Floating GTG-Caribbean Style

[sharon]

Edited....wrong post and wrong GTG.....To many to keep track of!

[BirdbyBird]

Well, I won't have to go to the top deck to swim. I braved shopping again today but it about did me in. There is something philosophical about swim suit shopping at a certain age and body condition. In the back of my mind I had visions of the "People of Walmart" site...... And one can't help but listen to the comments coming out from the other rooms where friends have come with each other on this journey of self discovery...as in whose "muffin tops" are those? It is sad when the you understand the comment "this one is alright" spoken with no excitement may be the best one can hope for. These are not 20 something shoppers... for those interested Dillards still had an excellent selection and had just started their swimming suit sale so it wasn't too picked over. Unfortunately I can report that after trying on more suits than I can count on my fingers and several toes that who ever designs these suits does not really understand the body of many mature women. Even when I found suits that were designed to fit larger cup sizes so that the "girls" had the support they needed the rest of the suit squeezed the muffin rolls....hey folks, I may have lost a little weight but my middle definitely has "rolling" memories of those size 18s. And face it, if I struggle to get a suit off when it is dry I will probably find myself trapped in the same suit when wet and having to cut it off my body. I did find a bottom that will match my Walmart top that I already own. One suit, but my cruise consutant Sharon recommended at least two.

So......drum roll....after a very long pensive afternoon that I will never get back, I acted on a fleeting moment of hopeful insight and found a suit that passed the "it will do" measure and it was on the clearance rack!.......in the maternity department. Stop and think. Pregnant women have those larger busts that need to be supported and need some extra material in the skirting..... So now I am on to other adventures of getting ready for my first cruise.

I have a question. When heading off for shore excursions, what documents, credit cards, etc do you carry with you. Do you carry them in a purse of around your waist like a tourist? And then when you stop to go swimming, does someone take turns keeping watch over the valuables? I know, I am ignorant but working hard to correct that state. The lack of knowledge is easier for me to change than the "muffin tops"

[mitch5252]

..

Wish I'd known about this last week...I have a couple of 'em (similar) somewhere in the attic!

http://www.witzsportcases.com/travel-resort-cases.html

..

[sharon]

I wish I had seen these earlier, but I don't have time to order one now. I usually wear shorts or clam diggers that have a zippered pocket on them. I've heard to many stories about purse straps being cut and the purse stolen. I don't worry about someone getting my knickers off. Don't think that's going to be a problem on this trip, tho. Not doing a lot of walking around in a town....maybe just one day. One day on a catamaran and I doubt if we have to worry about thieves on that. I forget what else we're doing.

[Acadianmom]

It's been a few years since I went on a cruise but I think the plastic card they give you on the ship is all the identification you need to carry. That's the kind of thing I obsess about, can't believe I don't remember. That and some money, I think everyone takes our money. You have to scan your card getting off and on the ship and your picture comes up on a computer. I must have had one of those swim wallets like at water parks because we went tubing in Jamaica and I remember paying for pictures with wet money. Speaking of money, bring small bills because it seems like everyone wants change at the same time.

Martha

[Readytogo]

Tina, you haven't been on a cruise before either. All those questions is a good reason Im bringing my friend/neighbor. She's been on probably 20! I have three swimsuit tops that all go with one bottom, works good. Wear them all the time at lake and pool so don't have to make a big swimsuit shopping trip. looked in Wmart today tho, not much left!

[sunshinecruiserTN]

Tina, what Martha said. You only identification will be your sail & sign card. If you plan on paying cash you will need to take that or carry a CC. In the casino they will punch your card and give you a bungee cord to put your card on. Its easier to keep up with that way.

Congrats on finding a swim suit. Seems most of our time will be spent in suits and your shorts you wear over your suit will provide your pockets you need. I have a little neck wallet that I wear and usually put it under my shirt when I'm in a town.

37 more days. Yippee. Seems like it has been forever since this was started.

You won't get pictures until we get back as it's too expensive to have computer access, unless we are traveling with independently wealthy cruisers or maybe we will meet someone who is. Ooh, I like that idea.

[Bethers]

I learned quickly on cruises to take money to pay for everything. Using their card means you don't keep track. Saw someone with a very, very large bar bill (can you say over $1000). It's up to each of you, of course, but the only way I could keep track of how much I was spending was by using cash for everything. If you use the card, make sure you know how much you are putting on it - it can quickly add up.

[sharon]

I learned quickly on cruises to take money to pay for everything. Using their card means you don't keep track. Saw someone with a very, very large bar bill (can you say over $1000). It's up to each of you, of course, but the only way I could keep track of how much I was spending was by using cash for everything. If you use the card, make sure you know how much you are putting on it - it can quickly add up.

Don't know how long it's been since you were on a cruise Beth, but all of the ones I was on wouldn't take cash, you HAD to use your sail card. The only places that took cash was the casino and laundromat.

[BirdbyBird]

* have swimming suits "that will do." CHECK
* picked up the motion sickness pills, right where you said they would be, behind the pharmacy counter so I had to ask. CHECK

* started thinking about what I need to pack, and figured about what you just said Carolyn. My swim suits, cover ups, shorts/skirts and a few other things to mix and match to get in to dinner..... CHECK

* still need to go back online and figure out what docs I need to print off, especially for the airport. I know it sounds silly but I had never ordered tickets online before. (I had a past student's mother who ran a travel agency and on the few times that I flew, she always helped me locate the deals, etc)

Question: I am used to traveling (when in the RV) with some cash and using my credit card/s....because it is an easy way to track expenses. I don't worry about over spending. I know that I will end up spending more money than I usually do just because I am doing stuff I usually don't do, but I have to do mental math when I travel now. How much cash do people usually bring with them? I am just guessing that to get more cash costs more $$$$ for fees once underway.....

[Forestgal]

I wish I had seen these earlier, but I don't have time to order one now. I usually wear shorts or clam diggers that have a zippered pocket on them. I've heard to many stories about purse straps being cut and the purse stolen. I don't worry about someone getting my knickers off. Don't think that's going to be a problem on this trip, tho. Not doing a lot of walking around in a town....maybe just one day. One day on a catamaran and I doubt if we have to worry about thieves on that. I forget what else we're doing.

Sharon, check out REI or Sport Chalet for those little cases. I've seen people use them at the beach so you might find something like it there. Or you might find something not as bulky that would work also. I really like the travel stuff REI has.

Wish I was going with you guys. I've never been on a cruise. It's one of those bucket list things. Some day!

Laura

[sharon]

Laura, thanks for the suggestion, this being Ca Sport Chalet probably has them. Never thought of that. The REI is to far for me to go at this time (Ontario) but that's a good idea, too. I love REI. There's a Sport Chalet a few miles from here.

Tina, What motion sickness pills? I use Ginger Capsules, they work just as well and I don't get that icky feeling from them. As far as cash, I spend time in the casino, so I'm not the person to ask! LOL! I think you can print out your boarding pass 24 hrs before your flight. I'm going to have to do it at the airport at the kiosk 'cause son doesn't have a printer. If you're checking your suitcase, pay for that on-line before you go, it's 5 bucks cheaper. Be sure and print out your luggage tag from the cruise line. We'll talk before the cruise. I'll have to go into town to talk to you, son also doesn't have cell service in his area....as in "Can you Hear Me Now???" He11 NO!!

[BirdbyBird]

So much learning going on here....so fun, so fun...am getting excited. In looking for the water tight containers , I also have found some that fit electronics....as in the e-reader. That would mean that I could go out and float around on a lake and read So much potential to spend money and get new toys. Oh, and I still haven't gone out on line to see if there is anything else shore trip wise that is still available to replace the canceled Cabana Boy adventure..... Any suggestions?

[Acadianmom]

I thought I would get sea sick and be so afraid I would wear my life jacket all the time. The cruise I went on that went out of New Orleans was going down the river about the time we were having dinner and all the turns and lights on land kind of made me queasy. The rest of the time I was fine.

The ships I have been on only serve coca cola products and I drink diet dr pepper. I took some in my suit case and they didn't tell me anything. I also bought some in Grand Cayman. It wasn't cheap but must not have been that high or I wouldn't have bought any. They do have a policy about bringing alcohol on board. I think they take it away and give it to you when you get back. I know they do that if you buy some on one of the islands and give it back to you when the cruise is over. Our travel agent gave us a wine basket that was in our room but they wanted $15 to server it to us at a meal. I bought a cork screw at one of the stops and we opened it our self. There was a liquor store on the ship but I don't remember if you could take it to your room. I am too cheap to pay $25 for a bottle of $5 wine and I sure wasn't going to pay $15 to have it opened.

When we got to Cancun I thought, hey this is Mexico, wonder if I can buy medicine. The only thing I have ever bought is Amoxicillin. I came back with 2 bottles and no one told me anything.

Martha

[sharon]

Yeah, they charge for almost everything on the ship.....but not coffee, so I'm a happy camper. I advised Tina to either bring an empty water bottle in her suitcase or buy a bottle at the airport after she goes thru security. They charge an abominable amount of bucks for a bottle of water. Then I just fill my own. You can bring a certain amount of alcohol on board when you first board, I think it's one bottle of wine. Since I'm not much of a drinker it's never been a problem for me.

Yeah Tina, there's a wealth of products out there for you to spend your hard earned bucks on! LOL! And what do you mean "getting excited?" You've been over the top since we booked!!! I'm just hoping you don't burn out before we even get on board!!

I haven't planned anything for that stop, I may just stay on board and loll by the pool and hot tub while the ship is fairly empty. Works for me rather than sitting out in the sun on the beach. There's not really much to see or do at that stop and all of the cabana's are booked. From what Becky said it gets pretty crowded there and it's hard to get a drink or anything. I could be wrong.