Packing Useful Items for a Cruise

I always have a packing list that changes, depending on the temperature of our destination. I now realize I should also create a Cruise Packing List so that I won’t wonder where or when I can get some of these useful items. List is not in order of importance.

• Badge holder – The badge card is for cabin access, purchases onboard (no money can be used on ship), and for departing/returning to the ship. Good thing about the holder is that you don’t have to keep trying to figure out where to put the card. It can go around your neck, or be the kind with a clip that attaches to a shirt or collar if you don’t like things around your neck.

• Pouch for money, etc – This is handy for putting items (passport, money, etc) in the safe so they can be found when you need them. I use “cosmetic type zipper bags” one for me and one for Steve.

• Highlighter – handy to use for the daily bulletin so you can easily see what you want to do for the day.

• Flashlight – We usually reserve an inside cabin, always dark without the window. Best kind is a windup type so don’t have to worry about charging batteries.

• Portable clothesline or string – Sometimes there is one in the shower but an extra one comes in handy. We never use expensive cruise laundry service and handwash so we don’t have to bring a lot with us.

• Empty bottles and food container with lid – Usually there is a mini-fridge in the cabin so you can keep items cold. This trip we kept some one-third and one-half liter bottles of juice we bought on shore and filled the empty bottles with water and juice at breakfast so we could have a cold drink whenever we wanted. Container came in handy, too. Ask the room steward to empty the mini fridge (they charge for items in there) so you can use it for keeping water and juice cold. Leave the bottles and container in the cabin when you depart. No reason to pack them.

• Bottle holder – Useful when carrying your water bottle while off the ship.

• Shampoo/Conditioner – Unless you’re a big fan of the stuff they provide, you’ll want your own.

• Ginger gum –We wear wristbands when we fly (when sea is rough, too) and found that the gum can help, too. Some people get the patches but unfortunately they are expensive.

• Throat lozenges – With all of the sickness and dryness on the ship, they are good to have. Sometimes you can buy them in the ship’s store, but cost more than at home and limited choices.

• Hand lotion – You’ll use a lot of hand sanitizer on the ship (available everywhere in dispensers) that dry out your hands, though there are sanitizers you can bring that don’t use alcohol. I bring lotion I like.

• Pens – I bring cheap ones so it doesn’t matter if I lose them.

• Zippy bags – Different sizes that always come in handy.

• Snacks – We usually get some crackers that we can have in the room. Helps avoid eating too many cookies and desserts. Have to make sure they are prepackaged so you can bring them on the ship.

• Personal headsets or earphones – Useful if you are going on a tour that provides headset systems or on a Hop On Hop Off bus. Much more sanitary than using ones that are provided for you.

      

Shore Excursions or On Your Own

Ship sponsored shore excursions are usually expensive, but might, at times, be the best way to see something at a port stop. If you aren’t the adventurous type, then best to use them. They’ll get you into places and you won’t have to THINK at all.

There are private companies that offer the same itineraries at a lower price that can be found by checking online. We did that when we were the Alaska cruise in Skagway. Wanted to see the Mendenhall Glacier. Ship excursion included the bus to Mendenhall, admission to the visitor center, and about 45 minutes to spend there for more than twice what we spent using a local company. We also had more time to spend at the glacier area.

For this trip, I checked with NCL about the locations where the ship would dock so I’d know if we could visit places “on our own.” Only the stop for Stockholm made it necessary to use the ship’s bus to get into the city. We could have taken a local train but that could be problematic if there was any trouble with the schedule for the return ride to where our ship was anchored.

Another consideration is if a visa might be needed at a port stop. Without it, you can go on a ship-sponsored shore excursion or sometimes one sponsored by a local company. (Always check in advance if that is possible because you can save money.) For St. Petersburg, we decided to get visas because we were there two years ago. I checked about private guides but even those were costly and we didn’t know were we wanted to go. Worked out well for us because we like taking the Metro (subway) and walking around on our own. I wouldn’t have been very happy having to stay on the ship for the two days in port. People who did not get visas could leave the ship only with guides.

The Hop On Hop Off buses are a good means of transportation and information about a place never visited. Often they pick up right at the dock and return there in plenty of time to meet the deadline for reboarding. Included are narrated tours in multiple languages. They provide headsets, but we use our own. It amazes me that everyone is so concerned with hand sanitization, but not with germs that can be spread by using those headsets. Important when using those buses is to find out the time the full tour takes and then figure out where you want to stop to see. Buses arrive at stops about every 30-45 minutes (some cities with more buses may run more often)  so you have to figure that into your time. Most important is the stop where you will get on for the return to the dock. Don’t want to be late or the ship WILL LEAVE without you.

There often are local trains, trolley, buses that can be used for getting around. That works ok if you have the time to figure it out in advance of the trip so you don’t waste time when you are visiting a place. Problem with that is that they aren’t always easy to deal with if in a language you don’t know, or you have to use an unfamiliar currency.

June 4 and 5 -- Travel Day and the Ride Home

Up early because we had to disembark before 8:30 to get to the shuttle bus for Heathrow. Breakfast at Garden Cafe wasn't as crowded as I expected. I don't like to eat too much on a day we fly so had small amount. No special-order omelets so Steve had to settle for scrambled eggs. 

We decided to leave the special NCL tags off our suitcases so we could disembark whenever we wanted. Was very quick and uneventful. They had told us to have passports available but no one checked them. On the way to airport, bus driver stopped on shoulder of road to open top hatches for air. We think the bus might have been overheating but not sure. When we arrived at Heathrow, went to kiosk to do check in. Directions told us to go to Bag Drop, so we did as were told. When we got there, the woman said we couldn't drop off the bags until 3 hours before the flight. (We were there 4½ hours before, due to time we had to take shuttle bus. Not much to do, so I bought some cappuccino and we sat down to wait. Had interesting conversation with a couple from Ireland who were on their way to Seattle for an Alaska cruise.  Finally were able to drop off the bags and go through security. I was amazed how quick it was with neither of us having to go through any special screening. Didn't even have to take off our shoes. Once in the terminal we knew it would be at least 1½ hours until we knew which gate, so we went to a store to get lunch (sandwich, yogurt/granola, and a smoothie) and found a place to sit and eat. Went into a couple of stores and then saw the gate number on the board. We were in Terminal A and had to go to Terminal B, taking an elevator down and then the train connection. Took about 15 minutes and we arrived at our gate to wait again. Plane left on time.  We both had aisle seats so I didn't have to climb over Steve everytime I wanted to go to the toilet. Talked with the two girls sitting next to me about their home (Tallinn, which we visited on our trip) and their plans for their time in the U.S. One of them is a manager for Southwestern Publishing so they were going to Nashville for a sales meeting. After that, going to Oregon for work. Watched a few movies, too.


When we arrived at Newark Airport, we had to go to baggage claim, one of the reasons I don't like to check a bag.
Took quite awhile for our bags to arrive. Not surprisingly, their was more damage to mine, this time the handle that pulls out for wheeling the suitcase. Steve is going to check it out so maybe he can fix it. This suitcase has traveled with me to many places in the world and has been very dependable. Hopefully, it will join me for future trips.


Walked outside into the hot, sultry temperature. Waited a short time for hotel shuttle and then checked in for the night. The room seems SO BIG, compared to the cabin. Comfy bed and had a good night's sleep.


Breakfast at the hotel was very good. They've made some changes since the last time we were there. Now they make simple omelets instead of hard boiled eggs. Also people can make waffles. Toaster is there for the bread and bagels, too. Cereals (hot and cold), fruit, juice, danish, bacon. Plenty for anyone to eat.


We left about 9:30 and  decided to head straight home. Stopped at Sloatsburg for a pitstop and continued on to Ellenville. 


Once home, unpacked and picked up Sean. Missed him a lot while we were away. He was stinky from the kennel and heat/humidity so bath time was necessary. Steve had to put in the air conditioner in the bedroom because it was over 80 degrees in the room. Cooled the room very well after many hours. Happy we bought it just before we left on our trip. 


Now... back to normal...