Pack My Bags

Nittany - Those tips were good!

We usually bring an insulated water bottle that we carry around the ship. We fill up at the promenade (with A paper cup because you shouldn't fill up your personal vessel from a public spout) and use it from casino to trivia to the beach, etc...

We also find that it's easier to find your stateroom if you decorate your door with a magnet, photo or your CC door sign! Those long hallways look alike & sometimes feel like they never end!

There is different artwork displayed at each stairwell. Memorize which one is outside your closest elevator bank so you know which way to go or NOT go, when heading back to your stateroom.

If you've never been to the "Quest" you should go at least once. Adult fun guaranteed to make you laugh!

At the buffet, you dont need to put everything piled on top of your plate. If you're still hungry, you can always go back for more... And please take a new plate when you do. (Usually it's the younger kids that are unaware of this ethic, but they learn. :-)

At buffets, if you are seated by yourself & going up for seconds, or your entire party is at the buffet, leave your silverware and hat or another personal (not valuable) item on the table so the staff knows the table is still occupied.

Lastly, if you're going to indulge, bring tums!

I can attest to that! My mom is blind & with staterooms so small, the first thing I do is get that darn coffee table out of the way. Getting whacked in the shin is not fun!!! I am guilty of putting table out on the balcony, but mom has graduated & now made it to Jr.. Suites. With all that extra room we now just put it in the corner!

Or the day plates on the elevators floors! Not sure if they are on every ship but they were on the Radiance. Not once did I witness them changing them either. Too funny!

Mee toooo! My guess is that they summon the elevators to the lower decks, change the plates & then send them back on their merry way!

And after visiting Carlos & Charlie's & Margaritaville, don't forget to put your key into the door facing down... Otherwise by the time you remember all of the above, you will never make it to a bathroom in time!

LOL!

More helpful hints!

If you're traveling with kids -- Some insist on bringing their own favorite pillow from home. If you do, be sure to put a colored/patterned /cartoon pillowcase on it. If you bring a white one, you want to make sure you leave with your own property.

If you're looking to buy ship souvenirs, T-shirts & such (besides stuff you bought in ports) wait for the last 2 days on board. That's when they unveil all the stock & clearance items! Just be careful you don't get trampled on at the watch boxed sets table! Haha!

There is nothing worse than hearing your neighbor's activities & conversations. (I roomed next door to a bitter, squabbling drunk couple last time & swore I would never do it again.) If you should happen to be in a connecting rm bring a roll of blue painters tape to seal the doorway & earplugs just in case they are honeymooners. And remember... If you can hear them, they can hear you.

Port side has blue carpets...blue for boys...get it? ;)

Some ergonomics/design engineer worked many many months to come up with that. :D

I LOVE THIS!

Port, blue & boys all have 4 letters! A creative mom easily figured that out in ten seconds! LOL!

Bonnie,

You're right, we all have our opinions.

This is based on a prior post of mine. As a tour operator I spend over half the year on the road in hotel rooms, and it's tough, stale, and lonely. I dont get strong scents, I prefer light ones that smell like clean laundry. I tend to book balconies or jr suites so I have the space & the plug ins have a dial to adjust how much you prefer.

This was just a hint.

If you plan on bringing a glade plug in for your cabin to smell nice you need to remember this....

1. You will need the plug in unit plus a NEW glass bottle scented cartridge w/ cap. Make sure the cap is on tightly & put both parts (unattached) in a ziplock.

2. TSA will take it away, you must keep it in your luggage. The glass wont break, roll it up in a pair of socks or something.

3. It won't fit properly in the little outlet under the mirror vanity. You will need to bring a surge protector. When you plug it in make sure it sits upright! You don't want the liquid to spill. The back of the plug should swivel.

4. Be sure you store the cap to seal the cartridge when it's time to go home. ;-(. This way you can store it in your luggage & have it ready for your next trip! (I'm a tour operator remember?)

If you use the gel plug ins then you dont need to worry about spilling liquid, but I get the costco packet that comes with 6 refils, so Im used to them. I know this may sound like too much work, but it's so much worth it! ESPECIALLY when you are in a non-smoking hotel room that clearly does not smell like one!!! Plug it in, plug it in!

I'm a tour operator & sleep in more hotel beds than my own. On my last Feeedom cruise (Sept 2010) our room steward bumped into us as we were headed to the solarium & said your room smells so nice!

Since I am a creature of comfort, I keep one thing around that feels like home. The scent. I ALWAYS bring a glade plug-in with the same scent I have at home. (I also bring a surge protector for extra outlets.)

-Ria

GRETEL1128 -- YES Carpet is different colors on port & starboard sides of the ship. This is not in the elevator banks (those usually have pink carpet), its off into the hall where the staterooms are.

For instance. If you are standing in the forward elevator bank/staircase & look left the Hallway carpet may be navy & when you look right it's green. When you are in the aft bank the hallways may be pink & green. CAREFUL don't get confused because one of the colors will repeat itself. It WILL however be diagonal. I.e... The green may be forward port & then aft starboard. It does help!!!!

jlajla - I LOVE DOING THIS! Royal used to cruise out of Santo Domingo I forgot to bring shampoo, so I went to a local shop & got some sort of tropical shampoo. It was a huge bottle, but the only one I could understand in Spanish. Believe it or not, I still have a little less than half of it & when I need a pick me up I use it at home!

As for lanyards, the casino also has them for free at the cashier. Save, save, save. More money for the casino!

I have been in elevators with rude people, where people got on for ONE FLOOR, kids who have pressed all the buttons, people who were were claustrophobic & pushed out others when they tried to squeeze in. I have been run over by jazzy scooters, rudely pushed by foreign tourists, gotten dirty looks for wearing shorts after formal night dinner & seen Americans speak to their children like they are garbage....

I have gotten out of an elevator because kids pressed all the buttons, to avoid breathing obnoxious amount of nauseating colognes, because an elderly woman had to load her luggage cart because her DH had fallen ill in St. Thomas, and most importantly, to walk the rest of the way so someone with a jazzy, wheelchair and/or stroller could make it in together as a family.

Everyone has a choice! Now if only EVERYONE could remember that we are all on vacation & there is no rush, nothing so important that it can't wait. I will still say please, thank you, excuse me & keep being polite in hopes that people will extend the courtesy.

In the meantime I have learned the MOST important lesson about taking the elevators. If you are able to walk, the difference between taking the stairs either up or down 3 decks or less is 3-5 pounds per cruise!!!?!?!??!! ;) :p :D

That is the funniest tip ever! Dolphins work too! You'll see people pointing out into the sea for the phantom mammals!

I second ordering real eggs from the omelet station! They are so much better than "liquid eggs!"

I also grab mayonnaise packets at lunch because sometimes I want a BLT for breakfast!

My all time favorite sightseeing is watching the drunks trying to make it back on the ship from their catamaran party excursions. On my last cruise a gentleman about 70 yrs old was griping the handrail for dear life while his DW dragged him by the other hand up the stairs on deck 2. He looked at us & said "Her name is Margarita & they were soooo good!" one step at a time, he made it!

1. If you are on the promenade on a voyager class ship & see the promenade room on deck six that a has a view of the Ben & Jerrys cabooses (your stateroom gets free ice cream daily!) Not sure which cabin # exactly.

2. If you like the grand marnier souffles ( which are no longer on the menu) ask your head waiter if your table can have them on a particular day i.e. (Someone celebrating) they will do it!

3. Bring a laundry bag, extra ziplock bags. Things like sunblock & batteries should be brought from home. They are costly on board.

4. Sit in the rear of the theatre, you will be one of the first ones out & don't get stuck bottlenecking. OR After shows, muster drill& ice skating go outside for a walk elevators are hard to come by.

5. Don't hog poolside loungers!!!!!!!!!!

6. Sign up for crown & anchor if you havent already. Book your appts with the crown & anchor desks early. They fill up quickly towards the end of the sailing.

7. When strolling to breakfast peek in other types of cabins if housekeeping has propped their doors open to see what they look like.

8. Do as much or as little as you want. Its your vacation.

9. If someone made an impact on our cruise or went out of their way to help you, acknowledge them. They work so hard.

10. Lastly.... Sometimes the quickest way to get on a elevator going up is to go down..... And vice versa!

ENJOY!

OK OK so we must all remember... We're on vacation! Relax & enjoy. If all I want is a roll, I squeeze in between and ask politely if I can just grab a roll, always remembering to say please, thank you & smile.

As for hints!!!

1. Pack a surge protector for all your gadgets that need charging.

2. If traveling w/ kids pack a nightlight.

3. Bring a travel alarm clock. I've tried to use my iPhone alarm but can get tricky w/ time zone changes.

4. I bring a portable water bottle rather than drinking 4 cups in the WJ.

5. Portofino &/or Chops is available for platinum members+ for dining in the WJ on freedom class & voyager class. Have not sailed on oasis yet.

6. YES Carpet is different colors on port & starboard sides of the ship. For instance. If you are standing in the forward elevator bank/staircase & look left the Hallway carpet may be navy & when you look right it's light green. When you are in the aft bank the hallways may be pink & light green. CAREFUL don't get confused because one of the colors will repeat itself. It WILL however be diagonal. I.e... The green may be forward port & then aft starboard. It does help!!!!

Will send more hints tomorrow!