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Topic: Are Self-service laundrys necessary on Cruise Ships

Terry
First Class Passenger
Member # 448

posted 08-02-2000 05:34 PM

Few new cruise ships have many self-service laundrys these days. Of course, on a 7-night cruise you don't really need them. On longer cruises you have to pay the ship's laundry prices. What do you think?

Terry Donegan

[This message has been edited by Terry (edited 08-02-2000).]

Posts: 391 | From: Brandon, Norfolk, UK | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 08-02-2000 05:40 PM

I never use the self-service laundry, but I have seen a lot of people using them. I am on the cruise for a holiday and not to do laundry. Do enough at home. All our laundry and dry cleaning was sent out to the ship's laundry and although at times it was expensive, it was worth it. My husband's shirts, underwear and and hankies came back "Rinso white". I could never get them that clean at home.
Do wash my hose and undies every couple of days in the sink in the bathroom. HAL ships have a retractable clothesline over the bathtub. Real handy.

[This message has been edited by sympatico (edited 08-02-2000).]

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 08-02-2000 07:03 PM

Hi...I've been doing dhoby since I was 16 so it never bothered me. However on a cruise many years ago I was doing some and the thought came to me...you've just spent $1000s to come on a cruise and what are you doing DHOBY...must be crazy. That was the last I did and now it all goes to the laundry which saves a lot of space in packing....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Winner
First Class Passenger
Member # 1188

posted 08-02-2000 07:05 PM

I like them for a 14-day or longer cruise--for undies and socks especially. But I do not iron!

Posts: 113 | From: Santa Rosa CA USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Fanatic
First Class Passenger
Member # 1427

posted 08-02-2000 07:10 PM

When we did a transatlantic crossing on the QE2, we found - this was in 1988 - the self-serve laundry facilities rather lacking. There was only one, teeny room with a handful of washers and dryers (free to use; no quarters or shillings or anything necessary), but after traveling around Great Britain for two weeks, and being a bunch of bachelors, you had better believe we needed to do laundry. We got there EARLY the first full morning out (the room was closed during the night), and fortunate that we did. By the time 8:00 a.m. rolled around, the line was longer than for the opening night of the last Star Wars movie. During the lifeboat drill, we had one member of our party stand guard over our machines (others did the same), telling him that in the unlikely event of hitting an iceberg, we would tell him what needed to be done. We valued clean underwear at that point more than his life. By late morning, it was like a war zone in and around that room. One couple with whom we became acquainted, decided to just use the ship's professional launderers - and regretted it. I don't know what the prices are like now on the QE2 for professional cleaning, but back then when they received back just a few cleans shirts, socks and unmentionables, they almost jumped overboard.

Fanatic

Posts: 98 | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 08-02-2000 07:52 PM

Fanatic - thanks for the tip - on our upcoming QE2 crossing will make sure we have enough of everything for 7 days - doing laundry is not my idea of fun time cruising!

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 08-02-2000 08:10 PM

gohaze - what does DHOBY mean? Gather it means laundry, but what does it stand for?

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Fanatic
First Class Passenger
Member # 1427

posted 08-02-2000 08:46 PM

Hi, Green!

Things might be different now; like I said, we crossed back in '88, and she has gone through a major refit since then. If you have deck plans, you can check: the self-serve laundry room was located on one of the lower decks in the hull (not all the way at the bottom), way aft, and was marked as such on the deck plans we had before we booked. Maybe even the prices for professional laundering might have come down. Even though the room was small (two, actually - one with washers/dryers, the other with ironing and pressing boards), the other free thing they had, along with use, was plenty of detergent, fabric softner, etc. The only thing was, you had to get there early, early, early, and we did at 6:00 a.m., when it first opened. And there never was a time, at any point during the crossing, when there wasn't a line of haggard passengers with bundles of clothes, waiting to use it.

Anyway, have a wonderful crossing! I absolutely loved it, and hope to do it again (sans the laundry), and consider it the best sailing I have ever taken. You will be pleasantly SHOCKED at how much closet space there is in the cabins, regardless of which catagory you are booked in.

Fanatic

Posts: 98 | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 08-02-2000 08:46 PM

Hi...it's Indian, probably Hindi, for laundry. We always used it at sea, one of the many words adopted into English. Dhobi-wallah = laundryman. If you ever go to Bombay one of the sights is the Dhobi Ghats, which is where the professional laundrymen do the washing. A huge place with miles of tubs and clothes lines....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Scottylass
First Class Passenger
Member # 420

posted 08-03-2000 03:14 AM

Hi Terry:

On a 7 night cruise, no I guess its not necessary, but it is probably invaluable on ships that do 90 odd nights RTW cruises, can you imagine the laundry bill for 3 months - ouch!!! it may be even bigger than the bar tab.

Peter: I have seen that place in Bombay Dhobi Ghats you are talking about on a travel programme, it sure does look fascinating and brings it home to us how we take for granted the washing machines we use in our every day lives.

Cheers
M.

Posts: 648 | From: Stirlingshire, Scotland | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 08-03-2000 08:40 AM

Doing your laundry on a cruise? You have got to be kidding me. If we need something cleaned we'll let the ship do it. If they don't have cleaning service, we won't book the ship.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 08-03-2000 10:13 AM

Let the ship's laundry to it.....it's a
vacation!!! I agree with sympatico, HAL
does a great job with the laundry. I'm
not a heavy drinker so the money I save on drinks I put into laundry.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Justine
First Class Passenger
Member # 1335

posted 08-03-2000 11:30 AM

On holidays I never iron or do laundry. The dry cleaning and laundry service on HAL is excellent. I admit though, on some trips I bring a dry cleaning kit (folded bag for use in dryer) in case of a sudden stain or spill on the formal wear, and have never had to use it.

Posts: 126 | From: Northern Ontario | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Justine
First Class Passenger
Member # 1335

posted 08-03-2000 11:31 AM

Posts: 126 | From: Northern Ontario | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 08-03-2000 01:22 PM

YES, YES, YES!!!!! It is sooo nice to have a washing machine and dryer on the ship. A lot of clothes straighten out in the dryer and it saved a lot of ironing. The "Elation" had a laundry room and iron and ironing board and it was greatly appreciated.

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

LizB
First Class Passenger
Member # 1243

posted 08-03-2000 03:45 PM

YES, YES, YES! I am in favor of the laundry facilities aboard the HAL ships. We don't use them for shorter cruises (under 14-days) however they are a life saver (and money saver) when we cruise for a month or more. I still do send some things to the laundry, i.e., chinos, etc. as I hate to iron and do use their dry cleaning facilities, but it sure is great to have the convenience of the washers and dryers to use about every 7-10 days on longer cruises. We always get to the launderette very early, throw in a load of wash, go to the Lido for morning coffee, and then go back to find the wash is ready for the dryer...which then gives us time to have breakfast. We find it's no big deal anymore and always try to do it on a port day when fewer pax think of doing their wash.
I remember the "old" days when we did NOT have this convenience and am grateful we do have it now. We still manage to enjoy our vacations, by the way, and find we have to pack fewer things.

Posts: 133 | From: S.Dennis,MA, USA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 08-03-2000 04:17 PM

Good advice LizB......especially on long
cruises. I send stuff out, but I must admit
I did go to the self-service on my longer
cruises.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

barpal
First Class Passenger
Member # 1144

posted 08-03-2000 04:48 PM

In February my wife and I sailed RCI Legend of the seas 21 days from Singapore to Hong Kong. I didn't do my home work and found the Legend of the Seas didn't have a self serv laundry. I swore then I would never sail longer than 7 days on a ship that didn't have a self serv laundry unless I negotiated a $100 or more on board credit from the Travel Agency or the Cruise Line.

Posts: 16 | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Vickie
First Class Passenger
Member # 466

posted 08-03-2000 05:09 PM

I was on the QE2 last summer, and the laundry looks the same as Fanatic described it (it's near the flower shop, just before hamburger bar by the pool). When I first started cruising, I bought many, many pairs of undies so I wouldn't have to do laundry! Laundries always seem crowded and can get somewhat adversarial - the two times I used laundries, I spent half the day there (between waiting for a washer, waiting for cycles to end, waiting for dryer, and you can't leave because people take your wet stuff out if you're not there to protect it...) Not for me!!

Posts: 29 | From: Connecticut, USA | Registered: Nov 98 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 08-03-2000 06:17 PM

Scottylass - your're thinking ahead - I can tell!: )

Malcolm - how come I can't get a 'smilie face' doing what you suggested?

[This message has been edited by Green (edited 08-03-2000).]

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 08-03-2000 06:23 PM

Fanatic - Get up at 0600 to do laundry? I long ago decided that "I don't do mornings"!

Cheers...

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Terri Lee
First Class Passenger
Member # 942

posted 08-03-2000 09:23 PM

I have used the launderette a couple of times on HAL but only to touch up a couple of shirts which I hadn't packed particularly well.

I must admit though,I was very surprised to find folks actually using the washers and dryers during the first day at sea,some of them even washing jeans,of all things.

Like you say,I don't go on a cruise and do laundry per se.....but the ironing board does come in handy in an emergency.

Of course,on the World Cruise that room is usually quite busy as it is a bit pricey to send everything out to the ship's laundry/dry-cleaners.

Posts: 292 | From: Burlington Ontario Canada | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

PORTER
First Class Passenger
Member # 1414

posted 08-04-2000 12:05 AM

You may have noted my user name!
If you are "porting" around the bags, the less packed the better

God bless self-service laundrys

Posts: 23 | From: washington st. usa | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

Cruise Control
Just Boarded
Member # 1498

posted 08-05-2000 07:07 PM

We were on the QE2 for a month this past winter. The laundry there was great--lots of washers and dryers, and even free detergent. I think I did laundry twice--having it meant we didn't have to bring so much stuff--a great convenience. Of course you wouldn't bother if you were only on board for a week or so.

Posts: 1 | From: Worcester, Ma, USA | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Scottylass
First Class Passenger
Member # 420

posted 08-06-2000 11:50 AM

Hello Green:

Well by using the ships laundering service for 3 months that could almost amount to the cost of another cruise, so another cruise would win out if it got right down to the nitty gritty.

Cheers – M.

Posts: 648 | From: Stirlingshire, Scotland | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

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