How early is too early??

[ladyj3641]

I feel your pain. Actually I start a year in advance. I set aside a drawer in my dresser that is used only for new clothes bought during the year that will be used during the cruise. That way when I start to pack, that is the first place I go to.

 

Then about 4 months prior to the cruise, I post 3 signs on the door of our Guest Bed Room. One sign establishes this bed room as CRUISE CENTRAL. That's the official room for packing and storing for the cruise. I also post a sign of "Things we have to take". The 3rd sign is a format I set up of all important things about the ship (Deck Plans, port dates and times, ship details, etc.) and will also be attached to the door of our statement. I know. ............... I know ................. It's kind of sick but I am one of those planner types.

 

We are at 61 days until our cruise and I would have had the suit cases in CRUISE CENTRAL except for the fact that we will be having company visiting us next week and they will be using the room. (We live in Florida so this is not un usual). Once they leave (about 2 hours), I will bring down the suit cases.

 

Then "Let the packing begin!" Now my wife on the other hand views all this with disdain. She can't understand it but after 45 years and 13 cruises, she has learned to live with it. She will begin packing about 2 days before we leave for the cruise. I panic because of this but I realize it works for her. She will close the lid on her suitcase about 20 minutes before we leave for the cruise. Yikes!!!!!! My suitcases will be in the car the nights before.

In any event, both systems work. I just think my system is better.

 

Now if you will excuse me, I was thinking about coming up with another sign establishing "FORE" and "AFT" to be posted on the cabin door so I know which way to go on the ship. I told you I was a planner.

 

I find this so amusing! I thought only women got this excited and organized...that said, is it too soon for me to start packing?

[c85f9]

I'm a planner and an organized packer too! I start mentally packing the day i book my trip (if not before, lol) and I make list after list almost daily after that - even though i always resort to the saved copy on my computer time and time again. For the non-clothing essentials, I keep most of that already packed in my suitcase, as cruising is generally the only vacation i get a year! it makes it handy to already have things like shamp & cond., deodorant, extension cord and a razor at hand. Otherwise, about a month out I'll take out the suitcase and start throwing things in it as i go, officially packing the night before we leave.

Makes me wonder how I managed before I had a guest room ;)

[kf657]

Well, Although I hate to admit it, but I am already gathering additional things to keep in our "Cruise Bin". We keep this bin in the basement all year round, as I collect items- sample sized cosmetics etc, water shoes, AND I just found our casino lanyards and last trips door decorations...

I will bring the bin into the spare room after our Easter trip to Disney-Yes, I have a Disney bin too...

[jayesouthworth]

We decided to pack the wine and take it with us instead of finding a grocery store and buying it in Long Beach. So that part is done. I packed a few things today, set out the shorts to make sure they fit, T-shirts are packed, bathing suit, cover up, nightie. I'll pack the underwear, socks, shoes, hair dryer, curling iron, toiletries and meds the night before. We'll be leaving for the airport at 5:00 a.m. and if I forget something, oh well....

[TolleranzaDelDio]

We booked in July, leave in 12 days. When we first booked I took a quick inventory of everything. Then I hit up the end of summer sales and found some good deals on flip flops and sandals. I pretty much took a break from then on and I only bought things if I needed them for something else (i.e. a shirt for New Year's Eve that will double as a shirt for dinner).

 

Today I finally pulled all the clothes out that I might wear and put them in the guest room. It looks like I'm going to be gone for a month but next weekend I'll narrow down to what I want to wear. If I packed earlier I know my opinion might change. Luckily due to what I wear to work and the current weather I don't have to worry about going without clothes I would normally wear this time of year.

 

After I pick out the outfits I'll usually pull out my jewelry and start packing toiletries. Everything will get a trial pack the night before to make sure it all fits then a run through the dryer for wrinkle release and final pack the day we leave.

 

Now comes the fun part like signing up to put the mail on hold, pulling the sunscreen out of the back of the cabinet, setting up the cruise music playlist...

[chachi]

I don't start packing, but I do have a corner in my closet where I leave stuff that I bought for my vacation. This bag in my corner starts as soon as I book a trip.

[Joanns6569]

It is never to early to start packing. I had someone at one time tell me that we had too much time before we left and what the heck were the suitcases doing out. I have wrote a list and do adjust it while doing research and planning the excurstions to make sure that I do not forget anything. I have looked at the sales racks, trying to find some summer items on sale, but to much luck as of yet.

Would like to be finally able to were a cute two piece, if I can loose this last 10-15 pounds before we leave in June.