What kind of bag to take on shore excurions

[jeffpcox]

My wife and I have several shore excursions booked that last 8 hours or more.... We need to take some bag to carry some stuff in. What do you all recommend, and if you have any pictures or links to some please send to me as well.

Thanks agian

Jeff - the rookie [email="jeffpcox@yahoo.com"]jeffpcox@yahoo.com[/email]

[juliejoe]

Igloo makes a great little backpack. The bottom is insulated for water/snacks etc. The top part is big enough for towel, sunscreen - whatever. It's lightweight, compact and very easy to pack. I bought ours at Big Lots a couple of years ago but talked to lady on our last cruise who said WalMart has them.

Julie

Deuteronomy 4:29
<')))><
Grand Princess 8/17/04 Baltic B2B with 8/27/04 Transatlantic & 11/27/04 Western Caribbean

[edconsultant]

I'm leaving for a Med cruise on the MP Thursday and just bought a bag yesterday at JC Penney. Unfortunately, I haven't used it yet, so I can't attest to how useful, comfortable, durable it is going to be. It is a nylon mini backpack that can unzip and expand to a small duffle. I plan to use it as a duffle carryon for the plane, then zip it up and use it as a small backpack for shore excursions. We also purchased money belts (the kind you wear under your clothing) to carry valuables, so the mini pack will only be used for water, sunglasses, tissues, hand sanitizer, mints, etc--no valuables. Only $11, available in several colors, and made by Protocol.

[mlinkin]

Last time I took a bag that was by Hartmann that was perfect but this time wanted something just a little bit bigger. The one I have isn't the most stylish but extremely practical. Has mesh pockets on each end for water bottles, three separate zippered sections. Mesh pockets on front. Lots of zippered pockets inside. Nice wide shoulder strap that can be thrown over the shoulder or worn across the body. Also has a padded adjustable shoulder piece.

Nordic Empress June '93
Leeward '98
Grandeur May '01
Navigator May '03

[Hlitner]

I agree with the comment about backpacks. We have a cheap/old canvas Janpack that is always packed for any trip. It has a strap handle so that I can carry the thing, or, it can also be put on your back to keep both hands free. We find its perfect and will hold 3 or 4 towels for our side trips to beaches.

Hank

[ClaudiaF]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jeffpcox: in part..

We need to take some bag to carry some stuff in. What do you all recommend..

GUCCI!

Barcelona to Venice on Oceania - "Insignia"
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Buenos Aires to Rio Oceania - "Insignia"
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[cactusrose]

Whatever you take, remember to wear it in front. A pick pocket doesn't know that you are only carrying non-valuable in it and will still slash the bottom to get to whatever is in it. They are professional and you won't even know it happened.

1972 - Song of Norway, Caribbean
1980 - Hawaii American Curise line, Tahiti
09/01/2002 - Veendam, Alaska
05/29/2003 - Pacific Princess, Alaska
11/26/2003 - Star Princess, Australia/New Zealand

5/28/2004 - Star Princess, Venice to Barcelona
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11/06/2004 - Diamond Princess, Mexican Riviera
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[Hlitner]

CactusRose is even more cynical then "moi" when it comes to pickpockets. We have had attempts made on us in Arles (France, Bologna (Italy), at a highway rest stop in Spain, and while eating lunch at an outdoor cafe in Istanbul (near the Grande Bazaar). I am happy to report all attempts failed! We have never had a problem with our backpack, although I have heard of the old razor trick. The best one was the gypsy kid in Arles who tried to get stuff out of my fanny pack. He used a newspaper to shield the fanny pack (in my front) and tried to unzip. He got a nice welt on his arm for trying. In Bologna, a gypsy woman tried to pick my pocket while she was carrying a fake baby (doll). She did get a paper map, but nothing valuable. I finally smashed her a few times with my Tote as bystanders looked on with amusement and laughter. Keep in mind that we have been in Europe on over 20 trips, and this has only happened a few times.

Hank

[DianneH]

We just returned from a Med cruise. We actually bought a 'Rick Steves' day pack and it worked out nicely. Good size and light weight, but could handle a heavy load. My husband had a neck wallet, so all valuables were there. I took tissues and wipes as recommended for toilets, but did not have to use them at all. We visited several toilets in Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey without any weird experiences. Other than some with no toilet seats I found most to be clean & user friendly. I did have to pay .60 euros in the Rome train station, and .50 euros at Ephesus, Turkey. We generally used toilets at the sites we visited and resturants. The only threat of pick pockets was on the bus in Rome. Someone pointed out two guys to watch out for. Other than that we never saw anything unusual and never felt threaten in any way. We did most things on our own and felt comfortable in all the countries we visited. Keep money and cards in belt or neck wallet for precaution. Enjoy your trip!!

[seaway]

Vera Bradley makes a nice black quilted backpack for women that is practicle AND stylish. You can go on verabradley.com for store locations near you. I actually bought one online at the linencloset.com.

[Jacqueline]

Hank - you crack me up. I also would like to see what would happen to any of these people who try and spill and clean katsup on me, etc.
All important stuff in these high risk ports are carried in a packet under my clothes.
Enough cash and small bills for the day should be in another easy to access spot.

Jacqueline
Constellation 3/20/04
HAL Westerdam 7/30/04
Tahitian Princess August 2003
Grand Princess Western Caribbean 2003
Brilliance of the Seas Baltic 2002
Ocean Princess- Alaska 2001
Celebrity Zenith- Bermuda 2001
Grand Princess Med 2000

[Shadow]

We usually have a big backpack. I also, have a small purse size backpack (Kipling) that I carry always, but with nothing faluable in it, unless we buy something and do not have the big backpack. When I'm in a place that I feel uncomfortable I'll wear it in the front. Do any of you that do this, feel wierd walking down the street with a backpack on your chest? I always get those looks, like what the heck are you doing? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif[/img] Also, is it like a big red sign to pick pockets saying, I have something valuable come get me? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

Millennium - 6/2/04 - Mediteranean
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Infinity - 12/5/04 - Hawaii - Infinitinis
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[jody]

I use a light weight backpack for all my incidentals (bottle of water, sweater, etc.) and safety pin the two zippers together. If I'm on a crowded bus/train, I put it over one shoulder and pull it in front of me (versus wearing it in front). I've never had any attempts on my stuff, but I never keep anything of significant valuable in there and have my waist pouch under my clothes for valuables and sometimes a fanny pack or small purse (worn bandolier style) for the camera, chapstick and spending money. I also use safety pins to zip my purse and/or fanny pack shut so no one can easily distract me and unzip it. I look like a tourist, but that's OK, because I am one.

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