what are the things to do in advance to save time and frustration!?

[twobytwo]

Looking forward to our 4/9 Zuiderdam cruise and wondering what things we should do inadvance on HAL.com etc?
We both want soda cards so I plan on doing that in the next few days
We booked a cabana already for HMC

anything else you can do in advance to make things smoother?

Thanks!

[bepsf]

Fill out your immigration forms, print them out and bring them with you to speed your boarding process.
Pre-book your shore excursions.
Make arrangements for tuxedo rentals (if necessary)
Preview the wine packages, stateroom gifts and order them in advance from HAL Ship Services along w/ your Pinnacle reservations.

[dakrewser]

Do everything you can in advance from booking shore excursions to filling out forms. Embarkation day will be hectic at best and downright crazy at worst. Don't take the chance of overlooking something you might later regret.

[jhannah]

And make sure you arrive in your embarkation city a day ahead of time. It's so much easier to be able to not only have the wiggle room if the airline experiences mechanical or weather issues, but to be able to have a leisurely breakfast and do some last-minute shopping the day you board the ship. Also, use a packing list. Develop it now and re-work it a few times then you'll be ready to put things in your luggage, check them off the list, and not worry too much about forgetting anything. The list also serves as an inventory sheet should (heaven forbid) something happens to your luggage.

[cactuslady]

Make sure you can find your passport and other ID.

Make sure your passport/other ID will still be valid for the cruise.

Make sure you can find credit card(s) and that they will still be valid.

Get your euros if needed.

Book your air and select seats (unless you are getting HAL's air package).

If you can (even if you are getting HAL's air package), keep visiting the airline web site to find better seats. New ones are always opening up.

Learn a little Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, etc.

Learn to say "Good Evening" in Indonesian (you can also do this on the cruise, but why not surprise the staff the first night?)

Learn the names for the different parts of the ship.

Get the deck plans for your ship (in the brochure or on the HAL web site) and learn the names of the decks, where your cabin is and where everything else is.

Keep checking the going fare on your cruise and, if it has gone down, ask HAL/TA to match the price.

Make sure your bathing suit/tux/evening gowns/shoes/whatever still fit & are clean and repaired.

Get a book about your destinations and read up on the sights and history.

Either start your tan or stock up on sunscreen and hats.

Make sure you will have all required medications.

If you're not used to formality or unsure of your skills, pick up an etiquette book as a refresher on what all those forks are for at dinner. They will be on the table, and you'll want to feel comfortable.

Practice your best smile for the photographers and meeting your fellow passengers. :)

[1stMate]

Make Pinnacle reservations, ASAP.
Decide on shore excursions and book them.
Preshop for jewlery, know what the prices are on the internet before you go ashore.

[dakrewser]

Great list CactusLady!


Terima kasih sangat banyak!
(that's Thank you very much in Indonesian. Save it, use it.) :)

[KSCnCA]

If you buy new luggage, make sure your tags are filled out ahead of time! That is something I keep forgetting to do when we get new pieces!

[Steamboatin]

In addition to the above excellent suggetions we also do the following:

1. Take along copies of the passports for each member crusing should the original be lost or stolen. Keep the copies in the cabin safe. Also give a copy to your local TA, friend or relative so that they can always fax it to you should you have a problem. As in missed the vessel in a foreign port.

2. Take along a new passport picture for each member cruising should you need to have a new passport issued at a US Embassy in a foreign country.

3. Type up your itinerary and give it to relatives and put a copy of it in each piece of your luggage should your luggage be lost and needs to be forwarded to you. It will be hopefully forwarded to your next port and not to the pier where you originally cruised from.

4. Remember that your medications are best kept in the original drug store containers with the labels indicating what the medications are and the Doctor's name attached. Helps in going through Immigration on return to US or doing same in a foreign country.

5. Keep a list with you of all your doctors names, addresses and telephone numbers in case you need to have one or more contacted in case of a medical emergency.

7. Keep a list of what each person cruising is allergic to including medicines.

8. Just prior to leaving your home turn off the hot water heater and reset the automatic thermostat to a seasonal adjusted conservation friendly temperature. No need to keep your hot water and house warm/cool when you are not there.

9. Just prior to leaving the house turn off the automatic ice maker in your refrigerator.

10. Arrange to naturally have your mail held and not to be delivered. Have the stop delivery date to be the day prior to leaving on your cruise to insure it has been stopped.

11. Arrange to have your newspaper stopped the day before your cruise to insure that it has been stopped.

12. For those with homes where the grass is still growing make prior arrangements to have it cut on a weekly basis. Remember to be a good neat neighbor.

13. On long cruises or trips pre-pay your bills by doubling up on the last payment you mail to your utility company, mortgage company, credit cards, etc. If at all possible arrange to have your bills automatically paid to your sky miles credit card for payment to earn extra sky miles. Also have your bills automatically paid from a bank account where sufficient funds will be maintained.

14. Notify the credit card companies and your bank that you will be going to "x" countries on "x" dates so that you will not have problems using those credit cards or checks in a foreign country.

15. Also check the expiration dates on your credit cards to make sure that the credit cards that you will be using on your cruise do not expire while you are on your cruise.

16. Likewise, also make sure that your driver's license does not expire while you are on your cruise or trip.

17. Notify your home alarm security monitoring service that you will be on a cruise and out of your home on "x" dates.

18. Notify your home insurance agent that you will be on a cruise on "x" dates so that if something does happen to the house the agent can be aware to have it secured (boarded up) until your return.

These are a few of the things that I can quickly think of that we do prior to a cruise or trip that has not already been previously mentioned.

[starysacz]

Thank you very much Comeaux for the very comprehensive and helpful list. You have a few new ones that I never thought about.

[oliviaonthe beach]

These are all great ideas but wow I'm exhausted just thinking about all I have to do. Better start now since my cruise is in July!

[cactuslady]

These are all great ideas but wow I'm exhausted just thinking about all I have to do. Better start now since my cruise is in July!
But don't turn the water heater off just yet!
;)

[oliviaonthe beach]

Hey CactusLady! If I turn the water heater off now think of all the money I can save for margaritas on the cruise!

[cruzincurt]

Replace the hoses on the washing machine and turn the water off.

[WindyCity]

Make copies of any shipboard credit, so if they lose the original one you turned in - you still have proof.

Print a map of the route from the airport to the port or hotel (from hotel to port also) so you can follow and make sure taxi meter is not rising because driver is going in circles.

Set aside some singles for room service tips.

If you pre-book shore excursions, make sure you bring proof you paid for them.

If you pre-book Pinnacle bring receipt.