| You know what you want to pack as far as your | | | | the events you want to participate in and all you |
| wardrobe for your cruise vacation, but here are | | | | have to do is glance at the sheet to know where |
| the little essentials that you might not think about. | | | | you want to be and when. Tell your room |
| One very important thing to pack is a Wall Mount | | | | steward on the first day to leave you two daily |
| Power Outlet with 3 Outlets. Electrical Outlets in | | | | cruise sheets so each of you will have one. This |
| the cruise cabins are very stingy and if you want | | | | way if one of you wants to go to the wine |
| to dry your hair while your curlers are heating up | | | | tasting and the other wants to join in the art |
| you will have a problem. | | | | auction you both know where and when. Then |
| When I pack, I put all of my clothes in Dry | | | | when it's over, call each other on the two way |
| Cleaners plastic bags. These will keep your clothes | | | | radios and meet up for a drink or lunch or |
| from wrinkling. Pack anything that can spill in zip | | | | whatever. Another valuable little item is "post it |
| lock bags. An international power converter and a | | | | notes" if you don't have the two way radios. Just |
| currency converter will be needed for European | | | | write on the post it where you are going and at |
| Cruises. Some people pack a night light for the | | | | what time and then stick on the outside of the |
| bathroom. I have found if you leave the | | | | cabin door. Presto your traveling partner knows |
| bathroom light on and close the door it is | | | | where you are and when to expect you back. |
| sufficient to guide you there in the middle of the | | | | This is great for parents traveling with children. |
| night. | | | | Cruise Tip: Pack business cards with your email |
| We pack a portable CD player with 20 CD's and | | | | address on them. You meet all kinds of interesting |
| an alarm clock. We pack "two way" radios so we | | | | people that you will want to stay in touch with. |
| can communicate when we are in different parts | | | | Some of our best friends are people we met on |
| of the ship. I like to sleep in when we go to the | | | | cruises, friends we continue to cruise with. I like to |
| Caribbean and John likes to get up and have | | | | pack computer generated address labels to make |
| breakfast. He quietly lets himself out of the cabin, | | | | it easy to send postcards. |
| and when I get up I call him to let him know its | | | | I read this tip in several cruise reviews. Send a |
| "safe" to come back to the room. | | | | postcard to yourself. I have postcards from all |
| In colder climates you will need a jacket and | | | | over the world with the local stamps that I have |
| some long sleeve shirts. I always pack sturdy | | | | sent to our home during each of our exotic |
| hiking boots if we go to Europe or Alaska. (Most | | | | cruises. I have a stamp from the CCCP - that |
| of the time I wear them on the airplane with | | | | was the USSR- years ago. Its fun and you will |
| slacks since they take up so much room in the | | | | always get a chuckle when the post card catches |
| suitcase). They come in very handy when touring | | | | up to you after you are home. |
| Europe's sometimes centuries old cobblestone | | | | It is a smart thing to bring along your cell phone |
| streets. When you go to Europe you will probably | | | | (which means the charger too). If you incur |
| visit churches, and other religious buildings and | | | | delays you can call your Travel Agent and have |
| proper attire must be worn-no sleeveless tops, no | | | | her call the cruise lines. You can make phone calls |
| shorts and in some places a head covering. In | | | | while you're leaving port on the ship, and in some |
| Thailand it was necessary to remove our shoes | | | | islands. The islands I have found to be cell phone |
| before entering their holy places. You are in some | | | | friendly are the Bahamas, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, |
| else's country and must abide by their rules. No | | | | the Virgin Islands, and Grand Cayman. It's great |
| matter where you are headed remember that | | | | for phoning for a cab to the airport, or getting in |
| cabins are small and have little closets and | | | | touch with friends when you disembark. On the |
| drawers. This is an important fact to know when | | | | islands that do provide service you won't have to |
| you are packing. | | | | wait in long lines (pay phones on the islands is |
| Bring all of your toiletries, film, in-cabin wine, | | | | where the crew keeps in touch with home). It's |
| lotions, medications and dental care products from | | | | just a handy thing to do and would be invaluable in |
| home. They will be quite pricey on the ship. If you | | | | an emergency. |
| have an on going medical problem have your | | | | Please don't forget a good sunscreen if you are |
| doctor write a brief medical history so you can | | | | going to the Caribbean. If you are from the colder |
| supply it to the ships doctor if a problem should | | | | climes and have not seen the sun in awhile you |
| arise. You should also pack things like, Alka | | | | will NEED it. Even in Alaska you have to wear a |
| Seltzer, constipation relief, cough drops, aspirin and | | | | sunscreen. |
| band aids. Make up a little first aid kit that suits | | | | Lastly, don't forget your camera. Put this in your |
| your needs. Don't laugh, you will probably be trying | | | | carry on, do not pack it. I have a friend that |
| new foods, eating more than usual, and you | | | | went to Hawaii and video taped a wedding, |
| never know how you will react. Those items | | | | packed the camera in her luggage and it was |
| mentioned above are expensive on the ship. | | | | stolen on the way home. If it is digital camera |
| A few things that are handy are clothes pins for | | | | take extra memory cards since you will be taking |
| weighing down the shower curtain (the showers | | | | lots of pictures and the cards are more |
| are small and the curtain will stick to you when | | | | expensive once you leave home. |
| your wet. This really gives me the creeps). A | | | | Follow this advice and you will have a very |
| highlighter is great for highlighting the activities on | | | | enjoyable and comfortable cruise. |
| your daily cruise sheet. The night before highlight | | | | |