Packing question.

[Young cruiser]

I was thinking now that the airlines are charging a fee for even the FIRST checked bag....I am going to have to REALLY lighten up on the packing!!!

 

I was thinking about using the bags that you vacuum pack to take all of the air out. I really thought I was smart for coming up with this idea untill I started to think about the trip home.....will the room steward let me use his...or is this out of the question...

 

If I could not then I would really be in a world of hurt tring to fit everything back into the bag!!!!!

[bonnys]

Be careful using space saver type bags. They can really add to the weight of your suitcase.

[cruisinbuddy]

I belive you can "roll the bag" to get the air out. Try this at home. I have no experience with them, just an idea.

The reason that they're charging for the 1st bag is because AA is charging for the second bag. Hmmmm, a lot of people will not bring the 2nd bag, so the other airlines "know" you're going to bring at least one bag each, hence the surcharge. Now, how long before they charge us for the Carry-on bags?

[cuyahoga11]

It will look deceiving with all the air gone but go over 50 lbs and you will get hit with over weight fee which is more than 2nd bag fee.

[G'ma]

I don't use the space bags....for that very reason. The return packing is simply not feasible.

 

I have always used ziplock bags--one gallon size--. You can press the air out and zip quickly. They work pretty good and are much, much lighter than the others..and you don't need special equipment to pack.

 

My underwear, tank tops, dressy blouses, swimsuit, pressed and folded shirts, dress slacks, etc..all go in these bags. Not only does it cut down on space but also cuts down on wrinkles.

 

The best way to cut down on packing is to take only what you need... Don't take something because you don't know if you'll want to wear it or not. Try to stick with 3 pairs of shoes....and wear one pair on the plane. All you really need is sandals, sneakers and a pair of dress shoes. If you take low-heeled dress shoes in a pump style, you'll be able to wear them other times too. Instead of different outfits for 2 formal nights, take a basic black skirt or dress slacks and 2 nice dressy-type tops. Accessorize.

 

Plan to get 2 wearings out of everything. What you wear to casual dinner one night - wear ashore the next day, etc. Believe me, nobody is going to pay the slightest attention to your wardrobe.... Plan on neutral colors that mix and match...and accessorize.

 

You don't need 3/4 bathing suits...or 5/6 pairs of shoes. You don't need bungee cords or duct tape or power strips. Don't need the over-the-door thingie. Don't need to bring your own beach towels. Buy the small plastic containers available everywhere to use for shampoo, conditioner, suntan lotion, after sun lotion, etc.

 

I traveled for years before I retired. Was away from home about 200 days a year on multi-week and multi-day trips. Never took anything larger than a 22" roll-on-board. No matter the length of the cruise, that's all the luggage I'll take. I do have a small carryon case for camera, a book or two, snacks for the plane, documents with a little extra room if I buy a souvenier.

[NYCRUISR]

I was thinking now that the airlines are charging a fee for even the FIRST checked bag....I am going to have to REALLY lighten up on the packing!!!

 

I was thinking about using the bags that you vacuum pack to take all of the air out. I really thought I was smart for coming up with this idea untill I started to think about the trip home.....will the room steward let me use his...or is this out of the question...

 

If I could not then I would really be in a world of hurt tring to fit everything back into the bag!!!!!

 

 

The reality of it is that we need to take less.

[Bunkie103]

I disagree about the space bags and use them all the time. You need to buy the type you roll the air out of not the vacuuming type. I use a combo of these and 3 gallon zip-lock bags. I found it worth investing in a luggage scale so I could know when I was close to the limit with my luggage. Didn't want to find out at the airport that I was over the limit. I found the luggage scale on sale at Target and I think I paid $7.99 for it.

 

Make good use of your carry-on bag too. It can hold shoes, underwear and lots more items since it can't be packed with cosmetics. Definitely go for travel size items. You don't need soap, there is shampoo in the shower unless you are fussy. Definitely plan out your wardrobe. No more of "I MIGHT need this so I'll take it". On our first cruise I took 8 pairs of shoes. Five years later for two weeks in Europe and a TransAtlantic crossing I got by with 4 pair!

[fllady61]

Packing for me consist of 3 days of clothes plus what I wear on, and I do laundry on a port day usually wednesday.

 

3 pr knee pants/shorts with matching tops, 2 long pair pants (for after dinner because it gets cold in the shows/casino/on deck sometimes) dress shoes, and walking shoes, and a pair of mossicans that I usually wear on the ship. 2 sunday/formal dresses, and my under clothes and socks. I take 2 swim suits. 2 night gowns. I can usually fit all my clothes into a 18x12 suitcase.

 

My carry on bag is a different story because I have my laptop, cameras, nebulizer, and meds. My cosmetics I put in my suitcase.

 

We use to take a suitcase each plus the garment bag. there are 3 of us. NOW i get the large storage size ziplock bags, place everyones clothes in a seperate bag, and the cosmetics all fit in my large, 18 x 30 suitcase.

 

Hope that helps. Have fun and smooth sailing.

[Dpeeps]

Wow....I wish i could get away with doing that....packing for just 3 days!.....but i find that half the fun of going on a cruise is shopping for new outfits!! and there are 2 things that I don't do on vacation ...that is cooking and LAUNDRY!!! so I guess i def couldn't get away with that!! :)

[Forchunut1]

There are some good and inexpensive luggage scales out there that you basically hold in your hand and hook the luggage on to check the weight. This is a great idea and almost a necessity if you use the space bags. I also use the ones that you roll to get the air out. I've tried ziplock bags but they never hold their "vacuum" and always end up filling back up with air. The roll type space bags are great, but as others have mentioned, you can really have an issue with weight when they compact things so small. :eek:

[cruisetmc]

We've used the space bags that you roll and had good luck with them. Like others have said it pays to pack less.

[Calker]

I've used the roll type space saver bags for undies/pj's/socks but never for blouses, slacks, shorts -

 

do they come out all wrinkled? do you then have to iron on vacation? since iron's aren't allowed - what do you use

 

thanks in advance

[fllady61]

Wow....I wish i could get away with doing that....packing for just 3 days!.....but i find that half the fun of going on a cruise is shopping for new outfits!! and there are 2 things that I don't do on vacation ...that is cooking and LAUNDRY!!! so I guess i def couldn't get away with that!! :)

 

 

I guess you do shore exchrsions though which puts you in the ports all day. We DON'T DO SHORE EXCHRSIONS. The casino is not open, there are no shows, the shops are not open, so we opt to do the laundry to kill about 2 hours. Then we take a nap, and then it is time for dinner.

 

I would rather do it myself than to pay 15$ per bag to have the ship do it.

 

But that is just me.

[pungo3]

I, too, have learned to pack less. Since I find on sea days, I only wear my bathing suit with a cover up, why pack clothing for those days. A pair of black shorts with different tops can be worn two times. Instead of taking 8 or 9 pair of shoes, I get by with 4. Frankly, it makes unpacking so much easier when you get home.:D

[RoofingPrincess]

I guess you do shore exchrsions though which puts you in the ports all day. We DON'T DO SHORE EXCHRSIONS. The casino is not open, there are no shows, the shops are not open, so we opt to do the laundry to kill about 2 hours. Then we take a nap, and then it is time for dinner.

For me it has nothing to do with shore excursions. It has to do with being on vacation. Doing laundry is too much like everyday life to do it during my precious vacation time. I'll deal with it when I get back (and pack carefully so I can have everything I need while I'm gone).

[TheCruisingBrewers]

I have never had a problem with overweight bags, but here is a trick I learned oddly enough from working at a vet hospital, back in high school, which trust me was a bit ago... before there were fancy digital scales to walk Rover onto, the way we weighed dogs and cats was on a good regular people scale.

 

You stand on it and weigh yourself and then pick up the animal and weigh yourself and animal. Subtract the difference and you have the animals weight.

 

This works easily on luggage as well and has worked for weighing neighbors dive equipment and my sons sea bag.

 

I have also evolved into taking less though I doubt I could ever be as great a packer as G'ma and I refuse to do anything like laundry while on vacation. I detest ironing....and I have used those nice plastic bags to keep wrinkles away from packed clothes with some success.

 

Do the ziplock bags really keep out the wrinkles? If so I shall have to try them! Great idea... I just worry that compressing them will just make a wrinkled mess out of everything. Does the wrinkle release stuff work?

 

I have just bought new luggage and so am anxious to try to pack smaller for the three of us.

 

Nancy

[Rockee4055]

When we pack we roll everything instead of folding it. Two good things come out of it, they use less space and things don't get wrinkled as easily. Not too much you can do with the garment bag but works well for regular luggage.

 

We can usually eliminate 2 pieces doing this and now it seems more important then ever.

[CruzVinnieCruz]

I have never had a problem with overweight bags, but here is a trick I learned oddly enough from working at a vet hospital, back in high school, which trust me was a bit ago... before there were fancy digital scales to walk Rover onto, the way we weighed dogs and cats was on a good regular people scale.

 

You stand on it and weigh yourself and then pick up the animal and weigh yourself and animal. Subtract the difference and you have the animals weight.

 

This works easily on luggage as well and has worked for weighing neighbors dive equipment and my sons sea bag.

 

I have also evolved into taking less though I doubt I could ever be as great a packer as G'ma and I refuse to do anything like laundry while on vacation. I detest ironing....and I have used those nice plastic bags to keep wrinkles away from packed clothes with some success.

 

Do the ziplock bags really keep out the wrinkles? If so I shall have to try them! Great idea... I just worry that compressing them will just make a wrinkled mess out of everything. Does the wrinkle release stuff work?

 

I have just bought new luggage and so am anxious to try to pack smaller for the three of us.

 

Nancy

 

I was thinking the same thing "Whats wrong with using your home scale?" Unless of course you take the portable scale to weigh the luggage for the trip home.

[angelsx4]

There are some they make that you roll or sit on to get the air out. They worked just fine when we've used them. Just be sure to roll the edge you're stuffing them into outside and back a little, then turn it rightside back to zip it closed. It makes getting everything in there MUCH easier. Much like chefs do to put frosting in a frosting/pastry bag. It makes sense in my head.

[valancy1]

Remember, too, that the CHECKED BAG is what is charged (unless you have "status" with the airlines, in which they don't charge at all).

 

SO, you could carry ON your bag and not have to paya fee, or if you don't mind paying $15, check one and carry on another.

 

I travel and am away from home about 200 nights a year and I carry everything for a week in a 22" rollaboard. I carry on my computer bag (which I will not be using on vacation!) and a handbag, so I will be fine either way.

 

I figure if I can pack business clothes which have more substance than casual, beach clothes in one bag, then we can do it for the cruise, too.

 

Good luck!

[wonderfullife]

My husband uses these for our stuff. He does not do the vacuum thing but he does push all the air out using his body weight etc.. and it seals up pretty small. We take up much less space and because he used this method on the way out, he can do it again when packing on the ship. It works for us and allows us to bring extras home in the same bag.

 

Aleece

 

I was thinking about using the bags that you vacuum pack to take all of the air out. I really thought I was smart for coming up with this idea untill I started to think about the trip home.....will the room steward let me use his...or is this out of the question...

 

If I could not then I would really be in a world of hurt tring to fit everything back into the bag!!!!!

[Bucky3]

I use regular zip lock bags - 1 gallon size for undies, socks, bathing suit, etc., and the 2.5 gallon size (got them at Target) for DH's golf shirts and my T-shirts, blouses, shorts. It makes it so easy to put things away in the cabin and repack to go home. Everything stays really well pressed. I put a sheet of tissue paper between layers of long pants, dress clothes. I'm trying hard to cut back - DH is tired of lugging baggage!! I wear a long skirt or dressy pants for formal evenings and those ballet type shoes - easy to pack and easy on the feet!! Happy packing! Oh, yes, and to come home I take a couple of those thin wastebasket liners for dirty clothes to keep them separate from the clean things I don't wear!!

[rubyrosedreamer]

I think I'm just going to dress in layers when boarding the plane, all undies then swimsuit then tops then bottoms and then ....... for a little pizzazz I'll end with my formal wear! Wait, I forgot the jewelry....I may have to get my ears pierced a few more times but hey, it'll be worth it won't it? That should bring me down nicely to a carry on and God help the poor person that has to pat me down when the alarm goes off at the security gate!

[valancy1]

I think I'm just going to dress in layers when boarding the plane, all undies then swimsuit then tops then bottoms and then ....... for a little pizzazz I'll end with my formal wear! Wait, I forgot the jewelry....I may have to get my ears pierced a few more times but hey, it'll be worth it won't it? That should bring me down nicely to a carry on and God help the poor person that has to pat me down when the alarm goes off at the security gate!

 

LOL!!!

 

You probably wouldn't set it off with all that padding!!

[UpstateCruizer]

I think I'm just going to dress in layers when boarding the plane, all undies then swimsuit then tops then bottoms and then ....... for a little pizzazz I'll end with my formal wear! Wait, I forgot the jewelry....I may have to get my ears pierced a few more times but hey, it'll be worth it won't it? That should bring me down nicely to a carry on and God help the poor person that has to pat me down when the alarm goes off at the security gate!

 

:D That's the best solution to the airline luggage situation I've heard so far lolol

 

On a more serious note last cruise I went to packing everything into ziplock bags of varying sizes. I absolutely loved it for many reasons. When TSA searches a piece of luggage they look through whatever you have in there and then stuff it back in. Of course they don't have time to make it all nice. Then you have the contents shifting during normal handling (can we even call baggage handling normal?) so your clothes move around from one side to another etc. When they are in ziplock bags and TSA opens the suitcase they can easily see what's in each bag and it's all in there the way you put it when you packed. If anything shifts it's all intact inside the bags. Wrinkles were a minimum too~! We did bring a travel steamer made by Samsonite that worked awesome! http://www.amazon.com/Samsonite-Dual-Voltage-Garment-Steamer/dp/B000MN9DA8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1213538124&sr=8-1 In case someone is interested. It's very small and light just a little over a pound in it's original package.

Back to the OP Space Saver bags would be great if you do as the others reccomend with rolling the air out of them. Weight is a bigger issue if you use those BUT 50 pounds is quite a bit of clothing to begin with for the average sized person.