Cruises - do and don't take for first-time cruisegoer

Hi all,
After your great advice to my last question, I have to ask again.

On Friday I embark on a 9 day eastern Caribbean cruise on Princess with my husband, 9 month-old daughter, and in-laws. Although I am an experienced traveler this is my first cruise.

I'm trying to start my packing tonight. Any suggestions on things that are great to have on the ship and then things that are not so important and should be left at home?

Thank you!

If you are an electronic heavy traveler, you will probably need something to get you multiple outlets in the cabin to charge stuff, there's a good chance there will only be one or two plugs available. Small power strip, something like that.

I always try to travel with binoculars when on a cruise, you may not see anything worth looking at, but if you do you will wish you had them.

Antibacterial hand wipes like wet ones. I'm not a germ freak by any means, but there are times when you are in port and you just want to do a quick cleaning after touching stuff.

Photocopies of your passports, leave the passport in the safe in the cabin, take your copies with you when you go ashore.

I find that a pack of yellow stickies and some scotch tape also come in handy. With a child, you might pack one of those clear, over the door shoe pocket hangers to use for all the bits and bobs that otherwise might be strewn about. They are pretty cheap at the Dollar Store and can be left onboard when you disembark. If you use batteries to power some items, taking some extra can be cheaper than buying them on the ship. I always pack a door stop which can be very helpful. I second the motion for the power strip.
Above all, have a great time, don't worry, and you can repeat outfits without people noticing or caring! Enjoy!!

Hi all,
After your great advice to my last question, I have to ask again.

On Friday I embark on a 9 day eastern Caribbean cruise on Princess with my husband, 9 month-old daughter, and in-laws. Although I am an experienced traveler this is my first cruise.

I'm trying to start my packing tonight. Any suggestions on things that are great to have on the ship and then things that are not so important and should be left at home?

Thank you!
.....i'm surprised that they are allowing a 9 mo infant to go....a few yrs back it was 3 or older....but i don't remember if it was princess or other....
good to know because it might be a factor for a cruise next year....

Princess depends on your destination as to what age you need to be

Travelling with Children

Children over six (6) months of age at the date of sailing will be accepted on the following itineraries: Alaska, Canada & New England, Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, Transcanal and Australia & New Zealand (coastal cruise only). Only children over the age of one (1) year at the date of sailing will be accepted for the following itineraries: Africa, South America, South Pacific, Hawaii, Tahiti, world cruises including Asia, Antarctica, Indian subcontinent, Transatlantic and Transpacific cruises.

Pack light. Weather should be good, but always bring a windbreaker. (The first time I went on a cruise to the Caribbean, I got stuck with cold, rainy weather). Luckily, the weather was more cooperative the second time. :D

Have fun!

Princess depends on your destination as to what age you need to be

Travelling with Children

Children over six (6) months of age at the date of sailing will be accepted on the following itineraries: Alaska, Canada & New England, Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, Transcanal and Australia & New Zealand (coastal cruise only). Only children over the age of one (1) year at the date of sailing will be accepted for the following itineraries: Africa, South America, South Pacific, Hawaii, Tahiti, world cruises including Asia, Antarctica, Indian subcontinent, Transatlantic and Transpacific cruises.

thanks mike....

If you are an electronic heavy traveler, you will probably need something to get you multiple outlets in the cabin to charge stuff, there's a good chance there will only be one or two plugs available. Small power strip, something like that.
:confused: What all do you take with you that would require a power strip? The only electric gadgets I take along are a curling brush, which I plug in in the bathroom, my iPod recharger and sometimes a laptop.

FWIW on the Dawn Princess our cabin had 4 sets of outlets.

Photocopies of your passports, leave the passport in the safe in the cabin, take your copies with you when you go ashore. Ah, that might not be such a good idea, or you might be making a quick trip back to your cabin. My experience, which I don't claim applies everywhere, is that we had to show our passports before being allowed into Canada and had to show them again on returning to the ship. Note, not just ship ID, but actual passports were required. I know rules vary and change often, but I'd check on that one before leaving the passports behind.

What I wished for on the ship were my bedroom slippers, which I had left behind to save space, more books/crossword puzzles and a headscarf. I spent quite a bit of time on our balcony or the outdoor decks, and my hair, which is on the long side, would get blown into a tangle and my ears got cold. I kept wishing I had some of my nice silk scarves with me. (I know, definitely not a "guy thing" here) Oh, and a jar of Skippy and crackers for my son's midnight munchies when I didn't want to trek up to the buffet.

>"What all do you take with you that would require a power strip? The only electric gadgets I take along are a curling brush, which I plug in in the bathroom, my iPod recharger and sometimes a laptop."

Many take IPods, iPads, more iPhones and cameras and the occasional game boy for kids.

>"What all do you take with you that would require a power strip? The only electric gadgets I take along are a curling brush, which I plug in in the bathroom, my iPod recharger and sometimes a laptop."

Many take IPods, iPads, more iPhones and cameras and the occasional game boy for kids.

one outlet works for us.....2 laptops, 1 cell phone which is used very rarely ....

happy new year jane....joan & i enjoyed our chat on the spirit....

Dont have small children anymore, but ALWAYS travel with these, or a similar product that I get at Costco.

http://www.amazon.com/Drip-Drop-Hydration-Powder-Taste/dp/B004HIXN28/ref=pd_sim_hpc_1

These taste better than the Pedialyte.

If you get any sort of "tummy troubles" and need to get electrolytes back in your system, its very easy to add to bottled water.

>"happy new year jane....joan & i enjoyed our chat on the spirit...."

Thanks! It was a lovely lunch. I shall assume you got home safely in time for Santa to bring all your assorted mail and presents! My best wishes to Joan as well.

Me, I carry CPAP, iPad, iPhone, two cameras. It's a crisis of charging, and that's just me. Hubby's got his own gear.

I always pack a headscarf for churches and mosques, and I always make sure to pack some long pants and at least one long-sleeved blouse for the same reason. (I'm not a churchgoer, but some churches are spectacular and worth visiting regardless.) Remember that, due to wind, it may be colder on board than you're expecting.

A windbreaker's never a bad idea, especially if you have one that'll stuff really small. I also have a sling that carries a water bottle, though these days I prefer my Vapur bottles.

What all do you take with you that would require a power strip? The only electric gadgets I take along are a curling brush, which I plug in in the bathroom, my iPod recharger and sometimes a laptop.

* Netbook
* Camcorder
* Battery charger for Canon camera
* Two cell phones
* Miss Swede's Nintendo DSi
* Rechargeable batteries and charger for Baby Swede's Leapster2

There might be a policy that does not allow extension cords on most if not all cruise ships and they might be confiscated.

Thank you everyone! These were great suggestions! Did take the power strip and it came in handy, and took some of the other items as well. I wish I had packed lighter and next time will do so. We had a wonderful time on the cruise and I can't wait to go again. Thanks so much!

Be aware that simply because an infant or toddler may be allowed onboard a ship, it does not mean the ship offers baby sitting, children's facilities, a "kid's club" or similar, or will allow a diapered infant in a swimming pool (most, if not all will not allow diapered infants in their pools). You also want to check whether cribs and high chairs are provided. Our 8yo took her first cruise when she was 3 mos. old. She has taken about 15 cruises to date. She LOVES to cruise.

There might be a policy that does not allow extension cords on most if not all cruise ships and they might be confiscated.

I haven't seen that policy on any of my cruises -- what cruise lines do you know of that don't allow extension cords?


We take a short (8 foot) cord with us that has a 3 way plug at the end, as we use a white noise machine to drown out hallway noise, and also take a rechargeable razor, rechargeable batteries for the camera, and 2 cell phones. Most of the Princess ships we've been on have had one pair of plugs by the bed, and another on the desk, but some of the other ships have only had the one pair of outlets.

I haven't seen that policy on any of my cruises -- what cruise lines do you know of that don't allow extension cords?

Carnival

Electrical devices such as fans, power strips, multi plug box outlets/adaptors, and extension cords will be removed if determined to pose a hazard and returned the last day of the cruise prior to debark.


Other cruise lines have similar rules, if they see them and determine them to be a possible hazard, they will remove them So don't leave them out when they clean the cabin or turn them down

Carnival

Electrical devices such as fans, power strips, multi plug box outlets/adaptors, and extension cords will be removed if determined to pose a hazard and returned the last day of the cruise prior to debark.


Other cruise lines have similar rules, if they see them and determine them to be a possible hazard, they will remove them So don't leave them out when they clean the cabin or turn them down
I guess I've been lucky with my extension cord the last half dozen times.

Or it hasn't been "determined to pose a hazard", sitting on the nightstand or desk.

Perhaps if you left it stretched across the floor so someone might trip on it, that would be a bad thing to do. But I'll continue to risk my $5.99 Home Depot "good" (as opposed to "better" or "best") extension cord on my cruises.


Edit: A candle or an iron, now THOSE are things they'll take away from you.

I see that the OP has sailed and returned but just wanted to throw my agreement with a power strip and Purell type anti-bacterial hand sanitizers. Depending on the excursion, you might not be in the vicinity of running water to wash your hands with soap.
We bring a three prong power strip too. Our last cruise this past December, we had my DSLR, my wife's G7, my work BB, my personal phone, and my laptop that needed charging. The laptop supplemented as an outlet for the phone with USB charging.