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Copyright © 1995-2001 
Linda Coffman

Favorite Cruise Diva Planning & Packing Tips

Getting Ready

First of all, 'stage' your outfits for evening--if the shower rod is convenient, hang them there. If not, get one of those things you hang over the closet door and hang up the outfits you'll be wearing to dinner each night. (Get the shoes out for each outfit, too.) Then - AND THIS IS IMPORTANT - cover each outfit with a plastic dry cleaning bag. Just fold each outfit over and place in your suitcase, hanger and all. They WILL NOT WRINKLE. Unpacking is a breeze... just open your suitcase and start hanging things in the closet.

This next idea is so great I wish I had thought of it. I'm notorious for the vast number of shoes I pack. As we were preparing for a cruise, another veteran cruiser suggested, "Hey, Linda, let's go get those shoe organizers that hang in the closet, the kind with shelves, not pockets." We got 'em and they were great for stashing shoes, small evening purses, rolled up belts, and anything small. (Photo -- illustrates the shoe organizer at work on the Crown Princess.) I'm happy to report these can be found at many Target stores. I've seen a slightly wider version, labeled a Sweater Organizer at Wal-Mart recently.  By the way, emptied they fold like an accordion and don't take up much room in a suitcase.

Another cruiser friend offers a solution for a neatly organized bathroom. We all know those ship's bathrooms are small. Becca Love's tip is to hang an over-the-door pocket-style shoe organizer on the bathroom door. Slip your bathroom necessities in the pockets and they're handy and out of the way. Your cabin steward will LOVE you.

Neat Packing

Drew suggests, "After ironing items going in my luggage, I fold them up with tissue.  Kind of like  when items are 'new' from the store.  This cuts down on wrinkles, and also because your 'stacks' are neater, allows you to put more in one suitcase.  Also, as you're unpacking, keeps things much neater, and kind of gives you an extra lift when wearing that article.  I'll also place several layers of tissue in the luggage, as the stacks get about 6" or so.  As you wear the articles, the tissue sure comes in handy when repacking, for all the extra goodies that we seem to 'acquire' throughout the holiday/cruise."

Pack "His" AND "Hers"

Unless you have tight airline connections, if you pack and check multiple suitcases they should all stay together and arrive with you at your destination.  However, should one of them be delayed, you and your travel companion can be certain to have clothing to wear if you "mix" up your garments.  Pack "his AND hers" in each suitcase.  

Packing Small & Watertight

Here's an idea my husband Mel came up with when preparing for a bicycle tour of Holland.  Pack small.  Undergarments and knits take only a third of the suitcase space they normally occupy when they’re compressed.  Simply fill the largest size zipper top kitchen storage bags with these articles and force all the air out before zipping them shut.  Not only do you save room in your suitcases but your clothing will stay dry.  

Dry?  What's with that?  Well, if you have soft-sided luggage and it gets caught in a downpour, either while being loaded on your airplane or ship, the contents could get soaked.  You might also spray your luggage with Scotch Guard for additional waterproofing both inside and out.  An added bonus of using zipper top bags is efficient unpacking -- I just leave everything in the bags and stack them in drawers and on shelves.  Fast, neat, and space saving!

Whose boxers are those on the conveyor belt?

We've seen it happen. It's really embarrassing to realize your luggage has come unzipped (for one reason or another) and those are your delicate unmentionables on the airport conveyor belt.

You want to "lock" your zip-up luggage, but hate those tiny locks with even tinier keys? This idea is courtesy of a Delta ticket agent as related by Mel.  Dash on over to the local Home Improvement Emporium and buy CABLE TIES. Ask a helpful hardware guy if you're unsure of where to find them. They're usually in the electrical supply area -- you know... they're those plastic thingies that have a pointy end that slips into a hole on the other end. Sort of like a flexible needle. Once they're attached, you'll need scissors or a nail clipper to remove them. Take extras for the trip home. Another benefit, they keep sticky-fingered airline baggage handlers (and others) from riffling through your things.

Tape ~ Tape ~ Tape

Duct tape... is it really a necessity?  Judging by the number of people who ask to borrow it -- YES!  For added security, there's nothing like duct tape.  Wrapped around your suitcases, it keeps them relatively secure in worst case scenarios, such as zipper blow out or broken hinges and clasps.  Tape also discourages random pilferage by baggage handlers.  Why bother with your taped bag when others are not even locked?  Plus, it gives your suitcases a bit of panache -- "shabby chic," if you will.  As this photo illustrates, for an emergency repair, there's nothing as handy as duct tape.  Well, wide strapping tape comes in a close second.

Colored electrical tape is another option.  This is Mel's favorite accessory as it's stretchy, strong, and comes in bright colors for easy identification of your suitcases in crowded airport and pier side terminals.

Tag Your Bags

This may seem excessive, but I use ALL the tags provided by the cruise line when tagging our suitcases.  At a minimum, I want TWO identification tags on each suitcase (in addition to our "permanent" luggage tags).  Those tags, with cotton or elastic string, can easily become detached so before putting them on the suitcases, I reinforce them with tape. I also remove the string, replacing it with long cable ties.  I put one on each handle of dual-handle suitcases and two on the handle of suitcases that only have one handle.  Compulsive?  Maybe.  But we've never had a lost or delayed suitcase because of a missing tag.

Where, oh where is your luggage?

Kathleen Kaye shares the following, "We always put our itinerary outside, as well as inside our luggage. To do this, I type up the itinerary, reduce it, and tuck it into the luggage tag, behind our identification. We always make sure our address and itinerary are taped to t he inside as well. I have heard that many times lost luggage is forever lost because of no identification on the bag. Tags do come off."

Absolutely correct, Kathleen! If the airline is unable to trace the owner, or if luggage hasn't been claimed after at least three months, it ends up at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama – a veritable Land of Lost Luggage. Only two hours from Birmingham and two and a half hours from Atlanta, the Unclaimed Baggage Center is a treasure hunter's dream destination. Over 500,000 people a year make the trek to shop amid over a million lost items, including watches, jewelry, electronics, and designer clothing.

Take heart, though. Over 98% of misdirected luggage eventually catches up to its owners. Keep those odds in your favor by following Kathleen's advise.

Suitcases With An Identity

How is your suitcase like a Model-T Ford? You can have any color you want, as long as it's black. My friend Ed Shuster has found a marking product and a clever solution for readily spotting his bags in airport carousels and crowded cruise ship terminals.

Mister Ed says... "With soft-sided black cloth luggage taking over the world, it's getting harder and harder to find your own on the floor of the warehouse. In addition to the required identification tags, we've used unique colorful tags, straps, tapes, and some others. Recently I came up with what I think is a permanent solution."

"WalMart (and probably other distinguished merchants) carries a product called Speedball Painters™ -- opaque paint markers, in different colors, under $3. We used white on the black luggage and hand lettered an identifying name in about 3-inch letters on the face of the luggage that includes the handle. One marker did three applications on each of three pieces. Easy to do, high contrast, and permanent (well, as permanent as we are). For security reasons, we didn't put our name on it, I used my Yahoo name -- Cap10Cruz. About the only drawback I see is it will make it harder to sell the old suitcases at a yard sale, but when we're done with them, it's dumpster time anyhow."

More...

Of course you want more. I continuously add more hints and tips here and you can read my article Packing It In, which originally appeared in the December 1999 issue of Cruise Travel Magazine.  Be sure to check Cruise Articles for more information, including George Hall's 2-part Hints for New Cruisers.  If you still have a question, just ask! I'm here for you if you need me. Write to me with your questions, to offer suggestions, or add YOUR Cruise Review. Share your experiences--just send me a review in email and I'll include it here on the CruiseDiva.com site.  (No file attachments, please.)

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