CRUISE TIME #1

WELL.... I just got back off of the most WONDERFUL vacation ever! "WHAT could be that great?" I'm sure you're wondering.... well, let me tell you, it will take probably 5 blogs for me to give you all of the great details and check lists, so check back regularly with pen and paper in hand to create your own "to do" list for our "Girlfriend's Cruise" over the Labor Day weekend.

So, you may have guessed from that last line, I went on a cruise! It was a celebration for my in-laws for their 50th wedding anniversary and they paid for all of us (including the kids / cousins) to go (so BIG THANKS to Grammy!!) Here are a few things I will cover over the next blogs that you will need to know/ think about for out cruise : 1. clothing to bring (or NOT bring), 2. How to plan your day, 3. Things you WON'T have in your room, 4. Dinner options and what to expect, 5. going ashore/excursions, 6. participating in the "activities" on board, 7. Things you need to be prepared to PAY FOR, 8. Getting on and off the ship (what to bring and time expectations) and what happens to your bags.

Also, I will be talking to Lois and get her too book all of us at the same dinner seating and show times for the OPTIMAL good time!!

So, here goes 1 & 3 Clothes ETC

So, for this 5 night cruise, I REALLY overpacked! I packed 3 pair of dress pants, 6 nice shirts, 2 half decent cover ups, 1 swim suit, 2 pair of jeans, 3 bras, 6 pair of undies, 4 pair of shoes and OH!! I left my hanging bag at home (in the bathroom floor - another blog) with all of our formal stuff in it, so I borrowed 2 long maxi style dresses from my sis-in-law. ALL OF THIS for 6 days/ 5 night! I am here to tell you, I could have had just as great a time with half of this in a carry-on!

Here are the essential clothing items you NEED(as pictured above)!!! 3 maxi dresses (you know, the kind they sell for 19 $$ at TJ MAXX that are strapless or have thin straps, made out of light cotton or spandex and they could be a cover up or a dress) This is a MUST.... there are NO irons in your room, you can not get them, and you can not bring them, so, bring something that does not wrinkle, but dries fast. WHY?? well, I found, I did not want to keep going up and down the stairs to my room to change for meals.....so, I just put my suit on and thru the cute coverup over it and I was set.... All of the resturants let me in and then I just took it off for the pool. I wore it all day till it was time to go get ready for dinner/ show. My problem was I only had 2, so I had to re-wear it over and over.... so, bring 3 and you are set for every day..... ALSO, You could wear it to dinner too.... my sister - in law wore a really beautiful one for the formal night!! SO, You could bring 4 or 5 and need nothing else! ( I am still bringing my formal gown, though, because it is sooo much fun to dress up!)

Next, shoes...... COMFORT is key! Here is the deal, the ship WILL rock.... you WILL sway, and heels don't really work when you are trying just to stand up straight.... so, FLIP FLOPS! Go to Belk and buy a GREAT pair of Yellow Box flips for around $25 and it will be THE BEST $$ you spend! I would just pick one pair,something neutral, maybe silver sequins or something, so it could be dressy for dinner, and you are SET. (then pack one pair of dress shoes for formal night... but Yellow Box sells higher stacked heels too, so that would be the BEST option for comfort and stability)

Now for the suit... You need 2! I only brought one and that was a mistake.... I always had to put it on wet, every AM... so, bring something you can switch out. Maybe I can talk Lise into doing a blog on " HOW to find the PERFECT bathing suit for you body" with some links to different companies....I'll get on that! But, no matter what you bring, it will fit in.... I saw a little bit of everything (except thongs)

You will still need the required number of undies, but you really only need one bra, if you go with the maxi-dress swim suit combo. And just a side note while we are on this topic, remember your PJ's!! I forgot mine, but my roommate didn't mind :) yours most probably will!!!

Jewelry - for ANGELA - I did bring 3 rings and 2 bracelets, but only wore one set, on formal night. There are safes in all of the cabins, so if you want to bring more, it will be safe... it may just be more stuff to keep up with, and minimalistic thinking is key for this trip! Here is a nice little tip : really nice, expensive jewelry like Movado, Tag, Rolex and Cartier all all sold on the island for around 30% off.... so, if you save your $$, you may want to get a GREAT souvenir for a GREAT deal. ( I will deal with customs in a different blog)

How much Money should I bring??? Well, It is really all dependent on your budget, and what you like to bring home as a souvenir ( I like jewelry!) But, if you are not a gambler, or drinker, you really don't need any money for the ship, except for something at the spa or gift shop.... everything else is ALREADY paid.... (Also, remember, this is a cashless ship, so they will not except anything to pay for drinks, etc, except your room key. You can load this key with $$ if you want and you can go on line with your confirmation # and prepay for colas, H2o and wine.... we did the cola thing for the kids and it was WAY cheaper!! Def a MUST if you are addicted to diet coke!) Then on the island, you will have to pay for taxi/ ferry to the beach or Atlantis or where ever, so at least $20 for that (but you can split the fare). Now I love to gamble (we won $310 playing craps and blackjack on this trip!) and I will hopefully be able to set up a "class" in the casino when we get there for anyone wanting to learn... But I usually set a limit that I am willing to "lose" and when it's gone, it's gone. My limit is usually $25 a day..... but you know yours, so plan accordingly.

Now, the MOST important item to pack, is YOUR PASSPORT..... DO NOT FORGET IT!!! Also, make a couple of copies of your inside picture page and a couple of copies of your driver's license and give one set to your roommate and you carry a copy.... then put the real things in your safe in the room and ONLY take it out when you are going ashore, or home. We thought we had almost lost my daughter's passport and that would have RUINED the trip!

If I missed something, please comment on the blog and let's get a dialogue going!!!

"Jetsetting on the Cheap" advise for the day : Shop for your maxi dresses ON LINE at Amazon.com and Overstock.com you will look VERY hip and current for half the $$. If you aren't into shopping online, go to Loehman's on North Druid Hills Rd in ATL and I bought my satin Calvin Klein black formal there for $25 on sale! And here is the link to buy the Yellow Box on line at Belks... they are having a 70% off sale NOW... so hurry!!!! BELKS (just click here)