Best TIP I have learned from reading CC NCL boards

[emerylynne]

for $2.99 after reading these boards and what a blessing they are I went searching and my dollar tree and walmart were both out. I happened to be at the craft store and there they were hanging by the register....score!!!

[RhodeIslandVactioner]

Are "pop up" hampers labeled as such, or is there some other word/phrase I should be looking for?

Pop up hampers are available at Linens and Things too.

[dukejr]

I have the over the door bag, thanks. Although the design of it seems a bit too heavy.

 

I'll check out the "pop up" hampers tomorrow; oh well, no lunch during lunch hour!

 

Chris told me she was never offered a free drink in the casino either. I guess it depends on the ship and/or sailing. I'll try it once I guess.

 

The free drinks in the casino for players card members seems to be new, maybe part of the 2.0 upgrade. They were implemented during my 4/20 cruise to Bermuda. Previously you had to gamble a certain amount before they would comp your drinks..

 

Duke

[Livethelife]

The best suggestion we ever had was the shoebag! But if you are going to try this make sure you buy a CLEAR one! We got ours at Target and wouldn't cruise without it! We hang it over the outside of the bathroom door which makes it real convenient to use as you enter and leave the cabin. Everything you need is in sight but out of the way. We put our camera, charger cords, sun glasses, sun block, prescriptions, hairbrush, flashlight, pens & pencils and lots of other small stuff in it - out of the way but in clear view. We also have 2 specific slots where we always put our 'sign & sail' cards. We always know where they are and we can't get out of the cabin without noticing if we have them. If you are going to try this yourself make sure you get a CLEAR shoebag! And have a great cruise!

[Frosting Master]

My husband is afraid to try new food, which IMO is a fun part of cruising. Knowing that he could always order a steak or chicken breast was very helpful to convince him to take our first cruise.

 

Now he is open to trying new things and knows that he can order the new (scary) item AND a comfortable familiar choice. What he hasn't realized is now some of those formerly scary items are now his favorites.

 

Also, I like to take 3 or 4 heavy duty suction cup hooks to hang in the shower to hold drying items. We seem to always fill up the little clothes line and you don't have to move the suction hooks to take a shower. Just remember to take them home.

[packercruising]

Bring a power strip as there is probably only 1 outlet

 

Bring a highlighter for the dailies.

[Vanina]

Make your dinner reservations as soon as you board the ship.

 

Hi,

Does one have to make the dinner reservations in the no charge restaurants too? :confused:

 

Thanks in advance

[Guest pcreek]

Well, now I'm thinking that the phone cards are passe. Guess I will stick with cash! :-)

 

See??? Learning new stuff all the time!!

 

We have a travel shoe rack for over the door, as well. Works great! :-)

[packercruising]

Hi,

Does one have to make the dinner reservations in the no charge restaurants too? :confused:

 

Thanks in advance

 

I am pretty sure only the specialty restaurants accept reservations.

[Gixer]

I love this thread! some of the tips I learned are -

 

Pop up Laundry basket (a must!)

 

Highlighter pens to mark activities on navagators

 

One of you run like hell to the Spa and the other to the speciality restraunts to make reservations

 

Take swim wear in hand luggage so your kids (or you!) can jump straight in the pool

 

Lanyards to keep your room key in - especially good if you have kids that are old enought to walk to the clubs alone but would probably lose a key card in their pocket

 

alarm clock with light up numbers - you know the digital type!

 

wipe clean magnetic board that we had on our front door to leave messages to each other about where we were/what we were doing.

[flashdog_1]

I like to take the ships tour (usually about 1:30?) if I haven't memorized the deck plans. Not only will you see up close the various clubs and stuff but you will meet some crew and other passengers.

[CC Help Michell]

The thread has morphed away from NCL-specific tips but the best ones I've read here are to go to the dining room instead of the buffet on boarding, and to book the romance package for $79 -- a wonderful value.

 

Other great ideas include bringing big paper clamps like you'd use at the office -- they work to hang things that need to dry, and they hold towels on lounge chairs. I also don't cruise without my power strip, and a small flashlight in case of power failure/blown fuse issues (yes, both have happened on ships).

 

To the OP, I agree with a few others who mentioned this -- tip in cash; the crew doesn't want or need phone cards anymore -- plus many of the ones sold here at the supermarket, etc. don't work in the ports where the ship stops. If the crew member wants to purchase a phone card with any cash you tip, they can.

[hulamoon]

Our family once spent a bunch of money buying phone cards for a relative, turns out she never used any of them. Cash is the way to go!!

[Rob & Beckys mom]

I bought my pop up bag at Target. I love it.

 

 

Are the handles on the one from Target good? I bought one at the $ store & the handles broke the first day.

 

Jan

[jollycruise]

Hi,

Does one have to make the dinner reservations in the no charge restaurants too? :confused:

 

Thanks in advance

 

We did in January. We wanted to eat at Salsa's and we had to make reservations to get in there and at that time it was a no charge restaurant.

[jollycruise]

Are the handles on the one from Target good? I bought one at the $ store & the handles broke the first day.

 

Jan

 

I got one at walmart handles ripped off, the one I got at Target is still holding strong :)

[grannyp]

Don't forget those large plastic iced tea glasses (or fruit juice). We take them and fill them up in Market Cafe and take out to the pool area. We are always stopped by people who want to know where we got those large glasses instead of the dinky fruit juice glasses! They are cheap and if you don't want to take them home just pitch them at the end of cruise!

[TreasureQuest]

Best suggestion? It's got to be buying a couple of those flannel backed tableclothes at the dollar store to use as beach blankets. Just pitch it when you leave the beach ... sure beats dragging a sandy beach towel back to the ship!

[islandersx4]

Sometimes there are laundry specials...often towards the end of the cruise...all you can fit in a bag for $15.00....roll up the dirty laundry and you'll fit a lot more in that little paper laundry bag than you thought possible.

 

You can also find those pop up laundry bags at drug stores like CVS or Walgreens, usually 2 for $5.00.

 

Great thread

[OceanDreaming2]

I'm going to invest in some 3M removable hooks to hang my over the door shoe organizer and stick it to a wall. With the F3 ships, you won't be able to hang an organizer on the curved, sliding doors.

[Cosmopolitan]

Thanks, Cosmo! Should we then throw the "dirty laundry" into large Ziplock bags to transport home? I think that would make the most sense. Compress that dirty stuff.:)

 

Yes, I bring plastic garbage bags and pack the dirty laundry in them. All sorted when I get home.

 

Have a great cruise...hope you "review" when you get home:)

[Cosmopolitan]

Best suggestion? It's got to be buying a couple of those flannel backed tableclothes at the dollar store to use as beach blankets. Just pitch it when you leave the beach ... sure beats dragging a sandy beach towel back to the ship!

 

Great tip:)

[Cosmopolitan]

If you take the time to "highlight" your daily, remember to put it in your purse/pocket if you plan to be out of your cabin all day.

 

If you forget to bring you daily with you, extras are available in the Atrium...don't walk back to your cabin;)

[Sea Hound]

The absolute best tip I've received from the boards is to get the NCL BOA Mastercard! We're now getting money off NCL cruises while buying the things we always have -- just in a different way!:D

 

We started off with one card and max'ed it out on points (not credit limit!)so now we have a second and are working on getting more points for cruise certificates!;)

 

Just remember to pay it off every month!

 

Sea Hound:D

[coffeebean]

We take a small (2" in diameter) LED tap light and place it closest to to door on the bathroom vanity. It's so much nicer to have soft light for those middle of the night trips to the bathroom. Bed Bath and Beyond and that type of store sells them.

 

There are lots of home uses for the small tap lights also. I use one in the backyard shed anytime I need light at night. I have one in my walk in closet so bright light doesn't shine into the bedroom when you don't want it to. I placed one under my kitchen sink and can easily see all the items under the sink. They are great for camping too and kids love them to place on their bedside table. Adults may like them too for that use. The LED light lasts a really long time and is a clear white light.