Laundry ideas for the cruise with no self serve laundry

[WASUP]

What would you suggest for a 15 day cruise with no self serve laundry facilities and we really dont want to do the massive packing. We are on a 15 day Mexico cruise.


Thanks

[lougee1043]

this is an easy one -----------use the ships laundry --next day service--treat yourself--after all you are on vacation

[CaribbeanBound]

An option...

Wash it in your sink (or tub if in a suite).
Then hang it on the zip line that's in the shower stall.

Not recommended for lots of laundry but it wordks in a pinch.

[Big Al B.]

I've been told that on NCL they will offer a deal where a bag is left in your room and you can get as much as you can put in it cleaned for around $20. Might want to check on your line's specific board to see if something is available.

[cmason]

Lots of deodarant?

[serene56]

Some ports have laundromats by the pier. You can drop your laundry at the laundry place--do your site seeing..then pick it up when you are done.

[Boo's Mom]

Are you one who buys t-shirts along the way? Remember them when you are packing.

Wear them!~

[WASUP]

I will check on the 20.00 for alll you can fill in a bag.....that will go a long way for what I pack...

Thanks

[momofmeg]

This is one travel tip I heard years ago. Keep all your ragged underwear instead of throwing it out until you take your trip. Then just dispose after use. I have done this. Makes room for the souveniors. I guess it may make the poor stewards a little curious though and you know what Grandma always said about always wear nice underwear in case you are in accident. (I figure if I am THAT bad off-my least worry will be my underwear)

I have also read posts here where ones have brought portable closelines and strung them on their balconies.

[serene56]

Those bags are not very big- Ask the cabin steward if you can see one the first day--and imagine what you will fit in there.

[elmorejj]

On HAL cruise ships the bag costs $12 for all you can cram in. I have used it many times and believe me its well worth it. On my last cruise (21 days) I got in: 2 pair of mens dockers, 3 pair of shorts, 2 dress shirts, 3 T shirts, 3 ladies tops, 5 pair of underwear, and 3 pairs of socks. You have to roll everything tightly. They all came back washed, ironed, shirts and pants on hangers in a nice wicker basket wrapped in tissue.....jean :cool:

[serene56]

I guess the bags are diofferent sizes on different lines. On carnival they are a little bit bigger then a bag we get from Tower records..there is just no way that a pair of pants will fit in there. Looks like you made a great bargain with washing all that.

[mongo]

sea water is a great detergent, so, a mesh type gym bag and a long nylon rope.fill bag with dirty duds. drag the bag fer 30 min or so in the ships wake, retrieve and hang to dry.

[tinmanswife]

elmorejj....I'm impressed that you got that much into a HAL laundry bag! We did a combination of both "do-it-yourself" and ship's laundry. We used a $12 bag (HAL) for DH's polo's & underwear.. I had issues with sending my unmentionables to the laundry, so the bungee cord I brought came in handy to make sure my "laundry" didn't blow off our balcony (and either into the ocean or onto our neighbor's balcony) while @ sea!

[CaribbeanBound]

The last time I crammed that much underwear into bag that size, it spontaneously combusted!

[98Charlie]

Our experiences with NCL during all four cruises was that the $20 per bag for laundry was only offered two nights before returning to port. On other days we had a regular laundry bag available that we could put out for the room steward at a set price per item. Price per item charge was cheaper than laundry service here in dry dock in Ohio - not bad - but certainly more than $20/bag.

[FlorenceItaly]

I agree, HAL has a great deal, and you can fit lots in the bag, when rolled.

I am booked on a 12 night Celebrity in Oct/Nov, and there is no onboard laundry mat, and no bag deals......:(.

Marie

[WASUP]

Is the laundry situation on the web site or more or less when you board the ship, it is in the room info?

Thanks

[smudge's mom]

Realize that you will be wearing some of your clothes more than once. The clothes you wear around the ship on "sea days" can then be worn on excursions. Bus trips tend to be dirty, anyway.

When you go on "dirty" excursions - i.e., beaches, boating, etc., wear your dirty clothes. There is no sense in wearing a clean outfit - I will guarantee it won't stay clean for long.

If you go to the casino, you will smell like smoke in five minutes. Again, wear the clothes you wore to the casino the day before.

Remember, you will only be wearing your "dinner clothes" a few hours a night. You wear a dress/suit to work for 12 hours - that means your dinner outfit can be worn three times. (Unless, of course, you care more about fashion than packing lightly.)

The real problem is underwear. (No, I do not wear my underwear more than once.) :D :D Underwear takes up a lot of space in your luggage, so put it in ziplock bags, squeeze out the air and compress as much as you can. You will actually need two changes of underwear a day - after a day "on the town" you will definitely want to shower before dinner.

I always come home with almost an entire suitcase of clean clothes. I cannot make myself pack lighter - I just can't. I would pack the "kitchen sink" if I could - however, who the heck wants to do dishes while on a cruise? :eek:

[WASUP]

I agree about the dinner clothes, but the day clothes can get smelly, and dirty...I like the idea of compressing the undies,,,,,

Thanks

[Cloud 9]

WASUP, WASUP, WASUP:
Which Ship are we talking about?

[WASUP]

spirit, spirit, spirit....

[smudge's mom]

[b]Wasup[/b] - I guess because I get up late, I'm only wearing my sea days clothes for 5 hours before I change into dinner clothes. I can usually get two days out of the outfit - especially if day 2 is a smelly bus trip. And, of course, it depends how active you are. Sitting in a deck chair reading my book doesn't usually work up a sweat.

Take into consideration how many hours a day you will be wearing your swimwear. You may find that there will be days you live in it so that's another day of not needing clothes.

Like I said - I give wonderful advice but am unable to follow through. I take enough clothes to change every day and probably twice a day - and I ALWAYS come home with so much clean clothes it's ridiculous. We take our pillows, so we need to take two large suitcases anyway because two pillows and all our clothes don't fit into one suitcase. So, I just fill both suitcases to capacity because I have the room.

BTW - if you are traveling with a companion, pack half of each of your clothes into each suitcase. That way, if they lose one suitcase, you will each still have clothes. Put your swimwear and favorite walking shoes in your carryon - those things can be difficult to replace. I like the idea of taking old underwear and tossing it at the end of the day - I've done that before. It really does free up a lot of space for purchases.

We take DH's old t-shirts to wear on the beach - and in the water - to prevent sunburn. After we get back on board, we throw these wet, dirty things away, too. For a Caribbean trip, make sure you take enough sunscreen - the sun is brutal - especially if you travel in January like we do - by then, we have no tan left to protect our skin.

Boy - I know we are still in the summer weather - but all this talk of Caribbean beaches makes me want to cruise. :D :D

[Nitemare]

30 feet of twine, 2 dozen clothespins, and a balcony that (hopefully) doesn't face port when you dock

[JJS2K3]

Woolite