Question about Parkas

[shelchan]

On my trip (Dec 21), the Canada Goose jacket is included as part of the cost of the trip. Will I still need to pack my own parka or will this be given to everyone at the start of the cruise to use? I am trying to pack and get everything squeezed into a US carry on for easier travel and to minimize the risk of lost luggage wherever I can, but a parka takes up quite a bit of room. Thoughts or does anyone have experience on trips where the jacket was provided with the cost of the room?

[origcavy]

I'm pretty sure they're given out at the very beginning. It wouldn't make any sense to have us come back from a trip and then give us a random parka. If nobody with experience answers and you're really worried, just call the 800# and ask.

I'm planning on packing a fleece as Ushuaia is probably going to be somewhat cool (high of 50's seems to be average based on one site I checked). That won't cost me any space as I'll wear it on the plane and cuddle up under it as a blanket on the long flight. One trick to trying to get into a carryon bag is to use those rollup compression bags as much of the warm stuff is poofy. Be sure to grab the rollup ones and not the vacuum ones if you do decide to use those. Large ziplock bags work for the same purpose.

[wattsed]

The parkas are in your cabin on arrival in the size you requested....they had some extras in case the size you requested was not the size you needed...On the return trip I had bought two gallon double close baggies and the parka and parka liner fit in them and was pretty small once all the air was squeezed from the two baggies...I found you can get more air out if you close the baggie almost all the way and then have your partner or friend stand on the bag while you finish closing it!

[ExplorerWannaBe]

The gallon (4-liter) size zip lock bags are great for compressing clothes. I usually zip them almost closed then sit on them to squeeze out the rest of the air and zip shut. You can also use a soda straw to suck out the air. Bear in mind these will NOT help you get past the weight limit on the domestic flight into Ushuaia!

[shelchan]

Thanks for the ziploc tips! I have luggage bags that do the same thing, but they're for all the contents in a suitcase and believe me, I know how much heavier that dense mass gets! Will bring a few for the puffier items, though. Thanks, all! Not having to pack my parka (or buy the husband one in the first place) will be a huge help in saving space on the trip down. Figuring out how to bring the other one back will be a challenge.

[giskard]

We got our Canada Goose parkas after the first night's dinner (we had to pick 'em up at the M/S Expedition gift shop). So, easily in time before the icebergs and cold winds show up