Thread: Best size suitcase for a cruise

OK, here is something I have not seen yet: a discussion about which size suitcase travelers should pack for X number of days and/or X cruise line. For example, how much do you need to pack for a one-week Princess cruise? Can you use the same suitcase for a 7-night cruise to Alaska and a 14-night cruise to Hawaii? I assume many cruisers need to worry about this when they shop for luggage, especially in an era when no international airlines let bags fly free. (Southwest only flies to U.S. airports. So far, I have had no problem with that, but in the future I will be flying to Europe for cruises.) Feel free to also mention compartments in suitcases and duffel bags on wheels.

To be honest, the size of the luggage depends on the person and what they plan on doing. Everybody is different so their needs will vary and so luggage size and number will vary as well. I suggest you just look at what you want to do and plan what you would need for those ocassions. That should give you an idea of what to bring.

Good luck

I tend to take the same amount of clothes on a 7 night cruise as a 14 night one and wear things twice on the longer cruise.

How much luggage and the size will depend on how I am getting to the ship as well. If I am driving I will take more than if I am going by train or flying.

One thing to think about is what you are going to do with the case in the cabin. The ones I have all fit under the bed. If I take two cases I make sure one will fit inside the other to save space.

My mum has a case which does not fit under the bed and never knows quite where to put it.

I want a TARDIS to hold everything. Stephen will know what I am referring to.

If the ship has cleaning facilities it makes a big difference. For our TA with a stay in London and New York (21 days total) we had two huge suitcases at 70 pounds, 2 large suitcases at 50 pounds, and two small suitcases. In addition we had the carry on bags.

Time And Relative Dimension In Space my you need a lot Neal.

Most of our cruises involve flying, so we have to abide by the airline allowances, only paid excess baggage once, expensive.

We take the smallest case possible, this avoids awkward handling moments. We have used the train from Italian airports, and many Italian stations don’t have escalators, just steps. The bigger the case the more trouble you have.

Genoa and Savona stations are both bad at getting to and from platforms.

Originally Posted by sytico

To be honest, the size of the luggage depends on the person and what they plan on doing. Everybody is different so their needs will vary and so luggage size and number will vary as well. I suggest you just look at what you want to do and plan what you would need for those ocassions. That should give you an idea of what to bring.

Good luck.

Welcome to the board, sytico! You picked a good one for discussing cruises and everything related to cruising. I just came back after a long hiatus because I had more important things to worry about, but now that I have just returned from a land trip to California, I feel ready to talk about cruising again.

This is my tentative packing list for a 7-night cruise with pre-and post-cruise stays:

1 matching top/skirt set for a formal night
1 evening gown for another formal night
1 pair of dressy black pants for semi-formal nights
2 dressy tops for semi-formal nights
10 t-shirts for daytime and non-cruise days
2 long sleeve shirts for chilly but not cold days
1 jacket-style sweater for layering in port
14 pairs of underwear
14 pairs of white socks
2 swimsuits for the ship pools and beaches
1 waterproof jacket for warm rainy days
1 hoody for layering on long port days
1 pair of walking shoes for walking in puddles
1 pair of dress shoes for formal and semi-formal nights
1 pair of sandals for going to beaches on port days
1 digital camera in a case with the battery charger
1 extra camera battery (rechargable lithium)
1 hairbrush
1 toothbrush
1 fancy necklace
1 large beach towel

For all that, should I buy the largest possible suitcase or bring two smaller suitcases? Is this too much stuff for a two-week vacation?

Yes, having to fly really restricts what you can take with you. When we had the 70 pound cases that was the maximum allowed and we were pushing all the way to the limit. Both of our mega cases are easily steered and we can place the other cases on top of them. Makes for a large but manageable pile.

Originally Posted by nealberk

Yes, having to fly really restricts what you can take with you. When we had the 70 pound cases that was the maximum allowed and we were pushing all the way to the limit. Both of our mega cases are easily steered and we can place the other cases on top of them. Makes for a large but manageable pile.

So far I have not exceeded 50 pounds on any 7-day trips. Even when I spent 10 days in CA I stayed under 50 pounds. So my main concern is not that weight limit, since I am will not go in the winter and need sweatshirts or sweaters every day, but which size will fit under beds and hold evreything I need. If my packing list will put me over 50 pounds, I want to know so I can choose a smaller bag for the remaining items or plan to do the laundry valet onboard.

Originally Posted by Smart Traveler

Welcome to the board, sytico! You picked a good one for discussing cruises and everything related to cruising. I just came back after a long hiatus because I had more important things to worry about, but now that I have just returned from a land trip to California, I feel ready to talk about cruising again.

This is my tentative packing list for a 7-night cruise with pre-and post-cruise stays:

1 matching top/skirt set for a formal night
1 evening gown for another formal night
1 pair of dressy black pants for semi-formal nights
2 dressy tops for semi-formal nights
10 t-shirts for daytime and non-cruise days
2 long sleeve shirts for chilly but not cold days
1 jacket-style sweater for layering in port
14 pairs of underwear
14 pairs of white socks
2 swimsuits for the ship pools and beaches
1 waterproof jacket for warm rainy days
1 hoody for layering on long port days
1 pair of walking shoes for walking in puddles
1 pair of dress shoes for formal and semi-formal nights
1 pair of sandals for going to beaches on port days
1 digital camera in a case with the battery charger
1 extra camera battery (rechargable lithium)
1 hairbrush
1 toothbrush
1 fancy necklace
1 large beach towel

For all that, should I buy the largest possible suitcase or bring two smaller suitcases? Is this too much stuff for a two-week vacation?

Hey Andrea

That's a pretty good list.

I am assuming that this is for a Caribbean or Mexican Riviera cruise since you mention the beach and beach towel.

I have a few suggestions for you.

Leave the beach towel at home because the ship provides towels for you when you go ashore.

Cut down on formal wear by using a dressy top with your formal skirt for the second formal night. (in fact, I usually wear the same outfit for both formal nights)

Choose either the hoody OR the sweater...you don't really need both, especially if you have a warm weather itinerary.

You won't need a waterproof jacket if instead you pack a pack of disposible ponchos. I buy the 2 pack in our Dollar store for just a buck.

Reduce the number of T-shirts. You will probably be buying some along the way or you can wash them out or send to the laundry.

Pack some pants and/or shorts to go with your T-shirts!

When we travel, no matter how long the trip is, we carry 2 26" rolling suiters and 2 carry ons total for both of us. We don't take any more than we can handle ourselves, so the ideal number of bags is 1 medium large and 1 carry on.

Oops, how did I forget jeans and shorts? Duh, I knew that.

Actually, I am thinking about Hawaii (round trip San Diego), which is 15 nights. For Europe, it will be a May cruise because of the warm weather, probably Rome to Barcelona/16 nights. Shorter cruises likely will be to Canada/New England and, if I cannot talk my mom out of it, Canada/Alaska.