Packing for holidays

Is aft at the back? I will jump up and down.

Yes going from Southampton on the Eclipse. Shall try everything with gusto!

Yes galen my friend went there on Cunard and loved it, in fact went back to look and what she had missed, because she rests quite a lot ( terminal cancer). She wants to see the South Sea Islands next. What she does is pick up a Cunard round the world for a shorter trip. Went from Hong Kong to Southampton last year. And this year from Miami to Los Angelas (I think) through the Panama.

I have a white shawl too. I'll be on the top but one sun deck, mid ships to aft!

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I have. The Hermitage is well worth visiting.

Wonder if you're going from Southampton, white wave, as then you needn't worry too much about the luggage. Otherwise try to limit things a bit. You can wear formal stuff more than once, or some people don't always bother. Is it the eclipse ? They are quite big but have the advantage of lots of facilities. The entertsinment is excellent, but if not to your taste we found a Russian string quartet playing most evenings in another area. I do hope you love it. Are you both 70 this year? Welcome to the decade ~ I'll be half way through it on board!

Anyone done St Petersburg? I think I fancy that.

Sorry. haven't posted lately but to answer everyone. Will definitely give you a wave galen I have a white shawl affair so will take that and wave it about.
We seem to be doing the ports the opposite way to you. Gibralter on the 1st and Nice next, Lisbon is on the way back. Would have been fun to met up.
Bella it is for our 70th and so excited
Our son who is much travelled recommended this line, as the best within that price bracket so hoping it is OK.
Just beginning to wonder if we can get it all in the suitcases. I keep trying stuff on and discarding it as too tight or not suitable panic, panic

Galen said >>No! Not excited. More worried about getting everything organised in time!<<

That's the point I was trying to make earlier. What happened to anticipation, butterflies in your tummy, weeks of secret grins and the plans for fun activities?

They seem to have been buried under lists of what to take for the whole family, from the nappy-changing stage to the grumpy teenager, remembering which bag things are in, worrying about how, where and when the next meal will appear on the table, are we doing something that everyone enjoys, what's that in pounds, what time is the ferry, where are all the passports, will I need to get that cut stitched on littl'un's knee, how do I say that in French/Spanish/Hungarian, am I really supposed to be enjoying this? Try not to look flustered....

Can we ever get that excitement back?

Posh comes from the old clipper runs to India. Port was the shadier therefore cooler side on the way out. Starboard on the return trip.

Men!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a constant battle with my wife. We go on a lot of cruises and the amount of dresses, shoes and toiletries drives me to distraction. You may have a 25kg (normally 22kg allowance) which to be honest is more than I can manage to lug.

She just won't compromise. I tend to be the other way cutting back too much and sometimes running short but you can generally wash and re-use as you go along and manage with the soap / shampoo provided for you. I light to get duty-free and buy other stuff on holiday so you need to make allowances for the return trip.

Casual easy wash wear and maximum 3 pairs of shoes. Small netbook, adapters, travel kettle (when they don't provide one). Ditch the vanity.

Port Out, Starboard Home I thought was the origin of posh. Maybe one of the cruisers can tell us why? Is it to do with facing the sun or something?

At least you've got the earrings sorted.
Don't worry it'll all work out.
I'm a major holiday panicker so I know the feeling

No! Not excited. More worried about getting everything organised in time!
The tribunals have suddenly gone busy, burglar alarm check to be done.
And darling daughter is suggesting she may may come on next Thursday with dgds. This means that the double bed I usually put clothes on and pack on will be occupied!
I'm getting into panic mode.

Port is red! And best LEFT alone!

I suspect on the old clippers they did change sides. Not now DV,

We are left hand side next month - I get my starboard and port side mixed. I think it means we're common though.

Bet you are getting excited galen. I often wondered, did it mean the posh passengers had to change cabin on the journey back? Sounds a pain.

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Don't come back starboard though. The disabled cabins are deck 4 port side

Galen, port side? That's what being posh means I believe. White wave, celebrity very good. We went with them last time and again this September. Will spend my 75 th on board which has annoyed the family. I'm sure DH and I will have a lovely time. Hope you enjoy it - sailing from Southampton is lovely. Do let us all know afterwards.

We're in Vigo on 1/9
Lisbon on 2/9
Cadiz on 3/9
Barcelona on 5/9

Perhaps we might be in the same port together?.

I only wear one pair at a time!

Board at midday. Usually sail about 6pm. I'm on port side ,so against the quay so won't be able to watch you sail by. Give a wave though in case I'm up on deck?

Yes so do we leave on the 30th
But on Celebrity not Cunard - too posh for our purse .

Can begin boarding at 11.30 am. Hope to arrive some time after that. What time does your boat sail? I think ours is about 4.30, but not absolutely sure.
Dosette box sounds a brilliant idea. Although I haven't that many earrings.

No, I use a taxi. I leave on 30th August.
A dosette box is a device to help people remember to take pills. It's lots of little boxes in one. Put the pills or earrings in each section. ( but don't confuse pills with earrings)

galen what's a dossett box ? I have never heard of one. Also glad I shan't need a waterproof cardigan. I am taking my ideas from your good self as you are clearly a seasoned cruiser.
What do you expect the temperature to be?

We are travelling down to S'hamton by car and someone is going to take it from us and park it. Hope it works OK, have you ever done that?

I am about to go to Australia for 73 days. I have checked the weather 25 deg during the day and 8 deg at night. My son does not have central heating so I will need winter night wear with summer day clothes. I do have a list from the previous trip and rework it for the current trip. I usually pick some clothes I would like to wear and then build up a flexible wardrobe round them. When it gets too big I work out which tops go with most items and start to limit the colours. I have packing blocks so that items are kept together either for purpose i.e. night wear with torch, eye blind etc. Or by type i.e. underwear. I take a large net for dirty laundry. I have Rohan clothes which dry quickly including Tilly knickers. If I take any tatty underwear I order a replacement before I go. Like Cherrytree59 when I am at the airport I use my Boots card to buy a meal deal. I look forward to getting sushi. If I have one night stops I put the clothes for the next day in one packing block together. It makes it so much easier to get off without having to search through the whole case. I have 2 cases both on wheels, one for the hold and the other, a small one, for the cabin. My camera, kindle and laptop comes with me in the cabin case. They fill it. I have a travel vest and trousers for travelling so that all my documents are in my various pockets. I take a Kipling bum bag and always pack cloth bags for shopping, books etc. I have used a duty free bag to bring back extra stuff after a holiday and once in Australia the airline complained about a an extra bag of winter clothes – returning in December, I said I would put them all on if she wished and she let me get on. I had them all on when I disembarked in Manchester. There was snow on the ground.

The book 'Colour Me Beautiful' published by Hamlyn has 2 pages entitled perfect packing. with rules, travelling wardrobe and 2 lists one for a 3 day city break and one for a one week beach holiday. May be a useful start.

Better start updating my list now I've got the book off the shelf!