Is there something that you collect from every port?

[zookiebird]

Love displaying frig magnets from all the ships we've been on. From every port usually just get some tees & postcards.

[gardn198]

i travel a lot and get a shot glass and a tiny flag from each country i go to! they're a nice little collection, don't take up too much space, tell which countries i've been to and are usable! they're cheap too!

[Sheffie]

That is cheating. You have to be there to add it to your collection.

 

DON

 

I know, but he was so proud to give it to me. Family trumps following the rules. :)

[PBC29]

no real collections for me just pictures.

[Tanga]

personally, I collect flags, they're small and haven't found anywhere (except Antarctica) that doesn't have them. I also collect small rocks, they're cheap and easy to carry. Now DW seems to be collecting rocks of a different kind, just as small, but definitely not as cheap.. :D

[GORDONCHICK]

We do christmas ornaments. Not just at port, but any vacation. Nice reminder of where we've been. My mom collects bells, so if I go someplace she hasn't been, I pick one up for her.

 

 

We do this as well - all vacations. I not only buy for our family tree, but we also get them for DS (he's 10). He has his own little 3' Christmas tree, but this way, he'll already have a collection of ornaments when he moves out.

 

I also collect postcards and take tons of photos. I love getting a family portrait on our cruises. I used to buy t-shirts but I don't wear them anymore so I stopped that. Now I look for sterling silver jewelry - not from each port, but each trip. I bought 4 great pieces on our summer vacation when passing through Sedona, AZ.

[Tink3]

I love collecting frig magnets and postcards from each place to put in the album with my pictures that I take. I have a habit of collecting the little bars of soaps from my trips also. When I stay in a resort hotel or now on the ship I take home the little soap and put it in a big glass jar in my spare bathroom. Fun to look at! I know some people do this with matches.

[Heather H]

I'm a magnet collector. I had a problem though when we renovated our kitchen. We bought stainless steel appliances and the magnets were tacky looking. So now they are in a box. :( I might have to switch to postcards...

But I'll still buy magnests as gifts for other people (who don't have stainless steel refrigeraters lol)

 

Just buy some stainless steel metal and screw it onto your wall in your office, or tv room, or wherever is your personal space, and you can display your magnets! I used an old road sign, until I made myself a Keg-arator out of an old fridge. Now they go there!

 

I am really fond of squashed pennies. Not sure if I will be able to collect them while on the islands, but its worth a shot!

[jorapp]

I try to find handmade coffee mugs; not one from each port but one per trip. It is nice waking up to a cup of coffee which recalls a vacation, rather than the local radio station or hospital.

 

DH collects ashtrays, the louder and gaudier, the better. lol

[JMG680]

The DW and I always get a magnet with the countries name on it for the fridge. Nice, cheap, and good story starter when friends come over.

[jemrtt]

Just buy some stainless steel metal and screw it onto your wall in your office, or tv room, or wherever is your personal space, and you can display your magnets! I used an old road sign, until I made myself a Keg-arator out of an old fridge. Now they go there!

 

I am really fond of squashed pennies. Not sure if I will be able to collect them while on the islands, but its worth a shot!

 

Thank you so much for your suggestion. DH said he'll make something for me so I can keep my passion for magnets alive.:D

[Coolmama_1]

Another vote for Christmas ornaments and magnets!

[Tink3]

jemrtt.....I was upset when I got a stainless steel refrig down at my shore house where I keep my magnets because they would not hold.....Lucky for me our old refrig was put in the garage so I was able to put them on that and that is where the beer is kept anyway so people love seeing them. They don't necessarity have to be put on a refrig anyway. Get a big pretty bowl that matches your living area and throw them in that....people love going through them and they are great conversation starters.

[jemrtt]

I love how CC'ers care! Thank you for your suggestion too Tink3 :D In two weeks i'm gonna get more magnets Yippie!.

[jollycruise]

I also collect the sand. I take empty plastic soda or water bottles and fill them up with sand from each place we visit. I either put them in individual jars or vases or last time I bought a large glass vase and layered the sand and it turned out beautiful! In between each layer I put a colored sand from Michael's Craft store and topped off the stop with some amazing shells we found at one beach. Anytime we have company over they love asking about the sand and where we have been.

[Upshaw]

love this idea ...

[dolittle]

I always take a couple of dollars to the change booth and ask for all the local coins. Have A lot from all over the world. Fun and cheap.

[emmtee]

I've been collecting bookmarks since I was a kid - the ones with cartoons and tassels. Now I collect more interesting, handmade bookmarks - made from stamps, copper, textiles, etc. They aren't easy to find in tourist shops, though. The ones I do see are often very generic (stamped leather) and not worth buying.

 

My main collection is refrigerator magnets. I love them - the more interesting, the better. They're available everywhere, and they're easy to carry home. Just keep them out of reach of children. Several years ago, my favorites were broken by a curious niece. :(

 

I also collect Christmas ornaments and small decorative boxes. They're a little harder to find. There's just not that much shore time for shopping. I still buy postcards and the occasional T-shirt - one or two per cruise, not every port because I just don't wear them enough.

[OhGosh]

I am a quilter so I like to get thimbles in ports, I have some really unusual ones from Mexico made of silver. My favorite is shaped like a teapot with Our Lady Of Guadalupe on it.

[CheckersMidwest]

I like to find ohoto albums for all the pix I take.

 

I also collect sand. From Paradise Island, I have a small 'fish bowl' candle holder from Wal Mart. I layered the sand & tiny sea shells in it.

 

How about decks of cards? We also do coffee mugs (they're also good to bring home to people)

 

I always get a couple pieces of money, usually a $1 bill and some change.

[lady_cruiser]

I started collecting paper currency. I get two, the smallest denonination possible, so I can have the front and back to place in my cruising scrap book.

[gemcrusier]

I get my little bottles at the craft store and they even have corks. try looking local craft store

[bmichael415]

We collect tiles, we mount them around the edge of the ceiling on our patio out back. I love it when guests ask "Have you really been to all those places?"

 

Absolutely love this idea.

[AutumnMist]

JemRtt

I have a friend who collected cow magnets for years and removed them for the same reason as you. She fit a thin piece of metal inside a large shadow box, arranged her favorite magnets on it and displayed on her kitchen wall---until she moved again and it now hangs in her craft room. She is still able to enjoy the many cows (mini cows? ;) ) her friends and family gave her. Just a thought.

[Lee123]

I like to collect teatowels from every place.

Eventually would like to sew some together and make tablecloths.