Princess Stateroom Organization

[EmilyColwell]

Hey cruisers!
 

I am leaving for my 15 day Hawaiian cruise in a short 5 days and have already been thinking about the best way to set up my stateroom. 

 

I already have a pop up hamper, magnets and electric tea lights for my bathroom to help with room organization and to optimize the space in there.

I am curious what you all do to help keep the room clean, organized and functional. Lets hear those tips!

 

Thanks! 

[Cruiser_1977]

Emily with whom are you sharing a cabin? I travel solo and don't take any of those items.

[shanecindy21403]

Electric tea lights? That's a new one. It all depends on what type of cabin and how many are going to be using it. When I sail solo I don't have to worry about space any cabin has lots of space. If there are multiple people in the same cabin I'd recommend an over the door shoe organizer for toiletries and etc.

[lola2013]

I travel both with a friend or solo (when her husband decides to sail with us).  Either way, I believe Princess has the best closets... so much room for hanging items and on the shelves in the closet.  Whether I am sharing or not, I always bring an over the door organizer.  Mine has about 24 pockets that I use for shoes and/or other miscellaneous stuff like suntan lotion, etc.  I also use packing cubes so that everything that comes out of my suitcase goes either in a drawer or on a shelf "as is."  Also, keep in mind that Princess has the self serve laundromats on each deck so you don't need to pack as much...I usually do laundry just one early morning...in and out with clean clothes in about 90 minutes.

[1965]

27 minutes ago, JennyB1977 said:

Emily with whom are you sharing a cabin? I travel solo and don't take any of those items.

I travel with my husband. We don't take any of those items. Instead of a popup hamper use a piece of luggage as your hamper. I keep one standing on end in the closet with the top unzipped. We put dirty laundry in it. Not sure what tea lites are, but I don't think I'd  waste a drop of luggage space on them. If you feel you need some sort of night lite (we never have),  some cruisers leave the TV on with sound muted. Also, the bathroom outlet is for elec razors only. You can't use it for tea lites. I've never needed magnets, but they don't take up much space, so take them if you must.

Edited October 2, 2019 by 1965

[gotta cruise again]

1 hour ago, EmilyColwell said:

Hey cruisers!

 

I am curious what you all do to help keep the room clean, organized and functional. Lets hear those tips!

 

I do find that the cabins on Princess have plenty of storage, like others have said. And I don’t bring any specific storage items other than using packing cubes (used as previously mentioned) and we take a large plastic reusable shopping bag that when unfolded, fits very nicely on the little shelf at one end of the closet to hold our dirty clothes. The bag is easy to carry to the laundry to do some wash (only DH uses our elite laundry perk and then only for some items).

 

But here are some things we do to help keep things tidy in the cabin; hope some of the ideas are helpful!! Keep in mind that these tips are based on ocean view/balcony/mini suite cabins with the walk-in closets and tall storage area. I imagine some could be adapted to other cabin layouts too.

• I use a drinking glass on the desk to hold all my makeup brushes, liner pencils, mascara, etc. Keeps things handy and they don’t stray
• Of the 3 shelves in the bath: DH gets the top for his items, I take middle just for my stuff, and bottom is used for items we both use like our electric toothbrush handle, toothpaste, sunscreen, etc.
• one of us will pick up the room before we leave it for the day and are ready for it to be serviced in the AM: straighten papers, put away CPAP, put away items from sink counter, put away any clothes, etc.
• closet: we nest our small suitcase into larger one and might put any tote bag in there too then store the case in the closet on the floor, under the clothing rod, in the far corner next to the tall shelving unit. If needed, we’ll stack another on top but if not, then DH puts his shorter hanger clothes at the far end of the rod so that they won’t drag on the suitcase.
• we designate one drawer (location may vary depending on cabin type and layout) just for electronic things: cords, tablet (if it doesn’t fit in safe), headphones, camera stuff, etc.
• put shoes away and keep them pretty straight on the floor in the closet!!
• I don’t usually take any clip-type magnets but I do have a long, flexible strip of magnet (I think it was originally part of a refrigerator to keep the door closed!) that goes on the wall to hold excursion tickets and any piece of paper we don’t want to lose
• bring an envelope to hold receipts for any purchases so they are all together in the off chance you need them for customs; I just bring some envelope that comes with a bill for return payment that I would throw away due to online payment

Those are what I can think of quickly; will post if something else comes to mind.

[XBGuy]

I'm guessing that the tea lights that Emily referenced are battery operated.  My wife always brings something similar that actually look like candles.

[voljeep]

try amazon - battery operated tea lights

Edited October 2, 2019 by voljeep

[Daisyloo]

The battery operated tea lights make great night-lights for the bathroom.   

[Piperpals]

I assume as you are from Langley that you are taking the Star from Vancouver so won't have any luggage restrictions (very jealous).  We have done this trip seven times and never needed over-the-door organizer or hamper, here is our hints:

 

• we have a small carry-on type bag that I pack all of our toiletries, hair dryer, curler etc. plus extra items we may need (sewing kit, first aid, nail kit etc.). I remove items that I will need on regular basis and leave the rest in the bag which stores neatly on the shelf under this sink and is still very accessible. I check this bag in with my suitcases so I don't have to carry it about at embarkation, and I carry on makeup, bathing suits and other important items (wine) in my backpack.
• Put toothbrushes and toothpaste in one of the drinking glasses in the bathroom and razors in the other and put these on the first shelf. Put all other regularly used items on the second and third shelf and leave make-up in zipped makeup bag on the counter to one side.
• Use hooks on back of bathroom door for robes, bathing suits
• Put hair dryer, brushes etc. in drawer in desk near the electrical outlet where they will be used.
• Store suitcases under the bed, leave anything that you won't need until you get to the islands in them (ie: backpacks, rain jacket, umbrella's, snorkel equipment etc.)
• We use the paper laundry bags they supply to put our laundry in, just leave it sitting in end of closet. Bring on laundry pods to make easier and save a couple of dollars but make sure you put in something that will prevent them bursting. I have an eyeglasses case that I use.
• Lots of room on floor of closet for shoes.
• Try to hang in the closet as many of your clothes as you can, including t-shirts etc. as closet space is pretty generous and leaves other areas tidy. The remainder of clothes should fit on the shelves in the cupboard.
• Put excursion tickets in the safe with wallets, passports so that they don't get mixed up with all paper accumulated over the week and we know where they are.
• You will received multiple pieces of paper daily (patter, spa, art promotions etc.) , discard the ones you don't want in the bin right away and find a spot for the ones you want to keep. I put them under the room services binder on the desk so I know that I have looked at them.
• We will use the chair at the desk for putting clothes over during the day but will put them away in the morning before leaving so they are not in the room attendants way.
  
  
  Hope you have a wonderful time and wish we were going.
  Helen

[skynight]

Star Princess?

Closets are 6 feet long and open with a shelf. There is a wardrobe closet with at least 5 shelves, one of which has the cabin safe. There are two nightstands with two drawers each. A desk/dressing table with 4 drawers and a wall mounted hair dryer. The bathroom has vanity space on each side of the sink with 3 small shelves, plus an electrical outlet for shaver, toothbrush, etc. There is a fridge with storage on top and above that is the TV. There is space around the TV to place some items. There is plenty of space for storage. Normal sized suitcases fit under the bed as do your carry ons. Not sure why you want tea lights. If they are for a night light, just bring small plug in one(s). Store or place as little as you can on the bathroom vanity. We use the glasses on the shelves to keep toothbrushes, shaver, other items. Items like toothpaste, shave cream, hairbrush also fit on these shelves. Hang as much in the closest as you can. Place the rest on the wardrobe shelves, closet shelves, or in drawers. Do not live out of a suitcase.

We have magnet hooks. You can get them at most home stores. The cabin walls are metal. The hooks are handy for to hang hats, and other items.

You really don't need a hamper, but if you do bring one it will fit on the closet floor. We use the paper laundry bags provided on the ship for our dirty laundry. We also pack a few small disposable aluminum trays. They are handy to keep medicine, sun screen, and other items.

Each day, as received, throw out all the excess advertising paper you receive from the ship. Just don't let it pile up.

We use the large zip lock bags to pack our luggage. Toward the end of the cruise we start repacking dirty laundry back into these zip locks and place them into the luggage. For our carry ons we have daypacks. These can be emptied and used for excursions if required.

Put everything away all the time, after you wake up, before bedtime.

If you are in a balcony cabin bring along some squeeze type clothes pins. You can clip wet clothes to the balcony chairs on port days. 

Edited October 2, 2019 by skynight

[CruiseVA]

Wow - I don't have much to add, but, one thing we've found handy are magnetic hooks, that way we can hang stuff on the wall, like day-bags, hats, or even paper that we want to reference. I also have  battery operated motion sensitive nightlights that we use at home in our guest bathroom, top of stairs and bedroom, sometimes I bring one and put it in the bathroom. I put it on the desk in the cabin once, but all you had to do was roll over and it would kick on. Usually we just leave the light on in the bathroom with the door closed.

We also use the laundry bag either from the hotel (we always fly to port the day before), or, from the ship.

Packing cubes are great, as unpacking takes less than a few minutes.

Luggage goes under the bed.

Papers, like the stoopid Effy ad's get tossed immediately, Pitter-Patter hangs out, sometimes I stash them in the drawer at the end of the day.

I get top shelf in bathroom, wife get's the other 2. 🙂

 

[PaperSniper4]

16 hours ago, Daisyloo said:

The battery operated tea lights make great night-lights for the bathroom.   

 

So are the ones that turn off until you approach them. We have one we've been using for about 5 years now. Runs on a 9v battery. Those "tealights" are nice because they are small, light and inexpensive, but I'd rather have something that will shut off on its own, and whose battery I know is fresh.

 

I just checked and the price is much lower than a few years ago.......

 

Here is one example: https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Powered-Automatic-Bedroom-Bathroom/dp/B07TKV8Z3G/ref=sr_1_16?keywords=battery+powered+motion+sensor+night+light&qid=1570104802&sr=8-16

[Adventures ahead]

I'm more relaxed when things are out of sight and organized in many of the ways already mentioned.

 

We're now Elite and I finally (only just) brought a magnetic clip (it took awhile, lol) for the wall next to the desk. The only thing I hang is the Patter for the first day, open to the second page where the cruise is outlined... days and times in port, shows and movies, entertainment headliners for the week... as a quick reminder without needing to dig for the info.

 

We use a blue garbage bag inside a suitcase for dirty laundry.

We use the shelf near the floor in the bathroom for items not often used, grouping items in ziplock bags. I prefer this to packing a compartmentalized door hanger and use the back of the bathroom door only for robes (less messy).

 

I use packing cubes and keep similar things together. Many of them don't even need to be unpacked so they're a 'drawer' within a drawer or sit on a shelf in the closet. I take wrinkle-free tops that are rolled and visible all at once so they don't even need to be hung up. The cubes speed up packing when it's time to go home - just zip up and put back into the suitcase.

 

Papers can pile up! I bring a few 10 x 12 envelopes and try to keep on top of filing paper away that I want to bring home - for Patters, port info sheets, maps & brochures I pick up... receipts in a smaller envelope.

 

Have a great time!

[WisCruiser2]

I bring a plastic toothbrush holder that suctions to the bathroom mirror (think I bought it at Target). 

My other "organizing" tip is that before we leave home I put the cash we'll need for excursions or other port activities and extra tip cash into separate envelopes that go into the safe until needed.

[susancruzs]

The tea lights are small, light, take up no space.  Sailing solo, many times inside, I like them so I don't bump into the corner of the desk! :-)  They give off just a tiny glow.  All these suggestions are interesting, sailing alone I don't really have space issues.  I'm a no frills person so no make up or beauty products, even when I have cruised with someone, there's never been an issue.

[Husky61]

We don't take anything extra to organize our cabin.  The cabin is just fine for us the way it is.😃

[PaperSniper4]

1 hour ago, WisCruiser2 said:

........

My other "organizing" tip is that before we leave home I put the cash we'll need for excursions or other port activities and extra tip cash into separate envelopes that go into the safe until needed.

 

We do the same, especially for a bunch of $1 bills we use to tip the steward who brings our morning coffee for us to enjoy on the balcony. For years we forgot about needing tips for luggage porters and the stewards; now it's on my Cruise Packing Checklist; bring a bunch of one dollar bills. I could probably get bills in the casino or at the purser's office, but it's much more convenient just to plan ahead.

 

Doug

[knbcruisers]

Key organizing tips for me are:  several magnetic hooks for hanging  hats and my small bag , and 2 magnetic clips one for the daily patter and one for important items like excursion tickets etc; I make use of the shelf below the sink by packing toiletries in clear plastic bags and keeping them there,  they are then off the counter but easy to spot what you need.  Only the primary use daily use items  go on the corner shelves.  I have found that the zippered  bag that some sheets and pillow cases come in to be ideal for this purpose, but a ziplock will do.  One drawer in the desk for hair and make up items, and one for chargers etc.  

[peanutter]

On 10/2/2019 at 3:50 PM, Piperpals said:

• We use the paper laundry bags they supply to put our laundry in, just leave it sitting in end of closet. Bring on laundry pods to make easier and save a couple of dollars but make sure you put in something that will prevent them bursting. I have an eyeglasses case that I use.
• Put excursion tickets in the safe with wallets, passports so that they don't get mixed up with all paper accumulated over the week and we know where they are.

 

These are two that I haven't thought of before - eyeglass case for laundry pods (have just used multiple ziploc baggies in the past) and keeping the excursion tickets in the safe and off the desk (was always afraid I would discard with the tons of other paper).

 

Thank you!

[HappyCruiserettu]

On 10/2/2019 at 12:30 PM, EmilyColwell said:

Hey cruisers!
 

I am leaving for my 15 day Hawaiian cruise in a short 5 days and have already been thinking about the best way to set up my stateroom. 

 

I already have a pop up hamper, magnets and electric tea lights for my bathroom to help with room organization and to optimize the space in there.

I am curious what you all do to help keep the room clean, organized and functional. Lets hear those tips!

 

Thanks! 

We usually have a cabin attendant (sometimes named "Stewart") who takes care of most of that stuff. He/she gets a gratuity for those services.

[HappyCruiserettu]

18 hours ago, Adventures ahead said:

 

We're now Elite and I finally (only just) brought a magnetic clip (it took awhile, lol) for the wall next to the desk. The only thing I hang is the Patter for the first day, open to the second page where the cruise is outlined... days and times in port, shows and movies, entertainment headliners for the week... as a quick reminder without needing to dig for the info.

Hey, Great idea! I always keep that first Patter for the same reasons, but it usually winds up under a pile of other papers.

18 hours ago, Adventures ahead said:

 

 

Have a great time!

 

[ellie1145]

 I bring two pop up laundry baskets with me so that I can put dirty washing in them, whites/light coloureds in one, dark in another. There is plenty of room in the Princess wardrobe to stand them in the corner, side by side. Makes it easy when I need to do some laundry onboard. 

 

I also fold any dirty items in the small zipped sweater bags from Dollar Store before packing them in the suitcases to take home.

[2 cruises a year]

On 10/2/2019 at 12:50 PM, Piperpals said:

I assume as you are from Langley that you are taking the Star from Vancouver so won't have any luggage restrictions (very jealous).  We have done this trip seven times and never needed over-the-door organizer or hamper, here is our hints:

 

• we have a small carry-on type bag that I pack all of our toiletries, hair dryer, curler etc. plus extra items we may need (sewing kit, first aid, nail kit etc.). I remove items that I will need on regular basis and leave the rest in the bag which stores neatly on the shelf under this sink and is still very accessible. I check this bag in with my suitcases so I don't have to carry it about at embarkation, and I carry on makeup, bathing suits and other important items (wine) in my backpack.
• Put toothbrushes and toothpaste in one of the drinking glasses in the bathroom and razors in the other and put these on the first shelf. Put all other regularly used items on the second and third shelf and leave make-up in zipped makeup bag on the counter to one side.
• Use hooks on back of bathroom door for robes, bathing suits
• Put hair dryer, brushes etc. in drawer in desk near the electrical outlet where they will be used.
• Store suitcases under the bed, leave anything that you won't need until you get to the islands in them (ie: backpacks, rain jacket, umbrella's, snorkel equipment etc.)
• We use the paper laundry bags they supply to put our laundry in, just leave it sitting in end of closet. Bring on laundry pods to make easier and save a couple of dollars but make sure you put in something that will prevent them bursting. I have an eyeglasses case that I use.
• Lots of room on floor of closet for shoes.
• Try to hang in the closet as many of your clothes as you can, including t-shirts etc. as closet space is pretty generous and leaves other areas tidy. The remainder of clothes should fit on the shelves in the cupboard.
• Put excursion tickets in the safe with wallets, passports so that they don't get mixed up with all paper accumulated over the week and we know where they are.
• You will received multiple pieces of paper daily (patter, spa, art promotions etc.) , discard the ones you don't want in the bin right away and find a spot for the ones you want to keep. I put them under the room services binder on the desk so I know that I have looked at them.
• We will use the chair at the desk for putting clothes over during the day but will put them away in the morning before leaving so they are not in the room attendants way.
  
  
  Hope you have a wonderful time and wish we were going.
  Helen

Where do you keep the bagpipes? 😉

[geoherb]

I'm currently on the Crown Princess. I don't have any of those items for keeping organized. I put out the items from my Dopp kit that I use daily on one of the bathroom shelves--tooth brush, comb, deodorant, shaving cream, razor, dental floss. I keep the Dopp kit on the shelf above the closet for the things I don't use daily--fingernail clippers, etc.