Probably because I’m excited about my cruise...

[TravelGirlinDallas]

Take battery operated candles to use as nightlights. We take the little votives and put one in the bathroom and one on the desk in the room (to help find the bathroom) during the night.

[3smithboys]

Reading all of this is getting me excited for my August cruise too! There are a lot of good ideas/reminders here. I also like to bring pump hand soap for the bathroom and air freshener.... 

[JaxsMama]

My husband brings a headband flashlight just incase. I always made fun of him but we actually needed it once at an AI when the power went out. 

[dcherry]

I always bring an over-the-door shoe holder with clear pockets for the bathroom door. The bathrooms have very little counter/shelf space and I can put all of my toiletries in the pocket ,easily viewable and reachable, out of the way. The shoe holder folds up and takes very little room in my luggage.

 

[Sersee]

3 hours ago, RWolver672 said:

This is what works for us when packing.  We buy a box of the two gallon zip lock baggies.  We pack socks, underwear, t-shirts etc. in them and squeeze all of the air out of them that's possible.  Saves space in the suitcases and when we get in our cabin, just toss the bag on a shelf or in a drawer.  Keeps them all together.

 

If you have any prescription medicine, make sure you put it in your carry-on so that it stays with you.  The same with anything of great value like cameras, etc.  

 

I had to laugh at the lanyard comment.  We still use lanyards and fanny packs.  Both are frowned upon by the "elite".  I really don't care what the "elite" thinks.  I'm going to be using both.  

 

Hope you have a great cruise.  Just remember that if something isn't going right, don't stew about it.  Go to Guest Services and get it corrected right away.  So many people will just shrug it off, then come back on here after the cruise and complain about it rather than get it corrected on the ship.  

 

Keep in mind that unless you purchase FTTF, your cabin won't be available until 1:30.  If you board the ship before that, go up to the Lido Deck and have lunch at one of the several places available.  Right before sail away is the muster drill.  You didn't mention which ship you will be on.  On some, it's held outside by the lifeboats.  On others, it's held inside in the theater or dining rooms.  For all of our cruises so far, the ship has pulled out right at the end of the muster.  Your Sail and Sign cards will have which muster station you are assigned to.  Once inside your cabin, on the inside of the door is a layout of where each muster location is.  The card will also have your dining assignment on them.

 

Each of you will have a folio number assigned to you.  On most ships, you can check your spending on the TV.  Every time you purchase something, it will show up under your folio number.  Don't panic if you check your husbands folio number.  It will show all of the charges for your cabin, not just his.  

 

You mentioned you are taking your kids.  When it comes time to shower, if you have a son, your husband and son can use the showers in the gym to free up the shower for you and daughter if you have one.  

 

Keep coming back on here with any questions you may have.   Seasoned cruises love helping new cruisers.

 

I will be on the Breeze. I don't have FTTF.   We have two connecting rooms each with 3 in them.  I think I am leaning toward Cheers so hopefully won't have to much expenditures. Well I do want to try the casino.  Is it best to bring cash for that?

[RWolver672]

11 minutes ago, Sersee said:

I will be on the Breeze. I don't have FTTF.   We have two connecting rooms each with 3 in them.  I think I am leaning toward Cheers so hopefully won't have to much expenditures. Well I do want to try the casino.  Is it best to bring cash for that?

 

In my opinion, definitely!  That way you can have a better hand on how much you are spending.  What we do is usually bring $100 each for each day.  We only take the $100 to the casino and leave the rest in the safe.  When that's gone, we're done playing for the day.  

 

To play in the casino, you first put in your S&S card into the machine you are going to play.  Then you set up a separate account on the card for your casino play.  If I remember right, you put in your birth date, then set up a PIN.  You then put in your cash and play.  At the end of play and you want to leave, you cash out to your card.  At the next machine you want to play on, you put in your card, enter your PIN, then tell it how much out of your casino account you want to put on that machine.  Then start playing.  That's where your lanyard comes in handy.  It will remind you to take your card back out of the machine when you leave.  At any time, you can go to the casino cage and cash out.  Just tell them you want to cash out.  They'll have you scan your card, enter your PIN and they will hand you your cash and a receipt.

 

You also can just charge it to your S&S card.  As I said, you really have to watch your spending if you do it that way.

[Top_of_the_Cube]

Just a comment on the CPAP and extension cords.

 

While I don't use a CPAP, I do like outlets next to my side of the bed.  I bring a long extension cord to plug in at the desk, then use magnets with hooks to string the cord along the walls up off the floor.  This connects to a (non-surge) power strip on my nightstand. Figure this avoids tripping accidents and is out of the way of the vacuum.  And, while my wife would prefer NO extension cords, it is much more aesthetically palatable to her than cords snaking along the carpet.

 

This may be extreme to those who value packing space over conveniences (which might be the better philosophy), but maybe some will find it useful.

[Organized Chaos]

10 hours ago, Sersee said:

You’re right...  I did say that from things I have read.  I won’t have pockets and I would lose my head if it wasn’t attached. Can’t tell you how many times I have lost my keys which I know have hooked to a lanyard. 

 

Im bringing an extension cord for sure because my husband has a Cpap. So will pack it in with his equipment. I guess I could take my chances and pack another for my fan. I would rather have a plug in fan but was nervous about my extension cord getting take and then would be hard to use the fan

 

im using the European adapter since they are so cheap as plugging a usb hub into it for all the electronics. Then a plug like you were saying for my hair dryer etc. i just have to figure it which kind is allowed. 

 

My fan works off of batteries or electric. I got it from the camping section at Walmart years ago. It's at least 10 years old, but still works like new. I've rarely ever run it off batteries, I always plug it in. There's modern ones out there that are rechargeable. I've seen a few people mention those and they had good things to say about them, but I don't have any experience with them. I'll use mine until it gives out, then probably go out and buy the same brand (O2 Cool) since it's been so reliable.

 

You shouldn't have any problem bringing more than one extension cord. Just make sure they look to be in very good shape and it shouldn't be a problem. I always take my fan and extension cord in our carry-on luggage. The security personnel at the terminals are employed by the port, not Carnival, and there have been times when they've tried to deny items that were, in fact, allowed by Carnival. If you put things like that in your checked luggage, and they confiscate it, you won't know until you get to your cabin. They'll leave a letter saying it can be picked up at the end of the cruise. But if I have my fan & cord with me, and they question them on the spot, I can plead my case right then & there. Some people even print out the info from Carnival that says these things are allowed to show security just in case they're questioned. So I'd much rather have them with me when we board. An extension cord is very easy to transport. You'll have to carry on your husband's CPAP anyway, so you could put the extra cord with that.

[Organized Chaos]

Someone will have to chime in here because we've never been on the Breeze yet, but I think those cabin safes all have number pads. Some safes on older ships require a card with a magnetic strip on the back to lock/unlock the safe, so it's helpful to take something like an old, unused gift card for the safe. But if the Breeze safes have a number pad, no need for that.

 

The cabin lights on the Breeze are operated by a card slot switch. On newer ships, and some that have been refitted, the lights operate with a card slot by the door. You have to insert a card into the slot to get the lights to come on. I think their intentions were for people to use their S&S cards. That way they always take the card out when they leave the room and turn out the lights. But many people will use any ole spare card, like a gift card, hotel key card, or even a business card.

 

(Edited because I found the answer to my own question.) 🙂

Edited July 9, 2019 by Organized Chaos

[LoriPhil]

Another vote for Bonine for sea sickness.  Chew one up the evening prior to cruise and nightly thereafter, and have never had a problem.  Re wine: if bringing it aboard, either buy wine with a screwcap or remember your cork screw!  Take out a few of the items you are packing - you probably won't need everything you're bringing.  Do remember Imodium or Pepto Bismo (?) if subject to tummy upset, because they might not sell it onboard (eg., Princess required me to go to health center for it since I am routinely subject to tummy issues for the years following colon surgery, and they marked it down as the dreaded noro and confined me to the cabin... wasn't noro, just how my system operates now but that didn't matter).

Edited July 10, 2019 by LoriPhil

[Organized Chaos]

I'm going to switch this up a bit. Instead of advice to follow, there's two pieces of very popular advice that I will never follow and won't encourage others to follow blindly (<-- key word).

 

"Pack light"

"Take half as many clothes and twice as much money."

 

It's often true that people will end up packing too much for their cruise, but in my opinion, that's just something each of us have to figure out for ourselves. I take a certain size suitcase. I know I'm never going to get down to having only a carry-on size for a week-long cruise, I don't want to, and I'm ok with that. I like to take extra T-shirts because I get hot easily and sweat. I want to have a few extras if needed. My personal packing philosophy is, I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I have that suitcase anyway, so I might as well take advantage of the space in it. I think packing for a cruise is perfected through experience and often differs between people. It shouldn't take someone long to realize what items they don't have to take again.

 

As far as money, I think you also learn how much you spend on average and can use that as a starting point. I know I don't spend a whole heck of a lot on board, so why take more? Sure, maybe I'll give myself a cushion just in case, but I know I don't need to double the amount I planned to take.

 

What you need or don't need, and how much money you'll need, is often vastly different for everyone, so I just don't care for the whole, "Don't take it, you won't need it," advice. A little trial & error isn't going to hurt.

[Sancho_proudfoot]

Our packing routine does depend on where we embark. If we need to fly to the port, we are very careful, but if we can drive to the port, what the heck, take it! It may not be worn / used but why not?

 

I do think the seasickness thing is overdone. Cruise ships are very stable and if you don't get motion sickness on land you're probably fine on board.

 

After 15 or so cruises we still use lanyards. That way, l always know where my card is, and to blazes with the elitist sneerers.

[dznybnd]

On 7/8/2019 at 8:50 PM, jbethel11 said:

Bring 2 bottles of wine and 12 packs of sodas/carton-beverages!

Do you know if Princess allows you to bring your own soda? That sure would save on having to buy the soda package.

[clo]

9 hours ago, Sancho_proudfoot said:

we still use lanyards.

As long as you don't wear them off the ships. 🙂

[Sancho_proudfoot]

9 minutes ago, clo said:

As long as you don't wear them off the ships. 🙂

Nope, into the backpack as we disembark.

[clo]

Just now, Sancho_proudfoot said:

Nope, into the backpack as we disembark.

My hero 🙂

[Sersee]

12 hours ago, Sancho_proudfoot said:

Our packing routine does depend on where we embark. If we need to fly to the port, we are very careful, but if we can drive to the port, what the heck, take it! It may not be worn / used but why not?

 

I do think the seasickness thing is overdone. Cruise ships are very stable and if you don't get motion sickness on land you're probably fine on board.

 

After 15 or so cruises we still use lanyards. That way, l always know where my card is, and to blazes with the elitist sneerers.

I am putting all my hopes and dreams on your statement of seasickness being overdone Lol!  On other boards people keep telling me how I will most likely be sick and to take dramamine before I go. I keep saying how I am not doing that because we are drinkers and I don't want to mix. I would rather just see if I get seasick. If I do .. then dramamine it is. I started doubting myself and thought maybe I might want to take ginger pills before I go. Then people started to scare me about when I get off the ship how sick I will feel. I fly home that day and had people actually message me on fb to tell me I shouldn't fly home the same day. I am very anxious about flying anyway... so this .. um no stop it people! lol

[Sersee]

I have Another Question.. Im just putting it here and hoping it gets answered.   Dress code ... I am so confused.  I have read so many different things and know it's a hot topic.  But we have no idea how to dress on a cruise or to eat.  Some of us will lay out in the sun.. so bathing suits and coverups it is.  Some of us will not, so figure either coverups and shorts, or just tees and shorts. But flip flops are ok for getting lunch and breakfast correct?  My son can just wear athletic shorts and tees right?

 

 

For Regular Dinner:  Are shorts and tees allowed?  No flip flops though.. more sandals or sneakers( for my son)?

 

For the formal:  This is where I am really confused. Can my husband where dockers and a collared shirt? What about my son( he is 15 and lives in athletic shorts so he is already annoyed lol)?  

 

I don't really wear dresses.. just not my thing. Can I wear nice capris , blouse and wedges?  My daughters ( teens) have some cute dresses that are sleeveless ... is this ok?  One has a collar and is very preppy and covers the top of the shoulders and the other has one that is has straps that tie on top of shoulder?

[TNcruising02]

6 minutes ago, Sersee said:

I am putting all my hopes and dreams on your statement of seasickness being overdone Lol!  On other boards people keep telling me how I will most likely be sick and to take dramamine before I go. I keep saying how I am not doing that because we are drinkers and I don't want to mix. I would rather just see if I get seasick. If I do .. then dramamine it is. I started doubting myself and thought maybe I might want to take ginger pills before I go. Then people started to scare me about when I get off the ship how sick I will feel. I fly home that day and had people actually message me on fb to tell me I shouldn't fly home the same day. I am very anxious about flying anyway... so this .. um no stop it people! lol

Roller coasters and swings make me dizzy, but I have never been sea sick on a cruise.  I got seasick once when I took an all day snorkel tour on a small boat in Hawaii.  That was one of my concerns before my first cruise, but it never happened.  Everyone is different, so I think it's a good idea to at least come prepared if you think there is a possibility.  I was happy to see that I never felt sick for a minute on a cruise ship.

[Organized Chaos]

1 hour ago, Sersee said:

I am putting all my hopes and dreams on your statement of seasickness being overdone Lol!  On other boards people keep telling me how I will most likely be sick and to take dramamine before I go. I keep saying how I am not doing that because we are drinkers and I don't want to mix. I would rather just see if I get seasick. If I do .. then dramamine it is. I started doubting myself and thought maybe I might want to take ginger pills before I go. Then people started to scare me about when I get off the ship how sick I will feel. I fly home that day and had people actually message me on fb to tell me I shouldn't fly home the same day. I am very anxious about flying anyway... so this .. um no stop it people! lol

 

I don't get car sick. Up until our first cruise, I hadn't been on big ships. Just things like pontoon boats, jet boats on vacations, or riverboat tours (like the old paddle-wheel style riverboats). Never got seasick on those. On our first cruise, I was perfectly fine for the first few hours at sea until dinner time on that first night. We sat down for dinner and my son and I both started feeling nauseous. Which was strange considering we were much lower in the ship and also mid-ship. Low and to the center is where you typically feel the least motion. I took a Bonine after dinner and was fine the rest of the cruise, never had to take anymore. And I haven't had any problems since.

 

Last year aboard the Glory, we were seated next to a window on our last night in the MDR. I was using the handrail outside as a reference point against the horizon, watching the handrail rise above and fall below the horizon. We were rocking pretty good. They even had to alter the Playlist Production show that night for safety. But as much as we were apparently rocking, I couldn't feel it while in the MDR. We could feel it now & again while walking the halls. Once in a while it'd knock us off balance a tad, but nothing real bad. They're very stable, but everyone's different, so it won't hurt to be prepared with something just in case.

 

If you're worried about mixing seasickness meds & alcohol, look at the bright side...it'll get you buzzed quicker, and more importantly, cheaper! 😜

[Organized Chaos]

2 hours ago, Sersee said:

I have Another Question.. Im just putting it here and hoping it gets answered.   Dress code ... I am so confused.  I have read so many different things and know it's a hot topic.  But we have no idea how to dress on a cruise or to eat.  Some of us will lay out in the sun.. so bathing suits and coverups it is.  Some of us will not, so figure either coverups and shorts, or just tees and shorts. But flip flops are ok for getting lunch and breakfast correct?  My son can just wear athletic shorts and tees right?

 

For Regular Dinner:  Are shorts and tees allowed?  No flip flops though.. more sandals or sneakers( for my son)?

 

For the formal:  This is where I am really confused. Can my husband where dockers and a collared shirt? What about my son( he is 15 and lives in athletic shorts so he is already annoyed lol)?  

 

I don't really wear dresses.. just not my thing. Can I wear nice capris , blouse and wedges?  My daughters ( teens) have some cute dresses that are sleeveless ... is this ok?  One has a collar and is very preppy and covers the top of the shoulders and the other has one that is has straps that tie on top of shoulder?

 

Your daily wear is entirely up to you. Whatever you're comfortable in, whatever you wear normally is fine. You can wear whatever when eating in the Lido buffet, but they don't allow swimwear in there without a coverup.

 

Here's all the info provided by Carnival. They've redesigned their FAQ's in recent months and it's hard to link directly to the site, so I'll just copy/past it here:

 

What to Wear - Daytime Attire

Casual attire is the order of the day. We suggest the following:

• Shorts and capris
• Tee shirts, polo shirts, blouses and tops (short sleeved or sleeveless)
• Khakis and jeans
• Summer dresses
• Light-weight sweater or jacket
• Work-out gear
• Bathing suits and cover up
• For cooler weather, clothing that can be layered, scarves and gloves. If visiting religious sites in Europe, ladies must cover their knees and shoulders
• Hat or visor  
• Comfortable shoes, sneakers, sandals and flip-flops. We suggest rubber-soled, low heeled or flat shoes. Select activities/shore excursions may require closed-toe shoes. The use of any footwear with wheels is prohibited on board our ships
• The Lido Restaurant is open daily for breakfast and lunch and has a more relaxed dress code than the main dining room(s); however, shirts, bathing suit cover ups and footwear (including flip-flops) must be worn at all times

What to Wear - Evening Attire

 

Following is the dress code in the main dining room(s) for both men, women and children:

 

“Cruise Casual” Dress Code

• Men: sports slacks, khakis, jeans, long dress shorts and collared polo shirts
• Women: summer dresses, casual skirts, pants, capris, dress shorts, jeans blouses and tops
• Not permitted: cut-off jeans, men’s sleeveless shirts, tee-shirts, gym or basketball shorts, baseball hats, flip-flops and bathing suit attire

Be sure to bring a red or blue outfit or a top for our Mega Deck Party.

 

“Cruise Elegant” Dress Code (formal evenings)

• 2-day to 5-day cruise: one “Cruise Elegant” evening
• 6-day or longer cruise: two “Cruise Elegant” evenings

The first “Cruise Elegant” evening is scheduled for the second or third evening of the cruise and the second “Cruise Elegant” evening is the second or third evening prior to the end of the cruise, itinerary schedule permitting.

 

• Men: dress slacks, dress shirts, and we also suggest a sport coat; men may also wish to wear a suit and tie or tuxedo
• Women: cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses; ladies may also wish to wear an evening gown

 

Not permitted: jeans, men’s sleeveless shirts, shorts, tee-shirts, sportswear, shorts, baseball hats, flip-flops and bathing suit attire
 

The Steakhouse: The dress requirements for the Steakhouse follows the dress code specified for the main dining room(s); if the evening is specified as “Cruise Casual,” shorts are not permitted.

 

For kids & teens, I'm of the opinion that they deserve a little leeway when it comes to MDR attire, within reason of course. I don't think a kid should wear basketball shorts & T-shirts in there. On casual nights, my teenage son will wear khaki shorts and a nice shirt (collar or not), which is pretty much what I wear too. Even a good pair of jeans works. He doesn't do elegant night, but if he did, we'd just have him wear khaki pants, a button-up shirt, and maybe a tie (although I wouldn't worry too much about the tie for him). Carnival can be pretty lax with it's MDR attire rules. You'll probably see clothing that technically isn't allowed. Some people claim seeing that ruins their own experience, but I say just don't pay attention to them that closely if it bothers you so much.

 

If you haven't already looked at Carnival's FAQ's, there's a lot of good info there. You can look at common topics they cover or search for your own. You can find that here: https://www.carnival.com/help

 

Edited July 10, 2019 by Organized Chaos

[shipgeeks]

19 hours ago, Sersee said:

I am putting all my hopes and dreams on your statement of seasickness being overdone Lol!  On other boards people keep telling me how I will most likely be sick and to take dramamine before I go. I keep saying how I am not doing that because we are drinkers and I don't want to mix. I would rather just see if I get seasick. If I do .. then dramamine it is. I started doubting myself and thought maybe I might want to take ginger pills before I go. Then people started to scare me about when I get off the ship how sick I will feel. I fly home that day and had people actually message me on fb to tell me I shouldn't fly home the same day. I am very anxious about flying anyway... so this .. um no stop it people! lol

I second the idea that the chance of seasickness is way overdone.  When we started cruising, no one even mentioned it or thought about it.  40+ cruises, including in some exceedingly rough seas, we never took anything, and never got seasick.  No obvious gaps in the dining rooms to indicate that some passengers were skipping a meal.  It makes me wonder how many people take meds time after time and never find out that they wouldn't have needed them.

Feeling sick after the cruise??  That's a new one to me.

I think I'm glad, again, that I don't read fb.

[clo]

6 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

second the idea that the chance of seasickness is way overdone.

We were recently on a cruise that held only 100 pax.  It's an older ship and has no stabilizers.  We were at sea north of the area where that Norwegian ship lost power.  It was really rough.  To the point that when in the shower the water would go flying across the room 🙂  And when in my bunk as it would pitch, I'd actually slide down in the bed.  Not a moment of sickness.  Now I'm not saying no one would have a problem but it was really kinda funny.

Edited July 11, 2019 by clo

[Organized Chaos]

On 7/11/2019 at 10:10 AM, shipgeeks said:

Feeling sick after the cruise??  That's a new one to me.

I think I'm glad, again, that I don't read fb.

 

It's actually a real thing. It's referred to as "land sickness," as opposed to seasickness. Once your body becomes used to the motion of a ship, even when you don't think you feel it, some people can experience land sickness when they get off the ship. Typically, it happens more to people who spend long periods of time onboard a ship.

[clo]

34 minutes ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

It's actually a real thing. It's referred to as "land sickness," as opposed to seasickness. Once your body becomes used to the motion of a ship, even when you don't think you feel it, some people can experience land sickness when they get off the ship. Typically, it happens more to people who spend long periods of time onboard a ship.

The Cleveland Clinic is reputable.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-can-motion-sickness-persist-even-after-your-cruise/