Mrs. Practically-Optimistic Plans a Cruise: Packing 2/20 update

[TAKitty]

I have collected crisp one dollar bills for tips.

Our travel documents are ready to go.

I have ordered new swimsuits for the boys.

I have started packing!

Really, I know it’s crazy to begin packing over a month before the trip, but I like to be prepared and I have a lot of busy days ahead.

Things left to do:
Passports—We are planning on going Monday
Tropical Shirts for the boys
A new pair of shorts for the boys
Skirt for me/Sew a Minnie head on the skirt
Sew a Minnie head on my new swimsuit cover-up
Get a pedicure
Decide if I am getting massage for my husband
Decide what to put in our cruise gift baskets--Any suggestions?

That’s about it. I check every day to see if the cruise price has gone down, but it hasn’t. Now we wait. I promise I will have lots of pictures when we return!

You can also check out my blog. I am going to debut "Travel Tip Tuesday" next week.
http://livethelifeyoudream.wordpress.com/

 

[TAKitty]

Guess what came in the mail today? Our Magical Express Luggage Tags! The trip is close now!

 

[PURTYPAT1]

I am loving your pre-trip plan. I am a planner as well LOL

My suitcases were all packed one month before our trip. A few weeks before my trip, a crisis came up, I am so.....glad I was packed, & didn't have to do it last minute.

My Tips:
Pack your clothes in Plastic baggies. They will not wrinkle. It really works.

Long extension cord, plus I bought a small one that fits into a plug that makes it to 3 outlets.

Suction cups hanger for the door (we hung our keys to the world on them daily)

Makeup organizer bag (I bought 3 & tied strings to them, so they would hang up) they were great for sun glasses & important documents

Yankee candle store sells gel car fresher's. I had one in each room. My stateroom smelled fresh all week. (now our car's smell nice)

Light up clock radio (this is a must) you will always know what time it is especially in the dark. Easy to set, when you have to change the clocks back & forward.

Small flash light, great for TV remote controls, potty time at night

You must take a least one Shower at the Spa. (they supply shampoo conditioners & body wash, as well as plush towels)

Quarters for the wash machine. Dollar store wash machine soap, & don't forget dryer sheets.

Ask your host to put a clothes line in your room, for wet suits.

Clorox stick

Bring old PJ's for your family, for the last night, & then throw them out in the AM.

Have a magnet holder for the door, so you can leave notes on the door where everyone is thru out the day. This was a must

 

[wilma-bride]

Absolutely loving this - can't wait for the post-cruise report

 

[TAKitty]

I am loving your pre-trip plan. I am a planner as well LOL

My suitcases were all packed one month before our trip. A few weeks before my trip, a crisis came up, I am so.....glad I was packed, & didn't have to do it last minute.

Thank you for the tips!

Absolutely loving this - can't wait for the post-cruise report

Yeah, I have two readers!

 

[wilma-bride]

Just realised that I meant to ask you about your door 'ears' - how did you do them, did you use a template ro something? And are they magnetic paper or just plain black paper/card stuck onto magnets?

I love your luggage labels too - I am so uncreative

 

[TAKitty]

Just realised that I meant to ask you about your door 'ears' - how did you do them, did you use a template ro something? And are they magnetic paper or just plain black paper/card stuck onto magnets?

I love your luggage labels too - I am so uncreative

I purchased magnetic paper from Staples. The ears I found in the Cruise graphics thread. If you can't find them, I will post them here. . They have some great images.

I enlarged them some for the door.

Any type of graphic/clip art will work for a luggage tag. I was lucky that someone had the image already. Then it was just trial and error to get it the size I wanted.

 

[MassDisLovers]

Bring old PJ's for your family, for the last night, & then throw them out in the AM.


I love this one! My dad always takes his oldest underwear and socks on a trip... he throws them away each night and figures he can use that space for packing things he buys on the trip!

 

[Had2disneycruz]

I am loving your pre-trip plan. I am a planner as well LOL

My suitcases were all packed one month before our trip. A few weeks before my trip, a crisis came up, I am so.....glad I was packed, & didn't have to do it last minute.

My Tips:
Pack your clothes in Plastic baggies. They will not wrinkle. It really works.

Long extension cord, plus I bought a small one that fits into a plug that makes it to 3 outlets.

Suction cups hanger for the door (we hung our keys to the world on them daily)

Makeup organizer bag (I bought 3 & tied strings to them, so they would hang up) they were great for sun glasses & important documents

Yankee candle store sells gel car fresher's. I had one in each room. My stateroom smelled fresh all week. (now our car's smell nice)

Light up clock radio (this is a must) you will always know what time it is especially in the dark. Easy to set, when you have to change the clocks back & forward.

Small flash light, great for TV remote controls, potty time at night

You must take a least one Shower at the Spa. (they supply shampoo conditioners & body wash, as well as plush towels)

Quarters for the wash machine. Dollar store wash machine soap, & don't forget dryer sheets.

Ask your host to put a clothes line in your room, for wet suits.

Clorox stick

Bring old PJ's for your family, for the last night, & then throw them out in the AM.

Have a magnet holder for the door, so you can leave notes on the door where everyone is thru out the day. This was a must

Sorry to cut in - PURTYPAT1 - will you have a trip report? We are doing the Eastern Itinerary in April. Not too many TR for Eastern.

TAKITTY - I am a fan too! Keep on writing.............

 

[TammyNC]

Enjoying your pre-trip preparations.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

TAKitty,
Enjoying your pretrip preps!
I get almost as much enjoyment out of the planning and thinking stage of a trip as I do out of the trip itself (not AS MUCH, just almost! )

Saw on another board you asked about underwater housing for your camera, and you had a DiCapac.
Hoping to hear how you found it for your trip!

I only have a small point and shoot, but would like to take it for some water shots at Shark Reef in Typhoon Lagoon for starters. The Dicapac is much cheaper than the hard case (like, $40 vs $200! The camera was $150, half price sale at Future Shop boxing day sale!)

 

[TAKitty]

TAKitty,
Enjoying your pretrip preps!
I get almost as much enjoyment out of the planning and thinking stage of a trip as I do out of the trip itself (not AS MUCH, just almost! )

Saw on another board you asked about underwater housing for your camera, and you had a DiCapac.
Hoping to hear how you found it for your trip!

I only have a small point and shoot, but would like to take it for some water shots at Shark Reef in Typhoon Lagoon for starters. The Dicapac is much cheaper than the hard case (like, $40 vs $200! The camera was $150, half price sale at Future Shop boxing day sale!)

I have a Canon point and shoot and did not want to spend a lot on an underwater housing. We'll see what happens.

I'm excited to get to the actual trip, but it is sad that all of the preparation is almost over. I guess I'll have to start planning my next trip .