Found the dryer sheets, serene!

[rickcop44]

Got back from our Crown cruise on Sunday, March 1. When we boarded on February 22, the first place I went to was the closet and there was the dryer sheet you had tucked in amongst the laundry bags. Then I noticed that there was another dryer sheet hanging from the air conditioning vent. I presume you put that one there as well.

 

One funny story about our cruise I have to share. My missus and I did the ultimate snorkeling excursion on Grand Turk. Our second stop took us to a small island so we could swim with the stingrays. At one point, I got back on the dive boat to get the camera so I could take photos of my wife playing with the rays. I then ran back into the water and commenced to shooting. I had been in chest high water for about five minutes when I realized I was wearing my fanny pack and it was completely submerged. I quickly got out of the water, but the damage had been done. Wallet, passport, money, everything was underwater. When we got back to the ship, I cleaned out the pack. I had a packet of money that was stuck together like glue. What did I do? I wandered down to the launderette and tossed the money clump into the dryer, put it on low and turned it own. Well, since there was about $1200 flying around inside the dryer, I figured I'd better stay in the laundry room. After about five minutes, the laundry room attendant came in. While he was cleaning, he told me the dryers lasted 25 minutes and that I didn't need to stay in the room - no one would bother my clothes. I told him thanks, but I'd stay. He said, really, you don't have to stay - in fact, he offered to watch my dryer for me. I just chuckled and told him he didn't understand. I then opened the dryer door and there was $1200 in $20 bills flying around in the dryer. I told him I was busy laundering my money. He started laughing and said he'd seen and heard a lot of things during his time on cruise ships, but he'd never seen anyone drying their money in the dryer. Just one of my highlights.

[jfv379]

Got back from our Crown cruise on Sunday, March 1. When we boarded on February 22, the first place I went to was the closet and there was the dryer sheet you had tucked in amongst the laundry bags. Then I noticed that there was another dryer sheet hanging from the air conditioning vent. I presume you put that one there as well.

 

One funny story about our cruise I have to share. My missus and I did the ultimate snorkeling excursion on Grand Turk. Our second stop took us to a small island so we could swim with the stingrays. At one point, I got back on the dive boat to get the camera so I could take photos of my wife playing with the rays. I then ran back into the water and commenced to shooting. I had been in chest high water for about five minutes when I realized I was wearing my fanny pack and it was completely submerged. I quickly got out of the water, but the damage had been done. Wallet, passport, money, everything was underwater. When we got back to the ship, I cleaned out the pack. I had a packet of money that was stuck together like glue. What did I do? I wandered down to the launderette and tossed the money clump into the dryer, put it on low and turned it own. Well, since there was about $1200 flying around inside the dryer, I figured I'd better stay in the laundry room. After about five minutes, the laundry room attendant came in. While he was cleaning, he told me the dryers lasted 25 minutes and that I didn't need to stay in the room - no one would bother my clothes. I told him thanks, but I'd stay. He said, really, you don't have to stay - in fact, he offered to watch my dryer for me. I just chuckled and told him he didn't understand. I then opened the dryer door and there was $1200 in $20 bills flying around in the dryer. I told him I was busy laundering my money. He started laughing and said he'd seen and heard a lot of things during his time on cruise ships, but he'd never seen anyone drying their money in the dryer. Just one of my highlights.

 

Do we presume that only a police officer would have a funny story about "laundering money"?:D

[kf657]

I just have to say how much I needed a laugh today...Very funny story!

 

My 15yo son IRONS all his money--Will wear wrinkled clothes but not carry wrinkled money, wait til I tell him your very funny story!

[Host CJSKIDS]

What a great story, thanks for the wonderful laugh.

 

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your cruise.

[rickcop44]

jfv, I confess. I am a retired police officer. The only bad part about drying my money in the dryer was that all the bills curled up. I straightened them out as best I could after I took them out of the dryer. I ended up taking them down to the casino and buying chips. I carried them around for an hour, then went back and cashed them in and got all new money.

 

Although I will post a more detailed review later, I do have to say one thing - and I hope I'm not shooting myself in the foot here. We had cabin E731 which is the last minisuite starboard on the Emerald deck aft. It has the extended balcony and it was wonderful. It was quiet, the ship sailed smooth as glass and the view from that balcony toward the wake was very peaceful and serene. Our cabin steward was Romeo. I found him extremely quiet. I also determined he does not have a firm grasp on the English language. Most of the time when I asked him something, the response I got was, yeah, okay. But he was efficient and did his job well. He disappeared on Tuesday and didn't return until Thursday. Found out he had the flu and was replaced by another cabin steward.

[DrivesLikeMario]

I then opened the dryer door and there was $1200 in $20 bills flying around in the dryer.

 

Where do I find one of these dryers? I think I had a dream about opening one like that before. :D

 

Welcome home!

[rickcop44]

Just send your husband into the water with his fanny pack on and you'll find a dryer full of money shortly thereafter.

 

ladyjag, do I assume correctly you are an Air Force JAG officer?

[cruzzers]

Best cruise story I have ever heard. Now tell us about the snorkeling tour. We are still deciding what to do in Grand Turk.

[Ldyandrea]

Best cruise story I have ever heard. Now tell us about the snorkeling tour. We are still deciding what to do in Grand Turk.

 

I was on the same sailing as the OP, and we just hung out at Margaritaville for the most part. Watched the Flowriders (it's like a surfing machine deal), drank margaritas, wandered around the ginormous pool, and generally just relaxed. Went to a couple of the little shops nearby, like Del Sol (they have the stuff that changes colors in the sun), and then went back to the ship!

[Ldyandrea]

Got back from our Crown cruise on Sunday, March 1. When we boarded on February 22, the first place I went to was the closet and there was the dryer sheet you had tucked in amongst the laundry bags. Then I noticed that there was another dryer sheet hanging from the air conditioning vent. I presume you put that one there as well.

 

One funny story about our cruise I have to share. My missus and I did the ultimate snorkeling excursion on Grand Turk. Our second stop took us to a small island so we could swim with the stingrays. At one point, I got back on the dive boat to get the camera so I could take photos of my wife playing with the rays. I then ran back into the water and commenced to shooting. I had been in chest high water for about five minutes when I realized I was wearing my fanny pack and it was completely submerged. I quickly got out of the water, but the damage had been done. Wallet, passport, money, everything was underwater. When we got back to the ship, I cleaned out the pack. I had a packet of money that was stuck together like glue. What did I do? I wandered down to the launderette and tossed the money clump into the dryer, put it on low and turned it own. Well, since there was about $1200 flying around inside the dryer, I figured I'd better stay in the laundry room. After about five minutes, the laundry room attendant came in. While he was cleaning, he told me the dryers lasted 25 minutes and that I didn't need to stay in the room - no one would bother my clothes. I told him thanks, but I'd stay. He said, really, you don't have to stay - in fact, he offered to watch my dryer for me. I just chuckled and told him he didn't understand. I then opened the dryer door and there was $1200 in $20 bills flying around in the dryer. I told him I was busy laundering my money. He started laughing and said he'd seen and heard a lot of things during his time on cruise ships, but he'd never seen anyone drying their money in the dryer. Just one of my highlights.

 

That's a great story! We were on your sailing as well, and I think you might have been on the same snorkling excursion as my sister, Crickett. She had an absolute blast, and loved playing with the stingrays! :D

[Treven]

I've found myself doing that, but inadvertently. It never fails but I would miss some money, in one of my pockets of my jeans, when I do laundry. Unfortunately, it's never close to $1200; closer to $20 or so; and I'm at home in my own laundry room.

[swom]

It is a very funny story, but I can't believe you had 1200.00 in your fanny pack on an excusion.....

I can't believe you took 1200.00 in cash, period.

[StLouisCruisers]

Your cabin steward, Romeo, may be the same guy we had on our Emerald transatlantic last April. His nametag said Romeo, but the card on the desk with his pager number said Romy. We recall him as being quiet and not very personable. He was sufficient and did as we asked though. You just remember some stewards longer because of their great personalities and smiles.

[Sincity]

LOL-Money Lanudering. Thanks for the laugh!

[mjmalino]

We did that excursion on the CB in June. My kids absolutely loved it!

[rickcop44]

swom, I actually take more than that and I've done so on every cruise I've ever been on. I had a personal experience about 10 years ago with the safe in my cabin. I had my cash in the safe and one morning I walked into my cabin after getting my coffee only to find a "ships officer" using his so-called master key to open my safe. When I asked him what he was doing, he told me he'd gotten a call that the occupants of the cabin could not get their safe open and needed assistance. A complete lie. I ordered him from my cabin and reported his presence in my cabin. Of course, nothing happened. But it made me extremely leery of ship's crew members in my cabin. It's okay if you don't believe me. I don't like traveler's checks and I do my very best not to use credit cards on my cruises. I save up money in a special "cruise account" we set up years ago and the day before our flight, I withdraw the cash I want to take along. I've never been bothered. Maybe I've just been lucky. One thing I neglected to mention - my lovely 85 year young mother in law was with us and because she doesn't swim, she guarded our personal belongings on the boat while my wife and I snorkeled. In fact, until I retrieved my fanny pack and stupidly went into the water with it on, she had it strapped around her waist along with my wife's fanny pack. But I will continue to take cash with me on my cruises. And to end this note, the actual amount I took with me was $2000.

[rickcop44]

cruzzers, the ultimate snorkeling excursion was a lot of fun. You're first taken out to a beautiful reef and get to snorkel for about an hour. Lots of beautiful fish to see. Then the guides take you to a small island where they beach the boat. Within minutes after the boat was beached, the stingrays showed up. They're fed by the guides and seem almost domesticated. Anyway, my wife had a blast holding the rays. They swam in and around you. Think your cat rubbing against your leg and purring and you have the right vision. The only negative to the excursion was the individual on Grand Turk who was taking the tickets. He claimed that not everyone in the group had turned in their tickets and he wasn't leaving until the number of tickets in his hand matched the number of people on the excursion. I don't know how he managed to count the people as we were standing in the main square of the village and there were people coming and going constantly. Suffice it to say, we were 20 minutes late getting to the first stop. But once there, we had a blast. I'd highly recommend it.

[hummingbirdz]

Lots of humorous and great info here, but I'm quite curious about that DRYER SHEET! I believe I recall a past post of someone saying that they would leave something in the room for the next passengers in that room. Apparently it was a dryer sheet and it was still there when the next passenger boarded. Wondering what was the point..... Was it to see if Princess employees are cleaning properly between guests? If so, it doesn't sound like they are. Does anyone else find this just a little itty bit disturbing?

[kwahl1]

Chuckle chuckle. At first mention of "fanny pack" I couldn't help but think the first thing that came to my mind "cop". You guys brought on the fanny pack fad of the 80s. Funny to hear y'all still toting around the butt pack. You must of had lots of admirers, because millions have worn the fanny packs since the fad 80s.:D

[sartracker]

Speaking of fanny packs mixed with water (which ends with money laundering) I'm curious what you carry with you on shore excursions? :confused:

 

One day we are doing Dunns Fall and swimming with dolphins and I have 2 dry packs that I'm planning on carrying inside a small Adidas backpack, basic nylon bag with heavy duty drawstrings. It's a soccer bag of one of my daughters. We both have dry pack neck wallets that will hold cash, credit card, cabin card but probably not a passport. Do you even have to take your passport when you get off for a shore excursion or would a copy work?

 

I did see a dry pack fanny pack at REI but it won't hold much. I don't really want to leave my pack, whether it's my big one or the small one in a shuttle bus or sitting on the beach while we are swimming, eating, etc. I'm borrowing my son's underwater camera for the Falls but I have a Canon XSi with a telephoto lens for some places, like Tulum, the Sea Turtle Farm, etc. Don't want to lose either of those! :(

 

Any ideas, suggestions, secret hints, bad ideas? I don't carry travelers checks either, just cash or cc. Do places take American $'s or do you convert to the different country's currency?

 

And as far as the cabin safes, are they safe? And if not really, any suggestions for jewelry, my slot machine winnings (haha, I wish) and other things of importance? :rolleyes:

 

:eek: So many questions, so little time! :D

[rickcop44]

sartracker, I'm sure the safes are "safe." I have had one bad experience in 17 cruises. I won't let one bad experience taint me. I have a rather large fanny pack because I carry my wallet, passport, cash, two way radio, etc. with me whereever I go. Yeah, you'll see posters here who will tell you it's dangerous to carry around those kinds of items. My wife will tell you I can get away with it because I'm big and intimidating. Regardless of the reason, I've never had a problem. When we get to our cabin when we go on a cruise, the only thing that gets tossed into the safe from my fanny pack is my cell phone. I'm always amazed at the number of people who want to blabber away on their cell phone while they're on a wonderful vacation cruise. Oh, and in the Caribbean, all ports are more than happy to take American currency. On the slots, the casino on Crown is cashless meaning when you play a slot, you insert your sign and sail card into the slot. When you leave the slot, you log out and your credits are automatically dumped onto your card in the form of a credit. At the end of the cruise, you cash in your card if you still have a balance. It's a great system.

 

kwahl1, you are correct. I am a retired police officer and yes, I wore a fanny pack, primarily in the summer, because I was required to be armed at all times. Personally, I hated it. I'd walk into a store in shorts and t-shirt on a hot summer day and be wearing a big fanny pack because it contained my sidearm. I can tell you that I got second looks on more than one occasion from a clerk when I unzipped my fanny pack to get out my wallet or checkbook and the clerk saw a .40 caliber semi-automatic staring back at her. Now that I'm retired, I don't miss it in the least.

[sartracker]

Thanks for the info! Do you mean a handy talkie ham radio or personal 2 way radios? I'm tempted to take my ham radio but didn't know if it would mess with onboard coms. My cell phone will go in the safe as well, wouldn't work anyway. :rolleyes:

 

Sounds like the slots are a great system, not that I'll have a balance but I can pretend! :cool:

 

I'm used to carrying all sorts of packs out in the wilderness because I'm an Incident Commander for search and rescue. But a tourist town/big city intimidates me because of all the people. Give me a mountain lion any day! :eek:

 

The ocean and warm weather are calling my name, 10 days! :D

[Treven]

Was it to see if Princess employees are cleaning properly between guests? If so, it doesn't sound like they are. Does anyone else find this just a little itty bit disturbing?

 

 

Tho it wasn't on Princess, when I boarded the ship for my cruise last March, I was in the process of unpacking and discovered a cell phone. I imagine it was left by the previous person who had that cabin. I can understand it if the phone was inadvertently pushed back against the back wall of the closet and the cabin attendant was short and just didn't see it, but this was right up front on the closet shelf. I took the phone right to the purser's desk & was told they would contact the previous person & get the phone to him(?); whether they did or not, I'll never know.