"I wish I knew before..."

[oldmiller]

Thanks for the advice on the bags!:)

[Eris0303]

My personal tip.. I didn't bring any actual shoes! The guys can't really do this, but the only shoes I packed were flip-flops and a dressy pair of sandals for the "formal" night. It was 70-80 the whole trip - who needs shoes?

(Though, I live in flip-flops when I've not working, so I don't recommend this for those who are prone to blisters or that never wear sandals.)

 

I live in NJ and my cruise is in January so I will have "shoes" with me but only for leaving NJ and returning to NJ. I just can't be on NJ Transit in flip flops in January lol

[angelasturn1]

okay, we are going on our first ever cruise 5 days, triumph on dec 10th, I have 4 kids im leaving at home with my MIL, :eek: and its just me and hubby going away for the first time without the kids:confused:....I think i have all i need but i still have a few questions

 

Credit card deposit charge?, how much will the cruise line hold for a 5 day cruise?

 

my Iphone, i called Verizon, they have an international plan that is recommended for cruising, and a lot cheaper then what the ship is offering, i plan to turn off wifi and to put it on airplane mode (unless im calling my kids), i have a ton of music, movies, night light, books, podcast, notepad, voice recorder, white noise... and so much more that are downloaded to my phone without having to use the Internet or phone service to get to it, will this be a problem if i have cleared it up with my cell phone carrier? am i missing something?

 

Drinking,

our cruise ship allows us to bring 2 bottles of wine, (screw caps) and 24, 20 oz of soda's or drinks, in our carry on ive also purchased the plastic rum runner kit that i plan to pack inside my clothing in a suitcase and plan to carry around our big covered cups with drinks of our own. has anyone had any bad luck with taking on the rum runners?

 

We plan on just having fun, meeting new people, swimming, laying out on the beaches, taking in some shows or activities on the ship doing some shopping, trying new foods, and not stressing about Christmas and home life.

[johnoli]

If possible fly out 1 or 2 days before your cruise so you are nice and chilled when you board. Unlike us, we flew Heathrow to JFK and straight onto QM2 by the time we got to bed we had been up 24 hours. Then we were up early the next five days for excursions. We were shattered by the time we got to day 6 and a day at sea.

 

You don't need that many shirts - brought back four I hadn't even worn.

[suzyed]

okay, we are going on our first ever cruise 5 days, triumph on dec 10th, I have 4 kids im leaving at home with my MIL, :eek: and its just me and hubby going away for the first time without the kids:confused:....I think i have all i need but i still have a few questions

 

Credit card deposit charge?, how much will the cruise line hold for a 5 day cruise?

 

my Iphone, i called Verizon, they have an international plan that is recommended for cruising, and a lot cheaper then what the ship is offering, i plan to turn off wifi and to put it on airplane mode (unless im calling my kids), i have a ton of music, movies, night light, books, podcast, notepad, voice recorder, white noise... and so much more that are downloaded to my phone without having to use the Internet or phone service to get to it, will this be a problem if i have cleared it up with my cell phone carrier? am i missing something?

 

 

Drinking,

our cruise ship allows us to bring 2 bottles of wine, (screw caps) and 24, 20 oz of soda's or drinks, in our carry on ive also purchased the plastic rum runner kit that i plan to pack inside my clothing in a suitcase and plan to carry around our big covered cups with drinks of our own. has anyone had any bad luck with taking on the rum runners?

 

We plan on just having fun, meeting new people, swimming, laying out on the beaches, taking in some shows or activities on the ship doing some shopping, trying new foods, and not stressing about Christmas and home life.

 

As far as I know they do not keep a deposit if you use a credit card. Possibly they may check to see if you have credit available? If you use a debit card, they will put a "hold" on your card, which is not released until about a week after the cruise is over.

 

I have never used rum runners myself (although I bought the whole travel package, which includes shampoo/lotion/conditioner bottles as well as the rum runners). I have never heard of anyone having a problem with them.

 

As far as the iPhone, I guess the "airplane mode" is the way to go...I'm still confused on this issue myself.

[glasgow_canuck]

Moleskin is thick and padded. If you get a blister and pop a band-aid on it, it curls up, I find. A piece of Moleskin will stay on and on!

 

Compeed is quite good too. UK folk can get it in Boots (the bigger stores have moleskin as well)

[baronessk]

Just wanted to add to the shoe suggestions. I am NOT a shoe-aholic. Lindsay Phillips http://www.lindsay-phillips.com/ makes a few styles which you can then change the velcro strap or the snap. You can literally take 2 pair of shoes and have UNLIMITED looks. Been working for me worldwide for years now. Fun too!

[suzyed]

Just wanted to add to the shoe suggestions. I am NOT a shoe-aholic. Lindsay Phillips http://www.lindsay-phillips.com/ makes a few styles which you can then change the velcro strap or the snap. You can literally take 2 pair of shoes and have UNLIMITED looks. Been working for me worldwide for years now. Fun too!

 

Those look great! Do you have the flip flop ones? Do you have the wedge or the kitten heel? Comfy??

[baronessk]

I have 4 pair now. Started with the cork sandal, then the wedge, then another pair of the cork sandals as mine were 3 years old, and now just bought the dressier sandal with the snap trades for this cruise. They are ALL very comfy!!! Highly recommend for travel!

[CantwaittocruiseCarribean]

hiya, well i read and re read this post before i left and these are things i packed as a result and whether they were a good idea or not

 

(i was on freedom of the seas)

 

over door hanger

wouldnt fit on bathroom door but didnt need it loads of press and shelf space, one for him, one for me and 1 for sun cream,

but i did use it on wardrobe door for shoes

 

extension lead

didnt use it once and i had 2 ipads, 2 phones, back up batteries to charge, but just rotated everyting ie charged some during day and some at night

but there is no sockets beside bed

 

alarm, i just used phone

 

night light

there were lights both sides of the bed

 

ipad holder to watch films,

tv was fine in room plenty of stations for all you watch

 

i brought way way way tooooooo many clothes

 

hair straighner

used it every night

 

hair dryer in room is perfect beter than average hotel one, but not as good as one at home

 

no need for towels, just changed ours every day at pool

 

bandages and plasters good idea to bring i needed them for blisters on my feet from all the walking

 

shampoo and conditioner, def bring or be prepared to buy on ship

 

soda package on ship was 36 euro and well worth it we only bought one and used it between the 2 of us

 

absolutly had a brillant time have allready looked in to booking next cruise

[Datachick1213]

I have 4 pair now. Started with the cork sandal, then the wedge, then another pair of the cork sandals as mine were 3 years old, and now just bought the dressier sandal with the snap trades for this cruise. They are ALL very comfy!!! Highly recommend for travel!

 

Those are adorable! What a clever idea for travel. I think I may just have to get some soon.

[Datachick1213]

Here's my $.02:

 

We wished we had:

-Brought binoculars

-Brought walkie talkies

-Brought more cash

-Known how inexpensive cigarettes would be (compared to here in Philly)

-Remembered we could use our phones as a camera. We were so worried about roaming charges that we turned off our phones and left them in the cabin the whole trip (DOH!)

 

So glad we remembered:

-a highlighter to help plan out our activities to make the most of our onboard time

-a stash of pain medication

-our own conditioner

-a small manicure kit and sewing kit

[macfoo]

Just got back so its fresh in my mind

 

Wished we had :

1) More extensive medical kit. I took all the ibuprophen in it, ended up needing to buy Dristan (for sinus) and had hoped for Pepto for an upset tummy (not from sea sickness but something I ate).

2) Remembered to carry the binoculars. Brought them along and forgot about them

3) I like the highlighter idea - didn't even think about it until it was to late!

 

Things we had along that I loved:

1) Tide stain stick

2) Travel size febreeze (worked to spray on the clothes and keep them smelling fresh even if they were worn for only a short time)

3) We put the cellphones in airplane mode and carried them around as quick cameras as well as using them as an alarm clock

4) Travel size bottle of laundry detergent. We washed a few things by hand in the bathroom sink (comfie undies and socks) and hung them on the clothes line in the shower. Worked well!! (I had only brought two pairs of toe socks along and I love wearing them with my sneakers - the rest of the time I was wearing sandals).

5) Extra coat hangers

6) My own shampoo and conditioner. Our ship had a dispenser in the shower for a 2-in-1 but I didn't trust it.

7) A small backpack. I used this onshore to carry suntan lotion, sunglasses, my hat if I wasn't wearing it, and other odds and ends. I also had a cross body small purse with me that kept my wallet, my cell phone, and my ID / Sea Pass Card in it.

[magsbags]

Just got to the last page of this thread today! What a great thread... I have recorded some of the tips that I think I will really need and I will be using them. Thanks for all who have shared!

 

Totally see where duct tape could come into handy. Just in every day life, I should carry a roll. Whew!! :p

[Marian Paroo]

I would toss out an extra pair of shoes before I would part with my Duct Tape!

[Redautumn]

Almost every one says bring less clothing and shoes and bring more $ money. A lot of people say bring a lot of small bills. I'm getting ready to take my first cruise and have to ask, how much $$$ are we talking? If most stuff is chargedvto your ship to shore card on the boat aNd gratuities are pre billed I'm wondering how much cash should I bring???? Sorry for sounding dumb but want to be prepared. Thanks

[CactusGirly]

Almost every one says bring less clothing and shoes and bring more $ money. A lot of people say bring a lot of small bills. I'm getting ready to take my first cruise and have to ask, how much $$$ are we talking? If most stuff is chargedvto your ship to shore card on the boat aNd gratuities are pre billed I'm wondering how much cash should I bring???? Sorry for sounding dumb but want to be prepared. Thanks

 

Think of it in terms of additional tips for your room attendants. Even though you have pre-paid the gratuities, nothing says thank you for service that was "above and beyond" like cash. Some posters have mentioned bringing gifts from their hometowns, and while that is a nice idea, most of these folks are working very hard to send money back to their families in another country - cash is the most appreciated form of Thank You. Plan at least $5 per day in your stateroom, and another $5 tip for anyone at the airport who handles your luggage (curbside check-in is a savior on the way home)... add about $10-$15 in ones on top of that and you should be covered for anything.

[tml070393]

My husband and I are thinking about going on a RCCI out of baltimore to Bermuda at the end of April. How is the weather then? The ship is Enchantment of the Seas, how is this ship?

[jaycat]

Almost every one says bring less clothing and shoes and bring more $ money. A lot of people say bring a lot of small bills. I'm getting ready to take my first cruise and have to ask, how much $$$ are we talking? If most stuff is chargedvto your ship to shore card on the boat aNd gratuities are pre billed I'm wondering how much cash should I bring???? Sorry for sounding dumb but want to be prepared. Thanks

 

You may need extra money for tipping, spending money while in ports and the money to pay off your s&s card so you won't return home with a big bill.

Is your excursions prepaid or will you need money? I spent about $250 on a 7 day cruise mostly on pictures. Bring all the clothes and shoes you want.

[pam vessels]

Tip for life partners traveling together who are not married. Take a copy of your power of attorney, reciprical beneficiary, health directive or domestic partner documents. If there is an accident or sudden illness on board or in another country you will need proof of relationship to make any decisions. We even take a copy of living will and end of life papers....of course we are up in years now and did not do this when we were younger. Also never be afraid to be who you are on the ship...you will find that people on ships are very tolerant.....we even danced together in the lounge and no one batted an eye....enjoy....

[Marian Paroo]

Tip for life partners traveling together who are not married. Take a copy of your power of attorney, reciprical beneficiary, health directive or domestic partner documents. If there is an accident or sudden illness on board or in another country you will need proof of relationship to make any decisions. We even take a copy of living will and end of life papers....of course we are up in years now and did not do this when we were younger. Also never be afraid to be who you are on the ship...you will find that people on ships are very tolerant.....we even danced together in the lounge and no one batted an eye....enjoy....

 

 

Absolutely!!!!

 

By the way, if you are travelling to Israel, all this will be recognized. All couples no matter what combination are recognized as common law, esp. if they have solid documentation.

[dejamakan]

Almost every one says bring less clothing and shoes and bring more $ money. A lot of people say bring a lot of small bills. I'm getting ready to take my first cruise and have to ask, how much $$$ are we talking? If most stuff is chargedvto your ship to shore card on the boat aNd gratuities are pre billed I'm wondering how much cash should I bring???? Sorry for sounding dumb but want to be prepared. Thanks

 

We drive from Georgia to the port and like to dress for every occasion. We take everything we want for all conditions (shoes, gowns, suits) and enjoy the elegant pictures after dinner. The amount of cash you'll need will depend on your drinking, shopping, gambling, and spending habits. We usually spend an average of $500 but we are not drinkers nor do we go to the casino. Enjoy your first of many cruises *smile*

[QuasarZ]

Whew! Read all this in a day. Lots of good info. Wife and I are Going on our honeymoon and first cruise on the 1st. Can't wait. Couple questions,

 

Are sandals and shorts allowed in the casino and at evening shows?

Is the sauna and steam room free or are all spa services extra?

Does carnival do anything extra for honeymooners?

How many "carry ons" can I bring with me during embarkation? If I can carry it all can I skip the whole luggage drop off deal?

 

Thanks

[Cruising-Solo]

My husband and I are thinking about going on a RCCI out of baltimore to Bermuda at the end of April. How is the weather then? The ship is Enchantment of the Seas, how is this ship?

 

April is the rainiest month in the mid Atlantic region on average and high temps around 65 degrees F I think.

[QuasarZ]

Whew! Read all this in a day. Lots of good info. Wife and I are Going on our honeymoon and first cruise on the 1st. Can't wait. Couple questions,

 

Are sandals and shorts allowed in the casino and at evening shows?

Is the sauna and steam room free or are all spa services extra?

Does carnival do anything extra for honeymooners?

How many "carry ons" can I bring with me during embarkation? If I can carry it all can I skip the whole luggage drop off deal?

 

Thanks

 

Disregard...found the answers on carnival's website. So much info there.