"I wish I knew before..."

[NewSalt]

 

It's a shame that all ships don't have guest laundry facilities. I'm going on a 12 day cruise in Nov. on a ship with no guest laundry, and I'll have to pack very carefully. This is one subject that really, really agrivates me about cruise lines; they purposely make it so you'll have to use their expensive laundry services.

 

And I recommend a travel bottle of Febreze fabric freshner...can extend the life of clothes between washings.

 

The expense of the laundry is one point, but even when they have the all-you-can-jam-in-a-bag specials, I'm not crazy about the idea of having my expensive underwear and delicate knits subjected to the rigors of hot water in a commercial washer and the heat if a commercial dryer.

 

And doing laundry by hand in a sink is NOT the way I want to spend vacation time. I like the Princess ships that have washer and dryers on board.

[SunshineCruiser24]

3-Ring Binder: I used to work in event planning and got in the habit of bringing a small 3-ring binder (1/2 inch width) with me on all my business and personal trips. It holds paper copies of everything--travel docs, itinerary, hotel confirmations, etc. I also include a couple page protectors to prevent important stuff from getting bent or wet. I also have copies of docs on my phone and email but sometimes you just need a paper copy.

Pencil Pouch: I have a pencil pouch insert for the binder that I use to hold those small things that I need or want to save, but can often get lost like receipts, tickets, coins, etc.

Glow in the Dark Necklaces: Glow in the dark bracelets/necklaces work great as night lights. Just hang a couple around the room or wear them at night for fun. I usually buy a bunch of them at the dollar store.

Itinerary & Contact Info: Include a letter sized piece of paper with your itinerary and contact information in your luggage AND carry on bags.

Wipes: Disinfecting wipes to clean armrests and tray tables on the plane. Also use these in hotel rooms and cabins. Wipe down door handles, remotes, etc. Remotes are surprisingly full of germs!

 

 

I use the pencil pouch for passports, a sharpie, pen and highlighter!!

[Underwatr]

And doing laundry by hand in a sink is NOT the way I want to spend vacation time. I like the Princess ships that have washer and dryers on board.

Carnival and Cunard do as well (and Cunard's machines are free, including detergent packs).

[chloepants]

This thread has moved past the talk of preparing for seasickness, but I wanted to offer one other quick remedy.

 

If you have a sudden bout of seasickness hit you, take a whiff of rubbing alcohol (I carry little individual wipes with me). It will instantly calm your stomach, and this will give you a reprieve until your medicine kicks in, or may resolve the problem completely.

 

My dentist told me about this and it works so well. They use it when patients are nauseated after surgery.

[MYMOTHERSCHILD]

Just a couple of thoughts:

 

 

What works well for me is one carry-on per person. I've packed for ten days using one suitcase that fits in an overhead airline compartment.

 

Yeah for you! I've used that size whether for a week or a month...anytime, anywhere. I've never needed more even for 4 months on a freighter trip around the world. I often wonder what's packed in those trunks, huge hanger bags, hat bags, make up bags and how one recuperates after lugging all that stuff back home.

Edited January 15, 2015 by MYMOTHERSCHILD

[MYMOTHERSCHILD]

This thread has moved past the talk of preparing for seasickness, but I wanted to offer one other quick remedy.

 

If you have a sudden bout of seasickness hit you, take a whiff of rubbing alcohol (I carry little individual wipes with me). It will instantly calm your stomach, and this will give you a reprieve until your medicine kicks in, or may resolve the problem completely.

 

My dentist told me about this and it works so well. They use it when patients are nauseated after surgery.

 

I'll remember that. Also, B complex has been a life saver for me. I keep Vitamin B complex on hand for any stomach problem. I've spent close to a year at sea since 1971 and never been seasick.

[Smokeyham]

Yeah for you! I've used that size [carry on] whether for a week or a month...anytime, anywhere. I've never needed more even for 4 months on a freighter trip around the world. I often wonder what's packed in those trunks, huge hanger bags, hat bags, make up bags and how one recuperates after lugging all that stuff back home.

 

That works for some, and I have a friend who travels around the world with just her carry on. However, of course, there are limitations to that choice.

 

My friend came to visit, and we had the opportunity to go out to a very nice restaurant, with a dress code, and she was not able to go because she did not have anything suitable to wear.

[Underwatr]

Yeah for you! I've used that size whether for a week or a month...anytime, anywhere. I've never needed more even for 4 months on a freighter trip around the world. I often wonder what's packed in those trunks, huge hanger bags, hat bags, make up bags and how one recuperates after lugging all that stuff back home.

Our last cruise had 5 formal (tuxedo/gown) nights out of 12. Hard to dress for that with airline carryons.

[BigB0882]

I went on my first cruise about a month ago and am planning our 2nd now.

 

Some things I noticed, would change for the next cruise, etc:

 

1. The food is not as amazing as I imagined. I had this extreme fantasy of it being a huge buffet open all hours of the day and night with everything you could possibly want. Much like the casino buffets you find at the nice casinos. They do have food all the time but it isn't this amazing buffet and even the sit down restaurant is just OK. There is nothing WRONG with any of it, just make sure your expectations are not out of line like mine were.

 

2. If you enjoy gambling, be prepared. The machines on Elation paid out much less than most machines I have played (I live in a city with 3 casinos, so I think I am a pretty good judge) but were still fun. The problem is how convenient it is to just pop on in to the casino. You may walk through it 10 times a day! You can really blow your budget quickly and feel stressed the rest of your cruise.

 

3. You don't have to get off the boat. I got off at our one stop in Cozumel because I have never been out of the country and didn't want to miss the chance. However, I wouldn't get off there again. You can stay on the boat and enjoy all the areas that aren't crowded while everyone is away.

 

4. Don't try to bring a steamer. We brought one for our clothes for formal night and they kept it and gave it back to us when we got back to New Orleans. It is apparently a safety hazard. They do let you bring certain other electronics though, so check with them before it you want to bring something and you aren't sure if they allow it.

 

5. No need to get super dressed up on formal night. We just wore jeans and a polo. As long as you aren't in shorts, they were fine with it. Some people went all out but you don't need to. So bring one pair of jeans for that night if you don't like to dress up.

 

6. Bring soft drinks! You are allowed one 12 pack per person, I think. We bought a bubble pass so we could get all the diet coke we wanted but when we were in our room for the night or for a nap/break, it was nice not to have to run out and go to the nearest bar for a diet coke. Our steward was amazing and we ALWAYS had ice in our room.

[Hedobound1202]

Arrive at least a day before especially in winter. Never know about the weather!

 

Early mornings on deck are the best! Quiet and beautiful to watch sunrise.

 

Don't stress on too many outfits! You are on vacation.

 

Try one of the specialty restaurants if you can. In my opinion, very good and was worth extra money.

 

I like to buy the boarding picture. Sure it's cheesy but always brings a smile to my face!

[MamaTortuga]

Oh the things I wish I knew the first time I sailed!

1. If you don't like the options in the main dining room, you don't HAVE to eat there. I thought it was a requirement to eat there every night, and there was a night where I didn't really like what they were serving but I felt like I had to order something so I chose what I disliked the least. Later I learned that I could have just went to the buffet and got something I would enjoy more.
    
    
   
2. You wont spend much time in your room. Leave the game consoles at home! I was in high school when I went on my first cruise, and being in the band where we took yearly band trips I was in the habit of bringing my Playstation or Wii. (For the times we weren't allowed to leave the hotel.) So I went on the cruise thinking I'd have my Wii for the times that I'm in the room. I was RARELY in my room so bringing the Wii was a waste of luggage space. So young and foolish haha.
    
    
   
3. Bring drinks in your carry on, especially if you're not a soda drinker. My last cruise all I had was water the entire time, not that there's anything wrong with water, but there were times that I wished I could have something else to go with my meal, or while I was relaxing on deck. There's the drink packages for purchase, but I'm not a soda drinker so it wouldn't be worth the money. Next time I'm bringing a pack of vitamin water, save some money and have a little flavor with my meal :)
    
    
   
4. Leave the phone in the safe and enjoy yourself! This wasn't really an issue for me the first time, but my friend was texting up a storm the entire time. (Teenagers and boys, you know how it goes haha) When we got back home she was in A LOT of trouble when the bill came in. I don't even know how she had the service to text the whole time cause I sure didn't. Just leave the phone alone (or use it for camera purposes) you're on vacation so disconnect from everything and enjoy it!
    
    
   
5. Take what you're willing to keep up with. I wanted to take a lot of pictures, but I had a big DSLR camera (you know with the different lenses, etc.) I took that because I didn't want to settle for cell phone pictures (cell phone cameras weren't as great 6 years ago) I got great pictures, but at the same time I had to keep up with everything while I was out. Didn't want it to get stolen, but it definitely takes away from the experience when I have to keep track of my bag of camera equipment.
   

[startingtolive]

Only on page 8 and already loving all the advise!

[talili]

Hi everyone,

I am going on my first cruise May 2015. I am confused about the ship account. I read some where that they charge 200 a day on your credit card, so it ties up your credit. We want to pay cash. Can we do this. What is the rule. Thanks guys I love all the info.

 

Sally

[Folk Singer]

I use the pencil pouch for passports, a sharpie, pen and highlighter!!

 

Same here. and take curtain clips that I can use to keep the Curtain closed and use same on the walls with magnets for holding papers and tickets.

[Folk Singer]

Hi everyone,

I am going on my first cruise May 2015. I am confused about the ship account. I read some where that they charge 200 a day on your credit card, so it ties up your credit. We want to pay cash. Can we do this. What is the rule. Thanks guys I love all the info.

 

Sally

 

 

Do not know about the 200 dollar charge, never heard of that. you have to have credit card on file but you can pay cash on your account as you go we always do and never had a problem. Gratuities and other charges are put on your account each day as that is the only way to pay for things. Then go to Guest services and pay each day cash on the account.

[DevilDogsWifey215]

Hi everyone,

I am going on my first cruise May 2015. I am confused about the ship account. I read some where that they charge 200 a day on your credit card, so it ties up your credit. We want to pay cash. Can we do this. What is the rule. Thanks guys I love all the info.

 

Sally

That is only suggestive. You can tell them how much to put on it if anything. We only put 100 on ours as we prepaid our gratuities and had an unlimited drink package. We got back most of it as we had very minimal charges.

[Martini Mom]

It sounds silly, but we always use brightPost It Notes. My hubby likes to get up really early and go walk around on the deck while I'm still asleep, go iron something while I'm showering, etc. He just leaves a Post It Note on the mirror for me. You forget how different things are when you can't just send a text. ;)

 

We've also used them to let the room steward know that we'd like ice or what not if we don't run into him and left notes for friends who are cruising with us.

[mwood0612]

It sounds silly, but we always use brightPost It Notes. My hubby likes to get up really early and go walk around on the deck while I'm still asleep, go iron something while I'm showering, etc. He just leaves a Post It Note on the mirror for me. You forget how different things are when you can't just send a text. ;)

 

 

 

We've also used them to let the room steward know that we'd like ice or what not if we don't run into him and left notes for friends who are cruising with us.

 

 

GREAT ADVICE!!! I forgot my "post it" notes this last cruise and BOY DID I MISS THEM!!!! Always a must!!!!!!!!

[kruzkween]

If we're leaving a note for our cabin steward we just leave it on the bed. I figure that's the most likely place for him to find it. Remember too that the walls are metal underneath the surface, as well as the cabin door, and things can be hung on your cabin walls & door with a magnet. I travel with 5 or 6 and use them often.

I also travel with Scotch tape and find lots of uses for it on a cruise.

[Brandywine_101]

Just a couple of thoughts:

 

The photos can be pricey, but never had a problem with them wrinkling. Princess had a package of buying six, getting two free. As well as buying a nice frame for only $5 more.

 

Versatileness works well with clothes. Best purchase ever made were two pair of convertible pants - unzip the legs, and they become shorts for walking around in ports, zip them back on and they're khakis for dinnertime. And depending on how much walking (and how hot it is), I've gotten away with wearing a duo-dry T-shirt while in port, then throwing on a button-down collared shirt on top for dinnertime as well.

 

I've also gotten away with one pair of shoes - black, no-slips that work well in port as well as on formal nights. Just wash any dirt off of them.

 

What works well for me is one carry-on per person. I've packed for ten days using one suitcase that fits in an overhead airline compartment.

Nice, good advice. I'm trying to convey this to my husband, not to over pack. It seems to me that the ship is almost like being at home, walking around your neighborhood. You don't need to dress up for that.

[Saffir]

I haven't been on my first cruise yet, but one tip that I got that I really, really liked was to bring your favorite flavored coffee creamer with you and keep it in your fridge. The regular coffee is free, and if you're content enough with the flavored creamer, you won't have to spend money on specialty coffee! Of course, I imagine this is easier to do if you're not flying into your port city.

[ready4sunshine]

Wow this is a lot to take in! Some great advice. Thanks everyone! Have till Nov this year and extremely excited! I'm sure these boards will keep me busy!

[azzy]

Post # 1890

Number 5

Jeans are not appropriate for formal night and really not any night in the dining room.

A nice pair of slacks takes up the same amount of room.

Many cruises will have a sign with this policy at the door.

[SunshineCruiser24]

Jeans are actually fine in the dining room for every night except formal night.

[Underwatr]

It really depends on the line.