The little things

[newtocruisin4]

Hello all, Does each room have basics like soap and kleenex? Do you ever run into times where your room smells like cigarettes? How easy is it to request 4 extra pillows?

Also, I hear at least one in the family usually gets sick on the cruise. Ours are usually upper respiratory. Do you find that if you need some Advil or Tylenol, you can get some free from the Dr., or does it cost cruise prices? Have you found that any cell phones work on board?

 

Any answers to any of the above would help us in packing. We're a family of 4 and fly standby, so optimum would be to not have to check any bags on the plane. Thanks alot! Sherry

[GoinCruisin]

Yes, you will have the basics, soap, shampoo, they usually have razors and toothpaste, etc.

 

I have never heard about 1 per family getting sick... you should take along your own meds. A trip to the doctor will cost you...

 

Some cell phones work in ports... not while at sea (no towers)....check with your cell phone company for coverage and rates.

[GOTTA CRUISE NOW]

I usually stock up on some of those little packs of meds from work.:rolleyes:

(Not too many!!!);) They're very convenient. Tylenol, Ibuprofin, IMMODIUM(:p ), band-aids...

 

The room can smell like cigarettes, but a good air freshener or Febreeze can really help.

 

There are the bars of soap like in a hotel, and containers in the shower filled with shampoo/ cond and shower gel. There's also a hairdryer on the newer ships. (Spirit class & Conquest class) Kleenex are in the bathroom.

They also have some meds & health/ beauty products in a gift basket in the bathroom.

 

Our steward gave us extra pillows. (not sure how many)

[yst347]

I hear at least one in the family usually gets sick on the cruise. Ours are usually upper respiratory.

 

I've never heard that. But considering the close quarters on a cruise ship and the geographical variety of its passengers it is an ideal environment for trading bugs.

 

If you take precautions you can go a long way toward avoid picking up these bugs. You see, in our local communities we trade around the same bugs and we have built up immunity; but when we trade ours with those from hundreds or thousands of miles away we both suffer.

 

Take care touching common surfaces like hand rails and such. I know that at times you must use them....they are safety equipment after all, but if you try to be cognizant of your surroundings, minimize touching, keep your hands off your face, wash your hands often etc. you can greatly reduce the unpleasantness of being ill on your vacation. You will also reduced the chances of making someone else ill on their vacation.

 

You should also bring your own medications. It varies by ship and crew but my experience has been that they are loathe to give medications to passengers.

[newtocruisin4]

Thank you everyone...all great suggestions. I'm a school nurse so I know all about spreading germs. However, I also know how kids will tune out this helpful knowledge, so wish us luck! Sherry

[CruiseFever]

Hello all, Does each room have basics like soap and kleenex? Do you ever run into times where your room smells like cigarettes? How easy is it to request 4 extra pillows?

Also, I hear at least one in the family usually gets sick on the cruise. Ours are usually upper respiratory. Do you find that if you need some Advil or Tylenol, you can get some free from the Dr., or does it cost cruise prices? Have you found that any cell phones work on board?

 

Any answers to any of the above would help us in packing. We're a family of 4 and fly standby, so optimum would be to not have to check any bags on the plane. Thanks alot! Sherry

 

We ALWAYS bring Ozium and Fabreese to "bomb" our cabin with upon Embarkation. We started doing that back when they had all those people getting sick on cruises and have never stopped.

 

Bring your meds with you. We found travel packs of Advil and other otc meds at Office Depot and Office Max that work just fine. From all I have heard you do NOT want to see the ships doctor if you can avoid it. They're independent contractors and charge what some have described as really high rates.

 

Cell phones may or may not work, depends on two things, your phone and your service. If your phone is not cut out for it, you're in trouble. But if it IS cut out for it be sure you know what it will cost you before you turn the dang thing on. I learned the hard way in St Thomas that although its part of the United States its WAY differently priced with my service provider. Check both at a local office before you leave home

 

Finally, please tell me that your standby flight is at least one day before your cruise. Flying standby the day of the show is a really big gamble

 

Good questions!

[DesertGal]

I just got back from a cruise on RCCL Jewel of the Seas and started coughing the last day of the cruise. The ship was very smokey so I kept thinking my coughing was caused from breathing all the smoke everytime we passed through the casino to go to the theater. There was a smoke filled piano bar we passed through to get to the alternative restaurants and late night lounge as well. I just took some cough medicine and hope it puts me back to sleep after a coughing fit.

 

My daughter always brings Lysol onboard and sprays everything in her cabin. I will follow her advice when I board Triumph in February.

DH cut his finger on the sliding balcony door and was happy my daughter had bandaids with her, although she said we could probably get them at the purser's desk or in the gift shop.

[MsBlue]

quote=newtocruisin4]Hello all, Does each room have basics like soap and kleenex?

.....Yes, each cabin is supplied with plenty of each. Ask the cabin steward if you need extra.

 

Do you ever run into times where your room smells like cigarettes?

.....I've never smelled any smoke residue when entering my cabins.

 

How easy is it to request 4 extra pillows?

.....There are usually extras in the closets. Otherwise, ask your steward.

 

Also, I hear at least one in the family usually gets sick on the cruise.

.....Never heard that!

 

Do you find that if you need some Advil or Tylenol, you can get some free from the Dr., or does it cost cruise prices?

.....Take your own! The purser's desk will have seasick meds at no cost; otherwise, things are very expensive on the ship.

 

We're a family of 4 and fly standby, so optimum would be to not have to check any bags on the plane.

.....Like above, I HOPE you're flying to the port city a day early!! Standby is a little too 'iffy' for me. I'd never take a chance on losing all the money I paid for a cruise because of airline delays, etc.

[cathyoo]

A few CC'ers have mentioned they did NOT have the complimentary basket of razors, lotions, etc. The shower does have shampoo and soap in the dispensers. I always bring small bottles of my own shower gel and shampoo. I would think travel size bottles of toiletries and medicines would not take any room at all in your luggage or pocketbook. Stick them in a baggy and then inside your packed shoes.

 

I agree with everyone else about the standby. Isn't it risky with a family of four??

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise.

[elaineb]

I think a lot of the respiratory illnesses come from the airplane ride and then are spread on the ship. I read on these boards that a little neosporin in the nostrils before getting in the plane will help prevent catching something. I know it sounds gross, but what the heck? I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get to my vaca healthy and stay that way. You could also load up on Vitamin C and take B complex the week before you travel to boost up your immune system. And as a previous poster said take Lysol and wipe down the phone, door handles, toilet handle, etc...

[nascargirl1217]

being a nurse myself, as above noted, i do bring all our medicines, including our first aid kit with us. I even have the doctor prescribe an antibiotic to bring with us just incase some one has a fever for a couple of days and it doesnt seem viral. Our room didnt smell like smoke, yet we brought febreeze with us too. If you have a balcony room, bring a bungee cord to keep your balcony door open. We got 4 extra pillows upon request when we went. Also, our cell phones didnt work at sea yet they did work at ports. There is always a computer room that you can pay for use to keep in contact with home. We went with a family of ten last time and only one got sea sick during a storm. The time before that we went, my father was sick upon embarcation and recovered within two days. Tissues shampoo and soap are provided and the room stewart will provide more upon request. Good luck on your first cruise.

[QTBabyNurse]

Something to add that no one else has mentioned.....I always bring 2 small travel sized bottles of Purell...one for my husband and one for me to tuck in our pocket....USE IT OFTEN....especially while in the casino (handling dirty chips) and also in port when no restroom facilities are handy or you don't want to touch their faucet!!

[IBRelaxin2]

Go prepared, I always bring my own meds/first aid stuff, I keep a box packed with that stuff. However you can get free motion sickness meds from the infirm (outside in a holder) and free first aid items at the purser's desk (creams, bandaids, etc). Soap/Shampoo is supplied but we always bring our own, sometimes certain soaps don't agree with us. They do supply some items but it's one per cabin, so if theres more than one person who needs a razor, bring some... I stock up on items at $1 stores and put them all into a Show Off's by Rubbermaid (about $3 at walmart) it's a container w/ lid and handle. Put it all in there and place in under the bathroom counter in the cabin, works GREAT!

[halos]

Hello all, Does each room have basics like soap and kleenex?

My cabins have always had that basket of goodies :D

 

Do you ever run into times where your room smells like cigarettes?

Never

 

 

How easy is it to request 4 extra pillows?

very easy

 

 

Also, I hear at least one in the family usually gets sick on the cruise.

:confused: Who the heck did you hear that from?! Don't get on the ship 'knowing' someone is going to get sick. Why on earth would you do that?????

 

Ours are usually upper respiratory. Do you find that if you need some Advil or Tylenol, you can get some free from the Dr.,

I suggest bringing you own meds...they don't take up enough room in a bag that it would make a difference in whether or not you need to check you baggage...which leads me to your last statement.....

 

Any answers to any of the above would help us in packing. We're a family of 4 and fly standby, so optimum would be to not have to check any bags on the plane. Thanks alot! Sherry

Have you ever cruised before??? Is it really safe to fly stand-by when you need to be on a ship at a certain time before it sails away without you??? Unless, of course, you plan to fly stand-by a day or two prior to ship departure ;)

[joepeka]

Cell phones may or may not work, depends on two things, your phone and your service. If your phone is not cut out for it, you're in trouble. But if it IS cut out for it be sure you know what it will cost you before you turn the dang thing on. I learned the hard way in St Thomas that although its part of the United States its WAY differently priced with my service provider. Check both at a local office before you leave home.

Agreed - it really depends on your ports and your cellular provider. In St. Thomas, my Sprint phone worked as if at home (no roaming) because Sprint's network is installed there. In Puerto Vallarta, my Verizon phone worked but in roaming mode (big bucks if I had used it); DD's T-Mobile did not work at all in PV. So, it just depends.