A list of things a few days before you cruise

[REDWITCH13]

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,

-----------------------------------------------------------

A few days before:

Stop the newspaper

Stop the mail or make arrangements to have it picked up

Make sure prescriptions are filled

Get traveler's checks.

Make sure you line up someone to feed the pets and get week feeders for fish.

Turn the answering machine on and the volume down,

Remove perishables from refrigerator, set the timers on the lamps and turn on a night light.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The night before you leave:

Bring all luggage to the floor you are leaving from.

Put on the zip ties if you haven't done that. Not on your carry on luggage.

Put out clothes you are wearing to the airport.

Call everyone you are leaving behind and tell them you will miss them (NOT)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The day you leave:

Make sure the coffee pot is turned off

Rinse all cups and plates that you may have used this morning. Nothing like sour milk or food sticking to these when you get home.

The all doors including the garage door is closed and locked.

Set the alarm’s on the car and the house.

Turn on porch lights. In fact if you don't usually have them on, start doing this a few weeks before you leave.

______________________________________________________________

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! Oh, and don’t forget the spouse if you have one.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

I hope this helps..

Darlene

[Luluwa]

Very Nice and well done! :p

[REDWITCH13]

Thank you!

 

 

I am a list maker..

 

I also have this one....not all of this is necessary.:D

 

THINGS YOU MIGHT NEED AND MAY WANT TO TAKE AND DO

Driver's license or Photo ID and a copy of your Passport(copy is for going on shore)

*Call your credit card Co.( before you leave)

**Cash and Traveler's Checks

**$ Dollars for tips $

CLOTHES FOR 8 DAYS

· 2 Formal dresses or dressy top and skirt/pants(GIRLS) just for 2 formal dinners(optional) We dress up.

· 1 suit or jackets and pants(GUYS)just for 2 formal dinners

· 2 ties (GUYS)just for 2 formal dinners

· 2 Dress shirts(GUYS)just for 2 formal dinners

· 4 casual wear (both) for the dining room

· Underwear [support to wear under clothes for girls(If needed) ]

· Pajamas and or Lounge pants

· Pantyhose and socks (Guys-dress socks)

· Shoes---dress, sandals, tennis and flip flops.

· Slippers

· Shorts and tops{at the most 3 pair}...(we wear bathing suits with cover-ups a lot)

· Jeans, long pants and Capri (optional) {1 pair}

· Light jacket or sweater

· Shawl (May be chilly in dining room and on deck)

· Bathing suits (cover up for girls)

Jewelry and watch

Dressy purse (for dining room) optional

Contacts and Chemicals

Perfume and cologne

Deodorant

Cosmetics

Hair clips and hair ties

Moisturizers

Sun Block & Aloe Gel

Hairgel

Hair spray

Shampoo & crème rinse(there is shampoo in the shower) Pencils and pens

Hat for shore excursions and the deck (optional)

Sunglasses

binoculars (optional)

poms for luggage flashlight

tape

MISC:

Extention cord or powerstrip (only 1 outlet per cabin)

Night Light (inside cabins are very dark) optional

Light up alarm clock

Camera and extra batteries

Chargers for video cameras

I pod or MP3 player(for plane and deck)

Beach Bags for shore excursions and sun bathing on the deck

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sewing kit & liquid stitch, small first aid kit & extra band-aids, tweezers,wrinkle release, Tide spot pen

Plastic zip bags different sizes) for wet suit and towels. Also great for shells and snacks

Travel mug/ cup...

ALL THIS IS OPTIONAL...just a suggestion

* I bought a over the door shoe holder. This works wonderful to keep everything organized and easy to find

[canner2u]

Awesome list, only thing I would not have included was the traveler's checks. In my experience and opinion, these are getting harder and harder to use and to cash. Since I have an Debit card as well as a Credit card, I find these 2 will do the job for me. Sure, I take some cash with me as well for tipping and for places that will not take a Debit/Credit card.

[laumicmah]

I read somewhere about women who carry personal alarm things in their pockets. Does anyone know where you can get those?

[dengirl]

Why zip ties? And why a copy of passport, thought we needed passports?

[Meyer2]

Very nice, some very good tips & ideas!! I'm LOL hard at the don't forget the spouse. :D

 

Thanks!

[REDWITCH13]

Canner:

Thank you so much for that. We cruised 2 years ago and I don't remember a problem with the travelers checks then. If anyone does have them, maybe cashing them in at the Purser's office. That way, not too much cash at one time.

 

 

Darlene

[robcool]

Here is my list.

 

- 10 days out, wish it was 9 days out.

- 9 days out - celebrate single digits.

- 8-3 days out - check every two hours to see if the number of days has gone down by one yet.

- 2 days out - Realize I have not done any packing yet. Throw a bunch of stuff in a suitcase.

- 1 day out - Remember that I have not packed my booze, and that I have too much stuff in the suitcase to fit it in. Go through everything again, leave most of it behind, get the important stuff in the bag.

- Day of cruise - Don't care what I forgot, get on the ship, have a great time.

 

I hope that helps! :p

[REDWITCH13]

Why zip ties? And why a copy of passport, thought we needed passports?

 

 

The zip ties are for luggage. We plan on taking on our own luggage on board and using them to lock it.

 

We take our passports and make a copy also. The copy goes with us when we get off the ship at the ports and the original stays in the safe.

 

No loss that way.

 

Darlene

[REDWITCH13]

Here is my list.

 

- 10 days out, wish it was 9 days out.

- 9 days out - celebrate single digits.

- 8-3 days out - check every two hours to see if the number of days has gone down by one yet.

- 2 days out - Realize I have not done any packing yet. Throw a bunch of stuff in a suitcase.

- 1 day out - Remember that I have not packed my booze, and that I have too much stuff in the suitcase to fit it in. Go through everything again, leave most of it behind, get the important stuff in the bag.

- Day of cruise - Don't care what I forgot, get on the ship, have a great time.

 

I hope that helps! :p

 

OH..My that is funny...keep up the laughter...best way to live your life

 

Thanks for the smiles

 

Darlene

[Meyer2]

here is my list.

 

- 10 days out, wish it was 9 days out.

- 9 days out - celebrate single digits.

- 8-3 days out - check every two hours to see if the number of days has gone down by one yet.

- 2 days out - realize i have not done any packing yet. Throw a bunch of stuff in a suitcase.

- 1 day out - remember that i have not packed my booze, and that i have too much stuff in the suitcase to fit it in. Go through everything again, leave most of it behind, get the important stuff in the bag.

- day of cruise - don't care what i forgot, get on the ship, have a great time.

 

I hope that helps! :p

 

 

lol!!!

[hazeleyez3]

Here is my list.

 

- 10 days out, wish it was 9 days out.

- 9 days out - celebrate single digits.

- 8-3 days out - check every two hours to see if the number of days has gone down by one yet.

- 2 days out - Realize I have not done any packing yet. Throw a bunch of stuff in a suitcase.

- 1 day out - Remember that I have not packed my booze, and that I have too much stuff in the suitcase to fit it in. Go through everything again, leave most of it behind, get the important stuff in the bag.

- Day of cruise - Don't care what I forgot, get on the ship, have a great time.

 

I hope that helps! :p

 

Perfect! My only difference is that I have no need for alcohol and don't pack a lot :)

[TNCruzer]

Don`t forget to weigh that suitcase. No more than 50 lbs or the airlines will tack on EVEN more $$ than they are already gettin.

[lindasuej]

You forgot a big thing. Don't forget to call your credit card company and let them know where you will be travelling so they don't put a stop on your card. It has happened to me and I don't forget to call now.

 

Linda

[F22Smitty]

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,

 

This one is an ABSOLUTE NO NO (for me anyway).

 

If anything happens, I will find out about it when I get home.

 

Your on a cruise, have fun, and forget about everything else. What could you do anyway.

[janabm81]

Don't forget to change your AC/Heat setting a few degrees and unplug any electric items not being used. You'll be amazed how much $$$ this ends up saving you in the end!:)

[TNCruzer]

Throw cellphone into the saltwater as you board!!!

[sooner9795]

I read somewhere about women who carry personal alarm things in their pockets. Does anyone know where you can get those?

 

 

You can get them at pharmacies. A lot of people use them to let them know when to take their meds.

[hartskys]

Great list - this will help for upcoming cruise - thanks! :)

[laumicmah]

You can get them at pharmacies. A lot of people use them to let them know when to take their meds.

Thanks!!!

[conchead]

One other thing I do is to turn off the water to the washing machine.

It seems really weird, but if one of these hoses were to leak or burst,

which they have been known to do. It can be a major flood in your house.

It only takes a minute to turn it off and back on when you get home,

but could save you a world of trouble.

 

 

About the zip ties and luggage locks.

 

Many people use them so that they know if someone has been in their luggage.

I used to do the same, but quit, unless I am flying then I use the TSA locks..for what little they also do.

 

If someone wants in your suitcase, then I am sure they know how to get in it and close it up no matter if it is locked or zip tied.

It can be opened in a matter of seconds and closed back just as quickly, and by looking you would never know.

This video shows how easily it is done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf-DGKUNffI

[w8ing2cruz]

One thing I read on this board awhile ago was to make a copy of your travel documents and email them to yourself (assuming you have a globally accessible email address).

[reno3]

We put one of our lamps on a timer to come on each night for a few hours.

[sharona211]

One other thing I do is to turn off the water to the washing machine.

It seems really weird, but if one of these hoses were to leak or burst,

which they have been known to do. It can be a major flood in your house.

It only takes a minute to turn it off and back on when you get home,

but could save you a world of trouble.

 

 

About the zip ties and luggage locks.

 

Many people use them so that they know if someone has been in their luggage.

I used to do the same, but quit, unless I am flying then I use the TSA locks..for what little they also do.

 

If someone wants in your suitcase, then I am sure they know how to get in it and close it up no matter if it is locked or zip tied.

It can be opened in a matter of seconds and closed back just as quickly, and by looking you would never know.

This video shows how easily it is done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf-DGKUNffI

 

Wow - that youtube video is a real eye opener. Don't waste your money on the locks or the twist ties!