Great unknown tips or secrets!

[JLSE50]

I believe there are some. I know there's one outside the bathroom on the wall (at least in the two staterooms we've been in there are. And I can't be for sure but I "THINK" there was one on the inside of the bathroom door (at least the one with the shower in it). There is also a clothes line in the shower.

Some people miss that clothes line. It is a circular item on the wall. You pull the center plug out and hook it into the slot on the opposite side. I run it through the straps or a leg of each swim suit to spread them out for drying.

We also use hangers to dry towels and suits We put them on door knobs, cabinet knobs, etc.

And don't forget some clipper clothes pins.

Jan

 

[JLSE50]

I read this one on the DIS before we left and it was a lifesaver.

Once you know your stateroom number prior to leaving on your cruise, print out a sheet of labels with your:
*Name & address
*Stateroom Number

Then, on that last night when you've got to have your bags in the hall by 11 pm and it's so hectic, you can skip all the writing to fill out your special 'character' luggage tags.

Just pull off a label and slap it on the tag and you're good to go. This is what allowed me to make that 11 pm deadline!

We take along return address labels, slap them on the luggage tags, write on the number and we are done. So many organizations try to get donations by sending free labels that at times we are inundated. One time we used labels with our DS's name on. He had moved, but we had not so they were not getting used for mail, however, they would get our luggage to us if it went astray!

Jan

 

[JLSE50]

For your photo albums: When you get your Navigators, use them to carry around the whole day on board, THEN, as you're walking around during the day, stop at Guest Services and grab a brand new one to save and keep nice. They have a whole pile of them for the taking. Bring it right back to your room and place in a file folder so it doesn't get wrinkled and folded. This one doesn't get cut up, when I start my photo album, I place 3 holes in it and place it before all the photos of that particular day in the photo album. It works great! and looks really nice. I did this every day of the cruise, you end up walking by guest services at least once a day anyway.

The Navigator that you took with you thruout the day, is the one you could cut up for scrapbooking etc.

I used that nice Navigator as the scrapbook pages. I highlighted the things we did and then glued my photos, tickets, excursion stickers, pictures cut from brochures, whatever I wanted, on top of the things we did not do. It may not create the fanciest pages ever, but it is my style, worked well and takes up less space.

Jan

 

[JLSE50]

A cool way to help you keep in touch with your new DCL friends: On the last day of the trip I go down to Guest Services & grab a handful of the luggage tags. All different colors. Then I put our name, address, email, phone # etc on it & give them out to the folks we hope to stay in touch with. It's colorful & different way for your new friends to remember you.

I really like these ideas. Keep'em coming!

Lisa

GREAT IDEA LISA!
And another use for those return address stickers. This time add your phone number for your new friends instead of your stateroom number.
Jan

 

[FatCat]

If you use non US currency.
Buy Disney gift cards.
Lock in exchange rate.

 

[Tink*s_mama]

Great tips!! Please keep them coming!!

 

[Gabbie]

I am not sure if anyone has posted these yet since I am still reading! Sorry if they are repeats!

* if you have not bought luggage and are in need of it, TJ Maxx has some great deals on rolling duffel bags, these are great as they can collapse and glide right under the bed. Some of them are so thin you can get two on top of each other
* its always a good idea to bring a collapsible bag that wont take up much room incase what you buy doesn’t fit into your suitcase!
*an emergency kit with band aids and such, yes there is a medical room but its so easy to just take your own!
*water water water.. We took our spare suitcase and bought a few gallons of water as well as a case bottles before we got to port. Water costs you on the ship and soda gets old and unhealthy after a few days!
* there is a two bag limit per person on the ship. We try and always go one bag short or more, this way we are never trying to over stuff.
* Cheap hangers can be laid on the bottom of the suitcase and used in the closets. If you get the cheap ones you don’t feel bad leaving them behind in exchange of some souvenirs!
* we bought an inexpensive over the door shoe hanger that had clear pockets which we kept things like lotions and potions as well as a deck of cards and such! It hangs great on the bathroom doors. This keeps the counter space free!
* we took a power strip that helped us for plugging in our chargers for the cameras it kept all that stuff together and safe!
* print up some “business” cards on card stock with your name, dis nick, home town and email! We also printed a small picture for people to remember who the card was from. It made it easier to give to new friends
*if you are going to be in the ocean while at port zinc oxide is a good idea for your nose, even if you get a good tan!
* if you can find them, the laundry tablets work great if you plan on doing some wash. If not we used the food savor and prepackaged a few loads incase you have an accident or spill!
*if you have kids make sure they know who to contact if they get “lost” . Show them what the crew uniforms looks like. We heard one Mom explain to her son to go to another Mommy if he got lots…
* the best tip I have ever gotten….. Lay what you think you might wear on the cruise out on the bed. Take about half that! I tend to over pack!

Ohh and of course Enjoy your trip!

 

[FatCat]

Inside you luggage have a piece of paper with contact information.
Many people put their TA#.
Also put your cruise details on that piece of paper.
It is difficult to reach you if you are on the ship.

Luggage tag with your home# on outside does not help much if you are sailing.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Inside you luggage have a piece of paper with contact information.
Many people put their TA#.
Also put your cruise details on that piece of paper.
It is difficult to reach you if you are on the ship.

Luggage tag with your home# on outside does not help much if you are sailing.

That's a great idea. In fact, I am getting tons of tips and ideas from this thread.

By the way, we put our cell phone numbers on our luggage tags. I know it doesn't matter much in foriegn countries, but then again, we've never been out of the country before.

 

[Tiggerfan14]

suscribe, just want to keep up on all the great tips

 

[dmi188]

If you need to have a night light or see a clock at night, leave your TV on to the channel that has date and time, and mute it. Especially good if you are in cabins with no natural lighting.

 

[buf68]

subscribing....our first trip isn't far away!!! :-D

 

[Gabbie]

Has anyone mentioned making high quality COLOR copies of your drivers Lic. as well as your passport. We always take one copy with us and leave a copy with our family along with all the DCL info like phone numbers, ports and cabin number. This way god forbid something happen to yours most goverments will accept the color copy in an emergency case.

 

[odhrty]

subscribing

 

[JsMom2]

That's a great idea. In fact, I am getting tons of tips and ideas from this thread.

By the way, we put our cell phone numbers on our luggage tags. I know it doesn't matter much in foriegn countries, but then again, we've never been out of the country before.

Actually, as long as you put "001" or "+1" in front of your area code and phone number, then anyone can call your cell phone worldwide.

Whether or not your cell phone will work out of the country is another thing, (Check with your provider) although DCL has added cell service from the ship. But worst case, they can leave you a voicemail that you can check from wherever you are.

FYI when I lived in the States, my cell phone worked in St Thomas!

So YES, putting your cell phone number on and in your luggage is always a good idea!

 

[mommyz]

Don't know if this is on here or not but bring some snacks while waiting to board. We were just about to check in when the whole place was evacuated to the parking lot. Those that were on the ship were lucky they got to stay the rest of us and there were a lot of us waited in the parking lot for about 3 hours b/c one of the dogs smelled something. Heard it happens every now and then.

Disney came out with tons of bottled water but this kids were starving. Everyone was so sweet we were all sharing

Luckily I had some granola bars and cheese crackers!

 

[tchoney]

I purchased SEVERAL cans of Silly String and SEVERAL bags of Confetti Poppers at Dollar Tree. The kids had a blast during the Sail Away Party shooting Silly String and shotting confetti everywhere! We had several cast members that joined in the fun!

 

[parrisk]

I don't remember if this was mentioned, but I suggest bringing a sweater for dinner and the shows.

I'm not normally cold natured, but my friend suggest I bring a sweater on my last cruise. I brought a light cardigan thinking I just needed something to cover my arms. Boy was I wrong! I was so cold at dinner and shivering during the shows. I've actually have been shopping for a sweater that I can use on my next cruise

Thanks so much for this tip. Nothing can make me more miserable than being cold. I never even considered needing a sweater, but I will make sure to take one.

 

[RebeccaSWA]

Yes, we found that our daughter loves to spend time with us, as she does on things at home as well. That is what vacation is to us, spending with family. All though she did say she would do a couple things with the kids so hubby and I could maybe do the brunch at Palos. Also thanks for the response on Eastern or Western.....I think we are going to go for the Eastern.

Take care!

 

[mostyn17]

Sorry if this tip has been already mentioned.... Take care of your tips a couple days before the end of your cruise. The line at guest services gets a mile long. You can take care of your tips without that paper they give you in your room. Just ask GS for it.

After I take care of them...I keep the envelopes in our room safe.

Travis