Need Great Ideas of clever things to bring

[nicster]

Also see nifty and thrifty finds

 

 

Nicci

[antiquehtr]

I take several magnetic hooks-they stick to the walls because they are metal. Great to hang up your daily or spa appointment tickets or excursion slips.

 

I also take plastic hair clam clips to hold the drapes all the way closed.

 

Duct tape is a must, scotch tape, highlighters and post it notes come in handy.

[NL2134]

I take several magnetic hooks-they stick to the walls because they are metal. Great to hang up your daily or spa appointment tickets or excursion slips.

 

I also take plastic hair clam clips to hold the drapes all the way closed.

 

Duct tape is a must, scotch tape, highlighters and post it notes come in handy.

 

A handy tip for taking duct tape: I cut about a 5 foot piece of duct tape off the roll then rolled that piece around a straw. So, I ended up with a very convenient mini roll of duct tape, without the big empty space in the middle of the roll, and I figure that 5 feet should be enough for most emergency needs. It only took a couple minutes and was very easy to do. You probably could do it without anything in the middle, but I think having the straw to wrap around made it a lot easier. Or you can actually buy mini "camping" rolls of duct tape that are very similar, but cost a bit more than DIY rolls.

 

Magnetic clips were super useful for hanging daily schedule or important papers on the wall for easy access. I had a list of cabin numbers for each person in our group and it was nice to be able to keep in clipped on the wall by the phone.

 

Post it notes were great for leaving messages on doors for others in our group. I did also notice that some cabins had brought magnetic dry erase boards, which I thought was brilliant. They had them attached to their cabin door with marker on a string, so they could write where they were at or leave messages for others in their group. Next time I go on a cruise where we occupy multiple cabins, I'm definitely doing this.

[legalx]

A lot of great ideas... Definitely using a few. Thanks

 

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[Watercolorcruising]

1. If you don’t like what is offered on the main menu, you can ask the waiter for either a steak or grilled chicken.
   
2. Any pasta item on the main menu CAN be ordered as an appetizer. Just ask.
   
3. Post cards, foreign postage stamps and playing cards are available at the pursars desk.
   
4. Get a FREE lanyard at the Casino. Pursars desk will punch a whole in it for you.
   
5. 24 hour pizza place also serves Calzones and Caesar salads. If you want a special topping and they have it they will make you that pizza.
   
6. Go to tea-time they have different snacks and its a nice place to relax
   
7. Ask the steward if you forget something ie toothpaste...they often have samples
   
8. Bring baggies of assorted sizes. For saving snacks for excursions and wet clothes.
   
9. Take the tour of the galley
   
10. They have an early and late night seating as well as captains party...take advantage of both for double free drinks.
    
11. Bring on own bottles of water, and soda and save $$$
    
12. Bring a reusable cup with lid...less trips to get a drink
    
13. Ask for your drink in a plastic cup (not the fancy one ) saves $$$
    
14. You may be able to eat free lunch at the places they charge for dinner
    
15. Orange juice is available at the same place all day they just remove the label
    
16. You may get a free facial if you call the spa and ask to be a volunteer.
    
17. Tie a bright ribbon/scarf to your luggage for easy spotting. Also can work on cabin door
    
18. When the regular hot tub is too full, use the spa one.
    
19. Use of the sauna/steam room is free
    
20. Use the spa shower if multiple people need to shower at same time
    
21. Ask for children’s dessert menu (banana splits)
    
22. Bring Duct tape
    
23. Bring a highlighter
    
24. Bring post it notes
    
25. Sit close at the port talks sometimes they toss out free stuff
    
26. You can ask for extra pillow chocolates
    
27. bring an extension cord/power strip
    
28. Early and extra tips for stewards = more perks for you
    
29. You can order free drinks from the bar in the room at Captains dinner as opposed to those on the tray.
    
30. Bring travel hooks to hang stuff in your room
    
31. Bring a few paper funnels to make filling the water bottle easier.
    
32. Bring towels from home to avoid fearing losing one
    
33. Take a hand towel with you to the beach it will help remove sand and is handy for lots of other things too
    
34. Baby powder helps remove sand
    
35. Use a magnet to trick the balcony door into thinking its closed to keep the air on
    
36. Most ships have a secret door...find it
    
37. you can also print cards to take with you on the layout of the ship...simply use a word document...format in normal 8pt bold: Times New Roman: 8pt and divide into for equal columns.
    
38. Self disembarkation is FASTER
    
39. It is possible to ‘smuggle’ alcohol on board
    
40. Make sure to stock up on "snacks" before debarkation. The wait can be pretty long and everything is closed during this time. Except for the coffee shop which takes cash
    
41. Cards become demagnetized don’t use your credit card for the room safe
    
42. If the safe will not open call the desk they will send someone to open it
    
43. If you get sea sick you can go to the Pursers desk and ask for pills. They are free there
    
44. use your telephone for leaving each other messages in the cabins
    
45. Did you know you can call Carnival's Bon voyage department and pre-order alcohol to be delivered to your cabin? You can order bottles of hard liquor so that you can make your own drinks. You can't order online. You must call to set this up. It is a little pricey but worth it and cheaper than buying by the drink.
    
46. Do walk the entire ship on your first day
    
47. You can also ask your Room Steward for the book that is in your cabin
    
48. Bring a night light/ alarm clock
    
49. bring water shoes
    
50. The ship uses two types of toilet paper. Both are made by the same company. The sandpaper they call "envision" you will not want to subject your bottom to for 8 days. Ask your room steward to make sure that your stateroom is stocked with the "preference" paper instead.
    
51. Bring a sweater the dining room can be cold

 

Brilliant list--thank you!

[dancinman66]

Mini hanger for wet clothes can hang in bathroom cabin or balcony and holds about six pieces easily but can hold more

 

Wrinkle free spray is a must

 

 

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[Watercolorcruising]

We started out trying to carry everything but the kitchen sink and as another posted, didn't have much room left for clothes. Here are our must have items and why:

Must Haves:

(1)Downy Wrinkle Relief - Any wrinkles that don't steam out from hanging in the bathroom get zapped out with this miracle invention!

(2)Travel-Size Baby Powder - Makes the sand stuck on you go away.

(3)Zip-Lock Bags - Voted Most Valued. We pack everything from jewelry to shoes in these. Unpacking, finding things when getting ready is a snap and saves room in luggage. We wipe the drawers out with an antiseptic wipe and toss them in, makes getting ready and the dreaded last night packing a breeze. Protects photos you buy from any moisture or damage. We buy every size from snack to 2-1/2 gal (shoes, shorts, tops).

(4)OTC meds in travel packets: Tums, pepto, neosporin, band-aids, benadryl, cold caps, imodium, dramamine, advil...you get the idea. I woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible chest cold. Shops on ship were closed, and we were docked in Dominica. What a bummer to spend you time looking for a pharmacy and then not finding ANYTHING you recognize.

(5)Plastic Clothes Pins and tiny sewing kit: For drying swimsuits on balcony. Prevents it from flying from your balcony to the balcony on the ship docked next to you, or out to sea in the middle of the night.

(6)Copies of passport, DL and Credit Cards: Obvious reasons

(7)Charger for phone, MP3, etc. and small extension cord.

(8) Lots of $1 for tips.

 

Things we stopped carrying:

(1) duct tape - If we have something that requires it, we found guest relations can help us.

(2) Over-the-door organizer: If there are 4 in a cabin, maybe we would, but with 2 to a cabin, there's plenty of room to designate a drawer or shelf for those things..again in the clear zip-locks to make finding them a breeze.

(3) Walkie-Talkies: These were more of a pain in the X to carry around and keep up with. We leave a phone message, designate a couple of spots where we regularly hang out or leave a note.

(4)Large Thermal mugs: We kept leaving them around the ship and then didn't want to drink out of them after we found them (ugh.who knows what had been happening to them. Besides, we found our drinks rarely had time to sit in the mug before we gulped them down.

(5) Power strip - Overkill

(6) Pop-up Hamper - Zip-locks replaced it. We toss the dirty clothes into zip-locks.

(7) laundry supplies - I'm on vacation. I use the laundry services of the ship.

(8) Highlight - If it's important I won't forget it.

(9) An extra piece of luggage to carry all these extras.

 

Some need the above and can't travel w/o them. We just found more and more items that never got used. We've lost toenails, carried around bruises and needed ben-gay from carrying all the luggage that weighed more than we did trying to stuff everything we owned into the suitcases like we were refugees. We now travel much lighter and if you see us with a few wrinkles, rest assured that after a few days of eating everything in sight, we will "flesh out" those wrinkles in our clothing as soon as we put them on.

 

Thank you for the healthy dose of sanity. I was starting to think I should perhaps pack two bags--and I am a solo cruiser!! lol

[joemel]

I get a first aid kit at a dive shop. It has a special spray for jellyfish stings. It was a life saver on our last cruise.

[1 Part Sand 1 Part Sea]

My two cents... So much has been covered but I wanted to add something different. I wracked by brain thinking of something I bring that I don't think many others do... I came up with this little tip, geared towards women.

 

I bring a specific perfume when I cruise, and only when I cruise. That way, if I smell it somewhere the cruise feeling comes rushing back! It's really nice. Also it's one of those things that when I use it the first time on the ship I really know I'm there!

 

 

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Edited December 8, 2014 by 1 Part Sand 1 Part Sea

[flacousa]

Some people pack a corkscrew to open carry aboard wine bottles what I have is a Swiss Army knife that has a corkscrew plus a knife and tools, I pack it in the toiletry bag inside the checked in luggage.

[cooksforkids]

A handy tip for taking duct tape: I cut about a 5 foot piece of duct tape off the roll then rolled that piece around a straw. So, I ended up with a very convenient mini roll of duct tape, without the big empty space in the middle of the roll, and I figure that 5 feet should be enough for most emergency needs. It only took a couple minutes and was very easy to do. You probably could do it without anything in the middle, but I think having the straw to wrap around made it a lot easier. Or you can actually buy mini "camping" rolls of duct tape that are very similar, but cost a bit more than DIY rolls.

 

Magnetic clips were super useful for hanging daily schedule or important papers on the wall for easy access. I had a list of cabin numbers for each person in our group and it was nice to be able to keep in clipped on the wall by the phone.

 

Post it notes were great for leaving messages on doors for others in our group. I did also notice that some cabins had brought magnetic dry erase boards, which I thought was brilliant. They had them attached to their cabin door with marker on a string, so they could write where they were at or leave messages for others in their group. Next time I go on a cruise where we occupy multiple cabins, I'm definitely doing this.

My mom and dad do this on every cruise they go on. Has saved them a lot of headache!

[fenton04]

Wow very helpful thanks to all.

 

 

 

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[Realblonde474]

Just a fun idea for a special cruise...I just ordered packable totes from Lands End. As I am traveling with three other married women, I had each tote monogrammed. Something cute for each of us to use to carry those little things to/from the pool and spa.

 

Of course, we are having weekly happy hours to plan our trip...can't wait to surprise my friends.

 

(BTW, each tote was about $20 with the monogram)

 

Donna

[veryseasonedtraveler]

My must take are the packing envelopes by Eagle Creek. I fold all shirts and tops in these. Upon arrival, I just take the whole pile of shirts and put them on a shelf. As we use them, they are hung in the closet. Unused shirts simply go back in folders for return trip home. I just packed ten of my husband's shirts and they are ready to go on our 31 day cruise:-)

[JB_Scott1981]

I read somewhere a tip using a soda can koozie. But of course I have forgotten it and now I can't find it. Anyone know what this tip was? Or have any other useful tips for first time cruisers?

[TravelinGert]

I read somewhere a tip using a soda can koozie. But of course I have forgotten it and now I can't find it. Anyone know what this tip was? Or have any other useful tips for first time cruisers?

 

I've read of using a koozie to pack anything breakable. Small ones are great for glass bottles of perfume or camera lenses, and the over-sized ones will help you pack a bottle of wine or spirits home. Also great for packing your camera or other small electronic device. Can be used on the ship as an organizer for small items like makeup pencils and brushes, pens, etc. Any of this sound familiar?

[JB_Scott1981]

Those do somewhat sound familiar. I think there were others but I can't remember. But thanks for the help.

[t60]

I'd like to find a small eg 500ml or 1/2 litre insulated leak proof water/drinks container/mug/bottle, so far have had no luck..any ideas recommendations please.

 

Thanx

 

Sandy in Spain

[Thoie]

I'd like to find a small eg 500ml or 1/2 litre insulated leak proof water/drinks container/mug/bottle, so far have had no luck..any ideas recommendations please.

 

Thanx

 

Sandy in Spain

 

Sandy, have you looked in Ikea ? Or a camping / outdoor pursuits shop?

 

Most of the travel mugs you see are spill proof, rather than 100% leak proof. The only thing I can think of that would be insulated and 100% leak proof is what we call a thermos flask. I have a 500ml thermos which I bought in Tesco, but I'm sure Amazon would have them.

[clarkfam]

love this one. all tips are great. but this one is my favorite. and how obvious but u don't think of it. i'll be packing one for sure! Thanks.. :)

 

Really curious how they attached the clothesline.

[clarkfam]

I am so glad I came across this thread.

 

We've been on a 7 day and we packed:

 

fold-up laundry basket and it sits over near the couch and out of the way for dirty clothes, garbage bags to put dirty clothes in for trip home, magnets for dailies, pens to help with custom paperwork, notes, and highlighters for dailies, post-its for notes left in cabin for spouse to tell whereabouts, boca clips for drying clothes attached to chairs while in port, chap stick, first aid kit, sunscreen, etc.

 

What I am adding to my list: over the door holder, duct-tape, mini-battery tea lights, flashlight and eye glass repair kit.

 

I will also pack 1/2 of clothes in each suitcase.

 

We are going on an 18 day and nervous about how many clothes to pack!

 

Any ideas or tips for internet to communicate home that is inexpensive?

 

Where is the secret map, door, etc for Norwegian Pearl?

[erinmarie424]

My last cruise I took a couple of collapsible drawer dividers from Ikea - with two of us girls I figured we needed a way to corral the stuff on top of the vanity. Also took another for the closet to keep my underthings and socks together. Worked really well and I saw recently that dollar tree now sells them in multiple sizes and colors.

[floridafish]

Everyone says duct tape.

 

Use for tapoing things, marking luggage, repairing anything, and as a lint roller.

 

I've been on 14 cruises from Mexico to Russia I can honestly tell you the need for duct tape has never come up. :rolleyes:

 

It's cruising not camping.:o

[Laurie S.]

And you can always get some from guest services.

[Crew News]

We noticed on another thread that someone always took a doorbell so that they could hear any visitors.

 

The last cruise we purchased a wireless doorbell and attached the button to our stateroom door with blue tack (pulls off cleanly). The ringer sat on the verandah table when we are on the verandah. Our Room Stewards, Room Service, and friends really liked to use it. Nobody ever walked away from our stateroom door because we on the verandah could not hear their knocking.

 

The doorbell has joined our stateroom essentials bag along with:

1. Duct tape (we have used it many times for emergency repairs)

2. Jeweler's screwdrivers for eyeglasses repair

3. Multi-port USB adapters

4. Long extension cord

5. Ziploc bags for snacks from the Lido Restaurant kept in the minibar

6. Swiss Army knife

7. LED flashlight

8. Lanyards with mini-LED lights

9. Kool ties for the Caribbean

10. Table cloth and LED candles for dinner on the verandah

11. Bag clips to keep the curtains closed

12. etc....