port msp

Some time ago we got into the habit of checking what we packed when we returned home. We did it with an eye to reducing the amount of items we took. Each time we unpacked we came across items that we either did not wear or wore only once. We took note not to include them next time. Doing this after several trips made us realize that we packed far too much. Extra shoes were the first to go.

So now we are doing carry on only. It is ideal for us. We can physically handle it up and down stairs, don't have to check it and be concerned about it going missing. This is not for everyone however the more we travel the more we appreciate the freedom and the less we tend to even consider packing.

I'm right there with you on this. I try to pare it down a bit each trip.

We've gone from multiple checked bags, to each having a checked bag, a carryon and a personal item, to a carryon and personal item. I repacked when we returned from the last cruise, took out what I didn't wear or only wore once, and got everything down to a carryon. It has been very liberating. On our first cruise, we met a couple whose bags hadn't made it. They didn't have carryon bags with clothing, so they ended up wearing Celebrity t-shirts and gym shorts the first couple days.

As to when we pack, she starts a few weeks before, setting stuff out on the bed in the spare bedroom. I generally don't start until the night before, after she goes to bed. I don't need much, so it doesn't take long. My packing for any trip starts at the feet and moves up. I figure out what we'll be doing, and decide hat shoes and sox I'll need, pants/shorts/shirts/etc. That way, I don't forget anything. I lay everything out on a folding table, think through it again, put it in packing cubes, load the roll aboard, and I'm done.

I have been experimenting with other packing "styles" . I tried bundle wrapping once but didn't like it. If TSA wants to go through your bag, you have to repack on that stainless steel table. I've had some success with leaving shirts and pants on hangers. The cubes and folders have worked pretty well. I keep most items in the cubes and transfer them to a drawer or shelf. I hang up all the shirts and pants when we get to the cabin, and any wrinkles fall out by the next day. Caribbean cruises don't require much, especially since formal nights are no more on our favorite lines. Alaska takes a bit more, clothing wise, but still pretty easy.

It's good to have contingencies in place. Things happen. The travel machine is complex and made up of many parts. Any single part breaking can cause a lot of problems downstream. I've made it to FLL from Port Everglades before 8am, but I've also not (self)disembarked until 1230pm. (On the Eurodam in 2010, they couldn't get the anchor up at Half Moon Cay because of a burned out motor or some such, the ship left hours late, putting us in at Port Everglades around noon) There are a lot of variables, but things usually go smoothly. Checking a port schedule for March 4, there are two ships in port that day, Equinox and Island Princess. The port load for the day is 4826 passengers. That's helpful. March 13 has a port load of 16,409. Yikes!

As already stated, you'll need to self-disembark. I'd only take bags I can easily carry and manage on my own. Packing very light should be the rule on this trip. On our last few cruises, I've ended up carrying our bags down steps as opposed to waiting for an elevator. It can take ages. They always seem to be packed with people. Getting a cab to FLL is easy, and it's a short ride.

Good luck.

People who don't travel a lot often use the whine that packing lite is dumb and that it means lite packers are "cheap" "unfashionable" and even "unhygienic" :mad:

 

We too love to travel and lugging bags around the streets of Europe onto trains, ferries and metros NOT!!!..... there is NO WAY I will ever pack one pair of socks more than I need.

 

edit: And another secret to lite is buy high end clothes meant to look good and travel.

 

I'm very late to this party. I voted yes. A Sixth, I've read lots of your posts on this topic and I'm in your camp. (and I too like Tilley clothes)

 

To those that lament this change; is it really that much of a change? With the advent of specialty restaurants and their less restrictive dress codes, and people heeding the request of the traditionalists to "eat in the buffet" instead of the dining room on formal nights, how elegant have the ships been, really? I get that you're disappointed with yet another cruise tradition falling by the wayside, but formal nights have been on the way out for a long time. Society is way less formal than it once was. And take it for what it's worth, but I am sympathetic to your disappointment. I'm just not in agreement with it in this instance. Regards.

Nice to have choices, isn't it!? Both are appealing. Cruising out of of Vancouver is scenic, but you won't see much on the way north because it will be dark. The way back is spectacular.

If it's about ports, take the Solstice. Although, we did Tracy Arm Fjord on the Infinity and it was great! If it's about scenic cruising and relaxing, take the Infinity. Is this your first Alaska cruise? If so, I think I'd go with Solstice. It has a nice mix of ports and scenery.

My advice:

Solstice. Get to Seattle a couple days early. Go to the NPS Klondike Gold Rush site in Pioneer Square. The Museum of Flight is great if you like aviation.

Ketchikan- Walk the creek and shop. Make sure you stop in Soho Coho gallery. The SE Alaska Discovery Center is interesting. Landing on a Mt. Lake in Misty Fjords was the most spectacular excursion we've ever done!

Juneau- Whale watching! I'll do that in Juneau every time.

Skagway- The sister site of the Klondike Gold Rush site in Seattle, and the 1880's train! Locals? have repainted the ship graffiti on the rocks. I love that. If you leave Skagway during daylight, the scenery on the way down Chilkoot Inlet is beautiful. If the light is right, Eldred Rock Lighthouse makes for a nice photo.

Victoria- As much as I didn't want to go, Butchart Gardens was beautiful and we've gone back on a land vacation. The harbor area in Victoria is nice.

Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it. Enjoy whichever you choose.

If you are thinking that this is going to be your only shot at seeing the Canal, then I think you owe it to yourself to see as much of it as possible. The partial transit you will be taking only covers about 8 miles of a 50 mile Canal. While Gatun Locks are impressive and certainly an important part of the Canal you won't see the Gaillard Cut where the bulk of the excavation took place, there are two very striking bridges that cross the Canal on the Pacific side and the two Pacific Locks. When you take Princess's shorex, Panama Canal & Locks Transit by Boat, you have a unique opportunity to see the operation of the Locks from two very different vantage points. Earlier in the AM you will be on a large Panamax ship for your passage through Gatun Locks and later in the day you will see the operation from your smaller vessel. A completely different feel... sometimes the ship can "almost" overpower the locks and then when you are on the smaller vessel you can appreciate just how big the locks actually are. You can even reach out and touch the walls!

 

 

I agree! If you're at all interested in the Canal, I think it would be a shame to not see as much of it as possible. You're going to be right there! Take advantage of the opportunity. I've done two sets of locks on a tourist boat (Pedro Miguel and Miraflores). My favorite excursion of all, so far. I'd wanted to see it since 7th grade geography class. Truly a wonder of engineering, especially when one considers when it was built. I very much want to do a full transit one day. Yes, it will be hot, humid, and possibly quite sunny. Dress accordingly. You get a nice breeze as the boat moves down the Canal, which helps a bit.

Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it. ;)

Great thread!

For no good reason;

-Muesli. I like it and eat it on every cruise, but I never have it at home.

-Creme Brulee. We don't generally have desserts at home.

We always have a jar of pickled herring in the fridge. :D We're both of Scandinavian descent and grew up eating it as a snack.

I love a good English breakfast fry up! Fried bread, eggs, beans, grilled tomato, rasher bacon, blood sausage.

I have seen this lighthouse. I too have a few pictures of it. really the most random spot to have a lighthouse.

Lighthouses are placed to notify mariners of something, many times a hazard. I'd bet that lighthouse was placed there to warn ships of shallow waters or a reef.

Things I've seen from my balcony in no particular order: breaching humpback, dolphin playing next to ship while docked in Turks in Caicos (while listening to Bob Marley Legend blasting from the beach bar), bald eagles, flying fish, diving birds, huge barge being towed by tug in the Inside Passage and more humpback whales than I could count, lots of container ships, tankers, passagemaking sailboats, sea turtles, some beautiful mega yachts, a guy swimming from downtown Charlotte Amalie to Havensight, a Ferrari and a Lamborghini racing down the causeway across from Port of Miami, and lots of other cool stuff. I love seeing a storm off in the distance out at sea.

I'd be angry with myself if I forgot to bring binoculars on a cruise! I'd probably buy a pair on board or at the first port. I love to see other ships at sea. Its fun to see another cruise ship at night all lit up, off in the distance. I like to watch port operations as ships get loaded and unloaded. I'm disappointed if I'm not out on the balcony when we approach a new island.

As far as binocular choice, I've been happy with the Nikon models I have. The 10x25 Travelites aren't as good as my 10x50 Trailblazers, but they pack much smaller. 10X can be a little tough to hold steady. I think I'm going to get a pair of 8x42 Monarch 7. Hard to go wrong with Nikon, but there are many excellent brands.

I envy those that have seen a warship out at sea. That would be very cool.

Silly question: could I ask for the fruity daily teas to be substituted with regular old brewed iced tea? I'm generally not a high maintenance traveller so I'm not sure how picky this seems.

I don't think requesting a different tea makes you high maintenance. I'm sure they'd be happy to bring you the regular tea. Just ask.

As far as AQ goes, we like it! For us, BLU is the main reason for booking AQ. I like the atmosphere, and I don't have to pack a suit or tux for the middle-aged prom at sea. We've found the food to be decent. I especially like breakfast in BLU, as its generally faster than eating in the buffet, and much less frenetic. We haven't set foot in the MDR for the last four cruises.

Interesting that some see the overhang as something to be avoided. I seek out cabins with the overhang. I like to be out on the balcony during the day, reading and relaxing, without roasting in the direct sunlight.

I wash out a few things every other night or so on every cruise. Underwear, socks, swim suits, pool coverups, t-shirts, workout clothes, etc. I've found this works well; http://www.thescrubba.com/

It doubles as a dry bag for day trips to the beach. Along with a few packets of Woolite and a travel clothes line (as some ships no longer have them in the showers). The bag and the clothesline pack up to a bundle the size of my fist. The packets of Woolite go in my 3-1-1 bag. A couple towels to roll the clothes in to get out the excess water, about ten minutes of work before I go to bed, and we have fresh clothes in the morning. Easy peasy. It also allows us to pack light, which means carryon bags and no waiting at luggage carousels for bags that might show up damaged, or not at all.

We've also sent out a few things for washing and pressing when needed. I've read horror stories about clothing being wrecked by ship's laundry, but have been lucky the handful of times we've used the service.

Read the entire thread and just want to ask everyone this.

 

Before we all start pointing fingers and saying "so and so should have done this or so and so should have done that", let's wait until the NTSB has completed their investigation and the report is in.

 

Right now, we need to focus our attention on the family, friends, citizens of Ketchikan and the entire Westerdam family. They suffered a shock and a loss that is huge. They need all of our love and prayers right now.

 

Okie1946

Well said. I heard about the incident this morning at 0300 while listening to the BBC. It sent a shiver down my spine. I did this excursion in Sept., with the involved excursion company. Our pilot was an absolute pro. It was a blue sky day for the entire area, which was very unusual. For those that haven't been, it can be clear in one spot and raining sideways 10 miles away. Alaska weather changes by the minute.

Give a thought and prayer to the brave Search and Rescue personnel that answered the call. They scrambled for a mission in treacherous conditions to risk their lives to help people they didn't know. They got to the scene and realized there was nothing that could be done. They'll risk their lives again to make the recovery, to give the grieving families the closure of being able to give their lost loved-ones a proper burial.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

I hate hearing that about Vancouver/Seattle...what didn't work well there? I'd like to know because I'm hoping to book an Alaska sailing in 2017 eventually, and they all seem to sail out of those two ports. Curious...

Oh, they'll both be fine. Ask CCers to complain about something, and we will :o Just expect a long wait at Canada Place and plan accordingly. As I posted, even with a frustrating, nearly 5 hour embarkation slog, I'd sail out of Vancouver again. The scenery on the east side of Vancouver Island is worth it!

I've spent a lot of time in Seattle and love the area. It has a lot to offer. Seattle doesn't have the best cruise terminals, but they aren't the worst either. I've spent no time in Vancouver, but have heard nothing but good things about it. I hope to take a trip there soon.

Of the dozen cruises I've taken, 11 have had fairly easy and quick embarkations. My expectation for Vancouver was the same. Next time I'll know that Canada Place will be slow. I'll relax, and know that I'll get on the ship eventually.

Enjoy your planning for Alaska!

Best? Probably Ft. Lauderdale. San Juan has been fairly quick for us, the three times we've cruised from there, but the facility itself is nothing to write home about. Seattle Pier 91 was extremely slow to get into. Thankfully we got a flat rate towncar at the airport instead of a metered cab. We sat in line to drop off for 30+ minutes. That would have been expensive in a cab! Cruise Port of the Americas by downtown Seattle was fine. Miami was slow, but not too big a deal, and a fairly nice facility.

Worst experience? Canada Place in Vancouver. My expectation was to arrive by noon and be on the ship by 2p at the latest, just like every other cruise port I've been through. We arrived at the port around noonish, and got on the ship at 5-ish. There were two ships in port and it gridlocked the facility. Ft. Lauderdale handles what, up to 9 ships at a time?

It just isn't a good facility from a physical standpoint. Their PA system was a speaker on a stand, like you'd see at a school event. Coupled with a cavernous, warehouse-like waiting room, it was difficult to hear what was being announced, especially with the large overhead doors open and forklifts and box trucks coming in and out. Their air handling system didn't clear out the exhaust from the vehicles very well. Their system of handing out pieces of paper with letters to denote your boarding group was positively byzantine. It's a poorly conceived process, badly executed. And the steep, ladder-like stairs that had to be negotiated to get to security proved to be quite a problem for the older passengers that I was grouped with.

The staff was completely over-matched by the task at hand. Although I was frustrated, I felt for them. They could only do what their poorly conceived workflow allowed them to do. The powers that be really need to take a lesson from other cruise terminals. Granted, having to go thru Canadian security, followed by US Customs, to get to the actual cruise company desk, takes a long time. But the sitting and waiting in the cavernous hall for 3+ hours, prior to all that, was maddening.

But would I sail out of Vancouver again? Absolutely! The Inside Passage, north and south, is breathtaking and worth the embarkation hassle. Now that I know what to expect there, I won't let it bother me. Most of my frustration came from not knowing the process, not being able to hear the announcements, and dealing with staff that didn't have any answers. I appreciate they don't control the below decks process at security/customs/check-in, but had I been told that I'd have to sit and wait for three+ hours, I'd have gone and gotten something to eat, got out my ipad, and read a book. Tell me what to expect and I'll roll with the punches. Also, Vancouver Airport is nice, and the light rail to the port is quick and cheap.

-Antarctica on Hurtigruten Fram by way of South Georgia Island and Falklands

-Panama Canal full transit(although the tourist boat thru the locks was great)

-transatlantic

-transpacific

-Hurtigruten ferries up the coast of Norway past the arctic circle

-Mississippi River from St. Paul to New Orleans

-north pole by Russian nuclear icebreaker (although I think this was the last year for it)

-south Pacific

-round cape horn

-transit the Suez Canal

-canal barge trip in Britain or mainland Europe

-Galapagos

-if it happens for paying customers, Northwest and Northeast passages

-cargo ship cruise

-clipper ship cruise

I'm sure I'll come up with others to add. I'd go to Alaska every summer if I could. I regret not being able to afford the Cunard/British Airways Concorde/QE2 transatlantic trips they had before Concorde was grounded.

Sun Country has the best price for sailing into San Juan - but it would fly us in at 4pm. Cruise is set to depart at 830pm. Would you take the risk and fly in same day?

In a perfect world, you'd go in a day or two early, enjoy the port city, and casually stroll onto the ship on departure day, already relaxed. Most of the responses assume that you have the ability to go in a day early. Some people have the luxury of time to do this, many working people do not.

Would I take the risk? I have multiple times. Mostly because my work schedule is very inflexible and it was either fly the same day or don't go. Of our 12 cruises, we've flown in the same day for 7 of them, twice to San Juan. Stressful? Not really. We've only cut it close once, on our first cruise. The muster drills started as we boarded. :eek:

If I need to fly the same day, I pick direct flights only, and try to make it the first flight out. Which for MSP usually means the plane was here overnight. If it's a winter trip, I'm flying to a warm weather destination, so weather at the other end is rarely an issue. We also don't check luggage, which saves some time and removes a variable.

Having said all that, the travel machine has a lot of moving parts, and the breakdown of one part can cause a whole cascade of problems. You didn't say what time of year you'd be flying. In winter, MSP does a fantastic job of clearing their runways and getting planes in and out. The problem is, a delay in Detroit or Ft. Lauderdale, or anywhere, could mean the plane you were supposed to fly out on doesn't show up until late, or at all.

So would I? Probably, if I had to. Just know what the risks are and accept that you might miss the boat. San Juan isn't a bad place to spend a couple days, especially when it's below zero in Minnesota.:D

I'll try to keep an open mind, but I don't see much upside to this, for me anyway. I suspect this has more to do with the cruise line saving money on fuel than any real benefit to passengers. Especially when a port is dropped to accommodate the overnight.

On our last cruise, we were supposed to port in San Juan PR at 3p, but didn't get in until 530p. All the National Park sites closed at 6p. We wandered around Old Town a bit, but very few of the local shops were open. Bars and restaurants were open, but we really aren't bar people and I'd already paid to eat on the ship. The best part of the port stop was pulling away from the quay and seeing El Morro lit up. I can't think of much I want to do on a Caribbean island at night, other than see it fading in the distance as I cruise to the next port.

I like to go out on our balcony at night and listen to the waves as the ship crashes through the water. I find it tranquil. I don't think listening to city sounds on the balcony will be nearly as relaxing. Plus, there's something about traveling through the night to a new destination. I generally try to be up and on our balcony as we approach and pull into a new port. I'm actually disappointed when I wake up to find we're already tied up and I've missed it. Yes, what they're scheduling is one night per 10+ day cruise. So far. I hope it doesn't filter down to 7 day cruises.

There aren't many Caribbean ports I need more than a few hours in anymore. While I've enjoyed visiting lots of ports, I don't need to see St. Maarten again for a while. I like St. Thomas because St. Johns is a short ferry ride away, but I've done most of what I've wanted in the Caribbean. I cruise to get away from the snow and ice for a week, but I know I don't want to sit on a beach for a week at some all-inclusive. There are still some ports I'd like to see, Martinique and St. Barts come to mind, but honestly, I"d love a Caribbean cruise with three sea days, a private island beach day or port day, followed by three sea days. YMMV

Everyone needs to find what works for them.

Sis folds and uses compression bags. I roll and use packing cubes for most things. Pants are folded into a packing cube or folder.

+1

I roll some things, like t-shirts/underwear/shorts, and fold others, like pants/shirts. But everything goes into a packing cube. I've found it's easier to pack and unpack when everything is unitized in a packing cube.

If the TSA wants to go through your bag, the cubes are easier to deal with than a pile of rolled clothes on the stainless steel counter. Unpacking in the cabin is faster too. The socks/underwear/workout clothes stay in the cubes and go into a drawer or onto a shelf, the pants, shirts, t-shirts go on hangers in the closet. If we aren't staying put, I keep everything in the cubes, in my travel bag.

In the past I've left things behind while traveling. In the rush to get up and out of a room to get to the next place, I've forgotten things. The cubes help limit leaving stuff behind. When I unpack, I know how full each cube is. When I repack, if one isn't quite so full, I know I'm missing something.

It's taken a while to get to this system, but I think I've finally hit on something that works for me.

I know I could probably get more in a carry-on by not using the cubes, but since I try to take a little less each trip anyway, the cubes are a great limiter for me.

I also like compression bags. I've used them to pack bulky clothes like fleece vests/jackets, and sweaters. They can also double as a "wet" bag if you need to pack damp clothes.

If you have a choice take one going to Glacier Bay.

+1 on this recommendation. Make a day of it. Be ready to start viewing an hour or so before you're scheduled to enter Glacier Bay. The scenery of the approach is fantastic. The park rangers that come on board are fun to talk to. Also, if you have any interest in the National Park Passport Program, they bring a Glacier Bay passport stamp on board. Not an easy stamp to get unless you're on a ship.

You won't go wrong with either line. Alaska is breathtaking! If you don't get to Glacier Bay, you'll likely see a different glacier, or fjord, which are also fantastic. I think the best advice I can give is pick a spot on an upper deck, settle in, and watch. You'll see wildlife, but it can take some time. And absolutely take a good set of binoculars!

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Based on your comments, would a small ship cruise be a better option to view the scenery and different (less touristy) ports?

I want to take a small ship cruise in Alaska, but the cost is multiples higher than a mainstream cruise line. The only marginally "less-touristy" port we've been to in Alaska was Sitka. I liked Sitka and would go again.

Otherwise, it's been Juneau/Ketchikan/Skagway/Victoria, BC route. We've had a great time, every time. If you're open to departing from Vancouver, you'll get to travel the inside passage along the east side of Vancouver Island. You won't see much going north because it will be dark, but the way back to Vancouver is very scenic. We sailed from Vancouver in 2014 and coming back south through the narrow channels was great.

We've sailed NCL and Princess, but not to Alaska, but I wouldn't hesitate to take either to Alaska. We've done Alaska 3x. Twice on Holland, once on Celebrity. All were great.

I'd go every summer if my wife would agree. As others have said, Alaska is all about the scenery and wildlife. The ship gets you there. Let us know what you decide.

Enjoy.

In your opinion, is it possible to pack in a 10x16x24 carry-on for 7 days with 2 formal nights and a ful day pre-cruise?

Possible, and fairly easy. Although the bag you list is 50 linear inches and the limit is usually 45". Plus, some airlines are cracking down on bags that don't fit in the sizer at the gate. Even a bag that is 45" linear inches might not fit the sizer. Although, enforcement seems to be hit or miss. And fairly arbitrary. I've seen huge bags make it on board and stuffed into overhead bins and I've seen 22" rollaboards get gate checked. Just don't expand your bag as it will be too thick to fit into the bin.

Most cruise lines seem to be ok with a suit or jacket and collared shirt/tie for men for formal night. Have him wear the jacket/suit on the plane if formal is important to you. It does seem that what counts for women's formal/festive wear can be easily packed. I haven't seen many gowns lately. We no longer do formal. It was kind of fun the first time, but that quickly faded with each successive cruise. We haven't set foot in the main dining room on the last 4 cruises and have had wonderful meals on our balcony, at the buffet, by the pool, and in specialty restaurants.

As far as the other clothing, it's the Caribbean, and it's warm. For me it's cargo shorts or swim suit, an Ex-Officio Air Strip Shirt, and some Keens or sneakers every day. I take several air strip shirts, a couple pairs of khaki pants, a couple Tommy Bahama type shirts (or as a friend refers to them, fat guy bowling shirts) a couple golf shirts, Ex Officio underwear, a pair of black loafers, sox, and I'm good to go. I do some laundry, but it really isn't a big deal. It's all dry by morning.

I always buy a few Cariloha bamboo tshirts (I love them, there, I said it):D so I have those to wear as well. I easily get the clothes, a small JBL ipod speaker, a rain shell, a hat, my travel "tool" bag (zippered pouch with mini mag lite, headlamp, TSA compliant multi-tool, ear plugs, sleep mask, sewing kit, ear buds, ipod and charger, compact first aid kit, moleskine notebook, pen) my tiny bathroom bag/ziplock (travel size toothbrush/paste, two razors, travel size shave cream, travel size deodorant) and whatever else I think I need in my rollaboard and my daypack. The rollaboard easily fits in an overhead bin and the daypack goes under the seat in front of me. No hogging necessary. ;)

It took my wife a while to come around to this, but she uses up the open space in my bag, so she's happy. Plus, I do all the lifting. We didn't always travel this way, but since we've made the switch, it has been very freeing. Self embark, we get unpacked as soon as we get to the cabin, and self debark, we're off quickly and to the airport or wherever we're going. I'm never waiting around at a luggage carousel, wondering if our bags are going to show up destroyed/or show up at all.

For those that need lots of sunscreen or a specific brand of sunscreen: how about asking your MD to prescribe it for you? If your Dr. determines that it's medically necessary, they can prescribe over the counter meds/gels/lotions. Prescribed meds and gels are exempt from the 3-1-1 liquid rules.

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/medically-necessary-liquids-gels-and-aerosols

Just let the TSA agent know and have a copy of prescription. Just a thought.

We like the freedom and mobility of traveling light, but I get that this mode of travel isn't for everyone. Do what works for you and enjoy your cruise!

"There ain't any whales out there, I looked." Heard in an elevator on our 2011 Alaska cruise. The woman was in a huff about it. I was feeling helpful, so I asked how long she'd been looking. She said "a little while". I told her that if she picked a spot on an upper deck and watched the sea for an hour, I'd almost guarantee she'd see a whale. (I'd just been on our balcony for less than an hour and had seen several, one breaching) She said she didn't have time for that. :rolleyes:

2015 Reflection- BLU for breakfast- "That's not what I wanted!" Old guy who angrily sent his food back, continuously. No matter what they brought, he didn't like it. The waiter just rolled with the punches.

I've always had different thoughts about the souvenirs I acquire for myself on my cruises. Here are some of the things I actively seek out and treasure:

 

6. Maps - They can be tough to find, and in our GPS-addicted world, are only going to get tougher. I do appreciate them, though - both on a country and regional basis.

 

5. Postcards - I can take pictures until my hands grow limp, but they'll never be as good as the ones I get on these things. They're also good for making your friends/family/co-workers jealous. :)

 

4. Shopping maps and other sales flyers - Their store recommendations I take with a grain of salt and the maps tend to be crude, but I do appreciate their efforts. The flyers are nice because "bargains" tend to repeat themselves on different ships from the same cruise line. And maybe I miss it once, but maybe not the second time.

 

3. Ship cards - I touched on this in another thread, but I think they're great historical pieces about my growth from cruise newbie to veteran, and also the cabin I've chosen to stay in along the way.

 

2. Money - Sometimes it's loose change from a purchase from a local vendor, but surprisingly often I'll buy cards that have loose change and maybe a bill or two. It must be the dormant numismatist in me. So far I have Belize, Barbados, Mexico, and Jamaica. The one big miss for me is the EC$, which I may or may not rectify on my next trip.

 

1. Newsletters - I think these are fantastic documents about a voyage in time. They help me remember what I did by listing what was available to be done and when. They're just... awesome.

 

Are there any souvenirs that are precious to you that might not cost much? Let me know. Thanks.

I'm a fan of real maps, not so much the touristy "go here" maps handed out by tourist offices and port shopping people, although they can be helpful. I take a map/atlas on each trip.

We also have a magnet collection that started on our honeymoon. It started as a joke, and it still sort of is. We try to find the gaudiest, 3-D magnet we can find from each place. Although, I'd like a magnet from each ship. We are missing a few. That is something I need to search out. I'd like to have a flotilla of every ship I've sailed, right next to the grocery list.

I've also become quite a fan of bamboo shirts from Cariloha. Not cheap, but the most comfortable t shirts I've ever worn.

Passport stamps from other countries generally only cost you some time, as you're there already.

I'm glad my wife has taken photos of most of the cabins we've been in, as they're all sort of running together for me. I think we have most of our ship cards. I've used them for bookmarks in the past.

I bought some native art in Alaska last year. It's a carving of native in a kayak with a spear/harpoon. It's carved from whale and walrus bone. I really like it! And they packaged and shipped it for me.

I might start buying a piece of local art from the places I visit, if I can ship it home easily.

Did anyone else not LOVE their first cruise? I was on the NCL Jade last year out of Venice around the Greek Isles. I liked it, but didn't love it. But I liked it enough that I wanted to try it again but with a different type of ship and itinerary. But I read these boards and so many people talk about how they loved cruising from the very beginning. I wonder if any of you who didn't love it right away would share your stories? Thanks.

It took my wife 10 years to talk me into the first cruise. I fell in "like" on that one. It was nice. The second one on NCL was "meh". I really liked the long sea days of our third cruise to the southern Caribbean on AOS. I fell in "contented happiness" in Alaska. I could sit and watch the scenery and wildlife of Alaska every summer. Now, it's become what we do to break up the cold MN winter. Plus, I get to go to some interesting places and see some interesting things, like the Panama Canal. I still like other trips, but cruises are easy, relaxing, and relatively inexpensive. I still don't love cruising, but I like it a lot.:)

I'm curious to know what ones you have missed, why and how you/others felt about it.

Missed a port? No, not yet. Late getting out of a port/getting to a port? Yes, twice.

On our recent X Reflection cruise, the seas were heavy and we went slow, putting us into San Juan 2 hours late. It was already supposed to be a late arrival, 3:30p, so we got in at 530ish. The National Park sites closed at 6p, so I didn't get to wander around a fort. I was disappointed, but I got over it. We walked around Old Town a bit, bought a couple things, and went back to the ship for dinner.

On our Eurodam cruise in 2010, they couldn't get the anchor up at Half Moon Cay because of a mechanical issue. It was the last day of the cruise and we left hours late, which put us into Port Everglades at noonish. Debarkation started at 1220p-ish, about 5 minutes before our original flight was supposed to leave. We didn't make that one. :p (I booked a later flight online when we finally left HMC) There were some VERY angry people trying to get off the ship. They got even angrier when they were told that if they didn't have their bags and weren't self-disembarking, they'd have to wait until all the bags were unloaded and sorted before they'd be allowed into the luggage hall, or whatever it's called. I will never forget the cursing granny, yelling, "THIS IS A CLUSTER-(F)BLEEP, I'M GOING TO MISS MY FLIGHT!"

That incident reconfirmed my plan to always pack light, carry my own luggage, and roll with the punches.

OK Most of us are repeat cruisers. I can see that by our signatures :) So I guess my question is do you have a special event you celebrate every year, or do you just love cruising and that's how you spend your vacation time? Some of you seem like you're on the water more than land! LOL

 

What's your story? What got you started cruising?

What got us started? It took my wife ten years to talk me into a cruise. I finally agreed and realized what a great value they are. I like that I unpack once, I don't have to deal with the logistics of getting from place to place, eating arrangements, etc. It's warm, I get to see interesting things, and then my hotel takes me someplace new for the next day. I like to sit on the balcony in the warm sea air and watch the world go by with my bride.

We've found that we really like to get away from the Minnesota cold sometime in January or February. It breaks up the winter. The cold starts in November, the Holiday season is a whirlwind of activity, then it's a month or so before we leave. I especially like to go when it's below 0 and snowing :D When we get back to the land of snow and ice, the end of winter is in sight. (although it's snowing as I type this)

I like Alaska cruises for the scenery and wildlife. I will never tire of seeing whales!

We don't do many "cruise" things. We've been to two shows in 12 cruises. We don't gamble, we don't lay out in the sun all day/play pool games, we don't sit in bars/go to art auctions/unveiling of new jewelry/ etc. I do like ship talks from ships officers and lectures from academics. Mostly, it's a relaxing way to spend a week with my wife in the warmth of the Caribbean, away from the cold.

I carry this as a wallet.

http://www.amazon.com/Travelon-RFID-Blocking-Size-Black/dp/B001CZVQVE/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1426009772&sr=1-3-catcorr&keywords=travelon+mens+wallet

Are rfid blockers necessary? Lots of strongly held opinions on both sides in this thread (no surprise). I figure that if I'm going to carry a wallet anyway, what will it hurt if it has RFID blocking mesh in it? This one meets my needs as a wallet. If it does keep my data safe in the (probably) rare event that someone has a reader, all the better.

Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.