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

[Ms belp]

Well, this isn't something to bring, but a comon mistake first timers make is to not review the Cruise Compass left in your room every night. It details the activities for the next day.

 

Ziplock bags. Good for a lot of things, and will keep your money/cards dry if you get in the water.

 

Photocopy of your passport, cards, drivers license, etc. If you loose them, having the numbers will really help in getting them cancelled or replaced quickly.

 

Excellent ideas. I'd bring different sizes of Ziplocks too. Smaller ones for things mentioned and you can use the larger sizes for wet bathing suits if you change during an excursion and dirty clothes on your way home.

[BahamaMama247]

A back-up pair of contacts. I had solution and even my eyeglasses with me, but my contact tore and I was stuck (I'll never let that happen again). I am blind without them, the glasses were fine except in the pool and hot tubs they just could not cut it:rolleyes: Thank Goodness we went snorkeling the day before it happened.

 

An extra sd card for the camera

[bruru]

A power bar or two to plug in all your rechargeable things. There are very few electrical outlets in the staterooms.

[Litehouse9]

Regarding tipping: My husband I gave nice tips to our RomeinLimo drivers, who were outstanding, and the two tour guides of the Ship's bus tours we took. We were on our balcony at the end of one day and watched two other buses returning to the ship-- and NO ONE from those buses tipped their driver/tour guide! I think they were German, and we were told that in some places in Europe, it is not customary to tip.

 

We believe in tipping and rewarding service. I love also that NCL automatically charges for tips and we don't need to worry about it. On our one Royal Carrib. Cruise, I HATED that we had to put slips of paper in envelopes and hand them out to the Matre D', the waiter, the cabin steward, etc. That just bugged me and felt old fashioned.

[Litehouse9]

Things to bring on the cruise you might forget:

 

- Extra hangers

 

- Black elec. tape - good for "fixing" straps that come loose, luggage tears, etc.

 

- An insulated coffee cup with lid-- so I can fill up with coffee at the buffet and then take my cup with me on tours, to the pool, etc.

 

- STOMACH MEDICINE: Pepto or Immodium. Should you get "stomach distress" and if you visit the ship Infirmary for help-- they will QUARANTINE YOU for at least 24 hours-- No tours, no going to the bars, the pool, etc. They sell the stuff in the gift shops, which are NOT always open (closed in ports, etc.), and it is very expensive. (we also bring COLD medicine too)

 

- Depending where you are going: Sun Screen and Bug Spray

 

- Your driver's license- you may want to rent a car, a golf cart, etc. in a port, so need the license. Plus you can use that as "ID" along with your ships card when leaving the ship in many ports, so that you do NOT need to carry your original passport with you

 

- All your MEDICINES - put in your carry on luggage!

 

- And as others have said: Copies of passport; power strip

[Awwsnuffie]

I guess I just don't get all this. It all seems like far too much preparation, for such a few days. I've often thought, that I should like to go on a cruise and I always thought of a cruise as a tranquil setting, peaceful, getting away from the noise of the world, to be found on dry land, no clubs, pubs, noisy surroundings. seems I was very wrong.

 

Then someone mentions that a certain amount of money is added to on board accounts to cover service charges. Why should that be extra, when the cruise company, is being paid a large amount already. i find that scandalous.

 

Also people talk of tipping all and sundry. Why? I know that the custom is, in the States to tip people, but heck, these people are getting paid to do their job. They don't have to work on a cruise ship.

 

I can never understand how people can afford to hand out a dollar here and a dollar their. They must be very well off people. I most certainly would not be able to do all this tipping and I wouldn't, nor would I be afraid to tell the cruise ship employee why I won't tip.

 

If you get paid for doing a job, you should not expect tips. If the person isn't earning enough, then a company should pay them more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is true for ALL of the SERVICE INDUSTRY...not just cruise ships! I know people who work as servers that make close to $60K a year working five days a week at a restraurant...and that's on tips alone! I know other people who work salary jobs (and many more hours) and make half that! Its just the nature of the business...

 

Oh and just a basic rule of thumb and I can't stress it enough: You dont want to piss off the people who handle your food. Not everyone on this earth has good moral character. If you make the wrong person mad by not tipping them or basically treating them cruelly because of their "inferior" service job, they could end up doing some really nasty things without you even knowing it!! I've been in the service industry long enough to see some pretty horrible things occur! BE NICE TO EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF THEIR JOB!

[msny]

OK, we're down to a few weeks before our first-ever cruise (2 adults, 2 kids 10 and 7), and we're starting to think about packing. So my question - what are the things that first-time cruisers would never think to bring, and that I'll be kicking myself about all week? Not the obvious - wine opener, passport, etc. - looking for stuff I'd NEVER think of.

 

Thanks in advance - and I will compile a Top 10 list and post it (based on my own assessment, of course...) if I get enough responses (and then we can argue about my rankings).

 

I'm also a first timer nOOb, but here are a few things I've

gathered searching the net and on these boards. Stuff

I usually dont think of, that I've found.

 

1) take a night light for the bathroom

2) take a power strip/extension cord cause you may only get one

electrical plug - what if you have multiple devices that need

charging?

3) seasickness - ginger root tablets, sea bands, bonine

4) dont trust the safe, take a money belt

5) take a travel battery alarm clock, usually the cabin has none

6) extra ZIP lock baggies, for small treasures you buy

7) take a prepaid mastercard or something like it, instead of your regular cards

cause they may lock them with a fee

8) call your credit card company and tell them your going to such n' such

so they dont put a hold on your cards, thinking its theft

Edited May 24, 2010 by msny

[siegelscott]

Our first cruise that my wife and I ever went on, she forgot to pack my passport. She is a resident alien so she had all her paperwork, but it never occured to her that I needed a passport to go to Bermuda (or actually, to reenter the US from Bermuda). I know you said nothing obvious like passports, but hey, DONT FORGET IT.

 

P.S. - the ship left out of NYC where my parents live, so we stopped by their home, got my "selective service" card from when I was 18 and used that plus my drivers license and signed an affidavit that I was indeed a citizen, and they let me board, no issues...

 

Needless to say we (my kids and I) all have the new passport cards in addition to the traditional books we keep with our travel documents so that we have a backup...

[msny]

I'm also a first timer nOOb, but here are a few things I've

gathered searching the net and on these boards. Stuff

I usually dont think of, that I've found.

 

1) take a night light for the bathroom

2) take a power strip/extension cord cause you may only get one

electrical plug - what if you have multiple devices that need

charging?

3) seasickness - ginger root tablets, sea bands, bonine

4) dont trust the safe, take a money belt

5) take a travel battery alarm clock, usually the cabin has none

6) extra ZIP lock baggies, for small treasures you buy

7) take a prepaid mastercard or something like it, instead of your regular cards

cause they may lock them with a fee

8) call your credit card company and tell them your going to such n' such

so they dont put a hold on your cards, thinking its theft

 

Also...

9) take a small travel umbrella

10) take a raincoat

11) take a cheapie stringed napsack you put on your back, Amazon has them for 3 to 10 buks

for shore excursion booty

http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Drawstring-Backpack-Kelly-Green/dp/B001IKJ6Z6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=shoes&qid=1274714960&sr=8-2

12) Passport holders you can put around your neck with a laynard

http://www.amazon.com/Secure-Passport-Holder-Mens-Lanyard/dp/B0007KVLBA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1274715144&sr=8-1

Edited May 24, 2010 by msny

[2Cruise4Ever]

NCL automatically charges for tips.....and yet, you still continue to tip. They don't give you the option of saying ''No thank you.''? Rewarding service....I find that rather distasteful. It makes the workers seem more like servants or slaves, who should feel grateful, for the coins tossed their way. Tipping and asking for a service charge are old fashioned. Paying people a decent, albeit minimum wage, is modern and progressive. Anything else is backward looking.

 

NCL isn't the only line with automatic service fees. Most of the other lines do, too. It's a standard in the industry. Arguing about it here isn't going to change a thing. You say you are from a country that has a minimum wage. Just curious... what country?

 

Also, whose minimum wage should the lines pay? Over 80 countries are represented on board most times. So, which country's minimum wage should be paid? Don't forget there is more to compensation then just a paycheck. These employees are paid lower because they get free room and board and health care while they're there.

 

Tipping is an age-old practice. I always tip well.

 

And, as far as your comment about gift shops is concerned: no cash, no credit cards, only your ship sign-n-sail card, which is then charged to your on-board account. The only place cash is accepted is the casino.

Edited May 24, 2010 by 2Cruise4Ever

[Awwsnuffie]

You are so great.

 

 

Let's get back to "Top 10 Things newbies forget to bring on their 1st cruise..."

[cxxviii]

OK, sorry for taking so long but I saw that this chain was still 'active' (amazing) so I thought I'd post an update.

 

We did take our first cruise on the Jewel, first week of April, and it was fantastic. I took all the data from these posts and TRIED to reduce to the bare necessities. In spite of that we packed WAY to much stuff, as many said we would. Mostly too many clothes.

 

Best recommendation was definitely the power strip (HUGE help).

 

Thanks!

[petesweet]

I'm offering my suggestions after reading just two pages, so forgive me if they have already been listed:

1. Plastic baggies in various sizes--wet bathing suits to pack on last day, or snacks to take on shore excursions, etc., etc.

2. I personally take TWO shoe bags. I have a flimsy little six-compartment one I got for $1 at the Dollar Store. That goes INSIDE the bathroom and holds the stuff you want at your fingertips when you are getting ready in the morning. Then I have a more substantial full-length one that goes OUTSIDE the bathroom door. That holds everything else that usually clutters up the room. It will hold all these little things people are suggesting you not leave home without--from the book you are reading, to the umbrella you want to take with you when you go ashore, etc., etc. Sure, they have drawers for a lot of that stuff. Me? I like to have it at my fingertips. I can't travel without it.

3. Flashlight.

4. Printout of (a) insurance coverage and (b) proof of any onboard credit you expect to enjoy on the ship. Also, don't forget to print out any agreement you have made with private tour companies in the ports.

5. I'm a nerd. I don't carry a purse or even a wallet, so I like to put my credit card, sea pass, and driver's license on a lanyard and wear it around my neck. (I take my husband so I have his pockets when I am dressed up.:D) The lanyard is very convenient for hanging up on the little hook beside the stateroom door--easy to grab when you leave the room.

 

6. If I were the sort of person who sends postcards (I'm not), I would do like I did when I first started traveling: Take printed address labels for your friends/relatives rather than just a list of their addresses.

 

7. If you are the type of person who likes to make lifelong friends on a trip (again, I'm not), some have suggested you print up little business cards to give when people want your address, email address, etc.

 

Have a great trip!

Kathy

Edited May 24, 2010 by petesweet

[jwoap]

Birth control.

 

We have 3 cruise souvenirs at our house ages 19, 17 an 17

 

Oh my gosh I spurt my iced tea right through my nose on my screen! Now that is priceless!:D:D:D

[petesweet]

Who wants to unpack and wash week-old undies at the end of any vacation? Gross.

 

I'll bet you didn't mean this the way I read it!:D

Kathy

[petesweet]

Even if you have an outside room, this is huge. with the curtains closed you'll have no idea what time it is. was the one thing i wish i brought with us last week.

 

I don't believe you would need an alarm clock. You can program the stateroom phone very easily to ring you awake.

 

Oh, and I forgot something else: I take my old $20 watch that lights up at night, so when I wake up in the middle of the night, it's easy to see the time. Much better than packing a clock for that purpose.

Kathy

Edited May 24, 2010 by petesweet

[RWFrye5]

Birth control.

 

We have 3 cruise souvenirs at our house ages 19, 17 an 17

 

Too funny!!! I hope you named at least one of them after the Cruise Director!

 

(Although they didn't do a very good job at keeping you busy!!!!)

[RWFrye5]

A lot of great ideas here - but two that really caught my eye - especially traveling with kids - are the Lanyard for the kid's room key - and the rolls of quarters for the arcade games.

 

As for the Lanyards - I believe the gift shop sells the LOGO ones, but if you have a couple to bring with you until you can do your shopping, it might be helpful to you.

[alidee12]

next saturday the 5th is going to be my first cruise, but i've been planning for months now!!!

 

check your local Dollar Tree for stuff to bring on the cruise (i'm obsessed with that store. not your typical junk.):

small bottles to put shampoo, conditioner, body wash etc in.

laundry bags (i got one that says "grimy" ;) )

compression storage bags (more room in your suitcases!!)

plastic baggies etc.

travel mugs, aluminum water canteens

i've even seen pill boxes there for your ibuprofen, diphenhydramine, vitamins etc.

[Ms belp]

Someone recommended labels for your postcards to friends, which they said they actually do not do. To me this is tacky. I would rather write their address out along with your message.

 

It's also a good idea to bring along a travel journal.

[Ms belp]

Calling cards are nice. "Business" cards not so much.

[retired rascal]

I think the only "fatal" mistake is to arrive without a 'perfect attitude." Know that somethings may not go exactly as you either would wish or had dreamed; but it can all be totally wonderfully blissfully PERFECT if you decide before you even get on the ship that you WILL enjoy it!!!!! :)

[MissRabbit]

one thing i don't think i've seen so far is a small waterproof container to take with you when you go ashore. It'll attach to a lanyard and can hold your money, paperwork, C/C, cabin room card and other small things you don't want to lose or get wet.

 

 

This way, when we go swimming at the beach, we don't have to leave anything behind in a locker or risk it sitting on our loungers. We're paranoid though and put the items in a ziploc *then* in the waterproof container just in case.

 

Any other tips have already been mentioned so there's no need to keep repeating them.

[McDebbie]

One thing that I have not seen mentioned is a file folder or something similar, some of the cruise lines do not put the photos they sell in a folder but just a bag so you will want something to protect those photos. And you can also use it to put the daily papers in if you save them.

 

I've always found the small drawers in the desk to be a problem, DH throws his change, receipts, etc in there. Now I take the paper cap off the glasses and use those to hold change and take the envelope out of the back of the binder to hold receipts. The paper cap also works well for everyday earrings, rings etc that I don't want to lock up every night because I will just put on the next morning.

 

I like to have paper towels to wipe up spills or keep the drink area cleaned. I take them off the roll and fold up but on NCL I found the towels in the public bathroom would work great. (looks a little odd walking out of the bathroom with a wad of paper towels but whatever...) I will probably take some on our next cruise because I am not sure of Carnival's towels.

 

Now, I have a serious question... I have heard many times of people taking old undies and then throwing them away. Just where did you throw them away? You know that the cruise line has to go through all the trash to separate recycle things from non recycle right? I just can't imagine throwing away my undies in the ship. So did you do it on land at a port? Take them in a baggie and toss in the first trash can?

Edited May 30, 2010 by McDebbie

[nikant1003]

Clothes pins to hang up wet suits and downey wrinkle release spray then no need for the iron.