Hey all!
If you follow me on Instagram you may remember seeing some
cruise pictures recently. My husband, kids and I all went on a Holland American
(HAL) cruise to Half Moon Cay (HAL’s private island), St Thomas, San Juan and
Grand Turk.
cruise pictures recently. My husband, kids and I all went on a Holland American
(HAL) cruise to Half Moon Cay (HAL’s private island), St Thomas, San Juan and
Grand Turk.
We cruised out of Fort Lauderdale and enjoyed every minute. Our
family loves cruising! We are always looking for good deals on airfare and
cruises. I’ve been on 15 cruises total…which seems like a lot. We once met a
guy on one of our cruises and it was his 100th cruise…wow!
family loves cruising! We are always looking for good deals on airfare and
cruises. I’ve been on 15 cruises total…which seems like a lot. We once met a
guy on one of our cruises and it was his 100th cruise…wow!
My daughter and I at dinner. We loved looking at the menu and deciding what to order. It is my favorite part of cruising! I really loved the food on Holland America. I actually felt like it was the best cruise food that I’ve ever had.
Many of
our friends ask us cruising questions and we love to help answer them. Mostly I
refer them to my husband because it’s pretty much the travel expert. It’s a
hobby of his to plan trips. I think he likes the planning part just as much as
the trips themselves. He just always likes to have something to look forward
to.
our friends ask us cruising questions and we love to help answer them. Mostly I
refer them to my husband because it’s pretty much the travel expert. It’s a
hobby of his to plan trips. I think he likes the planning part just as much as
the trips themselves. He just always likes to have something to look forward
to.
El Morro in San Juan Puerto Rico
Anyhow, there are a few things that I’ve learned to bring on
my warm weather cruises. These may help you out too if you have a cruise
planned!
my warm weather cruises. These may help you out too if you have a cruise
planned!
1. Cold weather clothes.
Okay I know I said I was talking
about what to bring on a warm weather cruise but I have to tell you that on
these cruises they blast the air conditioning so much that sometimes at dinner
and at the shows at night I get so cold! I have made a habit of bringing a few
cardigans to put over myself at dinner.
about what to bring on a warm weather cruise but I have to tell you that on
these cruises they blast the air conditioning so much that sometimes at dinner
and at the shows at night I get so cold! I have made a habit of bringing a few
cardigans to put over myself at dinner.
2. Comfortable shoes.
Don’t worry about being fashionable.
You’re never going to see the people on your cruise again. Listen to me. There
is a lot of walking. Walking on the boat. Walking up the stairs. Walking at the
cruise ports. Do yourself a favor and bring some shoes that you can wear that
are comfy to walk in and won’t cause blisters. I usually bring these flip flops
and some flat sandals. For fancy dinner night I wear shoes like this that havea chunky heel and a strap in the back that stay on my feet. I made the mistake once of bringing uncomfortable shoes and I had to wear bandages the entire week all over my feet because I got so many blisters!
You’re never going to see the people on your cruise again. Listen to me. There
is a lot of walking. Walking on the boat. Walking up the stairs. Walking at the
cruise ports. Do yourself a favor and bring some shoes that you can wear that
are comfy to walk in and won’t cause blisters. I usually bring these flip flops
and some flat sandals. For fancy dinner night I wear shoes like this that havea chunky heel and a strap in the back that stay on my feet. I made the mistake once of bringing uncomfortable shoes and I had to wear bandages the entire week all over my feet because I got so many blisters!
3. Backpack.
What are you going to store your beach towel
and wallet and camera in when you get off the boat and go to the beach? We
always bring a backpack that’s okay to get sandy and possibly wet. We put our
sunblock and towels and ID’s and all that in the backpack. Better yet? If you
have a waterproof bag like this one.
and wallet and camera in when you get off the boat and go to the beach? We
always bring a backpack that’s okay to get sandy and possibly wet. We put our
sunblock and towels and ID’s and all that in the backpack. Better yet? If you
have a waterproof bag like this one.
Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. This is a private island that is used by Holland America, Princess Cruise Lines and Carnival. This is our very favorite beach in the whole world. It has flour-like sand and turquoise water with no seaweed.
4. Alarm clock.
If you’re like me you have to sleep with alarm clock. You’re in a different place and sometimes when you wake up in the
middle of the night you can’t tell what time it is (this is especially true if
you have an inside cabin and there are no windows—it’s straight up dark at 10
am). You may also actually want to set an alarm on those early port days. This last cruise we had a port day that started at 7 am so we made sure to set the alarm.
middle of the night you can’t tell what time it is (this is especially true if
you have an inside cabin and there are no windows—it’s straight up dark at 10
am). You may also actually want to set an alarm on those early port days. This last cruise we had a port day that started at 7 am so we made sure to set the alarm.
5. Power Strip Extension cord.
There is not many outlets in the cabins.
So if you have your curling iron and your phone to charge and if you’re
travelling with kids other devices to charge you’ll want to bring an extensioncord that offers a few more outlets.
So if you have your curling iron and your phone to charge and if you’re
travelling with kids other devices to charge you’ll want to bring an extensioncord that offers a few more outlets.
6. Empty water bottle.
We like to bring these off the boat
on our excursions. It is super hot walking around Nassau or Key West or any of
the other islands. You’ll want a nice bottle of water. So fill it up on the
boat before you get off and you’ll be thanking yourself.
on our excursions. It is super hot walking around Nassau or Key West or any of
the other islands. You’ll want a nice bottle of water. So fill it up on the
boat before you get off and you’ll be thanking yourself.
7. Workout clothes.
The best part of cruising is the
delicious food. I like to work out especially hard on cruises because I know I’ll
be eating a lot more indulgently than I normally do. You’ll have the time to workout so why not? The gym isn’t usually too crowded either. Oh, and our
family rule is that we don’t take the elevator. That way you’re moving your
body a lot more and burning extra calories. This will help dinner taste even
more delicious—if that’s even possible. Note: My brother-in-law told me something really awesome. If you have Amazon Prime then you can actually download the Prime TV/Movies to your device for free. I downloaded the entire season of Great British Baking Show (which I totally LOVED, by the way). I also downloaded Mockingjay and watched it! This made the time on the treadmill fly by! Plus you’re working out at sea level so it’s much easier.
delicious food. I like to work out especially hard on cruises because I know I’ll
be eating a lot more indulgently than I normally do. You’ll have the time to workout so why not? The gym isn’t usually too crowded either. Oh, and our
family rule is that we don’t take the elevator. That way you’re moving your
body a lot more and burning extra calories. This will help dinner taste even
more delicious—if that’s even possible. Note: My brother-in-law told me something really awesome. If you have Amazon Prime then you can actually download the Prime TV/Movies to your device for free. I downloaded the entire season of Great British Baking Show (which I totally LOVED, by the way). I also downloaded Mockingjay and watched it! This made the time on the treadmill fly by! Plus you’re working out at sea level so it’s much easier.
8. Cash for tips and excursions.
Getting to the ship you’ll
want to have a few bucks on hand. We always tips the shuttle driver and we
always tip the guy at the port that takes our suitcases. In addition, we always
bring cash to the islands because we don’t like to use credit cards with some
possibly shady people. We don’t usually book excursions with the cruise line.
In fact I don’t think we ever have. We like to hop off the boat and barter a
bit with the locals to see who can give us the best deal. You’ll want quite a
bit of cash for cabs and fees into the sights, etc.
want to have a few bucks on hand. We always tips the shuttle driver and we
always tip the guy at the port that takes our suitcases. In addition, we always
bring cash to the islands because we don’t like to use credit cards with some
possibly shady people. We don’t usually book excursions with the cruise line.
In fact I don’t think we ever have. We like to hop off the boat and barter a
bit with the locals to see who can give us the best deal. You’ll want quite a
bit of cash for cabs and fees into the sights, etc.
9. A good book to read.
I love having a great book to read
while I’m relaxing by the pool or at the beach. It is just so nice to read and
maybe even fall asleep for a little bit. This is the book that I read on this particular trip. Oh my gosh, it is such a good read! You’re going to love it.
while I’m relaxing by the pool or at the beach. It is just so nice to read and
maybe even fall asleep for a little bit. This is the book that I read on this particular trip. Oh my gosh, it is such a good read! You’re going to love it.
10. Probiotics.
Okay so I’m going to get a little personal
here but sometimes traveling can make going to the bathroom problematic. The
last thing you want is to be constipated or blocked up on your vacation. Pack
some probiotics and take one each and every day. This will help things to keep
moving along the way they’re supposed to. These are the probiotics that I take every day. They are not fancy but I really like them a lot! I usually buy them at Walmart.
here but sometimes traveling can make going to the bathroom problematic. The
last thing you want is to be constipated or blocked up on your vacation. Pack
some probiotics and take one each and every day. This will help things to keep
moving along the way they’re supposed to. These are the probiotics that I take every day. They are not fancy but I really like them a lot! I usually buy them at Walmart.
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On our recent cruise we brought the plastic “command” brand hooks and used them on the walls. Very handy to hang caps, day bag, light jacket- anything really. Easy to peel off the wall with no damage at the end of the trip
How do you make sure the people you barter with at port are legit/safe? I would prefer to do this, but it will just be me and my mom (senior citizen) and am kind of leary…
We like to read the reviews on cruisecritic.com. They will give you good advice on who to deal with. We’ve always had good experiences luckily.
You r the first one I saw to say probotic, good idea
totally a good idea. saves me every time 🙂
Definitely bring some immodium or pepto-bismal tablets. Plus bring a hat, visor and sun screen.
I use an app on my iPad for the clock. It works great and stays on all night when it’s plugged in.
The extension cords that get confiscated often have surge protectors built in. Just take a multiport usb wall charger. It will have between two and then USB ports. All you need is your cords, save tons of packing room.
Can you share how and where your husband gets these inexpensive, fabulous cruises?!!? I have been on many cruises myself, but my husband has never been on one, so I would like to surprise him one of his July birthdays and take him on one!!
Hi, well I think the biggest tip he would tell you is that if you are flexible with your travel dates you can find good deals. The main thing is if you are cruising when kids have school off (so christmas, summer break, spring break etc) those dates are going to be as much as four times as expensive. If you're willing to travel in October or the week or two after Thanksgiving there are some really good deals out there. Let me know if you have more questions!
The probiotics are a god idea. In addition, I always pack an over the counter cure for constipation as well as one for "the runs". I ate too much Mexican food on one port and I went to the Medical Office on the ship to ask if they had anything for diarrhea. Big Mistake!! They quarantined me in my room and wouldn't let me go ashore!! They said they HAD to do that, in case I was contagious.
What a nightmare!!
Here is one additional hint for cruising. The walls in your room are metal so bring magnets (or buy some as souvenirs)and post things on your walls like the daily schedule. If you bring magnets that have a hook you have a way to hang bigger items.
Way good idea!!!
Just cruised Royal Caribbean Cruise line to Cozumel at Christmas. RCC WILL confiscate your power strips. While disembarking they had a table set up at the end of the ramp with power strips piled high to return to the appropriate guests. Just a FYI
Wow! Really??? I had no idea. That's crazy. Thanks for the heads up!
Wow!! Good to know. We're going on our first cruise with RC this summer. I wonder why.
Disney does the same thing.
Good to know thanks for the heads up!
Probably fire hazards. I read on ShipMate that someone had their straightener confiscated and another said they had a phone charger taken.