Need Great Ideas of clever things to bring

[wawa40207]

One thing I do is keep a look out for specials on international calling cards I give these as gifts to my cabin steward and head waiter and assistant waiter . These people are very far from home and I hate to think that they spend their hard earned money just to call home I give it to them at the start of the cruise and hubby and I are well rewarded!!:D I also always take my own goodie bags of snacks I know that there is tons of stuff to eat but sometimes you just have to have a snickers bar!

[Lady_Bayou]

now THAT is an idea I might steal. That's one of those things, you know, they sell international phone cards pretty cheap if you catch them @ the right time.... In my opinion it would be a small token of appreciation for these folks who really do work hard!!

[Sally Forth]

I really like the phone card idea. It's perfect as a little thank-you for special service.

 

I take a Maglite and extra battery. It has a small box cutter and eyeglass repair kit attached, so I put it in my checked baggage.

 

My best one ever. I stopped at the dollar store and bought $20 worth of mini soccer balls, hair bobbles, and magic slates. We were stopped in a very poor place and with a little bit of body language, I asked the moms of some kids (who were NOT begging, BTW, but sitting nicely while their moms sold crafts) if I could give them to the kids. The kids were SO cute. One mom actually traded me a small shell bowl for some of the stuff, and I thought that was very dignified.

 

Viv

[pollyanno]

I gave the recommended $$ tips and more PLUS I got "souviners" from our hometown!!!!

 

Post cards, key chains, a picture of our town from the sky, ect.!!! Our steward came to me an hugged me with tears in his eyes!!! I also added a simple handwritten thank you on a note card and he said he loved it...that no one has ever done that for him and that he loved seeing my home as his was so far away and would be so long untill he went back!!! Now that was a nice feeling....he did so well and so much for us that week and all I did was write thank you and give him a picture!!!!! It still gives me goose bumps thinking of his warm genuine hug!!!

 

Just a thought that worked for me!!!

 

we cruised over christmas a couple years ago and I picked up some stuff at the dollar store, including a christmas stocking with iron-on letters to personalize it. on the ship we ironed the steward's name on and wrapped up each of the little toys and trinkets and treats and stuffed the stocking and left it on the bed christmas morning when we vacated the room. yes, I travelled with wrapping paper and tape.. rofl.. my whole family was on the cruise and it was christmas! people told me not to wrap my gifts before I flew. :)

 

she cried. she sat down in the room and wrote us a 3 page letter. she cried and hugged us in the hallway. she was so.. excited, that santa had found her on this ship so far from home and family, and touched that strangers had done that for her.. it was such a simple thing, too.. honestly I did it as much for myself as for her.. her reaction absolutely made my christmas. :)

 

one of the things that made the cruise on the other hand was bringing along a small pair of speakers to plug into the walkman so we could have music of our choosing in the cabin.

[texas greeneyes]

Don't forget the highliter to highlite your cruise compass on what you want to do that day.

Lexi

 

I agree! And for two people traveling together, it is helpful to bring two highlighters, in different colors. Each of you use a different color, for example, pink and yellow. The things you BOTH want to do will be orange. (or blue & yellow = green, or pink & blue = purple.) You get the idea.

 

Also helpful to bring:

 

• A battery operated clock. (Ship's power makes clocks run slow.)
  
• A cheap plastic watch. (To bring on beach/water excursions; leave good watch on the ship.)
  
• Shoe holder for the door. (I know it has already mentioned but I wanted to reiterate how useful it can be.)
  
• Indigestion/anti-gas medication. (The Carnival Conquest, at least, did not stock any for sale. Other cruise ships/lines may.)
  
• Hair conditioner. The ship offered only a combination shampoo/conditioner; not enough conditioner in those for me, and the only offered for sale on the ship were ultra pricey spa products. (This is on Carnival ships specifically).

And as I always say, always remember the very most important thing to bring: a positive attitude! :D

[kcdallas72]

We're going on our first cruise in September, and I will definitely bring my Windy Fan! (I used to work for a company that makes them, and supplies them to nail salons.) It's about 6" in diameter and travels easily. It won't be a match for the Turbo AirMover I have at home, but at least I'll have a little bit of noise with which to sleep. ;)

 

 

Happy Cruisin!

[cdaystravel]

:D PACKING LIST

Purse/Back Pack:

Travel Pack - Originals see below. Keep with you!

Small bills for Porter gratuity at pier ($2 per bag in NYC)

$2 bills for special “little” tips

Pens, notepad, deck of cards

Carry On Bag: (Keep with u at all times)

Travel Pak - Photocopies see below.

Toiletries – see below

Bathing Suits, cover-ups, flip-flops/water shoes, hat or sun visor,

Sunglasses, eyeglasses/contact lenses & solution (pack the case too!)

Dinner appropriate change of clothing, jewelry

Pajamas, slippers

Camera, film, storage cards, batteries, recharging cords, underwater camera

iPod/MP3 & accessories, hand held games & accessories

Lightweight jacket or wind breaker, rain gear, umbrella

 

TRAVEL PAK: (personal document kit)

ORIGINALS - Make two photocopied sets. First set kept in Ziploc in your Carry-on-Bag. Second set kept at home with someone):

Cruise Documents

Forms of identification: Passport(s), Visa, Birth Certificate & Drivers License

Health Cards/Forms, Prescriptions

Travel Itinerary, Airline Tickets, Hotel Confirmations, Shore Excursion Confirmations, Travel Insurance/Baggage Loss Documents, Picture of all Luggage,

Travelers Checks & receipts, Credit Card & Numbers

Packing List

TOILETRIES

Prescription Medicines

First Aid Kit: Tylenol, Advil, Sea bands, sea sickness pills, Benadryl, throat lozenges, Antacids, Imodium, Waterproof Band-Aids, Butterfly Closures, Antiseptic Cream, Antibiotic Ointment, Moleskin.

Toothbrush, toothpaste & dental floss, mouthwash,

Shampoo & conditioner, Comb/brush, hair styling products, hair accessories

Soap, Moisturizers, Deodorant,

Sun screen, sunburn aids, Small insect repellent wipes,

Make-Up, Cologne & perfume,

Q-tips; cotton balls, baby powder, nail polish & remover wipes.

Clothes Pins, Plastic cable ties, duct tape, Clorox clean up wipes.

“CHECKED LUGGAGE ITEMS”

Razor, blades & hair removal products

Nail file; nail clippers; tweezers; small scissors

Beach bag, travel mugs with lids, candy & gum

Snorkel Equip.

Large & small Ziploc bags

Clothes pins, Small laundry detergent, collapsible mesh hamper, sewing kit

Binoculars, pocket-sized solar calculator,

Flash light/night light, small alarm clock, power strip/extension cord

Addresses & stamps, post-its; highlighters, envelope for receipts

Garment Bag (Use tissue paper in between delicates to reduce creasing)

Suitcase( Half of Matching Sets)

Suitcase (Other Half - Matching Sets)

[CeleBrat]

My addition to this list of must-haves:

 

Assorted quart and gallon size ziploc bags. Great for packing a room-service food and taking offshore. Recently, while on a shore excursion, the entire tour stopped at a local establishment that served home-cooked beans, rice and chicken. While I'm sure the local food was good, everyone was JEALOUS when I pulled out our sandwiches, chips, and chocolate chip cookies, and fed our family a picnic meal. (NOTE--we have two VERY PICKY eaters in our family---aged 3 and 5, so you can imagine that it would have been bearly impossible to feed them "strange" local island food!) We also usually take cereal from the breakfast buffet and put it in the small ziplock bags so the kids can have something to munch in while in the cabin.

 

2 quart sized drink bottles--usually available in the Target dollar bin. Great for filling with water or lemonade and taking ashore.

 

Crystal Light On-The-Go drink mix--great for adding to the water in the above containers. WONDERFUL for those picky kids, also mentioned above!

 

CeleBrat

[firsttimecruiser9/26]

Ear plugs in case you have a noisy room.

 

I am leaving today on the Crown and my room is right next to the elevator, above the teen disco and below one of the restaurants.

 

That is what a guarantee can get you sometimes!!! LOL :D

[Cruzfrek]

1. If you don’t like what is offered on the main menu, you can ask the waiter for either a steak or grilled chicken.
   
2. Any pasta item on the main menu CAN be ordered as an appetizer. Just ask.
   
3. Post cards, foreign postage stamps and playing cards are available at the pursars desk.
   
4. Get a FREE lanyard at the Casino. Pursars desk will punch a whole in it for you.
   
5. 24 hour pizza place also serves Calzones and Caesar salads. If you want a special topping and they have it they will make you that pizza.
   
6. Go to tea-time they have different snacks and its a nice place to relax
   
7. Ask the steward if you forget something ie toothpaste...they often have samples
   
8. Bring baggies of assorted sizes. For saving snacks for excursions and wet clothes.
   
9. Take the tour of the galley
   
10. They have an early and late night seating as well as captains party...take advantage of both for double free drinks.
    
11. Bring on own bottles of water, and soda and save $$$
    
12. Bring a reusable cup with lid...less trips to get a drink
    
13. Ask for your drink in a plastic cup (not the fancy one ) saves $$$
    
14. You may be able to eat free lunch at the places they charge for dinner
    
15. Orange juice is available at the same place all day they just remove the label
    
16. You may get a free facial if you call the spa and ask to be a volunteer.
    
17. Tie a bright ribbon/scarf to your luggage for easy spotting. Also can work on cabin door
    
18. When the regular hot tub is too full, use the spa one.
    
19. Use of the sauna/steam room is free
    
20. Use the spa shower if multiple people need to shower at same time
    
21. Ask for children’s dessert menu (banana splits)
    
22. Bring Duct tape
    
23. Bring a highlighter
    
24. Bring post it notes
    
25. Sit close at the port talks sometimes they toss out free stuff
    
26. You can ask for extra pillow chocolates
    
27. bring an extension cord/power strip
    
28. Early and extra tips for stewards = more perks for you
    
29. You can order free drinks from the bar in the room at Captains dinner as opposed to those on the tray.
    
30. Bring travel hooks to hang stuff in your room
    
31. Bring a few paper funnels to make filling the water bottle easier.
    
32. Bring towels from home to avoid fearing losing one
    
33. Take a hand towel with you to the beach it will help remove sand and is handy for lots of other things too
    
34. Baby powder helps remove sand
    
35. Use a magnet to trick the balcony door into thinking its closed to keep the air on
    
36. Most ships have a secret door...find it
    
37. you can also print cards to take with you on the layout of the ship...simply use a word document...format in normal 8pt bold: Times New Roman: 8pt and divide into for equal columns.
    
38. Self disembarkation is FASTER
    
39. It is possible to ‘smuggle’ alcohol on board
    
40. Make sure to stock up on "snacks" before debarkation. The wait can be pretty long and everything is closed during this time. Except for the coffee shop which takes cash
    
41. Cards become demagnetized don’t use your credit card for the room safe
    
42. If the safe will not open call the desk they will send someone to open it
    
43. If you get sea sick you can go to the Pursers desk and ask for pills. They are free there
    
44. use your telephone for leaving each other messages in the cabins
    
45. Did you know you can call Carnival's Bon voyage department and pre-order alcohol to be delivered to your cabin? You can order bottles of hard liquor so that you can make your own drinks. You can't order online. You must call to set this up. It is a little pricey but worth it and cheaper than buying by the drink.
    
46. Do walk the entire ship on your first day
    
47. You can also ask your Room Steward for the book that is in your cabin
    
48. Bring a night light/ alarm clock
    
49. bring water shoes
    
50. The ship uses two types of toilet paper. Both are made by the same company. The sandpaper they call "envision" you will not want to subject your bottom to for 8 days. Ask your room steward to make sure that your stateroom is stocked with the "preference" paper instead.
    
51. Bring a sweater the dining room can be cold

[kchesneylover]

My mom is going on the 12-day Liberty Med Cruise - and I just went to the dollar store and hooked her up:

• Popup laundry hamper
  
• Duct Tape
  
• colorful luggage wrap around clip
  
• A hard-cover journal (and two more for her friends)
  
• Fanny Packs (and two more for her friends)
  
• 15 Clothes pins to hold down the shower curtain (and enough for her friends)
  
• Ziploc bags
  
• Antiseptic wipes (to wipe cabin down)
  
• flip flops for the pool/shower/spa
  
• disposable camera
  
• night light
  
• first aid kit

 

I am so happy for her! She is going to have the time of her life!!! Now, I just have to get my brother to help her print out her funpass! I wish she would invest her time at Cruise-Critic, but she is always on the go and she's not addicted to CC like we are!! :D

[rada628]

we cruised over christmas a couple years ago and I picked up some stuff at the dollar store, including a christmas stocking with iron-on letters to personalize it. on the ship we ironed the steward's name on and wrapped up each of the little toys and trinkets and treats and stuffed the stocking and left it on the bed christmas morning when we vacated the room. yes, I travelled with wrapping paper and tape.. rofl.. my whole family was on the cruise and it was christmas! people told me not to wrap my gifts before I flew. :)

 

she cried. she sat down in the room and wrote us a 3 page letter. she cried and hugged us in the hallway. she was so.. excited, that santa had found her on this ship so far from home and family, and touched that strangers had done that for her.. it was such a simple thing, too.. honestly I did it as much for myself as for her.. her reaction absolutely made my christmas. :)

 

one of the things that made the cruise on the other hand was bringing along a small pair of speakers to plug into the walkman so we could have music of our choosing in the cabin.

 

That is the absolute sweetest thing that I have read on this board! It made me misty....

[pinguino]

Most ships have a secret door...find it

 

secret door? to what?

[pennme]

secret door? to what?

Usually to a deck at the front of the ship that is open to passengers, but not well known.

 

If you are going on a specific ship, just ask on the boards here, and someone is likely to know about your specific ship.

 

Remember, if it doesn't say "Crew Only" you can go there.

[sofunky]

for the past few cruises I have packed all of my important documents (passports, tickets, funpass, boarding papers...etc)in a bright colored pencil bag. I bought one that has the gromets on it (to clam in a binder) that way I can clip it to the inside of my bag or around the strap so that my stuff is extra safe plus you can find it easily.

 

its amazing how organized I can be on vacation....dont know what happend at home..I guess that means that I need to stay on vacation:D

 

 

LOVE THE LITTLE CANDY BAR IDEA....How thoughtful you must be!

[BCHappyGal]

I take the suction cup hooks that I attach to the mirrors in the stateroom - they then make great spots for hanging all sorts of little things that normally clutter up the desk & table. I Take a hole punch with me and hole punch our "Dailys" and they then hang on hte hook neatly + I know where they are.

 

I also take a decoration or 2 for our door. Plus of course tape etc so that we can put up the decorations.

[kruzkween]

I'm a fairly experienced cruiser, but apparently not as much so as many of you! You guys have some really awesome ideas for have-to-have things & I will definitely be packing your suggestions when we go on the RCCL Rhapsody of the Seas on Nov. 5, 2006!!

 

I have just a few additions...small fold-type umbrella, fairly large tote bag to take with you when going ashore, small pair of scissors, and safety pins (all sizes).

 

I wear glasses and always take an extra pair; but just in case something should happen, I also take my glasses prescription so I could get new ones made if I had to (better safe than sorry!!).

 

The last suggestion is for securing or "locking" luggage that is going to be out of my possession for a period of time. I use a fairly heavy-duty electrical tie to "lock" my bag. It's easy to cut off with small scissors, or even nail clippers. And it's clearly evident if someone has cut it and accessed the contents in your bag. I pack a zip-lock bag with a dozen or so and always have one handy when needed.

 

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone!!!

[MeleniePHX]

The last suggestion is for securing or "locking" luggage that is going to be out of my possession for a period of time. I use a fairly heavy-duty electrical tie to "lock" my bag. It's easy to cut off with small scissors, or even nail clippers. And it's clearly evident if someone has cut it and accessed the contents in your bag. I pack a zip-lock bag with a dozen or so and always have one handy when needed.

 

You mean like a zip tie? What a great idea!

[moosetracks17]

I absolutely LOVE all the ideas you have listed on this thread. As a 1st time cruiser this stuff is GREAT for figuring out what I truly need to bring and what not to waste time on.

 

1- are there any things you have brought and not used?

 

2- packing for a 7 day cruise, my boyfriend and I.... do any of you have a saved checklist you always go through (word doc, excel). I would love to see what the average person packs for a week!!!

[a forever cruiser]

I always bring a laundry bag. It's a great way to stash all those dirty clothes plus at the end of the cruise I dump the whole bag in my luggage!

[Bookish Angel]

These are invaluable for increasing the number of hand-washed items on the bathtub's clothesline and for closing that annoying gap in the drapes. I also use them the secure my swimsuit to the back of a balcony chair for quick drying.

[Sailorgirlseattle]

We have a small fold-up blanket that we bring whenever we travel, by whatever means. It's a picnic-type thing, but really comes in handy on the ships. You can use it for napping in your cabin, as an extra cushion, and it REALLY comes in handy on your balcony on cool mornings. Folds up to the size of a small seat cushion, so easy to pack and carry.

[celbercrz333]

I bring a cheap waterproof watch with an alarm on it. I got it in Wal Mart for about $6 three years ago. I don't worry if I lose it in the ocean or sea and I can set the alarm to remind me that it's time to get back to the ship before it sails!

[Sally Forth]

Land's End has a good nylon bag that folds up to nothing and folds out to be a good sized bag that is sturdy enough to be checked and water-resistant enough to hold dirty laundry. I always take it and pack the dirty laundry separately. It doesn't lock, but if some baggage handler wants to steal it, they've got a bag of DH's filthy running stuff.

 

Viv

 

Viv

[becca23]

Usually to a deck at the front of the ship that is open to passengers, but not well known.

 

If you are going on a specific ship, just ask on the boards here, and someone is likely to know about your specific ship.

 

Remember, if it doesn't say "Crew Only" you can go there.

 

Where is this door on the Mercury ?