What did you forget to bring that you really needed?
I have learned to make a list of everything I think I need before I pack for my cruise. It took me several cruises before I started doing this, though. I forgot to bring aloe vera gel once and got a bad sunburn. Aloe vera on the ship costs about 3 times what it does at Walmart. I also bring an extra pair of reading glasses. I lost a pair on one cruise, and thankfully someone turned them in. (I am lost without my reading glasses.) I love the Las Vegas style shows, but they tend to be very loud, so I am taking ear plugs from now on to help tone down the volume.
We started packing weeks ahead of our cruise. I thought I was so organized! That first night when we started unpacking, I nearly had heart-failure when I realized that I had left my make-up bag on the bathroom cabinet that morning! I thought my life was over! Had to go to breakfast the next morning with only the minimum make-up that was in my purse, and then go shopping and spend $65.00 on just what I had to have to survive. Where is Walmart when you need them!
Hubby was getting ready for 1st formal night and realized he'd forgotten to pack his tux shirts........panicked until he called the service desk and found out he could rent a tux shirt for the length of the cruise.
extra bandaids for DH. He got blisters on his heels from shoe rub. We ended up picking up more.
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Carolin
Life is too short to let the ship of your dreams sail without you.
Carnival Destiny Feb. 2006
Carnival Fascination Feb. 2007
Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas Feb. 2008 The DTW & MsBJ tour
Carnival Valor MsBJ and Dina Feb. 2009
Carnival Glory MsBJ and Dina Feb. 2010
Carnival Dream MsBJ and Dina Feb. 2011
Forgot extra sunscreen and let me tell you that either you can pay the robbery price on board or buy the stuff in port that will allow you to really get crisply burned beyond recognition!
Terrible thing when you are super fair like dh & I are! The green glowing nightlight was a must have, and dh took a power strip to plug in various rechargable items (walkie/talkies, camera batty's...). Take the Aloe w/ Lidocaine for post-sunburns and don't forget the basic Motrin and Tylenol.
On my third or fourth cruise I was so concerned with all the "stuff" that I needed that I forgot our travel wallet with the passports, cruise docs, and airline information inside. It was on the kitchen table. Luckily we were only a few minutes away from home when I remembered.
Don't get too wrapped up in the non-essentials and forget the most important stuff.
Remember, that in almost all instances, if you forget something you can buy it.
Take care,
Mike
__________________ Cruisemates Community Leader/Moderator
"There is a great difference between being well traveled and just having been to many places." ~Me
I forgot my hairbrush on my 2nd cruise. It was interesting. The carnival shop, didn't have a decent hairbrush. I usually forget something. I should start making my list, my next cruise is in November.
If you plan on videotaping, make sure to bring extra tapes. I couldn't find any on the boat, and my last tape ended after our last port of call. (They do have some camera equipment, though.)
My dear ADHD husband left my garment bag on the bedroom floor. It contained all formal wear for me and my daughter along with all of our shoes and almost all of my shirts . When the bag didn't arrive, he didn't confess. He let me rant and rave at the purser's office. They finally placed a ship to shore call and my dear nephew verified that he was staring at the blue garment bag on the floor of my bedroom . Only then did my dear husband admit that he did not load the bag. Daughter and I missed formal nights, I purchased ridiculously priced clothing on the ship and made him pay dearly for his forgetfulness . The group we were with were extremely amused over this incident. They loved to watch him squirm as I headed to the gift shops! We actually had a great time after that first night. He was the talk of the ship! All the men pitied him and all the women were grateful he didn't belong to them!
I have learned this.
1. I will not allow him to be in charge of the luggage anymore.
2. I always check the entire house before we leave to go anywhere.
3. After 30 years of marriage, if this is the worst he has done, I'm
happy!
I booked a cruise during May 2007 and I think I'll let him go.
mstill, Us men do that stuff on purpose so it no longer becomes our responsibility. You may have won the battle that day but you lost the war! OL another win for the men!!
Forgot the nightlight. I like to read myself to sleep and at 2am all were asleep when I came in and had no light to read by!
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RCI Majesty of the Seas Aug 2007
Breckenridge ski trip Apr 2007
Carnival Fascination july 2006
So you really think he won.....Well I'll let you in on a little secret.....I don't mind checking the luggage. However, I do mind mowing the grass, fixing flats and broken toilets, painting walls, changing oil, bathing dogs, squishing bugs, etc. He gets to do all of these wonderful things because he knows I just can't do it. I'm not saying that I don't know how to take care of the messy things in life , I just choose not to.
Just remember this........women learn to master the helpless act at a very young age.
I make a very detailed packing list and check off each item once it goes into the suitcase. Each suitcase is then carried to the front door where it remains until the shuttle service picks us up.
I know exactly how many suitcases we are bringing (I pack a lot) and do a quick count at the door, at the curb, at the airport check in, as we board with our carry-ons, etc., etc. Each person in our family knows how many bags he is supposed to have and how many carry-ons.
In all the hussle between point A & B, it's so easy to forget and leave something behind. Your mind is on 30 different things at once and before you know it, your minus something. The quick count really helps us!
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Renee - The better half of RobRen :-)
Carnival - Spirit: Alaska (August 8, 2007)
Carnival - Miracle: Exotic Western Caribbean (April 9, 2006)
Royal Caribbean - Explorer of the Seas: Eastern Caribbean (January 2005)
My family and I just came back from our cruise on the Elation. Had a wonderful time, but went to dinner with wet hair because there was no blow dryer in our cabin. I thought there were blow dryers on all the ships, but I guess not. So don't forget your blow dryer and also make sure you pack a sweater or jacket because it gets cold with the air conditioning blowing (of course I forget my sweater)
Another item I plan to take on my next cruise is envelopes. I know you can get them at the purser's desk, but it is more convenient to just take some. I like to tip workers who I think deserve it, and I usually write a little note on the envelope thanking them for making my cruise so special.
Most of the workers are young and very far from home, and just the look on their faces when you hand them the envelope with the note on it makes the cruise even more special to me.
I would have to agree with vinegar, gotta have it for the fries!! My daughters had about 30 little packets in a ziploc bag and we forgot it in the van!! They knew they needed to bring it for thier fries in Florida but forgot all about bringing it on the ship last cruise.
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Next up Elation Aug 23 '10
then the Miracle again Feb 7,2011
Miracle '10
Holiday '09
Legend '09
Triumph '08
Valor '07
Triumph '06
Fascination '04
Legend '03
Okay, besides Fries..what else do you need vinegar for?
Great for french fries. (at least for Marylanders)
I know it is good for jellyfish stings.
I think I read it is also good for spines from seas nettles, etc...
According to Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar, it is good for EVERYTHING. My brother, who has arthritis, told me to drink a mixture of vinegar, water, and honey every morning and that it would help alleviate the stiffness of my arthritis. He swears it has helped him. I did buy some, but so far I have just been using it in my salad dressing.
As for fries, I haven't tried that yet. My daughters dip their fries in a mixture of mayonaise and mustard. They dip their pizza in ranch dressing. I keep telling them that pizza is fattening enough without adding ranch dressing to it. Oh well, to each his own.
I;m a list type person and have already made my list and keep adding to it for my next cruise. I seem to have soooooo many suit cases, I don't think I ever forgot anything. Now that I've said that, watch me forget something really important. :o
I use small chip clips to clip my towel onto my deck chair, post its to leave notes for the hubby and room steward in the cabin, stain stick, emergency sewing kit, baby wipes, and Visine.
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What did you forget to bring that you really needed?
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. The group we were with were extremely amused over this incident. They loved to watch him squirm as I headed to the gift shops! We actually had a great time after that first night. He was the talk of the ship! All the men pitied him and all the women were grateful he didn't belong to them! 
So don't forget your blow dryer and also make sure you pack a sweater or jacket because it gets cold with the air conditioning blowing (of course I forget my sweater)
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