Help unpacking?

The cabin stewards are VERY busy that first day. It is a VERY hectic day as they do a complete turn around in 4 hours. They only have a few hours off that day and I do not think any would be will do to it even with a hefty tip because they just would not have enough hours in the day. Some people seem to think that steward is all theirs and not is not the case. They usually have about 35 cabins and are worked very hard.

The zip lock bags, larger gallon or gallon plus jumbo slider type work great for kiddos. Bring the dresses and hang up clothing on hangers from home and just lift out of luggage and hang. Never enough hangers anyway. Kids will help if they know they can all go check out Camp Carnival after the cabin is put in order.

The cruise will be fun. Try to destress, maybe book some spa time and Zen while the kids are in camp.

Something that might help with your kidlets would be to bring a folding duffle bag large enough for everyone's dirty clothes. Each family member is responsible for putting their own dirty stuff in there every evening keeping the cabin somewhat organized. At the end of the cruise you just zip it and it's ready to go. There is plenty of room now in the suitcases for the kids to pack to disembark without any stress of finding enough room in the suitcases and there's plenty of room for souvenirs.

Just a thought ... :)

I don't see anything wrong with asking the suite steward if he would mind unpacking. Ask if $50 is enough for the 20 or 30 minutes. I know they are busy, stressed and tired. For a $100 I bet they would also pack up.

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In Celebrity's suites you get a Butler and they do pack and unpack for you. Sadly Carnival's Suites are nothing but a larger cabin with few perks.

Really? Not being rude I have just never heard of this. I wouldn’t want anyone handling my never minds and other unmentionables. But I bet my mother in law wouldn’t care. The things you learn.

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LOL ... I have to admit ... I find this very amusing.

Like another poster mentioned, the stewards are swamped for new embarkation and anyone suggesting that even offering some money to have them help and dedicate their time solely to someone to help them unpack is ridiculous.

I am going on a 7 day cruise with my family that includes children. We are traveling on Carnival in suites. My question is does carnival offer any services to help with unpacking and setting up your cabin? I din't expect this to be free and am fine with paying, I am just the type of person that I can't relax until everything is in its place and settled. Thank you in advance for any advice/help!

I can’t imagine how the slight time savings of having someone else put your stuff away would offset the time lost throughout the cruise trying to figure out where they put it. And only so many people can be around the closet at the same time.

As we drive to port, we do mostly garment bags now. So quick and easy to grab a handful of hangers from each bag and hang them in the closet. We even hang bathing suits, shorts and Ts. We tried the shoe organizers for socks and underwear, but that didn’t work out so well, so we have one regular suitcase for that (and shoes). We use the reusable grocery bags inside the suitcase to keep our stuff organized there. One bag per drawer. We’re serious over packers but we enjoy and use most everything we bring because we know where we put everything and it’s easy to find. But I don’t think it takes us even 5 minutes to unpack with this system.

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Ah, the long lost art of buttling. Recognizing that today's typical cruiser group is a middle-class family looking for a relatively all-inclusive (or at least self-contained) vacation, one can understand that having one's own butler must seem like an alien idea.

But a century ago, for a gentleman or family that could afford a true "cruise" (and not just "transportation", as it were), a butler would have been quite normal.

And there are still folks to day that have personal butlers - they might be called "PAs" or somesuch Hollywood term, but they are still around.

So to ask for butler service on a cruise does not seem all that odd to me. However, I would suggest that Carnival is the least-likely cruiseline to offer it.

Ah, the long lost art of buttling. Recognizing that today's typical cruiser group is a middle-class family looking for a relatively all-inclusive (or at least self-contained) vacation, one can understand that having one's own butler must seem like an alien idea.

 

But a century ago, for a gentleman or family that could afford a true "cruise" (and not just "transportation", as it were), a butler would have been quite normal.

 

And there are still folks to day that have personal butlers - they might be called "PAs" or somesuch Hollywood term, but they are still around.

 

So to ask for butler service on a cruise does not seem all that odd to me. However, I would suggest that Carnival is the least-likely cruiseline to offer it.

I don’t like the concept of paying somebody to do something simple that I can do myself more quickly. I loathe valet parking, would never want a secretary at work to take dictation when I can use a word processor. And I book my own travel unless the TA pays me to use them.

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Is there any reason, why you aren't bringing your nanny with you to handle such things? Many people bring hired people to help them manage their kids, and day to day tasks while on vacation.

I don’t like the concept of paying somebody to do something simple that I can do myself more quickly. I loathe valet parking, would never want a secretary at work to take dictation when I can use a word processor. And I book my own travel unless the TA pays me to use them.

 

 

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Oh, I concur completely.

I was just saying that once-upon-a-time, such things would have been very normal for servants to do for you. Of course, in that once-upon-a-time era, most of us, including me, would have been those servants, not the served...

I am going on a 7 day cruise with my family that includes children. We are traveling on Carnival in suites. My question is does carnival offer any services to help with unpacking and setting up your cabin? I din't expect this to be free and am fine with paying, I am just the type of person that I can't relax until everything is in its place and settled. Thank you in advance for any advice/help!

I would suggest packing minimally. I see so many families lugging 10 plus suitcases around. I cant even imagine.

I have learned after every cruise, I still packed too much. I am down to 1 medium sized back for each of myself and my daughter. Now we can carry our own bags and makes it way easier. You don't use most of what you pack---I also have laundry done mid cruise. So I am only packing 4 or so outfits each.

I feel a million times better bring less crap

How much stuff are you bringing? I go to the bar, grab a drink, go back to the cabin and unpack. It only takes like 10 -15 minutes to put everything away.

I am going on a 7 day cruise with my family that includes children. We are traveling on Carnival in suites. My question is does carnival offer any services to help with unpacking and setting up your cabin? I din't expect this to be free and am fine with paying, I am just the type of person that I can't relax until everything is in its place and settled. Thank you in advance for any advice/help!

This can’t be real? Who puts away your laundry into closets and drawers at home? Are we really turning into such an incapable and useless society that we can’t do this kind of stuff ourselves while teaching our kids ?

I don't think it's absurd or silly to ask. Carnival will assist with packing/unpacking if you are doing a B2B and switching cabins. You could always ask your cabin steward.

 

I know people that won't cruise unless they have butler service. On one cruise, I had the option and politely refused because I would freak out if someone was touching my stuff:D.

 

Others have offered good ideas...unpacking for a week isn't that bad.

 

Have fun.:)

Actually on our B2B, we packed the things from drawers and bathroom, the steward took the hang up clothes. In our second cabin, the clothes were hung up, but the suitcases were not unpacked. Not sure the cabin steward would have the time to do much more.

This can’t be real? Who puts away your laundry into closets and drawers at home? Are we really turning into such an incapable and useless society that we can’t do this kind of stuff ourselves while teaching our kids ?

Yeah, and who does the laundry at home, and cooks those meals? Do your own while you cruise, dang it!

Oh wait, that's right, it's a vacation.

Would people please stop with the moral indignation?

Why do I keep picturing the movie Titanic where Rose is unpacking her Picasso's in her stateroom with servants near by?

Ok. No experience with that cruise line. That said, some cruise lines do offer Butler service to qualifying cabins (suites on up) to customers.

We'll actually have a Butler on our upcoming cruise, and I'll guarantee you this. They won't be unpacking or packing our bags.

I can understand having someone on the crew (stewards, butler, etc) explain some of the storage compartments if you are unfamiliar- closets that are double sided, ottomans that open, under bed storage, even that compartment that you didn't realize was there. But someone to unpack your physical belongings?? No thank you. We will unpack our own things. The 15-20 minutes that takes lets you get familiar with the room plus check everything out in the room as far as lights, drawers, sink, toilet, etc to make sure everything is functional and working correctly.

I am going on a 7 day cruise with my family that includes children. We are traveling on Carnival in suites. My question is does carnival offer any services to help with unpacking and setting up your cabin? I din't expect this to be free and am fine with paying, I am just the type of person that I can't relax until everything is in its place and settled. Thank you in advance for any advice/help!

Cruisingbearz,

I too hate the unpacking thing. My suggestion is to send the kids with the significant other and let you do your thing. It will be quicker that way. If you are on your own with the kids, time to set them up some entertainment while you get your rooms prepared. Getting the clothes set up the way you want it will make it a lot easier for you. If you have a child that is old enough to help without making you pull your hair out it is a good time for them to learn. Personally I have a system and I like to know where everything is for easy access. I have had our 6 year granddaughter help out a little bit, but if I had it my way give me my space and I will have it organized in no time :D

I am going on a 7 day cruise with my family that includes children. We are traveling on Carnival in suites. My question is does carnival offer any services to help with unpacking and setting up your cabin? I din't expect this to be free and am fine with paying, I am just the type of person that I can't relax until everything is in its place and settled. Thank you in advance for any advice/help!

Welcome to Cruise Critic! As you have seen already, Carnival does not offer butler services. Could you elaborate why you want this service/what is hindering you from doing the unpacking yourself? While I cannot think of having someone do this for me does not mean that you don't have a legitimate need/want.

Cruisingbearz,

I too hate the unpacking thing. My suggestion is to send the kids with the significant other and let you do your thing. It will be quicker that way. If you are on your own with the kids, time to set them up some entertainment while you get your rooms prepared. Getting the clothes set up the way you want it will make it a lot easier for you. If you have a child that is old enough to help without making you pull your hair out it is a good time for them to learn. Personally I have a system and I like to know where everything is for easy access. I have had our 6 year granddaughter help out a little bit, but if I had it my way give me my space and I will have it organized in no time :D

Excellent suggestions, and I can tell you've been there/done that by the bolded comment.:')

This can’t be real? Who puts away your laundry into closets and drawers at home? Are we really turning into such an incapable and useless society that we can’t do this kind of stuff ourselves while teaching our kids ?

This reply was a bit harsh. :( This isn't home - it's a vacation where people hope to relax. People buy Cheers to pamper themselves, or go to the spa for pampering, or to the Casino for adult playtime, or to the Serenity area for a no-kid quiet time. I don't see the OP's question to be any more than a way to maybe pamper herself for a change by not having to unpack.

I remember going on vacation as a kid and I can't imagine how my mom had any fun because she still had to do all the normal "mom things" like overseeing baths, dressing, logistics etc. If dad decided to do something fun like rent a fishing boat for the day he took the easiest/oldest and it was mom who still had the youngest who needed supervision and care.

I just don't see wanting to have an experience involving pampering being "incapable" or "useless" .

How much stuff are you bringing? I go to the bar, grab a drink, go back to the cabin and unpack. It only takes like 10 -15 minutes to put everything away.

That is how I unpack too! If it takes more than 20 minutes I’ve packed too much!

OP: evaluate how much you really need to take - one drink should get you through the unpacking process - especially if you do the one outfit per ziplock idea - not just for the kids but you and DH too. But, if you absolutely don’t want to unpack I suggest calling Carnival to ask if they have a solution for you. I am sure you are not the first or last person with this request.

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That is a new one on me , you want a stranger to unpack your clothes??? wow

Personally, I see nothing strange about it at all. OP would like to have help and she is willing to pay for it. I like to unpack - it's when I finally relax and know I'm ready to have a great time, but I detest packing back up to go home. I would gladly pay for help with that.

Man, just when I think I've read it all ......

I know, right? Lol! I don’t think I’d want anyone unpacking my luggage. They wouldn’t know where I want to put everything. Are there people out there that actually have someone do their unpacking?? I just find this hilarious! It just made my post-cruise day (got off the NCL Getaway on Sunday)

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This can’t be real? Who puts away your laundry into closets and drawers at home? Are we really turning into such an incapable and useless society that we can’t do this kind of stuff ourselves while teaching our kids ?

Wow - really harsh and judgmental. Who makes your bed and cleans your bathroom at home - unless you have staff, my guess is it's you. Why don't you do that on a cruise instead of letting someone else do it?