things you wish you would have known

[DogGroomer]

Krogerlady,

After finding Glide last year I never put on a pair of sandals without it.

 

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and have alot of problems with my feet. Shoes might fit OK and then later feel really tight because of my feet swelling.

 

I hope it works as well for you as it has for me.

 

Take care, Jane

[grandmato4]

Another vote for Body Glide here. A friend told me about it so I found it on-line, ordered it and the first time I used it fell in love with it ! No more blisters here from new or tight shoes. :):)

[Kim4]

I wish I would have brought an over the door shoe holder on our first cruise. I listened to the advice here and brought one on the Monarch last month. My DH laughed and was VERY skeptical. Turns out he LOVED it. I got mine at Target for around $7 -- it is a see-through plastic thing that hangs on the door in the bathroom. It is meant for shoes, but it works great for holding almost everything that would normally go on a bathroom counter. i didn't think we'd fill up the pockets, but we did. We had a pocket for sunscreen, my makeup, my jewelry, my hair products, our camera. I gave him a couple of pockets too :)

[BroncosFan2010]

How good the speciality restaurants are, and that they are completely worth the extra money!

 

That you can order more than 1 appetizer, entree, and dessert at dinner.

 

That roomservice is free and the cookies and milk are the perfect midnight snack.

[zoomergals]

I wish I would have brought an over the door shoe holder on our first cruise. I listened to the advice here and brought one on the Monarch last month. My DH laughed and was VERY skeptical. Turns out he LOVED it. I got mine at Target for around $7 -- it is a see-through plastic thing that hangs on the door in the bathroom. It is meant for shoes, but it works great for holding almost everything that would normally go on a bathroom counter. i didn't think we'd fill up the pockets, but we did. We had a pocket for sunscreen, my makeup, my jewelry, my hair products, our camera. I gave him a couple of pockets too :)

Hmmm....I'm cruising this summer with my 17 yr. old niece. I think the over the door shoe holder will be a must for us!

 

This thread is so helpful....thank you to all!!!!

 

[Kim4]

ha ha...here is a picture of the vanity in the room of 2 teenage girls on the Sovereign of the Seas. And, this is actually pretty good for them, I think! (Thought I'd add for first timers...this vanity is out in the stateroom, not in the bathroom. On the cruises I've been on (Sovereign class on Royal Caribbean), the counter space in the bathroom is maybe 2 square feet total.)

 

[T-N-C]

We took our first cruise in March on the Voyager of the seas. By the way....Best vacation ever:). These are the things that I learned on our cruise

 

1. If you have more than two people in your stateroom pack more hangers. Our stateroom did not have very many.

 

2. As for using your cell phone on board... most cell phone companies have special pricing for cruisers. Contact them before you leave so you are not suprised when you get your bill. I found it cheaper to text.

 

3. I wish I would have brought a clock. To check the time during the night or just a quick glance for supper or other activities. Someone posted on another thread to bring one that runs on batteries because it may loose time if you plug it in.

 

4. We used a tote bag for our excursions....big mistake. I think we will use a backpack in the future. If you do any shopping on shore - I would suggest two;). I was also told to check into excursions outside of the cruiseline before you go. I heard they are not as crowded and are more personal than the ones the cruise offers.

 

5. We did use highlighters a lot when we were planning our activities for the next day and don't forget a pen they come in handy.

 

6. Power strip - GREAT IDEA:D

 

7. I defiantly packed to many shoes. I thought I was being practical by packing flip flops of all colors. They are easy to pack, right. No I know now that I should have brought one or possibly two pair of a neutral color, some good walking shoes and dress shoes.

 

8. As for formal night. We did not attend. I would have liked to but I could not talk my husband into it. We used the two formal nights to eat at Johnny Rockets (Awesome by the way). I was a little awkward going from one place to another but we were not the only ones. No one really cares if you are walking down the halls in something other than formal wear.

 

9. Balcony - just do it. Don't hesitate. The most favorite part of my cruise. Enjoying the sea watching for dolphins (yes we did see them) and just reading on the balcony enjoying the atmosphere is the best way to go.

 

Hope this helps

[bahama daydreamer]

I see they're Vera girls. I love it.

[Mrs.C05]

I see they're Vera girls. I love it.

 

I just now found a small travel size of aloe at CVS! I always hated taking the big bottles like that and ended up buying aloe on almost every cruise because I'd get fried. :rolleyes: Live and learn.

[chachi]

I wish I would have known that it got quite chilly at night. I only packed one light sweater to wear over my clothes, and I had to wear the same one every night.

[Clio1610]

I just wish I wouldn't have packed sooooooo many clothes, I had heard you don't need that many clothes, but I didn't really listen and carried everything anyways. Next time I will probably take less than half the clothes I brought this trip.

 

I completely agree JosShavaughn - I did exactly the same !!!

 

I also wished I had spent less time worrying & checking up on my only child in the Kids Area, because he had a whale of a time and I only started to relax by the third day !!!

 

I also wish that I had taken the "My Time Dining" option then we could have chatted to different people every night for Dinner - instead of being stuck with the same ones.....

[Kim4]

I completely agree JosShavaughn - I did exactly the same !!!

 

I also wished I had spent less time worrying & checking up on my only child in the Kids Area, because he had a whale of a time and I only started to relax by the third day !!!

 

I also wish that I had taken the "My Time Dining" option then we could have chatted to different people every night for Dinner - instead of being stuck with the same ones.....

 

ok, y'all..give me some examples here. On a 7 day cruise -- how many outfits would you bring? I guess mix and match would work. Please give me some ideas on what you brought that you thought was too much.

[purplecow23]

I wish I had not spent $25.00 at the "Shopping Information Session" (on Caribbean Princess) on the book that gave free gems and discounts and other misc. stuff. It ws junk and not worth the $25.00. The earings were so tiny that I threw them away. The stores gave you the discounts anyway. They didn't even care if you had the book.

 

Just a note to others. I saw a ring that I liked in St. Thomas and the tag on the ring said $1100.00. The clerk gave me a price of $899.00 right off. When I said it wasn't worth that much, then she said, "let me check with my boss." He came over and told me $750. I said I wanted to look at other stores. He kept lowering it and I kept saying that I wanted to first check other stores and that I would come back. I finally left the store paying $250.00. Do we want to say "Mark-up?!" It was still a deal, though--rings like it are about $600.00 here plus tax.

[HesitantCruiser]

I wish I would have known you did not need to be nauseuous or worse to be seasick. First cruise no issues. Second cruise, I just felt strange and "off" but not really nauseated or vertigo-like. Finally on day FOUR I thought "I wonder if this is seasickness" and took some Bonine that night. Night and day. Days 5-7 felt so much better!!

[Clio1610]

ok, y'all..give me some examples here. On a 7 day cruise -- how many outfits would you bring? I guess mix and match would work. Please give me some ideas on what you brought that you thought was too much.

 

Hi Kim4 !

 

My clothes for my recent 7 nts Western Caribbean included:

 

2 long evening dresses

1 short cocktail dress

1 short shift dress

3 prs slacks - colours White + Black + Navy

5 dressy tops - mixed colours to go with above slacks

1 pr evening sandals

1 pr flip-flops

1 pr trainers

2 Swimsuits

1 Pool/Beach cover-up Kaftan

5 t-shirts/vests

3 prs shorts - colours White + Black + Navy

1 sparkley evening Pashmina

1 sparkley evening purse

 

I know now that I should have taken:

 

More t-shirts & vests

Another couple of prs of shorts

Another Pool/Beach cover Kaftan

 

Less dressey Evening Clothes !!!!!

 

Hope this helps !!

[Kim4]

Thank you, that does help. I hate to wear the same dress over again at dinner, but I guess the dress I wear on night 2 can be the same as the last night and nobody (including DH) would notice.

 

Thanks so much!

[DChamp]

Cruise #15 coming up in 3 weeks!

 

Do just sit back and enjoy yourself.

Do bring 2 bathing suits at least

Do bring (for men) lots of t-shirts for out and about (not formal type)

Polo shirts are ok for dinner except formal nights.

Never wear shorts, jeans, flip-flops, or tank-tops in the dining room at night

Formal night you CAN wear a nice button down shirt, khaki's and nice shoes.

You do NOT have to wear a suit, or even a sports jacket! (I'm paying for my cruise, when they pay me I'll wear a suit)

Bring a few 1 liter bottles of soda on in your check-in luggage. There's ice in your room.

Zip-lock bags are a must, as are elastic bands and a beach-bag.

Do only what you're comfortable doing. This is vacation, don't over do it.

 

Best of luck to you!

[kristyintx]

On Carnival, you can get free decks of cards at the Purser's Desk.

You can also get free lanyards in the Casino.

 

For your carryon (onto the ship), use one of your small rolling bags. On our first cruise we used a duffle bag and got REALLY tired of lugging it around while waiting on our cabin to be ready.

 

Call your credit card company before you leave to let them know you'll be traveling. That way you'll have no problems if you want to shop while you're on the islands.

 

Have fun!

[UandMe4Ever]

Hi there, we also bring post its and if we need something extra in the cabin we leave our cabin person a sticky note w/ a smiley face and a please and thank you! It works. Also, a little pad to get track of receipts and what you spend daily, casino, drinks, etc. Every day or so we do a rough check to see if we are still somewhat on track..(almost always over), but sort of keeps us in check a little.

hope it helps. (Also a nightlight)...have fun !!

[SunnyinDubai]

Fab tips everyone......thanks :)

[SLKB]

Absolutely the over the door shoe hanger! No other way would I be able to use the same bathroom as my 16 year old daughter. One of us has too many hair/skin/beauty products :rolleyes: and DH always needs a little room for his stuff.

 

I didn't bring enough warm clothing. HAL likes to keep the AC cranked, so even though it was the Caribbean, I was often chilly. An extra light sweater for layering would have been a good idea.

 

Post-its for leaving notes between family members are a must for us, and I never go on a vacation without zip-lock bags.

[swtheart107]

I am definately bringing an over the door shoe hanger. I had read that a lot of people use those but thought I wouldnt need it.... boy was I wrong.

 

I ended up covering the vanity desk in the stateroom with all of my hair products, makeup, etc. my boyfriend kept getting frustrated because he would lay down something like his S&S card and then not be able to find it because of all of my things.. haha :)

 

Of course 3 days after returning from our 1st cruise we booked our 2nd one!! This time he is requiring me to bring one so our room is less chaotic!

[Clio1610]

I am definately bringing an over the door shoe hanger. I had read that a lot of people use those but thought I wouldnt need it.... boy was I wrong.

 

I ended up covering the vanity desk in the stateroom with all of my hair products, makeup, etc. my boyfriend kept getting frustrated because he would lay down something like his S&S card and then not be able to find it because of all of my things.. haha :)

 

Of course 3 days after returning from our 1st cruise we booked our 2nd one!! This time he is requiring me to bring one so our room is less chaotic!

 

 

Hi swtheart107 !

 

I bought my over the door shoe hanger from Argos in the UK.... but when we got to Florida, WalMart had them for only $5.99 - I paid £15 in the UK :mad:... And we did exactly the same, 2nd Cruise booked on our 4th day back from our 1st one ........

[leonadeb]

"Just in case" suggestion. If you are taking a digital camera with you it is good to take a picture of your luggage before you leave your house (especially if you are flying to your departure destination) then if you have a problem with lost luggage you have a picture of it to help with the description.

[Excited to go crusing]

pack some laundry detergent & do laundry in the ship laundromat mid cruise.

 

Eat all 5 or 6 courses at dinner in the Dr.

 

walk & use stairs not the lifts. Esocecailly if only going 1 or 2 flights, walking is norally quicker htan getting inot a crowded lift.