TOP 10 THINGS newbies forget to bring on their 1st Cruise...

[crazy4cruizen]

It looks likes just about everything has been covered except your credit cards. Don't forget to call your credit card company and let them know you are going on vacation. Tell them you are going on a cruise, what cruise line, dates of departure and return and what countries you will be visiting. This will save you from having to call the credit card company in a foreign country. Also ask the company for their collect call phone number in case there is a problem or your card is stolen. I know Capitol One has one, but I am not sure about the others.

[masechase]

if flying, in your carry on pack extra underwear and bathing suit and maybe a light change of clothes. just in case the airport loses your luggage!

 

also, tip for when you get home. empty your suitcase outside. last year, a cockroach had crawled in with our luggage, could of been from the plane or cruise those nasty things are every where! so we grab the clothes and shake em outside before we bring them into our home! thats not the kind of souvenir you want to bring back!! :D

Edited March 16, 2010 by masechase

[Dave_MaryJo]

We forgot a dirty cloths bag! :)

[Jujuju2]

This has been a fun and useful thread, as I am currently packing for a 26 night TransAtlantic Med cruise on HAL April 3.

 

Here are thing I have added to my list (or half-packed bags) as a result of reading this thread: small binoculars, empty lightweight nylon backpack, camera, charger, instruction book, extra camera cards, highlighter, space bags (the plastic bags that compress clothing), Post-its, tiny spiral notebook.

 

I need the space bags because I pack for the husband on the way there but make him repack it for the way home. I can "pack" and he cannot. In one 24" rolling suitcase, I have the following for an XL man: 6 pairs pants, 6-8 long sleeve semi-dress broadcloth shirts, 8-9 short sleeve t-shirts, 3 Ex Officio long-sleeve sleeve safari type shirts that also double as lightweight jackets and have hidden security pockets, belt, 9 pair lightweight socks, 7 pair ExOfficio Give'n'Go briefs (which can be hand washed and dried overnight), two rain ponchos, and a whole bunch of small items from the VERY comprehensive list that was posted on a previous archive, most of which is stuff I bring.

 

We used to bring a 24/25" rolling suitcase and a 22" rollaboard suitcase each for cruises. With the current trend of paying for luggage, we are leaving the 22" at home and bringing 2-24" and one 25" between the two of us. As a travel tip, you don't want to bring anything larger than a 25", as it is too easy to pack a larger one with more than 50 pounds, the current limit on many airlines, if your cruise involves airline flights.

 

We enjoy formal nights on cruises and bring a lot of formal clothes by choice. In future, I may scale back and eliminate most of the formal clothes to get it down to one 24/25" suitcase each. I could probably do that even for this trip, but I just don't want to. Maybe next time ...

[DrKoob]

Small travel-size steam iron. I didn't think to bring one on my first cruise. I thought there would be one in the cabin (like a hotel room). No iron, had to send things to be pressed, very pricey. Now, I always pack it. Our friends went with us after Thanksgiving and borrowed it. They didn't think to pack one either.

 

Have fun!

 

Most cruise lines prohibit the use of irons in cabins due to fire hazard. Check with yours before you bring it.

[tecknicole]

-Dog treats for the stray pooches on the islands. They are so hungry and forgotten.. lots of puppies running around

 

-Candy, coloring books, pencils and small toys for the kids.. most of the islands are very poor

 

-Before you visit, look up local orphanages or schools on the island.. bring them a bag of supplies. They really need them and the kids are so nice and friendly. We did this in Jamaica and it was the highlight of my trip.

[susgoss]

These turned out to be pretty usefull:

Highlighter

Ziplock Bags

Hair Conditioner

Motion Sickness pills

Power strip

Umbrella / Sun Screan and Mosquito Repelent (depending).

Travel Mug or water botttle

Confortable shoes

Less clothes

Positive attitde

[zumaqueen]

Everyone should have a small notebook to record impressions of the day. (Don't call it a journal the kids will hate that). We looked back at those our children wrote 20 years ago in Jamaica--they were bored! except the day we did an interior train ride. Beautiful memories of wonderful family times.

[leymas]

Doe's Norwegian CL not already add gratuity to your bill?

If your taken cell phone you may want to check with your carrier about oversea roaming charges. I received over $400.00 in charges for 3 people on last cruise.

Start checking local weather at places you are going. Never know when a lite wind breaker or jacket may come in handy.

water socks, water shoes, flipper slippers. really all the same thing. Best all around items for walking to the pool or beach. They give some protection to the feet that flipflops/sandles/thongs do not.

Have a great time.

[NMLady]

Doe's Norwegian CL not already add gratuity to your bill? ....

 

Yes. You'll be charged $12 per person per day as a Daily Service Charge which is the 'gratuity'.

We also tip room servers though since that's additional work.

Also, if our cabin steward has done extra things for us we give him/her an additional tip at the end of the cruise.

[halos]

OK, we're down to a few weeks before our first-ever cruise (2 adults, 2 kids 10 and 7), and we're starting to think about packing. So my question - what are the things that first-time cruisers would never think to bring, and that I'll be kicking myself about all week? Not the obvious - wine opener, passport, etc. - looking for stuff I'd NEVER think of.

 

Thanks in advance - and I will compile a Top 10 list and post it (based on my own assessment, of course...) if I get enough responses (and then we can argue about my rankings).

 

Make sure to bring your common sense!!!!

[dvdisney]

On my previous cruises, these were must haves (usually I only forgot them once)

 

WATCH (can't count on cell phone)

Alarm clock

lanyard--actually found Theme Park ticket holders, that have sleeves and lanyard---to hold room key

extension chord

extra empty tote bag for souveniers

Manilla envelope---for brochures, napkins, postcards---scrapbooking souveniers

Sweatshirt---theaters were always cold

Couple rolls of nickels---we're cheap gamblers for the casino slots. When the nickles are gone, we're done

[MSgirl cruiser]

I agree with several of the items that are a must, small bills for tips, power strip and popup clothes hamper, great for the the cabin clean, over the door hanger, whether it a shoe holder or I have a roll up comestic bag, that holds all of my things and my husband .. great for the bathroom... the most important besides your travel documents.... make copies of all your travel documents and keep in a seperate place... like your suitcase, if your orginals are in hand or purse.... if you lose them , then you will have copies .... til you get replacements.... I do this on all trips not just cruises.... with our spending money, my husband and I always split up the cash, so if one gets stolen or lost we still have money... have a great trip!!! Leaving on the Star, 5-22-10 for ALASKA!!!

[nikant1003]

I read about bringing Lysol. Target has travel size Lysol spray at the check outs. I bought it and put it in my suitcase for whenever I travel. Better safe than sorry, don't want to get sick.:D

[coffeebean]

Tap light to place on the bathroom vanity near the bathroom door. GREAT for those middle of the night trips so you don't have to put on the bright bathroom light.

[qashqaiqueen]

Birth control.

 

We have 3 cruise souvenirs at our house ages 19, 17 an 17

 

That made me laugh for a couple of minutes...But point taken. I'llmake sure there's plenty me and him!

[garagesalegran]

I read every post! Thank you all so much for your "reminders". They are GREAT!

[KimberleyFL]

Tap light to place on the bathroom vanity near the bathroom door. GREAT for those middle of the night trips so you don't have to put on the bright bathroom light.

 

What a great idea! I've been on about 10 or 11 cruises and never thought of this. This was the first NEW idea I've come across in this thread.

[ugagirl]

DITTO for the power strip!!!!

We needed a flash light for the closet. Couldn't see what was on the shelves!!!

We took a travel steam iron and they said it was ok!!

[MrLee]

DITTO for the power strip!!!!

We needed a flash light for the closet. Couldn't see what was on the shelves!!!

We took a travel steam iron and they said it was ok!!

 

I don't know if it's the same on all ships but the Dawn had a light in the closet. The switch wasn't obvious but it's on the back wall near the top.

Edited March 22, 2010 by MrLee

[NMLady]

It looks likes just about everything has been covered except your credit cards. Don't forget to call your credit card company and let them know you are going on vacation. Tell them you are going on a cruise, what cruise line, dates of departure and return and what countries you will be visiting. This will save you from having to call the credit card company in a foreign country.

 

In more than 10 years of cruising various p0rts in the world and traveling others parts of the world, sometimes extended stays of several weeks in both Europe and Australia when doing land travels, we've never notified our credit card company. We've never had a problem with them putting a hold on our account because of a charge from another country.

[whatcruiseisnext]

I would wonder about your credit card company then.....

[Why Knot Me]

We always pack extra wire hangers because even though we know the cabin steward can bring us more hangers, he/she is very busy on embarkation day and we often don't even see him/her until most or all of our unpacking is done.

Also, since the cabin stewards are so busy on embarkation day, we don't like to take their time to bring us hangers when it's so easy to carry some wire hangers in our luggage.

We leave them in the closet when we disembark the last day.

 

I too use the wire hangers, but I pack with my clothes on them. It makes it really easy to unpack. With pants, I fold them over the horizontal, lay them in the suitcase, and lay the hanger flat back over them. With shirts, use the horizontal bar too. Trust me, it works really well.

[Why Knot Me]

Yes. You'll be charged $12 per person per day as a Daily Service Charge which is the 'gratuity'.

We also tip room servers though since that's additional work.

Also, if our cabin steward has done extra things for us we give him/her an additional tip at the end of the cruise.

 

And, luggage handlers, cabs etc.

[bean24]

If you have young children bring pedialyte powder. My pediatrician told me about it and after having a 7 month old with noro, I can't imagine being at sea without it.