I printed all the important papers, cruise contract, airfare confirmation, e-mails from excursions and lists lots of lists, do's and don'ts, and anything else I thought might be important. My next step is to devise a small contract for my 2 children on some can and don'ts while on the cruise.
Reading a lot my mind gets jumbled with the amount information out there. It is also important to keep a watch on your cruise once you get it booked. We didn't get to book it early saver and there are advantages and disadvantages to doing this. Although Carnival ran a special in June and I did get to take advantage of this with the way I booked. It lowered all three fairs and allowed me a 160.00 onboard credit to spend on the ship. It was also suppose to refund me a check in the amount 360.00, But they made a mistake and applied to the credit card I used for the deposit only, even after I stressed that I had paid the balance in cash. They assured me it wouldn't be an issue and I would get the check in 7-10 day's. Well when those day's passed and I called I was told oh we are sorry we put it back on the card. Now my fund is 360.00 down, and I already had paid the card off of the 1200.00 deposit and do not wish to use it. So now the fund is 360.00 less then it would have been. The person I spoke with although very nice said oh I see it's our mistake but there isn't anything that can be done now. So enough of that story, can't cry over spent money.
so now on to one of the many lists
I have color coded this with what I have, may need and need
Green is what I have. Red is what I need, black is well maybe. I still will review it again before final packing
Dramamine or equivalent for seasickness Tylenol or Advil Imodium Benadryl Any prescription medicine (syringes, sharps container and swabs if needed) Any medical equipment you use (glasses, blood pressure and sugar monitors) Swimmer's Ear Drops Midol or equivalent Feminine products Aloe Vera gel with lidocaine (sunburn) Sun screen Band-Aids Neosporin ointment Lip balm Hand sanitizer Hand lotion Shampoo wet ones q-tips Contact lens cleaning solutions, etc. Tweezers Cotton swabs Ace bandage deoderant Razors conditinor Cleaning Stuff Wrinkle releaser Tide pen Shout wipes Detergent (if you are going to wash clothes on the ship) Febreze or air freshener Clothing and Accessories Hat Sunglasses Sweater or jacket (it gets cool in the dining room) Water shoes Socks or slippers (don’t walk barefoot on the dirty floors!) underwear Miscellaneous Night light Highlighter (highlight to do activities on the Capers) Pen & Post-it Notes (to leave messages) Door Decoration (to easily locate your room) Camera and/or camcorder Waterproof camera for excursions Battery charger for phone and camera Walkie-talkies and batteries I Pod and/or laptop if you need it Power strip for all those electrical things Extra film, cassettes, memory cards and batteries Sewing kit Duck tape Clothes pins (to weigh the shower curtain down) flavored creamer Insulated cup to bring by the pool wine 1’s & 5’s for room service tips and lockers onshore Cheap beach towels Snacks for the room Bottled water Can drinks Bungee cord to hold a balcony door open Copies of travel documents Money Large and small ziploc bags Favorite bath soap Over the door or shower folding caddy for all the junk Curling Iron, curlers and/or straightener Hairbrush, clips and ponytail holders clock empty duffle bag for dirty clothes or souvenirs magnets 9x12 envelopes ash tray lint remover under water camara
So I took this off of all the lists that I found on cruise critic. Some of it is very good and I would not have thought of it. I do like to be prepared for anything. And then there are things I wont be buying or needing but it still was part of a great list.
It also cost 25.00 if you lose a towel, so I don't want to take the ships towels off the boat, and I found an awesome buy at old Navy for thermal containers for cold drinks, and of course there are the swim shoes we need for swimming with the dolphins.
here is a sample of a post from CC that has almost everything you will need to know onboard the ship
As a bonus, enjoy...
Spreading my first timer propaganda...
CRUISE TIPS! some will surprise you!
Copy and paste this into a word document, print, get a highlighter and go over this with you’re the rest of your party.
For first time cruisers, here's the best tip ever, there will be some things that don't meet your expectations, and some things that surpass them. Someone will get a better deal than you did, someone will not follow the guidelines, somebody will cut in front of you, and someone will let their kid(s) be unruly. DON’T expect everything to be perfect, it won’t be! If you have a concern write the “Hotel Manager” a letter and forget about it (his or her name will be posted in the lobby by the purser’s desk).
Buy a water proof digital camera immediately, before you forget! They can be found $100-$200 from Amazon, Wal-Mart, etc. They can be used for snorkeling, pools, pool side, hot tubs, various excursions and you’ll be protected if a sudden rain storm appears. You will not regret your decision to buy one.
FOOD
If your dining times are not what you expected, go immediately to the dining room upon boarding and they will straighten it out. If you delay or wait until after sailing, you'll probably be disappointed.
The menu is on your TV; you can just check and see if you like the selections ahead of time.
Order a second entree or second anything in the dining room.
In the dining room, if there is anything you want, it doesn't hurt to ask.
If, by chance, you don't like anything they have on the menu, ask them to bring you a steak or a grilled chicken breast...
Any pasta dish on the main entree section of the menu is also available as an appetizer.
Room Service, which generally is not a full meal, rather a continental breakfast or a sandwich is free. (2-3 dollar tip is pretty standard)
Order your coffee and Danish the night before so when you wake up, you won't have to wait for that first cup of coffee.
Also about the Pizza.............If there is a special kind you like (different toppings than they show in the display case) if they can get them they will custom make you a pizza the way you want it, it takes about 8 minutes, but you do have to take the whole pizza...........
If you want orange juice any time remember the exact place you got it during breakfast time. All they do is remove the label “orange Juice”, making you think there is no OJ.
Bring a salt and pepper shaker and a bottle of ketchup up to your room for our mid-night snacks or whenever we brought our breakfast up. It is quite a convenience.
Tip for dessert lovers: In the dining room when they bring the dessert menus ask the waiter for the children’s dessert menu. Here you will find a plethora of desserts you've come to love...banana splits, hot fudge Sunday’s and all sorts of other things.
You can always get ice cream added to any dessert
Ask for a cheese plate from the desert menu & take it to your room for a wine & cheese party on the balcony
If you want good bananas at the end of the cruise you better pick some up at the beginning of the cruise and put them in your fridge, they cannot pick up fresh fruit so by the end of the week they start looking a little bad.
And don't forget ......don't ever forget about the 24 hour Soft Serve Ice Cream (Chocolate, Vanilla and Swirled) and the Frozen Yogurt (also Chocolate, Vanilla and Swirled). And check your daily “Fun Times”(formerly Capers) for the Sea Days that they have the Sundae toppings available.
Ice cream is free on board Take a large insulated mug, fill halfway with ice-cream, a bit of ice, 2 shots of coffee. Stir well, & voila.. Frapachino
If you want to order sandwiches to take off the ship in port, you don't have to order them the night before. Take Ziploc bags with you and order them in the morning. You are absolutely NOT allowed to take food off into port, but they only check your bags getting back on the ship.
DO NOT try to take food off at the end of the week though. You will get caught there.
At breakfast there is an omelet station, they will fry your eggs to order, all you have to do is ask.
***DISCLAIMER*** many arguments against bringing food off the ship, most popular being hot weather spoiling the food getting you sick; but if you pack put your goodies in a waterproof bag an put that bag in ice you should be fine.
You can bring a tray with food & drink from the buffet to your room
For all the deck drinkers - Order all your drinks from the same bar server during the week. By mid-week they usually slip you a free one now and again. At minimum, you can make sure there's a little kick in your mix drinks.
Carnival now charges for the cakes it brings to your table for your birthday etc
ALCOHOL & NON-ALOCHOL DRINKS
Soda Drink Cards: You will pay tax when in port so wait until the ship leaves. $6 per day for adults, children are $4.50 per day times the number of days of the cruise plus 15% tip... This is a glass of coke, or about 2/3 can. A can of coke costs $2.00 for the whole can. These are the last reported prices.
Alternatively consider getting one card and using it to "buy" sodas for your significant other (you must be discreet about this). As you move through the ship, order one soda at one bar and another soda at the next bar.
Ice tea is free in the dining room. Cappuccino is free in the dining room. Fruit punch is no longer offered, only lemonade and sometimes “hidden O.J”. in the lido deck.
At the Captains cocktail party, they used to give away free drinks, they no longer do, just $1 off coupons.
There are now free drinks at the farewell party on the last night. Many have reported that if your table doesn’t tip you may only see the staff twice. But if your table tips in cash, you’ll get sick of seeing the waiter/waitress. lol
The Art auction also serves free drinks, usually it’s only champagne.
Bring a thermos style hot/cold mug with a lid and fill with coffee, ice tea, lemonade or self made ice coffee from the lido deck dispensers and ice machines.
If you have the souvenir glass you can order any frozen drink as a refill not just the drink of the day. They do charge you the price of the other frozen drink you ordered but you get it in the bigger glass. When you place your order say "refill’, it is only $4.95 compared to the original $6.95. If you order the drink of the day in the small glass, I believe you also pay $4.95, but it doesn't hold as much as the hurricane cup." Many people on the first day do not realize that the "Souvenir Glasses" are for keeps.
If you order a bottle of wine at dinner and don't finish it, they will cork it and bring it back for you the next night. This is for people who don't normally finish an entire bottle at dinner but don't want to pay the higher price of ordering by the glass.
Forget Rum and Cokes. Long Island Ice tea is best Value, best Drink with all the Booze they pour into the Glass...Very Good Too!!!!!
Take a flask so you can “spike” your lemonade.
The water aboard cruise ships goes through extensive processing to assure its purity and taste, and is as clean as any bottled water you can buy. If you do buy a bottle of water, refill it from the faucet in your stateroom and keep it in the fridge or fill at dispensers in cafeteria but don’t touch the dispenser with the bottle
You can obtain drink coupons through the bon voyage dept. 4 drinks per coupon for $21.25. People have reported that while the drink coupons are suppose to only cover $5.25 drinks, they’re currently taking $5.75 off. Gratuity which is 15% is included in the $5.75, therefore the coupons save you $1.28 per $5.75 drink. If you buy a drink more than the allotted $5.75, bartenders are supposed to charge the difference. A few strategies to prevent them charging the difference is to pull out a five dollar bill and discretely ask, for them not charge you difference for the entire cruise or going to a different bartender until you find one who doesn’t charge the difference and stick with them. If you are charged the difference, they subtract $5.75 off the price, and do not charge gratuity on the $5.75. EG for an $8.95 cosmo without coupon will be $10.29 with gratuity. With coupon, you pay ($21.24 / 4) $5.31 per drink…They deduct $5.75 from $8.95, leaving $3.20, add 15% = $3.68 + the cost of the coupon $8.99
Order drink coupons throughout the year then the sail & sign bill isn’t so big
For Drink Coupons Go to Bon Voyage dept on Carnival website... you can "order" them and they will be in your room.
The best deal for beer is the 25.4oz can of Fosters for $7.76 after gratuity. Next is a bucket of beer (4) were $22 after gratuity. Many aren’t twist off. Ask them to only open one and leave the rest capped. Bring along a travel can opener if you ordered them this way & take the extras back to the room for later. Otherwise they opened every one before they bring them.
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.. It is a little pricey at $40 a litre but cheaper than buying by the drink. Call to order 1-800-522-7648 Monday to Friday 9:00 am –5:30 pm Eastern Time up to one week before departure.
There have been rumors that on some cruises you may be able to order bottles liquor from guest services or room service. If you want to give back to the cruising community, please find out if this is an option on your cruise and report back.
Also on SOME cruises you can buy a drink of the day card for $23 (plus tip) that gets you 5 DOD's - and they can be any DOD that has been done (maybe even before). First one is in hurricane cup... rest same amount just in regular cup.
OTHER:
When the lights start to dim in the dining room this means Entertainment is coming. Make sure you have your camera ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Make sure that your bank and credit card Company are aware that you will be out of the country. They will note it on your account so that you won't be flagged for fraudulent activity.
Do not use a debit card for your sail and sign account - credit cards offer lots more protection, and the hold on funds they place on your debit card account can be a problem for some people. Use cash or a credit card.
Tipping porters (folks who take your bags at ports) is a highly debated subject. Some ports even have signs up stating not to tip. If you choose to tip, carnival states on their site its $2/bag while some tipping etiquette guides says $5/bag. Facts are, people who have tipped have had their bags “lost” and people have do not tip receive their bags fine.
For first timers, if you have early embarkation to the ship (before the cabins are ready), proceed directly to the lido deck for a buffet lunch. This is also the time the bar staff will try to get you started on your bar bill with their drink specials (often called a "bon voyage"). However, there are free alternatives, like coffee, tea and lemonade.
Odd # cabins are on the right Even on the Left The higher the number the closer to the back of the ship.
On some of the Carnival ships, you can get a deck of cards w/Carnival logo, at the Pursers Desk
The Purser's Office will carry stamps of the different countries that you are going to. You can buy stamps ahead of time so you don't have to find a post office in each port. It makes it much easier to send postcards home from the different ports.
Free Post Cards are here also
In the casino, they'll give you a lanyard, as well as punch a hole in your S&S card.
If you need aspirin, seasick pills, or a variety of general medications, check the "0" deck where the waiting room is for the doctor. There were free samples for the taking in individual packets... also a weigh scale in case you need to weigh a suitcase (or yourself!).
Don't be afraid to ask for extra pillows
Ask for Preference Toilet Paper
2nd night of a cruise is the Captains Welcome & Formal Night
3rd Night is Past Guest Night
Also, check out the INTERNET CAFE for a drawing for free internet minutes (day one only)... check the FUN TIMES waiting in your cabin.
One of the first things I do is ask my room steward for the use of a bath robe during the cruise. These are usually standard in suites, but if you write your steward a note while you are out to dinner the first night (I always include a cash tip as well) there will be one (or two if requested) waiting for you no problem. This saves so much room in my luggage and is useful for the pool and also spa visits. Enjoy!
Bring lots of $1 and $5 bills for tipping cab drivers, porters, and to have the exact change when bartering at the straw markets and stores in port. Contrary to popular belief Crew members DO NOT LIKE $2 BILLS! They don’t work in their vending machines.
To get cash without any fees, register your Sign and sail card in any slot machine. To do so takes about a minute as you enter your birthdate and create a pin. Then you load money from your sign and sail account to your slot machine account. If you do not want to play slots, select the cash out option and proceed to the casino cashier, who give you cash in any domination including quarters.
Quarters are required for Laundry, last reported price was $3 wash and another $3 to dry.
The Mini Bars All Full... Most have a lock, let the steward know if it’s locked and you want it unlocked or vice versa, let the steward know. They Will also Empty it For You allowing you to have a mini fridge, however most report it only to be a cooler which will not keep things cool vs cold.
Send yourself a Bon Voyage gift of champagne and snacks. Carnival does a FANTASTIC job of having it set up in your cabin all ready for you when you board the ship.
Do walk the entire ship on your first day. It will help you learn where everything is, and will help you discover spots that others never find.
You can also ask your Room Steward for the book that is in your cabin (a carnival book that tells about the ship), just ask and they may give it to you.
If your stateroom is cold, call your steward and ask for 2 extra blankets
Learn and use the crew member's names, and smile. They're doing the same for you most of the time, and a little kindness can go MILES. You'll be surprised at the service you can get. "Please" and "thank you" can work miracles.
Pack a change of clothes & swimsuit in your carry on baggage. Sometimes it may take some time to get your baggage.
When they push the two twin beds together to make a king they just overlap the twin sheets. They will put king size sheets on if you ask.
Make photo copies of your passport (inside page with your photo/ID#/date of issue/exp), credit cards, and air tickets - if they're not e-tickets - and put them in the safe, another set of copies keep in your luggage under the bed ,also carry one of the sets with you-not in your luggage in case it goes missing on your flight.
I find the easiest place to store larger suitcases after they've been emptied is under the bed.... good place to stash stuff you've bought and then lock the luggage... and it's out of sight and you're not stuck tripping over it.
On the Conquest class ships (not sure about other classes) the couch has drawers built in underneath
Casino tips
1) if you play blackjack, one secret to keep in mind is the Fun21 table - there are NO QUEENS in the decks
2) Slots are really tight.
3) Best odds are on the 3 card poker.
Every room should have a hair dryer
The safes operate with a magnetic strip. You can use anything with a magnetic strip, (room key, credit card, store discount cards, etc.) A good choice is the blank gift cards you find in stores. There is no value to them until you purchase it and have it activated,
Money clips...that have MAGNETS holding everything together......Never and I mean never put your S & S card in the same pocket of your money clip!!!!! As the magnets will demagnetize your card and you won't be able to get into your room or even buy a drink.....At the Pursers desk they can fix this...
Cell phones will demagnetize.
Most cell phones have alarm clocks built in so you don’t need to pack a real alarm clock.
Call your carrier and activate international roaming, usually about $1 a minute.
If you plan on using your cell in ports, 1) Remember to set it to ships time!
2) Don’t forget your watch also
Your cell phone is your friend. Take it and you can use it when you are in sight of land.
My tip: use your telephone for leaving each other messages
Don’t sit in the balcony when attending shore/shopping talks, they give stuff away and it rarely makes it past first 15 rows of main area.
If the Air Conditioning is not working too well in your cabin - at night - when the cabin steward cannot come in - you can remove the vent cover with two "slides" on each side, and open up the A/C valve all the way, so you get better Air Flow in your room.
On some ships, the balcony door frame has a button on the inside of the door frame. When you leave your balcony door open, the air conditioner in your room will not work while the door is open. Simply put a small refrigerator magnet over the button and your air will continue to run while the door is open.
If you have a balcony cabin bring a Bungee cord to hold the door open.
If the port is not a tender port and you are there for most of the day you can come back on board, freshen up, drop off packages, grab a bite to eat (it's already paid for) and go back out.
Always take along a white hand towel when we get off. It comes in handy for wiping off your hands after suntan lotion, sand, or wet it down to cool off
Also, buy an 'over the door shoe organizer(avail. at Wal-mart for about $7) and hang it over the inside of the bathroom door....it's a great place to put all of your toiletries that would otherwise clutter up the minimal bathroom counter space. Good for holding many other things as well! A lot of ships now have lots of shelves in the bathroom, but do research.
If you are traveling to the port from an airport, take the Super shuttle instead of the ship transport. It’s cheaper, less crowded, and departs more quickly. If you have three or more people, it might be cheaper to take a taxicab.
Buy a beach towel at the first port for cheap. Good souvenir and a lot less expensive than the Carnival ones at $22 There are two beach sized towels for you to enjoy at the pool or on an excursion provided on board.
Never pack all of one person’s clothes in the same bag. Separate everything equally amongst the bags even if it makes unpack a bear, this is a safeguard against a missing bag.
Bungee cords also make nice clotheslines.
If you don't have clothes on every hanger, be sure you have at least something hung on every other hanger in the closet. That way, they are cushioned, and you won't be kept awake with the noise.
Clothespins are very useful! Use them to clip curtains closed (on balconies or room dividers). Or, use them to hang bathing suits or clothing to the clothing line in the bathroom or chairs on the balcony, you can also use them to weight down the bottom of the shower curtain.
Bring a flashlight with you for late-night bathroom trips.
Happy hour (half off) in the afternoon when in port
Deck chairs unoccupied for ½ -1 hour ask attendant to reassign
Make sure, at the very least, that you purchase the embarkation photo. That is the ONE photo that is sure to have a date on it, and makes a good way to remember all the countless cruises you've been on.
Do NOT buy the cruise video. If you do insist on buying the video, wait until later in the week, when they give you $5 off and 12 free wallet photos. The video would cost $25 with 12 free wallets, making the video really only cost $10 (4 wallets for $5). If you’re in a suite with a VCR you can make your own! (Bring your own blank VCR tape)
Wait until the last day to purchase your pictures, that way you can choose the best. If you pull them each day, they should hold them for you (at least they will on RCCL) that way you don't have to search through everything for the same pics day after day either! And sometimes they will have discounts for purchasing multiple pics! Have heard of 2 for 1 sale
When the ships are in port, look for LOTS of specials to keep you on board!
Silver Jewelry & Hot Saltwater don’t mix well
Bring Ziploc’s to put your swimsuits in for traveling home. Then you don't have to worry about them drying out before you leave!
Be VERY CAREFUL of cotton or cotton-blend swimsuits in the Jacuzzis - these are SALT WATER, and hot salt water will BLEACH your suit - trust me on this one.
The hot tubs are all salt water, except for the one in the gym.
Bring at least 2 bathing suits so you never have to put on a wet one.
When having any service in the spa - tell them up front you already use and have MOST of the Elemis products, and order off the web. They won't try to SELL you to death.
SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN!
HAT! HAT! HAT!
Things take FOREVER to dry in the bathroom, so if you have a balcony take along a short piece of clothesline and some clothespins and rig up a line on the balcony. Hang things out there and they will dry MUCH quicker. You
Here’s a twist on clothes line we used karabiners to secure the lines and then strung our clothes through the lines, like through the sleeve or pant leg. You’ll never lose any clothes due to wind.
Post-its are good, but you can leave notes on the door on a white-board; small ones are inexpensive and come with magnets on the back and a wipe-off pen
Decorate your door and or balcony. Helps you find your cabin from the inside & see it from shore.
On the formal nights - have your picture taken at each of the settings but only buy the good ones. After your cruise contact Carnival directly and they will send you a photo release so you can duplicate them.
Ladies, make sure you don't forget your nylons, for they do not sell these on the ship. I hope this will be of some help.
Also for the formal nights, the gents can rent a tux and keep it for the entire week for whatever occasion. It costs somewhere around 85.00, which is not bad, although that’s without shoes.
There are showers in the Spa, these aren't the normal cabin showers, they are like the 'rain' showers that you find in some higher end hotels it’s a great place for a guy to go shower while the wife is using the cabin bathroom for a formal night or something
There are steam rooms and saunas in the SPA that people may not realize are free to use, they are separated so men and women can't go together. Dream and splendor are currently not free.
Pack a 9x12" manila envelope with a piece of cardboard in it to keep our photos from getting crushed on the way home.
Another good idea is to take some souvenirs from your country or city to give to your waiters, room steward, etc.
Take large (1 or 2 gallon) zip lock bags to put things like the FUN TIMES and other memorabilia
Take a journal with you and remember to write each day's events. They are so much fun to re-read years after the cruise.
After taking hundreds of pictures, hard to remember the details about each picture. Take a small spiral note pad. At the end of each day, go through all the pictures on your digital camera that & write the picture number and a comment
Take a car ashtray the kind with a lid preferably new (no smell)
DO NOT forget to bring LOTS of Underwater disposable cameras or if not on a budget a waterproof digital camera or watertight camera case!!!
DO NOT forget water shoes!!!
Pack your clothes with dry cleaning plastic bags in between. helps prevent wrinkles
Laundry special day. Usually it's the second to the last night. They wash and fold for a FULL bag for only $15
The "gold by the inch" and "silver by the inch" are all plated, not solid.
Crossword puzzles and trivia sheets Sudoku puzzles are found in the library. If you don't see any, go during library hours and ask the attendant for one. I would go early in the cruise because they sometimes run out.
WalMart hardware supplies and they have this nifty little motion detector light...it comes with the 3AA batteries it needs, and it has a LED light...as soon as it detects motion, it comes on and stays on for 20 seconds after the motion stops...PERFECT for cruising. I was so impressed! It is by Meridan and called "LED Motion Sensor Light". States it uses up to 95% less battery power, turns on automatically when motion detected only in the dark, and detects motion within 15 feet. 30,000+ hours of bulb life. Not bad for less than $6.00!!!
Book Shore excursion on your own in MOST cases- you will save money and got to see & do more. Check these boards for suggestions- they were all pretty accurate. Ask lots of questions. Cruise booked excursions do offer peace of mind that should you be late the ship will wait.
If you own at least 100 shares of CCL stock, you are entitled to shipboard credit depending on the line and the length of your cruise. For a 7 day cruise, it amounts to $100. The credit can't be used for gaming chips, and must be asked for in advance.
If you ask your room attendant, he/she will see to it that you get a sharps container, almost immediately from the infirmary...(you don't have to go there yourself!!) thus, not having to put them into the trash, causing a possible problem for them. They do not charge for this.
For first time cruisers, here's the best tip ever, there will be some things that don't meet your expectations, and some things that surpass them. Someone will get a better deal than you did, someone will not follow the guidelines, somebody will cut in front of you, and someone will let their kid(s) be unruly. DON”T expect everything to be perfect, it won’t be! If you have a concern write the “Hotel Manager” a letter and forget about it (his or her name will be posted in the lobby by the purser’s desk).
Don't over plan your day. It's very easy to plan something for every minute you're awake. But you won't make it to everything, and the sun will sap your energy. Plan the things you REALLY want to do, and keep others in mind. If you have been looking forward to the galley tour for the whole trip, you don't want to be too tired to enjoy it.
For port days in those with a tropical itinerary, odds are you’re going to do something in the heat and you’re going to sweat. Guys, wear swim trunks, a polyester shirt and a hat. Ladies, wear swimwear and a polyester casual short one piece dress. Poly doesn’t really get wet and will dry where as cotton keeps you wet and uncomfortable. You will never regret bringing a backpack vs carrying a beach bag. Keep an eye out for each other, many complex pickpocket teams out there.
If you are traveling to Mexico remember one very important thing. In Mexico they sell tons of sling shots made out of wood.. If you have children (especially boys) they will want one. Do NOT buy one. The crew will confiscate it the second you try to board the ship as they are considered weapons. The crew will NOT hold them for you and they will NOT be returned.
I have been told that if your kids play ball, it's best to bring your own, as sometimes the older kids will monopolize the ball given by the Purser's desk
If you are going to Jamaica, something they don't tell you is that US citizens can bring back an extra bottle of alcohol duty free, if it is both made and sold in Jamaica.
Always bring extra clothes, undergarments and toiletries in your carry on bags (on your return trip home). If your flight gets overbooked they will usually offer you airline vouchers if you stay overnight and take a flight out the next morning.
Get your luggage outside the door early on the last night.
Everyone in your group should use the same color bright bandannas tied onto the luggage handles. When you debark and go into that large and I mean large warehouse area to get your luggage you will instantly know which pieces belong to you
Cruising… A Do Not Forget List
Cruise documents, Travel agents information, Passports, airline tickets, Certified Birth Certificates, picture ID’s, personal phone book and travel insurance paperwork ………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………
Prescription Medications, seven day pill organizer, allergy medication’s, children’s Tylenol, Aspirins, bonine or Ginger root to prevent sea sickness (acupuncture wrist bands don’t work), Imodium-AD, Ex-Lax, Tums/Rolaids, Mylanta or pepto, Vitamins, Geritol, Zicam, Neosporin, band-aids, alcohol wipes, SPF lip balm, sunscreen, sunburn lotion, travel size bottle of hand sanitizer body lotion, individual packets of "wet ones”, anticipatory feminine products, birth control, Extra pair prescription glasses, eyeglass repair kit (screws and screwdriver), travel sewing kit, nail file, Q-tips, RX for antibiotics from Doctor just in case…………………...
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Lysol, travel-sized bottle of Fabreeze, Downy Wrinkle Tide to go stick, Release (may produce a sheen when pictures are taken), sanitizing wipes and for some tours a zip lock with a small roll of toilet paper. Lint roller, Room deodorizers, glasses cleaner, ear plugs, sleeping mask, tweezers, curling Iron, hair dryer and a bungee cord to hold open the patio door in your cabin. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
***power strip are currently banned*** Cell phone, Calling card, Camera, camcorder, Extra camera battery, film, digital chips and/or tapes, battery charger, disposable underwater camera, small camera bag with a neck lanyard, a Laptop for downloading digital pictures (or you can use most MP3 players with a large hard drive), binoculars, flat low power usage plug in night lights, portable CD player (MP3/Ipod, etc.) with miniature speakers, headphones, since most cabins only have 1 outlet you’ll want a small extension cord and a multiple outlet strip, voltage converter (especially if you want to use an electric razor in the bathroom), Flashlight, LED clock, travel alarm (most cell phones make a great alarm), walkie-talkies, Binoculars, ………………………………………………………………………………………………
door post-its, and an door hanging shoe holder (lots of pouches and only $8 at Wal-Mart), Sunglasses, Snorkel gear, aqua sox, hat (to protect from the sun), Backpacks, fanny pack, wrist lanyards, hole punch to attach cards to the lanyards, hats and/or visor, ponchos, windbreaker, waterproof sports watch with an alarm, I will bring my own beach towel (don't want to lose the cruise ships onshore, too expensive), rollerblades, Ice skates, (for voyageur class ships), cooler for beach excursions, Velcro strips (to hold the curtains open), …………………………………………………………………………………
flavored creamers for your coffee, insulated thermal mug, flask, A highlighter pen to mark the daily newsletter comes in handy, Zip-loc bags of different sizes, Extra cable ties & clippers, 8 1/2"x 11" cardboard and a big manila envelope for on board picture purchases, Spanish/English dictionary (or whichever one suits your trip), Journal, Diary or a notebook, pens, pencils, Crayons, waterproof pouches, specifically a “water wallet”, box of small dog bones to take snorkeling, empty collapsible soft sided travel bag (for taking home souvenirs and other purchases) two sided tape to put the cruise pictures up on the mirrors, pre-printed labels for postcards, door decorations so the kids can find their way back to the cabin, collapsible and don’t forget word searches, crosswords and coloring books or reading book for the flight also travel munchies and drinks. A “pop-up” hamper (5 bucks at Ikea) And DUCT TAPE!!! (Multi-colored if you’d like so you like to mark your luggage for easy identification). Bring a shopping list of people you NEED to buy souvenirs for, Name tags for any pre-arranged ship board meetings, and buy some good luggage tags and locks (locks cannot be used at the airport but they can everywhere else, they can also be used in room on a suitcase to keep private stuff private from the crew and children). And the kitchens sink. ………………………………………………...
After you've packed everything, take a good look and remove 1/3 of your packed clothes. You can always use the ships' laundry room (if available about $4 a load). ………………
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Before you go don’t forget to……………………………………………………………….
Leave a copy of your itinerary with cruise line phone number for family or friends in case there is an emergency, Stop the newspaper, Stop the mail, Get everything dry cleaned, Make sure prescriptions are filled, Get traveler's checks, Send out b-day/anniversary Cards, set up your out of office assistant on your outlook, Make sure you line up someone to feed the pets, turn the answering machine on and the volume down, If you're taking the kid's out of school, make sure to notify the school that the kids will be out, turn down the heat to lowest level for pipe safety or pet comfort, remove perishables from refrigerator, set the timed night light, get lots of $1’s and $5’s (contrary to popular belief $2 bills are virtually useless to crewmembers) for tipping, Make sure the coffee pot is turned off the garage door is closed, Call a cab, set the alarm’s on the car’s and the house, …………… …………………........................................... .................................................. ......................Make a notation of where you parked at the airport at home (if you did park there); bring a good attitude, manners and a huge appetite!
Spreading my first timer propaganda...
CRUISE TIPS! some will surprise you!
Copy and paste this into a word document, print, get a highlighter and go over this with you’re the rest of your party.
For first time cruisers, here's the best tip ever, there will be some things that don't meet your expectations, and some things that surpass them. Someone will get a better deal than you did, someone will not follow the guidelines, somebody will cut in front of you, and someone will let their kid(s) be unruly. DON’T expect everything to be perfect, it won’t be! If you have a concern write the “Hotel Manager” a letter and forget about it (his or her name will be posted in the lobby by the purser’s desk).
Buy a water proof digital camera immediately, before you forget! They can be found $100-$200 from Amazon, Wal-Mart, etc. They can be used for snorkeling, pools, pool side, hot tubs, various excursions and you’ll be protected if a sudden rain storm appears. You will not regret your decision to buy one.
FOOD
If your dining times are not what you expected, go immediately to the dining room upon boarding and they will straighten it out. If you delay or wait until after sailing, you'll probably be disappointed.
The menu is on your TV; you can just check and see if you like the selections ahead of time.
Order a second entree or second anything in the dining room.
In the dining room, if there is anything you want, it doesn't hurt to ask.
If, by chance, you don't like anything they have on the menu, ask them to bring you a steak or a grilled chicken breast...
Any pasta dish on the main entree section of the menu is also available as an appetizer.
Room Service, which generally is not a full meal, rather a continental breakfast or a sandwich is free. (2-3 dollar tip is pretty standard)
Order your coffee and Danish the night before so when you wake up, you won't have to wait for that first cup of coffee.
Also about the Pizza.............If there is a special kind you like (different toppings than they show in the display case) if they can get them they will custom make you a pizza the way you want it, it takes about 8 minutes, but you do have to take the whole pizza...........
If you want orange juice any time remember the exact place you got it during breakfast time. All they do is remove the label “orange Juice”, making you think there is no OJ.
Bring a salt and pepper shaker and a bottle of ketchup up to your room for our mid-night snacks or whenever we brought our breakfast up. It is quite a convenience.
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You can always get ice cream added to any dessert
Ask for a cheese plate from the desert menu & take it to your room for a wine & cheese party on the balcony
If you want good bananas at the end of the cruise you better pick some up at the beginning of the cruise and put them in your fridge, they cannot pick up fresh fruit so by the end of the week they start looking a little bad.
And don't forget ......don't ever forget about the 24 hour Soft Serve Ice Cream (Chocolate, Vanilla and Swirled) and the Frozen Yogurt (also Chocolate, Vanilla and Swirled). And check your daily “Fun Times”(formerly Capers) for the Sea Days that they have the Sundae toppings available.
Ice cream is free on board Take a large insulated mug, fill halfway with ice-cream, a bit of ice, 2 shots of coffee. Stir well, & voila.. Frapachino
If you want to order sandwiches to take off the ship in port, you don't have to order them the night before. Take Ziploc bags with you and order them in the morning. You are absolutely NOT allowed to take food off into port, but they only check your bags getting back on the ship.
DO NOT try to take food off at the end of the week though. You will get caught there.
At breakfast there is an omelet station, they will fry your eggs to order, all you have to do is ask.
***DISCLAIMER*** many arguments against bringing food off the ship, most popular being hot weather spoiling the food getting you sick; but if you pack put your goodies in a waterproof bag an put that bag in ice you should be fine.
You can bring a tray with food & drink from the buffet to your room
For all the deck drinkers - Order all your drinks from the same bar server during the week. By mid-week they usually slip you a free one now and again. At minimum, you can make sure there's a little kick in your mix drinks.
Carnival now charges for the cakes it brings to your table for your birthday etc
ALCOHOL & NON-ALOCHOL DRINKS
Soda Drink Cards: You will pay tax when in port so wait until the ship leaves. $6 per day for adults, children are $4.50 per day times the number of days of the cruise plus 15% tip... This is a glass of coke, or about 2/3 can. A can of coke costs $2.00 for the whole can. These are the last reported prices.
Alternatively consider getting one card and using it to "buy" sodas for your significant other (you must be discreet about this). As you move through the ship, order one soda at one bar and another soda at the next bar.
Ice tea is free in the dining room. Cappuccino is free in the dining room. Fruit punch is no longer offered, only lemonade and sometimes “hidden O.J”. in the lido deck.
At the Captains cocktail party, they used to give away free drinks, they no longer do, just $1 off coupons.
There are now free drinks at the farewell party on the last night. Many have reported that if your table doesn’t tip you may only see the staff twice. But if your table tips in cash, you’ll get sick of seeing the waiter/waitress. lol
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Bring a thermos style hot/cold mug with a lid and fill with coffee, ice tea, lemonade or self made ice coffee from the lido deck dispensers and ice machines.
If you have the souvenir glass you can order any frozen drink as a refill not just the drink of the day. They do charge you the price of the other frozen drink you ordered but you get it in the bigger glass. When you place your order say "refill’, it is only $4.95 compared to the original $6.95. If you order the drink of the day in the small glass, I believe you also pay $4.95, but it doesn't hold as much as the hurricane cup." Many people on the first day do not realize that the "Souvenir Glasses" are for keeps.
If you order a bottle of wine at dinner and don't finish it, they will cork it and bring it back for you the next night. This is for people who don't normally finish an entire bottle at dinner but don't want to pay the higher price of ordering by the glass.
Forget Rum and Cokes. Long Island Ice tea is best Value, best Drink with all the Booze they pour into the Glass...Very Good Too!!!!!
Take a flask so you can “spike” your lemonade.
The water aboard cruise ships goes through extensive processing to assure its purity and taste, and is as clean as any bottled water you can buy. If you do buy a bottle of water, refill it from the faucet in your stateroom and keep it in the fridge or fill at dispensers in cafeteria but don’t touch the dispenser with the bottle
You can obtain drink coupons through the bon voyage dept. 4 drinks per coupon for $21.25. People have reported that while the drink coupons are suppose to only cover $5.25 drinks, they’re currently taking $5.75 off. Gratuity which is 15% is included in the $5.75, therefore the coupons save you $1.28 per $5.75 drink. If you buy a drink more than the allotted $5.75, bartenders are supposed to charge the difference. A few strategies to prevent them charging the difference is to pull out a five dollar bill and discretely ask, for them not charge you difference for the entire cruise or going to a different bartender until you find one who doesn’t charge the difference and stick with them. If you are charged the difference, they subtract $5.75 off the price, and do not charge gratuity on the $5.75. EG for an $8.95 cosmo without coupon will be $10.29 with gratuity. With coupon, you pay ($21.24 / 4) $5.31 per drink…They deduct $5.75 from $8.95, leaving $3.20, add 15% = $3.68 + the cost of the coupon $8.99
Order drink coupons throughout the year then the sail & sign bill isn’t so big
For Drink Coupons Go to Bon Voyage dept on Carnival website... you can "order" them and they will be in your room.
The best deal for beer is the 25.4oz can of Fosters for $7.76 after gratuity. Next is a bucket of beer (4) were $22 after gratuity. Many aren’t twist off. Ask them to only open one and leave the rest capped. Bring along a travel can opener if you ordered them this way & take the extras back to the room for later. Otherwise they opened every one before they bring them.
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.. It is a little pricey at $40 a litre but cheaper than buying by the drink. Call to order 1-800-522-7648 Monday to Friday 9:00 am –5:30 pm Eastern Time up to one week before departure.
There have been rumors that on some cruises you may be able to order bottles liquor from guest services or room service. If you want to give back to the cruising community, please find out if this is an option on your cruise and report back.
Also on SOME cruises you can buy a drink of the day card for $23 (plus tip) that gets you 5 DOD's - and they can be any DOD that has been done (maybe even before). First one is in hurricane cup... rest same amount just in regular cup.
OTHER:
When the lights start to dim in the dining room this means Entertainment is coming. Make sure you have your camera ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Make sure that your bank and credit card Company are aware that you will be out of the country. They will note it on your account so that you won't be flagged for fraudulent activity.
Do not use a debit card for your sail and sign account - credit cards offer lots more protection, and the hold on funds they place on your debit card account can be a problem for some people. Use cash or a credit card.
Tipping porters (folks who take your bags at ports) is a highly debated subject. Some ports even have signs up stating not to tip. If you choose to tip, carnival states on their site its $2/bag while some tipping etiquette guides says $5/bag. Facts are, people who have tipped have had their bags “lost” and people have do not tip receive their bags fine.
For first timers, if you have early embarkation to the ship (before the cabins are ready), proceed directly to the lido deck for a buffet lunch. This is also the time the bar staff will try to get you started on your bar bill with their drink specials (often called a "bon voyage"). However, there are free alternatives, like coffee, tea and lemonade.
Odd # cabins are on the right Even on the Left The higher the number the closer to the back of the ship.
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The Purser's Office will carry stamps of the different countries that you are going to. You can buy stamps ahead of time so you don't have to find a post office in each port. It makes it much easier to send postcards home from the different ports.
Free Post Cards are here also
In the casino, they'll give you a lanyard, as well as punch a hole in your S&S card.
If you need aspirin, seasick pills, or a variety of general medications, check the "0" deck where the waiting room is for the doctor. There were free samples for the taking in individual packets... also a weigh scale in case you need to weigh a suitcase (or yourself!).
Don't be afraid to ask for extra pillows
Ask for Preference Toilet Paper
2nd night of a cruise is the Captains Welcome & Formal Night
3rd Night is Past Guest Night
Also, check out the INTERNET CAFE for a drawing for free internet minutes (day one only)... check the FUN TIMES waiting in your cabin.
One of the first things I do is ask my room steward for the use of a bath robe during the cruise. These are usually standard in suites, but if you write your steward a note while you are out to dinner the first night (I always include a cash tip as well) there will be one (or two if requested) waiting for you no problem. This saves so much room in my luggage and is useful for the pool and also spa visits. Enjoy!
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To get cash without any fees, register your Sign and sail card in any slot machine. To do so takes about a minute as you enter your birthdate and create a pin. Then you load money from your sign and sail account to your slot machine account. If you do not want to play slots, select the cash out option and proceed to the casino cashier, who give you cash in any domination including quarters.
Quarters are required for Laundry, last reported price was $3 wash and another $3 to dry.
The Mini Bars All Full... Most have a lock, let the steward know if it’s locked and you want it unlocked or vice versa, let the steward know. They Will also Empty it For You allowing you to have a mini fridge, however most report it only to be a cooler which will not keep things cool vs cold.
Send yourself a Bon Voyage gift of champagne and snacks. Carnival does a FANTASTIC job of having it set up in your cabin all ready for you when you board the ship.
Do walk the entire ship on your first day. It will help you learn where everything is, and will help you discover spots that others never find.
You can also ask your Room Steward for the book that is in your cabin (a carnival book that tells about the ship), just ask and they may give it to you.
If your stateroom is cold, call your steward and ask for 2 extra blankets
Learn and use the crew member's names, and smile. They're doing the same for you most of the time, and a little kindness can go MILES. You'll be surprised at the service you can get. "Please" and "thank you" can work miracles.
Pack a change of clothes & swimsuit in your carry on baggage. Sometimes it may take some time to get your baggage.
When they push the two twin beds together to make a king they just overlap the twin sheets. They will put king size sheets on if you ask.
Make photo copies of your passport (inside page with your photo/ID#/date of issue/exp), credit cards, and air tickets - if they're not e-tickets - and put them in the safe, another set of copies keep in your luggage under the bed ,also carry one of the sets with you-not in your luggage in case it goes missing on your flight.
I find the easiest place to store larger suitcases after they've been emptied is under the bed.... good place to stash stuff you've bought and then lock the luggage... and it's out of sight and you're not stuck tripping over it.
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Casino tips
1) if you play blackjack, one secret to keep in mind is the Fun21 table - there are NO QUEENS in the decks
2) Slots are really tight.
3) Best odds are on the 3 card poker.
Every room should have a hair dryer
The safes operate with a magnetic strip. You can use anything with a magnetic strip, (room key, credit card, store discount cards, etc.) A good choice is the blank gift cards you find in stores. There is no value to them until you purchase it and have it activated,
Money clips...that have MAGNETS holding everything together......Never and I mean never put your S & S card in the same pocket of your money clip!!!!! As the magnets will demagnetize your card and you won't be able to get into your room or even buy a drink.....At the Pursers desk they can fix this...
Cell phones will demagnetize.
Most cell phones have alarm clocks built in so you don’t need to pack a real alarm clock.
Call your carrier and activate international roaming, usually about $1 a minute.
If you plan on using your cell in ports, 1) Remember to set it to ships time!
2) Don’t forget your watch also
Your cell phone is your friend. Take it and you can use it when you are in sight of land.
My tip: use your telephone for leaving each other messages
Don’t sit in the balcony when attending shore/shopping talks, they give stuff away and it rarely makes it past first 15 rows of main area.
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On some ships, the balcony door frame has a button on the inside of the door frame. When you leave your balcony door open, the air conditioner in your room will not work while the door is open. Simply put a small refrigerator magnet over the button and your air will continue to run while the door is open.
If you have a balcony cabin bring a Bungee cord to hold the door open.
If the port is not a tender port and you are there for most of the day you can come back on board, freshen up, drop off packages, grab a bite to eat (it's already paid for) and go back out.
Always take along a white hand towel when we get off. It comes in handy for wiping off your hands after suntan lotion, sand, or wet it down to cool off
Also, buy an 'over the door shoe organizer(avail. at Wal-mart for about $7) and hang it over the inside of the bathroom door....it's a great place to put all of your toiletries that would otherwise clutter up the minimal bathroom counter space. Good for holding many other things as well! A lot of ships now have lots of shelves in the bathroom, but do research.
If you are traveling to the port from an airport, take the Super shuttle instead of the ship transport. It’s cheaper, less crowded, and departs more quickly. If you have three or more people, it might be cheaper to take a taxicab.
Buy a beach towel at the first port for cheap. Good souvenir and a lot less expensive than the Carnival ones at $22 There are two beach sized towels for you to enjoy at the pool or on an excursion provided on board.
Never pack all of one person’s clothes in the same bag. Separate everything equally amongst the bags even if it makes unpack a bear, this is a safeguard against a missing bag.
Bungee cords also make nice clotheslines.
If you don't have clothes on every hanger, be sure you have at least something hung on every other hanger in the closet. That way, they are cushioned, and you won't be kept awake with the noise.
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Bring a flashlight with you for late-night bathroom trips.
Happy hour (half off) in the afternoon when in port
Deck chairs unoccupied for ½ -1 hour ask attendant to reassign
Make sure, at the very least, that you purchase the embarkation photo. That is the ONE photo that is sure to have a date on it, and makes a good way to remember all the countless cruises you've been on.
Do NOT buy the cruise video. If you do insist on buying the video, wait until later in the week, when they give you $5 off and 12 free wallet photos. The video would cost $25 with 12 free wallets, making the video really only cost $10 (4 wallets for $5). If you’re in a suite with a VCR you can make your own! (Bring your own blank VCR tape)
Wait until the last day to purchase your pictures, that way you can choose the best. If you pull them each day, they should hold them for you (at least they will on RCCL) that way you don't have to search through everything for the same pics day after day either! And sometimes they will have discounts for purchasing multiple pics! Have heard of 2 for 1 sale
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Silver Jewelry & Hot Saltwater don’t mix well
Bring Ziploc’s to put your swimsuits in for traveling home. Then you don't have to worry about them drying out before you leave!
Be VERY CAREFUL of cotton or cotton-blend swimsuits in the Jacuzzis - these are SALT WATER, and hot salt water will BLEACH your suit - trust me on this one.
The hot tubs are all salt water, except for the one in the gym.
Bring at least 2 bathing suits so you never have to put on a wet one.
When having any service in the spa - tell them up front you already use and have MOST of the Elemis products, and order off the web. They won't try to SELL you to death.
SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN!
HAT! HAT! HAT!
Things take FOREVER to dry in the bathroom, so if you have a balcony take along a short piece of clothesline and some clothespins and rig up a line on the balcony. Hang things out there and they will dry MUCH quicker. You
Here’s a twist on clothes line we used karabiners to secure the lines and then strung our clothes through the lines, like through the sleeve or pant leg. You’ll never lose any clothes due to wind.
Post-its are good, but you can leave notes on the door on a white-board; small ones are inexpensive and come with magnets on the back and a wipe-off pen
Decorate your door and or balcony. Helps you find your cabin from the inside & see it from shore.
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On the formal nights - have your picture taken at each of the settings but only buy the good ones. After your cruise contact Carnival directly and they will send you a photo release so you can duplicate them.
Ladies, make sure you don't forget your nylons, for they do not sell these on the ship. I hope this will be of some help.
Also for the formal nights, the gents can rent a tux and keep it for the entire week for whatever occasion. It costs somewhere around 85.00, which is not bad, although that’s without shoes.
There are showers in the Spa, these aren't the normal cabin showers, they are like the 'rain' showers that you find in some higher end hotels it’s a great place for a guy to go shower while the wife is using the cabin bathroom for a formal night or something
There are steam rooms and saunas in the SPA that people may not realize are free to use, they are separated so men and women can't go together. Dream and splendor are currently not free.
Pack a 9x12" manila envelope with a piece of cardboard in it to keep our photos from getting crushed on the way home.
Another good idea is to take some souvenirs from your country or city to give to your waiters, room steward, etc.
Take large (1 or 2 gallon) zip lock bags to put things like the FUN TIMES and other memorabilia
Take a journal with you and remember to write each day's events. They are so much fun to re-read years after the cruise.
After taking hundreds of pictures, hard to remember the details about each picture. Take a small spiral note pad. At the end of each day, go through all the pictures on your digital camera that & write the picture number and a comment
Take a car ashtray the kind with a lid preferably new (no smell)
DO NOT forget to bring LOTS of Underwater disposable cameras or if not on a budget a waterproof digital camera or watertight camera case!!!
DO NOT forget water shoes!!!
Pack your clothes with dry cleaning plastic bags in between. helps prevent wrinkles
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The "gold by the inch" and "silver by the inch" are all plated, not solid.
Crossword puzzles and trivia sheets Sudoku puzzles are found in the library. If you don't see any, go during library hours and ask the attendant for one. I would go early in the cruise because they sometimes run out.
WalMart hardware supplies and they have this nifty little motion detector light...it comes with the 3AA batteries it needs, and it has a LED light...as soon as it detects motion, it comes on and stays on for 20 seconds after the motion stops...PERFECT for cruising. I was so impressed! It is by Meridan and called "LED Motion Sensor Light". States it uses up to 95% less battery power, turns on automatically when motion detected only in the dark, and detects motion within 15 feet. 30,000+ hours of bulb life. Not bad for less than $6.00!!!
Book Shore excursion on your own in MOST cases- you will save money and got to see & do more. Check these boards for suggestions- they were all pretty accurate. Ask lots of questions. Cruise booked excursions do offer peace of mind that should you be late the ship will wait.
If you own at least 100 shares of CCL stock, you are entitled to shipboard credit depending on the line and the length of your cruise. For a 7 day cruise, it amounts to $100. The credit can't be used for gaming chips, and must be asked for in advance.
If you ask your room attendant, he/she will see to it that you get a sharps container, almost immediately from the infirmary...(you don't have to go there yourself!!) thus, not having to put them into the trash, causing a possible problem for them. They do not charge for this.
For first time cruisers, here's the best tip ever, there will be some things that don't meet your expectations, and some things that surpass them. Someone will get a better deal than you did, someone will not follow the guidelines, somebody will cut in front of you, and someone will let their kid(s) be unruly. DON”T expect everything to be perfect, it won’t be! If you have a concern write the “Hotel Manager” a letter and forget about it (his or her name will be posted in the lobby by the purser’s desk).
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For port days in those with a tropical itinerary, odds are you’re going to do something in the heat and you’re going to sweat. Guys, wear swim trunks, a polyester shirt and a hat. Ladies, wear swimwear and a polyester casual short one piece dress. Poly doesn’t really get wet and will dry where as cotton keeps you wet and uncomfortable. You will never regret bringing a backpack vs carrying a beach bag. Keep an eye out for each other, many complex pickpocket teams out there.
If you are traveling to Mexico remember one very important thing. In Mexico they sell tons of sling shots made out of wood.. If you have children (especially boys) they will want one. Do NOT buy one. The crew will confiscate it the second you try to board the ship as they are considered weapons. The crew will NOT hold them for you and they will NOT be returned.
I have been told that if your kids play ball, it's best to bring your own, as sometimes the older kids will monopolize the ball given by the Purser's desk
If you are going to Jamaica, something they don't tell you is that US citizens can bring back an extra bottle of alcohol duty free, if it is both made and sold in Jamaica.
Always bring extra clothes, undergarments and toiletries in your carry on bags (on your return trip home). If your flight gets overbooked they will usually offer you airline vouchers if you stay overnight and take a flight out the next morning.
Get your luggage outside the door early on the last night.
Everyone in your group should use the same color bright bandannas tied onto the luggage handles. When you debark and go into that large and I mean large warehouse area to get your luggage you will instantly know which pieces belong to you
Cruising… A Do Not Forget List
Cruise documents, Travel agents information, Passports, airline tickets, Certified Birth Certificates, picture ID’s, personal phone book and travel insurance paperwork ………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………
Prescription Medications, seven day pill organizer, allergy medication’s, children’s Tylenol, Aspirins, bonine or Ginger root to prevent sea sickness (acupuncture wrist bands don’t work), Imodium-AD, Ex-Lax, Tums/Rolaids, Mylanta or pepto, Vitamins, Geritol, Zicam, Neosporin, band-aids, alcohol wipes, SPF lip balm, sunscreen, sunburn lotion, travel size bottle of hand sanitizer body lotion, individual packets of "wet ones”, anticipatory feminine products, birth control, Extra pair prescription glasses, eyeglass repair kit (screws and screwdriver), travel sewing kit, nail file, Q-tips, RX for antibiotics from Doctor just in case…………………...
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Lysol, travel-sized bottle of Fabreeze, Downy Wrinkle Tide to go stick, Release (may produce a sheen when pictures are taken), sanitizing wipes and for some tours a zip lock with a small roll of toilet paper. Lint roller, Room deodorizers, glasses cleaner, ear plugs, sleeping mask, tweezers, curling Iron, hair dryer and a bungee cord to hold open the patio door in your cabin. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
***power strip are currently banned*** Cell phone, Calling card, Camera, camcorder, Extra camera battery, film, digital chips and/or tapes, battery charger, disposable underwater camera, small camera bag with a neck lanyard, a Laptop for downloading digital pictures (or you can use most MP3 players with a large hard drive), binoculars, flat low power usage plug in night lights, portable CD player (MP3/Ipod, etc.) with miniature speakers, headphones, since most cabins only have 1 outlet you’ll want a small extension cord and a multiple outlet strip, voltage converter (especially if you want to use an electric razor in the bathroom), Flashlight, LED clock, travel alarm (most cell phones make a great alarm), walkie-talkies, Binoculars, ………………………………………………………………………………………………
door post-its, and an door hanging shoe holder (lots of pouches and only $8 at Wal-Mart), Sunglasses, Snorkel gear, aqua sox, hat (to protect from the sun), Backpacks, fanny pack, wrist lanyards, hole punch to attach cards to the lanyards, hats and/or visor, ponchos, windbreaker, waterproof sports watch with an alarm, I will bring my own beach towel (don't want to lose the cruise ships onshore, too expensive), rollerblades, Ice skates, (for voyageur class ships), cooler for beach excursions, Velcro strips (to hold the curtains open), …………………………………………………………………………………
flavored creamers for your coffee, insulated thermal mug, flask, A highlighter pen to mark the daily newsletter comes in handy, Zip-loc bags of different sizes, Extra cable ties & clippers, 8 1/2"x 11" cardboard and a big manila envelope for on board picture purchases, Spanish/English dictionary (or whichever one suits your trip), Journal, Diary or a notebook, pens, pencils, Crayons, waterproof pouches, specifically a “water wallet”, box of small dog bones to take snorkeling, empty collapsible soft sided travel bag (for taking home souvenirs and other purchases) two sided tape to put the cruise pictures up on the mirrors, pre-printed labels for postcards, door decorations so the kids can find their way back to the cabin, collapsible and don’t forget word searches, crosswords and coloring books or reading book for the flight also travel munchies and drinks. A “pop-up” hamper (5 bucks at Ikea) And DUCT TAPE!!! (Multi-colored if you’d like so you like to mark your luggage for easy identification). Bring a shopping list of people you NEED to buy souvenirs for, Name tags for any pre-arranged ship board meetings, and buy some good luggage tags and locks (locks cannot be used at the airport but they can everywhere else, they can also be used in room on a suitcase to keep private stuff private from the crew and children). And the kitchens sink. ………………………………………………...
After you've packed everything, take a good look and remove 1/3 of your packed clothes. You can always use the ships' laundry room (if available about $4 a load). ………………
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Before you go don’t forget to……………………………………………………………….
Leave a copy of your itinerary with cruise line phone number for family or friends in case there is an emergency, Stop the newspaper, Stop the mail, Get everything dry cleaned, Make sure prescriptions are filled, Get traveler's checks, Send out b-day/anniversary Cards, set up your out of office assistant on your outlook, Make sure you line up someone to feed the pets, turn the answering machine on and the volume down, If you're taking the kid's out of school, make sure to notify the school that the kids will be out, turn down the heat to lowest level for pipe safety or pet comfort, remove perishables from refrigerator, set the timed night light, get lots of $1’s and $5’s (contrary to popular belief $2 bills are virtually useless to crewmembers) for tipping, Make sure the coffee pot is turned off the garage door is closed, Call a cab, set the alarm’s on the car’s and the house, …………… …………………........................................... .................................................. ......................Make a notation of where you parked at the airport at home (if you did park there); bring a good attitude, manners and a huge appetite!
Okay well that is it for the planning stage (well maybe not but it is for today )
Love your blog and so much wonderful info!
ReplyDeleteGeorgie aka pastasalad from GD
p.s.
If you need any help with your blog let me know-not that I'm a pro but I have been blogging for 3 &1/2 yrs so I know few tricks
=)