Packing???

[mcnabb3801]

My husband and I are going on a 7 day cruise on the Liberty in January...

 

What should we pack? And what are some things through your experience we should leave home?

 

 

Stacey

[jayscore]

Start checking these boards, and you'll find heaps of info on this subject! My first step is gather up what I think I need, and then divide it in half! I'm sure you're going to hear a lot more!

[mikefast]

I agree with the previous poster. Lay out everything you think you would need, and then put half of it back. My wife always over packs. We bring home quite a few clothes that we didn't wear. She says she would rather have it and not need it, then need it and not have it but guess who gets stuck lugging everything around?

[hockeyluver]

I try to pack 2 nice pair of pants with different tops for dinners, I am not a dress person. 2 pair of shorts with assorted tops to match and 2 bathing suits for a 7 day. Hubby is basically the same. The first couple cruises we over packed way too much!! now with the cost of suitcases on airplains the less the better. All ships do have laundry rooms if they are needed. Bring an alarm clock ( no clock in the rooms) and a power bar, one outlet is not enough!!!

[meldam]

There was another thread with about 24 pages on tips and packing advice. I copied one of the posts from the OP and pasted it here for your convenience. (Please note that I edited some of the content but to give credit where credit is due, the OP was Elaine515.) If you would like to view the thread in its entirety, it can be found at: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=488552&highlight=secrets+carnival

 

-If you don’t like what is offered on the main menu, you can ask the waiter for either a steak or grilled chicken.

-Any pasta item on the main menu CAN be ordered as an appetizer. Just ask.

-You can order multiple courses if you want.

-Post cards, foreign postage stamps and playing cards are available at the pursars desk.

-Get a FREE lanyard at the Casino. Pursars desk will punch a whole in it for you.

-24 hour pizza place also serves Calzones and Caesar salads. If you want a special topping and they have it they will make you that pizza.

-Go to tea-time they have different snacks and its a nice place to relax

-Ask the steward if you forget something ie toothpaste...they often have samples

-Bring baggies of assorted sizes. For saving snacks for excursions and wet clothes, etc.

-Bring on own bottles of water, and soda and save $$$

-Bring a reusable cup with lid...less trips to get a drink

-Ask for your drink in a plastic cup (not the fancy one ) saves $$$

-Orange juice is available at the same place all day they just remove the label

-You may get a free facial if you call the spa and ask to be a volunteer.

-Tie a bright ribbon/scarf to your luggage for easy spotting. Also can work on cabin door. (Especially if you stumble back to your room 3 sheets to the wind. It keeps you from spending 10 minutes trying to open up the wrong cabin and waking others up.)

-When the regular hot tub is too full, use the spa one.

-Use of the sauna/steam room is free

-Use the spa shower if multiple people need to shower at same time

-Ask for children’s dessert menu (banana splits)

-Bring Duct tape (Multiple purposes. Not absolutely necessary though if you're trying to save space.)

-Bring a highlighter (Good for highlighting important stuff you find on the Capers and I hear it's an excellent Bingo dauber.)

-Bring post it notes (Good for leaving notes for your roommates as well as the steward)

-Sit close at the port talks sometimes they toss out free stuff

-You can ask for extra pillow chocolates

-Bring an extension cord/power strip (only one outlet in the room. Not neccessary if you only need to plug in one thing at a time though.)

-You can order free drinks from the bar in the room at Captains dinner as opposed to those on the tray.

-Bring travel hooks to hang stuff in your room although I hear there is plenty of storage space.

-Bring towels from home if you are afraid of losing the one they give you.

-Take a hand towel with you to the beach it will help remove sand and is handy for lots of other things too

-Baby powder helps remove sand

-Bungie cords are great for keeping the balcony door open if you want the sounds and feel of the ocean wind. Note that the A/C will turn off whenever that door is open though.

-A small first aid kit is excellent insurance because they charge large amounts for that stuff on the ship. Include a few OTC meds such as Pepto Bismol, Tylenol, Sunburn Soothing Gel, etc.

-You can also print cards to take with you on the layout of the ship...simply use a word document... Larger and more detailed than the cards they provide on the ship.

-Self disembarkation is FASTER

-It is possible to ‘smuggle’ alcohol on board. check out www.rumrunnersflasks.com or search other threads for more info on this.

-Make sure to stock up on "snacks" before debarkation. The wait can be pretty long. They're also handy if you are in the middle of an excursion and starving.

-Cards can become demagnetized when used for locking and unlockng the safe. Don’t use your credit card or other important cards such as your S&S card. Most people bring an easily replaceable card such as a grocery card or old gift card.

-If the safe will not open call the desk they will send someone to open it.

-If you get sea sick you can go to the Pursers desk and ask for pills. They are free there

-Use your telephone for leaving each other messages in the cabins

-Do walk the entire ship on your first day

-You can also ask your Room Steward for the book that is in your cabin

-Bring a night light/ alarm clock (Especially good for inside cabins where you can lose track of the time really easily.) I've never been in an inside but some say the nightlight isn't really necessary if you leave the bathroom light on and the door closed. Personal choice I guess.

-Bring water shoes (Mysterious things lie on the ocean floor and not all of them are soft.)

-Preference toilet paper is softer than envision. If you feel the need to change it ask the steward.

-Bring a sweater the dining room can be cold

-Dryer sheets placed in your drawers can keep the musty smell at bay.

 

 

In general, pack what you feel comfortable with. You will still have a fabulous cruise regardless of what you bring.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

-Cheers,

meldam

[Kabrina]

If you want to be able to keep up with each other easily then I would suggest bringing walkie talkies. I went on the Carnival Valor in May this year for my brother and sisters graduation present and there where 9 of us. I was the odd one out. There were my parents, my two brothers, my sister and her beau, and my younger sister and her best friend. I was rooming with my younger sister and her friend and I tend to hang around my older sister and my brothers a lot more and if they werent in their rooms or we hadnt already touched base we only ran into each other by chance. Since you can't use your cell phones walkie talkies would be a great investment.

[hkolln]

A few things we were glad we brought on our last cruise were:

 

1) nightlight (cabin is quite dark at night)

2) Alarm clock (no alarm clock in cabin and ours has large number on it so we could see the time at night)

3) power cord (only 1 plug in cabin and power cord allowed us to plug in our charger for our camera/video camera plus our nightlight and our alarm clock too!)

[Kabrina]

If you don't want to bring an alarm clock you can always set the phone in the cabin to wake you up.

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

I usually overpack but getting better. This is generally what I pack and cut out whatever takes up most space if needed). Most of this stuff fits in a large cosmetic case.

 

3 outlet plug

Highlighter (marking daily capers for activities)

Journal/Diary (I used for cruise critic notes)

Post it Notes (for notes to hubby & cabin steward)

Cruise Docs

ID, passports (& waterproof wallet)

Money (Cash, Credit Cards) (dollar bills for tipping)

Portable Clock

Cell Phone

Sunscreen Lotion

Contact Phone Numbers (tours, airport, car service, family, etc)

Extra Film/Memory Cards/video tapes

Tall coffee sipper

Nightlight (not necessary if you have digital alarm clock which serves same purpose)

Camera and chargers (video & digital) maybe tripod

A small 1st aid kit with bandaids/ibuprofen/Neosporin/alcohol wipes/gas-x

binoculars-depending on where we are going

Zip Lock Bags

Ear plugs

Batteries

Lip balm

Dental floss picks

Razors

His/Her deodorant

Perfume/Cologne

Shampoo/Conditioner (shampoo in the dispensers but no conditioner there) I prefer my own stuff

Combs/brushes

hair ponies

make up

Curling iron

Vitamins/Medications

Flashlight (Mini-Mag) or taplight for bathroom whatever they are called

pens

Sunglasses

Swim shoes

Belts

book

Downey wrinkle Release & Tide to go pen for stains

Clothes mix & match-I wore swimsuits most of the time so didn’t use much regular clothes.

Lightly on shoes

 

Many people swear by the over the door shoe holder to keep the cabin organized. It holds lots of little things that take up counter space. I find that they take up too much space in my baggage so I didn't take it on my last trip and had no trouble at all with finding a spot for the little things.

 

Have fun!