Glad I packed/could do without

[cwf1028]

Just my thoughts on what was helpful and what was not:

Glad I packed:
Over door shoe hanger(clear) held all the "stuff", will bring an extra next time for shoes
couple of command adhesive hooks to hang our PJs on the wall next the the bed
Liquid hand soap-just something we are used to at home
black plastic trash bags, duct tape-upgraded to a porthole and I used this to cover the window at night and then pinned it back with clothes pins during the day. I have a little one that is very light sensitive and I am too. Was really nice
clothes pins-will bring 15 next time instead of 6.
More motrin for adults and kids-DH had back pain, DD had swimmers ear. We spent a fortune on the boat for it.
Gum
Cheap water bottles to fill up for island time for the family
Gold glitter-DD had a very loose tooth she lost on the first night and "tinkerbell" apparently steps in for the tooth fairy on the boat.


Won't bother next time:
Battery operated travel clock-never looked at it, just used my sports watch on the night stand when needed
Princess dresses-kids wanted them off after 30 minutes as the itched.
Night light-room was light enough
Laptop-just won't take as many pictures-too much hassle
Book and magazines-too busy to read if you're not a "reader"

 

[ericamanda01]

I agree with the laptop. DH and I are going to just buy an extra memory card!

 

[aprilgail2]

Won't bother next time:

Princess dresses-kids wanted them off after 30 minutes as the itched.
Night light-room was light enough
Laptop-just won't take as many pictures-too much hassle
QUOTE]

My daughter hates the itch of the princess dresses too, I won't bother with that again!
We left the bathroom light on and just cracked the door, that was more than enough light for us at night.
I won't bring a laptop next time either....my camera holds 512 pictures and that is more than enough, plus I find it easier to have them put on disks at shutters and to have them develope my film for me. First cruise I didn't have them do that and the film got ruined on the way home, I won't chance that again!
I also won't bother bringing a blow dryer, the one on the ship was fine for us.
Room air freshener-guess we just aren't stinky bathroom people since we had no need for it the past 2 cruises.
I will always bring my white noise machine which is also a light up clock...I need that white noise to drown out the hallway noises.
Also we loved the over the door shoe holder, saved a lot of slutter since there isn't much shelf space in the bathrooms.

 

[scrapperjill]

I will most defitanly be bring our laptop again. It was real hand to down load the pics from the cards..plus we were able to burn disks right then and there. For one...you never know when or if your memory card will fail...and risk loosing all those photos. This way we had them not only saved on our computer...but also had disks made...just in case the computer crashed also. I had 3 256mb cards..and one smaller one...I ended up dumping all of them more than once durring the trip...and I'd rather tote the laptop with me than to fork out $$$ for shutter to do the same thing. I'm also planning on taking even more photos this next time...If that's possable

 

[cwf1028]

Can't believe I forgot about a white noise machine. I am will absolutely have one for our next cruise. The people on the other side of the wall that our bed was on were early risers and slammed every drawer and door in the cabin for what seems like hours. I'm a light sleeper and it woke me up every morning. I did like having my own hair dryer just because I preferred to dry my hair at the desk instead of the bathroom. I would also add a can of lysol for the must have list. I really felt better spraying the room down before I unpacked and it came in hand later for the bathroom.

 

[Mianc]

Glad I brought:

Disney Costumes - Only a couple though, my dd loved having a reason to get dressed up and all the attention.

Juices to keep inside the room - very convenient to have on hand

Autograph Book - didn't have to try and buy one and the stores don't open right away

Wish I had left at home:

My sister-in-law - It's really about the kids and a cruise is not a time to try to bond with "others". She doesn't have kids and just couldn't understand that my dd's happiness came first.

Clothes - I way over packed...I wore a lot of clothes more than one day because I only had them on for a few hours each day.

Too many toiletries - you carry them in your carry on and it makes it so heavy. Besides I was always getting ready in a hurry and didn't need all the extra's (special lotions, etc..)

Wish I had brought:

Beach Toys - very expensive on castawy cay!

 

[bratray]

Wish I had left at home:

My sister-in-law - It's really about the kids and a cruise is not a time to try to bond with "others". She doesn't have kids and just couldn't understand that my dd's happiness came first.

that was pretty funny!!! ...i hope she doesn't read these boards

 

[nehdeh]

Wish I had left at home:

My sister-in-law - It's really about the kids and a cruise is not a time to try to bond with "others". She doesn't have kids and just couldn't understand that my dd's happiness came first.

I can SOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo relate! I've had the same problem with my sister on previous vacations. It's not anything negative against the person, after all, the entire reason she is there is because you enjoy her company and want to bond--it's just that your children come first!

 

[Skallywag]

Please let me know what this is it sounds very strange - what does it do.

The thing I think I must remember is face cream rich ones as assume skin dries out badly in the salt air. Anyone found a good one for this please. Would help if I did not have to drag all the way from England on the plane.

 

[aprilgail2]

Its a machine that sort of sounds like a air conditioner...it drowns out noise and is just sort of a background type noise, like the static of a TV when the channel is out. I use one at home all the time and it also drowns out my daughters snoring!! Though once she has her surgery for adenoids and tonsils hopefully the snoring will stop!

 

[TammyC]

"Battery operated travel clock-never looked at it, just used my sports watch on the night stand when needed"

Do they not have alarm clocks in the cabins? Or, will I have to rely on a wake-up call for that early morning debarkation?

Tammy

 

[my3kids]

Glad I had:

zip lock baggies
clear package tape
capri pants(wish I had more...found lots of times I needed to be 'dessed' but not 'dressed up.'
small soft cooler

Won't bother again:

over the door shoe thing
too many dressy things for dinner

 

[RobinMarie]

I agree with the not bringing so many clothes. I did feel like I was changing clothes constantly and nothing was dirty after one wearing because I'd wear it only for a few hours.

Same with dinner clothes, sometimes I wore them for a couple of hours for dinner then changed after to watch the show. I definitely did not need 7 outfits for dinner.

We didn't need the over-the-door holder at all.

I read a LOT On the cruise! While people were sweating it out walking on deck 4, I sat in the comfy lounge waving to them and reading my books!

 

[cwf1028]

There is a clock on the desk, however it is anolog, unlit and does not have an alarm. Get the wake up call...it's Mickey.

 

[txaggie94gigem]

ITA about the beach toys....we bought a soft sided cooler, beach toys and snorkel equipment for 75% off after summer...all the beach stuff fit in the cooler and it was nice not to have to spend extra $$ on CC for snorkel stuff and toys...

the best part is we have the stuff for future cruises or if you need more room for souveniers you can toss it since we spent less that $15 for all this stuff...