What are your *must have* items

[Mom to 2 Girls]

Going on our first ever cruise in April. After over a dozen trips to WDW we are changing it up a little this year. We will do 3 nights on the Dream and then go over to WDW for 4 nights. We have an owner's locker in Orlando so I am used to just replenishing what needs replenishing there and bringing very minimal in our luggage; basically comfort items for the kids, clothing/shoes/swimwear, and a few necessities (phones, laptop for DH for work emergencies, etc.). What do you feel you must have on your DCL trip? Are there things you would bring on ship but not to resorts? Are there things you wouldn't bring? What about pins, is there pin trading on the ship?

TIA

 

[DizMagic]

There is "some" pin trading (books in gift shops, lanyards on some cast members) but it is not nearly what you will be used to at the Parks. We were in your boat (excuse the pun) a couple of years ago. We are now Gold members, working on Platinum. We love cruising - more than the parks now. My advice, take much, much less. You wont need your laptops, and really dont even need phone or tablet unless you plan on using the DCL Navigator App. For 3/4 night cruises, I can pack only a small carry on duffle bag and be completely fine. The ship has everything you need; including a medical center if you feel ill.

 

[Sir William]

For the room I always take a small flashlight and my own travel alarm clock. The flashlight is in case power goes out, but I usually use it to move around the room in the early morning without disturbing anyone (too much). I like my own alarm clock so I have don't have to worry about setting the room clock correctly. I also take a few plastic clothespins which I can use either to hang up wet suits, or to help keep the curtains closed.

Second, I take a large insulated mug. I can fill it up at the drink station (using their cups of course) and it stays cold/hot as necessary.

I lock my electronics up in the room safe and they generally stay there until the end of the cruise, except for my Kindle. I don't need or want to stay connected to the outside room while I'm on vacation. I have used my phone for the DCL app but I actually prefer to use the paper copy of the Navigator.

 

[Quellman]

You can find many uses for clothespins. Everything from ensuring curtains stay shut, to hanging bathing suits on verandah chairs. Also, a few nice strong magnets are nice. You can use them to affix notes, excursion tickets, or anything else to the walls (yes they are metal!). Your own large drinking mugs for sodas are quite nice as well, but you can always buy a tervis onboard.

 

[Munkamamacallie]

We love taking large (Tervis type) cups and and folding drink carrier if you have more than 2 people. The ones from Chick-fil-a work great! (folds flat)

 

[phinz]

Also, a few nice strong magnets are nice. You can use them to affix notes, excursion tickets, or anything else to the walls (yes they are metal!).

This is exactly what we do. I have some small, eraser-sized rare earth magnets that I pack. We hang Christmas stockings, tasting tickets, Navigators, etc. on the wall in date order.

We also bring a couple of magnetic whiteboards when we travel with friends. We put them on the doors between our rooms so that if one couple gets up and heads out before the other we can tell them where we are when the other room opens their connecting door. We list our daily itinerary/plans on it as well. My plans usually say one thing: Nothin'!

 

[Sir William]

This is exactly what we do. I have some small, eraser-sized rare earth magnets that I pack. We hang Christmas stockings, tasting tickets, Navigators, etc. on the wall in date order.

We also bring a couple of magnetic whiteboards when we travel with friends. We put them on the doors between our rooms so that if one couple gets up and heads out before the other we can tell them where we are when the other room opens their connecting door. We list our daily itinerary/plans on it as well. My plans usually say one thing: Nothin'!

We also take a whiteboard for each room when traveling with family, especially as we've never been able to get connecting rooms. We can leave messages for each other as we've found the text notification is usually drowned out by the ship noises and none of us care for the Wave phones. When DW and I travel alone, we put the whiteboard on the inside of the door. Works much better for us than post-it notes.

 

[Cruise-n-2015]

Loved having our highlighter to mark events we don't want to miss on the navigator.

 

[belac]

Clorox wipes (endless uses - Bed Bath Beyond has smaller travel pouches)
1 pack of Baby Wipes (endless uses)
Kyss Bag
Zip lock bags (a couple gallon size) for wet clothes and suits, mostly on excursions, so we can change and put wet stuff in bags without getting beach bag & everything else all wet
Surprises for DS, keeps him out of the shops, and it's always better if Mickey leaves it for him in the room as a surprise
I love my camera, as phone pics just don't cut it, so that and extra battery
photo copies of all our passports and documents
Dry Erase Board - and tie the marker to it somehow, always winds up slipping out of the clip it comes with
Small Flashlight
Hershey Bars for Kids Club Staff.. and others

 

[tigerchic89]

I must chime in and say that our family loved the navigator app. I used it instead of the paper navigator, you can "heart"/favorite the things that you want to do, eliminating the need for a highlighter. Our family also used the messaging thru navigator, so we didn't use wave phones or post its or white boards. Used the phone as a flashlight and alarm clock too (and yup, we used the phones' camera!). So, especially if you're not already hooked on the paper stuff, give the newer electronic versions a try.

Other things we brought and loved:
small pop up laundry hamper for dirty clothes
my daughters and I each had a small crossbody-type handbag... to hold our phones, a pack of mints, and our room key. Usually worn every evening when we had no pockets and didn't want an around the neck lanyard.

 

[Mom to 2 Girls]

I must chime in and say that our family loved the navigator app. I used it instead of the paper navigator, you can "heart"/favorite the things that you want to do, eliminating the need for a highlighter. Our family also used the messaging thru navigator, so we didn't use wave phones or post its or white boards. Used the phone as a flashlight and alarm clock too (and yup, we used the phones' camera!). So, especially if you're not already hooked on the paper stuff, give the newer electronic versions a try.

Other things we brought and loved:
small pop up laundry hamper for dirty clothes
my daughters and I each had a small crossbody-type handbag... to hold our phones, a pack of mints, and our room key. Usually worn every evening when we had no pockets and didn't want an around the neck lanyard.

I am new to the iPhone world (Android convert.. but that's another story). To use your phone for all of those purposes (if it was an iPhone) and not rack up a huge bill, did you simply put your phone in Airplane mode, or is there something else you must do? Sorry if that question is a little silly

 

[MPS516]

You can find many uses for clothespins. Everything from ensuring curtains stay shut, to hanging bathing suits on verandah chairs. Also, a few nice strong magnets are nice. You can use them to affix notes, excursion tickets, or anything else to the walls (yes they are metal!). Your own large drinking mugs for sodas are quite nice as well, but you can always buy a tervis onboard.

Ok course DCL asks that you not hang suits and towels on verandas so having a magnet and clothespins are great substitute. We have a little stronger magnet we hang from the ceiling with a couple clothespins on a string that we use to hang wet suits to keep them out of the shower where the retractable cord is. Also have an additional to hang in girls sleeping area which is used to hang jackets or sweaters.

Small flashlight, highlighter to note the activities on the navigator we want to be sure to make and small note book to record highlights, picture history and such. SUNGLASSES !

 

[phinz]

I am new to the iPhone world (Android convert.. but that's another story). To use your phone for all of those purposes (if it was an iPhone) and not rack up a huge bill, did you simply put your phone in Airplane mode, or is there something else you must do? Sorry if that question is a little silly

You put your phone in Airplane Mode, turn on the wireless and connect to DCL-GUEST, then launch the app.

 

[Mom to 2 Girls]

Thank you. I thought that would be the way but wanted to make sure there wasn't another step I don't know about and end up with this huge bill. ;-)

 

[elfof2moons]

You put your phone in Airplane Mode, turn on the wireless and connect to DCL-GUEST, then launch the app.

How do you keep from getting charged for internet through the wireless internet? If I put my phone in Airplane mode but wifi is still on my facebook, email, etc is still connected. I don't want to pay for any internet.

 

[phinz]

How do you keep from getting charged for internet through the wireless internet? If I put my phone in Airplane mode but wifi is still on my facebook, email, etc is still connected. I don't want to pay for any internet.

Just being connected to wireless does not mean you will be connected to the Internet. If it did, nobody would use the app, or there would be a massive outcry.

You have to log onto the internet when you launch your browser and set up outside access. At that time you choose a package and charge it to your room. If you don't, you won't. The firewall prevents you from accessing the Internet without paying for it, and you have to approve the payment.

 

[elfof2moons]

Just being connected to wireless does not mean you will be connected to the Internet. If it did, nobody would use the app, or there would be a massive outcry.

You have to log onto the internet when you launch your browser and set up outside access. At that time you choose a package and charge it to your room. If you don't, you won't. The firewall prevents you from accessing the Internet without paying for it, and you have to approve the payment.

That makes sense. Thanks.

 

[3fish]

I am new to the iPhone world (Android convert.. but that's another story). To use your phone for all of those purposes (if it was an iPhone) and not rack up a huge bill, did you simply put your phone in Airplane mode, or is there something else you must do? Sorry if that question is a little silly

Hi there,

I put my phone in airplane mode and turn it off. Sometimes I'll turn off the data roaming. Don't forget to charge your phone the night before you disembark. Happy Sailing!

 

[phinz]

This is an old screen shot, but it's still pretty much the same.