Packing Tips

Sandy,

Sounds like you´re well organized :-). We´re leaving on Wednesday and I only have checked our electronic devices. Packing will be Tuesday afternoon!

BTW if I pack 28 days prior to a cruise/vacation I doubt I have enough clothes left over for those 28 days inbetween :-))).

Carmen

Sandy, not trying to be nosy here, but I'd suggest you consider leaving the laptop at home ;-), especially for the first time cruiser. I have nothing against computers, I own 5 of them. Trust me, it's just that there is going to be WAY too much to see and do...We actually brought a TV with us many, many cruises ago, I set it up and we never turned it on, and that was during a two 6 night back to back cruise, 12 nights...Thinking about watching TV on the DQ is kinda silly, took me about a half day to figure that out.

Then again, Deb and I don't bring our cell phones either, we leave them in the car at the airport. You may appreciate why we do that. If it's an emergency, someone can call the company and they can relay a message. I'm on the ultimate vacation, and I really don't want to be bothered...I figure, how did the world survive before cell phones? and computers?

Also, I'm a sucker for travel size medicine cabinet stuff, it fits nicely in the medicine cabinet in the staterooms. Technically you don't need a travel alarm, but I bring my trusty timex battery clock with a light, I used to bring a night light, too, but the boat has 'em now. Deb used to bring a travel size hairdrier, the room has those now, too. And I'm sure you know that the rooms all have irons.

Another thing that comes in handy is a suitcase that is a tad smaller than your big one so that the two empty suitcases can nest, one inside the other, under the bed.

Sandy: When we got to our cabin, we found that our larger suitcases would not fit between the legs of the foot of the beds, and the beds were too close together to put the suitcases in from the sides. I had to pick up the end of the bed, while Carolynn shoved the suitcase under to get the suitcases past the bed's legs. So, be sure to take everything that you might need on board out of the suitcases, it is not convenient to get the suitcases out from under the bed! (Of course we were in one of the smaller cabins, #325. Only the ones with bunk beds are smaller Finding a place to hang all you clothes is another problem). There wouldn't have been a problem in a larger cabin. If you are in a small cabin, I'd suggest taking a very minimum of clothes. Our problem was that we expected much cooler weather, so we brought bulkier cool-weather clothing.

Bruno...Good Tips...I use my cell phone more for a clock than anything...They also make good alarm clocks...
Since we will be on vacation just over 2 weeks, the laptop is needed...not for the cruise but after...Also if it is used the the boat...it will be to look at our beutiful pictures we will be taking...also since the cruise doesn't have a casino, which I'm pleased about...and I wake up much earlier than my partner, I can play solitaire or spider...LOL

Carman...yes I'm pretty organised when it comes to packing...although I'm sure you will here the story of our 2 month road trip last summer...Looking back at the pictures, it looks like my partner was wearing the same shirt in every picture...and we took over 300 pictures.
We actually have a short vacation just before our cruise...I'll pack for that next week...different type of clothes as it will be at the beach...probally cold.
And living here in Palm Springs...its already very warm..so its just shorts weather.
I'm hoping for the mid 70's on the cruise...

Sandy

Jim...I believe your cabin is the one next to ours 323...Did you happen to peek into 325...How much larger is it?
The old pick up the bed trick...shove the suitcase under...Learned that one years ago...Its why I don't travel with the Hard sided Samsonite on cruises.

Sandy

Those of you who fly are aware of the 50Lb limit for up to 2 bags. I carry at least one large bag and if I’m not careful I can overload it easily. To fill up space I use the air pillows that come with shipped mail order items. It works to keep me under 50 Lbs.
Also I went to a sporting goods department and purchased a cheap 50Lb fish scale. It is usually accurate enough to keep me from going overweight. We will see a lot of you in Memphis 4/27 for the push up the rivers to race the Belle of Louisville.
No air travel for that trip, rental cars both to and from the boat. The weight limit is what I can lift. That seems to be less every year. 🙁
Enjoy your Steamboatn’ cruises, see you on the river. 🙂
John & Carol

John...so you will be on the other boat...I am really looking forward to the race...
Since this will not be the typical cruise I have gone on...I have been concerned about shoes...Since we will be using the stairs a hundread times a day..I have decided NO HIGH HEELS...Which is cutting down my shoe count to no more than 2 in the suitcase for me...and only 1 pair of dress shoes for him.
One of the reasons I like Zip Lock bags is because when packed with underclothes and socks...and then squeeze all the air out...they are great for fillers in the suit case...and its really easy to unpack a suitcase...and then repack the dirty clothes.

Sandy

Sandy,
Forget about playing solitaire or spider (I know, I'm addicted to them too)--you'll want to be out on deck w/mug of coffee, tea, or chocolate and watchin' the river go by! The other stuff you can do anytime, watchin' the river from the DQ only when you're on her. It's very addicting, that and the wheel goin' round and the rollers following behind.
I filled a 1 Gig and part of a 2 gig flash drive, AND 3-1/2 hours of video (which I still haven't watched nor downloaded yet!) I'm afraid about 2 hours of that taping is either the calliope or the wheel. Hmm, maybe more. . . Oh, and there's the "three stooges" working the lines at the landing. Gads, I have to review these puppies!
BTW, READ the instructions on the inside cover of your onboard guide book on the dresser top, it does explain how to set the alarm, if you want to see a sunrise or other late, late night or early, early morning event.
You're gonna have a ball--oh, and yes, ferget the high heels, ya won't even wear them on the cruise!
S'
David D
PS Leave room for goodies, or you'll be like me, looking for inexpensive--no, CHEAP! bags to take stuff home (fortunately we only left with one checked bag each, so we could check our two "new" bags free.).

Sounds like you have it down Sandy...

Sun deck rooms seem popular lately...from all the postings I see here...

I prefer the rear end of the Texas or Cabin decks myself...no particular reason, I suppose...

Pete...Sun deck should be great...unless it rains...we will burn more calories going up and down the steps for our meals.

Sandy

Always pack less not more because everyone I know ends up buying more than they planned.

I have been known to do 3 weeks in a foreign country with just one wheelie expandable bag and a backpack. And I was an adult over age 40. I basically threw away underwear, socks, and some shirts as I went along.

Even as a crew member aboard the boats, I knew what I needed and what I didn't to live for 6 weeks at a stretch.

With today's airlines weight restrictions and their substitution of smaller planes, keep in mind that overstuffed luggage, lost luggage, or overweight luggage all cause extra headaches. Remember the crew will treat you as family- you can wear the same things more than once. And yes, comfortable shoes are extra important although if it is comfortable for you on late night dancing, do it barefoot.

However, if you absolutely must have the electronic devices with you, better pack a plug strip because the rooms do not have lots of outlets. And I too think ziplock bags were invented for travelers.

And David Dewey is correct- as addictive as quiet games of solitare or spidey are- the river and doing nothing are even more addictive.

Sandy: I didn't look into 323, but we had friends in 312, and it was LOTS bigger than our cabin. 312 & 323 are both "D" price category cabins, and 325 was an "F." So, I think we can assume that 323 is similar to 312. Definitely not as small as 325.

Sandy,
I'm confused, but if your room is 323, it should be just like ours, 333. Here's some pics, one with the vests where they are when you board (and left under the bed after the drill!), one view from the bed looking towards the door, and one more from inside. These were taken on our last day, actually leaving the room, so the beds are mussed up, and the down comforters are underneath the bed (that's where they put them on the last night. . .)
Hope these help. We found the room cozy, but adequate.
S'
David D.

David...We are "D" which is between the 2 "F"'s...Are your pictures of CAT D or F...323 is a D and 333 is a F...

Sandy

I get an F for this one! 🙂
Your cabin will be similar, but about 2 to 3 feet wider, and I think the bathroom is behind the beds. I thought I'd taken a picture of one, but nope. The D's are quite a bit roomier.
S'
David D.

Bruno Krause;4738 wrote: Sandy, not trying to be nosy here, but I'd suggest you consider leaving the laptop at home ;-), especially for the first time cruiser.

I took my laptop with me on our MQ cruise last September. When we were in port, I found a coffee shop with free internet and sent pictures home to our boys, who were staying with my parents. Every evening my Dad would check his email, and show the pictures to our boys so they could see where their Mom and Dad had been! The laptop also came in handy when tablemates would take pictures of us with their digital camera. I had a universal memory stick reader with me, and could copy their pictures onto my laptop! Quite handy. And no, I didn't play any games, or check any work email the entire week!

My packing tip is to take along a back of the door cloth shoe organizer – the cloth type so that it packs easily. You can find them in any Target or Wal-Mart type store – the one we took came from a dollar store. We hung one on the back of the bathroom door for all our toiletries. Very handy – we didn't have to keep reaching over each other to grab toiletries.

We also did the suitcase under the bed thing, and made good use of the three draw dresser. And we packed light, and did laundry in the middle of the cruise.

Good luck!

Shh, don't tell anyone but the DQ does now have wifi (I guess I spelt that right?) Coverage isn't great many times, I'm told.
S'
David

also, the DQ does not have a laundry available for passengers like her bigger siblings.

Great idea about the shoe organizer...

The crew use those organizers all the time. We just take it for granted. I also used the more expensive travel zippered roll up bags as my dresser for socks and underwear and hair clips.

Plus crew rooms had walls that magnets were made for so lots of us has super size clips and hooks holding up all kinds of stuff.

As for wifi coverage- to some extent cell phone coverage is also hit or miss along the river. I still feel the funniest commercial that is yet to be produced is the one of the crew members at midnight on the deck of the MQ looking for a signal and praying to the cell phone godess for one. As soon as one is found, all the other crew members start to go over to the same spot on the bow. I envision a commercial showing that and even the boat tipping although it would not happen in reality.

Elaine Santangelo;4802 wrote: I still feel the funniest commercial that is yet to be produced is the one of the crew members at midnight on the deck of the MQ looking for a signal and praying to the cell phone godess for one. As soon as one is found, all the other crew members start to go over to the same spot on the bow. I envision a commercial showing that and even the boat tipping although it would not happen in reality.

Good memory, Elaine.

On the baby sister, it looked like a dance so we called it "The AQ Shuffle"

Paul

David...Are you kidding us!!! I do promise I won't be on the internet for more than 15 min. a day...Just check my banking...and maybe a hello to the wonderful people on this board.
Sandy