I need packing help!

[haileysqueek]

The amount of clothes on my packing list for my 7 day Mexican Riviera cruise is officially out of control. In an effort to cut back a bit I have a couple of questions.

1) Is it ok to wear capris in the dining room on casual nights?
2) How much do the laundry services on the Oosterdam cost?

Also, if anyone has any advice for cutting down on the packing, I could use that as well. Normally, I'm a pretty light packer. This whole two outfits a day thing is killing me! Thanks!

[jhannah]

From other threads I believe a nice pair of capris are fine for casual evenings. As to laundry, many ships have a $12 flat rate special for whatever you can get in the laundry sack in your cabin. That's not too bad a deal.

[dakrewser]

WEll, I don't wear capris - they make me look fat! :rolleyes: (oh, that's right EVERYTHING makes me look fat).

Besides the $12 bag, there's also the unlimited laundry special. Roughly 8 or 9 dollars a day times the number of days on your cruise.

[DrivesLikeMario]

You think 2 outfits a day is a lot? Try 3 outfits a day, per person times 4 people! Packing is such a hassle! I feel your pain!

I've planned capris for our first night in the dining room with heels and a fitted blouse. Normally, I wear dresses, but I figure on the first night, it wouldn't hurt and it's going to be cool in the evening leaving San Diego.

When do you sail?

[FlorenceItaly]

So far, HAL is the only cruiseline I have sailed on that offers this, and I sure do miss it when I am on the others. Pack light, and send it out, it's the best deal in town. And, yes, capri's are fine in the dining room, on casual night.

Marie

[ger_77]

The $12 per bag of laundry is a deal - we just returned from a Princess cruise and it was $20 per bag ... and the bag was rather small.

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[haileysqueek]

I'm glad to hear that capris are ok. That should help with my packing problem! How big are these laundry bags? Do they fit a lot of stuff? Also, does anyone know how much it costs to have clothes pressed/ironed just in case I get some wrinkles?

Lady Jag- We sail on April 2. Just a little over a week away!

Thanks everyone!

[FlorenceItaly]

I roll my clothes and put them in and it fits quite a bit. If I recall accurately, the pressing prices are reasonable. If it is press only it is 50% of the drycleaning cost.
I find Downey Wrinkle Release works well. I also travel with a steamer.
Have a great cruise.

Marie

[cheric]

I used the $12 a bag three times. It was the first time I tried it but next cruise I will pack half as much as I did this time. Everything comes back nicely folded in a wicker basket with tissue paper and a gold seal or on hangers. DH's shirts were pressed and on hangers and even my cotton nightgown was ironed! You can squeeze quite a few things into the bag if you roll them up tight. it was well worth the money and I came home with most of my clothes already clean.

[kgjg]

We found that, if you roll you clothes up, you'll get enough in the bag to get way more than your money's worth.

[Ziggy7]

Yes roll the clothes and really stuff them and you can get alot in them, they were life savers for my 2 week back to back cruise! We only had to use the service 3 times and I brought home alot of clothes already cleaned and pressed :) I loved it! :)

[Majika]

Do they offer this $12 a bag laundry service on all HAL ships? DH would appreciate this since last cruise his back was knotted up from carrying all that luggage. On Carnival they have a $20 laundry bag and it was very small. I did manage to stuff a good amount of t-shirts, a few pairs of shorts, and a bunch of 'un-mentionables', into that little bag. Since we are staying in Fort Lauderdale for 5 days after this cruise, a laundry service would be great.

[KathyJud]

All Holland America ships I have been on also had self service laundry's with irons and ironing boards. Bring quarters for that self service. Can't recall the exact price. We leave on March 28 for the Amsterdam 36 night cruise around S. America. I'm definitely using the self serve laundry aboard. Bon Voyage

[FlorenceItaly]

All Holland America ships I have been on also had self service laundry's with irons and ironing boards. Bring quarters for that self service. Can't recall the exact price. We leave on March 28 for the Amsterdam 36 night cruise around S. America. I'm definitely using the self serve laundry aboard. Bon Voyage

Unfortunately, I believe the Vista ships do not have self service laundry. Someone please correct me, if I am wrong.

Marie

[jhannah]

You are correct. Vista ships do not have laundries for passenger use. Also, on ships with laundries, the cost varies. From $2 to wash and $1 to dry to free on the Prinsendam ... including detergent!

[SueOverend]

Somebody please tell me what Capris are. In England they were a car and I have no idea what anybody is talking about when they mention them!

Thanks!

[annbanan]

That's cute!
I have relatives in Ireland and it is funny how we all have different meanings for the things.

Carpris are pants that end below the knee or above the ankle. Really depending on your height.

Ann

[sail7seas]

:) Capri pants end below the knee and crop pants are a few inches above the ankle.

[SueOverend]

Thank you everybody - the mystery is solved!

[Majika]

Would capri's be called knickers in the UK? or are knickers something out of the 19th century? :)

[SueOverend]

I think most people in the UK would call them pedal pushers, or something like that. I've never owned a pair, so I'm not sure of what you'd ask for in a shop if you wanted to purchase them.

Sue

[caribbean girl]

We just got back from sailing on the Maasdam for 11 days. Yes, packing is a drag but trust me, much more fun than UNPACKING!! Capri's are fine, as are casual dresses. Bring light sweaters/wraps, since the dining room can be chilly. On the Maasdam, we used the self laundry service ($2 for wash and $1 for the dryer). The machines do a good job and there was an iron available, as well as detergent. It's true that the Vista class ships do not have self service laundry available. Have fun!!:)

[Majika]

Sue,

We called them pedal pushers back in the 60's. Why that name, I haven't a clue. Nothing to do with pedals or pushers. LOL.

[peaches from georgia]

You have to go back a few more years, before there were pedal pushers, to know why they became popular and it had everyting to do with pedaling.

Pre-pp if you were wearing pants or jeans and went bicycling your pants would get caught in the bicycle chain. PP are calf-length and prevent that from happening. I remember being a kid in the 50's when every kid rode a bike and pp were wildly popular when they came out. ;)

[haileysqueek]

I'm too young to remember the original pedal pushers, but I have noticed that quite a few stores have started advertising them in the past month or so. The ones I have seen come just below the knee. So, I guess they are back!

As for the difference between capris and crop pants, I didn't know there was one. The ones I have end a few inches above the ankle. The tag identifies them as capris.

[richnorto]

We wore capris casual nights and my DH hated it because he had to wear long pants! No golf shorts, which should be acceptable! Anyhow, we brought plenty of clothes, but the self service laundry on the Zaandam was a lifesaver because the kids left their clothes on the bathroom floor and they got soaked! No need to bring home mildewed clothes!:rolleyes:

[dakrewser]

We wore capris casual nights and my DH hated it because he had to wear long pants! No golf shorts, which should be acceptable!

Does he wear his golf shorts into the DR (for dinner) at the Country Club?

[Wennfred]

Highly recommend those Space Saver bags, you put all of your underware and socks and squeeze out the air, you be surpise the room you have left, you can pick these up at Walmart etc. Dont take any Towels/pillows with you, they are bulky and take up too much room, if youre a pillow person just asked the Cabin steward they will bring you more. Plan on using what you are wearing to the trip again as you can get it washed and use it on the way back. Get some Cardboard and cut them out into Compartments and put them in your luggage, this will create lots of space and this way you can better organize your items. Limit your shoes to 2 sets, Dress Shoes and Sneakers/Tennis shoes and maybe flip flop sandles if you prefer that, The Tennis shoes you will have on you when you take the trip. Buy travel size bottle for your shampoo and or conditioners, also pack them in zip bags after.