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Congratulations on booking your first cruise! I can assure you that you will have the time of your life. Even if you are a little bit nervous, don't be. Trust me, you will have the best time you have had in a long time, if not EVER! And since this is your first cruise, here are a few things to remember to make your first cruise an even more enjoyable experience! First off, here is a quick list of things you should remember to take with you. For one, bring your own camera and extra film (if you still are into old school photo), as these are expensive aboard a cruise ship. You might want to bring a nightlight, as leaving the bathroom door open can be a pain. Don't forget any medications you may need to take during your stay! A good idea is to bring one of those weekly dose holders for any pills you might have. Get some single dollar bills from the bank, as these make good tips, and will ensure friendly service while on board! Also, here are some things to remember before you leave. When packing, cover suits and dresses in something that won't cause them to wrinkle. Also, make sure you bring a lint roller if your suit or tux is black. Another good idea is to tie a brightly colored bow to your luggage (I'm sure you have done this at the airport before.). This helps you find your bag easier upon departure. Make sure you read a lot about your cruise ship. A good place to find information is in customer reviews. Many customers write reviews (and you should also, after the cruise), and this can be very helpful to first time cruisers. And one more thing, don't forget to lose a couple pounds before you leave. This way, if you gain a little wait on the trip, you won't feel too bad about it! When on the trip, make sure to tip generously. Trust me, if you do this, your help will ensure that YOU have a good stay! And believe me, those single dollar bills are a great way to make your bar-tender smile! And on the final night of the cruise, pack before going to dinner, and wear clothes you can wear on the journey home. This way, your last evening on board can be spent worry free, and you can stay up as late as you want without worrying about packing, or getting ready to go. You need to be careful though. Many cruise lines want to collect your suitcases the last night onboard. Typically you will pack them and place them right outside of your cabin door. The cruise line staff then will come by during the night and collect all the suitcases. There are two things to remember here. You need a bag to carry the cloth from the night before and you need to keep clothes in the cabin for the day of departure. Have you figured out why you need to be careful? Well, imagine you are getting ready for bed and you wear the cruise lines robe while you are packing your suitcases. Then you put your suitcases outside the door and go to bed. The next morning when you wake up, all you have to wear is the robe, because you packed all your clothes and it is gone by now. Believe me, this has happened to many cruise travelers and you don't want that to happen to you!
Mike Michaelsen is the co-owner of uCruiser, a cruise website where members talk about cruise vacations and upload cruise pictures
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