Floating GTG-Caribbean Style

[BirdbyBird]

The information is helpful. I knew that this stop was the one privately owned by the company so I was figuring there were not as many options. Exploring options on a less crowded boat as a certain appeal of its own.

[HorizonSeeker]

Yep, those cases are the best and you can buy them at Dick's, or REI, or any sports supply place. Look in the kayak/canoe section. I use mine all the time. It's waterproof which I hope won't be important on your cruise. Also, there's a small ring on them so that you can clip it to your PFD in case you fall out of the boat (again hope that's not an issue on the cruise). I started carrying one last summer when I was kayaking a lot. Then continued to use it at school. I was teaching in an alternative school where locks on drawers and desks didn't deter some of the population. But this fit nicely inside my pocket and the nice thing about being a little fat girl is that you would definitely feel someone trying to get into your pocket!

[BirdbyBird]

Thanks all, found what I needed. Looked at both a local "outdoors" specialty store and at Dick's....found what I needed and a couple of items that I didn't need but wanted on general principles..... Keep the recommendations/ideas coming folks.

[sharon]

Found one too, at Sport Chalet. A little bigger than I wanted or thought they were, didn't use one on the other cruises, but maybe it'll be ok. Also got some ear plugs and swimmers ear drops. Hoping to avoid the horrible earache from previous cruises. Plenty of drops for anyone that might need them. I share well!

Waiting for my shipment from Lands End (You KNOW I had to go on that site after it was mentioned!) and trying to get stuff together for 3 GTG's. To much work! LOL! I may never get out of here. 2 dogs left this morning, another one arrived last nite. Chewy's older sister here until Monday. 2 pounds of cujo. She flat gives Chewy a run for her money! And she never ever backs down.

[dpf]

Maybe off topic now...but I'll give my thumbs up for Land's End swimming suits....anything Land's End for that matter. I've gotten just plain sick and tired of everything that I have bought from them because stuff seldom wears out! They also have an excellent return policy. I had one of their parkas for 5 years and the zipper broke (because I stepped on the pull) I wrote to them and asked them if there was anyway I could get zipper from them to replace it since they still sold the same style and color! They wrote back and told me to return the parka and replaced it with a new one!

[sunshinecruiserTN]

Okay, here's the deal on the sign & sail card (It's been a while for you, right, Beth?) If you think you have a problem keeping up with your spending, either, keep the receipts and add them up or check your TV nightly and see how much you have spent. It keeps a running total for your account so there should be no surprises the night before debarkation when they slip your totals under your door.

Now that they have the casino fixed to use your sail & sign card (except for table games) this really works to keep track. No doubt I'll see you there Sharon.

Ill have plenty of waterproof thingys with me if anyone needs one.

I love Land's End swim suits. Let's see only 35 days till we get there. Yippee. Can't wait. We all have a tendency to bring too many clothes so just remember how much you will be in swim suit/cover up and pack according. I take vodka in a bottle (not vodka bottle) and a cooler. I tip my room steward to keep my cooler stocked with ice, i get lemonade or guava juice as my mixers. On shore excursions days, I order room service and pack the sandwiches in my taken zip lock bags and my cooler in hand head off. On beach days, I order fruit from room service and put it in zip lock bags, in cooler and mix it with my vodka or spice rum and put in in the small bottles saved from the cranberry juice bottles. Oh, & I take my diet pepsi (they only serve coke products on board) and keep them in the cooler in my room. Whew, it sounds like a lot but it's not. Just many years of cruising and working the system.

Between me and Becky (Lotus) we've got it to a science. Of course, no my wonderful son, Jonathan, is following in his Mother's footsteps. LOL If you have a string of mardi gras beads, bring them, we've got a thing in store. Okay I've got to get off of here cause I'll give away all my secrets. Wendy, don't get scared off and tell Gwen not to worry. It's all gooooood!

[BirdbyBird]

What sort of cooler....small soft sided or what? Do you take that on shore excursions because of the cost of beverages on shore? I caught the suggestions regarding bringing a water bottle that you can refill. How useful is a refillable drink container like sports bottle? Are there interesting food options on shore or just boring expensive stuff? Anyone else feel free to add to my questions.....

[sunshinecruiserTN]

What sort of cooler....small soft sided or what? Do you take that on shore excursions because of the cost of beverages on shore? I caught the suggestions regarding bringing a water bottle that you can refill. How useful is a refillable drink container like sports bottle? Are there interesting food options on shore or just boring expensive stuff? Anyone else feel free to add to my questions.....

Tina, I have a soft sided cooler that fits well in my suitcase. Both because of cost and my beverages are probably different than yours. LOL The bottle of water in your stateroom is about $3-5 and they will charge your sign & sail. I take my water bottle up to the Lido deck with me and refill w/ice and water. I also take another bottle that will be filled with lemonade or guava juice and that becomes my mixer in my room. Or I order tomato juice for morning room service for that kinds of mixing. Usually take food only like on the catamarine (sp) because the don't serve food on it and after snorkling, it's nice to have some munchies. So don't forget to take some ziplock bags for food or treasures found on the beaches. Hint: Grand Turk is known for beach glass on the beaches, a must do when you first get off the ship before everyone else gets it. That is if you are interested in beach glass.

[BirdbyBird]

If I am not interested, I know that the jewelery making daughter might make something out of "found art"!

[mitch5252]

...Or I order tomato juice for morning room service for that kinds of mixing...

Oh, I so like the way you think...

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[sharon]

I thought they served something on the catamaran? Need to go check that. Since I don't drink soda, water and coffee do me just fine with an occasional cocktail. I do make some ice tea on the Lido deck. They only have hot tea, but that works fine in my water bottle with some ice. I have a small soft side cooler I can bring, Tina, and we can share it if we feel we have a need for it. And yes, I always bring to many clothes....just can't help myself!

[sharon]

HA! Thought so...I never mess up when it comes to food! Well, hardly ever, anyway! This is from the site where we booked the shore excursion....

Enjoy freshly baked breads, cheeses, fruits and a variety of beverages onboard. Champagne and other beverages are complimentary after swimming and snorkeling.

Not that I would be adverse to taking a sammy along....I do tend to get hungry at odd times and may be in need of sustenance before they put this out.

[BirdbyBird]

Oh, I had remembered the food and the beverage...it tipped the attraction meter way over on the plus side for me....well that and the sailing the blue blue ocean part.

I was thinking the little individual serving Crystal Lite packages that you add to bottled water or other containers might be a nice addition and not take up space...... Wouldn't require a cork screw either! Ordered another pair of Teva sandals on line. The ones I have are 5 years old and look it and have begun to feel it. Unfortunately the company changed sizing in the between years and I can only find them on line in my size (length) now. But they will be here and my feet will be happy to walk around in them.

I even splurged and bought the anti chapping product for my not so delicate (heavy) thighs so that I can wear shorts, skirts and cover-ups and not worry about not being able to walk the next day...... I wore a dress to work a summer dog show once thinking it would be cooler and learned a very uncomfortable lesson. My silent motto for clothes choices is to wear nothing that might tempt someone to paste my picture on the POW site...... (People of Walmart) Hey I shop there but I try to keep my body covered appropriately when I do

Off to buy some colored ink for my printer..... Have not purchase any disposable water proof cameras yet. I am about to need a new small camera for hiking, kayaking, etc. Talk about tracking my spending......I don't need any on board Fun Pass t cause me to get into trouble. I just updated by sorry budget and I am still tempting myself with "wants" not "needs"

[sharon]

OK, went looking for the soft sided cooler, couldn't find it, but did find a nifty little thingy for the white elephant sale at the ARK GTG. It'll be great for someone that hikes a lot. So now I'm on a mission to find that dang cooler that I carried in Hope for 5 years, used once and finally took it out....Found it in a cabinet where it definitley didn't belong! Whew, glad I got that done. Now it's time to get back up on the roof and wash that.

Yeah Tina, I love my Tivas, those are for sure on the list to bring. And like you, I'm careful not to dress for the Walmart pictures....heck, I don't even dress like that at home, much less in public!!

[mitch5252]

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Are there little fridges in your cabins?

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