Hi all!

My wife and I are headed to Tahiti on the PG on Friday, and we can barely wait! I think we've got everything we need (passports, sunscreen, bug stuff, SCUBA referral forms, transfers, charger for the camera, medicines, etc.), but I wanted to ask the collective wisdom of the message board:

Is there anything you realized right after you left home / during the cruise / looking back on it that would have been valuable to bring?

As this is our first cruise, any odd item that I'll never go on a cruise again without, but no one thinks to bring it on their first cruise?

I've been lurking for a while, but wanted to thank you all for your great ideas and comments!

-Kevin

I bring a "surge strip" with several outlets. There are never enough outlets available to charge my cellphone, ipod, camera and to plug in my travel makeup mirror and hairdryer. Oh - an extension cord could come in handy for that!

And I always have an over the door plastic shoe holder. For the PG, the closets are small - not walk in and you can't see your shoes on the floor of the closet. Actually, you could bring two. One for shoes and one for other small things. You can use them over the bathroom door for toiletries or for accessories too.

Those are some things I cannot travel without!

Hi Kevin,

How great to be leaving on your cruise to Tahiti on Friday! You'll both have a wonderful time!

Just a few suggestions:

I keep a file with copies of all our tickets, passports, credit cards (front and back), medical insurance cards, trip insurance policy, private guide contact information, hotel confirmations, shuttle service confirmations, just to name a few. You never know when you will misplace something. Always good to have those items copied and kept with you in your carryon.

Bonine (Dramamine) - Just in case; although you can get this from the ship's Dr. Don't pack it away on your last night, if you are bringing some. We took a cruise a few years ago and ran into a horrible storm before docking and disembarking in Rome. I was on the phone at 1:00AM calling for Bonine, because I packed mine away in the suitcase that we left outside in preparation of disembarking the following morning. Lesson really learned!

Addresses for those you wish to send postcards to. I seem to keep forgetting that until we're all ready on the cruise.

When we pack, we now use Space Bags, or something similar. You'd be amazed at how much you can pack when you use them. It also really organizes things. Make sure you mix your clothes with you wife's in each suitcase, in case a suitcase doesn't show up when and where you do. Pack a change of clothes in each carryon, just in case, as well.

If anything else comes to mind, I'll post again.

Have a fantastic time!

Thanks -- both really good ideas. Especially since I think that I read there's only two plugs that are 120 volt outlets...

Agree with all suggestions above. The surge strip really comes in handy, especially if you have a few electronic devices to be recharged, as ChatKat pointed out. Also for the PG you will want to have aqua socks for the beaches. I like to take a few empty large Ziploc bags on trips - it seems like they always come in handy, for example if you have a swimsuit that's not quite dry when you pack it up. There are no clocks in the PG cabins, so if that is important to you, you may want to pack a small travel clock.

I can't think of anything else off the top of my head, but will check my PG list when I get home from work, to see if I've missed anything.

You have picked a real winner for your first cruise! You will have an absolutely wonderful time. Enjoy!

Dena

{deleted duplicate post}

Kevin, have a great time!

Does the PG still put passengers up in dayrooms between disembarkation and departure?

If so, you may want to carry your swimsuit, sunscreen, hat, etc. WITH YOU and not in your luggage.

Many of our fellow passengers dressed for the airplane at disembarkation, and they were pretty hot and uncomfortable until their rooms and their luggage became available.

Bon voyage.

Cerinda

You will definitely want reef shoes. You mentioned SCUBA, so perhaps you already have them. I'm not a diver so wouldn't know.

-- David

A Pop up hamper was a real life saver for us. It kept the chaos to a manageable level and then we just dumped its contents into a laundry bag and stuffed in a suitcase to come home. I also bring labels I printed at home with everyone I want to send a card to so I just fill out the greeting and stick on the address label. The concierge will put the right postage on and mail them for you. Have a great Trip!

A beach bag of some kind, I guess. Oh, and a hat or two! Enjoy!

All the above suggestions are right on. Here are two more:

Personal "business" cards to trade with all your new cruise friends.

A visor for when you're not in the mood to wear a hat.

I checked my packing list and one other thing that hasn't been mentioned already is a waterproof disposable camera or two. We had fun taking beach and snorkeling photos with ours - no worries about sand or water getting into the digital camera. We took the disposables to Costco and they transferred the pictures to CD for us and so they are together with our digital photos.

Dena

Someone mentioned here on another thread Binoculars a must...........also suncreen, a alot of bathing suits........cover ups for day time wear. Evenings extremely comfortable and country club casual.........but bring a wrap or two for the dining room. Extension cord a must and the added thing mentioned a great idea.
Meds etc. like pepto, imodium, advil etc. a must to have on hand. I pack my thermo mug for early AM coffee and bring my tea bags and chocolates, my creature comforts. Cameras and film best to bring from home too! Have a wonderful cruise and please report back here to all of us ASAP!

Do you have your cheap blow up air matress
for your day at the Motu and beach day at Bora Bora?

Keep 'em coming. I am writing all these down too.

Good stuff.

We also always travel witha Neat Sheet whenever we know we will have a beach and sand to deal with. Great clean substitute for lying on towels and spreading out our 'gear' (of course won't be needed where there are lounge chairs).

Steve

Steve

If it hasn't been mentioned...
film (if you still use an old-fashioned camera), sunscreen, aloe vera....

Film and the others things are really expensive there. The sun really is extremely powerful, and no matter how careful you are, sunburn often happens anyway. I always take a bottle of aloe and keep it in the fridge...it is a godsend when you get a burn!

Thanks all, a lot of good ideas being thrown out!

An extension cord so you can dry your hair in the bathroom. otherwise you have to use the dressing table next to the bed.

I enthusiastically echo Donna's suggestion to bring personal cards with names, address, phone number and email address. They're easy to make yourself on the computer. Avery has Clean Edge Business Cards, with no perforated edges, for ink jet and laser printers. It is so handy to be able to give them to new friends on the last night, rather than borrowing the poor waiter's pen and scribbling something on a napkin (and then forgetting to give him/her back the pen). We got the idea from a couple of guys we met on the Voyager Baltics cruise a few years ago and have seen many more people using the cards in our several cruises since then.

An extension cord with lots of sockets or a surge strip is an absolute necessity if you bring many electronic gadgets.

Someone on some thread also suggested a night-lite - great idea for making a visit to the WC in the wee hours and not being blinded by turning on the bathroom lights.

surfwearhawaii.com sells excellent Havaa Water Tees that are completely sun-proof, yet dry in a very short time, two advantages that cotton T-shirts do not offer. The guide on our shark and ray snorkeling trip really wanted mine; and I would have given it to him if the result would not have been my sitting there with my all-to-ample flesh exposed to the sun and the view of the other passengers on the little boat. Yikes!!

Finally, we like to bring photos of our kids (furry, four-legged ones) in nice leather frames to put on the little shelves next to the TV. We found the best selection at Gifts for Professionals: http://www.giftsforprofessionals.com/desk-accessories-frames-leather-picture-frames.html

Having the photos with us reminds us that even though we love being on the cruise, we have precious beings waiting for us at home.

Have a great trip. Cheers, Fred

I usually make a calendar on the computer with the ports listed by day and what excursions we've planned. I hang it in the room - with the photos of the fur-kids at home waiting for us to return!
I use that calendar when boarding and I mark spa and restaurant reservations on it too. It's a great souvenier and it's saved me from missing something (like a shore excursion I forgot I booked)

Abolutely Fred!!!
Business cards...which are a lot of fun to make, but also fabulous to hand out (I have yours in my wallet) and the pet/family photos. It's always nice to go away on vacation, but I too like to take a piece of home to add to my suite!!

I just HAVE to remember the extension cord/power strip idea that that has been mentioned by SO many of the LCT-ers...that's my one thing I always regret forgetting!!!

Fred, do you use special software to create the cards? I remember yours fondly. I have regular business cards that I could use, but would have to write David's info on it, so I like the idea. I will go out to the web and see what I can find.

Wendy,

You can use Microsoft Word. Under the drop down, Tools - then envelopes and labels, click on the labels tab - there you will find a template for Business Cards using the Avery Label Business Cards available at the local office supply.

You can buy some very cool business card blanks now at Office Depot/Staples/Office Max

You guys are GREAT. Once again, thanks for the helpful ideas! XXXOOO!

While waiting for tires to be put in my SUV at Wal-Mart, I bought 3 $1.50 blow-up chaises and 3 Swimways ones that are mostly netting and kind of cool. Kathy, I think you were who recommended these--thank you! I figure those will be good for the motu and the inflatable ones good for the Bora Bora motu where they have no chairs. (I'm thinking of throwing a towel over them to sit on).

I also purchased a large, colorful beach bag with padded shoulder straps to carry stuff when going to the motus and on some excursions. i don't know if anyone mentioned that, so I'm throwing it out there as a good idea for all the junk you want to bring along for the day!

I plan to devote one large suitcase to the toys and sports stuff, keeping an eye on the weight. not over 50 pounds?

Sue, you have it down just right. We'll be going with you in spirit!

Hi, you will have such a wonderful time, but remember if this is your first cruise it will be hard to choose any other afterwards! My husband and I just returned in march!!
I liked having a travel alarm clock with me! We also brought cheap blow up rafts for the beach days. I also found it useful for the day room to have shorts and tshirt on and pack warmer clothes to change into on the plane for the way back.
Underwater camera and reef shoes are a must!!
Have a wonderful time. If you have any further questions feel free to email!!

I like to bring a few pieces of stationery with envelopes so I can write thank-you notes if we get invited to dinner or something special by either other passengers or officers. I also take a couple of generic birthday cards. It seems that on every cruise someone you make friends with is celebrating a birthday and for some unfathomable reason they don't sell birthday cards in the gift shop.

What a great idea about bringing the cards. This was never entered my mind. Emily Post would have been very unhappy with me in the past. Thanks for the suggestion.

I have a feeling you're right. We've cruised on RSSC and Princess before and I know the PG will be many steps above. For years I recall seeing the ship at the top of survey lists on Conde Nast, etc, and now I'll finally get to experience it. Can't wait.


Oh, and thanks to all for the great suggestions on cards, etc, that continue to come in. Also to bring warmer clothes for the plane trip home--or at least a light jacket in case they've got the ac cranked. I don't know if I would have remembered that. What great ideas! Am adding to my list.

I am not sure if anyone mentioned Duct Tape. It can be used for many, many magical reasons. I always pack it and have used it for emergency hems, closing drapes, repairing lugguage the list goes on and on!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that I have said this I better get a new spool to pack for our second PG cruise in September. You can purchase spools at your local hardware, grocery or a Home Depot.