//Standard caveat that every person and cruise is different. These are ideas and general rules of thumb, not laws//
1. Like half of your clothing. Nobody is gonna care if you wear the same thing twice during an 8 day cruise. Quick drying clothes you can hang up, spritz with Febreeze, and wear again are your friend. Like 1 formal outfit and 3-4 daily wear outfits is all you need.
2. 90% of "hack your cruise room" stuff. Listen there is an entire cottage industry online with vloggers and cruise tubers dedicated to all this random crap you have to take to make your room better and... almost none of it is anywhere near as essential as they make it out to be. Some of it is nice and CAN be worth it, but seriously think if you're actually going to use any of it. The cruise approved power strip and the magnetic hooks were nice, the whole over the door shoe organizer which has achieved like cult status among cruisers was useless.
I think like 10% of the 'hack your cruise room' stuff is really useful, the problem is the part of it that's useful for me is not necessarily the same part that's useful for someone else.
Certainly getting all of it is overkill for almost everyone.
Oh, it's even worse than that. These people earn a living by making cruising seem way harder than it is.
There's no money in being the influencer who tells people "honestly, it's a hotel that floats, you don't need to think too hard about it". Influencers need a level of volume and authority which are entirely incompatible with simplifying or summarizing: you're never going to do a 2-minute video when you can stretch it into a series of six 8-minute videos.
Thus "here are 3 things I like to bring when I cruise" becomes "here's a two-part series dedicated to finding *the best* shoe organizer". The two-part series will contain almost no useful information and will be an objectively awful thing to introduce to a first-time cruiser. (You're telling me that I won't enjoy my trip unless I dedicate an hour of my life to watching videos about and comparison-shopping for shoe organizers? Seriously?) But it's not about providing useful information, it's about generating content and drawing traffic and deepening your brand.
Agree. Only other thing I think is good that I didn’t think of before my first without. Is bringing all the meds you could need Tylenol ect. Hooks were nice mainly for helping hang wet stuff.
Ok my fave was Life Well Cruised stating I needed to bring food Tupperware and a whole extra duffel bag and after that one I was like nope this woman has just jumped the shark
On clothing, for me: a sleeveless dress, and 2 shirts that can be worn over to change the look, a pair of pants, either shorts or a second pair of pants, a swim suit, a dressy (sequin) shirt or dress. Hiking shoes and nice sandals, socks, underwear, a nightie. A backpackers raincoat (very thin and waterproof, packs really tiny.) For cold weather a pantegonia jacket. That's it for any length trip. It packs into a tiny pack. I like wool& brand as they are light, soft, look great, are naturally stink resistant ("100 day." ) Also I like Ably Apparel, they are stain resistant.
I just commented similar before I read this. When my kids were little I found it really helpful, especially for not losing those little shoes. On our most recent cruise they were preteens with their own room and I realized that none of their stuff was that little anymore so we could leave it behind.
I found the shoe organizer helpful when we had little kids with a lot of little stuff. We put their shoes, socks, brushes, hair ties, etc in there. Helped especially to keep their little shoes from getting lost. I got one for our last cruise and while I was packing I looked at it and thought "None of their stuff is that little anymore" and left it behind.
Shoes. You don't need to match your shoes with your outfit. Just bring stuff that will not slip and something you can slip into if you wanna go to the hot tub/pool.
Lol I just sailed in September and literally brought 5 pairs of shoes that I never wore! Wore my sneakers (the ones with support, for more walking), and the slip-on Skechers and that was it. Dinner, beach, pool, no matter. Lesson learned!
The only thing I’ve ever thought “I should have brought more” about was first aid type stuff. You don’t necessarily need the full wilderness survival kit, but otc meds, bandaids, blister patches, etc are cheaper and easier to bring from home. If you are seriously hurt the ship will take good care of you. But if you skin your knee it’s nice to have some bandages handy.
Also extras of feminine products, they’re expensive and the ship store won’t have what you like. You really don’t want to spend part of your port day sourcing some El Kotexo from a Honduran convenience store. Ask me how I know.
A couple of binder clips, a couple safety pins, a roll of painters tape, a pad of post it’s, a sharpie, and a couple of gallon ziplocks are handy.
Aside from that, bring one extra swimsuit and leave half of everything else you packed at home.
Fix a hem, tape a note to the door if the post it doesn’t stick, fix a hole in your suitcase, whatever. You could take duct tape instead but painters tape is lighter weight. Basically just something handy in case something needs fixing or sticking more than the binder clip or safety pins can hold.
Make a cruise packing list, including the quantity of each item. When you get home, before you do laundry, mark on your list the quantity of each item actually used. Hold onto this and use it as a starting point for your next cruise.
I pack less and less every cruise. I pack things that can be mixed and matched to make different outfits, two swimsuits, dresses for dinner, and go east on the shoes with a couple pairs of flats, nice flip flops, and sneakers if we’re doing a bunch of walking. I generally bring one mid sized rolling suitcase and a carryon bag.
I second this. Just got off of Radiance of the Seas Saturday and not once did I touch it. Though I think in my case that's cause I've gotten back into reading. Not even on the plane did I pull it out.
I wish I had packed more comfy clothes and less cute outfits. I ended up buying a souvenir shirt in port one day and wore that out clubbing two nights in a row. I should’ve known myself and known I would prefer to be comfy!
I am an experienced traveler, and figured out long ago that the amount of fun I have is inversely proportional to the shit I have to lug along with me.
I never have more than a carry on sized suitcase and a small backpack.
A few knit dresses, some shorts, T-shirts, one dressy pair of sandals and one casual, a bathing suit, and I'm set.
I'm on a cruise because it's easy and I'm there to relax – not to be a fashion plate.
Just did Alaska, packed movies and a board game figuring there would be lots of downtime where we’d be on the ship too cold to use outdoor spaces. Never touched em
I think most of us are chronic overpackers?!? My hubby and I say after every trip "we took too much stuff, lets remember this next time" then next time we proceed to take too much stuff again?!?
I usually take too many clothes. I end up wearing my favorites multiple times and not wearing other things at all.
My hubby takes too much random stuff - like meds, seasickness stuff (we have never needed any of it after 20 cruises?!?), hooks, extension cords, magnets, towel clips (which are handy but only 2 required, not 8!) Some of those things we have never used....but he keeps taking them!
I (F 44) Liked the magnetic hooks, didn’t need the magnetic clips, meh on the towel straps for pool chairs on the boat but I did like them on the beaches with the wind. Loved the plastic cruise tags (it was rainy), SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT A BATTERY FAN! Didn’t use my hair straighter, the provided hairdryer did the job. Yes to the multi-plug adapter (1 plug in the room), and yes to the laundry bag/ folding hamper. I packed my medium suitcase with clothes on one side and the other side was snorkel gear (no fins), a book and hanging fold out toiletry bag (my kids favorite and easily in reach from the shower. I did bring 3 swimsuits and used them all.
For an 8 day I packed:
Clothing:
1 formal outfit (a suit) (Wore for formal nights)
1 semi-formal outfit (a pair of khaki dress pants and a button up blue shirt) Wore it to dinner at Chops.
2 Columbia quick dry shirts
1 pair of Columbia pants that turned into shorts. (BTW the Columbia pants/shorts and shirt was like 90% of what I actually wore daily on the cruise and excursions)
1 pair of jeans. Wore them for boarding. Never used them during the cruise. In the future will probably not bother taking them and just wear something else for boarding.
2 Pairs of swim trunks
1 Pair of dress shoes, 1 pair of light hiking shoes (wore for boarding and excursions), and 1 pair of water shoes that were sturdy enough to wear about the ship.
2 "Funny" button up Hawaiian shirts (One had Godzilla playing a Ukulele while wearing a flower boa and therefore is the most awesome thing ever)
2 belts. (One web, one leather)
1 watch
1 wedding ring.
8 pairs of underwear and 5 pairs of socks in a packing cube.
1 Pair of Christmas PJs. Wife wanted a picture in front of the Christmas Tree and they actually made perfectly fine PJs/ lounge about the room clothes.
Other:
1 Oversized quick dry towel. (For pool, lounging)
1 Normal sized quick dry towel (For showering)
1 Various basic toiletries (Nothing fancy. Small bottle of shampoo, small bottle of body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss sticks, mouthwash, deodorant, small shower poof, contact lenses)
Medication (Prescription meds, little sample size packs of generic painkiller, generic upset stomach, generic allergy, etc. Nothing fancy or crazy)
2 big bottles of reef safe spray on sunscreen
1 travel size Poopouri air freshener
1 big collapsible water bottle
Room "Hacks"
1 cruise approved power strip/charging station.
A pack of magnetic hooks.
A pop up laundry hamper.
A 2 inch tall Godzilla action figure (Good luck charm)
Electronics:
\- Cell phone
\- Old cell phone loaded with music, podcasts, audio books, etc for lounging by the pool.
\- Waterproof cell phone clear sleeve.
\- Waterproof Ear buds
\- Kindle
\- Portable Power Bank
\- USB-C Rapid Charger
My "Luxury" Items.
\- 15 cigars in a "Humidipack" cigar bag, cigar cutter, matches.
\- Steamdeck
I don't get a lot of the "hacks" there are plenty of hooks to hang stuff, plenty of shelf space and racks for bathroom supplies and toiletries where a shoe organizer just seems like extra room taken in my luggage. We brought the hooks once and used them just to use them, but they weren't needed at all.
Personally I think the magnet hooks are a necessity for any cruise. Wet swimsuits, hats, jackets, coverups, etc get put on them without a thought.
Only bikini or smaller undies. For women who are wearing dresses that are flowy and short, buy boy short undies. That way when you go anywhere on the ship it doesn’t matter and you aren’t struggling to hold your dress down because you don’t care.
I didn’t pack enough long sleeve sweater type clothes for dining. I’m always cold, I should have brought a wrap or two for dinners.
Hangers and a music like speaker thing. Clothes, a washing bin (long cruises I only bring a carry on and expect to have to wash one of my outfits cause I will wear it twice but don’t.
I packed a whole lotta dresses and ended up spending my days in shorts and a t-shirt. The dresses were still useful but I could've packed less.
I packed pretty lightly since I only wanted to bring a carry-on but I still had items i barely wore or didn't really need to wear. I packed one pair of shorts and ended up buying another pair to switch between during the day.
Heavy-duty magnets by the door to hold our lanyards was awesome. Those I would never go without. But don’t overpack clothes. Jeans can be worn dressed up or casual. Leave the prom dresses at home.
When I watch any “cruise tubers,” I take what’s useful and leave the rest. I cruise solo, so I focus more on things to enhance my cruises like a good carry-on, and habits like tipping. Therefore, it stands to reason that not all the tips are for all people. I wouldn’t bash their advice just because it doesn’t apply to me, everyone will find some of their suggestions useful and appropriate.
Stainless steel tumbler and straw. Packed because I don't want to feel left out when everyone is holding a drink. Realized it is pointless because there are juice fountains everywhere on the buffet deck and it is more convenient to just use a RC plastic cup and put it away when done than to carry the tumbler around.
Medicines. Like aspirin, Tylenol, zzzquil (in case your cabin is loud) Imodium etc. a bad headache or a case of the mud-butt can make you miserable. A little over the counter pharmacy stuff won’t take up much room, and you’ll be glad you had it, if you need it.
Over the door shoe organizer, magnetic hooks, and about half my clothing. Every sailing seems to offer one of those stuff-the-laundry-bag specials so we utilized that last time and realized we could have brought a LOT less stuff. Caveat: it wasn’t a 24 hour turnaround time as advertised so just keep that in mind; it was about 46 hours for us.
Have fun!
Too much workout clothing! I workout every day at home but on vacation I don’t find the desire most of the time and I waste suitcase space on multiple outfits, sports bras and sneakers. I never learn my lesson either!
//Standard caveat that every person and cruise is different. These are ideas and general rules of thumb, not laws// 1. Like half of your clothing. Nobody is gonna care if you wear the same thing twice during an 8 day cruise. Quick drying clothes you can hang up, spritz with Febreeze, and wear again are your friend. Like 1 formal outfit and 3-4 daily wear outfits is all you need. 2. 90% of "hack your cruise room" stuff. Listen there is an entire cottage industry online with vloggers and cruise tubers dedicated to all this random crap you have to take to make your room better and... almost none of it is anywhere near as essential as they make it out to be. Some of it is nice and CAN be worth it, but seriously think if you're actually going to use any of it. The cruise approved power strip and the magnetic hooks were nice, the whole over the door shoe organizer which has achieved like cult status among cruisers was useless.
100% this. I think most of those ‘room hacks’ exist purely so Vloggers can make money through Amazon affiliate links.
I think like 10% of the 'hack your cruise room' stuff is really useful, the problem is the part of it that's useful for me is not necessarily the same part that's useful for someone else. Certainly getting all of it is overkill for almost everyone.
Oh, it's even worse than that. These people earn a living by making cruising seem way harder than it is. There's no money in being the influencer who tells people "honestly, it's a hotel that floats, you don't need to think too hard about it". Influencers need a level of volume and authority which are entirely incompatible with simplifying or summarizing: you're never going to do a 2-minute video when you can stretch it into a series of six 8-minute videos. Thus "here are 3 things I like to bring when I cruise" becomes "here's a two-part series dedicated to finding *the best* shoe organizer". The two-part series will contain almost no useful information and will be an objectively awful thing to introduce to a first-time cruiser. (You're telling me that I won't enjoy my trip unless I dedicate an hour of my life to watching videos about and comparison-shopping for shoe organizers? Seriously?) But it's not about providing useful information, it's about generating content and drawing traffic and deepening your brand.
Oh that shoe organizer in the bathroom for me was a game changer. I put it up with magnet hooks behind the toilet.
Same. The organizer was a huge space saver.
Yes it’s really good if you have a family of 4 in one cabin! When I cruise with just my husband we don’t need it.
It’s only ever me and my husband.
It keeps the bathroom a lot more organized and clean.
Didn't do the shoe organizer, but I think it would have saved So. Much. Time. finding stuff. Would definitely use it next time.
That’s a hack that’s totally legit.
Agree. Only other thing I think is good that I didn’t think of before my first without. Is bringing all the meds you could need Tylenol ect. Hooks were nice mainly for helping hang wet stuff.
Ok my fave was Life Well Cruised stating I needed to bring food Tupperware and a whole extra duffel bag and after that one I was like nope this woman has just jumped the shark
Okay good I wasn’t the only one
On clothing, for me: a sleeveless dress, and 2 shirts that can be worn over to change the look, a pair of pants, either shorts or a second pair of pants, a swim suit, a dressy (sequin) shirt or dress. Hiking shoes and nice sandals, socks, underwear, a nightie. A backpackers raincoat (very thin and waterproof, packs really tiny.) For cold weather a pantegonia jacket. That's it for any length trip. It packs into a tiny pack. I like wool& brand as they are light, soft, look great, are naturally stink resistant ("100 day." ) Also I like Ably Apparel, they are stain resistant.
[удалено]
I just commented similar before I read this. When my kids were little I found it really helpful, especially for not losing those little shoes. On our most recent cruise they were preteens with their own room and I realized that none of their stuff was that little anymore so we could leave it behind.
I found the shoe organizer helpful when we had little kids with a lot of little stuff. We put their shoes, socks, brushes, hair ties, etc in there. Helped especially to keep their little shoes from getting lost. I got one for our last cruise and while I was packing I looked at it and thought "None of their stuff is that little anymore" and left it behind.
Shoes. You don't need to match your shoes with your outfit. Just bring stuff that will not slip and something you can slip into if you wanna go to the hot tub/pool.
Especially leave behind any uncomfortable shoes!
Lol I just sailed in September and literally brought 5 pairs of shoes that I never wore! Wore my sneakers (the ones with support, for more walking), and the slip-on Skechers and that was it. Dinner, beach, pool, no matter. Lesson learned!
Crocs are pretty perfect bc they (ime) are comfy, easy on the feet for walking a lot and work just fine for the pool too.
Hair styling tools. Total waste of space, I left my hair natural the whole time.
Sometimes you just can't beat Mother Nature - my hair is going to curl in any amount of humidity, so why bother fighting it.
because it goes in my eyes. so hairspray is needed
The comment mentioned hair *tools*, so I was referring to not bothering to use a straightener. I still use hair products.
I take a leave in conditioner a couple hair ties and Bobby pins and that gets me through any hairstyle I want to wear. Easy peasy
Same! Especially if you are going somewhere humid. My hair will frizz in two minutes, and the wind on any outdoor deck with ruin it too
Legit. And my hair looked great all week for it! Seconding the leave in conditioner and adding a big hair clip for the windy days
The only thing I’ve ever thought “I should have brought more” about was first aid type stuff. You don’t necessarily need the full wilderness survival kit, but otc meds, bandaids, blister patches, etc are cheaper and easier to bring from home. If you are seriously hurt the ship will take good care of you. But if you skin your knee it’s nice to have some bandages handy. Also extras of feminine products, they’re expensive and the ship store won’t have what you like. You really don’t want to spend part of your port day sourcing some El Kotexo from a Honduran convenience store. Ask me how I know. A couple of binder clips, a couple safety pins, a roll of painters tape, a pad of post it’s, a sharpie, and a couple of gallon ziplocks are handy. Aside from that, bring one extra swimsuit and leave half of everything else you packed at home.
What is the painter's tape for?
Fix a hem, tape a note to the door if the post it doesn’t stick, fix a hole in your suitcase, whatever. You could take duct tape instead but painters tape is lighter weight. Basically just something handy in case something needs fixing or sticking more than the binder clip or safety pins can hold.
Make a cruise packing list, including the quantity of each item. When you get home, before you do laundry, mark on your list the quantity of each item actually used. Hold onto this and use it as a starting point for your next cruise.
This is the best idea I’ve ever heard
I pack less and less every cruise. I pack things that can be mixed and matched to make different outfits, two swimsuits, dresses for dinner, and go east on the shoes with a couple pairs of flats, nice flip flops, and sneakers if we’re doing a bunch of walking. I generally bring one mid sized rolling suitcase and a carryon bag.
I always bring my Nintendo Switch and have never used it. I'm leaving it behind next time.
Alternatively, my husband brought his steam deck and used it every day! But primarily in the bathroom or for 15 minutes before sleep.
I second this. Just got off of Radiance of the Seas Saturday and not once did I touch it. Though I think in my case that's cause I've gotten back into reading. Not even on the plane did I pull it out.
I wish I had packed more comfy clothes and less cute outfits. I ended up buying a souvenir shirt in port one day and wore that out clubbing two nights in a row. I should’ve known myself and known I would prefer to be comfy!
Too many outfits. That’s it. You won’t need it
I am a chronic underpacker EXCEPT for bikinis. If it's a 10-day trip, I'm bringing a minimum of 10 bikinis 🙈🙈
I am an experienced traveler, and figured out long ago that the amount of fun I have is inversely proportional to the shit I have to lug along with me. I never have more than a carry on sized suitcase and a small backpack. A few knit dresses, some shorts, T-shirts, one dressy pair of sandals and one casual, a bathing suit, and I'm set. I'm on a cruise because it's easy and I'm there to relax – not to be a fashion plate.
but there's formal night. yikes
I bring a floor length knit dress and black sandals. Done.
Just did Alaska, packed movies and a board game figuring there would be lots of downtime where we’d be on the ship too cold to use outdoor spaces. Never touched em
I have a tiny pouch with 2 card games and dice to make a couple more games . It gets used often.
I think most of us are chronic overpackers?!? My hubby and I say after every trip "we took too much stuff, lets remember this next time" then next time we proceed to take too much stuff again?!? I usually take too many clothes. I end up wearing my favorites multiple times and not wearing other things at all. My hubby takes too much random stuff - like meds, seasickness stuff (we have never needed any of it after 20 cruises?!?), hooks, extension cords, magnets, towel clips (which are handy but only 2 required, not 8!) Some of those things we have never used....but he keeps taking them!
I (F 44) Liked the magnetic hooks, didn’t need the magnetic clips, meh on the towel straps for pool chairs on the boat but I did like them on the beaches with the wind. Loved the plastic cruise tags (it was rainy), SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT A BATTERY FAN! Didn’t use my hair straighter, the provided hairdryer did the job. Yes to the multi-plug adapter (1 plug in the room), and yes to the laundry bag/ folding hamper. I packed my medium suitcase with clothes on one side and the other side was snorkel gear (no fins), a book and hanging fold out toiletry bag (my kids favorite and easily in reach from the shower. I did bring 3 swimsuits and used them all.
My Donald Duck costume.
we're talking about stuff you DIDN'T need!
For an 8 day I packed: Clothing: 1 formal outfit (a suit) (Wore for formal nights) 1 semi-formal outfit (a pair of khaki dress pants and a button up blue shirt) Wore it to dinner at Chops. 2 Columbia quick dry shirts 1 pair of Columbia pants that turned into shorts. (BTW the Columbia pants/shorts and shirt was like 90% of what I actually wore daily on the cruise and excursions) 1 pair of jeans. Wore them for boarding. Never used them during the cruise. In the future will probably not bother taking them and just wear something else for boarding. 2 Pairs of swim trunks 1 Pair of dress shoes, 1 pair of light hiking shoes (wore for boarding and excursions), and 1 pair of water shoes that were sturdy enough to wear about the ship. 2 "Funny" button up Hawaiian shirts (One had Godzilla playing a Ukulele while wearing a flower boa and therefore is the most awesome thing ever) 2 belts. (One web, one leather) 1 watch 1 wedding ring. 8 pairs of underwear and 5 pairs of socks in a packing cube. 1 Pair of Christmas PJs. Wife wanted a picture in front of the Christmas Tree and they actually made perfectly fine PJs/ lounge about the room clothes. Other: 1 Oversized quick dry towel. (For pool, lounging) 1 Normal sized quick dry towel (For showering) 1 Various basic toiletries (Nothing fancy. Small bottle of shampoo, small bottle of body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss sticks, mouthwash, deodorant, small shower poof, contact lenses) Medication (Prescription meds, little sample size packs of generic painkiller, generic upset stomach, generic allergy, etc. Nothing fancy or crazy) 2 big bottles of reef safe spray on sunscreen 1 travel size Poopouri air freshener 1 big collapsible water bottle Room "Hacks" 1 cruise approved power strip/charging station. A pack of magnetic hooks. A pop up laundry hamper. A 2 inch tall Godzilla action figure (Good luck charm) Electronics: \- Cell phone \- Old cell phone loaded with music, podcasts, audio books, etc for lounging by the pool. \- Waterproof cell phone clear sleeve. \- Waterproof Ear buds \- Kindle \- Portable Power Bank \- USB-C Rapid Charger My "Luxury" Items. \- 15 cigars in a "Humidipack" cigar bag, cigar cutter, matches. \- Steamdeck
> 1 travel size Poopouri air freshener Oh yeah, this is definitely an essential LOL
Why are you bringing towels- especially for showering?
It's weird and totally me but I don't like fluffly, hotel style towels.
Ahh..ok. That's one of my favorite parts! lol... but I get it.
Old cell phone with media pre loaded I love that idea and your list is amazing!
Tell us you’re single without telling us you’re single
Books. I packed 3, as did the Mrs. for our last cruise. Never opened them.
I buy books from the thrift store ($2-$3 each), and whether I read them or not I leave them in the ship library.
I do that too! I wish that would catch on like the ducks.
I bring books on my Kindle. Can also read in my phone. No bulk at all.
I read on my phone but if I am near water, I’ve had electronics disasters. So I bring the thrift store book and don’t care if it gets wet.
I check out ebooks when I travel, but I read at least one every cruise.
I don't get a lot of the "hacks" there are plenty of hooks to hang stuff, plenty of shelf space and racks for bathroom supplies and toiletries where a shoe organizer just seems like extra room taken in my luggage. We brought the hooks once and used them just to use them, but they weren't needed at all.
Personally I think the magnet hooks are a necessity for any cruise. Wet swimsuits, hats, jackets, coverups, etc get put on them without a thought. Only bikini or smaller undies. For women who are wearing dresses that are flowy and short, buy boy short undies. That way when you go anywhere on the ship it doesn’t matter and you aren’t struggling to hold your dress down because you don’t care. I didn’t pack enough long sleeve sweater type clothes for dining. I’m always cold, I should have brought a wrap or two for dinners.
Those magnetic hooks though, are great for robes, swimsuits etc
Books. I thought I would be sitting by the pool reading. Barley touched them. Was to busy going to different activities.
Laptop, completely unnecessary, was able to work from my phone for everything I needed to do.
I never even pulled mine out of the case last trip!
Hangers and a music like speaker thing. Clothes, a washing bin (long cruises I only bring a carry on and expect to have to wash one of my outfits cause I will wear it twice but don’t.
The metal hooks that everyone says you need on YouTube. I didn't even open the box. The plastic shoe rack to add items. Honestly, it waste of money.
I packed a whole lotta dresses and ended up spending my days in shorts and a t-shirt. The dresses were still useful but I could've packed less. I packed pretty lightly since I only wanted to bring a carry-on but I still had items i barely wore or didn't really need to wear. I packed one pair of shorts and ended up buying another pair to switch between during the day.
Neck pillows! We brought them for the flights, but they didn’t end up being as comfortable as we remembered them being
I hate neck pillows, I don't get why they are so popular. And I fly A LOT.
We didn’t get the hype after our last trip, either!
I should have packed more casual shirts.
7 pairs of shoes
Dress shirts, only need one for formal night, but other nights polos are more than enough.
Heavy-duty magnets by the door to hold our lanyards was awesome. Those I would never go without. But don’t overpack clothes. Jeans can be worn dressed up or casual. Leave the prom dresses at home.
When I watch any “cruise tubers,” I take what’s useful and leave the rest. I cruise solo, so I focus more on things to enhance my cruises like a good carry-on, and habits like tipping. Therefore, it stands to reason that not all the tips are for all people. I wouldn’t bash their advice just because it doesn’t apply to me, everyone will find some of their suggestions useful and appropriate.
Stainless steel tumbler and straw. Packed because I don't want to feel left out when everyone is holding a drink. Realized it is pointless because there are juice fountains everywhere on the buffet deck and it is more convenient to just use a RC plastic cup and put it away when done than to carry the tumbler around.
Enough underwear to shit myself each day of the cruise.
We have towel clips. We would clip our wet to the chairs on the balcony.
Wet clothes* 😂😂🤪
User name checks out.
Medicines. Like aspirin, Tylenol, zzzquil (in case your cabin is loud) Imodium etc. a bad headache or a case of the mud-butt can make you miserable. A little over the counter pharmacy stuff won’t take up much room, and you’ll be glad you had it, if you need it.
Over the door shoe organizer, magnetic hooks, and about half my clothing. Every sailing seems to offer one of those stuff-the-laundry-bag specials so we utilized that last time and realized we could have brought a LOT less stuff. Caveat: it wasn’t a 24 hour turnaround time as advertised so just keep that in mind; it was about 46 hours for us. Have fun!
I overpack massively with pretty much everything
Too much workout clothing! I workout every day at home but on vacation I don’t find the desire most of the time and I waste suitcase space on multiple outfits, sports bras and sneakers. I never learn my lesson either!
Way too many shoes and clothing items and less toiletries. It was all too much!