Laundromat Etiquette

[eandj]

I swore I would NEVER do laundry while cruising. :o But when we went on our Fjords cruise this summer, we had 3 days pre and 3 days post land time on top of the 12 day cruise. I ended up doing 2 loads the second week. ANd I was glad it was available on Princess. :p On a one week trip/cruise..not needed.

[eandj]

If I find your clothes are ready to be dried, and I need the washer, I'll put yours in the dryer. I'll start it (unless I'm running out of quarters) too - just buy me a coffee or pay it forward!

 

 

~sent using Cruise Critic app~

 

Altho you are trying to be nice, I'm not sure everyone would want you to do that. :o Some things might be more delicate. I wouldn't appreciate you doing it to my clothes. I am at the washer while it is spinning dry.;)

[Mom33]

On a recent cruise it became obvious that some people do not appreciate how busy a laundromat on board ship can get. I thought I would float a few ideas of things people who are using the laundromat should be mindful of.

1. If you put a load of washing on please make it back in time to take your washing out of the machine once it has finished washing.

2. If someone takes your washing out of the machine because you are not there don't complain. Most people are considerate and put it in a neat pile, preferably on top of a drier.

3. Try to ensure that the wash is not too big. The driers struggle to dry a very large load of washing in the time of one cycle. This can mean the washing can take up to 1 1/2hrs to dry completely.

4. Be nice to people who are in the laundromat waiting for a washing machine or drier to become available. They may not be as well organised as you so be helpful and considerate.

 

This is true. I break up the large load into two loads, two washers and two dryers. It gets done a lot faster and I'm not stuffing money into the dryer slots. :D

[giselleacttwo]

Altho you are trying to be nice, I'm not sure everyone would want you to do that. :o Some things might be more delicate. I wouldn't appreciate you doing it to my clothes. I am at the washer while it is spinning dry.;)

 

 

Ditto. I wash lots of delicates that do just fine in the washer but would be ruined in the dryer. Although I'm extremely careful to be back before my load is done in the washer, who knows what could happen. I might be on my balcony requiring rescue or somehow held up. :o

[Phastphil]

We are leaning toward packng less and doing laundry. When it comes down to paying extra for the luggage and carrying it around, it is wearing on us. Add to the mix that one of us is blind and that removes an arm for carrying (as she needs it to hold onto me). Not there yet but discussing it.

If we go for more than 7 days, I am sure we will be doing laundry to simplify packing and carrying--- thus reducing the stress before and after the R&R.

 

Some good tips here. Part of the laundry issue lies with how much you bring with you.I will put my clothes that I plan to take with me on the bed at home and then I will put half of them back. I've never needed (on a Carribean cruise) more than one pair of long pants. (Excluding formal wear) You might be amazed at how few clothes you can get by on.;)

 

The longest cruise for us has been 10 days. I will do laundry once during a 7 day cruise and will keep the loads small. Like others, I bring my own pods or sheets and I will try and pick a time where it's not busy. (Early dinner is a great suggestion)

The giant zip-loc bags are great for dealing with laundry issues (packing space, soaking stained items, etc) and they can be disposed of in due course. As we generally go down two days befroe the cruise, I will do laundry on day two or three of the cruise, resulting in five days worth of clothes to wash. Keeping your luggage light when you come allows you to get something new to wear at your destination.

Doing laundry can be okay if you take it easy and remember that you can get your cabin steward to help with specific issues. I've never been dissapointed with the job the ship does with my tux and shirts.

[Happy ks]

It's not like you're beating your clothes on a rock at the river side ;)

 

It takes about 2 minutes to start the wash, same with the dryer. A few more minutes to empty the dryer and you have a total of maybe 15-20 minutes to do a couple loads, inclusive of walking to the laundry room.

 

When we cruise on RCI, we just send out. I swear it takes me more time to fill out the laundry form than it does to do laundry. Then I have to wash some delicates in the cabin sink.

[rdsqrl]

That's precisely why we always bring our own soap AND quarters. I do not want to hunt down either one when on a cruise. I want to get in the laundry room and get out!

 

And, I agree - first seating dinner time is always a good time to do laundry - or a big port day. Just don't do it late at night. I got locked out once from my drying clothes. Had to get a security guy to let me back in to get them.

I did the same thing! I meant to nip upstairs right after dinner and collect my stuff from the dryer but totally forgot. So my laundry spent the night in Dryer #1. This was the night before our first sea day, and the last thing I wanted to do after five full days was get up at oh-dark-thirty (okay, 8am) and retrieve my clothes from halfway across the ship. Most unpleasant. Great lesson in not forgetting in the future . . .

 

I didn't want to call security because I had already called them the first morning when I needed to use the iron before my early excursion and the laundry room wasn't open yet. I felt like a second call would be pressing [no pun intended] my luck . . .

[Wehwalt]

About a year ago, since I do a fair amount of cruising and other sorts of touring, I eliminated whites from what I wear on the road. Makes things a lot easier. I am Elite now and take happy advantage of the laundry privilege but I still don't bring white clothes.

 

And when I had to do my laundry onboard (or, still, while traveling not on Princess), I have a kit with quarters, pods, and fabric softener sheets that sour a lot like the one mentioned upthread. And I don't iron.

Edited January 18, 2014 by Wehwalt

[paul929207]

About a year ago, since I do a fair amount of cruising and other sorts of touring, I eliminated whites from what I wear on the road. Makes things a lot easier. I am Elite now and take happy advantage of the laundry privilege but I still don't bring white clothes.

 

And when I had to do my laundry onboard (or, still, while traveling not on Princess), I have a kit with quarters, pods, and fabric softener sheets that sour a lot like the one mentioned upthread. And I don't iron.

I bet if you had been wearing white, someone would have seen you on your balcony the other day. :)

[DrivesLikeMario]

I did the same thing! I meant to nip upstairs right after dinner and collect my stuff from the dryer but totally forgot. So my laundry spent the night in Dryer #1. This was the night before our first sea day, and the last thing I wanted to do after five full days was get up at oh-dark-thirty (okay, 8am) and retrieve my clothes from halfway across the ship. Most unpleasant. Great lesson in not forgetting in the future . . .

 

I didn't want to call security because I had already called them the first morning when I needed to use the iron before my early excursion and the laundry room wasn't open yet. I felt like a second call would be pressing [no pun intended] my luck . . .

 

Too funny! The security guy let me stay in the laundry room while my clothes finished drying. I plopped on the somewhat questionably clean floor and read for half an hour. It was pure peace and quiet! :D

Edited January 18, 2014 by DrivesLikeMario

[generichandle]

I have a Kindle for laundry. I never leave it alone.

 

I have never ironed clothing in my life. HATE that creasy flat stuff. Give me

a good wrinkle every time! ;)

 

Doug

[Eileen G]

I did the same thing! I meant to nip upstairs right after dinner and collect my stuff from the dryer but totally forgot. So my laundry spent the night in Dryer #1. This was the night before our first sea day, and the last thing I wanted to do after five full days was get up at oh-dark-thirty (okay, 8am) and retrieve my clothes from halfway across the ship. Most unpleasant. Great lesson in not forgetting in the future . . .

 

I didn't want to call security because I had already called them the first morning when I needed to use the iron before my early excursion and the laundry room wasn't open yet. I felt like a second call would be pressing [no pun intended] my luck . . .

 

We did the same thing. it took so long to get a dryer DH ran down durning dinner right before desert. This was a smaller ship so it only took a few minutes. It was the last day of a 10 day cruise with no sea days so we were very tired. Got back to our cabin and packed our bags then went to bed. The next day on the train into Rome my DH asked if we ever got the clothes out of the dryer. What!! Oh no!! We left the clothes. Fortunately there weren't too many as we were just washing a few last things before we left the ship since the washers and dryers were free on this cruise line. Believe it or not I contacted the cruise line and we actually got the clothes back after we returned home.

[sayaguru]

:D:D:D

 

I never thought about my clothes being flat :p

 

Honestly, I have had numerous people at work stop me and ask me how I get my clothes to look so nice. I tell them I iron them and they look at me like I have 2 heads.

 

My husband is better at ironing than the dry cleaners. I call him Iron Man.

 

Haha. We got washing done in Bali and my husband asked how they get the crease lines in his clothes. haha Smart Ar^e. I hate ironing.

I put everything away and iron as I need it.

 

After day 3 on my last cruise the laundromat near our room was NEVER empty. There were always several people in there. Sometimes there were heated voices. Apparently on the cruise before ours someone was removed from the ship after an iron incident??? It came to blows apparently. :eek:

[cherrybear]

We always take our own soap and quarters. I don't like strangers messing with my clothes and I've had stuff stolen at a Laundromat on land. When it's time for laundry I take it and my Kindle and stay with it. It's usually pretty relaxing; it's warm and often smells good.

[shellbeachjim]

I have a Kindle for laundry. I never leave it alone.

 

I have never ironed clothing in my life. HATE that creasy flat stuff. Give me

a good wrinkle every time! ;)

 

Doug

I have my Kindle and either my iPhone or iPod for listening for music. I stay with my clothes and try to be as efficient as possible. The usual holdup is waiting for dryers. They tend to take longer than the washers, so sometimes there is a wait. I will iron anything which really needs it, but only if absolutely necessary.

 

I'm the one who does the laundry while on vacation. My DW is on vacation too, so it's my small part to make her vacation more enjoyable. Many times I'll do the laundry while she's up at the spa getting a massage. ;)

[skoi13]

Okay-- we're going to be cruising Princess for the first time this spring and want to clarify-- you need actual cash money quarters for laundry? Our experience is mostly Disney-- where you can just swipe your room key/charge card for laundry.

 

Thanks in advance for clarification. Oldest son and I will be doing an 11 night Alaskan cruise, and I know we'll be doing laundry. (Though not as much when all six of us cruise).

 

And the tips are spot on.

[piper28]

After day 3 on my last cruise the laundromat near our room was NEVER empty. There were always several people in there. Sometimes there were heated voices. Apparently on the cruise before ours someone was removed from the ship after an iron incident??? It came to blows apparently. :eek:

 

I've seen some pretty antsy lines of people waiting on the R class ships. There's only one laundry room, and even though it's a small ship, it can make for some competitiveness at getting to the laundry. (Since they tend to do longer cruises, it does tend to get used a lot too.)

[Woobstr112G]

So, if I wait my turn to use a washing machine, I should expect some other random passenger to advise me how much laundry I may put in at one time?

 

I don't think so.

 

Agreed.....:):):)

 

Bob

[Mississippian]

I put my clothes in the dryer once only to return five minutes later and find them placed on top of the dryer. So I removed the clothes and put mine back in.

 

It seems some bozo from a country which will remain nameless had walked up to my dryer and opened the door. The dryer stopped, of course, so he took this as proof that the "washing machine" was through. So he took my clothes out of the dryer, put his clothes in and poured a box of soap in the lint tray and turned it on.

 

Of course, I didn't realize this, so when I took his clothes out and reclaimed the dryer they got soap all over them. Needless to say, when the guy showed back up I delivered unto him one of the greatest dog-cussings of all time.

[Wehwalt]

I've seen some pretty antsy lines of people waiting on the R class ships. There's only one laundry room, and even though it's a small ship, it can make for some competitiveness at getting to the laundry. (Since they tend to do longer cruises, it does tend to get used a lot too.)

 

I'm mostly a small ship cruiser and did a couple of 30 days on the Ocean and Pacific Princesses. I never saw any lines, but there was the time I brought down a hefty bag of laundry at 7:57 with the laundry supposedly opening at 8, to find all machines in use. Afternoons were often a good time to find a vacant machine.

 

Yes, you need quarters for the machines. $2 per wash, $2 per dry, plus some amount if you are foolish enough to rely on Princess for laundry supplies. You can bring the quarters with you but they also sell them in packets of $5 or $10 (depending on ship) at the customer service desk. They will even let you put them on your room bill (so it's on my list of things to do in case I ever have extra OBC, assuming I can cash them in elsewhere on the ship, maybe the casino!)

 

When I became Elite, it was worth it for the peace of mind of not having to worry about laundry.

Edited January 18, 2014 by Wehwalt

[Wehwalt]

It's not like you're beating your clothes on a rock at the river side ;)

 

It takes about 2 minutes to start the wash, same with the dryer. A few more minutes to empty the dryer and you have a total of maybe 15-20 minutes to do a couple loads, inclusive of walking to the laundry room.

 

When we cruise on RCI, we just send out. I swear it takes me more time to fill out the laundry form than it does to do laundry. Then I have to wash some delicates in the cabin sink.

 

The problem is, if the laundry room is popular, you wind up organizing your whole afternoon on a relaxing sea day around this. And you don't dare be late so you are generally there early when it is "done". I have never had the experience (and now that I am Elite, never will I hope) of someone taking my clothes out of the washer to use it, but I generally was there a few minutes early, so I either had to stand watching the timer countdown or stand in the hall. Either way, I was glad when I had warm, clean clothes in my stateroom closet!

[Saymyname]

Originally Posted by Wehwalt

About a year ago, since I do a fair amount of cruising and other sorts of touring, I eliminated whites from what I wear on the road. Makes things a lot easier. I am Elite now and take happy advantage of the laundry privilege but I still don't bring white clothes.

 

And when I had to do my laundry onboard (or, still, while traveling not on Princess), I have a kit with quarters, pods, and fabric softener sheets that sour a lot like the one mentioned upthread. And I don't iron.

 

 

 

 

I bet if you had been wearing white, someone would have seen you on your balcony the other day. :)

 

 

Like :D

[Ethel5]

..............................SNIP.....................

3. Try to ensure that the wash is not too big. The driers struggle to dry a very large load of washing in the time of one cycle. This can mean the washing can take up to 1 1/2hrs to dry completely.

 

So, if I wait my turn to use a washing machine, I should expect some other random passenger to advise me how much laundry I may put in at one time? I don't think so.

 

I think the OP was trying to save people time by reminding them to not overload the dryers because it will take forever to dry.

[Wehwalt]

I bet if you had been wearing white, someone would have seen you on your balcony the other day. :)

 

Especially if I had attached it to a piece of furniture and lowered it over the railing on that windy evening.

 

Alternatively, I saw there is a box a level down on the outside walkway below my balcony, BRIDGE PYROTECHNICS. Surely it would be excusable in the name of rescue? And it would entertain the passengers too.

[ellie1145]

If I find your clothes are ready to be dried, and I need the washer, I'll put yours in the dryer. I'll start it (unless I'm running out of quarters) too - just buy me a coffee or pay it forward!

 

I usually have to iron down my collar tips and cuffs on formal night. Last time I did this they started turning black - - my tip is to check the darn iron before touching your whites with it! :D

 

 

~sent using Cruise Critic app~

 

That's very kind and thoughtful of you, but I would have a fit if I returned to find all my washing in the drier as I am careful to only dry items that won't shrink, and the result of putting everything in the drier could be very expensive - and annoying!

 

Having said that, I am careful to return in good time to the washer and sit with my kindle until its done. I've always found the laundry a very friendly place and have had lots of interesting conversations with people.

 

Mind you, I must say the exception is on some British ships where the laundry room always seems to be packed and Brits seem very territorial over their washing machines. On P and O ships we would find EVERY machine already packed with dirty washing and not running the minute the doors were opened - seems that people put their dirty washing in the machines just as the doors were closing and left them overnight so that they would be first in line the next morning. All very admirable IF they actually turned up on time the next morning, but pretty frustrating to find all the machines full of dirty washing and none of them actually turned on. I for one, have no intention of removing DIRTY washing from a machine!

Edited January 18, 2014 by ellie1145