Princess Cruises passengers offer packing tips for long cruises
Many experienced cruisers are practical packers who know how to travel light and efficiently.
Packing for a cruise can be a puzzle, especially for a first-time cruiser on a long sailing.
It can be challenging to determine how to bring a couple of weeks worth of clothing and travel necessities without lugging multiple suitcases around. Not to mention crowding your tiny cruise ship cabin with clutter.
Related: Princess Cruises passengers share solutions for brewing problem
What can be even more baffling is arriving to the cruise terminal with a giant, stuffed suitcase in tow, only to see some passengers cruising with only a small, carry-on bag.
Of course, not everyone packs light for a cruise, especially if they’re sailing to colder destinations like Alaska that require cruisers to pack layers and bulkier clothing items to keep warm.
Many experienced cruisers are practical packers, however, who take a “less is more” approach. A recent discussion in the Princess Cruises community on Reddit shed light on just how these passengers manage long voyages with limited luggage.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.
Princess Cruises passengers reveal their packing habits
One cruiser who was planning their packing strategy for an 11-day Mediterranean cruise thought it would be helpful to reach out to other passengers to get a feel for how they pack for Princess cruises of similar lengths.
“How much do you typically pack? 1 personal item and carry-on? Personal item and checked bag?” may-gu inquired.
As far as suitcases go for longer cruises, most passengers travel with one standard-size suitcase to check and one carry-on bag, according to comments in the thread. For most, the carry-on bag is a backpack or tote bag.
Related: Princess Cruises passengers say cruise add-on is well worth cost
It’s easy to overpack for a cruise, especially your first one, and most experienced cruisers suggest packing less than you think you’ll need. For longer cruises, many passengers say you’ll be glad you didn’t bring an extra suitcase.
Most cruise ships offer laundry services that make it easier for passengers to pack less. Princess Cruises ships even have self-service laundry facilities that passengers can use for a small fee. Many passengers recommend taking advantage of this on longer cruises.
“I now pack enough to do laundry mid cruise,” skeptics1 noted in the Reddit thread. “I have cruised a few times with more than half of what I brought unworn.”
“Laundry's only $6, not worth bringing the whole closet with you,” Important_Cucumber pointed out.
Passengers share tips for simpler cruise packing
Some passengers also follow popular packing methods for determining how many clothing items to bring along.
“I’d follow the 6-5-4-3-2-1 formula someone else outlined - 6 tops, 5 bottoms (one dressy), 4 shoes (sneakers, flip flops/sandals and 2 kinds of flats), 3 accessories (hat, scarf, sunglasses), 2 blazers/sweaters and one dress,” kalisisrising recommended to the Mediterranean cruise passenger.
Another passenger suggested a capsule wardrobe approach.
“Capsule wardrobe - three bottoms and 4 tops that mix and match give you 12 outfits. Add one ‘formal’ outfit, requisite pool gear, pajamas, and undergarments,” nygrl811 outlined.
Related: Princess Cruises passenger shares big cabin choice mistake
To save space in their luggage, some cruise passengers also use packing cubes or travel compression bags.
No matter what method you follow, you can probably get away with packing even lighter, especially if you plan to do laundry on the ship.
“For my first cruise I definitely over packed. I would say prepare your list, then cut that in half,” pearl729 suggested.
While packing can seem overwhelming for a first-time cruiser, it tends to get easier once you have a few sailings under your belt, as another cruiser highlighted.
“Most people overpack until they have done a couple of cruises,” Sufficient-Fault-593 pointed out. “We’re at the point of a large suitcase each and a knapsack to carry on with toiletries, meds, credit cards, passports and most importantly phone charging cables.”
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
