I figure this is the one crew member you will have the most contact with on your cruise. And our deserve something putting up with teenagers! They are well behaved, just very messy.
KoKo_ Beanss I give my cabin steward a gift, too...extra cash on top of the standard tip. I thought that's what they preferred🤔? Don't get me wrong, the gift is cute.
Nekole Stuart is a name given to male children. A steward would quite possibly be the one to whom you are referring. He would be the caretaker for that room.
Internet trolls can be so unnecessarily rude. I love your video! It is very helpful and I will be using many of your suggestions. Your son did an awesome job! Thank you!
Thank you so much for all these tips and ideas!..Im heading to the $ Tree cuz Im going on a cruise in 2 wks.. And your son Colby is handsome, seems like a very nice, well- mannered young man and he did a great job!👍 Ignore all the complainers and insensitive people!.
I made gift bags for all the women going on our cruise from the dollar tree. I used the mesh bags and put wipes chap stick aloe sunscreen towel clips hand sanitizer lanyard and a cup that i had nautical sayings put on with vinyl. They were a huge hit and i enjoyed making them!!
Just another comment, if seriously the only comment is about a teenager who has the sniffles being a concern, fair dinkum just don't watch it. These guys are doing something they love and out comes the negativity over something so trivial. As my wife said how many teenage kids even want to spend time with their parents, power to the young fella, well done young man and Mum.
Thank you so much for this! I have been trying to just ignore the negative comments but left them so every person can have their opinion... but you are right, it's just the sniffles! And he was so sweet to want to come and record this video with me!
He is so cute..always haters out there...shame on them. My daughter is 42 and I would give my right arm for her to be his age and go to Dollar Tree with me...runny nose and all.
I’m sure most of you have the best, perfect children who also walk on water, huh? 🙄 this young man has manners and you can tell his mother is a great mom. So what if he has a cold or whatever it is. Adult bullies is what most of you are. Shame on you!! Thank you, ma’am for the advise. This will be my 3rd time cruising and I love it
I enjoyed the video. Good ideas. I do like the gift idea. We are taking a 7 night cruise and I'm getting ideas as to what we should bring. I must say......I can not believe how rude people are with regards to your son. It always amazes me what people will say in the comments. They probably would never say those things face to face! They need to grow up, we are all human & have colds from time to time. Thank you for the video!
Thank you Danielle! There have been some very nasty comments... he's a kid for goodness sakes! I hope you have an amazing first cruise. I have a whole playlist of cruise tips if you are interested.
I always bring 2-5 tampons or a few pads. I don’t need them but someone in our party might or even someone I run into. They are not cheap on the ships!
Your son is adorable, and you bring a lot of warmth and niceness to your videos! I didn't think of giving the room stuart a gift, but what a great idea! And representing where you come from is a great idea as well.A tip I have is to buy earplugs and a eye mask. The eye mask is great for sleeping if you have a window, or you take a nap on deck. The ear plugs are just in case. Also, before heading to the ships gift store check with the desk--they give out free gravol and other things.
A suggestion to the First aid kit is to make your own Kit using a Zip pencil case, band aids, anti-ich cream, antibiotic ointment, and antibacterial wipes. All these items can be found in the Dollar Tree.
I would add some antiseptic wipes (the little square alcohol pads) and maybe some moleskin and scissors if you get blisters. I have only had to use it once, but it was a lifesaver!
I bought a light that hooks onto the toilet bowl. It is motion activated and you can set your color and brightness. It keeps from whoever gets up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom from turning on that super bright light that has the switch on the outside of the bathroom and wakes everybody else up. We LOVED it.
There is so much to love about this video! 1. I’m on the road 100+ days a year, and am thrilled whenever I learn a new travel tip/hack. 2. Our 9th cruise is coming up in Nov; love the idea of a gift for the room steward!! Not necessary, but I know how hard they work, and even the smallest things (like a box of M&Ms) can bring a smile to someone’s face. 3. I am a Target junkie ... but, CLEARLY, I need to go to Dollar Tree more often. Have one less than 4 blocks from my house; getting on my bike in a few to go check it out. 4. The room freshener idea is brilliant! Our rooms have always been fine, but why not add a little extra lovely fragrance. 5. The battery operated tea lights is another great idea; hubby always wants to leave the bathroom light on, but it keeps me awake. Will try the tea light as a night light in November. Suggestion: Ear Plugs! (saw then in the background). Great for light sleepers. I use them when watching the shows because the volume can be so loud! Just discovered your RUclips channel yesterday. Love it! Keep up the good work.
I just love y’all lol every time I come across your videos they brighten my day especially your son as soon as I saw you two smiling I started laughing lol I feel like I’m there love your spirit
Thank you soooo much, I am going on my first cruise next week and this video came in handy, there is a dollar tree at the end of my street and I am going there to stock up!!!!!
With the sunscreen, if you are doing an excursion with dolphins, etc, they may require you to use eco-friendly/natural sunscreen due to the effects of normal sunscreen on the wildlife. So I would recommend asking the company you're using for the dolphin encounters, etc what type of sunscreen they allow.
Shellene Kent yep, we were told to take a shower, and if we wanted to wear sunscreen we had to buy some from the shop: fortunately no one in my family burns easily, and also the wet suite covered most of me.
I also take zip ties if you don't do self assist on disembarkation take Glow sticks and zip tie on to the handle it makes your bag stand out. We also ordered the Plastic with metal cord luggage tags from amazon you can google them they are great (reusable). Oh by the way you may want to let people know door decorations will need to be fire retardant Carnival is getting ready to start enforcing that. One of the tips I have for the starting cruiser make a list of every thing you pack then as you use it check it off Your next cruise what you didn't use on your first cruise don't pack on your next. Make a list every cruise and keep adjusting until you get it to the minimums you need for a cruise. By the way if the ship has digital pixels you are supposed to be able to view you photos from the HUB app. Happy cruising!!
The zip ties are a great idea! Also a great idea of checking off a list! Carnival has said for years that the door decorations need to be fire retardant but never defined what this is. If you order from them they are paper and plastic... Yes, we were on the Breeze which is digital and we loved that we could view our photos on the app! Thanks :)
I haven't been on a cruise since 2001. What is the purpose of door decorations? Just for fun or to make it easier to find your room? I don't recall seeing any on the cruises I went on but maybe I'm just behind the times.
@EECC Travels, thank you so much for this video.... you and your son are so great to watch together! I loved all of the suggestions you gave and I REALLY appreciate that you told about what you gave your room steward. You are the first person I've seen who actually gives their steward STUFF! And I hadn't even thought of that! I've got my Cruise packing lists (yes, MULTIPLE lists!) going and I've just added a Room Steward Gift list to those, so thank you so much for that suggestion as well! Keep those videos coming and Happy Adventuring! :)
I'm going on my first cruise in January and your video is SPOT ON with helpful hints and ideas. I've been taking lots of notes - and now I'll look for your other helpful videos. WELL DONE, BOTH OF YOU! Thank you very much.
👍 I love watching cruise packing ideas/ Organisation. I’m gonna use the gift bag idea for my room steward; and pack a few snacks only available in Canada.
@@EECCTravels I love this idea so much. I'm from Texas and just bought some texas floaties for the ice chest. I ended up with 2 so now my steward can have one too. I'm sure he/she gets to enjoy the water as well, right. along with snacks and cash. love the wash stuff too. oh and a sunblock
THANKS for the “cabin steward thank you gift bag” idea!! We’ve been on many cruises and I have devoted too much time on the last couple of days trying to find the “perfect” way to say thank you. I’ll be planning ahead from now on!!
Great idea about the gift bag for the steward. On our last cruise, our cabin steward always looked exhausted. We gave him a nice monetary tip on the last day, but I think starting off with a gift bag would have been very thoughtful. I still remember how he was always sweating and looked like he lost his last friend on Earth. I know they don't make much money.
Between their pay and their tips, they are paid very well. BUT...…..they work their butts off also. Many 12 to 16 hour days with only a few hours a week to themselves.
I'm sorry that everyone decided to mention your sons runny nose. It really wasnt that bad. He seemed really excited to be a part of the video and grateful you allowed him to help. These moments are so memorable to kids especially teenagers. My daughter still reminds me of things we've done together like this. Enjoyed the video!
Thank you so much for this comment! There have been so many mean ones about his nose. It was barley noticeable in the store, but the microphone on the camera is a bit more sensitive than I realized. But you are right, Colby was so excited to help with the video that I posted it as it was and I didn't think there would be so much backlash. He's a kid! Some were so mean that I had to delete them!! But the rest I just left alone as everyone is entitled to their opinion. I will say I still go by what my grandmother taught me in that if I can't say something nice then don't say anything at all... Thank you!
I always use magnets to hang up papers, excursion tickets, invites etc on the walls. All ship walls are metal. Also great to hang up my sunglasses, sun hat and lanyard with my sea pass. Keeps the desk ship shape!! I’ll be cruising again next year so a trip to the Dollar Tree is on my list. Thanks!
Love this video! Also keep in mind that depending on where you live and what time of the year it is, your dollar store may not have these options. If you've booked a cruise for the colder months, finding some of these items a few days before your cruise could be a hassle. Imagine trying a find a bathing suit and flip-flops in the middle of a New York winter lol.
GREAT video!!! I will be going on my very first cruise in October, 2020. I have a LOT to do between now and then and your videos have been a GREAT source of information as I have made a list of things to pack and to obtain from watching your videos! Thank you very much and keep up the great work!!!
I always travel with a power bar so I can charge my electronics - iPhone, iPads, and camera. Recently found a smaller plug-in that charges 4 at a time, and I don’t have to take the charging “blocks” along. A bit more expensive ($35), but saves space and weight! Good job with your videos!
Great video!! Some of your ideas never occurred to me, and I'm Definitely a Bargain Betty lol. Also, keep your eye out for Dramamine in your DT. Mine stocks it frequently, and the tube of 8-10 is great if your not someone who Always gets motion sickness but you want some just in case. Tfs!
Cruising on Oasis this August to surprise my 18 yr old son. Bought Island Time decor, anchor flip flops and scarf, flamingo flip flops, blow up palm tree toucan and flamingo this week at DT. Cannot wait!
That is fantastic!!! I love decorating like this and then because the items were so cheap, you don't mind throwing them away at the end of the cruise. I hope you have a great cruise an he has an amazing birthday!
Thank you so much for doing this video! (Your gift bag idea for the room steward is precious!) I love Dollar Tree and systematically have been perusing their isles in prep for a cruise in a couple weeks. On the note of jewelry containers (because the struggle is real for the traveling woman these days) - in the automotive/tools section they have a similar plastic container to what you found in the bathroom organization section, but that container has a bunch of tiny compartments great for earrings or bracelets, necklaces with small chains, etc. It was definitely one of the first things I snagged in cruise prep!
This is exactly the reason we had the brawl at Disneyland. People have dismissed all manners and any form of class for being able to say anything to anyone. I love the exchange between this mother and her son and she is a wonderful example for him with kindness comments about stewards. In all probability, he won't end up on drugs or in the pen!
Ill be going on my 7th cruise soon and i never thought of a gift bag for the room steward. Thanks for the great video mother and son were great. Cheers
Yesss!!! I’m going on my first cruise the end of September! and I have been watching your videos all morning! So I’m getting prepared! Thank you for making these videos!!! 💖
Tommy Morie We have 11 months. I am preparing now. I’ll write out some of these tips and ideas for reference when we are on the cruise. I’m gonna be prepared.
Love the tea lights as bedside lights! Great idea and they would not be bright enough to disturb my husband! Also, I only buy dollar store sunglasses. I lose mine constantly. There are actually some very cute ones and they are pretty good quality wise!
Never underestimate the power of the highlighter on a cruise. I brought one on our last cruise and it was SO helpful for highlighting the activities that I was interested in doing on the daily newsletter (we then chose from the shorter list). It made it much less overwhelming when there are so many fun things to do!
Perfect for travel for cruise for safety kits is waterproof bandages. I have used these when I didn't want a boo boo (as my granddaughter says) to get wet while in the pool or ocean. They work great.
Thank You, I have given my room Stuart a tip but now I'll give a bag. Candy is a great idea thanks. One thing I did purchase is socks, I learn form a crew member vlog that's something they can use.
I found most of the items I needed at Dollar Tree they had the travel plastic bottles to put shampoo crime rinse and hairspray in plus it came with a plastic carry case worked perfectly and never had anything spill also found all the travel toiletries we needed
I just found your RUclips and I cruise all the time but I love to watch because you never know what you might learn. This was the second video I watched and you your husband and son are fantastic. I also give my steward a gift bag with a few treats in it when we get on board, Its a little hello we are here gift. Lol My husband is disabled so we need a few things from him in the beginning and I hate to be that person so I like to start off on the right foot and let him know that I’m here for you too. I think you son is amazing sniffles and all. 😂 People have allergies and I’m sure he didn’t even realize he was sniffing. Ignore all the mean people!! I can’t wait to watch to more.
Great tips & ideas for saving money prior to our next cruise! Thanks & I will definitely get the room stewards gift bags- love the idea!! And, your son did a great job too!!
Thank you and Colby for another informative cruise video. My wife and I as re leaving Sat 5/12 from our hometown of Jacksonville Fl to Bahamas. Going to Dollar Tree Thursday night. Thanks 4 the tips!
this was the best advice, thank you, we are going on our cruise in march 2020 and i am def going to the $1 store to buy toilettries to pack thank you so much, this was so helpful!
I just found your channel. I am loving it. You had some great ideas. I also enjoyed your interaction with your son. Family is so important. God Bless You All.
Thank you so much for this! I shop at the Dollar Tree but never did I look in their health care aisle. That pill box/wheel suggestion LOVE it lol My first aid kit will be sooooo much smaller thanks to your tips.
I love hearing of all different items I could get for my cruise. These items are great! I love how you added the steward gift, that is such a great touch. I never thought about the toothpaste and toothbrush, that’s cool! I’m really enjoying your recent cruise videos, I can’t believe your boys are growing up to be so handsome! (Well I can believe it, lol) thank you!
Thanks Angel! There are some really useful items there. We hit up Dollar Tree before every trip :) I know, they are growing up so fast!!! Today is Ethan's last day of high school!!!
omg, i cant believe he is graduating already! That is so cool! I went to Dollar Tree today and picked up a few things that i seen in your video, thank you for that. Also i wanted to share with you that they have little icepacks that have a screw off cap that you can put ice in which is nice to have in your first aid kit, and also the shower caps you can also get a 12 pk for a $1 too instead of the 8. Do you suggest taking extra hangers on a cruise or will they give you as many extras as you need? I know you could get a pk of 10 at the $tree and take those and if you didn't want to bring them home i guess you could leave them there.
Awesome! I think every store may have slightly different items. There is a huge DT about two hours from here I like to go to when I am in that area because they have so much more stuff. I have always had enough hangers so don't feel the need to bring extra. But I will say 1-2 regular hangers would be handy for going to the ironing room! The ones in the cabins have a little knob head that fits into a holder... I guess this is to discourage people from taking them. But there is no way to hang them on the hooks in the ironing room. That was frustrating...
Thank you!! I'm going on my first cruise next month. I'm driving down to New Orleans. You gave me some ideas of what to pack. Some stuff I was already going to pack, but I will get more items to pack. I love Dollar Tree. I bought my sunscreen from Dollar Tree. I guess he doesn't matter what kind you get as long as it over 15.
A first cruise is so exciting! I hope you get to spend a little time in NOLA before you leave, we just love it there! The DT sunscreen worked great for us... but I always get at least 50 as I burn really easy.
Thanks. I probably will see New Orleans when I get back from the cruise. I'm driving down to New Orleans the same day I leave since I'm only 3 hours away. I'm heading to New Orleans tonight for a concert, but I won't be there long. I bought 50 too.
They prefer cash :) giving bag of goodies will be no use to them as they send most of there money back to help there family - save your money, the thought is great but of no use to them. (have asked them many times which was better gift or cash - cash wins every time.)
It varies per your budget, for us (we take 14/18 day trips or back to back) the first day we meet them will give $20 and ask if possible to have Ice bucket filled twice day and the room to be cleaned by10am, end of first week we will generally give $40 and $20 on last day so about $5 per day give or take, but its what your happy to be giving them there is no right or wrong answer to this question - if your not happy with the service your getting then don’t tip, but have to say to date we have never as yet not been super happy with our room attendant (Sailed 16+ times)
@Margaret Gust that's not exactly true, if you notice a good 95% of the staff is never American and the ships sail under different nation flags so they can pay them w.e amount that nation state is the minimum for working a ship. A lot of them are from the Caribbean and Europe, they spends a looonngg time away from home to support their families. It may not be for all, but it is for a lot of them.
You are the first person I’ve seen give the room Stuart a gift. That is very thoughtful of you. Happy cruising!
I figure this is the one crew member you will have the most contact with on your cruise. And our deserve something putting up with teenagers! They are well behaved, just very messy.
KoKo_ Beanss I give my cabin steward a gift, too...extra cash on top of the standard tip. I thought that's what they preferred🤔? Don't get me wrong, the gift is cute.
I have always given a tip to my room stuart.
Nekole Stuart is a name given to male children. A steward would quite possibly be the one to whom you are referring. He would be the caretaker for that room.
What do you put in the gift bag for your room steward?
Internet trolls can be so unnecessarily rude. I love your video! It is very helpful and I will be using many of your suggestions. Your son did an awesome job!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for all these tips and ideas!..Im heading to the $ Tree cuz Im going on a cruise in 2 wks.. And your son Colby is handsome, seems like a very nice, well- mannered young man and he did a great job!👍 Ignore all the complainers and insensitive people!.
I hope you have a wonderful cruise and thank you so much for your positive comment!!!
Love the mother son action going on. Can't wait for my cruise
Awe thank you so much! I hope you have a wonderful time on your cruise!
Autumn White when u going I’m going in September 2020
I made gift bags for all the women going on our cruise from the dollar tree. I used the mesh bags and put wipes chap stick aloe sunscreen towel clips hand sanitizer lanyard and a cup that i had nautical sayings put on with vinyl. They were a huge hit and i enjoyed making them!!
Oh I love it!!! You can find so many great things there :)
I love that your son was part of the video. Good parenting. :)
Whoa, the Dollar Trees near me NEVER look like this. It’s so clean and organized.
Don't forget a container of baby powder. It removes sand from your legs/feet.
I have never heard this before! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Never knew this. Thanks so much!! Definitely grabbing some for our beach trip!
I always have powder in my travel bag but did not realize it worked for that.
Wow! Great tip!!
Wait what?
Just another comment, if seriously the only comment is about a teenager who has the sniffles being a concern, fair dinkum just don't watch it. These guys are doing something they love and out comes the negativity over something so trivial. As my wife said how many teenage kids even want to spend time with their parents, power to the young fella, well done young man and Mum.
Thank you so much for this! I have been trying to just ignore the negative comments but left them so every person can have their opinion... but you are right, it's just the sniffles! And he was so sweet to want to come and record this video with me!
@@EECCTravels Very sweet boy.
@@EECCTravels I thought he (and you, of course!) did a great job! He had some good comments to contribute too. I love your family.
He is so cute..always haters out there...shame on them. My daughter is 42 and I would give my right arm for her to be his age and go to Dollar Tree with me...runny nose and all.
I super LOVE that your kid helped you with this video. As a mom, that makes your videos the BEST ever.
I’m sure most of you have the best, perfect children who also walk on water, huh? 🙄 this young man has manners and you can tell his mother is a great mom. So what if he has a cold or whatever it is. Adult bullies is what most of you are. Shame on you!!
Thank you, ma’am for the advise. This will be my 3rd time cruising and I love it
I enjoyed the video. Good ideas. I do like the gift idea. We are taking a 7 night cruise and I'm getting ideas as to what we should bring. I must say......I can not believe how rude people are with regards to your son. It always amazes me what people will say in the comments. They probably would never say those things face to face! They need to grow up, we are all human & have colds from time to time. Thank you for the video!
Thank you Danielle! There have been some very nasty comments... he's a kid for goodness sakes! I hope you have an amazing first cruise. I have a whole playlist of cruise tips if you are interested.
EECC Travels I ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️your videos! Thank you. Can you send me the list please?
Ives_damian@yahoo.com
Her son had sniffles. Seems normal to me.
He was trying to be polite and not blow his nose.
I always bring 2-5 tampons or a few pads. I don’t need them but someone in our party might or even someone I run into. They are not cheap on the ships!
That's thoughtful of you!
every thoughtful!! last time i went, i had to pay over $10 for the box of tampons!!! insanity
Also super .. if you happen to go off onto a smaller boat.. They will work as a boat plug ( I heard .. )
Good idea
Pads are perfect for hiding money.
No one is gonna search through your pads look for 💰 there.
You’re welcome.
Your son is adorable, and you bring a lot of warmth and niceness to your videos! I didn't think of giving the room stuart a gift, but what a great idea! And representing where you come from is a great idea as well.A tip I have is to buy earplugs and a eye mask. The eye mask is great for sleeping if you have a window, or you take a nap on deck. The ear plugs are just in case. Also, before heading to the ships gift store check with the desk--they give out free gravol and other things.
Great video, and as a mom with a teen of my own, I thought it was adorbs when your son piped in with comments. Love it!! Sweet family.
A suggestion to the First aid kit is to make your own Kit using a Zip pencil case, band aids, anti-ich cream, antibiotic ointment, and antibacterial wipes. All these items can be found in the Dollar Tree.
Great suggestion! We do the same, I found a small first-aid bag one year and we have built our own ever since.
it's my first year trying the new first aid kit and hope it works great any suggestions that i should add to it?
I would add some antiseptic wipes (the little square alcohol pads) and maybe some moleskin and scissors if you get blisters. I have only had to use it once, but it was a lifesaver!
do they have any at dollar store?
No, you will have to get this elsewhere.
I bought a light that hooks onto the toilet bowl. It is motion activated and you can set your color and brightness. It keeps from whoever gets up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom from turning on that super bright light that has the switch on the outside of the bathroom and wakes everybody else up. We LOVED it.
Oh that sounds very cool!
I’d love to know where you got it!!!
@@shelbybrown6581 real good idea. Gonna take mine with me(disinfect it first of course). Got mine on clearance from Aldi's by the way.
actually, thread your necklace thru a drinking straw. That will keep it from getting tangled.
SAVE THE TURTULES AND I OOP-
Randy; good one doll, thanx😘
There is so much to love about this video!
1. I’m on the road 100+ days a year, and am thrilled whenever I learn a new travel tip/hack.
2. Our 9th cruise is coming up in Nov; love the idea of a gift for the room steward!! Not necessary, but I know how hard they work, and even the smallest things (like a box of M&Ms) can bring a smile to someone’s face.
3. I am a Target junkie ... but, CLEARLY, I need to go to Dollar Tree more often. Have one less than 4 blocks from my house; getting on my bike in a few to go check it out.
4. The room freshener idea is brilliant! Our rooms have always been fine, but why not add a little extra lovely fragrance.
5. The battery operated tea lights is another great idea; hubby always wants to leave the bathroom light on, but it keeps me awake. Will try the tea light as a night light in November.
Suggestion: Ear Plugs! (saw then in the background). Great for light sleepers. I use them when watching the shows because the volume can be so loud!
Just discovered your RUclips channel yesterday. Love it! Keep up the good work.
So glad you enjoyed this video! I make a trip to Dollar Tree before every trip we take. There are so many useful items there for so cheap!
I just love y’all lol every time I come across your videos they brighten my day especially your son as soon as I saw you two smiling I started laughing lol I feel like I’m there love your spirit
Love the idea of giving your ship attend a little package such a southern thing to do 😉.
I use empty grocery store bags for my shoes. $0
Jazzy Patt me too!!!
Me too! The shower caps are too small for big shoes
Me too just any plain shopping bag. Much better choice ☺
Yes, and I use a garbage bag for dirty clothes..
I travel 100+ days a year; been stock-piling shower caps from hotel rooms all along. Always use them for my shoes.
Thank you soooo much, I am going on my first cruise next week and this video came in handy, there is a dollar tree at the end of my street and I am going there to stock up!!!!!
Glad to help! We head there before any trip as there are so many useful items!
I’m going to do a candy and laundry gift bag for my room steward. That is so nice and I know they will appreciate it. Thanks for the idea!!!
Glad you liked this idea! We have been doing this for a few years now and they seem to really appreciated it.
What do you put in it?
I like the idea about the shower caps for the shoes!
Yes, that was one of those ah-ha moments! They are clear so you can still see the shoes but keep everything clean :)
With the sunscreen, if you are doing an excursion with dolphins, etc, they may require you to use eco-friendly/natural sunscreen due to the effects of normal sunscreen on the wildlife. So I would recommend asking the company you're using for the dolphin encounters, etc what type of sunscreen they allow.
Shellene Kent yep, we were told to take a shower, and if we wanted to wear sunscreen we had to buy some from the shop: fortunately no one in my family burns easily, and also the wet suite covered most of me.
I also take zip ties if you don't do self assist on disembarkation take Glow sticks and zip tie on to the handle it makes your bag stand out. We also ordered the Plastic with metal cord luggage tags from amazon you can google them they are great (reusable). Oh by the way you may want to let people know door decorations will need to be fire retardant Carnival is getting ready to start enforcing that. One of the tips I have for the starting cruiser make a list of every thing you pack then as you use it check it off Your next cruise what you didn't use on your first cruise don't pack on your next. Make a list every cruise and keep adjusting until you get it to the minimums you need for a cruise. By the way if the ship has digital pixels you are supposed to be able to view you photos from the HUB app. Happy cruising!!
The zip ties are a great idea! Also a great idea of checking off a list! Carnival has said for years that the door decorations need to be fire retardant but never defined what this is. If you order from them they are paper and plastic... Yes, we were on the Breeze which is digital and we loved that we could view our photos on the app! Thanks :)
I haven't been on a cruise since 2001. What is the purpose of door decorations? Just for fun or to make it easier to find your room? I don't recall seeing any on the cruises I went on but maybe I'm just behind the times.
@@Pauline-ir2tr both, for fun and super helpful to find your room quickly!
love the list(s). check stuff, reduce, try again. LOVE
@EECC Travels, thank you so much for this video.... you and your son are so great to watch together! I loved all of the suggestions you gave and I REALLY appreciate that you told about what you gave your room steward. You are the first person I've seen who actually gives their steward STUFF! And I hadn't even thought of that! I've got my Cruise packing lists (yes, MULTIPLE lists!) going and I've just added a Room Steward Gift list to those, so thank you so much for that suggestion as well! Keep those videos coming and Happy Adventuring! :)
I'm going on my first cruise in January and your video is SPOT ON with helpful hints and ideas. I've been taking lots of notes - and now I'll look for your other helpful videos.
WELL DONE, BOTH OF YOU! Thank you very much.
Thanks so much Linda! I am glad you found this useful and found the other tips videos!
I really love the idea of the gift for the room steward. That is a really nice thing to do. Great ideas. Thanks!
They work so hard, I really like to give them something extra special :)
👍 I love watching cruise packing ideas/ Organisation. I’m gonna use the gift bag idea for my room steward; and pack a few snacks only available in Canada.
YAY! We received some Canadian snacks for Christmas and loved them!
I too will do the same but with Quebec items which I will buy on sale after our national holiday 😄
Nancy Comtois I live in Québec montreal
@@EECCTravels I love this idea so much. I'm from Texas and just bought some texas floaties for the ice chest. I ended up with 2 so now my steward can have one too. I'm sure he/she gets to enjoy the water as well, right. along with snacks and cash. love the wash stuff too. oh and a sunblock
THANKS for the “cabin steward thank you gift bag” idea!! We’ve been on many cruises and I have devoted too much time on the last couple of days trying to find the “perfect” way to say thank you. I’ll be planning ahead from now on!!
It was a totally great tip about putting those disposable shower curtains on your shoes!!!!! I had never thought of that before!
Thanks! I am happy to share these tips I have learned along the way 😀
I love shopping videos! Great video idea Alisa!
Thanks so much Darena!
Great idea about the gift bag for the steward. On our last cruise, our cabin steward always looked exhausted. We gave him a nice monetary tip on the last day, but I think starting off with a gift bag would have been very thoughtful. I still remember how he was always sweating and looked like he lost his last friend on Earth. I know they don't make much money.
Those guys work so hard! If I can make them smile during a busy day...
Between their pay and their tips, they are paid very well. BUT...…..they work their butts off also. Many 12 to 16 hour days with only a few hours a week to themselves.
I'm sorry that everyone decided to mention your sons runny nose. It really wasnt that bad. He seemed really excited to be a part of the video and grateful you allowed him to help. These moments are so memorable to kids especially teenagers. My daughter still reminds me of things we've done together like this. Enjoyed the video!
Thank you so much for this comment! There have been so many mean ones about his nose. It was barley noticeable in the store, but the microphone on the camera is a bit more sensitive than I realized. But you are right, Colby was so excited to help with the video that I posted it as it was and I didn't think there would be so much backlash. He's a kid! Some were so mean that I had to delete them!! But the rest I just left alone as everyone is entitled to their opinion. I will say I still go by what my grandmother taught me in that if I can't say something nice then don't say anything at all... Thank you!
EECC Travels you're welcome love.💜💜
Agreed!! Your son is a sweetheart and people are just mean. Ignore them. Awesome video!
This video was great! I’m going to dollar tree today. I am the mother of three sons, your son is just a doll. Keep up the great videos!
Thank you for all and any advice y’all give us
Still learning all about this cruise stuff
Glad to help!!
I always use magnets to hang up papers, excursion tickets, invites etc on the walls. All ship walls are metal. Also great to hang up my sunglasses, sun hat and lanyard with my sea pass. Keeps the desk ship shape!! I’ll be cruising again next year so a trip to the Dollar Tree is on my list. Thanks!
Love this video! Also keep in mind that depending on where you live and what time of the year it is, your dollar store may not have these options. If you've booked a cruise for the colder months, finding some of these items a few days before your cruise could be a hassle. Imagine trying a find a bathing suit and flip-flops in the middle of a New York winter lol.
Oh my gosh! The shower caps over the shoes is a great Idea!!
Such a cute family! Thanks for all the great ideas will be using them for my next cruise. Can't wait!
Thanks Nancy! I hope you have a wonderful cruise!
A very detailed useful packing technique that I like the most !
Only been on a couple cruises and have always tipped the Steward, but never thought of bringing the gift bag with treats and useful items. Great idea!
GREAT video!!! I will be going on my very first cruise in October, 2020. I have a LOT to do between now and then and your videos have been a GREAT source of information as I have made a list of things to pack and to obtain from watching your videos! Thank you very much and keep up the great work!!!
Her son is handsome... and you are extremely thoughtful to be spreading that kind of love
Awe thank you! He is a cutey! And I am happy to give a little something extra to these guys who work so hard!
I always travel with a power bar so I can charge my electronics - iPhone, iPads, and camera. Recently found a smaller plug-in that charges 4 at a time, and I don’t have to take the charging “blocks” along. A bit more expensive ($35), but saves space and weight!
Good job with your videos!
Thank you for the great tips and your son is lovely. Keep up the good work of informing us first time cruiser on what to take on a cruise.
❤❤❤
I really liked it the gift bag idea for your Room steward 👍
Great video!! Some of your ideas never occurred to me, and I'm Definitely a Bargain Betty lol. Also, keep your eye out for Dramamine in your DT. Mine stocks it frequently, and the tube of 8-10 is great if your not someone who Always gets motion sickness but you want some just in case. Tfs!
Thanks! And thanks for adding the tip on the Dramamine. I don't think I have seen it at ours but I will keep an eye out.
Ginger candy or tea also works.
Do you have a picture of the box or whatever it came in to see what it looks like
We like Bonine as it doesn't make us drowsy like Dramamine can. 😉 tfs these great tips. 👍
Cruising on Oasis this August to surprise my 18 yr old son. Bought Island Time decor, anchor flip flops and scarf, flamingo flip flops, blow up palm tree toucan and flamingo this week at DT. Cannot wait!
It is for his 18th birthday. Also bought all the meds you showed.
That is fantastic!!! I love decorating like this and then because the items were so cheap, you don't mind throwing them away at the end of the cruise. I hope you have a great cruise an he has an amazing birthday!
Thank you so much for doing this video! (Your gift bag idea for the room steward is precious!) I love Dollar Tree and systematically have been perusing their isles in prep for a cruise in a couple weeks. On the note of jewelry containers (because the struggle is real for the traveling woman these days) - in the automotive/tools section they have a similar plastic container to what you found in the bathroom organization section, but that container has a bunch of tiny compartments great for earrings or bracelets, necklaces with small chains, etc. It was definitely one of the first things I snagged in cruise prep!
Great video so many things/ uses I would never have thought of
Omg my Dear you just safe my life... thank you so much for great videos there are so helpful.. Love you guys hugs 🤗 from CT. Kat
I love this idea because you can throw it away on the last day of the cruise. You have gotten your dollar's worth out of it for the week. Thank you.
This is exactly the reason we had the brawl at Disneyland. People have dismissed all manners and any form of class for being able to say anything to anyone. I love the exchange between this mother and her son and she is a wonderful example for him with kindness comments about stewards. In all probability, he won't end up on drugs or in the pen!
Thank you so much!
Ill be going on my 7th cruise soon and i never thought of a gift bag for the room steward. Thanks for the great video mother and son were great. Cheers
Thank you so much we live in Australia we don5 have dollar shop things are so expensive here down under...but you have me all good ideas thanks.❤👌
You both are so cute! I love this video. Thank you for all the informative tips!
Thanks so much Kim!
Thats really sweet of y'all to leave a gift like that, its really practical!
The stewards do such a great job I like to give them something special.
I really like the idea of a gift bag for the room steward. Thanks for sharing!
Your Dollar Tree is very well organized. Great video..Great tips!
The gift bag idea is so thoughtful.. You're so sweet.. ♥️
Thank you so much for this video! Got some ideas on door decorations for my cruise as well as getting the room stewards something. So many good ideas!
Glad to help! I made a video last year of me making door decorations with items from DT, you might want to watch that one :)
Yesss!!! I’m going on my first cruise the end of September! and I have been watching your videos all morning! So I’m getting prepared! Thank you for making these videos!!! 💖
Tommy Morie
We have 11 months. I am preparing now.
I’ll write out some of these tips and ideas for reference when we are on the cruise.
I’m gonna be prepared.
Okay I just got to the end of your video, and see the room steward gift! Genius!! I am definitely going to do that! Awesome awesome idea.
Love the tea lights as bedside lights! Great idea and they would not be bright enough to disturb my husband! Also, I only buy dollar store sunglasses. I lose mine constantly. There are actually some very cute ones and they are pretty good quality wise!
I agree, they have nice sunglasses! It never fails that a pair (or two) get lost or broken on EVERY trip we take!
Omg... that is an awesome idea to leave a gift for the cabin steward.
Never underestimate the power of the highlighter on a cruise. I brought one on our last cruise and it was SO helpful for highlighting the activities that I was interested in doing on the daily newsletter (we then chose from the shorter list). It made it much less overwhelming when there are so many fun things to do!
Oh absolutely!!! That is an item that always goes with me!
Perfect for travel for cruise for safety kits is waterproof bandages. I have used these when I didn't want a boo boo (as my granddaughter says) to get wet while in the pool or ocean. They work great.
Thank you so much I’ve been searching for cruise things/stuff and I found a local dollar tree !!! Thanks for the tips !!!
Thank You, I have given my room Stuart a tip but now I'll give a bag. Candy is a great idea thanks. One thing I did purchase is socks, I learn form a crew member vlog that's something they can use.
Great video!! I absolutely love the gift idea for your cabin steward!!😍😍
I found most of the items I needed at Dollar Tree they had the travel plastic bottles to put shampoo crime rinse and hairspray in plus it came with a plastic carry case worked perfectly and never had anything spill also found all the travel toiletries we needed
I have a bunch of those little clear bottles for DT for when we fly. They really have pretty good quality stuff for $1 :)
I just found your RUclips and I cruise all the time but I love to watch because you never know what you might learn. This was the second video I watched and you your husband and son are fantastic. I also give my steward a gift bag with a few treats in it when we get on board, Its a little hello we are here gift. Lol My husband is disabled so we need a few things from him in the beginning and I hate to be that person so I like to start off on the right foot and let him know that I’m here for you too. I think you son is amazing sniffles and all. 😂 People have allergies and I’m sure he didn’t even realize he was sniffing. Ignore all the mean people!! I can’t wait to watch to more.
Thanks Alisa for the great ideas! Some I had not thought of like the shower caps for your shoes! We’re heading out on an Alaskan cruise soon!
Great tips & ideas for saving money prior to our next cruise! Thanks & I will definitely get the room stewards gift bags- love the idea!! And, your son did a great job too!!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment!!
Thank you and Colby for another informative cruise video. My wife and I as re leaving Sat 5/12 from our hometown of Jacksonville Fl to Bahamas. Going to Dollar Tree Thursday night. Thanks 4 the tips!
Fantastic Tommy!!! Have a wonderful time in the Bahamas :)
I have been thinking about my sunglasses for our up coming trip. Now I need to go to the dollar tree. We might have to make up a bag too. Great idea.
Thanks for a awesome video! I couldn’t help and laugh when your son said trying to make money LOL! When you were talking about cough drops.
Thank you! Now I have to go back and watch that part again :)
Thank you for all the info some of the items I never thought of !
this was the best advice, thank you, we are going on our cruise in march 2020 and i am def going to the $1 store to buy toilettries to pack thank you so much, this was so helpful!
I am watching this in March 2020- hope you are safe and healthy with all that is going on now.
Thanks so much for the great ideas. This will come in handy for our upcoming cruise.
Glad to help! Have fun on your cruise!
Thank you for the great video and thank you Colby for doing such a great job taping!
Thank you for being so sweet!
I loved this video. I bought some items at the dollar tree store for my summer cruise.
Your Dollar Tree is SOOO much BIGGER and cleaner then ours!!
We have two in town and this is definitely the nice one!!
I think it's a wonderful idea that you guys make up a gift bag for your cabin steward! Very thoughtful! I'll be doing that also on our next cruise!
We have been doing this for a few years now and they always seem to appreciate the gesture :)
Great ideas especially leaving a gift 🎁 for the room steward 👨✈️. I never thought of that.
Thank you! We started leaving the steward a gift the last few years :)
The thank you gift up front is a great idea!
I like getting the $1 clear rain ponchos. These are small and can be great if it is a rainy day at a port. Just throw them away when finished using.
Love Dollar Tree. Always go there before a trip to Disney.
Oh yes, me too! A trip to Dollar Tree is necessary before any vacation :)
Awesome family. Thank you for the ideas
I just found your channel. I am loving it. You had some great ideas. I also enjoyed your interaction with your son. Family is so important. God Bless You All.
Hi Rosalee! I am so glad you found our channel :)
Thank you so much for this! I shop at the Dollar Tree but never did I look in their health care aisle. That pill box/wheel suggestion LOVE it lol My first aid kit will be sooooo much smaller thanks to your tips.
So glad you enjoyed the video!! The pill box works great 😉
I love hearing of all different items I could get for my cruise. These items are great! I love how you added the steward gift, that is such a great touch. I never thought about the toothpaste and toothbrush, that’s cool! I’m really enjoying your recent cruise videos, I can’t believe your boys are growing up to be so handsome! (Well I can believe it, lol) thank you!
Thanks Angel! There are some really useful items there. We hit up Dollar Tree before every trip :) I know, they are growing up so fast!!! Today is Ethan's last day of high school!!!
omg, i cant believe he is graduating already! That is so cool! I went to Dollar Tree today and picked up a few things that i seen in your video, thank you for that. Also i wanted to share with you that they have little icepacks that have a screw off cap that you can put ice in which is nice to have in your first aid kit, and also the shower caps you can also get a 12 pk for a $1 too instead of the 8. Do you suggest taking extra hangers on a cruise or will they give you as many extras as you need? I know you could get a pk of 10 at the $tree and take those and if you didn't want to bring them home i guess you could leave them there.
Awesome! I think every store may have slightly different items. There is a huge DT about two hours from here I like to go to when I am in that area because they have so much more stuff. I have always had enough hangers so don't feel the need to bring extra. But I will say 1-2 regular hangers would be handy for going to the ironing room! The ones in the cabins have a little knob head that fits into a holder... I guess this is to discourage people from taking them. But there is no way to hang them on the hooks in the ironing room. That was frustrating...
I'm a travel agent and these ideas are awesome! Wish our Dollar Tree was as nicely stocked as yours!
Hey Sharon! Glad to share some tips that we have picked up along the way :)
Thank you!! I'm going on my first cruise next month. I'm driving down to New Orleans. You gave me some ideas of what to pack. Some stuff I was already going to pack, but I will get more items to pack. I love Dollar Tree. I bought my sunscreen from Dollar Tree. I guess he doesn't matter what kind you get as long as it over 15.
A first cruise is so exciting! I hope you get to spend a little time in NOLA before you leave, we just love it there! The DT sunscreen worked great for us... but I always get at least 50 as I burn really easy.
Thanks.
I probably will see New Orleans when I get back from the cruise. I'm driving down to New Orleans the same day I leave since I'm only 3 hours away. I'm heading to New Orleans tonight for a concert, but I won't be there long.
I bought 50 too.
Very kind gesture love the idea of a gift for the crew. :D
When he said that's insane, I almost spit out my coffee. That was hilarious.
They prefer cash :) giving bag of goodies will be no use to them as they send most of there money back to help there family - save your money, the thought is great but of no use to them. (have asked them many times which was better gift or cash - cash wins every time.)
Magic Apples I'm doing a 8 day in Sept. How much would you tip the steward at the end of the trip?
It varies per your budget, for us (we take 14/18 day trips or back to back) the first day we meet them will give $20 and ask if possible to have Ice bucket filled twice day and the room to be cleaned by10am, end of first week we will generally give $40 and $20 on last day so about $5 per day give or take, but its what your happy to be giving them there is no right or wrong answer to this question - if your not happy with the service your getting then don’t tip, but have to say to date we have never as yet not been super happy with our room attendant (Sailed 16+ times)
At least she is giving them something!!!
When would anyone turn down cash 😒
@Margaret Gust that's not exactly true, if you notice a good 95% of the staff is never American and the ships sail under different nation flags so they can pay them w.e amount that nation state is the minimum for working a ship. A lot of them are from the Caribbean and Europe, they spends a looonngg time away from home to support their families. It may not be for all, but it is for a lot of them.
Colby did a great job and I loved his smile. Great informative video as well.
Thank you very much 😀