When do you pack?

Thank you for the reminder on checking luggage zippers I remember that we have a zipper on one of those external pouches that was completely destroyed on our last cruise in March 2020. Time to get it to our wonderful family owned luggage and shoe repair shop for our October 10 cruise out of Galveston. Enjoy your cruise, we look forward to ours and will be happy to be on a beautiful ship even with masks.

I like to start EARLY, like 8 to 10 weeks out. I like to get all of the "non-clothing" items together and put into one of the bags. Cruise is Oct 9th, and I got the bags out Sunday and we decided which ones to take. Good thing we didnt wait until last minute, as the zipper on our garment bag was messed up. After a google search, a small cut with a razor blade, and sewing up the cut ( on the zipper), all is good. Last cruise we overpacked, and I swore we wouldnt do that again. STILL have 2 duffles and a garment bag. Better that the 5 bags we had last trip. Happy sailing y'all.

I pack about a week before, but my wife starts the night before and always forgets something.

I start planning everything (amenities, shore excursions, etc.) the day I book. I plan what I'm going to take about a month before so I don't forget anything, like water shoes . But I don't pack until the night before. And I make sure all medications are packed just before leaving my house. This next cruise will be my 16th and this method works for me.

The night before.

This would be my husband and me. I start planning my outfits months in advance, he doesn't even think about what he wants to take until the night before we leave. About two weeks out I start putting my outfits and accessories into the suitcases, which are open on the bed in our spare bedroom. One week before my suitcases are packed and ready to go. My husband gets his things together the morning we are leaving and always has time to finish before we walk out the door. I don't know how he does it.

Our son put a kink in our plans this year. We had planned a wonderful trip to Las Cruces, Arizona for the first week of June (my husband refuses to cruise). The weekend of Memorial Day our son asked if he could move back home for a short time (break-up with gf). He was having trouble locating an apartment that was okay with his 95lb. Black Lab. So, being such wonderful parents, we said yes but only through Labor Day. Anyway, I had to get the suitcases out of the spare room so he would have a place to sleep. Since my husband and I have recliners I decided to put them on the sofa so I could add and delete as needed. Our son was shocked that we didn't have anywhere for him to sit! He survived and we did have an incredible vacation!

Looking forward to my first cruise this December! I finally broke down and put all my new cruise outfits (purchased and packed in 2019) into the closet and refuse to wear them until I get on the Sky! Can't wait!

My suitcase has been packed since April 2019, when we all thought COVID would be short-lived and I'd be leaving on my Cinco de Mayo cruise...

So, I guess I should unpack since we now won't leave till 2022 LOL

B2B in September on the new Mardi Gras!!! Already pulling out the travel stuff to check and replenish toiletries, swim stuff, etc. It will be exactly 2 years since our last cruise - a B2B on the Carnival Conquest - and I am SOOOOO excited!

LOL! Described my husband and I right there! I panic for him cause he usually waits until the very last minute.

Hello cruisers! Who is going on a cruise this year? I can’t wait to go. But haven’t booked any yet.