etc0414

My husband and I are taking a RCL cruise in April. We are both very casual people. Does anyone have any "tricks" about dressing and packing for a 7 day; especially dining and the appropriate wear. We are open to suggestions on how to utilize our clothes better instead of taking 7 outfits; how can we "fix" them up to change the look. We are clueless and thank you in advance for your help.

Cruiser

etc-
Start by wearing your (traveling)embarking clothes to dinner the 1st evening (casual).Then the last night (casual) where them for disembarking the next morning.

Then put in your 2 formal outfits (husband can rent his tux for the 2 nights from the ship---therefore no packing those). I think that leaves 2 informal nights and one more casual.

Then decide your 5 days on/off the ship. European ports would be less casual than a Caribbean port.

Most of the time other people don't even notice your exact outfit--so change jewelry, add a scarf, etc. to "stretch" your same outfits.

Not knowing your tastes--you could even buy t-shirts from your 1st ports to wear later on in the cruise. If you hang at the pool alot, you'll be in swimsuits and coverups most of the sea days. Of course this all depends on the ship also and the area of the world and your individual tastes.

I'm sure other posters will have some good advice also.

Have a great cruise. Don't worry, have fun!

martita

Buy several items called "citiknits",
purchase a long black skirt, the long black jacket and a pair of "swishy" black pants......add a few shells and you're good for 7 days of evening wear. "citiknits" are NO wrinkle and are reasonably priced!
Your husband might take a navy blazer and a few Italian knit shirts, a couple of different ties......rent the Tux
The most important thing.....take NON-wrinkle clothing!
I always take a WalMart hand steamer.
Quick and easy for everyday wear.
Have fun!
MB West Texas

Anna48

we have done a couple of cruises and my husband has never taken a tux nor rented one. Unless you are travelling with a group that is more formal, I suggest, forget the tux and very formal clothes...sports jackets for men and mix and match works well for women. Black is always safe.

kadao

I agree with Anna. We used to bring a couple formal outfits, but now we don't. I bring one black skirt with a couple nice tops. You don't have to go formal if you don't want. Many people just dress nice, not formal. There are usually other areas to eat in that don't require formal also. Most do have laundry faciliies but they don't work all that great. Check to see if the RCL cruise you are going on has that option. We used to pack a lot, each cruise we pack less and less!

maryann

I agree with all the above-mix & match always.

You might need more day stuff-if you don't live in your b'suits,as you would get hot & sweaty. As for night, 2 pr. pants, 4 to 5 tops (dressy & casual),men- 1 dress shirt and jacket,2 ties, 2 pants and a couple golf shirts.

Do not overload on shoes! 1 dress, 1 sneaker, 1 sandal for each (went 2 months once with just these).

Hold

Lots of good advice already etc0414, but I had a thought, where are you sailing to? Since it's April I would assume the Caribbean, but if its another destination, you may need some additional items.

snorkelman

What is the big need to bring less than 7 days worth of clothing>

I would understand if you were backpacking and did not want to carry the weight of the clothing on your back all day, but come on! You have suitcases. You pay a porter to carry them for you. Why not load them up with enough clothes to not worry.

What happens if it is humid or rains and you get soaked and need to change clothes?

then you would run out of clothes, or have to wash or or have to let it dry and wear sweaty clothes.

The same is true if you try and wear the same clothes dor disembarkation that you wore to get on the ship.

lomillerin

does anyone know what is the absolute minimum required to eat in the nice dining room, Chops, or Portofinos on the Mariner of the Seas-RCCL?

kadao

snorkelman - sometimes there's not a whole lot of room to store extra clothes
lomillerin- minimum usually long pants (preferably not jeans, though some do), no tanks or t-shirts.

GBelle

We did a three week vacation several years ago, with a cruise to Alaska in the 2nd week of the trip. It was difficult packing for the casual as well as fancier parts of the trip, but we did it with mix and match.

For cruise: Black dress (knee length)for formal nights. Wore with a scarf/shawl one night, the other night jewelry.
Took black skirt/black slacks for other nights, wore with different tops.
Took casual pants (ie, khakis) for other times since jeans were too bulky. They could be dressed up or down as the occasion required.
Took a boiled wool jacket that could be dressed up or down with the slacks or skirt. (plus it was warm for Alaska and doesn't wrinkle)
Took 3 scarfs to use and some jewelry.
Husband took blue sports jacket, blue and grey dress slacks, khakis.