11/01/03 Eastern Cruisers, I know you're out there!!!

[strasfamily]

No wonder I am having nightmares! You guys are way ahead of me in the packing! I think I need to get my act together!

One happy note - Fedex tried to come today to deliver our cruise docs, but we weren't home. So we will leave their door hanger note to go ahead and leave them and we will have them tomorrow! Now it feels real!

 

[CRenze]

Got that wonderful call from my TA...
MY DOCS ARE HERE!!

I'm stopping on my way home tonight to pick them up!! WOOHOO!!!

Cindy

 

[twhipple]

Cindy, that's great

Disregard my question in the e-mail, I should have read your post first

Tracy

 

[mrspat2]

Ok... we have not started to pack at all....

Any packing suggestions? I remember reading on one board but that was when we first booked. Suggestions for DD's too.

 

[vacationfinatic]

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The UPS man came yesterday with our documents. Now it really seems real. I can't believe it will be here in three weeks. I did some more packing yesterday, I still have a lot of ironing to do however.

There was a thread on the boards that listed all the great packing tips in one place. Try looking for this. I can only remember some of them and here they are:

2-way radios
ziploc bags
game-boys for waiting in the terminals
soft-sided cooler for the beaches
goggles
swimsuits (lots of them)
swim shoes
sunscreen

I'm drawing a blank now that I'm at work. My list is at home. Hope some of this helps.

 

[Thumpersmom]

I'm at work too but to add to the packing list.....

over-the-door shoe holder-It will hold a ton of stuff and make it all accessible.

extra hangers for the closet

small sewing kit

plugins or air freshner

lanyards

 

[SweetSpot]

My favorite packing tips that made my trip so much easier last year:

Pack and entire outfit in a 2 gallon ziploc. I'm ironing shorts & shirt and placing one day for each kid in a ziploc with underwear and socks. No helping them get dressed they take a bag and get dressed.

Different colored hi-lghters for the navigator. We were able to color code what different family members wanted to do.

Sunscreen stick in you kids are getting their hair braided.

Tylenol and cough medicine for both kids and adults. My daughter spent a day in bed with what we think was the Norwalk last year and the medicine was a life saver.

Antacid because your stomach won't be use to so much food.

Plenty of batteries for the gameboys.

Extension cord because there is only one outlet by the desk.

Your own hair dryer, their's is horrible.

Thank you notes to go with your phone cards.

dollars for room service

a permanent marker to write your name and room number on drink mugs and souvenier glasses.

An empty folder to keep all the navigators, kids club artwork and papers you want to save to bring home.

bubbles for the sail away party.

No wonder last year I brought 10 pieces of luggage for the 5 of us!

 

[Masonpips]

I'm trying that ziploc bag thing this year!

Additional things:

travel laundry soap tablets (grocery stores usually have it) if you'll do a load or two.

dryer sheets

quarters (you can get change, but I brought a roll; very handy)

I did 2-3 loads mid-week and it was fabulous. It helped me pack less and freshened the kids pjs, socks, etc. so they had plenty for all week

Kid's motrin, ear drops, other medicines you use "sometimes"; just in case

band-aids/first-aid supplies (aloe, neosporin sp?)


3 weeks from right now I'll be sitting in Chicago waiting for our connection to Tampa

3 weeks from RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE

Heads up for the Radisson Halloween Folks
The latest information is out; please check your e-mails.

The updated overall spreadsheet will be out soon (we have 2 additional folks!)

 

[SweetSpot]

Masonpips:

You will never go anywhere with kids without the 2 gallon ziploc full of clothes again. They were neat, everything matched and I didn't have to help! A true week off for me. They are hard to come by but I found them in store brand at Shoprite around here.

Forgot to add a small travel size dish soap if you are getting a refillable mug or beer mug. Sometimes they clean it for you when you go for a refill but not always.

Baby powder to get beach sand off for the ride back to the ship.

Three weeks from 2AM we hit the road. It will be here before we know it.

 

[tagall4]

YEAH!!!
WE GOT EM! WE GOT EM! WE GOT EM!

Made a mistake in our room #. We are in room 8076, not 8056.

 

[tagall4]

just bumping us up!

masonips -my friends r staying at radisson 10/31 also. can i get/give them info on the TandT?

 

[SweetSpot]

tagall:

How many kids does your friend have? I know we have 18 already so I am aiming at buying 24 of everything to be on the safe side. Do you think 24 will be enough or maybe I should allow for more just in case we have some late additions?

 

[tagall4]

Sweetspot and masonips

Our friends have 3 kids. They are definitely up for participating in the T and T with you guys. They're having major computer problems so they haven't been able to log on and dis. In fact they originally told me about this site. If there is anything they need to know, please pm or e-mail me. I haven't really paid attention to this because i"ll be at the Hyatt. Thanks for everything. Can't wait to meet everyone.

thanx for the counter too!!!!

 

[Masonpips]

I'm fine with adding them; I'll e-mail you (probably tomorrow as we just returned from the OSU/Kansas State football game and I'm exhausted and need to go watch the Cubbies).

That will take us to 21 and I think as we're less than 3 weeks out we should cap it there. People have started shopping and I don't want them to have to re-buy or re-think their strategy!

 

[RudeMNcruisers]

The cruise is almost here!!! I love all the different ideas on packing and such!!! I need to start packing - It's hard to start when our weather in Minnesota isn't normal!! We had 70's and 80's last week!!! For the second week in October in Minnesota that is not normal!!! I think I may be safe to pack the shorts now since the temp is now 50's and 60's!! Odd weather!!! I think I will try the Ziplock packing tip for my girls - That way the outfit is all set and no mixing and matching and leaving mismatched items!!! Great idea- thanks!!!

My real purpose for writing is about halloween. Are we putting our goodies in treat bags for the kids or are they "trick or treating" with bags and we drop items in or are we just meeting and passing out goodies?? Doesn't matter I was just wondering if someone had a plan???
Thank you!!!

 

[Masonpips]

I think we should just all bring the items down to the pool and hand them out to the kiddos. Trying to coordinate a TorT in the dark between rooms will be a mess - I didn't find the lighting to be that great last year!

Theresa got the kids plastic bags so we'll send them to her first and then they can stop by each family to pick up their items in the bag - sound good?

tagall4, can you e-mail me with the following info:
friends names
kid's names and ages
projected time of arrival?
their e-mail address

cotchdc_99@yahoo.com

And I'll send out the info to them.

Thanks!

 

[RudeMNcruisers]

The halloween plan sounds great!!! I just read your e-mail with the list of names- if I would have gone there first all questions would have been answered! Sorry! My girls will be so excited to have costumes on without winter jackets on over them - Living in Minnesota a typical halloween usually has a few snowflakes involved! Thanks for the quick response! 17 days left!!!!!!

 

[SweetSpot]

Before we know it we'll be doing the single digit dance. Time is flying because I keep putting off packing. The weather here has been so warm that I can't pack their summer clothes yet and it's too pretty to be stuck inside packing. Anyone done packing yet?

 

[Masonpips]

the SINGLE digit dance you mean right? SO excited!

It's warm here too so no "official" packing but the clothes are lining up in the laundry room!

 

[dis4me]

Originally posted by SweetSpot
Before we know it we'll be doing the double digit dance. Time is flying because I keep puting of packing. The weather here has been so warm that I can't pack their summer clothes yet and it's too pretty to be stuck inside packing. Anyone done packing yet?

I know what you mean It was beautiful today. I can't get anything done. Everytime I put clothes aside the girls wear them to school. Someday we will pack However I am not ready to give up this weather.
We leave 2 weeks from tomorrow I can't believe it is almost here.