bbowers
Dog Mommy
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2003
- Messages
- 641
Jsut got back home from the 9/9 Wonder - our first cruise ever. (We drove back from Port Canaveral to Michigan - because we first spent some time at Hilton Head - don't think we'll do this (drive) again.)
Since we were novices, all of our packing was done according to the Boards. Here are some SOGladIPackedIt and Don'tBother after the end of the cruise (and this if for 2 adults - YMMV). And, some big THANKYOUSOMUCH re other tips.
Don't Bother:
Bubbles - no one else was "bubbling" when we first thought we would leave Port Everglades at 5. Then, when we finally did leave port at 7:40 or so, DH and I were seated at Palos enjoying our appetizers. I tossed the bottles.
Extension cord - only brought it because of my hair curler, and the extra plug was right in front of a mirror, so didn't need it at all.
Passporter DCL - thought I might need more info than I got on board, but never opened it up.
Earplugs - except for a bit of slamming about next door when they first moved in (and I would swear I heard a neighbor snoring one morning), it was very quiet and peaceful.
Bug spray - never had need for it, even at HH. But then again, most outside activities at night were canceled.
Wish I Had Packed More of:
Cash - I am queen of using my Disney VISA for everything, but was surprised and dismayed to see how much cash I used. Fast food on the trip to HH, tips (since DH and I learned that employers can withhold the credit card charge from charged tips, we try to tip in cash and charge the meal), pizza delivery at HH, and the biggest one - the phone lines weren't working well at Nassau yet, so we had to pay cash for our purchases. That put a quick stop to our shopping (only DH had brought his wallet), although I'm not a big shopper anyway - matching T-shirts and 2 postcards was more than enough for me. But I was sweating the cash a little.
Wish I Had Verified It Worked:
Alarm clock - it kept time, but the alarm itself didn't make any noise. I didn't sleep very well because of that - worrying I would oversleep. Or then again - maybe I just won't scheduled anything before noon next time.
SO Glad I Packed It:
Aloe for sunburn - used the pool the first day and got a little red - put aloe on it and had no problems even though our couples massage was first thing the next AM.
Water shoes - never would have thought of it, and even though we didn't go to the beach at Nassau, it came in handy at HH (even though we only walked on the beach once because of Frances, and nearly got blown over at that) and for walking to the pool and spa on the ship.
Tip envelopes already made up - made life so easy.
Yellow highlighter for the Navigators - never would have thought of THAT one, either.
Air freshener - used a plug in. No more detail on that one.
Bonine - we didn't have bad seas, but I took one each morning as a precaution (except our day at Nassau, since we stayed overnight). DH took two on our day at sea, but I think his main problem was more an overdose of rich food than sea sickness. On the night before we set sail, the itty-bitty little clerk at the Hampton Inn raved about DCL when I told her what we were doing and told us we would be treated like kings and queens and could have 5 desserts if we wanted. DH felt the need to test that out. Didn't have much sympathy for the groans later.
Tums/Tagamet/Alka Seltzer - see above
Used, but Not As Much as Expected:
Binoculars
Door sign - forgot until the last pm, and I had been so PROUD of it...
REAS - now our cruise supposedly had a 20+% cancellation due to weather and no CC. But we were one of the first on the ship and could easily have gotten spa and Palo ressies. Glad we did it the first time, though, and DH loved the rose petals!
Thanks So Much For Tips re:
Raving about Palo so we would try it - WELL worth the $20 and the extra $20 we added to that
Adult pool when you first board - only 2 other couples until the life jacket drill
Deck 4 chairs - DH rolled his eyes when I went on a mission re these. He was asleep within 5 minutes, tops. Now he says he doesn't need a cabin next time - he'll just stay in those the whole trip.
One Last Tip:
The only place I consistently froze was Wavebands.
For my trip reports, go to
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=644242
and
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=644245
Since we were novices, all of our packing was done according to the Boards. Here are some SOGladIPackedIt and Don'tBother after the end of the cruise (and this if for 2 adults - YMMV). And, some big THANKYOUSOMUCH re other tips.
Don't Bother:
Bubbles - no one else was "bubbling" when we first thought we would leave Port Everglades at 5. Then, when we finally did leave port at 7:40 or so, DH and I were seated at Palos enjoying our appetizers. I tossed the bottles.
Extension cord - only brought it because of my hair curler, and the extra plug was right in front of a mirror, so didn't need it at all.
Passporter DCL - thought I might need more info than I got on board, but never opened it up.
Earplugs - except for a bit of slamming about next door when they first moved in (and I would swear I heard a neighbor snoring one morning), it was very quiet and peaceful.
Bug spray - never had need for it, even at HH. But then again, most outside activities at night were canceled.
Wish I Had Packed More of:
Cash - I am queen of using my Disney VISA for everything, but was surprised and dismayed to see how much cash I used. Fast food on the trip to HH, tips (since DH and I learned that employers can withhold the credit card charge from charged tips, we try to tip in cash and charge the meal), pizza delivery at HH, and the biggest one - the phone lines weren't working well at Nassau yet, so we had to pay cash for our purchases. That put a quick stop to our shopping (only DH had brought his wallet), although I'm not a big shopper anyway - matching T-shirts and 2 postcards was more than enough for me. But I was sweating the cash a little.
Wish I Had Verified It Worked:
Alarm clock - it kept time, but the alarm itself didn't make any noise. I didn't sleep very well because of that - worrying I would oversleep. Or then again - maybe I just won't scheduled anything before noon next time.
SO Glad I Packed It:
Aloe for sunburn - used the pool the first day and got a little red - put aloe on it and had no problems even though our couples massage was first thing the next AM.
Water shoes - never would have thought of it, and even though we didn't go to the beach at Nassau, it came in handy at HH (even though we only walked on the beach once because of Frances, and nearly got blown over at that) and for walking to the pool and spa on the ship.
Tip envelopes already made up - made life so easy.
Yellow highlighter for the Navigators - never would have thought of THAT one, either.
Air freshener - used a plug in. No more detail on that one.
Bonine - we didn't have bad seas, but I took one each morning as a precaution (except our day at Nassau, since we stayed overnight). DH took two on our day at sea, but I think his main problem was more an overdose of rich food than sea sickness. On the night before we set sail, the itty-bitty little clerk at the Hampton Inn raved about DCL when I told her what we were doing and told us we would be treated like kings and queens and could have 5 desserts if we wanted. DH felt the need to test that out. Didn't have much sympathy for the groans later.
Tums/Tagamet/Alka Seltzer - see above
Used, but Not As Much as Expected:
Binoculars
Door sign - forgot until the last pm, and I had been so PROUD of it...
REAS - now our cruise supposedly had a 20+% cancellation due to weather and no CC. But we were one of the first on the ship and could easily have gotten spa and Palo ressies. Glad we did it the first time, though, and DH loved the rose petals!
Thanks So Much For Tips re:
Raving about Palo so we would try it - WELL worth the $20 and the extra $20 we added to that
Adult pool when you first board - only 2 other couples until the life jacket drill
Deck 4 chairs - DH rolled his eyes when I went on a mission re these. He was asleep within 5 minutes, tops. Now he says he doesn't need a cabin next time - he'll just stay in those the whole trip.
One Last Tip:
The only place I consistently froze was Wavebands.
For my trip reports, go to
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=644242
and
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=644245
", now thats funny.
