How many suitcases do you bring?

[wilsonzoo]

I'm getting packed for our cruise to Alaska, and I'm wondering if I'm a clothes hound, packing too light or just normal! For my hubby and I, I have 2 full suitcases, a garment bag, and several full carry-on's. What do most folks bring PER COUPLE???

[dakrewser]

I'm getting packed for our cruise to Alaska, and I'm wondering if I'm a clothes hound, packing too light or just normal! For my hubby and I, I have 2 full suitcases, a garment bag, and several full carry-on's. What do most folks bring PER COUPLE???
We usually end up with 2 large (or 2 medium & 1 small) check-thru with a (colapsed) empty extra to hold stuff on the way back along with one full carry-on each. That covers anything from 7 to 21 days!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We always take 4 suitcases - 2 large and 2 medium - no matter the length of the cruise 14 - 22 days. This way we spread out everything evenly over the cases and not one of them is over weight.

We each take a small carry-on for the plane. Mine has all the medciations - DH's has all the camera equipment.

[ron46936]

I would caution against having a lot of carry-ons to keep track of. The airlines generally limit you to one carry-on plus one "personal item" per passenger. We usually bring three large suitcases for 7-11 days or 4 for 14 days. We sometimes bring a large garment bag just for dirty clothes. We hang it in the closet and use it as a hamper until time to go home. Then we just zip it up and put on the tags. That frees up space in the bags for purchases.

My wife and I each have a carry-on. Her's is a small bag sorta like a briefcase. It contains documents, meds, a paperback or two, graham crackers. I take a rolling carry-on which is a large as they allow. It contains one set of spare clothes, and I usually pack the camera bag inside it. On the return trip the duty free booze goes in there. It's interesting that I haven't spilled a cup of coffee on my shirt since I started always having a spare.

[CruisinNana]

We each take a medium suitcase and a hanging bag and we each take a carry on. I make excellent use of the cleaning/laundry service on board.

On our Canada/New England trip last week, I didn't overpack for the first time in my life, but my hubby did! :D In his defense, I rarely get cold so I only took a windbreaker on the trip. He does get cold so he brought several sweaters, etc. for the cold weather. We were fortunate that we had NO cold weather and his sweaters took a lovely trip but never left the cabin :D .

[tomc]

I travel solo and my entire luggage consists of one carry-on, regardless of the length of the cruise. I pack wisely and use the self-service laundry.

[elmorejj]

For up to 14 days we take one 26in and 2 large wheeled garment bags plus 2 carryons. The garment bags have all of our clothes on hangers ready to just pop in the closet, the 26in has our day wear and underwear, shoes, etc. I also make use of the laundry and dry cleaning services....jean :cool:

[Spot]

We take 2 max sized carry ons each and take full advantage of the laundry and dry cleaning services.
We have traveled enough where a bag has not made it to our destination with us or something vital had been handpicked out of our bags.

Everyone is different in their needs so take what you believe you will need and you won't second guess yourself - you are on vacation and you shouldn't worry about what you wished you had brought along.

Have a great cruise!

[jhannah]

We take a 26" and each have a carryon. Sometimes, we'll expand the DW's carryon and check it, too. Our overnight change of clothes and valuables are all in my carryon.

[ekerr19]

Two 28", one 26", an extra large (42") rolling garment bag, 2 carry-ons. :)

If we travel with the kids, we add two extra 26" rolling bags...

[Randyk47]

A total of 4 checked bags. Two 28 inchers and two 3-suiter garment bags. Carry-on is usually the two allowed plus my DW's max capacity purse. What has me worried for our next cruise is that we're driving to the port for a 12 day cruise. No airline restrictions and we're taking our large SUV. I'm very frightened! :eek:

[Lisa63]

For our 7-night Canada/New England cruise last week, we had for three of us:

three 19-inch rollaboards (one per person)
one large wheeled suitcase (the largest an airline would allow)
one medium tote bag for shore excursions
my husband's backpack
a small bag with books and crayons for our son


Among the items we packed were a sweater and windbreaker for each of us. (I know you said you were interested per couple -- our son's clothing took up one of the 19-inch bags and a small portion of the large suitcase.)

[RuthC]

Can't answer per couple as I'm a per person, however---

I take one carry-on with CPAP, meds, make-up and jewelry. Over the handle I sling a HAL canvas bag with documents, reading material, and maybe CD's and player.
If I'm flying I'll add one very large suitcase---no matter the length of the cruise: two hands---two bags. (I don't look like a packhorse.)
If I'm getting a ride to/from the port it's either the very large alone or with an additional large, depending on length of cruise.

[mhshapiro]

We tend to travel light - one large suitcase and one small suitcase, plus two small carry-on bags for all valuables and medications.

Both are Travelpro bags that can be expanded, although we never have had to expand the large one. We typically pack from 40 to 50 pounds in the large bag and perhaps 25 to 30 pounds in the small one. That way we always can roll our own bags through airports, if necessary.

We also take advantage of the self-service laundry facilities, and occasionally the dry-cleaning facilities.

Like your mother said... when you travel take twice as much money and have as many clothes as you think you will need.

[Druke I]

Wife and I usually take one 24" suitcase each, one carry-on each, and one shared garment bag.

On a cruise longer than 2 weeks, we might substitute a 28" suitcase for one of the 24" cases.

Michael

[RevNeal]

On a 7-day cruise, for two people, we take a 28" upright and two 3-suiter garment bags, and a smaller carry-on.

On a longer cruise -- 14+ days -- I take a 28" upright rolling bag and a 3-suiter garment bag. Christopher takes a 26" upright rolling bag and a 3-suiter garment bag. Between us we share a 18" carry-on that we put in the over-head compartment to hold a change of clothing, cameras, personal items, etc. And, my laptop bag in which we also put our travel documents and such.

[Globaliser]

I'm also normally a loner on cruises, so this isn't per couple. I normally take one suitcase, plus a small backpack that fits under the seat in front on the aircraft. The suitcase is quite big (I've never measured it) but it's only about half full for a one week cruise, total weight (including the suitcase) is probably about 15 kg (33 lbs) unless I have packed too many books to read. The advantage of the suitcase is that it is well designed for rolling through airports etc, so much so that I prefer pulling it to using a trolley. When my partner comes, she also packs to about the same weight but in a much smaller rolling case that she has.

[Aussie Gal]

We take one Samonsite Oyster suitcase each - 28" plus one Samonsite carry on bag each. My husband brings a suitpack with his dinner suit in. We always travel for 3-4 weeks at a time and we find that is ample. Our cases usually only weigh just over the 20kgs which is the weight we are allowed on aircraft out of Australia.

Jennie

[Ziggy7]

For our b2b We took 2 large & 1 Med for check-in and 2 carry-ons.
We were stuffed on the way home!

[anjan]

For our b2b We took 2 large & 1 Med for check-in and 2 carry-ons.
We were stuffed on the way home!
That is about what we usually take.

2 (largest size airlines will allow), 1 medium (thinking of 2 medium this time) and 1 small carryon (thinking of two this time).

[darnapar]

For a one week trip we each take a 21" and a back pack size carry one. Except my husband who's carry on is a lap top.

[bridge&golf]

We're going on a 21 day cruise plus 14 days of driving across the USA (Northern route) We're taking 2 garment bags
(cruise only), 1 small suitcase for sweaters, jeans and that stuff for travelling. We'll replenish this suitcase as needed when
we leave the motel in the morning. 1 large (not one of our 2 largest :-)) suitcase and another medium suitcase. We'll refill our small case out of these. One duffel bag, with meds, etc in it. One small wheeled case with laptop and other essentials.
We will use the laptop to keep in touch with family. We have an elderly family member and a son on dialysis who is not
doing well. Otherwise, laptop is not needed. We also bought a telephone card. One (out of 3) family members will be
notified by phone where we are that night. We're only going to notify every 2 or 3 days. Not every day. We are going to alternate the calls. Time for us is getting close. We're leaving a week from tomorrow. Looking forward to all of it. Anyway, I always overpack; I don't regret it. This way something comes home clean. (lol)

CRUISES ARE THE BEST!

joann

ps. we're driving East coast to the West coast. (NC to Vancouver)

[Tinknock50]

I travel solo and my entire luggage consists of one carry-on, regardless of the length of the cruise. I pack wisely and use the self-service laundry.Tom,
I plan on doing the same thing on my solo Alaska cruise. Maybe you can tell me exactly what you pack to make my choices easier?

[Tinknock50]

I am curious.....does the airline consider a garment bag a carry-on? I was thinking I might take that and put all my clothes in it with the suit. I will also have a small packpack for my camera stuff, toiletries, etc. that I will put under the seat.

[RevNeal]

Maybe you can tell me exactly what you pack to make my choices easier?

I know that Tom doesn't normally fly either to or from the ports of embarkation / disembarkation ... he usually rides a bus. That's an excellent reason for having just one bag.

If I were traveling alone and trying to manage with just 1 carry-on, here's what I would bring:

1 pair of jeans
2 pair of slacks (dockers)
2 polo shirts
1 silk casual shirt
2 t-shirts
5 pair of underwear
1 pair of walking/active wear shoes
1 pair of casual shoes (for ship)
1 white dress shirt and tie and / or 1 clergy shirt

I would wear to the port my black suit and a blue button down dress shirt.

In addition to the above, I would bring:

digital camera and accessories
video camera and accessories
iPod and charger
travel Bible and Prayer Book

For Alaska I would add a sweater and a light weight water repellent jacket.

With all of the above I would be able to dress according to the code every night and still have enough to "make do" the rest of the time.

[Tinknock50]

I know that Tom doesn't normally fly either to or from the ports of embarkation / disembarkation ... he usually rides a bus. That's an excellent reason for having just one bag.

If I were traveling alone and trying to manage with just 1 carry-on, here's what I would bring:

1 pair of jeans
2 pair of slacks (dockers)
2 polo shirts
1 silk casual shirt
2 t-shirts
5 pair of underwear
1 pair of walking/active wear shoes
1 pair of casual shoes (for ship)
1 white dress shirt and tie and / or 1 clergy shirt

I would wear to the port my black suit and a blue button down dress shirt.

In addition to the above, I would bring:

digital camera and accessories
video camera and accessories
iPod and charger
travel Bible and Prayer Book

For Alaska I would add a sweater and a light weight water repellent jacket.

With all of the above I would be able to dress according to the code every night and still have enough to "make do" the rest of the time.
Thanks for the input, Revneal