Hi I'm Jane and I'm an overpacker!

[L454S 145]

47 minutes ago, FManke said:

Where are you staying in Venice? Looking for a hotel for next Oct.

Thanks and happy cruising!

Last year we stayed at the Hotel Alla. Very near St. Marks and just off the Grand Canal. Would definitely recommend it. Very nice with a great breakfast buffet included.

This time the ship starts the cruise with an overnight in Venice, so we won't be in a hotel.

[FManke 1,621]

2 minutes ago, L454S said:

Last year we stayed at the Hotel Alla. Very near St. Marks and just off the Grand Canal. Would definitely recommend it. Very nice with a great breakfast buffet included.

This time the ship starts the cruise with an overnight in Venice, so we won't be in a hotel.

Thanks, I'll look into it.

[mom2mybugs 1,633]

5 hours ago, L454S said:

mom2mybugs, we are flying to Venice and boarding the Pacific Princess for a 12 night Greece , Croatia ,Sicily and Rome sailing. Then staying on for the following 17 night Med/T-A to Fort Lauderdale. 

Oh, next time you weigh your bags with your scale, check them against what the check in counter says they weigh.

Wow that sounds incredible!!!!   I will try and remember.  I think it is pretty accurate!  Jane

[FloridaCruiseGirl1210 130]

When did overpacking become such a "bad thing"? I understand being nimble and being able to do more with less but is it really going to hurt anyone to pack and extra pair of shoes or 2 dresses instead of one... Yes I get that overweight baggage is a thing that wasn't a problem back 10-20 years ago... but why has society made overpacking such a faux pas?

[L454S 145]

25 minutes ago, FloridaCruiseGirl1210 said:

When did overpacking become such a "bad thing"? I understand being nimble and being able to do more with less but is it really going to hurt anyone to pack and extra pair of shoes or 2 dresses instead of one... Yes I get that overweight baggage is a thing that wasn't a problem back 10-20 years ago... but why has society made overpacking such a faux pas?

Could be the high charges placed on overweight bags by airlines. 

[Whizbank 172]

28 minutes ago, FloridaCruiseGirl1210 said:

When did overpacking become such a "bad thing"? I understand being nimble and being able to do more with less but is it really going to hurt anyone to pack and extra pair of shoes or 2 dresses instead of one... Yes I get that overweight baggage is a thing that wasn't a problem back 10-20 years ago... but why has society made overpacking such a faux pas?

I don't think of it as a faux pas so much as I just drug a bunch of stuff I didn't really need for miles. I had enough trouble keeping track of my husband and my paperwork and my stuff, that having less of it would have made my life easier. If I was doing a driving vacation I wouldn't care at all about overpacking.

[FloridaCruiseGirl1210 130]

5 minutes ago, Whizbank said:

I don't think of it as a faux pas so much as I just drug a bunch of stuff I didn't really need for miles. I had enough trouble keeping track of my husband and my paperwork and my stuff, that having less of it would have made my life easier. If I was doing a driving vacation I wouldn't care at all about overpacking.

Completely understandable. I thankfully live in FL (although we are flying to Ft. Lauderdale for our next cruise... long story). So I get the overweight fees. I feel like so many blogs and youtube videos are all focused on how little you can pack and "oh my gosh if you don't only use a carry-on its blasphemy" I am just curious for everyone's insight. 

Also a note: I am totally one who can both over and under pack. I managed to pack for a 4 day winter trip to Missouri in a teeny tiny carry on and checked a bag full of gifts for the family we were visiting... priorities haha

[mom2mybugs 1,633]

5 hours ago, FloridaCruiseGirl1210 said:

When did overpacking become such a "bad thing"? I understand being nimble and being able to do more with less but is it really going to hurt anyone to pack and extra pair of shoes or 2 dresses instead of one... Yes I get that overweight baggage is a thing that wasn't a problem back 10-20 years ago... but why has society made overpacking such a faux pas?

To me it has became a faux pas in that it has a detrimental effect on my mood and my trip.  It stresses me out trying to jam everything in at the end of the trip.  It becomes challenging when I have to carry extra things in my tote bag and it totally is a problem when I’m trying to drag my suitcase and it’s so overpacked that it’s tipping over on my foot.  Certainly pack how you want to...no judgment here...and certainly I’m not trying to pack a backpack for a 2 week trip.  But my overpacking has made my trip a bit less joyful and I’m brining back the joy for me, so I thought I’d share what I hope will work.  Jane

[FloridaCruiseGirl1210 130]

2 minutes ago, mom2mybugs said:

To me it has became a faux pas in that it has a detrimental effect on my mood and my trip.  It stresses me out trying to jam everything in at the end of the trip.  It becomes challenging when I have to carry extra things in my tote bag and it totally is a problem when I’m trying to drag my suitcase and it’s so overpacked that it’s tipping over on my foot.  Certainly pack how you want to...no judgment here...and certainly I’m not trying to pack a backpack for a 2 week trip.  But my overpacking has made my trip a bit less joyful and I’m brining back the joy for me, so I thought I’d share what I hope will work.  Jane

Oh I totally get all of that! 🙂

[RTripp 66]

First time cruiser, just got back from HOTS. The internet BARELY worked, absolutely NO way to contact fellower cruisers unless you set a time every 4 hours to meet. And no, cannot set a “ see you at dinner” since 4 of the 7 nights RC lost/ did not have/ or pushed our dinner time. Get a magnetic board/ paper & pen for your door so friends know where you are & plan to go. Highlighter and pen for compass& carry it EVERYWHERE since internet hardly works. PRINT out your entire daily planner showing times of each and every dinner time and excursion to prove to RC that you didnt stand inline because you felt like it , since internet barely works.  Print you return flight boarding pass as soon you can since internet barely works. PS plan time to go to guest services everyday to get a credit for the VOOM pkg, charges on your account, credits that are promised that do not show. Packing cubes worked great, overhang door did not have a door to hang on in small windowless rooms( there as sliding doors ). Bathroom spray for stinkeyness in room & smell from casino, small fan to dry swimsuits & board shirts out.  Bathingsuit with a pocket( or buy wrist pockets). 

[Cindy Leslie 49]

Enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. We cruise a week from Sunday (July 7th) on the Allure! Have been planning this vacation (flying into Ft. Lauderdale Friday night before the cruise) for so long, and buying new things along the way. Lost track of all my new “must-buys” and now I have more outfits than actual vacation days. 🤪 So, now it’s time to decide what I can’t live without and what I can live with leaving at home. Wish me luck!

[mom2mybugs 1,633]

1 minute ago, Cindy Leslie said:

Enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. We cruise a week from Sunday (July 7th) on the Allure! Have been planning this vacation (flying into Ft. Lauderdale Friday night before the cruise) for so long, and buying new things along the way. Lost track of all my new “must-buys” and now I have more outfits than actual vacation days. 🤪 So, now it’s time to decide what I can’t live without and what I can live with leaving at home. Wish me luck!

Oh what a fun problem to have!!!!! And think... When you get home you will still have clean outfits waiting for you!!!   Hope you have a wonderful trip!!! Jane

[Cindy Leslie 49]

Thank you, Jane! First time on the Allure and I can’t wait! I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited to go on a cruise!

[mom2mybugs 1,633]

3 hours ago, Cindy Leslie said:

Thank you, Jane! First time on the Allure and I can’t wait! I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited to go on a cruise!

I was nervous about going on Allure (my first Oasis class ship) and it feeling crowded.  The opposite was the case... We had entire parts of the ship we never even got to and even the pool and sky deck weren't insane.  I loved Central Park, vintages and the dazzles 80s party.  Park Cafe was the best on embarkation day!  Jane

[NJCruisers 50]

Hello from another over packer!  I usually drive to my vacation destinations, so this cruise should be interesting.  It's just hubby and I this trip but I'm already worried about my suitcase being overweight on the return trip

[KimS 25]

Great read! It made me laugh when I read about the workout clothes & shorts, I "was" , still might…. lol, but I know too well I'm probably not gonna work out or wear shorts, as I also like just the sundresses! First time cruise in like a decade, we've been doing too expensive small land tours, lol….. but they were nice. But I did learn how I was over packing esp. when we went to Europe for 14 days. Really, it's so true about the black pants with diff. tops you can wear over & over to dinner, maybe a skirt with a few diff. blouses. I packed for half the time we were there-7 days & with that, even came home with never worn clothes! Not being on a cruise for so long, we just got hooked on those land tours & our own during the year, I'm not sure about the tennis shoes! I've got the slip on sketchers & slip on wedge sandals for night, but someone had said, oh you will need the tie on sneakers, but this someone who is a real workout gal. So still thinking about that one!

Thanks for your info & Happy Cruising!