Cruise travel tips & secrets

[Bowie MeMe]

We brought a little box of 3-in-1 Purex sheets to do laundry on Princess - very convenient!

 

Hard to find the 3-1 Purex locally. Can buy from Amazon. I take the number of sheets I estimate to need and place in quart bag with Shout grabber sheets (protects in mixed color batches). I add a stick of stain remover and sometimes a tiny bottle of dish liquid to wash things in the sink and treat greasy stains. If you are going to do laundry -- will need tokens or quarters. Get them early in cruise--harder to get late in cruise when everybody wants them! Sometimes can get them from the casino -- then they go on cruise card. Don't say for laundry -- they get their knickers in a bunch!:D I use the flex trash bags with frebreeze odor control for laundry. Your cabin is small; the odor isn't.

 

I roll 10 or 12 trash bags and place in carryon or suitcase. Takes almost no room and can carry wet stuff, don't trail your socks and undies down the hallway (no laundry basket!), can sit on them in the beach sand, can put your coat in them before stuffing in the overhead bin (more secure and less likely to get torn/dirty/damaged by others cramming in their luggage). I also now will place my clothes in a trash bag or place trash bags around clothes after the disaster of having everything soaked in a cloth sided suitcase. Unpack and use bag for laundry. Large trash bags can even be a rain coat in a pinch. Slit for head and 2 for arms. Strange looking but better than being wet to the skin. Handy things.

Edited September 7, 2014 by Bowie MeMe

[Bowie MeMe]

I've bought several tiny bottles and containers at Daiso (a Japanese home goods store; any large city with an Asian town will have a shop like this). Some things like moisturizer, hair pomade, makeup remover, etc you don't need very much and I decant them into the tiny 1 oz containers. Saves a lot of room. Usually at Walmart or Target the smallest they have are 3 oz. Wastes much too much space.

 

Also for other things such as shampoo, or whatever I need I use the samples I get from Sephora.

 

Last time bf and I were gone for about 2 weeks. We each had a small personal bag and we shared a small carry on bag. I still had clothes that I didn't wear.

 

Bring a small sample of laundry detergent and do laundry on a sea day so you don't have to bring as many clothes.

 

I put face cream and hair creams in small pill bottles. Saves room and weight. For me I can control everything but the lotions and potions. They weigh so much but I have sensitive skin and I can't use lots of stuff in the hotels and cabins -- I itch. Also hard to ask for certain delicate nature items --like personal care products -- in a different language. I am often gone 5 weeks at a time so I need my stuff!!

[California Cruisin']

Extremely RIGID rules on food being brought into a country. When you leave the ship you enter a country! Doesn't matter if USA (if you went anywhere) --still entering the country from "foreign territory". Punishments up to and including jail! Immediate fines (up to thousands of dollars) and court fees. (happened in New Zealand). The rules are well stated. Prepackaged, unopened commercial packages are allowed some places but why take the chance -- read the rules (in the daily cruise paper) and follow them! Usually they will ask you if you have food/not allowed items. When you answer that is a legal statement!. Then they check -- stand in a line and a friendly little dog smells the area (and you:D). Sometimes x-ray. Sometimes a puff machine that can tell chemicals and odors. I have seen armed guards with the dogs (Chile -- scared me to death -- guy next to me was carrying an apple and did not throw it out. A crew member taking a present to a girl -- got taken away from area and his friends said he will loose his job and not get transportation home. Passengers too can be left behind if they are under the "care of the local authorities". The rules have gotten stricter and the local officials take it very seriously. So should you.

 

All countries are concerned with the spread of insects and pests that can sicken people or cause their agricultural interests problems. Pests hitchhike and there is nothing that can help the situation except to have ALL follow the rules. Do not believe you are special and will not be bothered -- you will be. You will be checked more than once.

 

The time I was most bothered was when I had a bottle of soda confiscated at the door of the airplane when I had just bought the bottle at the shop next to the gate. 3 checks at that airport and 2 more coming back into the USA airport. Travel is not very simple these days. Keep your cool and follow the rules and you will do well. Try to sneak food or other things in -- I bet you will get caught and not even see it coming:eek:

 

WoW, Bowie MeMe! Thanks for this heads up. I really hadn't thought about that. Silly me! On my one and only cruise so far (Alaska and Canada) I was often hungry while out on the shore, and did not want to take precious time ashore to stop and eat, so I brought some nuts in a ziplock bag. I will know better next time, and at least make sure the nuts are in pre-packaged commercial bags. This will be OK in foreign countries, right?

[merlin5353]

WoW' date=' Bowie MeMe! Thanks for this heads up. I really hadn't thought about that. Silly me! On my one and only cruise so far (Alaska and Canada) I was often hungry while out on the shore, and did not want to take precious time ashore to stop and eat, so I brought some nuts in a ziplock bag. I will know better next time, and at least make sure the nuts are in pre-packaged commercial bags. This will be OK in foreign countries, right?[/quote']

 

Port rules vary. They REALLY DO. If you feel ok about taking your nuts ashore and there have been no advisories for that SPECIFIC PORT, then enjoy! I've discussed this subject with dozens of local tour guides we've used over the years, in several countries, and we've been ok. It's always smart to check the specific laws for what you have in mind. As my Granddaughter would say 'duh'. ;)

Edited September 8, 2014 by merlin5353

[herbanrenewal]

Port rules vary. They REALLY DO. If you feel ok about taking your nuts ashore and there have been no advisories for that SPECIFIC PORT, then enjoy! I've discussed this subject with dozens of local tour guides we've used over the years, in several countries, and we've been ok. It's always smart to check the specific laws for what you have in mind. As my Granddaughter would say 'duh'. ;)

 

one more point about bringing nuts - if its an organized shared tour even opening a bag of nuts near a severally nut-allergic person could be very dangerous for that person.

 

we shared a tour with someone who did mention a peanut allergy, and we had pre-packaged mixed nuts that did not include peanuts, opened them to snack in the minibus, and he had an asthma attack even though we were two rows back.

 

be aware that even opening a bag of nuts near someone who is extremely sensitive can be a major problem. we dont pack anything with any nuts anymore.

[A2Mich]

one more point about bringing nuts - if its an organized shared tour even opening a bag of nuts near a severally nut-allergic person could be very dangerous for that person.

 

we shared a tour with someone who did mention a peanut allergy, and we had pre-packaged mixed nuts that did not include peanuts, opened them to snack in the minibus, and he had an asthma attack even though we were two rows back.

 

be aware that even opening a bag of nuts near someone who is extremely sensitive can be a major problem. we dont pack anything with any nuts anymore.

 

Forgive me for likely sounding insensitive, but why is it that for 50 years, airlines served bags of peanuts in a small enclosed environment, and we never heard of any adverse reactions by passengers, but within the last 10-15 years, the reported cases of food allergens is through the roof? I'm sorry, but if we were to all be concerned about every possible allergen, we'd all be a lot skinnier, as we wouldn't be allowed to eat anything

 

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[herbanrenewal]

Forgive me for likely sounding insensitive, but why is it that for 50 years, airlines served bags of peanuts in a small enclosed environment, and we never heard of any adverse reactions by passengers, but within the last 10-15 years, the reported cases of food allergens is through the roof? I'm sorry, but if we were to all be concerned about every possible allergen, we'd all be a lot skinnier, as we wouldn't be allowed to eat anything

 

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I guess you would have had to be there and seen this individual fighting for air as his wife pulled out an epi-pen.

 

I don't know if allergies are more severe or if in the past it was just not known what caused the breathing problem.

 

I do know that I personally never want to see that happen again, or think that simply changing my snack food could potentially prevent it recurring.

[merlin5353]

Forgive me for likely sounding insensitive, but why is it that for 50 years, airlines served bags of peanuts in a small enclosed environment, and we never heard of any adverse reactions by passengers, but within the last 10-15 years, the reported cases of food allergens is through the roof? I'm sorry, but if we were to all be concerned about every possible allergen, we'd all be a lot skinnier, as we wouldn't be allowed to eat anything

 

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You are not sounding insensitive. We should all live our lives to be happy. If someone is THAT sensitive to whatever is floating around, I am sorry for them. However, their situation shouldn't prevent me from enjoying my life, either. I have family members with allergies. They understand LIFE. The onus is on them to make sure strangers don't cause them problems. I do still enjoy my airborne nuts. With the airborne nuts, lately. :p

[California Cruisin']

Well, nuts (almonds) are the perfect snack to bring ashore, if allowed. I need protein at every meal/snack to manage blood sugar (hypoglycemic.) They are a perfect protein, don't require refrigeration, and are very portable. If I was in an enclosed space with a group, whose member had announced his/her extreme allergy, I would not have opened a bag of nuts in that space (IF the allergic person had announced how extreme a situation it was.) In that case, I would expect that the tour director/guide would have non-reactive snacks to provide.

[clr315]

Well the original topic was saving money on cruise.....there were a few things I do that I didn't realize I did until I sailed with my sister in law......and trust me she was the model for how to waste money on a cruise so here is what I realize I do to save money :

 

I don't get my mani or pedis on the ship.....I can get them at home prior to boarding!

 

I don't go get my hair done then go stand outside on the deck for a smoke and it looks worse then I started ( yes she did this )

 

I make sure I have weather appropriate clothes so I don't have to buy things at premium prices

 

I for the most part eat in the MDR unless it is a special occasion or I have on board credit or eat lunch on sea days there if offered

 

I bring a medicine Baggie with anything I think I might use so I'm prepared including band aids Imodium Tylenol etc

 

I do have refillable small containers that I bring with me filled with my favorite shampoo or toiletries

 

I book my excursions myself for the most part and get to do more for less money and avoid crowds

 

I basically research things and make sure I know what to expect and not be caught off guard

 

Most importantly I relax and have fun

[Purpos3purpose]

Is it ok to bring a few can sodas on the ship to put in your cabin??

[herbanrenewal]

Is it ok to bring a few can sodas on the ship to put in your cabin??

 

the policy varies by cruise line. you can ask on the board for your cruise line.

[herbanrenewal]

Well the original topic was saving money on cruise.....there were a few things I do that I didn't realize I did until I sailed with my sister in law......and trust me she was the model for how to waste money on a cruise so here is what I realize I do to save money :

 

I don't get my mani or pedis on the ship.....I can get them at home prior to boarding!

 

I don't go get my hair done then go stand outside on the deck for a smoke and it looks worse then I started ( yes she did this )

 

I make sure I have weather appropriate clothes so I don't have to buy things at premium prices

 

I for the most part eat in the MDR unless it is a special occasion or I have on board credit or eat lunch on sea days there if offered

 

I bring a medicine Baggie with anything I think I might use so I'm prepared including band aids Imodium Tylenol etc

 

I do have refillable small containers that I bring with me filled with my favorite shampoo or toiletries

 

I book my excursions myself for the most part and get to do more for less money and avoid crowds

 

I basically research things and make sure I know what to expect and not be caught off guard

 

Most importantly I relax and have fun

 

LOL your sister-in-law sounds a lot like one of mine!

Cruising with her was an experience I would prefer not to repeat!

[clr315]

Oh yea you get to know someone when you cruise with them!

[Travel bug 2000]

Thank you never thought of this one

[Purpos3purpose]

From what I was told its ok to bring can sodas as long as its not pepsi products

[whataboutport]

Why not Pepsi?

[Purpos3purpose]

Why not Pepsi?

 

I'm assuming because the sodas in the beverage package are all pepsi products. So it would be a conflict of interest.

[merlin5353]

I'm assuming because the sodas in the beverage package are all pepsi products. So it would be a conflict of interest.

 

On Celebrity, I haven't seen a brand restriction for beverages brought onboard at embarkation.

[4CruisingSake]

Plug strip

Extension cord

Wrinkle release ( Dollar General brand works great and it's cheaper.)

A clock or phone for alarm

A few must for cruising.

 

 

 

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Our extension cord was confiscated on Freedom of the Seas in May, and we had a several hour delay in getting our bag because of it. Would not suggest that. Our power strips on the other hand, were not confiscated.

[merlin5353]

Our extension cord was confiscated on Freedom of the Seas in May, and we had a several hour delay in getting our bag because of it. Would not suggest that. Our power strips on the other hand, were not confiscated.

 

I've heard of that also. Power strip is ok. So far.

[photopro]

Forget spending your money on .. Wrinkle release. Just bring a spray bottle, size of your choice. When on the ship spray, wrinkles or creases, with plain old cheap water, takes them right out. Try it at home on one of your items and you'll see the results for yourself !

 

Enjoy your cruise !

[GalCruzer]

Are there any issues with bringing a certain brand of soda onto the ship? Our fav is Pepsi...:confused:

[merlin5353]

Are there any issues with bringing a certain brand of soda onto the ship? Our fav is Pepsi...:confused:

 

Nope.

[medicmel]

Why are power strips banned?