ekco

A good thread brought back from the dead for first time cruisers.:):)

Jan

Just brought this thread back to the first page for a new member. Thanks everyone for all your tips.:):)

Jan

Please everyone stop worrying about things, there's been too many tears on this forum in the last few weeks. It used to be such a happy place.

So, one of the things I'd wish I'd known on my first cruise is this thread with all the great tips on here. All the people that have posted are living proof that they've had great cruises and want to pass on good advice.:):) New cruisers please read this thread, you won't be sorry.:)

Jan

Don't forget your European Health Cards and carry them with you at all times off the ship in Europe.:):)

Asda, wine, bucket, eggs on my shopping list now. Just thinking about my birthday list.:D:D

Mandie!

Does that mean you've made your mind up to go? Please say yes.

Jan

How about some cow heel?:eek: No I deffo don't eat that.

 

No seriously. We've mentioned adapter plugs and 4 way extensions, but make sure you don't forget to pack the actual power cables for each appliance you are taking in the last minute packing panic.

 

Berwyn

Hi Berwyn

Do the extensions actually work as I could hardly get any power for my hairdryer. Would it be better just to hire one? and if so are they more powerful? I know you've hired in the past.

Oh! please no more disgusting trotters!!:eek::eek:

Jan

Nothing wrong with some nice Bury black pudding, but I'll pass on the tripe thank you :D.

They had good B P on the Royal Caribbean ship in June. There was only me and a German chap eating it I think. The fact that the label on it said blood pudding.

Anyway there was more for us. :D

 

Berwyn

You're right you do have a stomach like a dustbin :eek:. My mother used to eat both of those, so even the thought of them is......

Anyone got any tips that don't include the above? :D:D

Jan

A nice greasy cooked breakfast with runny fried eggs :D

 

Berwyn

Now that's just not funny. Actually it is, you forgot the black pudding with a large portion of tripe. :eek:

Jan

Thanks everyone for all your tips. When I started this thread I didn't think I'd get such a great response and the number of views have been unbelievable.

Anyone got anymore tips before we all get ready for the summer season? Good hangover cures anyone ? :D:D

Hi mrs.c

Shall be go down and clean up before they sell out :). We could make a killing on ebay, lol.

Jan

You missed a chance there Jan,

In view of interest in them on here you could have bought a load for £1 and sold them on here at £2.99 minimum. Made a tidy profit. :D

 

Berwyn

That's why I'm poor. You need a ruthless streak in business and I'm too soft. But..... then again..:D:D. Actually we even made a loss on a sale on ebay once. Didn't factor in the weight of bubble wrap, it sounds stupid but it just knocked it over the weight limit of the Post Office and had to pay another £3. Learnt a lesson there.

Jan

Bet they've sold out now.

Jan

:eek::eek: I paid all of £5 for mine. I've been robbed :D

 

Berwyn

Hi Berwyn

This is the story of my life. When I buy something I have to torture myself by going round all the shops 'til I find it cheaper, then moaning about it.:D:D Still it's a good bargain IF they'll take the weight of a heavy suitcase, it's not much to lose (£1) if they don't.

Jan

Hi Ekco!

Thanks for starting this thread. I have really learned a lot from reading through all the tips that have been posted - not to mention the laughs we've had from some! :D I like the above tip as I we are in an inside cabin. I will also need to have a light on as I hate the pitch dark! Thanks to all for their input. Being our first cruise I don't have any tips. :cool:

Thanks Moto9. Glad you've enjoyed the thread. I think we've all learnt something from the great tips that have been posted. When you read them you can't believe you didn't think of them yourself. :D

Poundworld have luggage scales in stock for, guess what!, a pound!! Just after we've paid £2.99. AND they go up to 35kg.

Jan

Take deck or pool shoes with some tread on as I nearly went flying on patches of wet on deck wearing flip-flops. I had a cup of tea in my hand on one occasion which could have been nasty. You can't see the wet patches so it comes as a bit of a shock when you slip.

Jan

Hi wotaripper

Welcome to Thomsons forum. Good tip about the undies. Best to pack the best ones though, you never know when customs are going to root through your baggage. :D:D

Jan

That's a big roll of tape :D. The Americans are obsessed with taking it on holiday, even cutting strips and sticking it on the inside lid of the suitcase. Their cases must be rubbish if they keep splitting and have to be repaired with duct tape.:D

Jan

Hi Goodspirit

Have a great time. Look forward to your tips on return.

Jan

Grannypops!! hahahaha!

I feel sick, lol. I was just drinking a glass of coke when I read your post. I thought you were being serious until the last sentence. I nearly choked myself :)

Back to tips:-

Ask at reception for a deck plan of the ship. On the Island Escape the Thomson reps had them under the counter.

I haven't seen them but apparently you can buy plastic over the door shoe holders for the wardrobe and you can use them for other things as well, such as make up, socks etc. Maybe a bit over the top but I can see it.

Jan

what about those rope things you can put around the ends of the glasses and wrap them around your neck?

Berwyn

That's a horrible image you just put in my mind. False teeth flying out, imagine being sat in your cabin and seeing someones gnashers flying past. A quick examination of the restaurant at dinner would soon track down the culprit. It's the one eating the soup and trifle.

Jan

Excellent tip Ecko, that happened to my partner's card once abroad as it is rarely used as a debit card here let alone abroad. It got blocked for 'suspicious activity' and we had to call the bank. It's quite good really that they don't take chances and the man we spoke to on the phone at the bank said just let us know when you're going to be using it abroad next time so we can put a note on the account...

I put my details on-line with Barclaycard even though the relevant section was hard to find. DH phoned TSB and had to answer a whole load of questions about the holiday. I think it's worth it though, nothing worse than having your cc blocked unexpectedly. I read somewhere that some cruise ships ring-fence up to £200 per day for the ship which would leave me nothing left for the week (£1400) as I only keep a small limit on mine. I don't if that's true but it would be interesting to find out.

Jan

I meant to add - when I get the Boots meal deal while waiting for the flight out I get the bottle of diet coke and then buy a small bottle of vodka from the duty free shop and add some vodka to the coke. Then I drink that rather than pay £3 each for the mini bottles of spirits and £1.50 for the mini cans of pop on the plane. ooer... not only sounding a real skinflint but an alky too :eek:

Hi grannypops, or should that be alchopops:D. Love all your tips but especially like this one. Interested to know when you do the mixing, in the lounges or on the plane. On our return from the Canaries last week the cabin crew totally ignored the non-meals section and we didn't even get the chance to buy tea/coffee. So serves them right if we take our own!:)

Great response everyone. Fantastic tips, keep them coming. I've got 2 more but memory failure (senility!) kicks in. :D

Jan

Tell your credit card company when and where you are travelling in case the card gets blocked on suspicion of fraud.

Take photocopies of your passport details and keep them seperate. If your passport is lost or stolen abroad the copies make it easier to get help.

Jan

Hi Jan,

As an "experieced cruiser" of 3 cruises.

Take the right international plug adapter, or preferably one of each.

There was a large queue on the Escape in December of men whose wives had washed their hair and couldn't dry it. :D

And bring an extension lead with 4 plugs on to charge up all your stuff.

 

Berwyn

Berwyn

Perhaps the wives with wet hair could hang over the side in the wind.:D:D.

Good ideas on the adaptors, it could be a problem with 110V on board so half the power as here.

Jan

Saw this thread on another forum and thought it was a great idea but it would be better if it was Thomson specific. Best tip I saw was if you are on an inside cabin switch the TV to onboard camera and leave it on all night. That way when you wake up you'll know if it's daylight.

Also

Keep away from lifeboats when choosing an outside cabin you'll see nothing.

Take shoes with swelling room.

Take half the clothes out of the case, nobody notices if you wear the same outfit 2 or 3 times same for shoes.

Buy those empty dispenser bottles from Poundworld and put shampoo, conditioner and anit-bacterial hand soap or shower gel in.

Any more tips from experienced cruisers?

Jan