TOP 10 THINGS newbies forget to bring on their 1st Cruise...

[judipa]

You can get an iron and hangars from your room steward- also a bathrobe so don't waste suitcase room on those things.

 

Duct tape, magnets (hang up notices or notes -all walls are metal), over the door shoe holder for toiletries (saves room in bathroom), power strip.

[16paws]

bandaids. they cost a fortune on the ship, no more complimentary items! also bring your own shampoo and conditioner, the stuff on the ships is horrible. if you are going in the winter, bring a light waterproof jacket as you may have some showers! enjoy!

[Marian Paroo]

I've been ok with the shampoo they give. Yes, it isn't great but for a week I can manage. I like to pack light

[shealea]

Wow, some of you sure bring a lot!

 

My dh and I each bring one suitcase. The size that is carryon for airline travel. And we still have clothes at the end of the cruise that we never wear. But, we don't dress up for dinner, so that saves us a lot of space.

 

I'm sure these have probably been mentioned:

 

hilighter for marking what you want to do on your dailies.

Watch - we keep our cell phones off.

$1's - I keep them handy in the drawer to tip for room service, which we use quite a bit for breakfast and snacks late at night.

lanyard - I put my casino players card and room card on it. Even if I'm not wearing it, having them on a lanyard makes it easy to find in my bag that I carry around with me and into port.

[maywell]

I second on the bringing bandaids,aspirins, Benjay / Icy Hot, Tums / Alka-Seltzer and Aloe Vera before you board because its stuff you think you don't need but wind up using anyway during trip and then you find out in the ship store that is $12 for a sample size. If you're a woman and time of the month expectantly or not hits, then bring those (not the napkins) and Midol with you - It'll save your trip plus money since it expensive for small amount on the ship.

 

Also, bring $1 for the room stewards; pen / Pencil and/or Highlighters to use on the Dailies to pick out what you want to do; index cards / postits to leave notes, pack your medicine (especially insulin) if you them daily. At least a month, week or day out (if its a last minute cruise, Week or day before) call your credit card, bank and/or cell phone company to let them know you going traveling; if not, they will think those were stolen and shut them off.

[hagelbagel]

My iron was confiscated !!!

 

Magnets, cabins are metal, and you can use it to put up things you are doing( meet and mingle or drinks with captain)

 

Clothes pins to hang your stuff on line in bathroom

 

Peppermint candy for yukky tummy

 

 

 

 

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[hpecorari]

My iron was confiscated !!!

 

Magnets, cabins are metal, and you can use it to put up things you are doing( meet and mingle or drinks with captain)

 

Clothes pins to hang your stuff on line in bathroom

 

Peppermint candy for yukky tummy

 

 

 

 

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No irons permitted. It's a fire hazard.

Clothes pins also work wonders for hanging wet bathing suites out on the balcony chairs.

 

Harriet

[mamaplanes]

LOL! That was hilarious.

[DorothyB]

No irons permitted. It's a fire hazard.

Clothes pins also work wonders for hanging wet bathing suites out on the balcony chairs.

 

Harriet

 

And you aren't supposed to put wet clothes on the balcony to dry - might blow overboard and cause either a littering issue and / or someone might call in "person overboard"

[hpecorari]

And you aren't supposed to put wet clothes on the balcony to dry - might blow overboard and cause either a littering issue and / or someone might call in "person overboard"

 

I never knew that. It was my cabin steward who told me that I could use the clothes pins to hang the bathing out on my balcony chair. Maybe because we were in port and not moving?

 

Harriet

[snow1]

I always bring a powerstrip and an over door clear shoe organizer ($6 in Walmart) for all those little things that take up counter space.

 

 

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[KCcruisin07]

I can't believe this thread has been going on for four years. I didn't read every post, so hopefully I won't duplicate others.

 

I take a Spreadsheet with addresses for friends and relatives for postcards and a phone list with business numbers like the overseas numbers for credit card companies, ship, airlines, trip insurance, etc.

 

This is a partial duplicate:): I take a folder with all reservations for airlines, transfers, hotels, ship, and so on in chronological order. I think there's link to store these on your SmartPhone, but what if I lost it or my battery died?

 

I haven't traveled with my SmartPhone yet, so I don't know about the cost to call home. I took prepaid phone cards last time in Europe, and they came in handy when both credit cards were declined and later when I wanted to check on my pets! You can give them to the crew at the end of your cruise.

 

The most important items were an extra camera battery and a large enough memory card because of the expense and hassle of buying more on the ship or in port. The lanyard is nice for the ship card. A small luggage scale can save you an extra luggage charge.

 

In the beginning I got a little obsessive about all the little things, but I have tried to take less. If there's a little extra room and weight in my luggage, I can buy souvenirs. Otherwise I have to leave clothes behind.

 

I wish I had taken something stronger than Bonine on our last cruise. I was told that the crew eat green apples, and it seemed to help when I was seasick.

I wish people wouldn't bring their irons. It is a fire hazard. I think a whole lot of people will be inconvenienced and angry if there's a fire because someone had to bring an iron.

 

In the past someone posted that she dampened her clothes and used a hair dryer to get wrinkles out. There's also Downy Wrinkle Release. Please try them!

[hpecorari]

In the past someone posted that she dampened her clothes and used a hair dryer to get wrinkles out. There's also Downy Wrinkle Release. Please try them!

 

Yep, Downy Wrinkle Release works fine. So does the old fashioned method of hanging what's wrinkled in the bathroom when you take a hot shower! One reason I always bring a few hangers with me. The ones on board won't work for this! LOL

 

Harriet

[spidybabe]

I love the old fashioned way...thats what I do... and if I'm creased....who cares its vacation, and everybody is in the same boat ...creases or not

Safe sailing

[fergusonvt]

Personally I don't bring anything on a cruise that I wouldn't bring on any vacation including land based. My most important thing to remember is over the counter stuff like Advil, Benedryl etc. which can be pricey on the ship. I always bring camera, Ipad, Kindle and phones and have never had the occasion to bring or want a power strip. My Kindle holds a charge for a lonnnngggg time and so does my Ipad. Not everything needs to charge at the same time. We don't bring highlighters or over the door shoe hangers. If people bring those and use them more power to them but I've always found plenty of storage in the cabins and never felt the need to highlight anything in the ship newspapers.

[fergusonvt]

Yep, Downy Wrinkle Release works fine. So does the old fashioned method of hanging what's wrinkled in the bathroom when you take a hot shower! One reason I always bring a few hangers with me. The ones on board won't work for this! LOL

 

Harriet

 

The smell of the Downy bothers my allergies. I wish they made a hypoallergenic variety. I bring my clothing steamer with my on all my vacations, cruise or otherwise.

[fergusonvt]

I can't believe this thread has been going on for four years. I didn't read every post, so hopefully I won't duplicate others.

 

I take a Spreadsheet with addresses for friends and relatives for postcards and a phone list with business numbers like the overseas numbers for credit card companies, ship, airlines, trip insurance, etc.

 

This is a partial duplicate:): I take a folder with all reservations for airlines, transfers, hotels, ship, and so on in chronological order. I think there's link to store these on your SmartPhone, but what if I lost it or my battery died?

 

I haven't traveled with my SmartPhone yet, so I don't know about the cost to call home. I took prepaid phone cards last time in Europe, and they came in handy when both credit cards were declined and later when I wanted to check on my pets! You can give them to the crew at the end of your cruise.

 

The most important items were an extra camera battery and a large enough memory card because of the expense and hassle of buying more on the ship or in port. The lanyard is nice for the ship card. A small luggage scale can save you an extra luggage charge.

 

In the beginning I got a little obsessive about all the little things, but I have tried to take less. If there's a little extra room and weight in my luggage, I can buy souvenirs. Otherwise I have to leave clothes behind.

 

I wish I had taken something stronger than Bonine on our last cruise. I was told that the crew eat green apples, and it seemed to help when I was seasick.

I wish people wouldn't bring their irons. It is a fire hazard. I think a whole lot of people will be inconvenienced and angry if there's a fire because someone had to bring an iron.

 

In the past someone posted that she dampened her clothes and used a hair dryer to get wrinkles out. There's also Downy Wrinkle Release. Please try them!

 

They will take travel irons away if they find them. That's why I bring a clothing steamer.

[Marian Paroo]

They will take travel irons away if they find them. That's why I bring a clothing steamer.

 

 

Yes. A fire aboard a ship can be really dangerous......

[Pack My Bags]

I like to shop!!!!

I make extra space for souvenirs because bring:

 

* My oldest pair of cheapo flip flops $2.50 from old navy & then I leave them behind.

* Sleepwear consists of pj bottoms or boxers & old tee shirts. Sometimes it will be an old worn/stained hanes tee for a top & I'll leave behind.

* My socks that are worn, no longer get white, or have holes & then leave them behind.

* $1.74 bottle of suave shampoo & leave behind.

* My worn toothbrush & then I leave behind. Don't need to bring an empty toothpaste cover home. Open up a new one at home.

* The small toothpaste samples & floss from the dentist so I can use up & leave behind.

* Same with hotel soap amenities from past hotels. I leave those behind, plus not lugging a "soap travel case."

* Only my medicines needed in a ziplock with one extra pill. No need to carry pill bottles & your entire vitamin regimen.

* Perfume Samples or a travel size. No need to have that heavy glass in your luggage.

* A backpack as a carry-on (hands free!) and a small cross over bag. NO NEED for the gigantic purse!

* And although you want to have a memorable trip, it's ok if you follow suit & perhaps bring along some undies that you've been meaning to discard as well.

* A sweatshirt or hoodie from your hometown & then leave this as an Americana gift to your room steward. That is a huge space-saver!

* One pair of shoes that match all dinner outfits.

* Only your phono or camera charger. All other electronics can stay HOME!

 

SMOOTH SAILING & HAPPY TRAVELS!!!

Edited September 6, 2014 by Pack My Bags

[kerryincork]

These huge lists make me smile. I've done many 1 & 2 WEEK holidays with hand luggage only :) I hate lugging large bags around with me. I just pack 1 or 2 washing tablets. It's worth it to me to take 2 hours out to do laundry. I always pack empty flat shopping bags & travel size bathroom items. Sometimes I just bring my own conditioner and sunscreen and just whatever the hotel cruise line provides.

[bassmaster150]

- A bottle of Aspirin / Alieve (expensive on ship)

- A backpack for shore excursions...makes carrying stuff easy, and doubles as an extra checkin bag at airport on return if you overbought stuff on cruise

- Cross pack your clothes into different bags and have some clothes in carry-ons in the event that the airline looses your luggage or part of it

- Power strip...find a small one that has no frayed wires on it. Usually only one or two outlets in entire cabin.

- Dramamine...in case someone experiences sea sickness

- flip flops and comfortable clothes to wear on sea days....

[cruisee<3]

wow so much information and so many pages!

 

I hope I have enough time to go through some packages before I need to pack :D

[AandBmom]

I don't think this has been mentioned, or I missed it, but I find having some sort of battery operated light (ie. DOT light or battery tea lights) at night is essential, especially in an inside cabin where it's very dark.

 

When you turn the bathroom light on it's bright and I think a fan comes on too if I remember correctly. I find this disrupts everyone in the cabin. I put a couple of the battery tea lights in the bathroom and then nobody has to use the light at night. I also like to set one in the cabin on the desk to give a little light to see around at night.

 

Plugs are few and far between, and often not in the bathroom so this works better than a night light in my opinion.

 

I know others have said an alarm clock, I agree that some sort of clock is helpful. I like to know the time at night as do my children. Also it's hard to be on time for dinner, shows, etc with no easy clock to look at. We turn phones off and take a break from that kind of technology on vacay which means we don't have them to check for the time as easily.

[antiquehtr]

Magnets-the cabin walls are metal and you can clip important things up on the walls with magnet clips.

[spidybabe]

Yes magnets...highlighters. ..good attitude

Overnight bag for last night....on our first cruise I did not realize they take the luggage away the night before disembarkment. Good thing I had small bag to use

Safe sailing

 

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