leenie29 Posted June 8, 2004 #1 Share Posted June 8, 2004 We're leaving 6/20 on the Dawn - first time on a cruise with the kids (hubbby and I have cruise before we got married)ages 10 and 5. Any last minute suggestions, packing hints, thing you wished you packed, etc. any knowledge that you wish to share would be very helpful. Thanks, Leenie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBI0530 Posted June 8, 2004 #2 Share Posted June 8, 2004 I strongly recommend the sea bands. The trip was wonderful, but I would have lost at least a day without the bands to help with the motion. An underwater camera would have been nice to have, a laundry bag (net since things are damp) was helpful, a highlighter, and a big smile since you are very lucky! Until we sail NCL Dawn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legalcruiser Posted June 9, 2004 #3 Share Posted June 9, 2004 A sweater - it gets very chilly in the public rooms and on deck coming home. Dawn 5/23/04 RCCL Enchantment 7/02 Carnival Glory 8/03 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smeyer418 Posted June 10, 2004 #4 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Have a great time its a wonderful ship. Proud charter member of the PPS-Passport Pusher Society NCL Crown to Bermuda this time I hope Oceania Athens to Venice- Something new smeyer418@yahoo.com Celebrity, NCL, Overnight Ferry, hydrofoil between countries, car ferries and river cruise and of course the Staten Island Ferry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jodon2 Posted June 10, 2004 #5 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Yes, If you plan on snorkling in GSC or anywhere else a small can of cheese wiz from Kraft or any other maker will do fine. Fish seem to love this treat to eat. You will have them eating out or your hands, if not your hands. LOL TIME TILL WE CRUISE Perth Amboy ferry USS Chicago CG 11 USS Bainbridge DLGN, Celebrity Zenith Jenna Nicole. DAWN: 05-16-2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jodon2 Posted June 10, 2004 #6 Share Posted June 10, 2004 power strip, ext cord, only 1 out let in each room. Still thinking TIME TILL WE CRUISE Perth Amboy ferry USS Chicago CG 11 USS Bainbridge DLGN, Celebrity Zenith Jenna Nicole. DAWN: 05-16-2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jodon2 Posted June 10, 2004 #7 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Do Not Over Pack, Lay everything on the bed that you want to bring, then put 1/2 of it away. TIME TILL WE CRUISE Perth Amboy ferry USS Chicago CG 11 USS Bainbridge DLGN, Celebrity Zenith Jenna Nicole. DAWN: 05-16-2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leenie29 Posted June 10, 2004 Author #8 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Thanks guys like usual great information. Went to Odd Jobs and got a power strip for all the electronic gizmos (2 gameboys rechargers, digital camera rechargeable batteries, cell phone recharger, etc.) coming onboard with us. Loved this suggestion. I remember how to pack lightly from back packing in Europe for 4 months in college. It's the rest of my gang that has to bring the house with them. Thank God it's a resort casual cruise so I can leave the dressy clothes and all the stuff with it home. Summer clothes are lighter by nature and take up less room in a suitcase. Thanks again, Leenie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeV101 Posted June 15, 2004 #9 Share Posted June 15, 2004 Leenie, We are also going on the 6/20 cruise! Wife and myself along with our 3 daughters (11, 7 and 7). We are going with another family and their 3 children (15, 13 and 11). We all cannot wait! Been counting down the days since December. We booked 2 outdoor cabins with balconies, and 2 indoor cabins across the hall. I actually called today to see about upgrading, and they have nothing that will accomodate more than 2 people in a room available. No prob...figured I would just give it a shot :-) Have a great time!!!!! -Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marilynd Posted June 15, 2004 #10 Share Posted June 15, 2004 Just got off the Dawn on Sunday. Wish I was still on it. It's wonderful !!!!! Along with the sugestion of packing light - we only packed enough for 1/2 the cruise and did laundry on Wednesday. The washer and dryer are free. Take detergent or pay $1 for a small box in a dispenser. NCL Sun 4/02 - Carnival Elation 6/02 - NCL Norway 8/02 NCL Dawn 6/03 - RCI Monarch 1/04 - NCL Dawn 6/04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmer9 Posted June 17, 2004 #11 Share Posted June 17, 2004 do all of the rooms have just one outlet or just some of the smaller ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardencat Posted June 17, 2004 #12 Share Posted June 17, 2004 Check the little wheel on the outside of the door. If you leave it in the wrong position or someone else knocks it going by it can affect when your room gets made up. It comes in very handy too if you want to sleep in one morning or take an afternoon nap. Have a really great time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOANN226 Posted June 17, 2004 #13 Share Posted June 17, 2004 Where are the laundry rooms on the ship, I would like to go home with most of the cloths clean. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBI0530 Posted June 17, 2004 #14 Share Posted June 17, 2004 I would also recommend a wide mouth water bottle so that you can fill it with ice and water to bring by the pool. There are no water fountains near the pool area, and we found it very helpful. The new lexan ones are especially great (Eddie Bauer @ Target,and Nalgene @ EMS or Dicks Sporting Goods) Have fun! Until we sail NCL Dawn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leenie29 Posted June 17, 2004 Author #15 Share Posted June 17, 2004 When we went to Disney in January we used the Brita Filter Sports Bottles and they worked great (Disney water tastes horrible). We plan on bringing them on Sunday. Leenie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stgrand Posted June 17, 2004 #16 Share Posted June 17, 2004 all the rooms have just one outlet. we went out and got a bunch of cheap hangers that we left on the ship . you can never have enough.if you have a balconies leave the door open at night. all you hear is the sound of the waves and you will have the best night sleep. you see the rooms creek. and dont forget the beer helments 1985-NCL Skyward 1987-NCL Starward 1992-NCL Seaward 1994-NCL Starward 2002- Carnival Victory 2003-NCL Dawn 2004-NCL Majesty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bragstarr Posted June 17, 2004 #17 Share Posted June 17, 2004 I always find a lighted travel alarm clock to come in handy; at least on NCL there were none in the room. Also, a pair of binoculars is nice to look at things in the distance. I also pack as much as I can on wire hangars from the dry cleaner, makes it really easy to just remove from suitcase and hang up. Enjoy and make sure you post when you get back. I don't know where you are, but if it's like it is in NY right now, bring a rain poncho--it's thundering, lightening and pouring like crazy (actually, those 99 cent thin plastic rain ponchos are a great thing to pack, also, just in case...)! Explorer of the Seas (Western Caribbean) 12/7/02 Serenade of the Seas (Canada) 9/25/03 Majesty of the Seas (Bahamas) 2/16/04 Norwegian Dawn (Bahamas) 2/20/05 Until we sail the Dawn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leenie29 Posted June 18, 2004 Author #18 Share Posted June 18, 2004 In central Jersey, thunder lighting and heavy rain right now. Got the rain poncho's packed, outlet strip, cheap hangers and laundry detergent. Anything else I should remember? Three more days till the 11 of us are going!!!! I'll keep a diary and post when I get back (I have a bad case of foggy mommy brain right now in sore need of R & R). At this point if I'm not home cleaning, cooking and doing my daily boring mommy routine with my 10 and 5 year old boys, I'm a very, very happy camper. Leenie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jodon2 Posted June 18, 2004 #19 Share Posted June 18, 2004 If you get any beer helmets on board dont leave them around or give them away. There is a $5.00 deposit on each. If you find one just take it to any bar with your key card for a $5.00 refund on your account Joe TIME TILL WE CRUISE Perth Amboy ferry USS Chicago CG 11 USS Bainbridge DLGN, Celebrity Zenith Jenna Nicole. DAWN: 05-16-2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoreguy Posted June 18, 2004 #20 Share Posted June 18, 2004 <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by leenie29: In central Jersey, thunder lighting and heavy rain right now. Got the rain poncho's packed, outlet strip, cheap hangers and laundry detergent. Anything else I should remember? Three more days till the 11 of us are going!!!! I'll keep a diary and post when I get back (I have a bad case of foggy mommy brain right now in sore need of R & R). At this point if I'm not home cleaning, cooking and doing my daily boring mommy routine with my 10 and 5 year old boys, I'm a very, very happy camper. Leenie<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Ziploc Bags to proteck things from the rain while onshore. And with 4 folks in a cabin as mentiond before the traditional over the door shoe holder to store things inside the bathroom door. Seaward 1/89,Southward II 1/91,Windward 10/93, Norway 3/94,4/96 Dreamward 4/97 Dream 12/99 QE2 4/02 Carnival Spirit 7/02 NCL Sun 10/03 NCL Dawn 2/03,7/03,2/04 Alaska NCL Sun 8/22 Sun - Roll Call Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unga Posted June 18, 2004 #21 Share Posted June 18, 2004 I agree totally with Joe K !!! I packed 2 gigantic suitcases (and a couple of carry-on) and came home with 1 suitcase full of the dirty clothes and the other with clothing that the 3 of us never wore!! Pack light!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YacFamily Posted June 18, 2004 #22 Share Posted June 18, 2004 Hope it's not too late,... Dollar store shoe rack for bathroom door to keep all your stuff out of the way. Clothes pins to dry everything. Great " tip " hint, calling cards ( Costco/ Office Depot/ BJ's Warehouse ) for room maid/anyone who treats you great. Give them little things as a thank you early, they will surprise you back. USE ROOM SERVICE, snacks, AM coffee, even tell them a standing order every morning at ??AM for coffee and pastry. Chat to the Venetian hostess, get their name, chat, they'll remember you in a crowd and seat you FAST. Sushi a la carte. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YacFamily Posted June 18, 2004 #23 Share Posted June 18, 2004 Almost forgot, DO the kids' program, get to know the counsellors. Want a special nite with your lovey, ask one of the counsellors to babysit, have a romantic nite in Impressions, Cagney's or the Bistro. The kids counsellors are great and for a decent babysitting $$ will keep your kids thrilled. Remember they are pros with kids, and will usually come with all sorts of fun ideas and activities. They will then really know YOUR children in the group ! Have a blast, we are off on the 27th June, leave us some food ! Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jodon2 Posted June 19, 2004 #24 Share Posted June 19, 2004 Came home with no dirty clothes, did laundry on the ship. Joe TIME TILL WE CRUISE Perth Amboy ferry USS Chicago CG 11 USS Bainbridge DLGN, Celebrity Zenith Jenna Nicole. DAWN: 05-16-2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leenie29 Posted June 19, 2004 Author #25 Share Posted June 19, 2004 Great suggestion about hanging shoe bag. I'll hunt around tomorrow for one at the dollar store or Odd Jobs. Traveling with kids you have so much stuff and never enough places to put it. So many things to remember ... good thing it's just a car service away to the port and onto the ship. I could never fly with all this stuff (and that's after I took everything out but the bare essentials because of the laundry room on the Dawn). Thank you Thank you Leenie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.