So today, we walked through the entire process—from the laundry forms you’ll find in your cabin, to filling the wash-and-fold bags, to hand-washing delicates using two different techniques (including one new experiment that worked surprisingly well).

Here’s how laundry day unfolds for us on Odyssey of the Seas.

Sorting Through the Mysterious Cruise Laundry Forms

The first thing we did this morning was take a look at the three different laundry slips in our room. Each one does something different, but they all kind of look the same at first glance, which is what throws most people off.

When we cruised more casually in the past, we would glance at the pile of forms and move on. But now that we’re on longer sailings—and especially now that we’re Diamond Plus—we use them all strategically.

Let me walk you through them the same way we walked through them on camera.

The “Wrinkle Out” / Pressing Form

The first form on our desk was the press-only form. This one is strictly for ironing out wrinkles—no washing involved.

We rarely use it because we pack smart and travel with Downy Wrinkle Releaser, which has become one of our favorite cruise hacks. But if I had a special dress or if Marshall had a suit for formal night, this is the form we’d use.

The Per-Item Laundry Service

The second form is the full-service laundry menu, priced per piece.
Think of this as the “a la carte” laundry option.

Wash and press? Press only? Dry clean? Steam? Yes to all of those.
But here’s the key thing: this is not a wash-and-fold service.

We are not paying individually for them to press our socks and underwear. So while this is a great option for nicer clothing, today it wasn’t the right fit.

The Wash-and-Fold Special (Our Favorite)

The third paper—the one I had actually been waiting for—is the wash-and-fold laundry special. This is the real workhorse of cruise laundry.

It’s a simple deal:

• Fill the bag with as much as you can fit

• $34.99 per bag

• Diamond discount: $10 off

• Diamond Plus and Pinnacle: free

Since we’re Diamond Plus, this is one of the perks we really appreciate, especially on longer itineraries.

Packing the Bag: A Cruise Laundry Ritual

Marshall already had his bag filled this morning—true to form—with workout clothes, socks, and even a pair of jeans. His bag looked surprisingly roomy, about two-thirds full, and it reminded me that these bags hold a lot more than they appear to.

Then it was my turn.

I gathered up:

• athletic pants

• two nightgowns

• six pairs of socks

• a tank top

• ten pairs of underwear (which I spared the camera from!)

I stuffed them into the laundry bag and realized it was about as full as Marshall’s.

Before sealing the bag, I added one important touch—a tip I learned from a more seasoned Diamond Plus cruiser. She told me to write “Diamond Plus” directly on the bag, as well as on the form. It helps ensure that the charge doesn’t accidentally show up on your account later.

Once we filled out the forms, signed them, and tucked them on top of the bags, we placed both bags outside our stateroom. Our attendant scooped them up almost instantly. Laundry: Phase One complete.

Now for the Delicates: Our Cruise Hand-Washing Setup

But that still left the items you absolutely cannot send through high heat.

I had a small pile of clothes set aside—a sweater, a blouse, a jacket—and Marshall had a pair of cotton pants with a salad-dressing stain we’d been treating. These were the things I knew needed gentle care.

Instead of risking shrinkage, we hand wash them right in the room.

And for today’s laundry session, we tried two different hand-wash methods:

1. Our normal sink method

2. A new experiment using a dry bag

Both ended up working surprisingly well—but in different ways.

Hand-Washing Method 1: The Sink Routine

I always pack Arm & Hammer Power Sheets, a type of dissolvable laundry detergent sheet that’s lightweight and perfect for travel. They smell great, work well, and you can tear them in half if you’re only washing a few pieces.

For the stained pants, I turned on the warm water, dropped in half a sheet, and let it dissolve. There’s something oddly satisfying about watching those sheets melt.

I scrubbed the stain gently and let the pants soak while I worked on the other items. This method is simple and effective—especially for cotton or delicate fabrics.

Hand-Washing Method 2: The Dry Bag Experiment

Then came the fun part.

I had picked up a small dry bag at Walmart before the cruise—one of those waterproof bags meant for kayaking or camping. I had read that some travelers use these as portable wash tubs. We decided to put it to the test.

I added a full detergent sheet, filled the bag with warm water in the shower, added a couple of garments, and sealed it.

Instant washing machine.

We shook it.
We sloshed it around.
We let it soak.

It didn’t leak a drop—not one.
It held water perfectly until we were ready to dump it out.

For hand washing anything more delicate, this may actually become our new go-to method.

Drying Delicate Clothing on a Cruise Ship

With everything washed, the next challenge was drying.

This is where one of our subscribers came through with the best tip ever: the towel-rolling method.

Here’s how it works:

1. Lay a pool towel on the bathroom floor

2. Place your damp item on top

3. Roll everything up like a burrito

4. Press or walk on it to remove moisture

It worked beautifully. Better than I expected.

After that, we hung each item around the stateroom using 170-pound magnetic hooks, which are perfect for attaching to the ceiling or the steel walls. With the air conditioner running, everything dries within a day.

Meanwhile, the dry bag is now hanging in the shower, drying out for next time.

Laundry Day Success on Odyssey of the Seas

By the time we finished all of this, the sun was shining, and it was time to head out and explore the port. Laundry day was officially done—and our room smelled like fresh detergent and warm towels.

Between the wash-and-fold service, the sink method, and our new dry bag experiment, I can honestly say we’ve finally found a cruise laundry routine that works perfectly for longer sailings.

If you try any of these techniques on your next Royal Caribbean cruise, let us know how it goes. And if you have a trick or hack we haven’t tried yet, we’d love to hear it—because laundry day on a ship is definitely a team effort.

Thanks for following along, and we’ll see you in the next adventure!