Duct Tape, Collapsible Water Bottles, Hi-lite Pens, Anything Else?

[MNfamilycruiser]

I just wanted to add, instead of colored duct tape to mark our luggage, I got two rolls of ribbon in a bright pattern - ours happened to be white with bright colored multi-sized dots - and tied a piece to the handle of each suitcase. They have stayed on for years now, and multiple trips. All of our luggage is EASILY identifiable. We travel with our two children, so we tend to have lots of smaller bags - easy to round everything up!

[seashell36]

First time cruiser here, but something I have learned from traveling with DH (who likes to squash everything) put anything liquid (shampoo, body gel, and hair gel come to mind) that is in plastic bottles in ziploc bags. This gives you extra protection from over zealous baggage handlers - nothing fun about having to wash out anything as soon as you get to the room because a plastic bottle got cracked or busted.

 

Also a must have is Preperation H Cooling Gel - not for hemorrohoids but for sunburns. It works wonders!

Traci

[Triode]

Some folks from Georgia explained it to me this way: Duct Tape is half of the Red Neck Tool Kit. The other half is WD40. Now I would not suggest packing WD40 or any other aerosol cans in your luggage especially if you are flying, but here is how it works: If it moves and it's not supposed to then you use the Duct Tape to fix it. If it is supposed to move and does not, then you hit it with the WD40.

 

More on Duct Tape: Someone in the thread above mentioned blisters. The Georgian Folks I mentioned above coat the bottoms of the feet with Duct Tape prior to hiking to prevent blisters. I have since begun using this approach and can attest to its success. I cover only the areas known to blister. I have yet to have a blister using this approach. There are many supposed remedies for blisters once they have occurred. This likely will prevent them from ever forming. If you know where you tend to get blisters, try cladding that area of you feet with Duct Tape. It sometimes gets gummy and sticks to your socks, but it is a small price to pay for being blister free. If you do not like the silver (Aluminum) colored Duct Tape, you can now buy "Clear" for a premium price.

[cruisin newbie]

This thread is SO full of great ideas... I've started my list 6 months before our cruise!

 

Has anyone found anything more stylish that a lanyard to hold their critical things? I'm hardly a fashion diva... but I've been wishing for something practical yet stylish to wear on my get-away with my husband... lanyards just aren't doing it for me!;)

Perhaps a wristlet would work (wallet with a strap to carry around your wrist)

 

This is my first post to cc-just registered this morning. My DH & I are taking our first cruise this Nov and are very excited. I'm a planaholic and can not tell you how appreciated all of this advice is to me! Thank you

[musicmansmom]

i am getting in on the last page here so if this has been metioned already sorry. i always call the credit card company and tell them i will be on a trip and where my card might be used. it helps from them possibly denying any charges i might make on the ship or in the ports. it sure save alot of trouble for them to know where i will be using it for the trip.

[curiousl8y]

Hi folks, I've gotten a lot of wonderful ideas from this thread! Here's one I came up with myself because I was worried about just tossing my poor old fragile birth certificate into my bottomless purse;

 

I got a mailer tube and cut it to 10 inches length, put our birth certificates in a freezer ziplock, rolled them up and put 'em in the tube. Put the ends on, and voila, crush-proof travel docs. :)

 

Linda, 6 days till Alaska!

[OC Mom]

I was making an effort to NOT pack everything I read on these boards- the list can be ENORMOUS. But I gave in last night and bought one of those collapsible mesh laundry bags that everyone talks about. It was only $3 at Wal-Mart and I caved ;). I also picked up (at Longs Drug Store) a little travel packet that has small packets of Woolite, stain remover, etc in case I want to sink wash anything.

[Lynndpi]

Just a thought on the ribbons for luggage--I made bows with curling ribbon out of a bright yellow. They were about the size of my hand and I didn't take the time to cut and curl the pieces-just looked a huge knots of ribbon. When we got to the luggage holding area our porter offered to help find our bags. I told him they were black just like 90% of all the bags there except our had these ugly, bright yellow bows and we were able to find all of our bags in less than 2 minutes. He said it was a great idea to use the curling ribbon because it stands up a little on the bag.

 

Keep sharing ideas, it makes it easy for all of us--Thanks!

Lynn

[bubbalu]

This has been a great thread! Many of the items mentioned, such as the walkie talkies, waterproof wallets, etc., I added to my b-day list. Not only did I get what I needed, it helped me to save a lot of money by having to buy those things myself. My next cruise isn't until January 06 :( so there's always X-mas for last minute items. I don't recall anyone mentioning DVDs or the like. Do the rooms normally come with players or can you rent them while on board?

[citcatt1]

I just came back from a cruise last week(carnival triumph may7th-14th) and i brought those styrofoam to-go coffee cups with lids, they really worked out well.

[June Bug]

I have been on 4 cruises and haven't had even 1/4 of the stuff on Mayreeya's extensive packing list! Now I'm so worried how I'm NOT going to be able to do without that stuff on my next cruise!!! Where will I put all our clothes? I can see the suitcase number rising as I am typing!

[OC Mom]

I deleted some of the items she writes about (like glasses and contacts) but added more of my own. Oh well :). Last night I went and bought some more things from "the list". I got Downey Wrinkle Release, 2 gallon Zip-Locks, ribbon for the luggage, a rolling pilot case, etc. Gettin' close...

[AlaskaOrBust]

Whew! It took awhile, but I finally made it through the entire thread!

 

I don't recall seeing this mentioned, but one thing you might consider packing is your packing list to make sure you don't leave behind anything valuable on the ship. :)

[OC Mom]

My husband and I used to leave things behind in hotels all the time. Usually we left items in the shower (shampoo etc) or things under the bed. Now we do what we call an "idiot check". We both look in every nook and crannie right before we leave to make sure we aren't being idiots again.;)

[dkrom96]

It's necessary that we use the handrails on the ship all the time. And they are loaded with germs. So, if you touch handrails be sure to sanitize hands. When we arrive in dining room or other destination we just apply liquid quickly to hands under the table so that others will not have to observe "washing up".

[Msprof68]

There are 14 pages on this thread, and after plowing through 6 of them, I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful suggestions! I don't know if the other 8 pages would have these suggestions, but, I'll share anyway, and apologize if I'm duplicating something:

 

Medicines and Medical Supplies:

 

1. Pepto Bismol tablets. Take two before EVERY meal, especially when you are eating off the ship in foreign countries. My former doctor was a big scuba diver, and he often travelled to Mexico and Cayman. He said these helped coat the stomach and prevent infection.

 

2. Phenegran. If your doctor will give yousome, this is THE best stuff for nausea and vomiting, if you should get sick. Once in Acapulco, my mom and I both got food poisoning. Of course, it was the LAST night of our trip, and we had to be at the airport the next day by 1:00. By 8:00 in the morning I was so weak I could not get out of bed. Had I had Phenegran, I could have slowed down the dehydration and managed to travel without spending $550 USD on a housecall from the hotel doctor. This is generally safe for children, too.

 

3. EVERY possible prescription medicine you need, in its original bottle. Although you may be able to get some medicines from the ship's doctor or in a port, it's so much easier to have YOUR stuff. I have a bad back, and have several different muscle relaxers, antiinflammatories, etc. If I throw my back out dancing, I can be up and around in a day or two for sure. My son has asthma, so we will take his inhalers and other medicines. NOthing ruins a good vacation more than someone getting sick!

 

4. Antibiotics, "just in case." My doctor will usually give me a prescription for routine antibiotics to use if we contract an illness or develop a sinus infection. I usually have to pay for one office visit with himb efore the trip, but that does save me from paying for emergency care while away from home.

 

(As you can probably tell, I have gotten food poisoning or other illnesses on more than one trip, and I am now very paranoid about it!)

 

5. Alka-seltzer. There is NOTHING better for a hangover, if you ask me. It goes into the bloodstream quickly. Take one before bed if you party too hard that night, you'll be glad in the morning.

 

 

Other things:

 

1. One credit card that I never use, just for emergencies. My biggest fear is that I'll go off on an excursion or something and get left by the ship. I know that's unlikely, but, it would only take that happening once to make you a believer in having plenty of emergency funding to get home on. It would also be useful for getting the best emergency medical care if you needed it.

 

2. Pocket video games, Game Boy, iPod, etc. I despise standing in line anywhere, even if it's for a lifeboat drill, waiting to board the ship, waiting on a tour bus, etc. One of these is perfect for occupying my mind when I have to wait! I always make sure my child has his, too, because the only thing worse than me being bored in line is listening to HIM whine about being bored standing in line! :-D

 

3. Printouts from Frommers.com about good local places to eat in each city I'm going to visit, including the city from which my cruise sails. It's good to know what to do and where to go in a port stop, especially if you don't want to go on a pre-guided tour!

 

 

We sail two weeks from today! Yippeeeeeee!

 

Brenda

[medalian1]

Used duct tape on the pep hole ... amazing how much light came through there when your trying to sleep. Lil dab of DT and it was fixed.

[citcatt1]

Every time I go on a cruise one of the first things I do is I go to the casino, they have lanyards and they'll punch a hole in your sail and sign cards and fountain fun cards (for sodas) I get one for everyone in the family so everyone can wear there cards around there neck, and they never get lost.:)

[SugarFreeSheila]

A flat, round, plastic bubble-maker and small bottle of bubbles on the balcony for when you disembark. I love bubbles!! :p

[dwarven1]

Now we do what we call an "idiot check". We both look in every nook and crannie right before we leave to make sure we aren't being idiots again.;)

 

I prefer to call it "pulling a sweep" - EVERY drawer gets opened, EVERY closet gets looked in, the bed gets looked under, EVERYTHING gets checked... 'cause I'm a scatterbrain who will forget something otherwise.

 

Other things to pack...

 

I load my PDA up with e-books to read on the flights to and from, and bring my charger so that I don't run out of juice. Music is good, too. don't forget extra memory cards for your digital camera, too! they'll be twice the price on the boat.

 

Not only do I bring a spare pair of glasses, but I also bring a Croakies glasses strap so I can go in the water or on rides and still wear my glasses.

 

for snorkeling, my wife bought me a prescription snorkel mask... now I can SEE underwater! I NEVER go south without it! (but I'm not bringing it to Alaska with me in 2 weeks!) :-)

 

Ross

 

Meridian

Royal Majesty x2

Norwegian Majesty

Disney Wonder

Disney Magic

[olive2]

One item mentioned was a wine opener....any way of bringing on your own

wine?? Thanks for all the items...great for first timers!

[olive2]

I just came back from a cruise last week(carnival triumph may7th-14th) and i brought those styrofoam to-go coffee cups with lids, they really worked out well.

 

 

I'm curious why we need styrofoam/or collapsable cups. Both have been

mentioned. Thanks!

[olive2]

Why do we need collapsable bottles/styrofoam cups??

[IggleDoer]

My DW broke her glasses on the last cruise (putting on her life vest for the drill). Although she had a spare, Super Glue would have saved the day.

[AIMS312]

For those who drink a little too much the night before, the Hangover Cure (per SoYouWanna.com)

 

 

1. Take 2 aspirins

2. Take 200mg cysteine (available at specialty food stores)

 

http://www.anyvitamins.com/cysteine-info.htm

 

http://www.naturalpharmacy.com/supplement-category/N-Acetyl-L%20Cysteine

 

3. Take 600mg vitamin C

4. Take 1 tablet vitamin B-complex

 

And for the people who bring blenders aboard (or you may be able to have something like this made at breakfast for you):

 

5. Mix the following ingredients together in a blender:

1 banana

1 small can V-8

6 large strawberries

2 tablespoons honey

1 cup orange juice

1-2 cups milk (or soy milk), to desired consistency

¼ tsp. salt

dash of nutmeg

 

Drink it all down

 

And of course, lots of fluids (water, Gatorade, Maalox, and bullion soup for lunch of you still feel like crud then.)

Stay away from coffee and other caffeinated beverages.