What are the silliest things you do before or during a cruise?

[kochleffel]

On 2/18/2021 at 6:18 PM, mcmomny said:

We typically have to fly to our port before we sail so we always go in the night before, I am always stressed out that I have forgotten something and I have to unpack in the hotel room, double check everything than repack before heading to the cruise ship the next morning!

 

I remember wandering around Manhattan on foot looking for a few things I forgot!

 

I remember having to find an all night drug store in Honolulu for things I forgot!

 

For a cruise from Fort Lauderdale in January 2020, I remember heading out to a drugstore right after breakfast. I was staying at the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas, so it was possible to go on foot. Once in Los Angeles - not for a cruise - I was out to an all-night drugstore at about 4:00 a.m., having arrived from the Eastern time zone.

[NikiPinkston]

1 hour ago, Nataly1982 said:

I watch YouTube videos of ship tours, cruise itinerary, excursions, walking tours, which street food to try in different ports. 

Me, too!  I also get on googlemaps street view & "walk" up and down each street in each port a few times so, once I get there, I kind of know my way around and what to expect.

[CardFanDubG]

On 2/21/2021 at 10:20 AM, Ilikebigboats said:

I like to study bar menu’s so when I embark I will be ready to order some exotic concoctions instead of just ordering a white wine all week. 

Here's a fun list for  you. May have some that you have not tasted. I created it for a Meet & Greet. 

NCL_Beverage_List.pdf

[Nataly1982]

21 minutes ago, NikiPinkston said:

Me, too!  I also get on googlemaps street view & "walk" up and down each street in each port a few times so, once I get there, I kind of know my way around and what to expect.

Haha same! My husband is always so surprised how well I know the place, like I’ve been there before. Love technology for things like this. 

[Nataly1982]

18 minutes ago, CardFanDubG said:

Here's a fun list for  you. May have some that you have not tasted. I created it for a Meet & Greet. 

NCL_Beverage_List.pdf 953.88 kB · 1 download

I downloaded it from the other thread and just want to say big Thank You. I found bar menus online and now I’m checking against your list and deciding what to try. 

[Ilikebigboats]

1 hour ago, CardFanDubG said:

Here's a fun list for  you. May have some that you have not tasted. I created it for a Meet & Greet. 

NCL_Beverage_List.pdf 953.88 kB · 11 downloads

Wow very impressive bar list! I see an espresso martini, a getaway, and a hot, hot, margarita in my cruising future😀Thanks!

[Shellbelle28]

4 hours ago, Mary229 said:

Mine are always split and in the carry on.  I can live with a lot of discomforts but cannot live without clean underwear!

@BirdTravels @Mary229 

OK, my mind goes somewhere completely different when I read "split undergarments." 😳

[Shellbelle28]

3 hours ago, CardFanDubG said:

Here's a fun list for  you. May have some that you have not tasted. I created it for a Meet & Greet. 

NCL_Beverage_List.pdf 953.88 kB · 13 downloads

OMG this looks like something I would do! Thank you. Kind of afraid to show it to my husband. He'll say "challenge accepted!" 

[psac]

On 2/19/2021 at 8:05 AM, jezabel80 said:

We split all clothes between two suitcases.  When I'm packing,  I lay everything out on the bed,  then put half of my husband's clothes, and half of my clothes  in each suitcases,  in case one suitcase gets lost,  someone is not left with no clothes at all,  lol.

we do this same exact thing. My wife learned this from her parents, so we’ve always done this. So now it seems weird when I see someone say they lost 1 piece of luggage and xxxx had nothing to wear. When you split up everyone will have less, but nobody goes without. 

[kochleffel]

I usually travel alone, with one checked bag (or a maximum-size carry-on) and a cabin bag. I always put one or two changes of underclothes and a clean shirt in the cabin bag, and wear clothes that will at least allow me into dining rooms or restaurants. I'm surprised that this has to be said.

[vswan]

Our drive to the airport is about an hour. About halfway there I make my husband stop the car and I dig into the carry bag with all the paperwork and bonine to make sure I didn't leave something behind. Of course everything is there, paper clipped in the order it will be used. I also check to be sure my driver's license and passport are where I already know they are. This is not a one time thing, this is an every time thing.

 

I do split the clothes and we are sure to have swimwear, underwear and sandals in the carry-ons. Can always wear our airline clothes to dinner, but need to be sure to get to the beach if the luggage is missing.

[Sugar0802]

I create an envelope for every excursion with exact cash to pay the remaining balance (if any) and a variety of bills to use for tipping (15-30%).  That way, I always have the right bills when I need them and I don't blow all of our cash in the casino.

[MoCruiseFan]

On 2/18/2021 at 7:32 PM, Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin said:

Okay, so I'm one of those obsessive cruise preppers!  I start laying my clothes out at least a month in advance!  (Which is really a bummer now, when I have had multiple trips cancelled and still can't seem to get my stuff back where it belongs.....sigh!)  I have the spreadsheet with ports and every half hour designated....and the tab prior to the itinerary has all of the costs/reservation numbers/addresses/phone numbers, etc.  All color coded, of course!

And for foreign ports, I get the travel books and start learning the language (HA!  TRYING to learn the language!) about a year in advance!  Planning is a big part of the fun for me!  (I should really consider being a TA when I retire!)

 

I pack the day before I leave.

[MoCruiseFan]

On 2/20/2021 at 2:37 PM, Peachypooh said:

Just in case I need it.

 

 

So who NEEDS bottled water?  Next ting you know NCL will be selling bagged air and some people...

[Shellbelle28]

Is it silly to obsessively hang out on Cruise Critic? After some recent posts on the boards here, I've been cataloging cocktails to sample on my next cruise. 

 

I'm another Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle organizer. I like to design invitations to drop at my fellow cruiser's cabin doors. 

[Hadacareer]

12 hours ago, sprint180 said:

I watch Poseidon Adventure and Titanic before my cruises.  

Also, shut off the water to your house.   My friends parents had 4 feet of water run into theirs while they 

I do that too!  Hubby thinks I am nuts!

[newtocruising56]

This is a great topic!  I have gotten some terrific tips, especially splitting the clothes in the suitcases.   I agree with those who say planning is part of the fun of a vacation.  I especially enjoy planning what to wear and pack.  This will be our very first cruise, as well as first time to Alaska.  (Encore, Sept 25th)  We live in Florida and don't have a lot of cold weather clothing , and you certainly can;t find it in stores around here this time of year.  I had read that dressing in "layers" is a good idea for Alaska, and have been buying things online.  I waited till everything I ordered had arrived, turned our AC down to 68, and insisted my husband try everything on while I went out grocery shopping.  My husband was in a thermal undershirt, sweatshirt, and waterproof jacket when he got a frantic call on his cell phone from our neighbor who was up on his roof cleaning some gutters.  The ladder had fallen so my husband ran over and put back up so the guy could climb down.  He didn't think to take the jacket etc. off first, and was in such a hurry he forgot about leaving our door unlocked.  So now he is locked out of the house, its about 95 degrees, and he is in winter clothes.  No way to get back inside so he called me.  I hurried home from the store and found my husband in our yard just wearing his underwear, and sweating to death.  Hopefully this will be the only "silly" thing that happens to us before our cruise, and we can't wait!

[Redtravel]

Not sure if any of the things that I do are silly.  You may think they are.  I just have my precruise routine.  Make a list and stick to it.  Don’t take any toys or junk.  Slim down my suitcase. Remove those things that you might need just in case.  Most things can be had on the trip should you really need them.  I do bring an extra pair of glasses and extra prescription meds.  Copy important docs ( passports, credit cards, insurance policy, etc.)and send myself email.  Stop mail.  Notify credit cards companies of your plans. Let neighbor know we are leaving.  Download google maps, directions, and contact info.  May include restaurants or museums. Comes in handy when you don’t have WiFi.  Check weather, planes flights, seats, meals, etc.  they can change without notice. Read tour books before leaving home.  Comes in handy if they get lost.  Relax and enjoy.  

[brngckn]

The night before any international travel, we go out for Mexican food. 

 

I also have a knack for forgetting to pack something semi-important, so right before we leave the house we play the "What did Kirsten forget to pack?" game where my husband tries to guess what I forgot. He hates that game. 😆

[goldmom]

I usually lay out my clothes about a week before in the spare bedroom.  Then each day I try to remove at least one item.  I still usually have plenty to wear. 

I also have a check list for just before I leave the house so I don't obsess for the whole cruise that I left something on.  The list includes checking ovens, gas stove, BBQ, turn off water, adjust thermostat,  leave on lights, etc.  I do all this just before I walk out the door and then I know I can relax.

[disneylover89]

We lay out all our clothes in complete sets (shirt, pants, underwear, socks, pajamas etc) for every day we are away, split the sets up evenly and pack in 2 different suitcases.  We also have another small suitcase containing the clothes for our pre cruise hotel only.  I also change the sheets on our bed the day we leave because I must have clean, crisp sheets when we return after a long day of travelling.

[How much longer?]

On 2/21/2021 at 9:38 AM, brookie848 said:

More power to you, but this would drive me crazy.

 

A few years ago, we were flying to FLL to stay overnight before flying to San Juan for a cruise (it was the year Hurricane Maria hit and there were no hotels to speak of available in San Juan). While on the plane, my husband looked at me and said, "I forgot your Glucagon."

 

I'm a type 1 diabetic and this is what is needed to quickly bring up my blood sugar if things get bad. He was in charge of bringing it because he is in charge of giving it to me. So once we got to our hotel, time was spent calling CVS and getting the prescription filled. And that was the last trip he was in charge of packing the Glucagon.

With all the food on board, one of the first things I do is go to the buffet and grab some bananas and cookies to keep in the room in case I go low at night.  I have never used/needed glucagon, thank goodness.  My worst was on a 3 week trip to Hawaii, I forgot to pack my pump syringes.  Called the mfg and the local rep sent them overnight to the place I was staying.  Good thing I was in the US.  

[How much longer?]

I'm a spreadsheet/list maker, pre-packer, split clothes-er, cruisecritic MB obsess-er,  day before traveler, excursion cash enveloper, map checker cruiser, shut off/unplugger, mail canceler, credit card notifier, just like you all!  Is there a club for us?! 🙂

 

[Calvin]

On 8/27/2021 at 3:50 PM, CardFanDubG said:

Here's a fun list for  you. May have some that you have not tasted. I created it for a Meet & Greet. 

NCL_Beverage_List.pdf 953.88 kB · 39 downloads

 

Thanks so much for this list!  I can't tell you how much I love these kinds of things. I've already looked over the drink menus (from 2 years ago) and so far, I don't recognize many of these drinks even being on the menu.  I will definitely be studying this one, LOL. On my last cruise, there were 2 couples making fun of me because they said I would only taste my drinks and then leave them at the table (I had the bev package and am kind of a lightweight). So, just to show them up, I drank a bunch of high end type drinks to finish off my night. I pretty much finished myself off in the process. 

[libtrek]

Second the idea to lay out all credit cards, both sides, license, passport, and cruise documents. Take a picture with your cell phone. I also do my password list since I have the memory of a gnat. After the trip, just delete the pics. Always split the clothes and carry spare undies. Would jinx the trip if I didn’t. I always plan obsessively, part of the joy of travel. Send the kids pertinent facts and emergency numbers.