits to have that extra day!

 

How many days does it take for HAL laundry to be returned - without the extra day for air-dry?

[mrgabriel]

Anything that I don't want ruined by high heat is sent out to be dry cleaned. And anything sent for laundering has been washed/dried at home many times so I know how it will react to heat and industrial machines, and how badly it will crease.

[57redbird]

9 hours ago, islandwoman said:

How many days does it take for HAL laundry to be returned - without the extra day for air-dry?

In our experience, at most 1 -- usually less than 24 hours.

[crystalspin]

19 hours ago, islandwoman said:

How many days does it take for HAL laundry to be returned - without the extra day for air-dry?

While I agree with @57redbird, I will also also quote the laundry slip: "REGULAR SERVICE - Items received by 9am will be returned the next day." Usually during dinner, so a bit over 24 hours. EXPRESS SERVICE is in by 9am, returned the same day, 50% surcharge. And of course not air-dried.

 

With room make up being once a day for most cabins, you want to call on ship phone to have your bag picked up before 9.

 

Here is a sample laundry slip. Looking at the URL, it appears to have been scanned in 2015, so prices will have changed, but FWIW:

https://www.rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/HAL-Laundry-Bag-Price.pdf

 

[Wayfairers]

Maybe I’ve been lucky but I’ve never had clothing damaged by the ship’s laundry on HAL.  I take clothes I normally wear. ( no special cruise clothes). At home I air dry my clothes but on the ship I don’t ask for air dry. 

[Daisyloo]

We use the HAL laundry every cruise we take with them and have never had anything ruined.  The only thing I don't send out are my bras.  Those I hand wash.  We really miss HAL's laundry service when we sail on Princess.  

[islandwoman]

5 hours ago, Wayfairers said:

Maybe I’ve been lucky but I’ve never had clothing damaged by the ship’s laundry on HAL.  I take clothes I normally wear. ( no special cruise clothes). At home I air dry my clothes but on the ship I don’t ask for air dry. 

What special laundry services do you request, if not "air dry"?

I have had several pairs of pants faded and snagged in another line's ship's laundry. After that, I used the onboard passenger laundromat.  But HAL no longer has those 😟  Going on a 51 day HAL cruise, if that happened, what would I wear?

[wdw1972]

I cruise HAL - have never had anything damaged.  I've even sent some exercise stuff out hoping it might shrink in the high heat but that hasn't happened either.  Generally the only thing I tend to request is cold water wash, low heat dry.  That's how I do it at home so wasn't comfortable thinking my stuff might get damaged in hot water/high heat.  

 

Sue/WDW1972

[crystalspin]

Roger got back to me with the current laundry list:

https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Laundry-Price-List.pdf

 

[Wayfairers]

On 7/23/2023 at 11:24 AM, islandwoman said:

What special laundry services do you request, if not "air dry"?

I have had several pairs of pants faded and snagged in another line's ship's laundry. After that, I used the onboard passenger laundromat.  But HAL no longer has those 😟  Going on a 51 day HAL cruise, if that happened, what would I wear?

I get everything washed including underwear and workout clothes and have never had anything shrink or get damaged on HAL.  You can always buy clothes on the road too - done that many times on cruises and on land trips - I also buy toiletries on the road.

[jsn55]

Don't like wasting precious travel time shopping, plus I'm impossible to fit.  I've been travelling for 40 years.  I've never had any trouble rounding up clothing that I can wash and dry easily, without an iron needed.