Luggage on a Cruise

It's Cruise Ship Saturday! Today we're talking about luggage.

I'm working on a new book about the lives of the crew working on cruise ships. The other day I was taping an interview with one of the crew members we know and he was talking about the hardest part of the job.

Click on the arrow below to hear part of the interview.


Luggage. Oh, the luggage. It's heavy, it's bulky, and people bring just too darn much of it. If you look at a ship of about 3,000 passengers, the crew could potentially be working with 10,000 pieces of luggage in one day. Like he mentions in the interview, some people bring eight pieces. And us? No matter how long we're gone it's just the one piece and the backpack. We don't want to make any extra work for the crew - or for us.

Even when the cruise is over, the work with luggage doesn't end for any of the parties.

The procedure for getting your luggage off the ship is different than any you may have experienced before. You are assigned color-coded luggage tags that control the flow of passengers off the ship and assist you in finding your luggage within the cruise terminal.

You attach the luggage tags to your bags and place the bags outside the cabin door on the last evening of the cruise. Crew collect luggage from hallways all throughout the night and organize it based on the tag's color. You don't see your bags again until the next morning in the terminal. (But keep your carry-on with you and be sure to have the obvious items like medications and passports in the carry-on.) And don't forget the clothes you'll be wearing the next day. Don’t be caught in pjs because you forgot to pack clothes to wear off the ship! Take everything out of the safe and leave it open. Hold onto your cruise card because you will need it for one last scanning off the ship.

When you collect your luggage in the terminal it will not be on a carousel like at the airport but placed side by side grouped by the luggage tag color. There may be several hundred bags in your luggage tag group - and several thousand bags in the terminal - so double check the bag carefully before leaving with it. There are porters available in the area for passengers needing luggage assistance. 

If you can manage all your luggage on your own you may have the option to take it off the ship yourself. For those driving home from the port or with an early morning flight this walk-off disembarkation can usually get you on your way earlier. But if you plan on carrying all your luggage off the ship, think very carefully about the logistics of it. Multiple large suitcases and carry-ons being dragged down a carpeted hall. Fitting into super-busy elevators. Finding a place to keep suitcases during breakfast. Rolling those suitcases up or down the gangway. Down another even busier and slower elevator in the terminal. Are you nimble and fit and patient enough? Are your travel companions?

Or just make it easier on everyone and keep the luggage to a minimum.

The Friday 15

Today's downsizing is a mix of sewing and office supplies.

1 box of ribbons and ties
1 pack of rings leftover from kiddo's wedding. That was a few years back!
1 spool of ribbon
2 packs of labels
1 ruler
9 pens and pencils

Goodbye 15!

5 Things to do in Cozumel

Today we're talking about five different activities you can do when visiting the cruise ship port of  Cozumel on your next Caribbean cruise.

We've been thinking about spending our winters away from Idaho. As a writer I can work anywhere so it would be a bit silly not to head to somewhere warm. We've been to Cozumel many times as cruise ship passengers and have enjoyed it every single time. No decision has been made yet, but these five things I've done in the past makes me want to go back and do them again and again.

1.Visit an all inclusive resort for the day. Mexican food + all you can drink + beach = an amazing day.

You can also take the ferry to Playa del Carmen on the mainland.

2. Once there, head to the Tulum ruins. Get a good tour guide and you'll come away knowing everything you'd ever want to know about the Mayans. (For more info, check out my previous blog post HERE.)

3. If you'd prefer something more active, consider taking a tour that takes you to the Dos Ojos Cenotes. Cenotes are underground caves filled with water. Stalagmites and stalactites. And you can snorkel in them! (For more detailed info on the trip, check out my previous blog post HERE.)

On the mainland you can also snorkel with the sea turtles in Akumal Bay.

4. Back in Cozumel, check out the different methods of transportation. You can rent a scooter (be careful, drivers are crazy), take an ATV tour, or even hop a ride in a pedicab.

5. Stay local and just relax. Eat, drink, and hang out at a beach not too far from port with a pay-as-you-go restaurant or resort.

The Money Bar is great for snorkeling.
Their menu can be found HERE.

Beautiful views from one of the restaurants in port.

Make a Cell Phone Stand - Tutorial Tuesday

We've always been a little late to the party with technology. We were late getting the internet. Email. Flat screen TVs. Even cell phones.

I carry my phone everywhere with me now. Other than family, I don't let anyone touch it. Heck, I can't even stand it when it touches something else that isn't mine. Things like restaurant tables and hotel night stands. So I created a solution for when I need it to charge it when staying overnight somewhere else.

A stand to keep it off the table when it's charging. It might even work on an airplane tray table to watch a movie on a flight. Score!

Looking for more sewing and crafting projects? 

Click here to see all my tutorials!

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

You can find the step-by-step how to tutorial for the homemade cell phone stand sewing project right here:

An edit to the instructions - a viewer (Denise) suggested adding a dot or square of Velcro on the sections that form the bottom of the triangle when its in the folded position so it doesn't spring open. Thanks, Denise!

Cruise Ship Pools

It's Cruise Ship Saturday! Today we're talking about cruise ship pools.

Cruise ships have multiple pools. Some are shallow, some deep, some adults only. They can vary from warm to refreshing to downright chilly. Generally pool temperatures run from 20°-30° Celsius (68°-86° Fahrenheit) with hot tubs running 30°-40° Celsius (86°-104° Fahrenheit).
And most are busy when the weather is nice.

On warmer weather cruises lounge chairs by the pools and hot tubs are prime real estate. An empty chair doesn’t stay empty for long. Leave a chair for a few minutes to use the restroom or grab a drink and another passenger might move into the space. Put a towel and a personal item like a book, bag, or hat to save the spot while you're in the water. Don’t leave items longer than half an hour as they could be removed by deck personnel.

Pools and hot tubs are open most of the time but are frequently covered at night. Pools may also be closed during rough seas. The movement of the ship can slosh the water right on out. For safety reasons the crew may even drain the pools during these times.

On most ships pool towels are provided on a shelf near the pool or are checked out by deck attendants. Pool towels can be taken off ship to the beach or excursion as long as you return them. Please don’t be like the person (me) who gave one away in Mexico because she was too lazy to carry the heavy wet towel back to the ship at the end of a long day at the beach. I won’t do it again. Promise.

Some pools are indoors

Some pools are outdoors

Some have great views

Excerpt from CRUISING WITH CONFIDENCE: HOW TO BE A FIRST TIME CRUISER WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE ONE by Deb Pfeifer

Friday 15

13 things were easy to get rid of. Clothes, magazines, towels, cast iron skillet.

Two things were tough to get rid of. The foster kitties have been with me since the middle of February. They are all grown up now so back to Simply Cats they go. They'll be fixed and then put on the floor for adoption. They will make someone very happy. Just not me.

Goodbye, my babies.

5 Things to do in London, England

It's Wanderlust Wednesday! Today we're talking about what to do in London, England.

It's hard to trim the list to just five things. There is just so much to see and do! But let's try:

1. Eat a proper English breakfast. Eggs, bacon, sausage, grilled tomatoes, baked beans, mushrooms, and toast. A hearty way to start the day.

Or if you'd prefer, stop by a patisserie for something sweet.

2. Take a cruise on the Thames. There are many options - cruise only, meals, tours. Choose one that best fits your needs (and mobility). Just the tour for us, please. You'll get a history lesson along with some nice sightseeing views.

3. Take a Hop On Hop Off Bus tour. You can see everything you need to see and get on and off from multiple places around the city.

4. Take a trip out to Stonehenge.

While you're there, try one of the meat pies at the on-site cafe - if you have the patience. The crowds were terrible, the lines were too slow and way too long, but this particular food item was pretty tasty.

5. Try a shorter trip over to Windsor Castle, the oldest occupied castle in the world. If the Royal Standard flag is flying the Queen is in residence. If it's the British flag, she is not.

Or stop by Horse and Groom across the street for some chips. (Fries to us in the U.S.) Don't forget to check out their interesting bathroom walls.

London is a city that will require more than one trip - or more than a couple days - to tackle.

Make a Can Cozy (or is it Koozie?) - Tutorial Tuesday

"Diet cola is my absolute favorite drink in the world; I used to drink four cans a day. But to help me cut down, I've turned it into a treat. Now, instead of having dessert, I'll have a can of diet soda. Putting a limit on how often I can drink it has helped me appreciate it more." 
~Kaley Cuoco

Guess that's like me and my diet Dr. Pepper. It's my ice-cold treat for the day. Wonder if today's tutorial will make me drink more or less?

Looking for more sewing and crafting projects? 

Click here to see all my tutorials!

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

You can find the step-by-step how to tutorial for the can koozy (or can cozy) sewing project here:

The Friday 15 - The New Books are Here!

An exciting Friday 15 today! Well, at least for two of the 15.

2 BOOKS ARE DONE!!!

Done and published. (Ebook published, that is.) So exciting! I decided to split the one book into two which actually works out better for the readers (and crafters) because now I can price them at only 99 cents each!

Pick up your copy HERE

Pick up your copy HERE

If you do pick one up and try out the crafts, let me know how it goes. It's my first attempt at writing directions for projects so I'd love your feedback and suggestions. And if you like the books and have some time, please leave a kind review on Amazon HERE. 

Now for the boring other Friday 15 items...the other 13 came from cleaning out kitchen cabinets this morning. Plastic knives and straws and napkins and cutlery and a leftover Christmas bucket and a little random container.

Top 5 Things to do in Sisters, Oregon

Today we're talking about five different activities you can do when visiting the town of Sisters, Oregon.

In the 1880s Sisters was a supply station for sheep men passing through to pastures in the high Cascades in the summer. In the 1930s, the timber industry boomed and Sisters had several sawmills in or near town. By 1963 the last sawmill closed and the population declined. 

Fortunately, tourist-related travel increased and Sisters became known as the Gateway to the Cascades. Now Sisters is a tourist destination. Winter has nearby skiing and summer has things like the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. Held since 1975, the quilt show brings people from all over. 12,000+ on quilt show day!

In no particular order, here are my top five things to do in Sisters, Oregon.

1. Stop by the Stitchin' Post, Sisters' magnificent quilt shop. Pick up some fabric, patterns, or buy tickets for the quilt show raffle.

2. Eat healthy and search out that vegan bakery. Our choice is Angeline's Bakery & Cafe. We don't go for the bakery items, but for the fresh juice. Beet based and kale based are both yummy. (What kind of freaks search out a vegan bakery for juice - and love it?)

3. Check out the llamas. Stay at the Best Western Ponderosa Lodge and you'll find llamas in the corral right there.

You'll also find Canadian Geese and squirrels sharing breakfast.

And deer are roaming right there, too.

4. Check out the Three Sisters, the potentially active volcanoes in central Oregon. An old story suggests that the mountains were originally named Faith, Hope, and Charity in the 1840's by members of a Methodist missions. The Three Sisters mountains are a popular location for hiking, climbing, and camping.

But right now they are best viewed by me through my camera lens on a spectacularly beautiful morning. And they are best viewed with Canadian Geese flying by.

5. Eat unhealthy. Every time we come to Sisters I stop at the same place and have the same dessert. 

If you ever stop in Sisters, you have to go to The Gallery Restaurant and have a piece of their marionberry pie. Best pie in the world. Or at least in the United States. (Remember, I've been to all 50 states so I know what I'm talking about.)