Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limited time). Here are the details: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner
A tip for those elegant nights. Use a hot glue gun and apply it to the bottom sole of your high heels in wavy lines from one side to the other. A few lines on each shoe will make walking on those slippery floors a cinch. I've unfortunately seen quite a few women slip and fall.
Hello Ilana, FOR YOUR HUSBAND As a physician I recommend the use of products such as Flonase , one spray in each nostril twice daily for a few days before traveling. Do not sniff in when spraying in the product. Additionally (most important) is the use of Afrin or Otrivin, two sprays in each nostril, one hour before the flight. These items decrease swelling around your Eustachian tube, allowing you to equalize the pressure more easily. I hope this will be helpful. FYI, do not use Afrin or Otrivin for periods that exceed 1-2 days as this can worsen the nasal congestion and swelling
Another reason for photographing vehicles: If you go on an excursion and have to rejoin the same vehicle to get back to port, take two photos. Take one from the side showing the full vehicle and any signs or logos, and one from the back showing the license number. If you get back to a parking area and find it full of near-identical vehicles, you can easily track down the one you want.
Try packing the toilet essentials in a food container and once you've unpacked ,you use the container for any food taken from the buffet ,at the end of the holiday you then repack the toilet essentials back into the container and it seals in any leaks .
Can you make a video about cruising with a disability? Like how accessible the cabins are, scooter rentals, etc. It’s really hard to find good info on this.
Got one for you my dear. Lets say you rent a car and drive to the port of disembarkation. There are cruise lines that still have free parking, few but they exist. TAKE A PICTURE OF THE CAR AND PLATE. I didnt get hit in the lot, the car was gone, stolen. I left the paperwork inside the car so i called the rental company. The office was closed. Even Corp couldnt really help me until the next day because they could find my name in their system. The car was recovered hundreds of miles away, completely trashed two weeks later. Take a picture of the car, the lic plate and the paperwork then go enjoy the cruise. AVIS did send a van to come get me and bring me to the airport.
@@jennifergonzales4299 It all worked out fine for me but I went into panic mode when I realized the car was gone and I left the paperwork inside. For all I know the thieves got pulled over. But they had the paperwork. Just say I as the renter loaned it to them. AVIS was cool and rented on AMEX. Nothing came out of my pocket. A few photos to add proof to my claim was well worth my time.
I use Glad Press N’ Seal for my liquids. Just tear off a square and wrap around the top. You can peel it off and reuse for your trip home as well. Works great!
I do that as well! Unscrew caps, put a small square on and put cap back on. I save them when I unpack in case I have leftovers to bring back. 😊 It's great to keep a piece in your wallet or bag if you need to take earrings out on the go, keeps them for getting lost in the fray.
Hi there! I wanted to give your husband a few tips with flying and having vestibular issues. I have vestibular migraines with tinnitus & vertigo. Flying is absolutely miserable for me. I try to stick to a slow salt diet the day before and morning of flying to help reduce water tension on the ear drums. That helps with the pressure. Also I take meclizine and chew gum for the take off/ landing of flying. One more tip, I stop wearing ear buds, I notice the ringing is why worse and switch to a noise reducing bose headphones that cover my entire ears. It helps so much with the pressure as well. Hope this help! I appreciate your videos!
Just returned from my first cruise (Carnival Magic - PR, DR, Grand Turk) and I watched so many of your videos I felt like an old cruise pro! I did make quite a few purchases based on your advice. Power strip, magnets, luggage tags, foldable backpack, packing cubes, towel bands, and dual device power bank were ALL worth their weight in GOLD! We boarded and disembarked with ease. Your advice made our trip so much easier - we knew where to go, what to do, and what to avoid! I did overpack, but I could carry my own bag up/down the stairs therefore it was NOT too heavy and I was confident I was ready for anything. Thanks for all you do!
Travel Lysol wipes or Lysol wipes in a sandwich bag for a quick wipe down of surfaces (remote, etc). A can of Febreeze or Lysol for the bathroom.👃🏻 Hand sanitizer. I put my shoes in a plastic grocery bag in my luggage and also use plastic grocery bags to hold items that are dirty or wet for the trip home.
I watched a video with a couple traveling with children. After opening the bunks or sleeper they put magnet hooks on the ceiling and attached a dark shower curtain. This gave the bed/bunk privacy.
Tip: iphones have a built-in white noise setting - no need to buy a separate one. Swipe down from your home screen, touch the icon that looks like an ear (Speaker) - Background Sounds - touch "on" and it lets you choose from Balanced Noise, Bright Noise, Dark Noise, Ocean, Rain, and Stream. Of course, you can adjust the volume and connect to a separate bluetooth speaker if you wish.
Best night light ever: We’ve tried them all! For inside the bathroom, We enjoy the dusk to Dawn candles we bought for the windows at christmas. Amazon pack of 4. It flicker too. We do turn it off in the am to save battery. It lasted 45 days last Christmas. We do travel with spare AA batteries sometimes. It is better than anything we have found.
I have the same issue on the plane and what helps me is taking a decongestant the night before and a couple of hours before take off. Plus lots of gum chewing I hope this helps. The pain can be awful
I just got off a Mediterranean cruise a week ago. The strong magnet hooks were a life saver. Our room was so neat because everything was on our walls. I would also suggest you buy a cross body bag for Europe. I wore a dress on most of our excursions so the cross body bag worked much better than a money belt. Also, don’t carry your passport with you. Just take a photo on your phone and leave it in your hotel room safe or in your cabin safe. I also loved the dirty clothes hamper. Thanks for all your suggestions. I can’t wait to hear where you are going!
I keep the cheap plastic racks that I sometimes get when I pick up things at Walmart. Many come with hooks or clips that make it easy to hang items I may wash out and allow me to hang more items on the little clothesline in the shower.
We have a lot of your cruise essentials already thanks to watching your videos (thank you!). We do use a suitcase cover now, but not the clear plastic kind. What we got and love is a stretchy fabric one in bright colors. They were perfect for spotting our luggage coming off the luggage carousel at the airport and then again when picking our bags up when disembarking. They brought a smile to some faces, too, because they say in bold letters "don't touch!" They are washable and because they're fabric, they don't take up a lot of storage space on the cruise or at home.
I have those foldable hangars and always take them on a cruise. Sometimes the hangars in the closets only have those pointy things that hook into a holder on the rod, which makes them useless for anything else. When I wash small items in the sink, I can put them on one of my travel hangars and either hang it up on the line in the shower to dry or hang it from the ceiling on a magnet hook.
Good morning. Just listened to this and I wanted to share some information for Frank. I also have tinnitus. I don’t need hearing aids, but I was convinced to try Resound hearing aids because they have a tinnitus application. I don’t remember last time I did not hear any ringing in my ears, and these hearing aids takes the tinnitus away while I’m wearing them. In fact, the first time I tried them on, they worked immediately, and I actually started crying. Silence truly is golden. I wear mine all the time! Mine came with a three-year warranty. And it’s been about three years since I’ve had them. I absolutely love them and it 100% takes away my tinnitus immediately when I put them on.
I bought the magnetic hooks some time ago for our upcoming cruise, and lent them to my boss a few weeks ago when she went on a cruise of her own. She raved about them when she came back!
California Linda shares excellent reminders, and even on international cruises, I always make room for my snorkeling equipment, which includes a microfiber towel, a small locking dri-bag, and short fins. I used the folding hangers while traveling in Europe, but less on the cruise ship. Adding a portable USB travel fan is nice to have for both a cruise and land travel. I'm so glad 😊 you and Frank are enjoying international travel. 🧳⚓️ I found linen, over cotton, clothing to be more comfortable in the Mediterranean.
I used to have a lot of trouble with my ears on airplanes to the point that it would take almost a week for them to clear after a flight. I used the pressure relief earplugs and they worked but we couldn't find them a few times. For those times, I would take a Claratin (or other allergy meds) about an hour before take off and suck on hard candy during take off and descent and that really helped. Now I just use the allergy meds and they do the trick.
I love my lanyard I bought from save the girls clip & go strap. Its got a wide strap and you can make it into a wristlet. Plus you can attach your phone with a little attachment. It comes with a pouch for chapstick, eye drops, money, cards, etc. Its really genius. This is made by a women owned U.S. based company!
I really enjoy how you present everything. Just wanted to let you know I went from less liquids to bar shampoo, bar conditioner, packages of deodorant, etc. much easier to pack and less room. Just thought I’d throw that out there have a really nice time on your cruise in August.
Suggestion for ear pressure during flights…take a decongestant an hour or so before your flight. My go to is Advil Cold & Sinus (in the US). It has real Sudafed in it so it may not be well tolerated by some. It’s also good to have a few doses in case you end up with a post flight cold. I have allergies and did this on two trips to Europe. It worked well for me so I hope this suggestion can help someone else.
Thank you for making this post. We have cruised enough to receive some nice benefits on our favorite cruise line. However, our last cruise was February 2020, so there are a couple of items we need to replace and you posted a few that I may purchase. One item I really like to bring is a hand-held scale, to help make sure the acquired souvenirs are appropriately distributed amount our suit cases so nothing is overweight at the airlines as we return home.
I love the idea for a cheap watch. Great idea. Unfortunately, I am allergic to nickel so I haven't worn a watch in years (nickel in the backing). What I do is change the time setting in my phone from automatic to manual for the duration of my trip. Then I just manually adjust the time when the ship tells me to.
Having a cheap digital watch is a great tip. Perfect way to keep track of ship & port time that can be different. And those luggage tags are so convenient. No more tape and a stapler 😊Have a great time on your Mediterranean cruise 🚢
I have an inexpensive watch that I call my Spa Watch. I hate not knowing what time it is in a spa since I've taken off my "good" watch to protect it from steam, oils, etc. and want to know how much time I have to relax before needing to get ready for dinner or meet my husband. I also will use it as my "ship's time" watch next month on an Alaskan cruise.
I know re: the luggage tags! These will be SO helpful since we'll have priority boarding anyway, and the fact that I got four means I can put them on my carry-ons when we drop them off at the MDR for lunch.
You may be surprise to learn what is involved with returning items to Amazon. Sometimes, the overall cost for the product is greatly increased and/or wasted. I'm only limiting my returns to items that must be returned. Thank you for your videos!!!
Ilana I suffer from tinnitus (really bad) I have to wear hearing aids to block the annoying sounds and it's been a game changer may be your husband could benefit. Also in airplane and trains I use the BOSS noise cancelling ear buds very comfortable to wear it blocks the noise and happy ears at destination. I travel often these have saved me!
Disposable wash cloths are a must-have for me. Using someone else's literally grosses me out. I ordered them from Amazon. The Insoftb brand is the one that I prefer.
Totally agree with a cheap digital Timex wrist watch. Not only does it keep you on ship time, but when vendors and pick pockets are looking for "targets" to approach, they are less likely to engage someone wearing a cheap watch.
Thankyou Ilana for all your recommendations. My husband always thinks I’m nuts with what I order till I get them…cruise tags, magnetic hooks and recently magnetic hat clip. Great ideas, love your videos, you are so relatable and easy to listen to. Alice🇨🇦
Two items that my family/ I do not travel without are the Nori Press (portable handheld cloth iron/ steam) and portable carbon monoxide detector. The carbon monoxide detector is a must for us when traveling overseas. When cruising, to avoid the time on my phone changed automatically at ports, I always turn off the feature “set automatically” and manually adjust the time on my phone to ship time.
You can set a world clock up on your iPhone and input all the cities you’ll be cruising in, or even islands. Then you can see all time zones in advance-and manually set the clock as you arrive in each city.
We just returned from Venice and found the citronella bracelets worked very well for mosquito control; as long as they don’t get wet they should last several days. 😊
FYI - a white noise machine isn’t necessary. There are many free apps for your iPhone or iPad that have white noise, sound of a fan, waves, etc. One less thing to pack. 😉
We enjoy all your videos but this one is especially informative. Some great ideas on what will make life easier on our next cruise...Panama Canal Jan 2025. Thanks for all your videos!!
I use my beach chair clip as a hat holder on my beach bag. I also always bring a spare battery for my luggage scale. I once had a dead battery at the end of a trip in a foreign country.
I wear hearing aids ( since I was 14) my ear ENT doc has me use nasal spray when I fly and sip water when taking off on the plane. 😊 helps me out a lot!
💡Bring a Mini Emergency Whistle and could wear around neck. Can be used if you get hurt or if being assaulted. Polyester shirts and other clothing can be washed in a sink and dry really quick. (TSA) approves of navigation GPS devices in both carry-on and checked luggage.
The ear plugs have been a game changer for me. My ears hurt terribly when I fly, and stay painful and blocked for days afterwards. I've used the particular brand you show, and they were great but I eventually ripped one while cleaning it. So far, I've used 3 different brands and they are always wonderful.
Ilana, YOU do an Amazing job with Your videos. I don't want anyone to sugarcoat anything. I want to know the truth. I understand that it was Your experience and it would not necessarily be mine. I might have a totally different experience than You did. However it gives me a heads up on whatever the subject matter was about whatever comments were. People can be so rude and there's no excuse for some comments. You are very upfront with the public and if people "listen" to You. You mention in every video that it is Your opinion and You always ask for comments from people about their experiences. This is "My" opinion about this travel agent, I would never need or use their services because there is no reason to attack someone for stating their opinion. You do an excellent job, I enjoy Your videos please keep up the great work. ❤
Hi Ilana I also have problems with my ears on a plane. I used a product called ear planes. They did help balance the air pressure in my ears while on the plane. I could actually hear after getting off the plane. Not very expensive but worth their weight in gold to me.
I used earplanes which helped me greatly. I have a lot of pain in a flight and then can’t hear for a day or so afterwards. This helped a lot. I don’t fly without them.
My daughter always had pain in her ears when she flew and she started using the ear planes ear plugs and it made a huge difference! She no longer had any pain or problems flying! Definitely a good thing for those who have ear pain during flying!
Have her use Afrin nasal spray just before the plane takes off, an ENT doctor gave this advice to my mother over 45 years ago. I use it every time I fly…no pain and no plugged up ears!
@@jjellii1228 I do that too, as well as taking a Sudafed pill (real one, not PE, the Pseudophedrine HCL) 30 minutes before boarding, then Afrin when I sti in the seat and Earplanes in my ears. No more neck exploding and then deaf for 2 days stuff. :)
I have the luggage strap and love it! My carry on does not have the sleeve that slips over the suitcase handle. I am able to attach my carry on to the suitcase handle with the strap.
Hi! Love you channel! Re the luggage sleeve... Believe part of the point of them is to help keep your suitcase closed in the event the zipper fails... the sleeve helps contain the contents so that your belongings are not strewn all over the belly of the plane. I care more about this than I do scuffs on my luggage. I have a fabric sleeve (with a high % of spandex-very stretchy) that seems to work well. However, I prefer a simple luggage strap around my suitcase as my extra precaution against suitcase zipper failure.
I purchased the flyfit pressure relief ear plugs & the earplanes for my husband. Neither of them worked. I researched eustachian tube unblocking. It recommended using Afrin nasal spray. He used it & and loves it. Spray 1 to 2 squirts in each nostril, 45 min before flying. He used 1 & it did not work. He said using 2 squirts work best for him. We never fly without without it.
I have trouble with blocked ears on a plane. I take psuedoephadrine tablets and also use a nose spray to combat that. As I'm traveling internationally I also get my doctor to write a letter with all my medications I need and keep the medications together in the original packages. I've never had trouble at borders as I can verify that I need them even if they are over the counter meds.
Hi Ileana- I’d love to see you try out a wheeled under-seat carryon bag. I got sick and tired of lugging a heavy personal item through airports and parking lots. I picked up a London Fog wheeled under seat bag and like it so far but I’d be interested in your experienced opinion.
Llana here are some videos ideas 1 how so prevent ear clogging while traveling? 2 how or prevent from getting food poisoning? 3 keeping safe and protecting while on ur cabin on a cruise? 4 best snacks and drinks to bring for the cruise cabin? 5 best beaches spots to swim and etc 6 new and improved sickness medicines 7 preventing sunburns and how long should you tan while at the pool or beach? 8 packing for pets for a cruise Or service dogs pets 9 Best gifts to give the flight attendants and cruise ship cruise staff Thanks llana ❤ 🌞🩵🩵🩵🌞🛳️💛💛💛🌞🩵🩵🩵🏝️🛳️💛💛💛🌞🏝️🩵🩵🩵🛳️💛💛🛳️🌞🏝️🏝️🩵🩵🩵🛳️💛💛💛💛🩵
Yessss the ear clogging idea!! I suffer terribly!! The pain is so bad I have to try not to scream or cry. I use the ear plugs the flight guard and earplanes. Sometimes they work, Sonetimes not. I have to hold them in my ears so they’ll stay in place. Also I’m not sure if it’s the time of year I’m flying that makes a difference. If it’s Jan-Mar it’s bad but summer-fall it’s ok. Gum doesn’t help. Now I have a routine of things I try and that’s got it to where I don’t feel like I’m going to scream or cry but that descent is absolute misery! There’s gotta be other ideas to help this!
I bought the hat clip after you showed it in a previous video and I absolutely love it! I use it all the time wherever we go. Because I take my hat on and off when I go inside. I think it cost me like $20 and I thought that was a little ridiculous that the time but I just loved it it was worth the money.
I never fly without using Earplanes. They are super great to keep from any pressure building at all in my ears and head. Altitude fluctuations are very painful for me, but not now.😊
I am currently waiting the luggage. Covers I got. Mine from temu I recently purchased an expensive set of luggage and I will definitely take those extra steps to protect them.
Love the video! I would also suggest a portable fan, especially for the Med in the summertime. It doesn’t exactly cool things, but it does move the air around! Have a great time!❤️
Love your videos on what to bring on a cruise! Your advise on magnets totally changed our storage and access to items in our cabin...they are amazing! We also have started binging a shoe rack and a laundry hamper...the shoe rack is about 4"" wide X 5.5' long (it hangs from the closet rod) which keeps the floor of our closet (mostly) clear of shoes, and laundry hamper that is one of those travel pop-up hampers (again) to help keep the floor of our closet clear(er). I also bring a foldable box thingy (about 4"x4"x5"h) to put some of our toiletries and my brushes etc. in on our bathroom counter. It works great, and likely helps our cabin steward to clean our bathroom counters. Great stuff you are sharing! Thanks JJ
Greetings from the UK… thank you for the very informative tips and tricks. We are relatively new to cruising and your videos have helped me enormously- thank you.
One of my personal favorites is Amazon Essential Mens quick dry shorts. Great for the beach, the pool anywhere. I have two with cargo pockets and one that is pretty plain just one back Velcro pocket. Only shorts I bring now even on charters. My bring aboard is now a backpack for most cruises
One thing I ALWAYS carry with me when I travel is my 10-foot phone charging cable and 4-port USB hub. I have been in too many hotel rooms where the only plug is across the room, or on the other side of the bed but not mine. Not sure if you have run into this on ships or not.
Love the earplugs for air travel the ones you showed are the ones we use but have also uses earplanes both are excellent just make sure you put them in before the doors shut and put them in again before decent and leave them in until doors are open.
I love my nautical stripe bag I bought (as you had recommended it) but, I think I will also try the new one! A separate bag for meds, 2 shoe bags, shoe compartment, sounds really great!
They have updated the nautical bag, you can get it with a shoe compartment now as well. I haven't bought a carry-on yet, kicking around the idea of using my current Lovevook backpack. The new ones have a hidden zipper behind the trolley strap & against your back.
Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limited time). Here are the details: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner
I need my Planner, please.. 😢
@@carlijarvi1198 hi Carli, can you please send me an email at lifewellcruised@gmail.com so I can make sure you get it right away. Thanks, Ilana
Ilana, you're the BEST! 💞
@@carlijarvi1198 I’m glad you received it now. Thanks for your email & purchase :)
You are very welcome! ❤
A tip for those elegant nights. Use a hot glue gun and apply it to the bottom sole of your high heels in wavy lines from one side to the other. A few lines on each shoe will make walking on those slippery floors a cinch. I've unfortunately seen quite a few women slip and fall.
I am so clumsy. I'm trying this!
Hello Ilana, FOR YOUR HUSBAND
As a physician I recommend the use of products such as Flonase , one spray in each nostril twice daily for a few days before traveling. Do not sniff in when spraying in the product. Additionally (most important) is the use of Afrin or Otrivin, two sprays in each nostril, one hour before the flight. These items decrease swelling around your Eustachian tube, allowing you to equalize the pressure more easily. I hope this will be helpful. FYI, do not use Afrin or Otrivin for periods that exceed 1-2 days as this can worsen the nasal congestion and swelling
Thanks so much for the recommendations & advice! Sharing with Frank - I really appreciate it
My medical question for the cruise would be, How do I treat being stung by jellyfish?
Another reason for photographing vehicles: If you go on an excursion and have to rejoin the same vehicle to get back to port, take two photos. Take one from the side showing the full vehicle and any signs or logos, and one from the back showing the license number. If you get back to a parking area and find it full of near-identical vehicles, you can easily track down the one you want.
I put gel insoles in my water shoes. Makes them very comfortable. And just take out and wash off sand.
Try packing the toilet essentials in a food container and once you've unpacked ,you use the container for any food taken from the buffet ,at the end of the holiday you then repack the toilet essentials back into the container and it seals in any leaks .
That’s a super smart idea 💡
This works.
@@michelletrimmer7431 this works with any travel size toiletries .
Great idea!
Can you make a video about cruising with a disability? Like how accessible the cabins are, scooter rentals, etc. It’s really hard to find good info on this.
Tip - if you put the magnet hooks on the ceiling instead of the wall, they will hold more weight.
Got one for you my dear. Lets say you rent a car and drive to the port of disembarkation. There are cruise lines that still have free parking, few but they exist. TAKE A PICTURE OF THE CAR AND PLATE. I didnt get hit in the lot, the car was gone, stolen. I left the paperwork inside the car so i called the rental company. The office was closed. Even Corp couldnt really help me until the next day because they could find my name in their system. The car was recovered hundreds of miles away, completely trashed two weeks later. Take a picture of the car, the lic plate and the paperwork then go enjoy the cruise. AVIS did send a van to come get me and bring me to the airport.
Oh no!
That’s a real kick in the pants‼️‼️‼️. Did you still have to pay for the rental?😮😮😮
@@mrsfivepipgood question!
So sorry
@@jennifergonzales4299 It all worked out fine for me but I went into panic mode when I realized the car was gone and I left the paperwork inside. For all I know the thieves got pulled over. But they had the paperwork. Just say I as the renter loaned it to them. AVIS was cool and rented on AMEX. Nothing came out of my pocket. A few photos to add proof to my claim was well worth my time.
I use Glad Press N’ Seal for my liquids. Just tear off a square and wrap around the top. You can peel it off and reuse for your trip home as well. Works great!
That's a really great tip. Thanks for sharing it!
Great tip!!
I can’t live without that stuff 😂. So useful.
I pack my foam hand soap and use Glad N Seal religiously!!
I do that as well! Unscrew caps, put a small square on and put cap back on. I save them when I unpack in case I have leftovers to bring back. 😊 It's great to keep a piece in your wallet or bag if you need to take earrings out on the go, keeps them for getting lost in the fray.
Hi there! I wanted to give your husband a few tips with flying and having vestibular issues. I have vestibular migraines with tinnitus & vertigo. Flying is absolutely miserable for me. I try to stick to a slow salt diet the day before and morning of flying to help reduce water tension on the ear drums. That helps with the pressure. Also I take meclizine and chew gum for the take off/ landing of flying. One more tip, I stop wearing ear buds, I notice the ringing is why worse and switch to a noise reducing bose headphones that cover my entire ears. It helps so much with the pressure as well. Hope this help! I appreciate your videos!
Just returned from my first cruise (Carnival Magic - PR, DR, Grand Turk) and I watched so many of your videos I felt like an old cruise pro! I did make quite a few purchases based on your advice. Power strip, magnets, luggage tags, foldable backpack, packing cubes, towel bands, and dual device power bank were ALL worth their weight in GOLD! We boarded and disembarked with ease. Your advice made our trip so much easier - we knew where to go, what to do, and what to avoid! I did overpack, but I could carry my own bag up/down the stairs therefore it was NOT too heavy and I was confident I was ready for anything. Thanks for all you do!
Travel Lysol wipes or Lysol wipes in a sandwich bag for a quick wipe down of surfaces (remote, etc). A can of Febreeze or Lysol for the bathroom.👃🏻 Hand sanitizer. I put my shoes in a plastic grocery bag in my luggage and also use plastic grocery bags to hold items that are dirty or wet for the trip home.
I watched a video with a couple traveling with children. After opening the bunks or sleeper they put magnet hooks on the ceiling and attached a dark shower curtain. This gave the bed/bunk privacy.
Smart travel hack for families 👏
Tip: iphones have a built-in white noise setting - no need to buy a separate one. Swipe down from your home screen, touch the icon that looks like an ear (Speaker) - Background Sounds - touch "on" and it lets you choose from Balanced Noise, Bright Noise, Dark Noise, Ocean, Rain, and Stream. Of course, you can adjust the volume and connect to a separate bluetooth speaker if you wish.
Thanks for the tip!
My many years ago, my doctor recommended taking Sudafed prior to a flight to eliminate ear pain. It works every time and, if I forget it, OUCH!!
Best night light ever:
We’ve tried them all!
For inside the bathroom, We enjoy the dusk to Dawn candles we bought for the windows at christmas. Amazon pack of 4. It flicker too. We do turn it off in the am to save battery. It lasted 45 days last Christmas. We do travel with spare AA batteries sometimes. It is better than anything we have found.
The pressure relief ear plugs is what I've been looking for. I thought it was me just me
Bring different colored ribbons to change out on your sunhat. That way they always match your outfits.
I have the same issue on the plane and what helps me is taking a decongestant the night before and a couple of hours before take off. Plus lots of gum chewing I hope this helps. The pain can be awful
I just got off a Mediterranean cruise a week ago. The strong magnet hooks were a life saver. Our room was so neat because everything was on our walls. I would also suggest you buy a cross body bag for Europe. I wore a dress on most of our excursions so the cross body bag worked much better than a money belt. Also, don’t carry your passport with you. Just take a photo on your phone and leave it in your hotel room safe or in your cabin safe. I also loved the dirty clothes hamper. Thanks for all your suggestions. I can’t wait to hear where you are going!
That’s a great idea. Glad you had an amazing cruise 👏
I keep the cheap plastic racks that I sometimes get when I pick up things at Walmart. Many come with hooks or clips that make it easy to hang items I may wash out and allow me to hang more items on the little clothesline in the shower.
We have a lot of your cruise essentials already thanks to watching your videos (thank you!). We do use a suitcase cover now, but not the clear plastic kind. What we got and love is a stretchy fabric one in bright colors. They were perfect for spotting our luggage coming off the luggage carousel at the airport and then again when picking our bags up when disembarking. They brought a smile to some faces, too, because they say in bold letters "don't touch!" They are washable and because they're fabric, they don't take up a lot of storage space on the cruise or at home.
I have those foldable hangars and always take them on a cruise. Sometimes the hangars in the closets only have those pointy things that hook into a holder on the rod, which makes them useless for anything else. When I wash small items in the sink, I can put them on one of my travel hangars and either hang it up on the line in the shower to dry or hang it from the ceiling on a magnet hook.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Good morning. Just listened to this and I wanted to share some information for Frank. I also have tinnitus. I don’t need hearing aids, but I was convinced to try Resound hearing aids because they have a tinnitus application. I don’t remember last time I did not hear any ringing in my ears, and these hearing aids takes the tinnitus away while I’m wearing them. In fact, the first time I tried them on, they worked immediately, and I actually started crying. Silence truly is golden. I wear mine all the time! Mine came with a three-year warranty. And it’s been about three years since I’ve had them. I absolutely love them and it 100% takes away my tinnitus immediately when I put them on.
I bought the magnetic hooks some time ago for our upcoming cruise, and lent them to my boss a few weeks ago when she went on a cruise of her own. She raved about them when she came back!
Great to hear!!
The compression socks are very important and helpful ❤
California Linda shares excellent reminders, and even on international cruises, I always make room for my snorkeling equipment, which includes a microfiber towel, a small locking dri-bag, and short fins. I used the folding hangers while traveling in Europe, but less on the cruise ship. Adding a portable USB travel fan is nice to have for both a cruise and land travel. I'm so glad 😊 you and Frank are enjoying international travel. 🧳⚓️ I found linen, over cotton, clothing to be more comfortable in the Mediterranean.
You’re so right! At some point I should do a separate video for Caribbean or hot weather cruises. So many of those items you mentioned are so useful
I used to have a lot of trouble with my ears on airplanes to the point that it would take almost a week for them to clear after a flight. I used the pressure relief earplugs and they worked but we couldn't find them a few times. For those times, I would take a Claratin (or other allergy meds) about an hour before take off and suck on hard candy during take off and descent and that really helped. Now I just use the allergy meds and they do the trick.
I love my lanyard I bought from save the girls clip & go strap. Its got a wide strap and you can make it into a wristlet. Plus you can attach your phone with a little attachment. It comes with a pouch for chapstick, eye drops, money, cards, etc. Its really genius. This is made by a women owned U.S. based company!
I really enjoy how you present everything. Just wanted to let you know I went from less liquids to bar shampoo, bar conditioner, packages of deodorant, etc. much easier to pack and less room. Just thought I’d throw that out there have a really nice time on your cruise in August.
Good idea
Suggestion for ear pressure during flights…take a decongestant an hour or so before your flight. My go to is Advil Cold & Sinus (in the US). It has real Sudafed in it so it may not be well tolerated by some. It’s also good to have a few doses in case you end up with a post flight cold. I have allergies and did this on two trips to Europe. It worked well for me so I hope this suggestion can help someone else.
We do bring a few hangers that won’t allow slipping of your garments. Otherwise, we have the attendant bring some.
I’m convinced vacations are more relaxing with a waterproof phone cover lanyard; money belt; portable phone charger w/o the wires;
Thank you for making this post. We have cruised enough to receive some nice benefits on our favorite cruise line. However, our last cruise was February 2020, so there are a couple of items we need to replace and you posted a few that I may purchase. One item I really like to bring is a hand-held scale, to help make sure the acquired souvenirs are appropriately distributed amount our suit cases so nothing is overweight at the airlines as we return home.
I love the idea for a cheap watch. Great idea. Unfortunately, I am allergic to nickel so I haven't worn a watch in years (nickel in the backing). What I do is change the time setting in my phone from automatic to manual for the duration of my trip. Then I just manually adjust the time when the ship tells me to.
Good idea
Walmart sells watches with Velcro straps. I think I have seen one for $19. Mine was $40 andI wear it all the time. Looks like a man’s watch.
Having a cheap digital watch is a great tip. Perfect way to keep track of ship & port time that can be different. And those luggage tags are so convenient. No more tape and a stapler 😊Have a great time on your Mediterranean cruise 🚢
I have an inexpensive watch that I call my Spa Watch. I hate not knowing what time it is in a spa since I've taken off my "good" watch to protect it from steam, oils, etc. and want to know how much time I have to relax before needing to get ready for dinner or meet my husband. I also will use it as my "ship's time" watch next month on an Alaskan cruise.
Thank you! I agree, sometimes we just need to be practical 😂👏
I know re: the luggage tags! These will be SO helpful since we'll have priority boarding anyway, and the fact that I got four means I can put them on my carry-ons when we drop them off at the MDR for lunch.
@@lynneshapiro3248 Absolutely 👍🏽 but I do kind of miss the old days when you would receive the printed tags with from the cruise line.
I love RC as they switch time to local so you don't have to worry about that at all.
The ear plugs work really well I use them on every flight I take. Your husband will love them
You may be surprise to learn what is involved with returning items to Amazon. Sometimes, the overall cost for the product is greatly increased and/or wasted. I'm only limiting my returns to items that must be returned. Thank you for your videos!!!
Ilana I suffer from tinnitus (really bad) I have to wear hearing aids to block the annoying sounds and it's been a game changer may be your husband could benefit. Also in airplane and trains I use the BOSS noise cancelling ear buds very comfortable to wear it blocks the noise and happy ears at destination. I travel often these have saved me!
Disposable wash cloths are a must-have for me. Using someone else's literally grosses me out. I ordered them from Amazon. The Insoftb brand is the one that I prefer.
Afryn nasal spray works great, right before take off. I have a difficult time clearing my ears, and this helps a lot!
Totally agree with a cheap digital Timex wrist watch. Not only does it keep you on ship time, but when vendors and pick pockets are looking for "targets" to approach, they are less likely to engage someone wearing a cheap watch.
Thankyou Ilana for all your recommendations. My husband always thinks I’m nuts with what I order till I get them…cruise tags, magnetic hooks and recently magnetic hat clip. Great ideas, love your videos, you are so relatable and easy to listen to. Alice🇨🇦
I always laugh when I see these types of videos from you! Imagine packing 40+ things in your luggage. There’d be no room for anything else! 🤣
Very true. I always mention that not all are needed by everyone, but that does not fit in a title 😉
Two items that my family/ I do not travel without are the Nori Press (portable handheld cloth iron/ steam) and portable carbon monoxide detector. The carbon monoxide detector is a must for us when traveling overseas.
When cruising, to avoid the time on my phone changed automatically at ports, I always turn off the feature “set automatically” and manually adjust the time on my phone to ship time.
You can set a world clock up on your iPhone and input all the cities you’ll be cruising in, or even islands. Then you can see all time zones in advance-and manually set the clock as you arrive in each city.
Can you take the Nori Press on a cruise ship?😊
I thought steamers were a no-no for cruise ships.
Pillbox organizers are great but make sure any prescription medications are in the original container especially with international travel.
Tell me you’re a seasoned traveler without telling me you’re a seasoned traveler… I’m excited to use my travel adapter!
We just returned from Venice and found the citronella bracelets worked very well for mosquito control; as long as they don’t get wet they should last several days. 😊
Great to hear
I’m going my first cruise EVER with my family in August. The Mediterranean cruise with NCL. So excited!!! Your videos have been so helpful!!
FYI - a white noise machine isn’t necessary. There are many free apps for your iPhone or iPad that have white noise, sound of a fan, waves, etc. One less thing to pack. 😉
We enjoy all your videos but this one is especially informative. Some great ideas on what will make life easier on our next cruise...Panama Canal Jan 2025. Thanks for all your videos!!
I dont typically need noise protection as I live next door to a train station and a busy road so never had an issue with sleeping amongst the noise!
We always bring a white noise machine, sooo helpful!
I use my beach chair clip as a hat holder on my beach bag. I also always bring a spare battery for my luggage scale. I once had a dead battery at the end of a trip in a foreign country.
I wear hearing aids ( since I was 14) my ear ENT doc has me use nasal spray when I fly and sip water when taking off on the plane. 😊 helps me out a lot!
I'm a seasoned cruiser and found this helpful. I am getting the air tags and the surge protector. I appreciate videos that teach me something. Thanks
No surge protector, i thought🤔
@@craiggharris I think you're right. I probably mean to say non-surge. oops, ty
💡Bring a Mini Emergency Whistle and could wear around neck. Can be used if you get hurt or if being assaulted. Polyester shirts and other clothing can be washed in a sink and dry really quick. (TSA) approves of navigation GPS devices in both carry-on and checked luggage.
The ear plugs have been a game changer for me. My ears hurt terribly when I fly, and stay painful and blocked for days afterwards. I've used the particular brand you show, and they were great but I eventually ripped one while cleaning it. So far, I've used 3 different brands and they are always wonderful.
Love my waterproof phone case! Truly works. I get great pictures of my daughter in the pool and ocean and on lazy rivers.
Thanks for sharing! It’s definitely one of the best inventions 👏
Ilana, YOU do an Amazing job with Your videos. I don't want anyone to sugarcoat anything. I want to know the truth. I understand that it was Your experience and it would not necessarily be mine. I might have a totally different experience than You did. However it gives me a heads up on whatever the subject matter was about whatever comments were. People can be so rude and there's no excuse for some comments. You are very upfront with the public and if people "listen" to You. You mention in every video that it is Your opinion and You always ask for comments from people about their experiences. This is "My" opinion about this travel agent, I would never need or use their services because there is no reason to attack someone for stating their opinion. You do an excellent job, I enjoy Your videos please keep up the great work. ❤
Have used the foldable hangers several times and highly recommend!
Hi Ilana
I also have problems with my ears on a plane. I used a product called ear planes. They did help balance the air pressure in my ears while on the plane. I could actually hear after getting off the plane. Not very expensive but worth their weight in gold to me.
I used earplanes which helped me greatly. I have a lot of pain in a flight and then can’t hear for a day or so afterwards. This helped a lot. I don’t fly without them.
My daughter always had pain in her ears when she flew and she started using the ear planes ear plugs and it made a huge difference! She no longer had any pain or problems flying! Definitely a good thing for those who have ear pain during flying!
Have her use Afrin nasal spray just before the plane takes off, an ENT doctor gave this advice to my mother over 45 years ago. I use it every time I fly…no pain and no plugged up ears!
Thanks for sharing this
@@jjellii1228 I do that too, as well as taking a Sudafed pill (real one, not PE, the Pseudophedrine HCL) 30 minutes before boarding, then Afrin when I sti in the seat and Earplanes in my ears. No more neck exploding and then deaf for 2 days stuff. :)
I have the luggage strap and love it! My carry on does not have the sleeve that slips over the suitcase handle. I am able to attach my carry on to the suitcase handle with the strap.
Hi! Love you channel! Re the luggage sleeve... Believe part of the point of them is to help keep your suitcase closed in the event the zipper fails... the sleeve helps contain the contents so that your belongings are not strewn all over the belly of the plane. I care more about this than I do scuffs on my luggage. I have a fabric sleeve (with a high % of spandex-very stretchy) that seems to work well. However, I prefer a simple luggage strap around my suitcase as my extra precaution against suitcase zipper failure.
We love Away luggage and my Monos Backpack. Hubby uses Peak products for backpack and hip/Fanny bag. He carries camera stuff and his computer.
Always great reminders or new ideas!!! Thanks for sharing 🛳️🛳️
Since you can’t take an iron, I took a wide flat iron and was able to get out the wrinkles. Works great.
I purchased the flyfit pressure relief ear plugs & the earplanes for my husband. Neither of them worked. I researched eustachian tube unblocking. It recommended using Afrin nasal spray. He used it & and loves it. Spray 1 to 2 squirts in each nostril, 45 min before flying. He used 1 & it did not work. He said using 2 squirts work best for him. We never fly without without it.
Hi Ilana, I always love your Amazon travel videos, but this one is the best! These are some really good items I will definitely be using. Thanks
I have trouble with blocked ears on a plane. I take psuedoephadrine tablets and also use a nose spray to combat that. As I'm traveling internationally I also get my doctor to write a letter with all my medications I need and keep the medications together in the original packages. I've never had trouble at borders as I can verify that I need them even if they are over the counter meds.
Hi Ileana- I’d love to see you try out a wheeled under-seat carryon bag. I got sick and tired of lugging a heavy personal item through airports and parking lots. I picked up a London Fog wheeled under seat bag and like it so far but I’d be interested in your experienced opinion.
Llana here are some videos ideas
1 how so prevent ear clogging while traveling?
2 how or prevent from getting food poisoning?
3 keeping safe and protecting while on ur cabin on a cruise?
4 best snacks and drinks to bring for the cruise cabin?
5 best beaches spots to swim and etc
6 new and improved sickness medicines
7 preventing sunburns and how long should you tan while at the pool or beach?
8 packing for pets for a cruise Or service dogs pets
9 Best gifts to give the flight attendants and cruise ship cruise staff
Thanks llana ❤
🌞🩵🩵🩵🌞🛳️💛💛💛🌞🩵🩵🩵🏝️🛳️💛💛💛🌞🏝️🩵🩵🩵🛳️💛💛🛳️🌞🏝️🏝️🩵🩵🩵🛳️💛💛💛💛🩵
Yessss the ear clogging idea!! I suffer terribly!! The pain is so bad I have to try not to scream or cry. I use the ear plugs the flight guard and earplanes. Sometimes they work, Sonetimes not. I have to hold them in my ears so they’ll stay in place. Also I’m not sure if it’s the time of year I’m flying that makes a difference. If it’s Jan-Mar it’s bad but summer-fall it’s ok. Gum doesn’t help. Now I have a routine of things I try and that’s got it to where I don’t feel like I’m going to scream or cry but that descent is absolute misery! There’s gotta be other ideas to help this!
Great ideas!! Thanks Lauren
My first cruise is in November. I can't wait. I'm so excited.
Thank you so much for making this videos.. and then attaching the amazon link❤️
I bought the hat clip after you showed it in a previous video and I absolutely love it! I use it all the time wherever we go. Because I take my hat on and off when I go inside. I think it cost me like $20 and I thought that was a little ridiculous that the time but I just loved it it was worth the money.
Lol, right? I’ve love mine too. I really use it so for me it’s been worth it as well :)
I love your videos. I do love my luggage sleeve. It really protects my luggage
I never fly without using Earplanes. They are super great to keep from any pressure building at all in my ears and head. Altitude fluctuations are very painful for me, but not now.😊
I am currently waiting the luggage. Covers I got. Mine from temu I recently purchased an expensive set of luggage and I will definitely take those extra steps to protect them.
That makes sense
I take the folding hangers when I cruise and I use them to hang up wet clothes on the washing line in the shower.
Love the video! I would also suggest a portable fan, especially for the Med in the summertime. It doesn’t exactly cool things, but it does move the air around! Have a great time!❤️
Love your videos on what to bring on a cruise! Your advise on magnets totally changed our storage and access to items in our cabin...they are amazing!
We also have started binging a shoe rack and a laundry hamper...the shoe rack is about 4"" wide X 5.5' long (it hangs from the closet rod) which keeps the floor of our closet (mostly) clear of shoes, and laundry hamper that is one of those travel pop-up hampers (again) to help keep the floor of our closet clear(er).
I also bring a foldable box thingy (about 4"x4"x5"h) to put some of our toiletries and my brushes etc. in on our bathroom counter. It works great, and likely helps our cabin steward to clean our bathroom counters.
Great stuff you are sharing! Thanks JJ
Thanks so much for sharing! Your cabin organization skills are 👏👏
I totally understand the noise machine! I cannot sleep without a noise machine due to my tinnitus. I use a portable one as well.
I really appreciate you showing items that you tried but didn't love. Love your videos!
Thanks! I appreciate you watching
Thank you Ilana, this was very informative.
Greetings from the UK… thank you for the very informative tips and tricks. We are relatively new to cruising and your videos have helped me enormously- thank you.
Hey Ilana. Great job ! Interesting, entertaining and informative ! Keep them coming !
One of my personal favorites is Amazon Essential Mens quick dry shorts. Great for the beach, the pool anywhere. I have two with cargo pockets and one that is pretty plain just one back Velcro pocket. Only shorts I bring now even on charters. My bring aboard is now a backpack for most cruises
That’s great to know! I’ll have to look for them
Can you please put a link to the shorts please. I think those would be GREAT for hubby.
Thank you, Blessed Sunday
One thing I ALWAYS carry with me when I travel is my 10-foot phone charging cable and 4-port USB hub. I have been in too many hotel rooms where the only plug is across the room, or on the other side of the bed but not mine. Not sure if you have run into this on ships or not.
Love the earplugs for air travel the ones you showed are the ones we use but have also uses earplanes both are excellent just make sure you put them in before the doors shut and put them in again before decent and leave them in until doors are open.
Ahh, I didn’t know that trick. Thank you
I use the foldable hangers and the magnetic hooks. They are awesome!
I wish I could meet you in person on my next 7 day cruise on Carnival Pride sailing out of Tampa FL on Feb. 25 2024
Sunglasses I s a must for the cruise
I love your travel Amazon ideas!! ❤
Thank you for all your videos. They are so helpful. I’m going on a Mediterranean Cruise with Norwegian Viva. So excited.
Wow!! Exciting 👏
I’ve been using those hangers for years. Can’t cruise without then ! 😊
Love your Videos.. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ❤❤❤❤😊
I love my nautical stripe bag I bought (as you had recommended it) but, I think I will also try the new one! A separate bag for meds, 2 shoe bags, shoe compartment, sounds really great!
It’s a bit more roomy than the striped bag too :)
They have updated the nautical bag, you can get it with a shoe compartment now as well. I haven't bought a carry-on yet, kicking around the idea of using my current Lovevook backpack. The new ones have a hidden zipper behind the trolley strap & against your back.