Laundry on Vacation?

[Suntanz]

We are a family of 5 going on Dream soon. Starting to make packing list. This will be our 6th cruise & we have never done laundry on the ship. Just in underwear alone, we will need a total of 35-40 pairs (7 days x 5 people, plus travel day). My question is how many of you do laundry on the ship? If we do laundry, it would allow us to pack half the clothes needed. We are not flying so the extra luggage is not a real big deal. How difficult is it to get a washer & dryer?

[Cruizinman]

We are a family of 5 going on Dream soon. Starting to make packing list. This will be our 6th cruise & we have never done laundry on the ship. Just in underwear alone, we will need a total of 35-40 pairs (7 days x 5 people, plus travel day). My question is how many of you do laundry on the ship? If we do laundry, it would allow us to pack half the clothes needed. We are not flying so the extra luggage is not a real big deal. How difficult is it to get a washer & dryer?

 

Not at all difficult, but you really are over packing :o

[ch27088]

We are a family of 5 going on Dream soon. Starting to make packing list. This will be our 6th cruise & we have never done laundry on the ship. Just in underwear alone, we will need a total of 35-40 pairs (7 days x 5 people, plus travel day). My question is how many of you do laundry on the ship? If we do laundry, it would allow us to pack half the clothes needed. We are not flying so the extra luggage is not a real big deal. How difficult is it to get a washer & dryer?

 

I've cruised on the Carnival Pride and they had laundry facilities there. Washers/dryers, and an iron and ironing board. I don't remember the price, but I would think about $3.00 for each. I find having a laundry room on board is very convenient and one of the reasons why I choose Carnival. I was going on the Norwegian, but they don't have self-laundry rooms. Hope this helps.:)

[CTCruisers]

The Dream has several laundrettes. We have used the laundry rooms on Carnival ships to allow us to bring half of what we would need to pack.

 

The washers and dryers are $3.00 each and they have a vending machine selling soap packets. You will quarters (which can get at the front desk).

 

Keep in mind that there will be others wanting to use the rooms as well.

[topspin1267]

We always do our laundry the day before we get back so we come home with clean clothes. Hate getting home to a weeks worth of laundry :eek:

 

Laundrettes are $3.00 for wash $3.00 for dryer.

 

|If you can find the Purex all in one sheets theyre great to take. It look like a dryer sheet but is detergent, softner, dryer sheet all in one.

 

Also, if you dont want to wiat in line at guest services they have dollar breaking machines in the casino that dispense quarters.

[sgcass123]

Don't most ships have laundry facilities? My family of 4 will be gone for over 2 weeks, and dh wants us to travel light. I'm okay with traveling light as long as we could use the ship's laundering services. It's worth it to me to pay extra to have our laundry done so I can enjoy our vacation and not have to be stuck watching and doing our laundry. So, that is another option for you - have Carnival do it. :)

[mek]

We always do our laundry the day before we get back so we come home with clean clothes. Hate getting home to a weeks worth of laundry :eek:

 

I think I would hate doing a weeks worth of laundry on vacation more! :eek:

[marlynnp]

I've usually do laundry as we'd rather pack light. Last summer it was $3 a load.

 

On the Dream:

 

Name: Launderettes / Ironing Rooms

Locations - Launderettes

Main Deck 2 - midship / across from 2375

Empress Deck 7 - midship / across from 7347

Lido Deck 10 - forward / across from 10262

Locations – Ironing Rooms

Riviera Deck 1 – aft / across from 1411

Upper Deck 6 – midship / across from 6382

Verandah Deck 8 – midship / across from 8395

Vista Deck 9 – midship / across from 9403

Hours: hours posted on the door to the Laundry

Function: Self-Service Launderette / Ironing Room

 

• 2 or 3 washers
  
• 2 or 3 dryers
  
• 1 iron and ironing board
  
• Vending machines dispense small boxes of detergent and water softener
  
• Ironing Room: 2 ironing boards/irons
  

[Suntanz]

My concern is people will use the washer or dryer & just leave their stuff in the machine when the cycle is finished. I don't mind doing the laundry, but just don't want to spend my time in the laundry room waiting on others. Also, what does Carnival charge to do laundry?

[sunlovingirl]

We did two 7 day b2b for our honeymoon this fall. We used the day at the home port as the laundry day...

 

A couple of tips: They actually close the laundry rooms the day you embark/debark until the afternoon (just incase you needed to know that).

 

and my mother does laundry all the time (she's kinda OCD about it) and so I just went in with her once to see which dryers heated the best and then only used those for my clothes. They will be REALLY HOT or not hot at all, so just touch the glass when someone else is running a load, so that you know which ones to use when you want them!

 

I hope that helps... It's not that time consuming, and if you absolutely need a nap, just set an alarm and go get it when it's done and lay back down til the dryer is done! (Multitasking at its best!!)

 

We're doing a B2B2B in May (10 days total) and I bet I'll be using it once. the 3 in 1 sheets are fantastic. So are the pods of detergent if you have someone sensitive to scents/fragrances (ALL free and clear has pods).

 

Have fun!

[calex1976]

I'll be using it once. the 3 in 1 sheets are fantastic. So are the pods of detergent if you have someone sensitive to scents/fragrances (ALL free and clear has pods).

 

Have fun!

 

My GF is allergic to most laundry soaps, so we use the Purex sheets too. They are easy to pack, but we put them in ziplocks. They will make every thing in your luggage smell like the sheets otherwise. We do laundry at least once on board. A damp towel in the dryer works great on wrinkles.

[SadieN]

My concern is people will use the washer or dryer & just leave their stuff in the machine when the cycle is finished. I don't mind doing the laundry, but just don't want to spend my time in the laundry room waiting on others. Also, what does Carnival charge to do laundry?

 

 

Only fight I've ever seen onboard was in the laundryroom on a HAL ship. Two gals weren't too happy to find their clothes in a wet clump on the folding table. They had left and lost track of the time.

 

Purex sheets were great. Unfortunatly they have been discontinued.

[panurse]

I haven't cruised in 2 years, but the last time we went they offered a bag rate one day on the cruise. It was $15 for them to do a paper bag of laundry for you. They aresmall bags but I roll the laundry tight and when it comes back it sulky comes in 3 bags. I have never had a problem with them doing my laundry! I hope they still do this for our June cruise!

[beachlady2]

Funny.... I got into an argument with some women on my last cruise ... Someone had taken their load out of the washer ,putting them in the dryer. I used the washer after their load and the women finally came back and wondered who touched their stuff! Even though those people werent there, i was concerned about,my stuff being in the washer in question. They started talking about cutting people's clothes when she found out who it was. I tried to explain the process at the laundromats, they still didn't get it.hopefully they will never have to use a public laundromat again. If people are going to use the washers and dryers, please by aware there are others waiting to use them. Don't expect your stuff to be there when you come back 3 hours later!

[bride123105]

I did laundry on our first three cruises, but not anymore. Would rather enjoy my vacation even more.

[Colorado Kat]

If you plan on needing the ship irons, don't wait till the afternoon of formal night. There will be lines that day.

[careycouponer]

I have never done laundry onboard, but I must confess that you've made me think how nice it would be to come back with clean clothes...

[girlscruise2011]

I am a family of 5 and have always done laundry onboard. I'm up early before the laundry lines. Go put my clothes in the washer, go get a cup of coffee or 2. Go back in 30 minutes, put my clothes in the dryer, go get breakfast, go back to dryer, fold whats dry, combine damp into one dryer, go sit on balcony, go back.

 

9am, laundry done, and go lay in the sun :)

[bartrise]

Love my dh but he always over packs and still insists on washing. We bring the Tide ready packs you can get them at walmart in the trial size section for $1 :)

[silentbob007]

I'd suggest not trying to do it in port ... had tablemates trying to do laundry on embarkation day (post-Disney trip) and managed to ruin all of their clothes at once due to rust in the lines.

[CheckersMidwest]

I absolutely refuse to cook, clean, or do laundry while on vacation. I might as well stay home. :rolleyes:

 

A couple of years ago, we stayed in a condo on the gulf. Our daughter spent a week at Space Camp the week prior. I needed to wash her clothes from that week and we didn't pack a lot of towels since they take up room. The washer/dryer were smaller capacity & took forever. Could only dry 2 towels at a time, etc. I spent A LOT of my vacation time INSIDE the condo while everyone else was on the beach.

 

I also packed light when we went to the Bahamas once. We had to take our own snorkel gear, etc so had a whole suitcase for just that. Planned to wash clothes mid week. Turns out those washers & dryers were tiny. It was about 1/4 regular size. What should have been 2 quick loads, turned into 8.

 

While everyone else was relaxing on the balcony.....I spent HOURS doing laundry.

 

Never again. I'll pay for that extra suitcase.

[suzinva]

I did a load of laundry on our August cruise on the Pride. Took less than an hour. I did it while were in Freeport, as I wasn't getting off the ship that day. Got 2 rolls of quarters from guest services, worked out fine. It was nice coming home and not having to do as much laundry.

[matj2000]

I don't understand the people think this is a bad idea.

It's not like you are in a totally "relaxed" state and you cannot be doing anything productive whatsoever.

Nobody is really above doing laundry on a cruise. Especially on Carnival..

[pafam4]

I think I would hate doing a weeks worth of laundry on vacation more! :eek:

 

I agree!! My last day of vacation is still my vacation....I can deal with laundry once back home and into the regular routine.

 

But to each his/her own...for some people, not having laundry to do after a vacation may ease their return to the real world! For me, I do not want to spend any vacation hours in the laundry room!

[rlkubi]

Some of the ships use your ship cards instead of change so check first. We are Platinum so always use that but in September when we were on the Spirit to Hawaii we were gone for over three weeks. When we got on the ship we had been gone almost a week so since we only get 3 bags apiece I took the 3-in-1 sheets and did laundry on one of the early sea days. Worked well. Since we always fly we pack lighter and send laundry all the time.