Great unknown tips or secrets!

[taeja71]

VISINE. With all the activity and staying up late, my eyes were very bloodshot by the last day of our cruise. Luckily, my eyes are so small I don't think many people noticed except my kids. They thought I had monster eyes.

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

READ YOUR NAVIGATOR!!!! Because it was only listed on the very back and in a very small font, we missed the "midnight" dessert buffet..... I happened upon it as I was going back to the room for something but they told me I couln't stay because they were getting ready to close it down. DH and I were very disappointed!

 

[JC Butterfly]

I always hated the knots in my hair after getting out of the salt water for excursions because you often have awhile before you can get to fresh water and yanking them out just hurts. Someone told me to carry a little detangler with me around salt water - it works great.

Another easy solution is to soak your hair completely with fresh water before leaving. Put in lots of conditioner and don't rinse it out. Your hair will be too saturated to absorb the salt water. (optionally can braid or cover with hat) When you get back to fresh water, rinse out your hair and it will be super soft from your "deep conditioning" treatment.

 

[JC Butterfly]

Do you have any tips about things to help you on your cruise to get around the boat or just any tips?
Did you know that when you get out of the water and have to walk through the sand and hate all that sand stuck to your feet all you have to do is once out of the sand put baby powder on them and the sand just comes right off!

Ok, so before I make an even BIGGER idiot out of myself. You are suggesting bringing a bottle of baby powder to the beach. When I walk to let's say my lounge chair and my feet are full of sand (and still somewhat wet) I should put baby powder on top of them? And the sand comes off? I've never heard of this before!

 

[JC Butterfly]

I also have found that showering in the ladies locker room in the spa/gym is so easy....they have shampoo/conditioner right in the shower and I go there straight from the adult pool....shower, wash my hair and then get dressed (temporary clothes...not my evening clothes) and go back to the cabin to dry my hair...saves time for me and this way I don't have to rush hubby in the shower.).

So do people walk around in just a robe or something? Trying to figure out how to not mess up all that preparing if I did use an alternate shower. Or just easy on/off clothing like swimwear?

Do people walk around the ship in only their swimwear without cover-up or towels? In my case, that could be a scary sight!

 

[kritter]

Great tips thanks...>!!!!!

 

[needabreaknow]

Another great thing to do with your hair is to get a detangler with UV protectants in it, like Biolage Daily Leave In Tonic ( I'm a hairstylist if you haven't guessed). There is also a product just released last summer that won't be out again until next year, but you might be able to get it on clearance. It's called Biolage Sunsorials... The spray oil for your hair is REALLY nice and makes it so soft. It's like a conditioning treatment for your hair while you are out baking in the sun and water.

Here is a link that describes it:

http://www.matrix.com/products/biolage/sunsorials.aspx

I'm not trying to sell it by any means. I don't even know if you can still find it around you, but it'd definitely be worth a shot. Around here , we are selling it for 50% off because it's out of season.

And by the way, the person who suggested soaking the hair before heading out is right on! If you don't do anything else, at least get it wet. It'll keep the salt and chlorine from penetrating as much.

 

[needabreaknow]

So do people walk around in just a robe or something?
Do people walk around the ship in only their swimwear without cover-up or towels? In my case, that could be a scary sight!

When we went there wasn't a lot of walking around the ship in a suit only. A lot of women wore sarong type things, but most just walked around in a swim suit only if they were right at the pools.

I can guarantee that I will not be subjecting passerbys to witness me schlepping around in a swim suit. It's their vacation... I have to be nice to them.

 

[discruiselovers97]

Ok, so before I make an even BIGGER idiot out of myself. You are suggesting bringing a bottle of baby powder to the beach. When I walk to let's say my lounge chair and my feet are full of sand (and still somewhat wet) I should put baby powder on top of them? And the sand comes off? I've never heard of this before!

Yup! just got to brush it off with your hands! works like a charm everytime! there is something that makes the sand stick to the baby powder that makes it come off so easy!

 

[LCTsMom]

So do people walk around in just a robe or something? Trying to figure out how to not mess up all that preparing if I did use an alternate shower. Or just easy on/off clothing like swimwear?

Do people walk around the ship in only their swimwear without cover-up or towels? In my case, that could be a scary sight!

We saw a woman in a thong swimsuit at the Mickey pool! Now that was someone in need of a cover up!

 

[LCTsMom]

Ok, so before I make an even BIGGER idiot out of myself. You are suggesting bringing a bottle of baby powder to the beach. When I walk to let's say my lounge chair and my feet are full of sand (and still somewhat wet) I should put baby powder on top of them? And the sand comes off? I've never heard of this before!

It works really well, and smells nice too!

 

[pgfour]

I'm implementing one I heard here right now....divide your families clothes between bags in case one gets lost. I have underwear for everyone spread between bags, casual clothes and dress up clothes spread between bags, swimsuits. If you see me in the same outfit for dinner all the time, one of the bags got lost, but at least I won't be wearing my husband's underwear.

Great tip! I will definitely do this!

I was too busy worrying that some of the toiletries I would normally pack in a carry-on (for the plane ride), might get lost that I hadn't thought of lost clothes! (Perhaps I'll try a similar approach with toiletries.)

 

[pgfour]

READ YOUR NAVIGATOR!!!! Because it was only listed on the very back and in a very small font, we missed the "midnight" dessert buffet..... I happened upon it as I was going back to the room for something but they told me I couln't stay because they were getting ready to close it down. DH and I were very disappointed!

Also (I read this tip on another thread), pack different colored highlighters to mark what each person in the family might want to do. With all the things listed and such tiny fonts, we need all the help we can get!!!

 

[Shercara]

Hi guys -- someone mentioned wearing a t-shirt while snorkeling to prevent sunburn. While this is a great idea - I have one better. A regular t-shirt does not protect as well as a SPF ® T-shirt. Here is a link to a great new site for great, comfortable and affordable Sun Protective t-shirts for SPF conscious familys :

http://www.spftshirts.com/

"We’ve taken America’s favorite 100% cotton t-shirt, added top-rated SPF® UV protection and priced them the same as regular t-shirts. In fact, we offer t-shirts for as low as $8.99 for short sleeve t-shirts and $14.95 for long sleeve t-shirts! Our t-shirts offer better sun protection than you get from a “Sun Protective” nylon/polyester UPF-30 rated shirt selling for $35 to $80!

About SPF® t-shirts
• Available in over 70 Colors!
• 100% Cotton, Soft & Comfortable
• Pre-shrunk for a perfect fit, wash after wash
• Block in excess of 97% of ultraviolet rays
• Machine washable and dryable
• Double stitched for extra strength to last for seasons to come
• Dyed and UV finished in the U.S.A.
• Comfortable 1/2 inch ribbed collar with shoulder to shoulder taping that insures the seams lie flat."

Check this sight out in the coming months - I am told they will be adding sunglasses, all natural sunscreen, hats + much more!

Take care,
Sherri

 

[minniemouse1]

Rit also makes a product that you can put in the washer with your clothes that gives your everyday shirts or whatever else is in the wash an SPF of 30. Its great. I just bought some at our local Joanns on clearance.

 

[angilovesthemouse]

I'm implementing one I heard here right now....divide your families clothes between bags in case one gets lost. I have underwear for everyone spread between bags, casual clothes and dress up clothes spread between bags, swimsuits. If you see me in the same outfit for dinner all the time, one of the bags got lost, but at least I won't be wearing my husband's underwear.

This is sooo true. Last month my dad went to Canada(for Alaskan Cruise), his suitcase went to Cancun! Luckily they had their trip planned to sightsee Vancouver for a couple of days before the cruise, so luggage made it back at 3am of morning of cruise.
For same reasons, don't pack any daily meds you need in checked baggage!

 

[Jen76b]

Thanks...I was actually a bit concerned with that. Hubby and I get so little alone time and we were looking forward to some of it during the evening hours. Then my mommy complexes kick in....LOL!

But I know they'll love it.

Just to share.. we went on our first cruise in June and I had to bribe my DS7 to leave the lab so we could get ready for dinner, or I was tired and ready to go to bed (it was 11:30p and he still wanted to stay, but I was ready to sleep).

Now I know better and won't feel guilty about leaving him there to go swim in the adult pool or just relax and read a book.

 

[kcashner]

I've always insisted that DD chose one club/lab activity each day. IF she's into the programming (that sometranslates "if she meets a friend"), she may stay as long as she likes, but by choosing one activity each day I know that I'll have some "Me" time without being mom. Of course, now that she's a really big kid in The Stack, it is a non-issue. I never see her except at dinner (hee hee).

 

[Shercara]

The shirts on the SPF Website are Rated 40 - 50 UPF - and block over 97% of the sun's UV rays. They are also backed up by laboratory testing - take a look at the site if you have a chance - real interesting and a nice product!

 

[meresandwillsmom]

All these tips are great! One I really used is to ship a box of "stuff" directly to the ship. I sent the snacks one tipster mentioned, old sand toys that they played with and then we left on CC, room and door decorations, and some liquor. Highlighters and post-it notes are good too. My kids loved the Lab. I had to pull them out at midnight because I was tired! If I think of anything else I'll post!