First-time family cruise-cross check my packing list and first afternoon plans

[ntourtelotte]

We are heading out on the Breeze on April 1st. Our family is my husband and I and our two boys-ages 10 and 13. Husband and I went on one short cruise on the Triumph a year ago, but this is our first family cruise. We are staying in a 4-person interior room, which we know will be small, but we don't plan on being in there much.

 

Based on lots of reading here, I'm put together a packing list to help keep our room organized and charge devices, etc. Are there things on here we don't need or that I should add?

 

Power strip and/or charging port (not surge protected) --How many outlets actually are there?

Nightlight

Battery clock

Sticky notes and marker to leave messages for each other

 

Over the door shoe storage to put things in and hanging shelves

Heavy duty magents

Maybe 3M hooks

Other important things-

Empty water bottles

Tide pods and some quarters for a laundry emergency (how many quarters?)

Beach bag/backpacks

Sunscreen/bug spray

Question-where are we going to hang wet swim suits? Is there a line for that in the bathroom or should we bring hooks for that?

First afternoon plan--

We embark during the 12-12:30 window and plan to have lunch right away. We don't have FTTF. We will drop all of our luggage except a bag with swimwear with the porters.

Eat somewhere other than Lido buffet? Guys burgers, Italian place, Mexican place?

Swim?

Get room organized when it is available

 

 

Where should we hang out during the ship sailing so that we can really see? We learned on the Triumph that there are some places that are better than others to see the fun at that time.

And we've heard that they boys should go to their age-group hangout places that first night to meet people and learn the ropes. Around what time? We have ATD and are hoping to eat together as a family most nights.

Any tips are appreciated!!

[teknoge3k]

We are heading out on the Breeze on April 1st. Our family is my husband and I and our two boys-ages 10 and 13. Husband and I went on one short cruise on the Triumph a year ago, but this is our first family cruise. We are staying in a 4-person interior room, which we know will be small, but we don't plan on being in there much.

 

Based on lots of reading here, I'm put together a packing list to help keep our room organized and charge devices, etc. Are there things on here we don't need or that I should add?

 

Power strip and/or charging port (not surge protected) --How many outlets actually are there?

Nightlight

Battery clock

Sticky notes and marker to leave messages for each other

I would think the clock would be a waste. There is time on the TV and of course your phone has the time on it. We've also never taken a night light. Also the sticky notes, you don't need those. Carnival has The Hub app which you can chat with one another one on for $5 per device for the duration of your cruise.

Over the door shoe storage to put things in and hanging shelves

Heavy duty magents

Maybe 3M hooks

Other important things-

Empty water bottles

Tide pods and some quarters for a laundry emergency (how many quarters?)

Beach bag/backpacks

Sunscreen/bug spray

Never heard of empty water bottles being taken. Why? If you want water you can order a case of water to your room for around $5. Also, no quarters. The ships are cashless. You use your S&S card for that.

Question-where are we going to hang wet swim suits? Is there a line for that in the bathroom or should we bring hooks for that?

There is a line you can pull out in your shower to hang them on. Be sure to take 2 so you can wear one while the other dries.

First afternoon plan--

We embark during the 12-12:30 window and plan to have lunch right away. We don't have FTTF. We will drop all of our luggage except a bag with swimwear with the porters.

 

Eat somewhere other than Lido buffet? Guys burgers, Italian place, Mexican place?

Swim?

Get room organized when it is available

 

 

Where should we hang out during the ship sailing so that we can really see? We learned on the Triumph that there are some places that are better than others to see the fun at that time.

We always just go to lido on whichever ship we're on for sail away.

And we've heard that they boys should go to their age-group hangout places that first night to meet people and learn the ropes. Around what time? We have ATD and are hoping to eat together as a family most nights.

Any tips are appreciated!!

 

My responses in red.

[bluejay555]

Sounds like you have everything planned out! Your packing list looks pretty good.

 

There is a short clothesline in the shower to hang wet suits, but not for all 4 of you. You'll have to spread them out around the bathroom. There is a hook on the door and the towel bars.

 

We like Guy's Burgers for that first lunch after getting on the ship, and the higher you go, the better you can see sail away. We like to be toward the back of the ship to watch sail away.

[bluejay555]

I agree with teknoge3k about ordering water. I always order it online before the cruise and have it delivered to our stateroom on the first day. Can't beat the price! Just go to the carnival website https://www.carnival.com/FunShops/in-stateroom-beverages/water

[nicole9s]

Make sure the nightlight is battery powered, not something you plug in. We usually bring a few battery powered tea lights.

 

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[stevefrisco]

1) I would buy powder detergent vs the tide pods. Not sure if you’re aware but kids/teens are eating them in order to make youtube videos.

 

2) If I were rooming with two kids and life partner, I’d probably just buy the two cases of water vs the water bottles. The only thing worse than getting sick on a cruise ship is when you have 4 people in a room and one person is sick because the other have to worry about catching the bug and also it’s frustrating to use the room and not disturb the sick person. Too tough to really clean water bottles in my opinion.

 

3) I’d bring Ice Cream toppings and cones for the boys, trust me they’ll love it and maybe some new friends will be impressed! We also bring waffle cones at least

 

4) First day lunch we always hit up buffet and also try to figure out which food place will be most popular later in the week and also eat there. Usually hit up the Asian place in this instance because the line is short relative to the rest of the week and relative to everyone trying to get guy’s burger or burrito.

 

5) my kids are big eaters from sports so I’d make sure your boys know they can order as much as they’d like at dinner or brunch or lunch/breakfast. Great time for kids to try some more stuff, especially lobster, escargot, frog legs and prime rib.

[grandmacani]

One thing I like to bring are clothes pins to hang the swim suits. I also go to the $$ store and pick up a couple of collapsible bins. I use them as a place to put misc items, I pads, USB cords.... That's just me, I have to have a place for everything.

[rtfnl]

I would purchase a Yeti knockoff tumbler at Wal-Mart for about $8 instead of water bottles and order a holder via amazon. Purchase a roll of quarters in the Casino.

[Crusin Karen]

Binoculars if you have them. I know you will be in inside room, but I always put them in my beach bag and it's amazing the things you see out there! Fun to see the islands up close as you are approaching too! Folding umbrella for possible rain showers and/or for additional sun shield. Forget the nightlight. Just one more thing to figure out where to plug in. Keep light on in bathroom but door closed at night. You will see where it is! If your $ store has flashlights, buy a small one for each of you and keep next to you at night. Getting to bathroom in the middle of the night is easy. Getting BACK to bed can cause a problem lol. HAVE FUN!

[Lil2Angelic]

The washers and dryers on the ships no longer take quarters. You just use your sail and sign card now.

[evandbob]

Myself, I would put back half the stuff you are bringing, but that's me as a solo and not a family unit.

 

However, the ship provides laundry service for $15/bag, why spend all that much bringing pods and paying for machines. Not to mention your time doing laundry takes away from your vacation! You said you were bringing that stuff for emergency use, the ship can do that as well.

 

Time: no clock needed, just hit "wakeup" button on your cabin phone, it will tell you the ships' present time, as well as program an alarm for you.

 

As already suggested, buy a case of water, no need for "empty" water bottles of any kind. You can't refill directly to a water bottle at any of the buffet dispensers anyway. Just bring your bottle of Carnival water with you on tours, to the pool, gym, etc.

 

In addition to the lunch options you listed, there is also a BBQ station.and Blue Iguana.

 

Have fun, enjoy your cruise.

[summersigh]

Power strip and/or charging port (not surge protected) --How many outlets actually are there?

Nightlight Battery operated

Battery clock

Sticky notes and marker to leave messages for each other

Somebody mentioned that you should be using your phones for the Hub taking the place of the sticky notes and for a clock. That all depends on whether you and the kids want to be tethered to your phones. I think the Hub has some handy features but I personally enjoy time without worrying about my phone while on a cruise

 

Empty water bottles

I would do both - empty water bottles (the ship's water is totally drinkable) and order a couple of packs of water from the ship especially to take on excursions - 12 16.9 oz bottles of water for $4.50. If you order from the Fun Shops ahead of time it will be waiting for you when you board without any room service 15% added.

 

First afternoon plan--

We embark during the 12-12:30 window and plan to have lunch right away. We don't have FTTF. We will drop all of our luggage except a bag with swimwear with the porters.

The cabins will be ready by 1:30 so by the time you have lunch and the kids take a swim the room will be ready.

Eat somewhere other than Lido buffet? Guys burgers and the Mexican place are right across from each other so each of you can choose what you want and sit together to eat.

 

And we've heard that they boys should go to their age-group hangout places that first night to meet people and learn the ropes. Yes - groups and connections are formed that first night Around what time? See the Fun Times for times

We have ATD and are hoping to eat together as a family most nights. We have friends who like to have a quiet dinner for 2 some evenings so they "eat as a family" those nights except that mom and dad have coffee while the kids eat then when the kids go off to the kids club the parents go off for their quiet dinner for 2.

Have a GREAT Cruise !!

[bury me at sea]

If you haven't pre-registered your kids for camp, do so on line. Grab a Fun Times when you board. It will list time and place for initial meetings on the evening you embark.

 

Kids tend to form into groups that first night so attendance is important.

 

They will get a schedule of activities for the entire week on the first night. You all can pick out the things they want to do and schedule dining around those times.

 

Hope you have a great time.

[erikaem86]

Clock/sticky notes: Do you guys have cell phones or ipods? You can just get their app and pay $5 to message each other (and others on the cruise). No need for click or sticky notes.

[coevan]

I would purchase a Yeti knockoff tumbler at Wal-Mart for about $8 instead of water bottles and order a holder via amazon. Purchase a roll of quarters in the Casino.

 

 

What would you do with quarters? I doubt if the casino even has quarters. The ship is cashless.

[SadieN]

You’ll have one 110v American outlet and one 220v Euro pin outlet. We bring a plug adapter for the Euro outlet for use with our dual voltage stuff.

 

 

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[Jerseygirl1416]

When our boys were your boys ages and we cruised with them we’d have them board the ship wearing their board shorts and a t-shirt so they could go right into the pool once on board. Inevitably one would want goggles so be sure to pack them so you don’t have to buy on board. Also go to guest services and have them put a daily limit on their ship cards for the arcade. It adds up without them realizing it.

 

Remember to relax and have a great time! Family vacation memories are priceless.

[Homosassa]

First afternoon plan--

We embark during the 12-12:30 window and plan to have lunch right away. We don't have FTTF. We will drop all of our luggage except a bag with swimwear with the porters.

 

Your time is a check in time. You may need to wait for embarkation.

[Athankfulheart]

On the Breeze the italian place is the quietest choice for embarkation day lunch. Your magnets will serve you well for spreading out swimsuits but they never really dry in interior cabins. I have been on the breeze but dont recall how pmt worked. If the machines dont use your ship card, then you can get quarters at guest services. It was $3 per wash when we last used them. It is not difficult to keep personal water bottles clean but disposable ones are nice to have for excursions. Be sure to bring OTC meds that you may need. Ships sells some but they are expensive and they dont carry children's meds like chewable tylenol. I suggest poopourri for the bathroom, especially in an inside cabin.

 

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[RWolver672]

Personally I would still bring the battery clock. You are in an inside cabin. It will be total darkness day or night. Your phone will more than likely be on the desk plugged in. An alarm clock by your nightstand is a lot more handy than getting up to look at your phone or the cabin's phone to see what time it is.

 

Bring what you feel you will need. If you are more happy with post it notes, bring them. Some people say the over the door shoe holder is a waste while others swear by it. Only you will know what should work best for you.

 

I see no one mentioned things like band-aids, aspirin, antacid tablets, etc. Those things are available in the ship's store but they are extremely expensive compared to bringing them with you.

[summersigh]

Clock/sticky notes: Do you guys have cell phones or ipods? You can just get their app and pay $5 to message each other (and others on the cruise). No need for click or sticky notes.

On board the ship I don't want to carry a phone or purse with me. We stick our phones in the safe and they stay there for the duration (unless we're in Puerto Rico or the USVI) . Personal preference :D

[mrsdunbar32]

Definitely a medicine bag with aloe in case of sunburn.

If you bring a nightlight make it a battery powered stick on light.

Most cabins only have one outlet. definitely get the carnival hub app.

[shelbydrinkyourjuice]

If I bring my own nalgene bottle or my tervis with lid, will they fill it at the bars? All I drink is water so it's not cost effective to purchase water bottles and I don't care to use all of that plastic.

[Kelslinky]

Dramamine or bonine just in case! One of my boys gets pretty car sick but doesn't seem to be bothered on board the ship. I however am usually fine in the car but swear I can feel every movement the ship makes!

 

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[summersigh]

What would you do with quarters? I doubt if the casino even has quarters. The ship is cashless.

There's normally a bill changer were you can change paper money for quarters. It's next to the machines where the paddles push the inserted quarters in hopes that bunches will fall off the ledge to the gambler's joy :D:D