53 DAYS TO GO . . .

     TUESDAY MARCH 1, 2011

     SINCE YESTERDAY WAS ABOUT PACKING THE ESSENTIALS, TODAY I THOUGHT I'D GET INTO SOME OF THOSE PACKING TIPS THAT THE EXPERIENCED DISNEY CRUISERS HAVE SHARED OVER TIME.
-AN EXTENSION CORD OR POWER STRIP.  IT KIND OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF BEING ON VACATION AWAY FROM IT ALL, BUT SOME PEOPLE NEED THEIR PIECES OF HOME:  PHONES, IPODS, LAPTOPS, MUSIC, MOVIES, READERS, ETC., AND NEED TO BE ABLE TO CHARGE THEM ALL.  THERE AREN'T MANY OUTLETS IN STATEROOMS, SO IF YOU HAVE MANY THINGS TO BE CHARGED, A STRIP MAY BE NECESSARY.
-A WATCH.  WHILE THERE'S A DIGITAL ALARM CLOCK WITH IPOD STATION IN YOUR DREAM STATEROOM, CLOCKS ARE HARD TO COME BY.  I RELATE IT TO CASINOS.  TRY FINDING A CLOCK IN ONE.  CASINOS NEVER WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS; SIMILAR TO CRUISE SHIPS.  THEY JUST WANT YOU TO ENJOY YOURSELF AND NOT WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE TIME.
-A SMALL FIRST AID AND SEWING KIT WITH SAFETY PINS.  THEY'RE SMALL AND TAKE UP NO ROOM, AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY'LL COME IN HANDY.
-HI-LITERS.  EVERY CRUISE HAS A SORT OF NEWSPAPER THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT EACH DAYS ACTIVITIES, BAR AND RESTAURANT HOURS, SHOWS, MOVIES, ETC.  HI-LITERS OF DIFFERENT COLORS ALLOW YOU TO MARK WHAT YOU AND EACH MEMBER OF YOUR PARTY WANT TO SEE AND DO FOR THE DAY IN A QUICK GLANCE.
-ZIP-LOCK BAGS.  YOU CAN BRING THEM FULL WITH SMALL THINGS YOU MAY NEED ON YOUR CRUISE, OR JUST FOR THINGS YOU WANT TO STORE IN YOUR FRIDGE FROM THE BUFFETS OR ROOM-SERVICE.
-WATER BOTTLES.  REFILLABLE OR STORE BOUGHT, THIS WILL PROVE A REAL MONEY SAVER COMPARED TO THE PRICE OF WATER ON-BOARD.  PLUS SOME, ALTHOUGH FEW, JUST DON'T LIKE THE WATER ON TAP.
-IDENTIFY YOUR LUGGAGE.  ADD RIBBONS, STICKERS, BANDANNAS, ANYTHING TO MAKE YOUR LUGGAGE QUICKLY IDENTIFIABLE FOR YOU NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.
-$1 BILLS FOR TIPPING.  MOST TIPS ARE INCLUDED, BUT YOU ROOM SERVICE TIPS ARE NOT.  PLUS IF YOU HAVEN'T TIPPED YOUR MEAL SERVERS IN ADVANCE, YOU MAY NEED THEM FOR THAT TOO, OR FOR TAXIS, TOURS, ETC.
-OVER THE DOOR SHOE HANGAR OR ORGANIZER.  IF YOU'RE IN A ROOM WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE, THIS CAN BE A REAL BIG SPACE SAVER.  TAKES UP NO SHELVES OR DRAWERS AND CAN HOLD A LOT OF STUFF.  PUT IT IN THE BATHROOM AND ALL THOSE WOMEN'S MAKE-UPS, TOILETRIES, ETC. ARE OUT OF THE WAY.
-BATTERIES, MEMORY CARDS, FILM, CAMERAS, SMALL BINOCULARS.  ALL OF THIS IS DESIGNED FOR VIEWING NOW AND LATER.  CAPTURE THE MEMORIES AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.  IT'S OVER BEFORE YOU KNOW IT!

      SEE YA REAL SOON!    ºOº