Dumb question!! How do you pack your very formal dresses? Can you bring them in a drycleaning/garmet bag? You cannot really shove these into suitcases!!

Thanks

I don't have to fly.  I am going to bring mine in a dry cleaning bag in  a garment bag & hope for the best.  If I have to, I will steam it in the bathroom with the shower running.

Several years ago my wife showed me how to roll up my good clothes before putting them into the suitcase. You lay out your good clothes face down on the bed or table and place a t-shirt or towel on the clothes and roll up. Just make sure you don't put the clothes on the bottom of the pile of clothes. Space bags work well also.

1St no question is dumb especially here. 2nd noone is going to critique you on weather otr not your clothes are pressed. Enjoy your cruise and dress for the occasion but don't worry about the Queen inspecting your clothes!!

The dh and I have a hard-sided garment bag on wheels - I just put his suit in first, then my dress and then any other hanging clothes.  There are pockets for small stuff and also room to pack folded clothes on top of the stuff on hangers.  Then, once in our cabin, I just take all the stuff out, hangers and all, and hang them up.  If anything is really badly wrinkled, you can give it to your room steward to be pressed.  There's a fee for this, but it's not much.  Sure beats ironing on your vacation!

It is a vacation.  I did not take any formal clothing on my last cruise.  I wore a Mexican wedding shirt and slacks on the formal night.  Only one couple at our table dressed up.  there were 5 couples.  Everbody looked nice.  I would would say less than 1/2 the couples dressed up.  Relax and enjoy your cruise.

Okay, got back yesterday.  We had two dresses, two pairs of trousers, and four blouses in a soft sided garment bag that folded in half.  We hung everything up as soon as we got to our room, and nothing needed to be pressed.  However, nothing was 100% cotton - I would guess that cotton or linen might be a little more problematic.

We usually will take two nice hanging garment bags to protect our formal clothes. We love to dress up seeing we never get too, nor hardly ever have a reason much at home. I usually rent a Tux on board its so much easier to not have to clean it or lug it on board. Plus getting measured a month before helps add to the fact its almost time to cruise.   

My last cruise (11/10/08), I packed a no-wrinkle skirt & blouse (the top could be worn as dressy or casual) and it looked great as a formal outfit.  Took up practically no room in my suitcase.

Here's a link to the picture.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kcuHIpgJgqVoXHCgybUtOw

Ramona

 Jersey- basic black- is great!  Toss it in a ball in the corner of your suitcase!

I have to say, I agree with Bob. I use to hassle with all the formal attair, garmet bags, touch up ironing in the passanger launddry room. Not now...I bring nice slacks and dressier top for formal night. ROLL it up, and put in suitcase. DH has a nice pair of slacks with button up shirt and that's about it for formal night for us now. I've noticed in recent years, that formal night has become less and less formal, and I love the new trend. After all, if I wanted to be all formal and stuffy, I would go on a Holland America cruise and not the "fun" ship!! We still are dressier than the other nights, but not too formal and stuffy! Heck I'm on vacation, don't want to have to worry about the formal clothes getting wrinkled

I'm with you on that one Bob.  My boyfriend always wears a nice Hawaiian shirt, slacks, and me either a short dress or slacks/top.  With all the weight and bag restrictions, way too much hassle to pack anything but "light". 

Happy cruising...