Over the door shoe holders, it organizes everything in small spaces,Downy wrinkle releaser, waterproof cameras, extension cord/power pak strip, lanyards..I think I brought it all, most items were disposable leaving less to bring home in our luggage!! www.cruisecrates.com
Re: Re: Re:What are the things you wish you brought?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Teresa Jenkins
"You can buy a small "folded" pack for about $1.00. The uses are endless"
Where do I find this? I love Duct tape, but have never seen this anywhere.
Thanks a bunch!
Rather than making a special trip and spending money for a small pack of duct tape, do it yourself. Use a regular roll of duct tape and wrap it around an old, expired credit card. This way you can take as little, or a much as you want. Handy for so many things, including closing those suitcases with broken zippers!
Bonnie
I always pack a small collapsible duffle bag. Somehow, those souvenirs and packing on the last day result in loss of efficiency packing to go home and I can throw a lot of non-breakables in the duffle. Sometimes, I end up being able to throw all dirty laundry in there.
I have one that I've had so long I have no idea where I got it, but I have a bigger one I bought in the ship's gift shop on HAL. It is sturdier and great size. I also bought a Carnival carryon bag on wheels that expands. It works well as my getting off the ship bag, as breakables go in there, padded with clothes of course and I can just roll it off the ship. I can't carry much weight at all and this helps a lot.
Marty
Binoculars and Walkie talkies - no question about it. Me, my gf and another friend were supposed to get together for a meet and greet on the Imagination May 4th - 8th with two other couples but we had no way to get in touch with each other. I couldn't even get together with my friend until mid afternoon because we couldn't catch each other. I'm an early riser, she isn't, I wanted to sun myself, then take in bingo and disembarkation talk since it was my first cruise. Where was she, catty corner to me on the same sun deck but at opposite ends!! I will take them everywhere we go now, not just on cruises!!
Second thing, white shorts, if you have a favorite pair, buy a second pair so that you don't have to wash them during the cruise.
I have been reading the posts and learnig from them as I anticipate my first cruise in July to the Mediteranean on the Noordam. I just wanted everyone to know that we were in Lowe's today and bought a set of walkie talkies with a 10 mile range for only $19.99. The brand is Uniden.
This may sound crazy, but I would not cruise without my little electric fan. Last Alaska cruise I told my DH, no way would we need a fan in ALaska. But it got so stuffy in the cabin, even when I had the temp turned to the lowest setting. I even resorted to propping the verandah door partway open just to get some air circulating. This cruise on Oosterdam was better, but I still had to have the fan several times. It seemed to get hot at night regardless of the temperature setting and those new duvets on the beds are much too heavy. Had to toss them back. But the fan was a life-saver. Also, take an empty bag so you can bring home all your "loot"!!
I have been reading the posts and learnig from them as I anticipate my first cruise in July to the Mediteranean on the Noordam. I just wanted everyone to know that we were in Lowe's today and bought a set of walkie talkies with a 10 mile range for only $19.99. The brand is Uniden.
Go to Ebay also, we got our 7 mile range ones to take with us on the Jewel of the Seas in April, they worked great, ours are uniden, they cost us $4.99 + 2.00 shipping for parcel post (about 7-9 days) brand new still in the package.
Tons of excellent suggestions on this post!! Thanks to all.
I was happy to see at least one (PKClinton) mentioned the duct tape wrapped-around-a-pencil idea. It's an old backpacking trick that saves space and provides an emergency writing tool as well. (Plus, it can be used with the tape in place.)
I've learned to throw in one of those flat priority mail
envelopes you get from the post office. When you buy prints, or other flat things you don't want to get creased or "smooshed", then work great! And if you don't buy anything, toss it.
envelopes you get from the post office. When you buy prints, or other flat things you don't want to get creased or "smooshed", then work great! And if you don't buy anything, toss it.
What a great idea! I learn something new on these boards all the time!
__________________
Fern
"A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour."
Carnival Inspiration 2002 Carnival Elation 2004
Grand Princess 2004 NCL Sun 2005
Sun Princess 2006 NCL Dream 2007
Caribbean Princess 2007 NCL Dawn 2008
Island Princess 2008 Island Princess 2009
Golden Princess 2009 Carnival Conquest 2010
Grand Princess 2010 Island Princess 2011
Grand Princess 2011 Carnival Magic 2012
Carnival Dream 2012
We just returned from our first cruise. (Alaska - 7 days - Inner Passage - Coral Princess) We benefited greatly from all the posts on this thread and I wanted to share a few things I learned.
The 10 mile Unidens were a great suggestion, but it's tough keeping them at workable power. I'd recommend getting the rechargeables and be meticulous about charging them each night or bring LOTS of spare batteries. (A new set for each day wouldn't be unreasonable, a fresh set barely lasts a day if the radio's on all day.)
I picked up an "Oust" deodorizing fan by S.C. Johnson. It takes one D battery (which lasted the whole trip) and automatically cycles on every five minutes. Even my odor-sensitive wife was thrilled with its performance.
The reaction to my tipping with calling cards was mixed. Some staffers appreciated them while others seemed not to even realize what they were. I'd suggest asking the recipient if they make long distance calls before offering one. If not, cash is universally appreciated!
My wife and I definitely used the Brita, filtered sports bottles, our teenaged sons not so much. They're no longer available from Brita but you can find them on eBay. You’re not supposed to freeze them, but if you fill them mostly with ice cubes (that the stewards so nicely re-stock each day) and wrap them with a white, athletic sock, (insulates and minimizes “sweating�) you’ll have nice cold water for the whole day.
We’d have been sunk if I hadn’t brought a LARGE, empty duffel bag for our return. Those gifts and souvenirs get out of hand quickly! I didn’t use all the 13 gal. trash bags I brought, but they came in handy for dirty laundry and packing.
Always over-prepared, I brought several reading and puzzle books, CDs, and DVDs (and an 8�player) to fill the time. Between live shows, wine-tasting parties, karaoke, eating, pottery and computer classes, life-sized chess, couples massages, bridge and Scrabble, basketball, champagne breakfasts, watching scenery, and shore excursions, I never touched any of them. Most days, I was trying to figure out how to fit in a decent night’s sleep between all the activities I wanted to enjoy!
Just for grins and giggles, bring along all your negative emotions and stress from everyday life. Betchya can't hang on to 'em for more than a day! CRUISING ROCKS!! 8) 8)
We took a cruise on Carnival Valor January 16th, 2005, Eastern Carribean. I was cold in the evenings and wished I had my sweat pants and jacket. I had bought a brand new set that had a pocket on the leg, but didn't take them thinking I was going to warm weather. It wasn't even warm in Miami - our port. I wore capris with a light sweater every evening with my tennis shoes. I changed every evening after dinner so i be warmer for the show. That first evening there was cold air blowing on me from somewhere. I bought some cotton jackets that I can wear to dinner and wear afterwards. More comfortable dress shoes so I don't have to change into my tennis shoes every evening.
I wished I hadn't brought so many shorts and tops. I way overpacked and we carried our luggage on the plane and onto the cruise ship. Of course, next summer we won't be able to carry our luggage on because of the liquid bomb threat.
I never notice the smell in the cabin being bad or needing a air freshener, that is interesting. We had a inside cabin on our first cruise and I can see needing a light. We will never get another inside cabin. Your not in your cabin enough to need party lights to decorate it, but if it's fun and makes you happy power to you. Just more to pack. We took the walkie talkies to Vegas one year, never could find a channel that would work consistantly.
We couldn't find a power outlet by our bed. An extension cord be nice for something we used, but we managed without it. I take a little fan instead of a white noise machine. It circulates the air, but I need one to fall asleep with.
If we can't get everything into 2 small roll alongs and a carry on, we have too much stuff. I'm packing lighter this time to go on our cruise to Alaska. So many things you can wear with other things to make an outfit. Wearing layers some clothes won't get dirty so they can be worn more.
Someone noted a bungee cord to tie open the balcony door and this must work on some doors. On the Carnival Conquest we took a 3/4" dowel rod and cut a length of 10". We placed it in the hinged part of the door and it held the door open just fine. This would probably be the same for the sister ships to the Conquest as well.
__________________ Carnival Fantasy (15 Member Family Cruise)
Rechargeable batteries and a travel charger for your camera batteries. OUr camera takes 4 batteries so we will have 8 batteries- one set for the charger, one set for the camera.
Well...guess I could, but these make it much easier!
1-Nightlight with room deodorizer
2-Post It notes
3- Large EMPTY Suitcase-for packing souveniers etc in.
4-Power strip for extra outlets
5- over the door shoe holder for the bathroom-to put all the "little" items you always need in.
6-Highlighter for the daily's
"Discard as you go" is my motto. I take older or outdated clothes to wear when on vacation and discard when they have served their purpose. I'm sure all of you have clothes destined for the thrift store. Ragged or faded undergarments are ready for the trash anyway, right? Why would you really want to spend your time during or after your cruise washing out dirty underwear or laundry!?!
To everybody on the cruise, you are wearing new things for the first time and they will probably never see you again anyway!
More room in your suitcase to bring back new things and and little or no laundry when you get back home! What better way to enjoy coming home!
from our first cruise. (Alaska - 7 days - Inner Passage - Coral Princess) We benefited greatly from all the posts on this thread and I wanted to share a few things I learned.
I'd suggest asking the recipient if they make long distance calls before offering one. If not, cash is universally appreciated!
They're no longer available from Brita but you can find them on eBay. You’re not supposed to freeze them, but if you fill them mostly with ice cubes (that the stewards so nicely re-stock each day) and wrap them with a white, athletic sock, (insulates and minimizes “sweating�) you’ll have nice cold water for the whole day.
I didn’t use all the 13 gal. trash bags I brought, but they came in handy for dirty laundry and packing.
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