Cruise Planning Tips...

[JoeyandDavid]

On another thread Carmen (mercedes) meantioned a great tip...

reading reviews for ideas for shore excursions..

That got me to wondering what other great tips we have when planning our vacations... do you have a little trick you use when planning you vacation?

I guess for us it is..... book EARLY it will save you money 97% of the time.... over what you would pay if you book the same cruise a few months later

Do you have a planning tip you would like to share?

[RNSANE]

Keep a packing list in your computer - it helps make sure nothing is forgotten.

[sailingrose]

Check with AAA for Tour Books. They have them for Europe and the Caribbean and if your a member they are free!

[mercedes]

Joey, thanks for the great poll questions. We also book early and have the same packing list that I have used for years. As mentioned before, I just print it out, paste it on the bedroom wall and scratch off as I pack. Something else that I do is print out the names of all the ports that I am visiting and at the beginning of each morning take a picture of the name of that port, that way I know what pictures are from where.

[sailingrose]

Excellent tip Carmen!

[rogue]

I've done something similar to that. On just about every cruise we've been on, the daily schedule welcomes you to the port of the day (usually the headline). I take a picture of the scedule ande that goes into my albums.

[RNSANE]

I bring several copies of my packing list with me just in case a suitcase goes astray - that way, I know just what is inside if the airline needs that info...also, I've learned not to pack all cocktail dresses in the same bag...I divide the clothes...nothing is worse than to be wearing your casual clothes on formal night and, sadly, my torso doesn't fit any of the gift shop clothes.

I also keep a list of US embassy addresses and phone numbers in ports I'm visiting and, when my kids were smaller but going out on their own, made sure they had them and a copy of the front page of my passport and vice versa when we weren't together off the ship - or if we were traveling in other countries but not cruising.