Things to bring to make the cruise special

[Mamato3mice]

Ok all, I need a packing list double check. Tomorrow afternoon is the only day I'm going to have to procure anything I'm missing without my kids figuring out that we are going on a cruise. Right now, we are set to depart next Friday to drive to Vancouver to catch the cruise on Monday. Am I forgetting anything to make this extra special for the kids or for DH and I?

Fish Extenders
Autograph Books
Princess Dresses for DD(7) - Cinderella and Anna
Heavy Fleece coats for all 5 of us
hats & gloves
Water bottles
Sunscreen & bug spray

(and of course the normal clothing & toiletries & toys for the kids)

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We brought big chocolate bars for our servers stateroom host and concierge their eyes lit up and the people who share their rooms.

 

[Pens Fan]

Binoculars and a decent camera - A must for Alaska!

Enjoy!

 

[Donna M]

bathing suits. It could be warm. ponchos, hopefully it won't rain the whole time!

 

[MunFam]

We packed glow sticks for the Frozen deck party and we were the coolest people on earth when we shared according to all the little kids around us. Haha. I also packed some little treats for my kiddo and left them out for her throughout the trip and told her Mickey was delivering things to her. This totally cut the need to go to the gift shop and buy, buy, buy. I got stuff on sale at Disney Store in advance. They were selling a lot of it for full price on board.

 

[plutos1fan]

Hi,

While this is not a item I would consider "special" by any means I think it would be a good idea to bring straws for the drinks you and your family get and the free soda or hot chocolate station on deck nine. The straws that they had the last time we were on the Disney Wonder were recycled straws and it ruined the taste of the drinks. I hope you have a great time. My family did a Disney Alaska cruise in 2011 and we loved it!

 

[MunFam]

The reason the straws are the way they are is so they can be recycled/incinerated. If your kids need plastic straws vs the paper ones provided, bring reusable tumblers. Im sure the cast member will appreciate not having to dig through the trash to remove your plastic straws before incineration.

 

[ludari]

I bring a good attitude and leave my work at home. In addition the cell phone is off and put away once I board the ship.

 

[jec6613]

Binoculars and a decent camera - A must for Alaska!

Both of these, and the longest lens camera you can afford! A 10 power, 10x42 or 10x50 is a good size binoculars, and 400mm or longer equivalent lens for a camera.

Make sure you have clothing that's not just warm, but waterproof but breathable - I'm convinced that Gore-Tex was invented for Alaska. The panhandle is the wettest spot in North America, and it's not exactly warm.

 

[diznymom]

Night light for the bathroom. I like the ones that plug in, are only on in the dark and don't get hot. Glow sticks can be used as night lights also.

Collapsible cubes to help keep things organized on the desk, or any other flat surface.

Collapsible laundry basket. We did laundry half way through, early morning.

Mesh shower organizer that hangs on the shower hooks.

 

[Meriweather]

Night light for us too....also the kind that are only lit in the dark.
We bring....or buy new ones ......Tervis tumblers
And chocolate! I have to have my chocolate.

Have fun! Alaska is amazing. Been on 3 cruises there (not Disney though)

 

[bumbershoot]

Rather than heavy fleece, break out the "3 in 1" coats. That way you have options and layers.

In addition the cell phone is off and put away once I board the ship.

While I understand, people should be aware that by ignoring the Navigator app (for smart phones or anything that can get wifi, including ipods) you're ignoring info. Rather than wait each day for the paper Navigator, you can look at ALL the days at once. That way if Jack Sparrow is meeting at the same time as some other activity, you can see if Jack or the activity will be available later in the cruise. Helps with planning, to be able to prioritize.

And of course there are menus on it, but I don't think those have changed since 2014.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I have seen whole families in pirate customers that look like they were made in Hollywood.

AKK

 

[kaseyC]

I like to bring small travel sized air freshener in my favorite scents. I put one in each bathroom for obvious reasons. I prefer those from White Barn/Bath and Body Works.

 

[Otimon]

Money!

 

[bumbershoot]

Further to my post, DH reminds me that what we REALLY needed were windbreakers.

But our coldest day (August cruise like yours) was the day we went up to the glacier. We were on RCCL, and on Royal you can go to the bow/helicopter pad area. We did so, and stood there for 100 years as we slowly slowly approached. We were freezing! And that was in our 3 in 1 coats (water repellent, but not wind-proof); but we had no hats no gloves, and no warm socks.

But on Disney you don't get to go that far forward on the ship, and honestly it was a big ol' bore doing that (we just didn't realize how slowly we would go in there...and I'm not sure DCL goes into that same glacier area anyway), so if you're standing in a spot where you're freezing, if at all possible, move.

 

[Corgidogs]

Great info. Thanks!

 

[Mamato3mice]

You all are the BEST!!! Thank you so much for your insights!

 

[starvenger]

Dual (or multi-port) USB wall charger. I think a lot of us use our smartphones as cameras, plus there are ipads and kindles that may end up being used while on board. If you do use an ipad, make sure you get a charger with at least 2.4 Amps so that it will charge at a reasonably fast rate.