Topic: Do you prepare?

As far as cruising is concerned I suppose that I am a bit of an anorak. I have list of things "To Do" from the time that I decide on a cruise and a calendar to show various important times and deadlines, a list of things which I am going to pack, one for me a one for Ida, near the time I have a conversion rate for each different currency I am likely to use, notes of addresses, insurance details, passport copies etc. and a general itinerary and a fact sheet(s) for each of the ports of call generally showing what we hope to do in each place, a printed painting of the ship and cards with my address and a smaller version of the ship to hand out to people I spend time with.

I just wondered, am I alone in this or are there other fastidious anoraks out there?

By the way I keep all of these bits and pieces which allows me to look at them as souvenirs and as an aid to answering questions. ........Neil

I start a countdown to my cruise by marking the number of weeks to go before we go! Never ever pack until the day I go, always have a little pack of things like insurance details, passport copies and driving licence ready for car hire. Convert currency as we go along but then again that probably explains why we managed to draw out £200 in Riga just to buy two coffees, big mistake. We also print out port details saves carrying guides as the maps the ships provide are not usually very detailed. Carry details of who we booked with in case there is a problem. (see double booked) Somebody? once gave me a lovely little picture of a ship which I still have... Anorak enough for you? ..Carol

As regular travellers, we have all the important documents we usually take with us in a file, ready to pick up. We've always got a stock of $US and some Euros and so can. and do, take off pretty much at a moments notice. I have lists of clothes needed for holidays in differing temps, the varying degrees of formality required and number of days away. Packing by numbers really. Depending upon how interested we are in the destinations, we will either have a personal Fodors written out or just a glance at the ships excursions.

I have lists for lists!! I'm the same as Morton I have a travel file which has all the paper work I need, including port fact sheets and any useful stuff I've collected along the way. This has been going of for weeks.

I also have a currency pot where I keep my left over currency from previous trips. I have numerous Rough Guide handbooks for research which I've collected over the years. As for packing I move everything I need to the guest room and tick off one of the various lists as I pack. I check the weather forecast a couple of days before we leave, and the last thing I do is the on line check in with the airline 24 hours before we fly.

I book a hotel at Manchester Airport months in advance to avoid an early morning journey down the M6 and besides we can than normally have a night out in Manchester which starts the holiday off nicely.

Did I mention I have 9 sleeps to go before I cruise!!:p

Where do you stay RWG2? Etrop Grange used to be a favourite but it's gone off a bit so I've been told?

QUOTE:

Did I mention I have 9 sleeps to go before I cruise!!:p

It's pouring with rain here and the thoughts of sunshine a long long way from all this is so enticing so the DH has booked us some flights. Not a cruise I know but you never know once we get there, last minute chavs that we are![HOW MUCH DID YOU SAY YOU PAID!!] but only if asked, love it.

We stop at the Radisson SAS which is in the Terminal with the added bonus of direct train link into Manchester. It also has a great pool (how sad I'm I) and great breakfast and no transfers in the morning. We tend to get up check the luggage in and then go back to hotel for breakfast. Due to the fact I'm a smoker we then do not have to go through passport control until the last minute.

Besides we fly at 10.00am so check in is 7am and it is a 2 hour journey for us to Manchester which means up at 4am, so I'd rather pay then have a grumpy husband!!

I would recommend (the hotel, not the husband).:D However it is £125.00 per night (nice rooms) including breakfast.

QUOTE:

It's pouring with rain here and the thoughts of 3 weeks in the sunshine a long long way from all this is so enticing so the DH has booked us some flights. Not a cruise I know but you never know once we get there, last minute chavs that we are![HOW MUCH DID YOU SAY YOU PAID!!] but only if asked, love it.

Bloody marvelous, where are you going and what did you pay?? I so love holidays.

QUOTE:

Bloody marvelous, where are you going and what did you pay?? I so love holidays.

The US and rather a lot.It's the cruise idea that I'm talking last minute prices.

Lists must be a girlie thing, I have lists of clothes to pack, lists of documents to take, lists of medication, lists of phone numbers, lists of destinations etc etc.

I find the preparation and packing etc as much fun as the cruise. Although next time we won't be taking five pieces of luggage plus camera case. we'll try to make do with four.
Liz