Ladies, Do you take a purse?

[OCruisers]

Always take "our" purse (somewhat small with a shoulder strap and lightweight) ... for the stuff DH & I want to have with us. :)

 

LuLu

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[Ramrac]

I go everywhere with my purse, but it is too heavy and bulky to take on a cruise, so I just take a wristlet and put what I need in it.

[aggie_gal]

I take my regular purse with me on the boat, but then it gets shoved under the bed until we disembark. For the ship and it ports, I have a mini-crossbody that I keep cards, cash, passports and IDs, chapstick, drink coupons(!!) small sunscreen, camera in. In ports hubby takes a backpack and I sometimes take a tote bag that zips close. That way, nobody can reach in and take something. I only take a tote bag if we don't have enough room in the backpack. I still keep the important stuff in the crossbody and wear it unless I'm in the water. It's really hard to steal it unless someone just grabs the entire strap and breaks it off. Plus, it still keeps my hands free.

 

I used to carry a backpack, but I think they're too easy to pickpocket, especially when people are bumping into each other and can easily cause a distraction to steal something. Maybe it's just me, but I don't have a lot of faith in people and I just don't want to take a chance of having something stolen. In the backpack hubby carries is usually just a set of dry clothes and towels and maybe a couple bottles of water.

[Sparky2]

I take a small purse because we go in at least a day early. But on the cruise I never use a purse. I either use a lanyard for the S&S card or pocket. I am very low maintenance though.

 

I do the same. I have my S&S and cash for casino in a small "wallet" which hangs around my neck. I can slip it under my top when necessary.

 

I do have a small cross-over purse that I take when I'm in port.

 

For the MDR on Elegant Night, I have a tiny dress clutch purse to hold my camera. That's the only time I take my camera to the MDR.

[lovecarnivalcruises]

I carry a big purse as my carry on. It is big enough to carry my meds, wine, and other essentials. It stays in the cabin the entire curse. I bring a very small flat purse with a long strap for around the ship and ports. I also bring a clutch purse for elegant nights.

[pohlerbear]

I take a small hipster that I carry all four of our S&S cards as well as our passports when we are off the boat. I can also fit my phone and a chapstick in it. I had it with me anytime we left the room. I have to have a set place for the S&S cards so I know they won't get lost.

 

I have two younger kids, so I brought my big 31 metro tote, which I would use to carry their electronics / playing cards etc if we were going to a show early.

 

In port, I would take the hipster and DH had a small backpack for sunscreen, water, the camera and souvenirs.

[erby2283]

I bring three things and use all three depending on where I am.

 

#1 is a passport wallet that is big enough to hold my passport (which I leave on the ship once I board) but it's big enough to hold money and id's. I bring that in my backpack with I leave the ship.

 

#2 is my lanyard - big enough for my S&S card and ID. That also comes with me at all times.

 

#3 - my little coach wristlet. I take this with me in the evenings on the ship. Good for carrying lip gloss, your S&S card, small camera, etc.

[thistoo]

I have a Chapstick dependency and very few of my 'cruise clothes' have pockets (I wear a lot of skirts) so I can't be without some type of clutch or wristlet, at least. As long as it's big enough for my S&S card and a lip gloss, that's all I usually need. Sometimes a camera, just in case. In port everything goes in my beach bag.

[nodogkisses]

Thank you for your responses!

 

shoppingfever, we love these kinds of threads and you'll keep getting so many different answers--at leaast until they move it to the fashion boards, but we can enjoy it while it lasts.

 

My 2 cents:

I take a variety of things for my "stuff". I do have a "main wristlet" that holds my bare necessities--S & S Card, license, inhaler, lipstick & lipgloss/eyeliner, tissues, iphone, $1's, etc.

 

Clutches for evening to match whatever I'm wearing. A Cross body bag for walking around ship when not dressed up. Beach Tote with main wristlet thrown in there along with additional items I'll need for Serenity Deck all day long and also during Port Days.

 

I transfer my stuff from my main wristlet to my clutch for evening.

 

I take different Beach Totes/Hats to match my day outfits, too. I know a lot of people would think I'm ridiculous, but it's how I roll. I know I carry around a lot of "baggage" but I like to--except in Port, DH usually carries it. Lol.

 

P.S. This thread was way more fun that the ones about us having no more ships in Baltimore, Norfolk or Boston. :(

[dixieva]

I have a very small "cruise only" purse. I need my reading glasses to read the dinner menu so have to have something for those. It is only large enough for glasses, lipstick, gambling money and my S & S card.

 

When moving around the ship during the day I don't carry a purse. I love the lanyards for my ship card.

 

When getting off the ship in ports I bought a Cruise Critic bag. You can find it here in the CC store. I love it. It has a zipper section in the center and an open section on each side of that. The strap is adjustable so you can wear it however you want. And it's not too large but big enough for my wallet which has my id, my glasses, tissues etc. And it was cheap!

[Lazfruity]

I always carry a small crossbody purse that I can store my Chapstick/gloss, sea pass card, the day schedule, and my kindle. I lightweight and extremely convenient so that I don't have to keep going back to my cabin.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[CaliGril]

I use my Coach wristlet onboard, and a backpack in port. :)

[crusinfamof4]

Nope, no back pack, nothing. DH loves the fact we never have to wait in lines to have our bags checked. Even at home, I don't carry one. Why do I need to carry 10000 things with me all the time? I think it stemmed from having a diaper bag and purse and whatever else. I prefer to be hands free and same goes for the cruise. No need for it. We will get our S&S cards punched and have wrist things for them. I like the idea of a purse in theory and I enjoy looking at them, but I hate carrying them, in any situation.

[PSkinner]

I use a cross body purse to get to ship. clutch for formals, and a beach bag for shore excursions. I also have a waterproof fanny pack for all the important things I don't want to lose (SS card, $$, passports, Dl)

[CaribbeanLuver]

My purse is kind of like a 3rd arm to me so I would never go that far away. That being said, once on the ship I only carry a little lanyard purse thingy around my neck which has my sign and sail card and cash if I plan on going to the casino. When going off the ship for excursions, I carry a backpack or beach bag which carry the things I would normally have in my purse. (My wallet goes in the safe on the ship immediately and stays there for the duration.)

[Smiling Cruiser]

I carry my college ID holder on the ship, in my shorts pocket. (Not just for students anymore:D ) Holds S&S card, drivers license, credit card if leaving the ship, cash, and soda or drink coupons. I use my wristlet for dinner, and beach bag if heading to the beach. My beach bag came with a small drawstring fabric backpack. I use that if I want to walk around the port. I never put the valuables in there, just small items so I remain hands free. I always carry the ship and port info if I leave the ship.

[poptart]

I'm in the small crossover purse club. It goes in the safe and stays there. I wear a lanyard for my S&S.

 

Small beach bag for lido days got to have sunscreen, magazines and puzzle books..nothing I would get upset about if stolen. Electronics and phone stay in the cabin.

 

Ports big beach bag and dh has big pockets that zip up!

 

 

Now a question about those wristlets....don't you wind up laying them down? I think I would.

 

may be telling my age but I miss the days that fanny packs were cool! So handy for everthing. :D:eek::D

[irishnyc]

For on board I have this wristlet from Thirty One

 

 

It fits my phone (for pictures), my S&S, lip color, and some singles. I can just toss it in a tote bag if I'm out on deck and need sunscreen, a book, etc. Then when we're ready for something where I don't need to carry anything else, i can just take the wristlet with me.

[cruse2loose]

I do not carry a purse. I usually always have my camera bag, so put my S & S card in there. I have a beach bag I take when in port and put my camera bag in a large ziplock bag and go go go :)

[ShakyBeef]

I take a small purse or wrislet on my cruises so I can put my S&S card, lipgloss, gum, camera, hair clip and other small items I like to carry with me around the ship. Then when getting off at port I throw my wrislet in my beach bag.

 

 

This is what I do (switching to an evening bag for dinner and after, each evening). But instead of carrying my small purse/wristlet in a beach bag onshore, I carry this Pac-Safe (tamper-/theft-resistent traveler's bag) with my necessary and desired items:

 

 

I usually wear sundresses and skirts on cruises; and they don't have pockets. And I like to have a few more items with me at all times than would fit in pockets, anyway.:)

[Lovefuninthesun]

I have an awesome Baggalini crossbody travel purse and wallet that have been on many trips with me, including to Africe twice.

 

I carry the purse into port so I can carry passport, camera, water, etc.

 

Around the ship and to the MDR, I attach the removable shoulder strap to the wallet and it becomes a teeny hipster.

 

This system works great for me, anyway!:)

[hockeyluver]

I dont carry a purse at home, so nope I dont bring one on the ship either. As my dd would say thats why men always have pockets... to carry our stuff :p

[dna1990]

Not taking a purse is what I LOVE about cruising. (we do carry one backpack but that is just to get on ship or to go on excursion)

 

Just get a lanyard for your S&S card, punch a hole in corner and you are good to go!

 

Purses are man's way of keeping us down. We don't really need all that crap in a purse. I don't even carry one on dry land any more. Have a animal skin wallet case that holds my phone and id/credit cards. Fits in my back pocket!

 

(quick in and out of vehicle for safety too)

 

Free yourselves! Try it!

 

(background: my mother is a packrat and her purse no matter what size, is stuffed. Even her smallest is at least 5 lbs)

[Lovefuninthesun]

Purses are man's way of keeping us down. We don't really need all that crap in a purse.

 

Hahaha!:D

 

Unfortunately, though, I have to have a few things with me -- medication, Epi-pen, Chapstick. :o

 

But you're right -- we do carry too much crap!

[ShakyBeef]

Not taking a purse is what I LOVE about cruising. (we do carry one backpack but that is just to get on ship or to go on excursion)

 

Just get a lanyard for your S&S card, punch a hole in corner and you are good to go!

 

Purses are man's way of keeping us down. We don't really need all that crap in a purse. I don't even carry one on dry land any more. Have a animal skin wallet case that holds my phone and id/credit cards. Fits in my back pocket!

 

(quick in and out of vehicle for safety too)

 

Free yourselves! Try it!

 

(background: my mother is a packrat and her purse no matter what size, is stuffed. Even her smallest is at least 5 lbs)

 

LOL, I like your humourous take on it.:p

 

But, like so many things in life, there is no single choice that is perfect for all of us. Although I 'don't really need all that crap' in my small cruise purse, it makes my cruise more enjoyable to have the few things that I want with me within easy reach at all times.

 

Heck, I don't really need to take a cruise. But I want to. And when I cruise, I pack what I want and carry with me what I want to add to my comfort and enjoyment of my cruise. For me, carrying a few items in a purse actually allows me to be more care-free.:)

 

And I strongly dislike lanyards or anything other than a lightweight necklace around my neck. But hey, that's just me.:cool: I won't ever try to convert non-purse carriers to my way of doing things, though. It doesn't affect me in any way how others choose to carry their belongings, or whether they choose to carry anything at all. Different strokes. Happy sails, y'all!:)