I took so many tips on what to pack and things that would really help me. Things that I think did help a little was the over the door shoe hanger, but I think that actually took up a lot of hall space and due to the towel hangers on the inside of the bathroom there was no way to get it out of the way. I was thinking a good alternative would be one of those collapsing bins. This is for your tanning lotion, hair spray/products, and all the extras that fall with the waves. I took my own beach towel, total waste of space, they provided them. I took a lot of curling irons and such thinking I would be doing extra things with my hair, but turns out when it comes time to do it you just want to do it. I think keeping it simple was easier for me, anyway. I just didn't want to spend 45 min on my hair when I could be having fun. With our phones not being used much and very little other things to plug in we didn't need a power strip, but I could see how others would. I think if you just take inventory of what you are packing and think to yourself I will only have a few things to plug in then maybe you won't need the power strip. I wish we would have had a fan. It seemed at night it got a little warm in the room. I don't typically have problems with that but I sure did on the ship. So are there other people who overpacked and found things they could have done without?
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Overpacked? What could I have done without?
8 Answers
Oh ya, the small backpack that we packed was really handy too. It took up no space at all either. We packed one of those with the string straps and took it up to the deck as a beach bag and ours was super handy on shore. A must have for sure.
This was my first cruise and I over packed too based on many articles I had read. I never used the over the door shoe rack, my power strip, or the curling irons we shoved in. The items that I brought that I wouldn't leave home without was my duck tape (we had a ripped suitcase as well as a ripped skirt hem that we used this for) and two small back packs (we used these as beach bags, tour bags, spa bags, etc.).
I always overpacked clothes over the years I have really started packing very light. I take a suit and a dress shirt for formal nights, where I used to take several shirts, ties and at least two jackets. Now my philosophy is if I forgot it I will buy it.
I think that's a great idea, to put non-essential items on top. I think the one thing that I was thinking the whole time I was packing for my first cruise was that I had to be prepared. I was well prepare, maybe a little too well. I guess I heard of the "mark ups" on everything and thought I don't want to have to do that. But really nothing was really that expensive. Maybe it's the idea that on a cruise you can't just run to Wal-Mart or Target and get what you forgot.
I guess that we all tend to over pack. When I went on a river cruise a while back, I checked the weather report for the length of the cruise and discovered that it was going to be exceedingly warm where I was going. So I removed most of my cold weather clothing. Boy was that a mistake. It turned cold the day after we arrived and I had little cold weather clothes to wear. So now I don't worry about over packing. I do however put items that are not essential on top when I pack. Then if I want, I can just remove them and not disturb the rest of my clothes.
Everybody travels different. I can do a 4 night cruise with just a carry on bag, my buddy takes a big suite case and a carry on. He packs 2 phones, laptop, tablet, camera and rechargeable lantern, so you know he packs a power strip.
Cruise packing is an art form that you learn what you need. I know I will buy a polo shirt from most ports so I do not pack Polo's, I wear the ones I buy on the trip. If I going to Europe I pack just the basics and buy clothing in Europe that I wear on the trip.
If you under pack you can always buy what you need along the way. If you over pack you have to carry it with you. For me if I pack a few days before the trip is when I over pack, keep adding things "Oh I may need...... this or that". I try and pack the night before a trip so no time for add on's.
For clothes I think I did ok. I wish I would have packed my husband more dress shirts. I only packed him 2 not really knowing what to expect but I think he felt a little under dressed at times. I had a day outfit and a dress for each night. Then he had his suit and me a formal dress for formal night. I wish I would have been a little more prepared for him to dress up.
On our first cruise...Boy did we overpack. Now I bring one really good dinner jacket, a few dress shirts, ties and a couple of nice slacks. I bring two pairs of shoes, and runners. Monique brings a couple of nice gowns and a few dresses and shoes. Sportswear and day to day wear. We now have it down to a science.
The rest is make up of khakis, golf shirts and socks and underwear. Things we can wash. We buy golf shirts and sweatshirts on the cruise or on shore. For hair products and such. We end up at the spa.
1St cruise 4 Big bags. Last cruise 1 Big bag and 2 carry-ons.