They almost didn't make it.

[Orcrone]

I gave friends of mine a lift to the pier in Norfolk for the November 20 Maasdam sailing at 5:00 PM. They had to be on board by 4. It's about 45 minutes for me to get them and make it to the port. Originally I was supposed to pick them up at 1:30. At 1:00 PM the Mrs. called and said that they wouldn't be ready for another hour, so if I had something to do, go ahead, they didn't want to keep me. A little after 2:00 I hadn't heard from them, so I figured I'd give a call in case they were just expecting me to show up. Nope, at least another half hour.

At 3:00 I almost called them to say "close the damn suitcases and let's go"!!!!! They finally called at 3:10 and said if you wait about 10 minutes and leave, we should be ready. I waited about 5 minutes and tell DD, why don't we leave a few minutes early and get a video. So we arrive at their house about 3:25. They had, and I'm not kidding, 10 suitcases and two guitars. My daughter had to stay at their house with their kids until I returned. They filled the entire back of an Explorer, along with two thirds of the back seat.

I drove them to the pier. I must add that I stayed relatively close to the speed limit. Having a cop stop me wasn't going to get them there any quicker. Aside from which, I wasn't going to get a ticket because they're late.

We arrived at the ship at 4:04. The porter made a comment about them just barely making it. None of their luggage had the HAL tags, so they had to do that there. It was about 4:15 before they went to embarkation and the porters (yes, they needed two) took their luggage.

While the luggage was being off-loaded I was observing the ship like a child outside a candy store being told he couldn't go in. People were already congregating on the lower Promenade in preparation for the lifeboat drill. I couldn't believe it was less than two weeks ago that we were on the ship. I was also wondering if any of my friends I made on the Nov. 20 roll call were standing on the lower Promenade looking at me dropping off these people.

[doone]

WOW, talk about cutting it close, I would have been a nervous wreck. Glad they made it ok.

[xpcdoojk]

These insane people are friends of yours? Why?;) :D ;)

jc

[General Max]

Ten suitcases??????. How long was this cruise? Mrs. Max and I toke 1 suitcase each for an eighteen day cruisetour of Alaska this summer. We also had a suit and evening dresses in the suitcases. Worked just fine with having the laundry done on the ship.

General Max

[Orcrone]

Ten suitcases??????. How long was this cruise? Mrs. Max and I toke 1 suitcase each for an eighteen day cruisetour of Alaska this summer. We also had a suit and evening dresses in the suitcases. Worked just fine with having the laundry done on the ship.

General MaxThis was their first cruise. Their DW asked my DW how much luggage you can bring. As the port was local (no airline) she told them that they can bring as much as they want, meaning no restrictions like 2 bags per person that the airlines impose.

I guess she took the "bring as much as you want" a little too literally.:o

Also, one suitcase each for an 18 day cruise? That's some mightly impressive packing. We (two of us) took three suitcases for a ten day cruise, and that didn't include my scuba gear, which took one more suitcase.

[Randyk47]

I would have been taking heart medication and I don't even have any.....I'd have to borrow some! :) Good grief! I understand almost missing a ship because of airline connection, etc., because we've been there, done that, but this is actually kind of funny, in the strange sense. At least they made it......

As for the amount of luggage.....I won't comment until after next March. DW and I are driving to the port for our cruise for the first time. No baggage limit as we've got plenty of bags and an SUV to load them in. When that dawned on my DW a few months ago I could see her eyes light up. My immediate thought was to mention the stuff she didn't wear on the last cruise we took with us but the "don't go there husband" filters kicked in and I just smiled..... :eek: A big salute to anybody who can go on an 18 day cruise with one bag each!

[Orcrone]

These insane people are friends of yours? Why?;) :D ;)

jcI'm very left brained. I had four lists together; clothes to pack, paperwork to bring, items to buy and unusual items to pack (scuba certification card for example). As I packed up (in advance) I just checked each item off the list and everything was very smooth. She happens to be very right-brained. Extremely artistic, but no organizational skills. But still very wonderful friends.

Put it this way, you'd want me handling all the details, but you wouldn't want me to be singing out loud.:eek:

[Orcrone]

I would have been taking heart medication and I don't even have any.....I'd have to borrow some! :) Good grief! I understand almost missing a ship because of airline connection, etc., because we've been there, done that, but this is actually kind of funny, in the strange sense. At least they made it......Around 2:30 I was thinking to myself, "I could pack a bag and get to the ship before them".:D

[xpcdoojk]

I'm very left brained. I had four lists together; clothes to pack, paperwork to bring, items to buy and unusual items to pack (scuba certification card for example). As I packed up (in advance) I just checked each item off the list and everything was very smooth. She happens to be very right-brained. Extremely artistic, but no organizational skills. But still very wonderful friends.

Put it this way, you'd want me handling all the details, but you wouldn't want me to be singing out loud.:eek:
Sounds like you and I are of a kind! hee hee!:D

jc

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have they ever cruised before?

Ten suit cases & 2 guitars - are they going to entertain everyone?

You did say that they are in the Penthouse Suite???:D :D

They need it just to store all the empty suitcases. And all the extra closet space to put away everything.

[BajaFred]

Not sure, but I think we ran into them when we were leaving the ship on Tuesday. We were getting on the elevator - Verandah - forward. They matched the description you had given in a much earlier post and he had a guitar with him. I only remember seeing one. I asked him if he was your friend, but he didn't seem to recognize your CC name and I couldn't remember your real name. Don't recall seeing them on the ship, but probably wouldn't of put it together if he hadn't been carrying the guitar. Hope they had a good time.

[saltydog28]

I'm very left brained. I had four lists together; clothes to pack, paperwork to bring, items to buy and unusual items to pack (scuba certification card for example). As I packed up (in advance) I just checked each item off the list and everything was very smooth. She happens to be very right-brained. Extremely artistic, but no organizational skills. But still very wonderful friends.

Put it this way, you'd want me handling all the details, but you wouldn't want me to be singing out loud.:eek:


That--'paperwork to bring'--would mean cruise tickets--right??
We're not talking--'overtime'.
Please--put my mind at ease.
Pat.

[Orcrone]

Have they ever cruised before?

Ten suit cases & 2 guitars - are they going to entertain everyone?

You did say that they are in the Penthouse Suite???:D :D

They need it just to store all the empty suitcases. And all the extra closet space to put away everything.
KK, we were wondering where the suitcases were being stored. I'm guessing that's why they had the verandah.:D

[Orcrone]

That--'paperwork to bring'--would mean cruise tickets--right??
We're not talking--'overtime'.
Please--put my mind at ease.
Pat.Paperwork to bring.


Cruise tickets
Driver's license (even though they're always in our wallets/purse)
Birth certificate
Port descriptions printed from CC
Copy of shipboard credit voucher
Copy of prepaid excursion receipt
Copy of prepaid wine receipt
Etc. (not sure if I actually brought this).
Boy am I anal?:eek:

[Orcrone]

Not sure, but I think we ran into them when we were leaving the ship on Tuesday. We were getting on the elevator - Verandah - forward. They matched the description you had given in a much earlier post and he had a guitar with him. I only remember seeing one. I asked him if he was your friend, but he didn't seem to recognize your CC name and I couldn't remember your real name. Don't recall seeing them on the ship, but probably wouldn't of put it together if he hadn't been carrying the guitar. Hope they had a good time.Hi BajaFred,

They definitely would not have known my CC name; that's a nickname from my college days. They were on the verandah deck, but near the aft elevators. I'll have to ask them whether someone asked about Orcrone. I'm not sure why they brought their guitars, but the whole family is extremely talented. They all sing and play instruments, and she also paints very well. They're supposed to be on some Discovery Channel program sometime this fall or winter.

As far as not seeing him on the ship. His wife got out and about, but he preferred to spend most of his time on the verandah, so don't know how much he was in public.

[CDRMark]

Met Kathy not Calvin. From your description we all thought it would be easy to spot them... well let me tell you, this speaks well for the current state of diversity and race relations, because there were a number of couples who met that description! Met a lot of nice people that way though; kinda like the Mr.&Mrs. Maasdam game.. DW and Kathy hit it off well and exchanged particulars. She assured us that Calvin really did exist, but preferred to relax. I got a flash of that Disney cruise line TV ad with the husband napping his way thru the cruise.

BTW they embarked about 15 minutes after us.
Cheeers
MarkB

[Orcrone]

Met Kathy not Calvin. From your description we all thought it would be easy to spot them... well let me tell you, this speaks well for the current state of diversity and race relations, because there were a number of couples who met that description! Met a lot of nice people that way though; kinda like the Mr.&Mrs. Maasdam game.. DW and Kathy hit it off well and exchanged particulars. She assured us that Calvin really did exist, but preferred to relax. I got a flash of that Disney cruise line TV ad with the husband napping his way thru the cruise.

BTW they embarked about 15 minutes after us.
Cheeers
MarkBMark,

Glad you got to meet Kathy. Right now she is visiting my DW. Not realizing that we were sailing the Maasdam, they booked their cruise about a month or so before sailing. It would have been nice to have sailed with them, but they had to go when Calvin (yes, he does exist) was able to take vacation time. It was easier on your sailing since Thanksgiving gave him a couple of days off to start.

Funny you mention the Disney cruise ad. That's what DW said she was going to be doing on our cruise. She needs to get on a ship to relax; has too much trouble doing that at home. However, we still made it to the gym over half the days, and occasionally twice in one day. Also, she discovered that she loves snorkeling. Almost had to drag her out of the water.

[dakrewser]

We all need to have friends like these, just so that we can say to our spouse "but at least I'm not as bad as...."


:) -dave

[Orcrone]

We all need to have friends like these, just so that we can say to our spouse "but at least I'm not as bad as...."


:) -daveRight you are. I love them to death, but pulling away from the pier I was thinking I could not be married to someone like that. I then called DW at work to tell her I just dropped them off. After convincing her that I was serious the next thing she said to me was "bet you're glad you're married to me".:D

[Aussie Gal]

What a story, I would have been frantic with worry if I had of been your friends.

I cannot believe that anyone would take 10 suitcases for a short holiday. We have a month each time or longer in Europe with a cruise and a holiday following the cruise, and we only ever take one Samonsite 28" Oyster suitcase each. We are not permitted to take over 20kg on any of airlines from Australia to Europe in Economy and only 30Kg in Business so one has to learn to pack well and to mix and match. My husband has his formal wear in a carry on pack which the Flight attendant hangs during the journey. We have one piece of carry on luggage each and that is it.

I would hate the unpacking and packing up both on the ship and when I returned home. To me it would be a nightmare.

Jennie

[RuthC]

After convincing her that I was serious the next thing she said to me was "bet you're glad you're married to me".:DAnd wise man that you are, the reply was "YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Right?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Still curious -- what are they going to do with 2 guitars on the ship?

Are they going to be the entertainment??

[Orcrone]

Still curious -- what are they going to do with 2 guitars on the ship?

Are they going to be the entertainment??
I'm guessing they played in their cabin (guitars that is). They enjoy playing music. It's no different than packing a deck of cards. OK, it's a little different. You can't stick a guitar in your purse (unless it's a large purse).:D

[Orcrone]

And wise man that you are, the reply was "YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Right?I definitely agreed. But my answer was even more emphatic than that.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Ten suitcases!!

Is this their first cruise?

Do they have anything left in their closets?

[Orcrone]

Ten suitcases!!

Is this their first cruise?

Do they have anything left in their closets?
Yes, this is their first cruise. Only about 6 were large, the rest were relatively small suitcases or garment bags. I'd assume there's something left in the closet, but I didn't check.

I honestly was shocked. I saw about five bags initially and thought it was a bit much, but just put them in the back of the Explorer without worrying too much about space. (The Explorer can gobble up a bunch of luggage fairly easily). However, as more kept arriving I had to rearrange a couple of times. I had to use the passenger's sideview mirror quite a bit as there was quite the blind spot out the back.

[CDRMark]

The informative side to this thread is that it points up how difficult it is for a first time cruiser to figure out what to pack. I am sure that Calvin and Kathy had info from Orcrone. I had 5 months of gleaning info from these and other boards. We overpacked also (WAY) on this same cruise which was our first. I'll bet this is the most common "You'll know better after you do it once" cruise info topic. We filled an Explorer, but not the back seat. Didn't need 30% of it. We won't discuss exercise wear.

Cheers
MarkB

[Orcrone]

The informative side to this thread is that it points up how difficult it is for a first time cruiser to figure out what to pack. I am sure that Calvin and Kathy had info from Orcrone. I had 5 months of gleaning info from these and other boards. We overpacked also (WAY) on this same cruise which was our first. I'll bet this is the most common "You'll know better after you do it once" cruise info topic. We filled an Explorer, but not the back seat. Didn't need 30% of it. We won't discuss exercise wear.

Cheers
MarkBMark,

Excellent point. I'm sure when my DW told Kathy that there's no limit on suitcases she decided "better safe than sorry". And with all the different dress codes (casual, informal, formal) there's many different possibilities. For men it's easier since it's spelled out very specifically; tux or suit and tie for formal night, coat, tie optional for informal night. For women, there's a lot more interpretation, and hence opportunity, to overback.

I've always gone by the motto "lay out what you think you'll need and put back half". I told Kathy the same thing, but said in her case put back 3/4.:D

Actually, exercise wear is the one thing I didn't pack enough of. After not making it to the gym until the last day on our previous cruise, we made an extra effort to go this time. Luckily for me the Maasdam just came off their NE/Canada season, so they were selling those T-shirts for 75% off. Picked up a T-shirt for $3.00. Great for the gym.

[Krazy Kruizers]

DH always packs only a couple of sweat shirts for the gym knowing that sometime during the cruise there will be a sale on them. He got a couple of lovely Panama Canal shirts on our last cruise for $10.

[mmacdcc]

Whenever we travel, I use the rule of 'if we can't carry/pull it by ourselves, it doesn't go'. When it's just me, that usually means one large wheeled suitcase or a garment bag and a carry on. If it's me and my DH, it's one large wheeled suitcase, one garment bag, maybe one other small checked bag, and 2 carry ons.

There is no way we could handle 10 suitcases (nor do I even HAVE that many), so I can't overpack THAT badly. :rolleyes:

I have a friend that's like them though -- she comes for a few days and brings THREE suitcases. Big ones. One of them is so big it won't fit in my trunk (my car has a relatively small trunk).

[RuthC]

When my husband and I would travel by car I always packed "in case" ---in case it's hot; in case it's not...
But if we were going to fly, cruise, or in any way have to "lug" the "luggage" it was self-preservation to pack the bare minimum. I still do pack that way. I can go away to cruise for over a month---leaving in the summer for very cold climes---and still need only two suitcases. (My roomie two years ago had much less!)

Now jewelry! Ah, that's another story! I pack every last piece of it. But it's so small and takes up so little room :D what's the harm.

[Orcrone]

When my husband and I would travel by car I always packed "in case" ---in case it's hot; in case it's not...
But if we were going to fly, cruise, or in any way have to "lug" the "luggage" it was self-preservation to pack the bare minimum. I still do pack that way. I can go away to cruise for over a month---leaving in the summer for very cold climes---and still need only two suitcases. (My roomie two years ago had much less!)

Now jewelry! Ah, that's another story! I pack every last piece of it. But it's so small and takes up so little room :D what's the harm.But how much space do you dedicate to chocolate?;)