dsal Posted February 4, 2010 #1 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Since booking this first cruise I've amassed quite the amount of paperwork, and I'm guessing there's more to come. I have printed notes of tips I learned on this forum :) , my plane etickets, glossy cruise book, packing list, cruise paperwork, travel insurance policy, etc. Just wondering what tips you can share on your personal filing system for all this stuff: in a notebook? A little portable file, etc.? And how do you store and bring your necessary paperwork with you? I'm guessing you'll have great tips! (Right now it's all just tossed into a basket, but I need to organize it.) Thx, dsal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olemissreb Posted February 4, 2010 #2 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Right now all of my cruise stuff is in a manilla file folder. I need to get it out and put it in a small 3 ring binder. I should have room in my carry-on for it so I don't lose any of the information. I figure in the 3 ring binder, I can put dividers in so I can have a section for excursions, flights, hotels, gifts-n-gear etc. Have you joined the Roll Call for your cruise? You may get more ideas from the people you are cruising with. Good luck! Enjoy your first cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted February 4, 2010 #3 Share Posted February 4, 2010 I stick my BC and online check-in form in an envelope....that's it...don't need any of the other stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nseagirl Posted February 4, 2010 #4 Share Posted February 4, 2010 I have a file folder with inside pockets. I have all of my papers in sheet protectors in the pockets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveler353 Posted February 4, 2010 #5 Share Posted February 4, 2010 What mass of paper work? Boarding pass, passport, drivers license, charge card and cash, clothes in a convertable backpack. Simple is always better. Much less stressful.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehfl Posted February 4, 2010 #6 Share Posted February 4, 2010 I only have my SetSail document (1 sheet for the whole party), and our passports. I'm glad I don't have to deal with all that extra stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treven Posted February 4, 2010 #7 Share Posted February 4, 2010 I have my paperwork in order that they will be needed. Super Shuttle, airlines e-ticket, passport, shuttle at the end to hotel or cruiseport, boarding pass, shuttle to the airport, e-ticket, passport, Super Shuttle from airport to home. Yes, I am rather anal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadtripster Posted February 4, 2010 #8 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Yes, we have a lot of paperwork too. Seems like all our excursions have to have us print out a voucher, etickets for the 3 flights we have to take, hotel confirmations, etc... Right now I have a 5 section notebook with pockets and have each section a port. All info pertaining to that day, goes in the pocket or all my notes are on the pieces of paper. Once we travel, I have a bigger size envelope for each day and have each one numbered in order of days and have info written on the outside of the envelope too. Inside, I have the confirmation printouts, the plane tickets, money, etc.... I keep each envelope in the safe until it is time to use that days. When the day is over, I have any new info written on the back of the envelope, receipts in it, etc... so when I get home, I know exactly how much I spent each day. As for carrying my passport, tickets etc.... I have a handy Vera Bradley zipper pouch that holds credit cards, pen slot, money area, and the passports fit perfectly in there too. Has a handy wrist strap for when I am going through the airport and need to keep digging into it. Similar to this.... http://www.verabradley.com/product/Collection/Signature/Zip-Around-Wallet/154774/defaultColor/Symphony%20in%20Hue/pc/640/p/154774/sc/683/c/0.uts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PictureMom Posted February 4, 2010 #9 Share Posted February 4, 2010 On my last cruise I used a small expandable file for all that stuff. You know the size you might file coupons in. It's about the size of a envelope. It has tabs that you can label and keep everything organized. I am an organization freak and this worked extremely well! I knew where everything was and didn't have to go searching for anything. I labeled the different sections: passports, hotel info. (for before and/or after the cruise), cruise documents, excursions, flight information etc. You can find these at Target or Walmart. I am cruising again in April and have already started filling mine up as I get organized for this trip. You will find this very helpful if you are looking for a great way to organize. Good luck and have a great time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsal Posted February 4, 2010 Author #10 Share Posted February 4, 2010 What mass of paper work? Boarding pass, passport, drivers license, charge card and cash, clothes in a convertable backpack. Simple is always better. Much less stressful.:D Well--perhaps you drive to port, but we live across the country. In addition to the items you listed above, we'll have airline tickets, hotel reservation confirmation sheet (for night before cruise), cruise insurance paperwork, perhaps confirmation sheets for excursions, copy of my medical necessity form for bringing on medical equipment, etc. Please don't assume that everyone can be as light a traveler as you--yet it's nice if that works for you. Thanks to everyone else for your helpful tips! Please keep them coming! dsal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted February 5, 2010 #11 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I print out stuff and put in a file envelope. I also cut the deck plans out of the brochure and bring them along. I also keep a calendar with where the ship will be when...and what other ships are supposed to be in port with us. I print a copy of it and bring it along. Sometimes it is difficult to remember what day of the week it is...As things 'expire', such as hotel reservations, I can dispose of the papers. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erinmarie424 Posted February 5, 2010 #12 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I found a sturdy 10 pocket folder yesterday at Big Lots - here's how I think I'll set up the pockets: 1. Airplane boarding passes 2. Hotel confirmation 3. Tampa info 4. Fun Passes 5-8. Port information (reservations, maps, etc) 9. Airplane confirmations for return trip 10. Insurance information I used to use one envelope and just stack everything in the order it would need to be used but I always wanted to fish something out of the middle and it rarely went back where it came from. I think the folder I picked up yesterday will work better for me, and will only take up about as much room in my backpack as a magazine, even when full. Have fun! Erin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveler353 Posted February 5, 2010 #13 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Well--perhaps you drive to port, but we live across the country. In addition to the items you listed above, we'll have airline tickets, hotel reservation confirmation sheet (for night before cruise), cruise insurance paperwork, perhaps confirmation sheets for excursions, copy of my medical necessity form for bringing on medical equipment, etc. Please don't assume that everyone can be as light a traveler as you--yet it's nice if that works for you. Thanks to everyone else for your helpful tips! Please keep them coming! dsal Yes I do drive thank goodness. I live half way between NOLA and Mobile. And not everyone needs to bring the kitchen sink.;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffatsea Posted February 5, 2010 #14 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I keep my passport/airline boarding passes credit cards and ship boarding pass in a travel wallet around my neck. I don't bring all the paperwork for tours,hotel confirmations etc Instead I just copy the confirmation nos.,addresses, contact phone nos. into my travel journal where I also have written port info . I travel often on land as well as by cruise ship and so I find that the less papers I bring along, the easier it is for me to find what I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euro cruiser Posted February 5, 2010 #15 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I use a thin, flexible sided three ring binder. I use sheet protectors, so I don't have to punch holes in my documents, and put everything in the order I think I'll need it. I carry a lot of information with me about each port, as well as hotels before/after the cruise. After each stop I toss the paper associated with it, so that by the end of the trip I'm down to just key travel information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsal Posted February 5, 2010 Author #16 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I. I also cut the deck plans out of the brochure and bring them along. I also keep a calendar with where the ship will be when...and what other ships are supposed to be in port with us. EM Great idea about cutting out the deck plans, and now I think I'll do the same. :) Just wondering, why do you keep track of what other ships will be sharing the port(s)? thx, dsal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warmer Climes Posted February 5, 2010 #17 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I have my paperwork in order that they will be needed. Super Shuttle, airlines e-ticket, passport, shuttle at the end to hotel or cruiseport, boarding pass, shuttle to the airport, e-ticket, passport, Super Shuttle from airport to home.Yes, I am rather anal. Ditto!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted February 5, 2010 #18 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Great idea about cutting out the deck plans, and now I think I'll do the same. :) Just wondering, why do you keep track of what other ships will be sharing the port(s)? thx, dsal Several reasons...I am a ship junkie, just as there are trainspotters for steam locomotives...Plus, I belong to another cruise forum where we 'stalk' our members when they are cruising, and we need to know which ships may be in port with webcams. And it is nice to know how busy the port will be...EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare printingchick Posted February 5, 2010 #19 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Being the obsessive planner that I am, I too have collected much paperwork. Some isn't necessary to bring, just printed out for interest sake. However, other documents are critical. Off-site airport parking - pre-paid receipt. Directions to off-site airport parking. Airline tickets/boarding passes Cruise check-in passes Booked tour vouchers/info Taxi/ferry rate sheets for various islands, to avoid being over-charged. The list goes on... I typically have brought one large folder of paperwork, but this year, I've gathered individual folders for each set of paperwork. One for airport parking/airline tickets. One for ship documents. One for each port of call. I like that notebook idea someone mentioned. That's a lot cleaner. I may look at doing something like that instead! THANKS!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoYerclan Posted February 5, 2010 #20 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Great idea about cutting out the deck plans, and now I think I'll do the same. :) Just wondering, why do you keep track of what other ships will be sharing the port(s)? thx, dsal that's something I wouldn't bother to do since every ship I've ever been on has display boards readily available to find your way. I also have studied the deck plans before the cruise so feel comfortable ahead of time. Don't over complicate things. I print the bare minimum of any reservation or excursion arrangement using the back and front of the page for different needs. I will pen a quick "Car Rental" or "Pre-Cruise Hotel" on the page top to find it quickly. Even better is that the pages are easily disposed of when not needed after. I've also emailed documents to myself so that if I might need them I can easily pull them up from any hotel or ship's computer. I have never needed one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDebbie Posted February 5, 2010 #21 Share Posted February 5, 2010 For Alaska I put the port info on 3x5 cards and stuck them in my purse. Tour operator phone number, places we wanted to eat and places I wanted to shop. Someone suggested putting them on 4x6 cards and putting them in one of those cheap little photo albums which was a good idea but I didn't do it. I see many of you said you tossed those things after the day was over but you might want to keep them or have back ups at home. A few years from now you might want to remember what hotel that was you stayed at. :D I keep mine now in an envelope with the dailies, etc - oh and the bar tab. That will be a hoot to look at in years to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkiemomjn Posted February 5, 2010 #22 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Several reasons...I am a ship junkie, just as there are trainspotters for steam locomotives...Plus, I belong to another cruise forum where we 'stalk' our members when they are cruising, and we need to know which ships may be in port with webcams. And it is nice to know how busy the port will be...EM I would love to know about other cruise forums. Do you mind posting that info? Thank you!:) Judy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agabbymama Posted February 5, 2010 #23 Share Posted February 5, 2010 as erinmarie posted, I found a 30 pocket (month) expandable file folder at Big Lots. There were plastic dividers with a slot for title, but a little more flexible and less weight than a binder. We were 1 day in Paris, 3 pre-cruise days in Rome, 12 day cruise, 2 post days in Venice, and 2 more days in Paris. We were gone from home 21 days, and we had lots of air e-tickets, cruise tickets, passports, tour vouchers, maps for each port, plus info on the various things we wanted to be sure and see in each port. I put the air travel documents in one pocket, each city stop had it's own pocket, cruise documents in another pocket, and each port stop had it's own pocket. I bought little travel guides for the main ports (Rome, Naples, Athens, Venice, Monte Carlo & Paris which we left in the hotel rooms on our departure as they were just too heavy to keep lugging around after use). But that little expandable file folder was full to the brim upon our departure from LAX. I carried it in my carry-on, but once on the ship left it in the cabin and pitched a lot of the stuff as each day went by. It was almost empty by the time we came home. Each traveler is entitled to be as anal in their planning as they want to be. If I were just going on a short Caribbean cruise, maybe I wouldn't need all the info, but when you are planning an extended trip with many varied and interesting ports, I am not going to rely on memory as to how to get to something. So OP, go for it, do whatever planning you feel is necessary for you to enjoy your cruise. Have a great one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird from SC Posted February 5, 2010 #24 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I found a sturdy 10 pocket folder yesterday at Big Lots - here's how I think I'll set up the pockets: 1. Airplane boarding passes 2. Hotel confirmation 3. Tampa info 4. Fun Passes 5-8. Port information (reservations, maps, etc) 9. Airplane confirmations for return trip 10. Insurance information I used to use one envelope and just stack everything in the order it would need to be used but I always wanted to fish something out of the middle and it rarely went back where it came from. I think the folder I picked up yesterday will work better for me, and will only take up about as much room in my backpack as a magazine, even when full. Have fun! Erin Same here...We file them in the order that they will be needed and so far the system has worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvscruising2007 Posted February 5, 2010 #25 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I start a report type folder with pockets the day I start thinking about a cruise. I put all info and receipts in the folder as I collect it. For example, right now I have my carnival invoice showing deposit paid and balance due. I have printed off info about excursions in the ports we will visit. And, I have a copy of the deck plan where our cabin is. The day we leave home I collect what I will need on the trip, passport, set sail pass, any tickets and/or invoices and put them in a zippy pouch that fits in my purse. The folder is packed in a suitcase and comes with us. It works for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.