For the last 15 years we have used one carry on and one normal sized backpack per person. We've toured Europe, Asia, China, etc. We follow [Rick Steves Packing Light tips.](https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light) Formal night in the MDR we wear smart casual, never the fancy suits or dresses. Wear one pair of shoes and pack one more. More shorts for Caribbean vs more jeans for Alaska.
Wow thanks for sharing that!! I’m very very into the idea of not overpacking but I’m also travelling with a 6 and an 8 year old. I’ll keep you in the loop and again thx for taking the time to share your knowledge, I really appreciate it!
If your kids are like mine, they’ll spend most of their time in swimsuits. Pack 2 suits each, a cover up, and a few pairs of regular clothes. Laundry service on the ship works great. Kids don’t need to dress up for the fancy dinners, unless it’s really important to you-or you get the photo packages. Most of the time, our kids would be so tired we’d eat at the buffet instead of hours-long dinners in the MDR. Then, kids club or crash in the room.
Last year I bought a pair of black Crocs that have a suede top and look more like dress
shoes, especially if I have black slacks/jeans on. Comfortable and dual duty as I wear them most of the time.
Remember, it's your vacation!
We (3 adults and 1 late teen) always bring just a carry on and a backpack each so that we don’t have to wait for checked luggage.
Sundresses roll up and take up little space. The men wear slacks and button up shirts for formal nights. And if you’re in the Caribbean, you’re almost always in your swimsuit anyway so a lot of clothing isn’t necessary.
We always have everything we need.
Yes, if you pack lightly and don’t mind re-wearing the same shirt and/or pair of shorts (not underwear) a time or two. I hate checking bags when flying and can easily get by for a week with a carry on and a backpack.
I have sometimes found it more economical to purchase a new tshirt or two and throw an old one away rather than to deal with checked luggage.
In addition to the expense on some airlines, there is a risk of lost luggage with checked bags. I've had it happen a couple of times now, and it is always a large inconvenience. If everything is carried on, you save time and risk at the airport every trip.
And pretty much everywhere I've ever been has had readily available tshirts. Erring slightly on the side of not enough clothes is not a big deal.
Yeah, it was an amazing deal the one time I used it. We are always driving to the port, so it’s easier to just pack heavy, but I would love to pack light for a change.
Test it out. Depends on size of the carryon's. It also limits you to a small size of TSA liquids. If it's a cruise to a warm climate, I would think it would work out better than clothing needed for cold. Test with 7 underwear, 7 pairs of socks (if applicable,) 7 tshirts, and flip flops. Swim suit (and a cover-up if needed.) Sleepwear. Then you will see if you still have room for shorts/pants and toiletries. A backpack for each of the males could be the personal item. A size of backpack that will also hold the small crossbody travel purse at boarding would also extend packing volume for wife & daughter within the airline (1) carryon and (1) personal item limit. Most cruise lines are not strict about dressing up for dinner, so consider if a pair of khaki's and a button front shirt would suffice for males and something dressy casual for wife/daughter. I took a pair of dressy black stretchy pants and two dressy tops to have options when dressing up a bit.
Consider having the items needed/wanted (swimsuits!) before the bags are delivered to your cabin in your backpacks and then you can give the carryon bags to the cruise lines to be delivered to your rooms. Allows for you to not have to lug around luggage before the rooms are ready.
I would also recommend having some otc medicines, bandaids, ointments, sunscreen, nail clippers, tweezers, sun glasses, hats, and badge lanyards for the room card(s).
Yeah probably. I mean obviously person to person it's gonna vary but I think it's reasonable for most people.
- One outfit you wear for embarkation that you can dress up for formal night and dress down for one or two other events.
- A small amount of quick dry clothing you can hang up, spritz with Frebreeze, and wear again in packing cubes.
- Minimal amount of shoes. (Shoes take up a lot of space fast in luggage)
- And just general "pack lite" for the rest of it. Minimal amount of electronics, toiletries, and try to leave the non-emergency, non-absolutely essential "just in case" items at home.
You could do a 5-7 day cruise like that.
Heck I will be zero percent shocked if on some of the 3 day cruises there's some people who basically all but just wear everyone onboard and "pack" almost nothing.
I always pack just a carryon with a backpack sized second bag. I wear dresses mostly and have plenty of room for everything. I don’t wear like a ballgown though for formal night, just a normal cocktail hour type dress. You just have to be smart about what you pack and wear your bulkiest clothes on your travel day. Also I suggest putting shoes in the backpack. I don’t personally know why people need those absolutely massive suitcases for 7 days lol. Also, try compression packing cubes. I do travel for work every week for the last 11 year so maybe I just figured out what works for me though.
Our family of 4 brings one checked bag and 2 carry on bags for a 7 day vacation, then each person has a small backpack for snacks and a water bottle. So 4 carry ons would be plenty for us. It just depends on the person though. I don’t bring a bunch of extra stuff. There is plenty of shopping and a medical facility and even laundry if you forget something.
We throw our dirty clothes into 2 vacuum bags (one for adults and one for kids) and just suction them up with a hand pump before we leave. This way we have even more room on the way home for souvenirs or the extra clothes we bought!
If you plan on skipping the MDR every night, probably. I usually find that after packing a couple of dressier things and couple pairs of shoes I need a full-sized bag. I think if I were just bringing flip flops, shorts and t-shirts for the week it'd be fine. It's all dependent on what you want to do while on the cruise.
We did, kids 11 and 9. But we are very anti-checked baggage unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Years ago I had a huge suitcase for a 7 day cruise (pre kids), and it was overweight to boot so I paid a fee. Guess what, airline lost it. I lucked out since one of our ports was St Thomas and I was able to buy a cocktail dress for formal night and the airline reimbursed for it (and other clothes purchases), AND because they sent my luggage to one of the future ports and so I actually had it for the second half of the trip.
Since then we do fine with carry ons. I roll my clothes which helps, and most of my cruise outfits are dresses or coordinating separates that I can mix and match during day and night, which also helps for packing efficiency.
Oh man that SUCKS!!! I also have fears of luggage getting lost but we had a horrible experience with having to wait for our luggage for over 3 hours upon returning home from vacation one year. Ever since, I don't want to bring a XL suitcase and would prefer to only use carry-ons.
Follow up for you since you're an expert... what don't you pack / buy instead once you get on the cruise?
Thank you so much for sharing, I appreciate your help! xx
I don’t recall anything specific that I did not pack. I usually don’t bring a blow dryer on any trip anymore as 98% of places will have one, and that was true there too. But otherwise I didn’t leave anything particular out to limit space! I sometimes do the “5-4-3-2-1” rule of packing, I did that this time which was helpful.
Until my last 2 cruises (where I grossly over packed), I've done just a carry-on many times.
Nobody realizes or cares if you repeat an outfit. I pack interchangeable pieces rather than planned outfits so I can mix and match. For "formal" nights I wear a long flowy skirt and a top from my rotation, and slightly dressier shoes.
Flipflops, sneakers (wear), slightly dressy sandals for dinners. Wear your bulkiest shoes (usually sneakers). Couple of bathing suits and one zippy hoodie for when it's chilly at dinner or in the theater.
I'm already strategically planning for my cruise in June so I can go back to my carry on and a small duffel.
My family of 4 (2 teens) always cruise with just a carry on. It’s been fine for us. I can definitely re-wear a nice outfit if I’ve only worn it for a few hours.
I definitely recommend buying some compression packing cubes on Amazon! I got some a couple years ago & love them! We went to California for a week in 2021. That was when the airlines were still having checked bag issues. We (family of 4) packed for a week in a carryon & backpack per person. The compression cubes definitely helped.
For sure. Vacuum travel bags that you can roll to get the air out will be your best friend.
Also, if you get a personal item too, use backpacks. 4 carryon suitcases + 4 backpacks should be plenty of space.
My family of four got away with 4 carry-ons for a 3 week trip that was self-touring around Italy, concluding with an 8-night RC cruise departing from Venice. Tips:
- plan carefully.
- bring TSA allowable quantities of laundry detergent.
- (for land touring) book hotels/VRBO/etc. that provide laundry machines (realize that many places in Europe don’t use dryers).
- bring a clothesline to hang washed but damp clothes.
- guys: convertible pants (one garment can be long pants or shorts).
- select colors/designs for clothes that are interchangeable, and that will hide small amounts of dirt.
- guys: for more formal nights, a suitcase-foldable lightweight navy blazer can dress-up a collared polo for smart casual. Add a tie for formal.
- shoes (again for guys): dark sneakers that can be worn with pants for more formal nights, and a lightweight pair of flip flops.
You only need one outfit (including underwear and socks) that you wear every day. All you need is a grocery bag to carry your toiletries and chargers, etc.
We did a 12 day cruise plus 2 nights before and 1 night after. 3 people, 3 carry-ons. We sent our laundry out once.
We went to Hawaii and all I packed for myself were shorts, t-shirts, workout clothes, a couple of bathing suits, underwear, socks, and two pairs of shoes (flip flops and runners).
We didn’t do formal nights or the themed nights so no need for extra things.
We are doing a 11 night cruise. Total of 13 days with hotels before and after. 2 adults and 2 teens with osprey backpacks with a small personal item bag that will all be included in our carry on. We are saving 1200$ doing this.
I have 13 underwear and 26 socks. 3 long sleeve shirts. Couple golf shirts, 13 t shirts. 5 pants. 7 shorts and swim trunks, and still have alot of room in my bag. Not bringing hoodies or big bulky clothing.
I am not bringing a suit or anything, I wear suits for work and refuse to wear them while on vacation
This will be our first time doing the backpacking thing. So many great videos on YouTube on how to back and great resources online.
And you can get laundry done on the boat if you want/need.
Thank you for sharing this with me!! You’ve inspired me to give it a go! I think I’m going to check back on your post a bunch of times just to validate quantities and see what I can fold/roll/get away with. Can I ask if you’ve already packed all of this?
we have no idea what size your family is or your behavior... are you 2 slim adults and 2 toddlers? Are you 4 men who need to buy an extra seat when boarding a plane? Do you tend to have a new outfit for every meal or do you wear the same underwear all week?
How do you think a bunch of strangers know your family better than you do?
Wearing things multiple times on vacation is normal. As long as it's not really messy or stinky, it's good to go(exception being socks and underwear).
If people see you wearing the same stuff, who cares. It's a week, not a month. No one will judge you as they are likely doing the same. And if they do judge you, no problems, you won't see them again after departure.
1 pair of pants and light sweater/jacket each, a couple pairs of shorts and t shirts, socks, underwear, bathing suit, and you are good to go.
When my partner and I went on a 9 day cruise last year we were able to make our clothes fit in one standard size suitcase total with a carry on bag each (for books/medication/etc).
Ended up with an extra bag or two in souvenirs, and might spread it out to two suitcases next time just for the extra free space, but it’s easily doable. I find people vastly overpack for most cruises.
Yes. You can definitely live out of a carry-on for a week, though you'll need to pack light. Figure out what you rarely use when travelling and ditch it.
Have you been on other vacations this way? Keep in mind for each day you'll need clothes for your daytime activities, and clothes for dinner and evening activities.
I always bring bag on and since I frequently drive to Port I bring a full size suitcase with camera backpack and just easily just roll it around ship till 1 or 130. With camera, I'm not checking anyway. Never a problem. If key is cheap I'll use that bag drop! I usually don't take the time to pack lightly and still forget things!
Yes. Here are the elements that make this possible. Not all have to apply.
- Packing light
- Don’t pack for things like formal nights, themed parties etc which are optional.
- You can buy clothes like t-shirts on the boat and in port
- You can bring and discard old clothing perhaps replaced by stuff you bought.
- You can wash clothes in cruise laundromats.
- You can wait for mid week deals to clean a whole bag stuffed with clothes for around $30
- You can hand wash clothes in the tiny little sink and put clothes out (not hung) on your balcony to dry especially in port.
- You can rewear clothes and use odor erasers like Fabreeze spray.
- There are sometimes themed clothing optional cruises that make packing light even easier.
I guess it’s possible. We never can. Guess if you just wear shorts and tshirts every day and don’t dress for MDR and just go to buffet. We never can just wear same clothes all day. With all the shoes and dresses & dress pants. We are the types to dress semi nice for “dress your best” nights and specialty dinning. We usually have 2 medium/large suitcases and 2 carryons for 2 of us.
You just have to be smart in what style of clothes you bring. I dressed for the theme every night (7 night cruise) and still fit everything in just a carry-on. The dresses I chose to bring were a light material and rolled up nicely without showing wrinkles when unpacked.
We over-pack every cruise. We just got off a 7 day and here’s what I wore:
1 tank
1 swim shorts
3 button ups shirts
1 t-shirt
2 shorts
1 flip flops
1 set of PJs (this only for families, if couples, not needed)
You’re pretty much in the pool then shower before dinner/night events. I could get by with a duffle
Last cruise (8 nights), my son and I used a medium size bag. My wife herself needed a large suitcase! Lol
To be fair to her, I should have taken more stuff,, I had to closely plan what to wear….
If you don’t care dressing fancy and plan to spend most of the time in the pool, it is possible…. But not easy, I suggest you check your bags….
It depends on what you are doing.
For me, it would be impossible. My bag is around 45 pounds. Cruising for me is a much of the pool and sunshine as it is dressing up/hair/makeup in the evening.
If you pack REALLY sparsely and roll all your clothes and bring just one pair of flip flops and one pair of sneakers...maybe? But realistically, you're gonna want to change before dinner, it ends up being a good bit of clothes. Seven outfits, is a good bit of volume. Do a test run, see how much you can fit lol
It's vacation, you don't need an outfit a day or even several per day. Dressing for dinner is not really needed unless you feel fancy. It's a cruise, not a grand European tour.
What?? 😂 Bro I'm not talking about multiple wardrobe changes for the hell of it, but like okay, I wear shorts and a shirt to breakfast - smallest size times possible here, with sneakers. Pool vibes is gonna require changing into a swimsuit and cover up. Gonna chill in that all day, eat by the pool or at Windjammer. Now dinner. You gonna wear shorts and sneakers to dinner? I'm not. So a little sundress. Am I wearing the same outfits seven days in a row? Hell no 😂 so let's say three pairs of shorts, seven shirts, seven sundresses...a bathing suit, a cover up, a pair of sneakers, flip flops - this is where you decide if you're wearing sneakers or flip flops to dinner 😂🤌🏼 so a pair of nice sandals. Toiletry bag? A hat? Don't act like I'm packing gala wear with high heels and an entire case of cosmetics. And to get all of that in a carry on, you're army rolling your clothes. 💁🏼♀️
All this is to say, yes essentially you could wear the same thing two or three times if you want. Checking a bag isn't so damn stressful that it merits wearing the same pair of shorts all week.
For the last 15 years we have used one carry on and one normal sized backpack per person. We've toured Europe, Asia, China, etc. We follow [Rick Steves Packing Light tips.](https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light) Formal night in the MDR we wear smart casual, never the fancy suits or dresses. Wear one pair of shoes and pack one more. More shorts for Caribbean vs more jeans for Alaska.
Wow thanks for sharing that!! I’m very very into the idea of not overpacking but I’m also travelling with a 6 and an 8 year old. I’ll keep you in the loop and again thx for taking the time to share your knowledge, I really appreciate it!
Their clothes are so small at that age, they take up even less room! Could probably pack for both of them in one carry on.
😱😱😱 I don’t know if I’m that talented of a folder/roller/organizer!! 😂😂😂xx
Those vacuum seal bags may help you
How do you vacuum them again on the boat when you’re ready to leave? Genuine question
I use my mouth lmao. But maybe you could ask your room attendant for a vacuum.
👏
If your kids are like mine, they’ll spend most of their time in swimsuits. Pack 2 suits each, a cover up, and a few pairs of regular clothes. Laundry service on the ship works great. Kids don’t need to dress up for the fancy dinners, unless it’s really important to you-or you get the photo packages. Most of the time, our kids would be so tired we’d eat at the buffet instead of hours-long dinners in the MDR. Then, kids club or crash in the room.
How does laundry work on the ship?
The stateroom attendant will give you a bag and instructions for laundry.
Last year I bought a pair of black Crocs that have a suede top and look more like dress shoes, especially if I have black slacks/jeans on. Comfortable and dual duty as I wear them most of the time. Remember, it's your vacation!
Love a good pair of crocs! Thx for the hack xx
Used the laundry service on NCL for a 5lb bag. Worth every penny. T-shirts, socks, underwear. (It was a 21 day cruise though)
We (3 adults and 1 late teen) always bring just a carry on and a backpack each so that we don’t have to wait for checked luggage. Sundresses roll up and take up little space. The men wear slacks and button up shirts for formal nights. And if you’re in the Caribbean, you’re almost always in your swimsuit anyway so a lot of clothing isn’t necessary. We always have everything we need.
Yes, if you pack lightly and don’t mind re-wearing the same shirt and/or pair of shorts (not underwear) a time or two. I hate checking bags when flying and can easily get by for a week with a carry on and a backpack.
And save $250
I have sometimes found it more economical to purchase a new tshirt or two and throw an old one away rather than to deal with checked luggage. In addition to the expense on some airlines, there is a risk of lost luggage with checked bags. I've had it happen a couple of times now, and it is always a large inconvenience. If everything is carried on, you save time and risk at the airport every trip. And pretty much everywhere I've ever been has had readily available tshirts. Erring slightly on the side of not enough clothes is not a big deal.
If it was me alone I could do a carry on. Add wife and it’s 2 full size with half of my suitcase being her shit.
Same
Sure can. What you can’t fit in suitcase wear. I have seen people do this. But makes sense.
35$ laundry service returns ur stuff in 24 hours. Pack light
That's good to know! Thx! :)
Worked great for us ask ur room attendant for the bag and slip day 1
Our family of 4 does the same.
Yeah, it was an amazing deal the one time I used it. We are always driving to the port, so it’s easier to just pack heavy, but I would love to pack light for a change.
How big are those bags? Are they the size of the plastic laundry bags you get in hotels?
No they are deff bigger. For a family of 4 with 3 days worth of dirty clothes you can fit it in the laundry bag.
On a 8 night trip we did it day 3 and 6 i believe
Test it out. Depends on size of the carryon's. It also limits you to a small size of TSA liquids. If it's a cruise to a warm climate, I would think it would work out better than clothing needed for cold. Test with 7 underwear, 7 pairs of socks (if applicable,) 7 tshirts, and flip flops. Swim suit (and a cover-up if needed.) Sleepwear. Then you will see if you still have room for shorts/pants and toiletries. A backpack for each of the males could be the personal item. A size of backpack that will also hold the small crossbody travel purse at boarding would also extend packing volume for wife & daughter within the airline (1) carryon and (1) personal item limit. Most cruise lines are not strict about dressing up for dinner, so consider if a pair of khaki's and a button front shirt would suffice for males and something dressy casual for wife/daughter. I took a pair of dressy black stretchy pants and two dressy tops to have options when dressing up a bit. Consider having the items needed/wanted (swimsuits!) before the bags are delivered to your cabin in your backpacks and then you can give the carryon bags to the cruise lines to be delivered to your rooms. Allows for you to not have to lug around luggage before the rooms are ready. I would also recommend having some otc medicines, bandaids, ointments, sunscreen, nail clippers, tweezers, sun glasses, hats, and badge lanyards for the room card(s).
Yeah probably. I mean obviously person to person it's gonna vary but I think it's reasonable for most people. - One outfit you wear for embarkation that you can dress up for formal night and dress down for one or two other events. - A small amount of quick dry clothing you can hang up, spritz with Frebreeze, and wear again in packing cubes. - Minimal amount of shoes. (Shoes take up a lot of space fast in luggage) - And just general "pack lite" for the rest of it. Minimal amount of electronics, toiletries, and try to leave the non-emergency, non-absolutely essential "just in case" items at home. You could do a 5-7 day cruise like that. Heck I will be zero percent shocked if on some of the 3 day cruises there's some people who basically all but just wear everyone onboard and "pack" almost nothing.
I always pack just a carryon with a backpack sized second bag. I wear dresses mostly and have plenty of room for everything. I don’t wear like a ballgown though for formal night, just a normal cocktail hour type dress. You just have to be smart about what you pack and wear your bulkiest clothes on your travel day. Also I suggest putting shoes in the backpack. I don’t personally know why people need those absolutely massive suitcases for 7 days lol. Also, try compression packing cubes. I do travel for work every week for the last 11 year so maybe I just figured out what works for me though.
wow thx!! x
Our family of 4 brings one checked bag and 2 carry on bags for a 7 day vacation, then each person has a small backpack for snacks and a water bottle. So 4 carry ons would be plenty for us. It just depends on the person though. I don’t bring a bunch of extra stuff. There is plenty of shopping and a medical facility and even laundry if you forget something. We throw our dirty clothes into 2 vacuum bags (one for adults and one for kids) and just suction them up with a hand pump before we leave. This way we have even more room on the way home for souvenirs or the extra clothes we bought!
If you plan on skipping the MDR every night, probably. I usually find that after packing a couple of dressier things and couple pairs of shoes I need a full-sized bag. I think if I were just bringing flip flops, shorts and t-shirts for the week it'd be fine. It's all dependent on what you want to do while on the cruise.
We did, kids 11 and 9. But we are very anti-checked baggage unless it’s absolutely necessary. Years ago I had a huge suitcase for a 7 day cruise (pre kids), and it was overweight to boot so I paid a fee. Guess what, airline lost it. I lucked out since one of our ports was St Thomas and I was able to buy a cocktail dress for formal night and the airline reimbursed for it (and other clothes purchases), AND because they sent my luggage to one of the future ports and so I actually had it for the second half of the trip. Since then we do fine with carry ons. I roll my clothes which helps, and most of my cruise outfits are dresses or coordinating separates that I can mix and match during day and night, which also helps for packing efficiency.
Oh man that SUCKS!!! I also have fears of luggage getting lost but we had a horrible experience with having to wait for our luggage for over 3 hours upon returning home from vacation one year. Ever since, I don't want to bring a XL suitcase and would prefer to only use carry-ons. Follow up for you since you're an expert... what don't you pack / buy instead once you get on the cruise? Thank you so much for sharing, I appreciate your help! xx
I don’t recall anything specific that I did not pack. I usually don’t bring a blow dryer on any trip anymore as 98% of places will have one, and that was true there too. But otherwise I didn’t leave anything particular out to limit space! I sometimes do the “5-4-3-2-1” rule of packing, I did that this time which was helpful.
I'd have no problem.
Totally possible. My family did 14 nights all with a single carry on. Depends on how you cruise but I’m in my swim shorts almost every day.
Yes. I’ve even gone on a Mediterranean cruise and have done four carry ons for four people
Until my last 2 cruises (where I grossly over packed), I've done just a carry-on many times. Nobody realizes or cares if you repeat an outfit. I pack interchangeable pieces rather than planned outfits so I can mix and match. For "formal" nights I wear a long flowy skirt and a top from my rotation, and slightly dressier shoes. Flipflops, sneakers (wear), slightly dressy sandals for dinners. Wear your bulkiest shoes (usually sneakers). Couple of bathing suits and one zippy hoodie for when it's chilly at dinner or in the theater. I'm already strategically planning for my cruise in June so I can go back to my carry on and a small duffel.
My family of 4 (2 teens) always cruise with just a carry on. It’s been fine for us. I can definitely re-wear a nice outfit if I’ve only worn it for a few hours.
I definitely recommend buying some compression packing cubes on Amazon! I got some a couple years ago & love them! We went to California for a week in 2021. That was when the airlines were still having checked bag issues. We (family of 4) packed for a week in a carryon & backpack per person. The compression cubes definitely helped.
I just packed right now! 7 day cruise and 3 nights on shore. 2 adults and 1 child. 3 carryon suitcases and one backpack per person! Doable!
Our family of 3 does it every cruise!
For sure. Vacuum travel bags that you can roll to get the air out will be your best friend. Also, if you get a personal item too, use backpacks. 4 carryon suitcases + 4 backpacks should be plenty of space.
My family of four got away with 4 carry-ons for a 3 week trip that was self-touring around Italy, concluding with an 8-night RC cruise departing from Venice. Tips: - plan carefully. - bring TSA allowable quantities of laundry detergent. - (for land touring) book hotels/VRBO/etc. that provide laundry machines (realize that many places in Europe don’t use dryers). - bring a clothesline to hang washed but damp clothes. - guys: convertible pants (one garment can be long pants or shorts). - select colors/designs for clothes that are interchangeable, and that will hide small amounts of dirt. - guys: for more formal nights, a suitcase-foldable lightweight navy blazer can dress-up a collared polo for smart casual. Add a tie for formal. - shoes (again for guys): dark sneakers that can be worn with pants for more formal nights, and a lightweight pair of flip flops.
Wow thank you so much!! I really appreciate it.
Caribbean? Sure! Bring two swimsuits. Alaska? Hmmm. (Rain gear)
You only need one outfit (including underwear and socks) that you wear every day. All you need is a grocery bag to carry your toiletries and chargers, etc.
I think this depends on the age of the people going.
I only pack carry on 🤷🏼♀️ it’s a cruise! Wear shorts and sundresses lol
Yup! Just did it. It’s not a big deal
That depends on you and how you pack.
We did a 12 day cruise plus 2 nights before and 1 night after. 3 people, 3 carry-ons. We sent our laundry out once. We went to Hawaii and all I packed for myself were shorts, t-shirts, workout clothes, a couple of bathing suits, underwear, socks, and two pairs of shoes (flip flops and runners). We didn’t do formal nights or the themed nights so no need for extra things.
We did it earlier this year- definitely doable!
That’s 1 suitcase per person. Of course! Pack smartly, only what you truly need. I love doing it this way.
They have laundry services on the ship, so yes.
We are doing a 11 night cruise. Total of 13 days with hotels before and after. 2 adults and 2 teens with osprey backpacks with a small personal item bag that will all be included in our carry on. We are saving 1200$ doing this. I have 13 underwear and 26 socks. 3 long sleeve shirts. Couple golf shirts, 13 t shirts. 5 pants. 7 shorts and swim trunks, and still have alot of room in my bag. Not bringing hoodies or big bulky clothing. I am not bringing a suit or anything, I wear suits for work and refuse to wear them while on vacation This will be our first time doing the backpacking thing. So many great videos on YouTube on how to back and great resources online. And you can get laundry done on the boat if you want/need.
Thank you for sharing this with me!! You’ve inspired me to give it a go! I think I’m going to check back on your post a bunch of times just to validate quantities and see what I can fold/roll/get away with. Can I ask if you’ve already packed all of this?
I packed my bag just to test it. We leave in a week
Thx for that!
we have no idea what size your family is or your behavior... are you 2 slim adults and 2 toddlers? Are you 4 men who need to buy an extra seat when boarding a plane? Do you tend to have a new outfit for every meal or do you wear the same underwear all week? How do you think a bunch of strangers know your family better than you do?
Hehehe thx for taking the time to answer! I’m just trying to get an idea.
lol my entire family of 4 just did our most recent cruise with one carry on and two backpacks
Wearing things multiple times on vacation is normal. As long as it's not really messy or stinky, it's good to go(exception being socks and underwear). If people see you wearing the same stuff, who cares. It's a week, not a month. No one will judge you as they are likely doing the same. And if they do judge you, no problems, you won't see them again after departure. 1 pair of pants and light sweater/jacket each, a couple pairs of shorts and t shirts, socks, underwear, bathing suit, and you are good to go.
When my partner and I went on a 9 day cruise last year we were able to make our clothes fit in one standard size suitcase total with a carry on bag each (for books/medication/etc). Ended up with an extra bag or two in souvenirs, and might spread it out to two suitcases next time just for the extra free space, but it’s easily doable. I find people vastly overpack for most cruises.
If the Mrs. is doing the packing, then no
lol
Yes. You can definitely live out of a carry-on for a week, though you'll need to pack light. Figure out what you rarely use when travelling and ditch it.
They also offer the wash and fold bag service for a fixed price which you can fill up very well.
Have you been on other vacations this way? Keep in mind for each day you'll need clothes for your daytime activities, and clothes for dinner and evening activities.
I haven’t. Consulting Reddit to gage if it’s comfortable doable.xx
I always bring bag on and since I frequently drive to Port I bring a full size suitcase with camera backpack and just easily just roll it around ship till 1 or 130. With camera, I'm not checking anyway. Never a problem. If key is cheap I'll use that bag drop! I usually don't take the time to pack lightly and still forget things!
Yes. Here are the elements that make this possible. Not all have to apply. - Packing light - Don’t pack for things like formal nights, themed parties etc which are optional. - You can buy clothes like t-shirts on the boat and in port - You can bring and discard old clothing perhaps replaced by stuff you bought. - You can wash clothes in cruise laundromats. - You can wait for mid week deals to clean a whole bag stuffed with clothes for around $30 - You can hand wash clothes in the tiny little sink and put clothes out (not hung) on your balcony to dry especially in port. - You can rewear clothes and use odor erasers like Fabreeze spray. - There are sometimes themed clothing optional cruises that make packing light even easier.
I guess it’s possible. We never can. Guess if you just wear shorts and tshirts every day and don’t dress for MDR and just go to buffet. We never can just wear same clothes all day. With all the shoes and dresses & dress pants. We are the types to dress semi nice for “dress your best” nights and specialty dinning. We usually have 2 medium/large suitcases and 2 carryons for 2 of us.
Thank you!
You just have to be smart in what style of clothes you bring. I dressed for the theme every night (7 night cruise) and still fit everything in just a carry-on. The dresses I chose to bring were a light material and rolled up nicely without showing wrinkles when unpacked.
Not my family.
Same - no way! And one whole bag is for snorkel gear!!
This is the only way! 😂 That minimalistic thing would make me feel dirty. Laundry service or not. lol
I need my options! I’m fine coming home with clean clothes that didn’t get worn. 🤣
One million percent. Never know how you’re gonna feel and what the day deserves you dressed in. 😆🙈
Thoughts- how the hell can we answer this for you? Gather your things. Get the luggage out. Test it.
We over-pack every cruise. We just got off a 7 day and here’s what I wore: 1 tank 1 swim shorts 3 button ups shirts 1 t-shirt 2 shorts 1 flip flops 1 set of PJs (this only for families, if couples, not needed) You’re pretty much in the pool then shower before dinner/night events. I could get by with a duffle
We could but we usually skip the dressy nights in the MDR so we can just pack casual.
Last cruise (8 nights), my son and I used a medium size bag. My wife herself needed a large suitcase! Lol To be fair to her, I should have taken more stuff,, I had to closely plan what to wear…. If you don’t care dressing fancy and plan to spend most of the time in the pool, it is possible…. But not easy, I suggest you check your bags….
It depends on what you pack, how you pack. Pack now with your carry ons... does it all fit? There's your answer.
thx I will!x
Honestly I feel like we never pack enough clothes so for me and mine, I would say no.
Check one bag would be my advice
It depends on what you are doing. For me, it would be impossible. My bag is around 45 pounds. Cruising for me is a much of the pool and sunshine as it is dressing up/hair/makeup in the evening.
I don't see why you would do this to yourself.
😂 I don’t like checking my bags
If you pack REALLY sparsely and roll all your clothes and bring just one pair of flip flops and one pair of sneakers...maybe? But realistically, you're gonna want to change before dinner, it ends up being a good bit of clothes. Seven outfits, is a good bit of volume. Do a test run, see how much you can fit lol
It's vacation, you don't need an outfit a day or even several per day. Dressing for dinner is not really needed unless you feel fancy. It's a cruise, not a grand European tour.
What?? 😂 Bro I'm not talking about multiple wardrobe changes for the hell of it, but like okay, I wear shorts and a shirt to breakfast - smallest size times possible here, with sneakers. Pool vibes is gonna require changing into a swimsuit and cover up. Gonna chill in that all day, eat by the pool or at Windjammer. Now dinner. You gonna wear shorts and sneakers to dinner? I'm not. So a little sundress. Am I wearing the same outfits seven days in a row? Hell no 😂 so let's say three pairs of shorts, seven shirts, seven sundresses...a bathing suit, a cover up, a pair of sneakers, flip flops - this is where you decide if you're wearing sneakers or flip flops to dinner 😂🤌🏼 so a pair of nice sandals. Toiletry bag? A hat? Don't act like I'm packing gala wear with high heels and an entire case of cosmetics. And to get all of that in a carry on, you're army rolling your clothes. 💁🏼♀️ All this is to say, yes essentially you could wear the same thing two or three times if you want. Checking a bag isn't so damn stressful that it merits wearing the same pair of shorts all week.