What are things you feel the need take with you?

[Kellie Poodle]

Definately money..

Extra hangers. Never enough in cabin plus too big.

Woolite or small detergent if you want to wash anything out.

I have to take meds for several conditions and I split these in 2 containers in case one gets lost or stolen. I keep prev prescription bottle so I have 2 of each.

Fanny pack.

Cell phone and charger

Flashlight for both of us with extra batteries a must since power went out in hotel once.

Small scissors to cut out something or cut off tags. Never know if you decide you changed your mind on new item and so I don't take tags off till I wear.

 

These lists are always great because someone always mentions something you did not think of..

 

Why the cell phone? We leave the cruise line's number with the fam. in case of emergency. We don't particularly want to be reached on a cruise. Isn't that what it's all about?

 

We both have a lot of drugs, but we pack them in carry-ons. We got back packs on wheels from Ross Dress for Less (an "off-price" US chain store) for about $15 each and they are perfectly sized for airline carry-ons and hold huge amounts of stuff. The wheels come in handy when changing planes or just getting from the airport to the ship.

 

Instead of an extra scissor, we use the nail clipper to cut off price tags. Having lived in a recreational vehicle for 9 years we are very cognizant of one item serving more than one purpose.

 

I do bring the rechargeable battery charger for the rechargeable camera batteries. I also bring extra memory for the camera. I will use the photo desk's transfer to CD program if my cards are getting too full. It's well worth the fee, especially on long cruises when I take too many photos :)

 

I don't take a collapsible laundry bag, but I do take an old fashioned cotton laundry bag, like the ones we used in summer camp. When it's time to leave I transfer stuff between his and my suitcases so I can pack the laundry bag. How does one pack an collapsible laundry bag when it is full?

 

I also use lots and lots of zip lock bags. I have a portable steamer that works pretty well. RCCL allowed it when they wouldn't permit a travel iron. It isn't a substitute for pressing, but it was very helpful for minor wrinkles.

 

I am getting some great ideas here. I hope the thread continues.

[Kellie Poodle]

Ahhhh, yes, hand sanitizer!! I found a small size that has a rubber loop thing on it and it can hook to a backpack, etc. You can't be TOO careful, especially around the buffet!!;) Aloe is one of those things that you hope you DON'T need, but if you are not used to the Caribbean sun, or ANY sun, for that matter, you will be glad you brought it!!

 

The last RCCL cruise I was on had hand sanitizer dispensers outside all of the food service areas. I carry my little Purel bottles for the shore excursions. BTW, Sams Club sells a package of little bottles.

[Kellie Poodle]

Definately money..

Extra hangers. Never enough in cabin plus too big.

 

I just ask the cabin steward for more hangers and I get all I need. You might try that.

[Kellie Poodle]

I bring an old cell phone for an alarm clock. It is small & lound enough that I hear it.

 

I thought all the RCCL ships had an automated wake-up call system. Is this not so?

 

We used it on our last cruise and it worked perfectly.

[Kellie Poodle]

There is nothing illegal about buying medications in Mexico. I live near rhe border and thousands of "Winter Texans" purchase their drugs there. The regulations state that you can only bring medications back for personal use and no more than 90 days worth. Certain drugs, like those which would be controlled substances in the US are not permitted to be sold without a prescription, but pharmacias have been known to send a messenger to a local doc with the purchaser's drivers license and return with a legal Mexican RX.

 

Of course, one does have to know which pharmacias are trust-worthy and which are not. Maybe the shipboard-shopping guru can help.

[BigTee2000]

Just bumping this thread back to the top.

[BigTee2000]

bump

[sgttami]

There are lots of things mentioned that we also bring but I could never figure out why people bring a power strip..??? For what??

 

I'm curious...!!

[RevSmith]

My husband...but NOT always.

[RevSmith]

My husband...but not always:eek:

[petesweet]

In my opinion, all this "stuff" is really unnecessary. Kind regards to those who offer these tips, but why bring the entire house and half the Wal-Mart down the road? I'd rather travel light than take everything JUST IN CASE. I realize that's just my personal preference.

 

Water on the ship is perfectly good. We take a couple of empty water bottles and refill them (be sure to do so from glasses and not from spout). As another poster recommended, why take a clothes hamper? Just a laundry bag to hang from a hanger.

 

And speaking of hangers, there are plenty. If you need more, your room steward will be happy to supply them.

 

Money? You can get cash from the casino for anything you need. It will be charged to your Seapass card.

 

Don't believe these tips have been mentioned:

 

1. Notify your credit card company if you plan to use your card overseas. They might suspect it has been stolen otherwise.

 

2. I have at home a "travel drawer." Just chuck in there what you need for trips. Before you trip begins, pull from that drawer what applies to that particular trip. No wondering where things are. Hubby knows to go to the travel drawer when he needs something pertaining to travel.

 

3. Type up your packing list. When you get home, delete what you did not use and add what you wish you had taken. I have a packing list for cold-weather cruises, beach cruises, land trips of various lengths. Save your brain. I have very few brain cells left, I think, and I don't want to waste them!:D

 

4. Rather than (or maybe in addition to) decorating your suitcases with colored duct tape, we found it very helpful on our last trip to have our party of four put a colored shower "pouf" on the handle of each suitcase. They stand up and you can see these at a distance, whereas the duct tape is obvious only when you are standing over the case. This even helped us find our cabins quickly the first day when luggage was outside our room. On the day of disembarkation, our luggage was automatically grouped together. That hadn't been the case on previous cruises. Won't guarantee that the porters will do that, but they will see the obvious grouping. Also quicker on luggage carousel in airport.

 

Happy sails to you!:)

[DEBCAT65]

Great ideas so far!

 

I also bring a compact but fairly good first aid kit (we are a family of klutzes...), including bandaids, ointments, drops, stuff for burns, stings and bites, favourite cold, flu, motion sickness, stomach upset, allergy remedies...)

 

Extra pairs of eye glasses.

Nice soap.

Snorkel stuff.

Copies of receipts for everything that I have booked and/or paid for.

Sewing kit.

Lots of ziploc bags in different sizes to prevent shampoos etc. from leaking into clothing in suitcases.

Hand cleanser that we can carry with us.

Insulated water bottle carriers.

 

 

 

I also scan all docs and copies into my computer and email to my yahoo email address as a back up...just in case. I remove any personal info except for names (addresses, telephone #;s and cc#'s). Never had to use it, but glad it is there just in case!

 

Debbi

[vickiw0318]

Why bring a laundry hamper? I leave my suitcase open when I scoot it under the bed and put my dirty laundry in there during the week.

[micruiser2002]

On our last cruise I brought the little car air fresheners and hung them from the air vent in the ceiling. Worked great and room smelled nice and fresh.

 

I also found a great small little fan at Walmart. It is about 7"x9"x3" and very powerful and it has lights on it and can be used with batteries or a/c. At this time in my life I need cool air blowing on me when I sleep at night.

 

I also bring a insulated drink container for those frozen drink by the pool. Keeps them colder much longer.

[Onessa]

I don't even bring the cotton laundry bag -- I just use a kitchen sized trash bag for dirty laundry. With the trash bags I can keep things that need to be washed separate from the other stuff (dry cleaning, jackets, shoes, tolietry bags) so when I get home, the bags just end up in the laundry room.

 

This may be the first cruise on which I take a power strip -- DD's MP3 Player, DD's camera, my camera -- just for starters for things that need to be recharged. Still contimpating it though.

 

Snackage for on the plane (we tend to have long flights).

 

Otherwise I prefer to travel light.

[PudgiPoo]

I get my money, singles and fives, iron them to make them as flat as possible (new bills are great if you can get them), and seal them in bags with a food sealer. That way they are smallest. I do several packs and open them when I need them.

[BigTee2000]

Something else I like to do is take my walet and Photo copy everything in it. I make 2 copies. I to keep at home and one to put in safe on trip(or someplace secure in the room). And I copy both sides of everything that way if I loose my walet I Know exactly what is gone and have all the numbers to cancel and cards.

 

TJ

[cruise_lover]

I wouldn't leave home without my packing cubes. I use them for my non-hanging everyday wear (shorts, shirts, pants). I put them in my suitcase and from the suitcase they go directly into the drawers. In fact I plan ahead of time what I am going to wear on which day of the week. I have one cube for everyday of the week. For example, on Tuesday I pull the one marked Tuesday out of the drawer and know what I am wearing. Monday's clothes goes back into Monday's cube that is then placed in my luggage and everything is in its place and out of the way. This is what they look like. They come in different sizes,colores and shapes. I got them at ebags dot com. I even use the smaller ones for my toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, pantyhose, etc.

[PhoenixCruiser]

There are lots of things mentioned that we also bring but I could never figure out why people bring a power strip..??? For what??

 

I'm curious...!!

 

Hair dryer, straightening iron, cell phones, etc. I'm lost without one on a ship. One outlet just doesn't do it :D

 

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[VAHockeymom]

I always bring bubble wrap. I tend to buy breakables when shopping and I can't always carry everything with me, so the bubble wrap works great. Also, a travel clock. I think I will bring a power strip this time too as we always have more stuff to plug in than we need. And someone else mentioned making copies of your wallet contents and travel documents...a great idea, but also copy your passport and keep one copy on the ship and one with a friend or loved one back at home. Oh and notifying the credit card companies that you're out of the country is a good idea too.

[sgttami]

Hair dryer, straightening iron, cell phones, etc. I'm lost without one on a ship. One outlet just doesn't do it :D

 

###

 

I'm trying to recall where there was just ONE outlet on any ship I've been on..

 

Perhaps I never noticed because I never needed more than one at a time. We don't travel with gadgets that need charging. My hair looks best when air dryed so I rarely use a hair dryer. I sware I'd probably never even miss an outlet!!

 

I do like the idea of putting the "small money" in a ziplock and using it as necessary...

[VAHockeymom]

I can not remember where I got this from but I think this is a good idea too.

 

Take your walet to a photo copy machine and take out everything in it and copy everything front and back. this way you have copies of you id's credit cards and all other things in your walet should something happen to it(god forbid). leave a copy at home and take a copy with you and lock it away.

 

TJ

 

This is a good idea not just for traveling. Your wallet could be stolen in your home city. Just one more thought to add to this though, go through your wallet / handbag etc. and remove everything you absolutely know you won't need and leave them at home. I know I won't be buying gasoline with my exxon card and I don't plan on writing any checks either, that kind of stuff will stay in my safe at home. Also, call you credit card companies and let them know that you're traveling so they won't think your card or your identity has been stolen.;)

[GMoney]

I'm a light packer and take only what I barely need to make it through the week. I used to overpack and take all the suggestions on packing lists, but found so much of it to be unnecessary and a waste of pre-cruise $$.

 

Boy do I agree with that! I see these lists and now I know why I see people hauling tons of luggage! Hampers? Clothespins? Shoe racks? Power strips? I've never had em, never needed em, and somehow I've always survived. Less is more, folks.

 

So to answer the question, what do I need to take with me? My credit card and passport...:D

[Cruising89143]

I'm a light packer and take only what I barely need to make it through the week. I used to overpack and take all the suggestions on packing lists, but found so much of it to be unnecessary and a waste of pre-cruise $$.

 

Which takes us to celebrity's' suggestion of more money. Twice as much as you anticipate you will need.

 

My list is: clothes, toiletries (as little as possible), a good camera, one bottle of sunscreen for each person, as few shoes as you can get away with and at least one cell phone, fully charged and turned off, only to be used in case of emergency or for absolutely necessary calls.

 

The rest of the stuff stays home. It was a bit scary at first to pack this way, but I don't miss any of the "stuff".

 

A tip: if you must have a collapsible cooler, pack it and use it as your carry on, don't pack empty bags.

 

 

I agree. I have cut way back on what I take with me. Especially if it involves flying. It is so easy just to send clothes out to the laundry mid week. The cost is minimal.

[RetireeWannabee]

passport and clean underwear.