Packing for cruise with kids

[livingskies78]

How many clothes are you packing for your kids, we are doing 8 days at Disney World will have washer and dryer.

 

Then 2 days pre cruise in FT. Lauderdale and the 7 days on the Oasis.

 

Never have packed suitcases for 5 people:eek: as the lst few trips have been long road trips in the van and we use bins. :D

 

Thanks

 

kids are 2DS, 4DS & 9dd we will be packing formal wear.

 

thanks

[cb at sea]

I would pack for 1 week, since you have access to a washer pre-cruise! And, don't forget, unless something is soiled, it can be re-worn! For example, long pants for dinner...no need to bring a pair for every night...they can change after dinner and rewear those pants 2-4 times! No one cares or notices!

RCI has NO self-service laundry avail....so bring enough underwear for the cruise...no one wants to be washing skivvies by hand!

Other than that, your days will be spend in swimwear/shorts/ coverups!

[bus man]

Will you have laundry facilities in Fort Lauderdale? If so, you might consider packing for 5 days. Do your first laundry while at Disney World, and your second in Fort Lauderdale, the night before the cruise. Then, 3 days later, send out what you have to the ship's laundry. It might take a day to come back to you, but you'll be wearing your 4th day's clean clothes, so it won't matter. At the end of the cruise, pack up your dirty laundry, go home, and use your own washer and dryer to get it all clean again.

[cantw8togo]

We have travelled numerous times with our 2 DS's now ages 8 & 11. We have (finally) been able to pare down to the essentials so that everyone can fit what they need into a carry on suitcase, and their toys, stuffies and amusements fit into the second allowable carry on. We prefer to go the carry on only route as we hate the idea of the airline losing our luggage, of someone picking it up by mistake at the luggage carousel, of having to leave our suitcases out in the hall on the last night of the cruise and because we have come to the realization that we just didn't need all of the "just in case" extra stuff. In the end, you have to do what is right for your family.

 

Our youngest started pulling his own luggage (with help) at around age 6. Your DS's are obviously too young, but both of their clothes could probably fit into one suitcase. If your youngest is still in diapers, take along 2 days worth of diapers and buy the rest when you get to Orlando.

 

The following is what we take for a seven day cruise. You will want to tweak the amounts for your extended vacation, but you shouldn't have to take too much extra as you will be able to do laundry. Regarding your daughters wardrobe, I would substitute a couple of sundresses for a couple of t shirts and shorts depending on how much of a girly girl she is.

 

Kid`s packing list: t shirts (1 per day), shorts (5-6prs), long sleeve shirt (for the flight home), 1 pr jeans or long pants (for the flight home), socks (3 or 4 prs), underwear

2 collared shirts (one dress shirt, 1 polo / golf shirt), 1 tie (patterned is better than solid), 2 navy or black dress pants, 1 belt, black socks (3 or 4prs), black dressier shoes (The kids change out of their clothes right after dinner so they can rewear their socks a couple of times since they have only been wearing them for 2 -3 hours.) Sometimes we will go and see a show after dinner in which case they may or may not change. It just depends.

2 bathing suits and sunshirts, teva sandals or flip flops, runners, hat, sunglasses, pj`s

fleece jacket, rain jacket

 

We fly from a cold climate and wear our runners and a fleece jacket layered under a rain jacket to go from the car to the airport. We leave our winter coats, boots, hats and gloves and a couple of cozy blankets in the car for when we get back.

 

Have a great trip.