Duct Tape, Collapsible Water Bottles, Hi-lite Pens, Anything Else?

[CM2J2R2S]

We have searched high and low for Tide Tabs and Downy Wrinkle Release. Sounds like two products that will work well for our large family. Finally called P and G and they have discontinued both items. Any other great suggestions?

[bld16]

Buy postcards and mail them to yourself from each post you visit. You will have a small reminder of your time there and the out of country postmark.

[sea_u_onboard]

I buy the generic wrinkle releaser available at dollar stores such as Dollar General or Dollar Tree. They work just as well. As far as the tabs - you can just make up pre-measured ziploc bags of powered detergent - they can slip anywhere in your bags and work just as good.

[Ms Belvedere]

We have searched high and low for Tide Tabs and Downy Wrinkle Release. Sounds like two products that will work well for our large family. Finally called P and G and they have discontinued both items. Any other great suggestions?

Same as you, we looked everywhere and finally gave up on finding the Tide Laundry Tablets. The Dollar Tree sells a packge of plastic bags in assorted sizes. There is one that's a perfect size for a measure of powdered detergent (enough for one load). I took three of those on our last cruise, placed them inside another pastic bag and marked it very clearly "LAUNDRY DETERGENT". in case my bags were inspected. :rolleyes:

 

We did find one brand of Laundry Tabs at Publix in Daytona Beach, it was a less known brand than Tide or Wisk, maybe Purex?

[DALSAL]

I just bought Magic Wrinkle Remover at my local grocery store,but I have seen several different kinds of Wrinkle Removers at Walmart.Just look in the laundry section.Also,Ive seen on these boards where ppl make their own using hot water and fabric softner.It probably works just as well..For years Ive just misted clothes,even put water straight out of the tap on a wash cloth,and dabbed the wrinkled area,and when it dries,no more wrinkle.Also works to hang garment in the bathroom while taking a hot steamy shower.

[katrain]

the little wet baby wipes help also... a small pack of those you can use on and off the boat.

[traceyred]

To take on this cruise (11/28/04), I bought a small, flat, BRITA WATER FILTRATION PITCHER. My husband likes to drink a lot of water. We don't have enough room to bring a week's worth of water in our luggage, and I don't want to spend $2.50 onboard for each bottle of water. I think it will work out well. It was $17.99 at Target and the filter will work for up to 40 gallons of water.

 

Plus, every cruise I've been on had terrible coffee. So, this time I'm going to be prepared. I bought a BLACK AND DECKER BREW N' GO. It is a very small coffee maker that brews one cup at a time right into your mug -- no coffee pot needed. It has a permanent metal mesh filter and comes with one stainless thermal mug. All you need it coffee and water. I've already tried it and it makes great coffee in about 5 minutes. It was $9.99 at WalMart. I bought an extra thermal mug at Target for $5. Having the filtered water and my own coffee (Don Franciso's Columbia Supremo) should make for very nice mornings.

 

Thanks so much to everyone who contributed to the list. I added at least 10 items to my list that I'd like to bring (if I can fit them in my suitcases).

 

Tracey

 

Sovereign of the Seas 12/99

Majesty of the Seas 9/04

Mariner of the Seas 11/04

[Mustangshel]

:) A few more things to add to the List... I found lip balm with a high spf a blessing and I use a hair and scalp protectant spray. Leaving on Destiny 11/28/04, my 4th cruise, 2nd time on Destiny, can't wait. :p

[sea_u_onboard]

Mustang - where did you find the scalp protectant spray? What brand? My head burns easily but I haven't found anything that works without putting regular sunscreen on - and then it is a mess.

[Mustangshel]

The brand name is Redken and bought it at department store hair salon (Younkers). It does work really well.

[Heymem]

On our cruise last Feb on the Zenith my daughter made us door decorations on the computer. She just used our CruiseCritic Screen names and and "regular" names and had planned for us to add picures of ourselves (that part never happened) so that our CC friend could find/recognize us. We also had brightly colored cardboard Parrots, the kind with the honeycomb bellies on the door. There were 4 couples traveling together and each of us had one. Made it super easy to find our rooms and even helped others on our hall locate their rooms. I started this reply to say that we carried magnetic strips to hang them with and THEY DIDN'T WORK! Either our doors weren't metal or had too many coats of paint on them. Luckily we had also take some of the tacky putty and it worked very well.

We also use those plastic ties that are for holding automotive wires together instead of locks on our luggage. They worked super great. Just remember to take nail clippers or something to cut them off with and pack extra for securing the luggage on the way home.

[Bisous3]

I was disappointed to learn alcohol doesn't disinfect so I take Colorox wipes to sanitize. Also just heard use mouthwash to disinfect phone.

[Deb in Cali]

My husband and I carry Credit cards from different accounts. That way if one is stolen you still have the other card to get you through the vacation.

 

A friend had her purse stolen at the Miami airport just prior to their cruise. They had no checkbook, no credit cards, since they had to cancel everything. It was a very meger trip. The ended up using another couple's credit card for their purchases and then reimbursed them. But if they didn't have friends on the ship it would have been a total diaster.

[WeRockChalkKU]

Put a couple on the bottom of your shower curtain for a little weight to prevent it from attacking you during your shower. As listed: nightlight for the bathroom so that you don't have to shock yourself awake from the full light during a 3 AM nature call. I've always taking a steamer but someone talked about Faultless brand wrinkle release spray. Also, a few dryer sheets to use for those pesky static cling issues. Hubby always packs one of those multi-tool items (One brand is Leatherman,I think) and I'm always amazed at what he fixes with it. We haven't ever had a balcony and always take some type of clothesline/clothes pins to string up in the room for those handwash things (like workout wear) that can drip dry. Thanks fo some of the other tips.

[CruisinGirl2210]

I love to take door dec. Remember all doors are metal on the ship, so I use magnet printer paper. Yes most places sells it.. You can custom design on your computer what you want.. In May I did a big sign that had my cruise critic names on it.. date and ship... Then I did a bunch of small cutie ones.. Like a cup of coffee, bottle of whine, waiter, Hamburger, french frys, Malt shake, all on one 8x10 and cut them out.. so they can be placed on differant areas of the door. Everyone who came by my cabin LOVED THEM.. and the last day a few of them came up missing.. That was ok with me..

You can even make special ones that read,, DO NOT ENTER ... or LATE SLEEPER TODAY.. We had about 15 people on my last cruise who used my idea ...

That is a good idea. Thanks for the tip.

[isis9352]

If you're doing the family thing, we take those little walkie-talkie radios so we can find the kids when we need to.

 

For those long walking shore excursions, we always take a precut roll of padded Moleskin, made by Dr. Scholls. It's saved us from hot spots and blisters many times!

 

I'll also be taking my own facial and bar soap in small sizes, since the coconut-based soap on our last cruise made me break out.

 

This is getting to be quite a list!

 

JD :o

[cntrydncr1]

I love the wrinkle releaser and was sad they discontinued it. I have found some "no-name" stuff in a dollar store that works great.

[crookedstick]

We are parking our car at the airport in Buffalo for 2 weeks. The weather can get crazy in January. So we are taking doorlock de-icer just in case moisture freezes the locks.

 

These (very) little plastic bottles can be bought at places like Wal*Mart or Pep Boys.

[sea_u_onboard]

We are parking our car at the airport in Buffalo for 2 weeks. The weather can get crazy in January. So we are taking doorlock de-icer just in case moisture freezes the locks. These (very) little plastic bottles can be bought at places like Wal*Mart or Pep Boys.

Great idea - you might want to throw a can of Fix a Flat in the trunk - you never know. We take one and it came in handy after one cruise. Our tire had a slow leak.

[TWA4Ever]

Don't know if this has been posted here yet (I only read thropugh page 6!), but two things we found to be invaluable is a power strip (like the one you have your computer plugged into; make sure it's lightweight plastic). We have been on ships where find more than one open outlet is a chore!

 

Also, the famous over-the-door hanging shoe bag - hang it inside your bathroom door, and store all your necessities in it (ever notice how little counetr space there is in a ship bathroom?).

[pamssanity]

Try using the coiled cords on clips that you get in the casinos-- the clip on the end fits around a bag strap or handle, a belt loop or if desperate your bra strap!! LOL it has a long coil so you don't have to unhook it to use it and you'll always know where your room key or crdit cards are!! Happy sailing-- going on my first cruise on 1/30.05!!!! Mariner of the Seas-- can;t wait.:D

[Donnask8pro]

I packed 2, 6 ft extension cords. Power strip better?

[Tarheelbelle]

I love the wrinkle releaser and was sad they discontinued it. I have found some "no-name" stuff in a dollar store that works great.

I recently found [and bought!] the Downy Wrinkle Release at a grocery store--this was about 2 weeks ago. The bottle was different than the one I bought a couple of years ago, so maybe they are releasing it again!

[Tarheelbelle]

I take my own beach towel. When you are faced with a sea of towels on deck from the ship that all look the same, it's hard to find your spot. Not only that, but a lost towel will cost you $25 or so. I'd rather "lose" my $5 walmart towel, although that's never happened yet (knocking on wood). I then use the cruise line beach towels in my cabin as bath towels.

By the way, for those cruising from Ft. Lauderdale, the Walgreens across from the port sells great beach towels and other good cruise needs for a decent price!

[patagoniagirl]

At Magellens.com, you can get either an arm wallet or arm pocket. I have the arm pocket and it is great! I have used it both for cruising and even for going out at night when you don't want to lug a purse. There is room for your ID & c/c in a pocket that has long lasting velcro. But, what's really great are the two little zip pockets-you can put a chapstick, or lipstick, or car key. I really recommend it! The pocket itself is not waterproof so you still need one of those plastic containers on a cord for swimming.

 

Also, when you are swimming with the plastic container, women, if you have a two piece suit, what I do is tie it to my bikini bottom and push the little container into the back of my suit. It may not be a fashion statement, but when snorkeling or swimming you don't have that container bumping you or floating around.

 

Well, now I'm really excited about the cruise-only 27 days to go!