Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limted time). Details here: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner/
Going on my first cruise in a month on Royal. I am obsessed with your videos!! My daughter keeps teasing me about how I am watching so much. I love the tips and want to take full advantage of the experience. I have waited 70 years for this experience!! Thanks so much!!!
I certainly took home stationery, daily planners (and back in the day, menus signed by our waiter, maitre d’ and busboy - they were dated, so wouldn’t be used again), the do not disturb sign, an ashtray (yes, I have been cruising that long! And I have never smoked! My Dad loved it though). I bought my tote bag (years ago) on Princess Cruises and it’s still going strong, though it only comes out for special occasions these days! And my best ‘take away’ was the officer who later became my husband - and after 37 years, we’re still going strong! And I’m sure the cruise line wouldn’t mind you taking the umbrella! Happy cruising!❤️🛳️⚓️❤️
Can you imagine having to replace the umbrellas??? The expense of not only the item but of the room stewards having to count the absent ones, and order them????
I'm a teacher, so pens are very important for my job. Royal Caribbean has the absolute best ink pens, and I'm MADLY in love with them! Each cruise, I do every trivia contest, visit the sales desks, scour the library, and collect pens! They're white with blue ink, and I'm obsessed.
I always bring home the daily planners. I make a notebook with photos, ones we take and cruise photos, the daily planners, tickets for excursions, wine tastings, etc. Since we have been on 13 or 14 cruises, i have quite a shelf of books. It's so much fun to look at them! Leaving Friday for S Caribbean on RC! Can't Wait!!❤❤😊
My grandparents used to cruise sometimes twice per year since the 60s. My grandmother would collect the bar soaps back when they were on every ship… she had so many old brands like Premier, Sitmar, Dolphin…. It was so nostalgic. When they passed, I ended up keeping them! 😊
I'm 6'2" with size 12 feet. I have been on cruises that had slippers and robes in the closet, but have never even tried them on. I am also diabetic, so when I'm solo and chocolates are left for me by the steward, I bag them and bring them home for the missus. I do collect pens and have a Holland America tote. I was raised to try to reduce vendor costs and waste. Meaning I may be entitled to something, but if I don't really need it, I don't want it.
Is it difficult to find diabetic friendly food options on the ship? That's something that's worried me about travel in general since getting diagnosed last month.
@@HariSeldon913 Yes it is difficult. Carbohydrates are cheaper than protein so there are carbs everywhere. In restaurants I tell the server I'm diabetic, and ask to replace the potato or rice with extra vegetables, and there are usually plenty of protein and veg choices available at the buffet so I never go hungry. It's not perfect. Not all vegetables are ok for diabetics and can be hard to avoid. I find it extremely difficult to not eat whatever's in front of me.
@@judithstrachan9399 I have never seen or heard of a 'diabetic' menu in my life. Now I'm wondering if they are hiding it from me. I'm Canadian BTW, but you're right that they are American cruise lines.
I loce elephants and was admiring the towel one on a Royal Caribbean cruise. The cabin steward said if I purchased a Bath and handtowel on shore he would make me one, and he ddid
That’s a good idea! I’m going on my first Holland America cruise in December. Maybe I can bring a couple of towels to see if my dad’s and my room attendants can make a towel animal for me. I’m obsessed with towel animals!
Wait..the chocolates can last through the night? Rookie Cruiser! 😂 I have asked my cabin stew for more and ended up with two handfuls. Those made it home, mostly
@@lovedfriend2020Holland America still leaves a chocolate on your pillow if you ask for it. Mention to your room steward that you like a chocolate on your pillow and they will find them for you.
I have been binging your videos for the last few weeks because I'm going on my first cruise in August. I can't thank you enough for all the wonderful tips and tricks, the information and the anecdotes... every video I watch leaves me more and more excited for my cruise! And I've certainly learned most of what I know from your videos. Thanks again.
Omg... laughed! I did a cruise about 7 years ago NCL with about 10 couples. I travel solo but do have friends. Two couples in adjoining rooms came up the grand plan of taking the Robes. We arent talking the thin ones, NO Haven Suite thick comfy you love them robes. They were more than upset at me for organizing the trip, the travel agent for not explaining possible additional charges and NCL. Blame everyone except your thieving selves. Why not take the big screen TV as well. NCL hit them for $400 PER robe initially but dropped it $300 for both. Sad part, they are lifetime banned now and the robes are about $70 at Nordstrom and other retailers
Wow That sounds so extreme, I just got off the new carnival Venezia yesterday and they had prices for the robes only $55, towels yellow or blue for $22, and even the blue dive in blankets for $25! You can even ask your steward and they deliver them brand new.
@@rfamilyentertainment6236 I didn't take those items, but if I want them in the future cruise, I would ask the service desk or steward like you suggest. 👍
I feel like a borderline hoarder HAHA you’re giving me too many new ideas of stuff to hang onto 😂 loved the video Ilana, thank you for the time you dedicate to this channel. I loooove watching your videos. Your voice is so relaxing and you never shout. I like to listen to videos while I fall asleep and sometimes people edit super loud stuff into their videos and I love that you’re so calm, relaxed and cheerful. Thank you thank you!!
The Planners are a MUST for me, since I am a scrapbooker! Not only do they hold memories for me, but anyone that looks at my scrapbook can see what is available on a cruise ship, especially for those who have never cruised!
Love your videos!! Turn down service and chocolates on your pillow at night are the benefits I truly miss from cruising back in the 90s. We just don't get that service anymore on RCCL or CCL. Confession: I have mistakenly taken home a washcloth and even a towel once. Thing was, I did not feel bad about it given its condition of frayed edges and an ugly stain. I do take the tissue boxes because I am a teacher, and any teacher will understand this. I love the compact boxes. My husband accidentally took home wooden hangers, but we did just return them the next cruise. And I took home a book from the ship library that I was enjoying but had not finished. My family still has not let me live that down, but I knew I was cruising again soon and did return it along with 6 more book donations on my next cruise. We always carry home the bottles of wine we are given because we aren't big drinkers. Every now and then we will leave a bottle of wine for the cabin steward. We just returned from a cruise and discovered that someone decided to take home one of our magnet cruise door signs on the last day. Sheesh! But, if you order room decor to celebrate a special occasion, you are allowed to take that with you. The magnet decor is pretty cool and can easily be used on a future cruise if you remember to take it. Dollar Tree Tip: They often sell birthday magnet sets that are a great addition to a birthday cruise door (or wall if it's CCL). 🚢🎉 🛳
@@reillydog11 Congratulations! While Celebrity still offers these fantastic traditions, RCCL and CCL do not. While I have cruised every single other major cruise line, I have never cruised Celebrity before. Maybe one day I'll get the opportunity. :-)
I am extremely fair skinned (30 minutes to burn) and will always bring a "solar umbrella" (Silvered underside, cool and protective.) I couldn't use the supplied one for what I need anyway. Folks are jealous when they see me using it though.
Hi Ilana….great video….. I was so glad I kept all the memorabilia such as daily planners to help me organize my pictures initially when I got home from a cruise. My first cruise was on Princess in 1979 and of course I organized everything in a nice big photo album. Having moved many times since then, my cruise albums were boxed up and awkward to pull out when I wanted to reminisce. So……lately…..big challenge…..I have been pulling each album out of boxes and just take a photo of each page for my photo app on my iPad. Thank goodness I was very detailed by putting the daily planners in front of each days photos of ports of calls, dinners, people I cruised with, etc., so there was no more organizing except to open a new shared album and add photos to it so all my cruises are there for me to view whenever I want. I’ve been doing that with all my old photo albums. I still kept the hard copy phot albums boxed up, but seriously who wants them? My kids have their own memories so they really don’t want my “stuff”. I still have a Princess shoe shiner and ashtray from that old cruise that I took from cabin…..😮
My husband loved those exact MSC coffee cups! We ended up with 2 of them and still have one left! Our room was originally set up for 4 people before the room steward removed the 2 extra life jackets, but left all 4 Carnival big blue towels. We left 2 and took 2. We always end up with a hand towel or two in our backpack, since we are always taking them to the islands with us.
I had to ask for slippers as we were getting ready to leave the ship. I had packed everything up and put my suitcases out when I realized my shoes were gone too. Thankfully HAL brought me a pair and so I didn’t have to leave the ship barefoot lol
Just got back from Celebrity Reflection in Concierge class. No tote bag in the room and was told my multiple sources that now you have to ask for them! When we called Concierge twice no one answered or returned our recorded message. No one would want to take their towels and robes home because they were awful….very thin and the robes were sized for giants! Their web site said the ship was refurbished in 2023 but all we saw was new carpet in the dining room. Room had old decor and worn furniture with stains!
I understand why you cover all of the big ships. But I would much prefer a much smaller ship. Can you give me and others like some info on smaller ships? Or do you know another blogger who covers smaller ships? Thanks!
I once brought a hanger from a cruise that, upon unpacking at home, I suspected wasn't one of ours - it was a "regular" hanger (not one of those with the small hooks at the top that won't fit a regular rod) but it just didn't look familiar. So I did exactly what you mentioned - on our next cruise (which was only a few weeks later) I returned that hanger. So maybe now it's on a different ship, but at least the cruise line isn't short 1 hanger in their inventory... but if it actually was ours I suppose they now have 1 extra! As for rain gear, we always pack 1 travel umbrella per guest when we cruise. Thus far we haven't had to use them (in nearly 50 cruises) but we have access to them if ever the need arises. But then again, I am probably the model overpacker!
I found a hot redhead in my cabin... I took her home with me. Did not get charged by Norwegian. However, I have had to book 2 more cruises with them since!
This was a great video! It caused lots of chuckles! I enjoy your videos so much. I always take the pens and pads of paper. I also take the little bottles of toiletries and shower caps, etc.
I found the laundry bag in my carry on from the Disney cruise. I called to ask how to return..I was told because I'm so honest I could keep it no charge...😊
Few years back traveled on virgin Atlantic flights both premium and business class.when they served the main meal the salt/pepper came in little planes, black for premium snd silver for business,both sets had printed on the base " stolen from virgis Atlantic" still risked it😊
Funny! My dentist used to have advertising pens that said Stolen from... his clinic info. So I definitely took those, and they were great pens with a lot of ink. Now the pens in hotels are cheapies so I rarely bother.
This was helpful. One thing I would have LOVED to bring home--but didn't, of course--wasn't on a cruise. It was a pillow I used at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. The pillow was so good that when I got home I called the Cosmo and they gave me the website where I could purchase one!
Yes Llana I do keep all the chocolates to take home and savor after the cruise. Also I do take the daily planners as well. A great way to remember what you did on the cruise, especially as I journal after I return from the cruise. Great to hear someone else does the same things I do. Kindred Spirits!
The only thing I bring home from my cabin are the daily planners and certificates that cruise ships sometimes provide their passengers- in Alaska, we received a lovely certificate showing the ports and dates of travel - in the Panama Canal, we received a lovely certificate of crossing the PC. I keep these in separate folders for my memories but also to read when I’m about to travel on the same cruise line. Other than that, it’s memories and lots of photos and videos. Would love to take home my cabin Stewart! 😁
On my Celebrity Beyond Cruise last November, I really enjoyed the Effy Charm Holder Necklace. My husband and I went down every day to collect the charm for the day. It was just sort of fun and I love my necklace.
The chocolate that we got on the Canadian Empress didn't make it home, but the daily planner, the "Em Press", did. It was a nice reminder of the cruise down the Ottawa River and up the St. Lawrence River. I can definitely see hubby keeping our Holland America planners this summer. And I'm sure we'll come home with mugs, etc. from the gift shop for us, our sons and their families.
The Effy necklace on Celebrity was awesome! Each day I went to the Effy store and was able to add a charm to go inside ... all free! On Holland America, I received a charm bracelet with one free charm to add the next day. All other charms were $5. However, I love my bracelet with the sailing charms dangling on my wrist. So fun!
Chocolate disappears in DH happy mouth each evening! Having been a full time business traveler I learned to travel with my own shampoo/conditioner and bar soap - no surprises with ship products.
We've never had hardly any of those free things in our cabin - no slippers, chocolates, mini alcohol bottles, toiletries, tote bags, etc. We do get the cruise planners, though.
I like to collect swizel sticks that are branded or unique to wash and use in my bar at home. They triggar memories when I use them & are reminders of interesting cruise experiences to share with guests when serving beverages at home.
I brought home a large Ziploc bag filled with pillow chocolates (dark) after my last Celebrity sailing. My stateroom attendant learned early how much I enjoy those so he was generous with how many showed up. We share this in common!!! I laughed as you were giggling about if any of the rest of us do these things - absolutely! ❤️😂
We found one of the little hand towels they put in public restrooms in celebrity in our backpack when we got home. We’ll bring it back next time! We liked using it to wipe sweaty brows on humid days in ports
Happy Sunday llana and hope you are having a relaxing and great weekend ❤️🌹🌹❤️❤️❤️🌹🛳️🛳️🛳️❤️❤️🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️❤️💕💕🌹🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️❤️💕✨✨💕❤️🛳️🛳️🛳️🌹❤️💕❤️❤️🌹🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️🌹💕✨✨✨💕❤️🌹🛳️🛳️🛳️🌹❤️💕💕❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🌹🌹🛳️💕💕💕❤️❤️❤️🛳️🌹✨✨
Like you, I collect the chocolates then take them home. I collected the charms for the jewel holder (necklace) from Celebrity, a nice souvenir, also very pretty to wear..
I'm cruising on Royal Caribbean for my 50th birthday in May. I ordered myself a robe to keep forever. At least I won't have questions about that. Now I want coordinating slippers (if available) and an umbrella. I didn't know those were a thing available on a cruise.
I would never assume it’s available to take anything from a hotel room or cruise line cabin but the most trivial and disposable of items, like a notepad or ballpoint pen. If I wanted a robe, towel, mug, or drink glass from my cabin, I would ask the cabin Stewart if they were available for purchase. If not, they would definitely NOT find their way into my luggage. I would feel incredibly guilty for taking something I wasn’t absolutely sure was I was allowed to take. It would haunt me for days, weeks, perhaps years. Yes, I was always called a “goody two-shoes” growing up.
I think I did bring home the mini toiletries from a cruise, & plastic glasses from The Drink Of the Day which was probably part of the cost of the drink. I don't think I ever took anything else from a cruise. I treated things in the room like you do at a hotel & you don't take just anything you want home with you. I would assume that anything you wore like the slippers that maybe could not be washed they wanted you to take. It would be nice to have a cabin steward who would make your bed or have the turn down service. That always makes me feel so specal to return to your cabin & your bed is turned down, there is an animal & chocolates. I haven't cruised since the gratuities could be paid upfront, so maybe back then the steward knew good service provided them good tips. My late hubby & I always took plenty of cash to pay gratuities & paid well for good service which we always received. Those people work hard & I appreciated having a maid, a cook, a waiter & personal attention while on the cruise. We traveled in a group with family & several friends once & we were supposed to have a large table for meals, but it was not available, so they set up a table just for us sort of on the side & we had our own waiter. We found out about him & his family & he was gracious & gave us extra good service. We all gave him an extra $50 for the week on top of the normal suggested tip.
I used to save the daily planners but I never looked at them so I got rid of them all. I DO save all the pillow chocolates (my husband’s also) and I eat one every day after I get home. I never take the slippers. They are WAY too big! I will leave magazines in the library that I have brought onboard.
I always bring home my planners. Helps me when I do my scrapbooking later to chronically post. Always took chocolates honestly for my husband who does not cruise. I did take a towel home but asked the crew member if I could and I was willing to pay the charge. It was the last sailing of that particular ship before being g sold and the ship name was on it. I was never charged.
I've always brought home the day planners from our cruises with the activities that we enjoyed, I marked with a highlighter. Then they are put into a binder and have enjoyed reliving the experiences while reading though them.
We've brought home Princess tote bags and I love the canvas bags from years ago, that I still use. I loved the suite metal pens from years ago and miss those. I leave the plastic pens. I save the daily Princess Patter from each cruise. Hubby & I each have a purchased Princess robe for home and know it is past time for a cruise when the slippers have worn out.
I stayed at an ultra luxury room hotel London - partly as a joke I asked conciege what items were free to take home, raised eyebrows .. (they were too polite to say) but later sent a supervisor to my room -- this this this and this but we prefer guests dont take these these and these - thank you for that but I wasnt going to take anything it was a joke ... oh ... ordered some wines and a meal and they seemed happy with that ... another occasion, I wasnt using anything so after two days they removed all freebies from the room .soaps soft drinks even the coffee creamers vanished.. which was extremely irritating ... my grandad used to do cunard yearly and would always bring a menu for me // but by 1980 they asked guests not too ... as at some dinners they didnt have enough menu cards ...... but when you are six years old it was impressive ... did you have all that for dinner grandad oh yes and plenty of bottles of wine ... wow .. in my mind thought he had five main courses and five desserts ... every day ..
We have brought home the cute napkin friends that "auntie" made for our kids!!! They love them! We bring home the daily planner papers as well, for the memories! We also save the chocolates and put them in a dish on the table as well!! We always seem to end up with the pens and stationary too!
As for the nice warm cozy outdoor blanket. It followed me off a transatlantic sailing last year. I started using it early in the voyage and it became a second blanket in my stateroom that I used any time I was cold for the two week trip. By the end of our journey, I knew it needed to be a permanent staple at my home. Most cruisers pick up a blanket, use it for a few hours, and drop it in the bin for cleaning or allow the staff to remove it from the outside furniture. I decided to make it my full itinerary blanket.
I don't think I have ever taken anything out of the cabin. The one thing I would LIKE to take home is the cabin steward! (oops, jumped the gun!) Ok, I take it back. The pens and paper I have. I have never seen slippers in a room. We are about to go on only our 8th cruise and are doubling up only for the second time on HAL hoping they will become our 'Forever Line'. Should probably leave the robes though. I would hope the tote bags were a gift. I THINK we are getting on on our next cruise on HAL! We keep the "Freestyle" or whatever for the length of the cruise but usually leave them on the saddest cruise day of them all, disembarkation day. I like to do a day to day word program of my/our experience for the survey I expect to get when I get home. The last 2 cruises on Carnival (Bermuda; Sep '22) and NCL (Med Oct '23) I did NOT get a survey. Although I DID get a phone call from NCL asking about the experience. It was good, but not great. My BIGGEST problem was the 'cluster XXXX' for excursions where everyone shows up in the theatre pell-mell and they call out the excursion and there are people climbing over others from the various parts of the theater rather than cordon off sections for each excursion.
I cruise on Viking Ocean cruises. They have a price list in their cabins on what you will be charged for certain items. The toothbrush holder would set you back $250 US dollars. It’s the second most expensive item on the list right after binoculars.
Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limted time). Details here: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner/
My sister’s former mother-in-law brought home the room steward, they are still married 15 years later.
Lucky gal lol
lol that’s funny!
Amazing!!
Did the cruise line charge her for taking him? 😺😺😺
Did he cut back to making up the room just once a day?
I brought home an extra 10 pounds and I wish I could have left that behind. 😂
😂😂
😂😂😂😂
😂😂😂
😂
I try to leave those extra pounds, but they always find me 😂
I can definitely agree with bringing home the room steward . . . . . . and the bartender . . . . . . and the chef . . . . . . and the show cast.
👏😂
Oooh I’m bringing home the chef and room steward on my next cruise!
Lol
I woke up one morning with a brown smudge on my face. I quickly realized I slept all night with the chocolate on my pillow.😂😅😂😅😮
😂😂😂😂
Been there ,done that also!
Been there done that also!
I fell asleep once with a handful of Skittles 😂. My hands looked like a rainbow when I woke up.
Going on my first cruise in a month on Royal. I am obsessed with your videos!! My daughter keeps teasing me about how I am watching so much. I love the tips and want to take full advantage of the experience. I have waited 70 years for this experience!! Thanks so much!!!
Same
Not 70 yrs but a long time lol
Enjoy! For my 70th bday I went on my 7th cruise!!! Love it!
Me too! 1st ever cruise this year for my 70th!
I’ve been cruising for ten years. I still love these videos and try to watch them all. ❤
I certainly took home stationery, daily planners (and back in the day, menus signed by our waiter, maitre d’ and busboy - they were dated, so wouldn’t be used again), the do not disturb sign, an ashtray (yes, I have been cruising that long! And I have never smoked! My Dad loved it though). I bought my tote bag (years ago) on Princess Cruises and it’s still going strong, though it only comes out for special occasions these days! And my best ‘take away’ was the officer who later became my husband - and after 37 years, we’re still going strong! And I’m sure the cruise line wouldn’t mind you taking the umbrella! Happy cruising!❤️🛳️⚓️❤️
lol that last find that you’ve got for 37 years sounds like a good one 👏😂
Can you imagine having to replace the umbrellas??? The expense of not only the item but of the room stewards having to count the absent ones, and order them????
I'm a teacher, so pens are very important for my job. Royal Caribbean has the absolute best ink pens, and I'm MADLY in love with them! Each cruise, I do every trivia contest, visit the sales desks, scour the library, and collect pens! They're white with blue ink, and I'm obsessed.
Who knew? I’ll have to look out for those on my next RC cruise
I always bring home the daily planners. I make a notebook with photos, ones we take and cruise photos, the daily planners, tickets for excursions, wine tastings, etc. Since we have been on 13 or 14 cruises, i have quite a shelf of books. It's so much fun to look at them! Leaving Friday for S Caribbean on RC! Can't Wait!!❤❤😊
I set out to do this. 10 cruises and I have never followed thru, lol😢
What a great idea. I’ve been on over 10 cruises and wish I had thought of this myself. When I do another cruise I am going to steal your idea!
Me too. I really don’t like the electronic version. This way I can create a scrapbook
I like to put the daily planners in books with plastic sleeves. Then later, IF you develop pictures you remember where they were taken
My grandparents used to cruise sometimes twice per year since the 60s. My grandmother would collect the bar soaps back when they were on every ship… she had so many old brands like Premier, Sitmar, Dolphin…. It was so nostalgic. When they passed, I ended up keeping them! 😊
I'm 6'2" with size 12 feet. I have been on cruises that had slippers and robes in the closet, but have never even tried them on. I am also diabetic, so when I'm solo and chocolates are left for me by the steward, I bag them and bring them home for the missus. I do collect pens and have a Holland America tote. I was raised to try to reduce vendor costs and waste. Meaning I may be entitled to something, but if I don't really need it, I don't want it.
Is it difficult to find diabetic friendly food options on the ship? That's something that's worried me about travel in general since getting diagnosed last month.
@@HariSeldon913 Yes it is difficult. Carbohydrates are cheaper than protein so there are carbs everywhere. In restaurants I tell the server I'm diabetic, and ask to replace the potato or rice with extra vegetables, and there are usually plenty of protein and veg choices available at the buffet so I never go hungry. It's not perfect. Not all vegetables are ok for diabetics and can be hard to avoid. I find it extremely difficult to not eat whatever's in front of me.
Wow! Can’t you tell the agent/cruise line when you book? I thought everywhere had diabetic menus.
Maybe the US isn’t as accommodating as Australia.
@@judithstrachan9399 I have never seen or heard of a 'diabetic' menu in my life. Now I'm wondering if they are hiding it from me. I'm Canadian BTW, but you're right that they are American cruise lines.
I think no on umbrella .
I loce elephants and was admiring the towel one on a Royal Caribbean cruise. The cabin steward said if I purchased a Bath and handtowel on shore he would make me one, and he ddid
That’s a good idea! I’m going on my first Holland America cruise in December. Maybe I can bring a couple of towels to see if my dad’s and my room attendants can make a towel animal for me. I’m obsessed with towel animals!
Wait..the chocolates can last through the night? Rookie Cruiser! 😂
I have asked my cabin stew for more and ended up with two handfuls. Those made it home, mostly
😂👏
I ate mine everyday. 😂
I don't know what cruise line still will do this.
Celebrity still leaves a chocolate on your pillow at night time.
@@lovedfriend2020Holland America still leaves a chocolate on your pillow if you ask for it. Mention to your room steward that you like a chocolate on your pillow and they will find them for you.
I have been binging your videos for the last few weeks because I'm going on my first cruise in August. I can't thank you enough for all the wonderful tips and tricks, the information and the anecdotes... every video I watch leaves me more and more excited for my cruise! And I've certainly learned most of what I know from your videos. Thanks again.
Omg... laughed! I did a cruise about 7 years ago NCL with about 10 couples. I travel solo but do have friends. Two couples in adjoining rooms came up the grand plan of taking the Robes. We arent talking the thin ones, NO Haven Suite thick comfy you love them robes.
They were more than upset at me for organizing the trip, the travel agent for not explaining possible additional charges and NCL.
Blame everyone except your thieving selves. Why not take the big screen TV as well. NCL hit them for $400 PER robe initially but dropped it $300 for both. Sad part, they are lifetime banned now and the robes are about $70 at Nordstrom and other retailers
Oh my!!! Good warning for others 😬😂
Wow That sounds so extreme, I just got off the new carnival Venezia yesterday and they had prices for the robes only $55, towels yellow or blue for $22, and even the blue dive in blankets for $25! You can even ask your steward and they deliver them brand new.
@@rfamilyentertainment6236
I didn't take those items, but if I want them in the future cruise, I would ask the service desk or steward like you suggest. 👍
@@rfamilyentertainment6236 Towels are easy. There's always a ton of them sitting on chairs when there's nobody at the pool. Just grab a few. 😺
Wow were they stupid or what?
I feel like a borderline hoarder HAHA you’re giving me too many new ideas of stuff to hang onto 😂 loved the video Ilana, thank you for the time you dedicate to this channel. I loooove watching your videos. Your voice is so relaxing and you never shout. I like to listen to videos while I fall asleep and sometimes people edit super loud stuff into their videos and I love that you’re so calm, relaxed and cheerful. Thank you thank you!!
My last Carnival cruise I collected all the charms from Effy. It was fun and a cute souvenir
I did that too. It was fun. I think it is a good idea!
I usually get a couple of sets of the charms. I live them and the extra set either goes to my daughter or granddaughter.
Princess and Holland tote bags. I always bring my planners home! They are a great reminder of what you did on your cruise!
❤ we all need a cabin steward. Bless their hearts
The chocolate tend to disappear before the end of the cruise… 😂😂😂
However the tote bag is my favorite item to bring back home as it’s practical.
The Planners are a MUST for me, since I am a scrapbooker! Not only do they hold memories for me, but anyone that looks at my scrapbook can see what is available on a cruise ship, especially for those who have never cruised!
I love my cruise daily planners! I like to look over them and remember the fun vacation.
The 'Cabin Steward' was cute. LOL
😂
Agree.
Love your videos!! Turn down service and chocolates on your pillow at night are the benefits I truly miss from cruising back in the 90s. We just don't get that service anymore on RCCL or CCL. Confession: I have mistakenly taken home a washcloth and even a towel once. Thing was, I did not feel bad about it given its condition of frayed edges and an ugly stain. I do take the tissue boxes because I am a teacher, and any teacher will understand this. I love the compact boxes. My husband accidentally took home wooden hangers, but we did just return them the next cruise. And I took home a book from the ship library that I was enjoying but had not finished. My family still has not let me live that down, but I knew I was cruising again soon and did return it along with 6 more book donations on my next cruise. We always carry home the bottles of wine we are given because we aren't big drinkers. Every now and then we will leave a bottle of wine for the cabin steward. We just returned from a cruise and discovered that someone decided to take home one of our magnet cruise door signs on the last day. Sheesh! But, if you order room decor to celebrate a special occasion, you are allowed to take that with you. The magnet decor is pretty cool and can easily be used on a future cruise if you remember to take it. Dollar Tree Tip: They often sell birthday magnet sets that are a great addition to a birthday cruise door (or wall if it's CCL). 🚢🎉 🛳
Thanks for sharing this, & your tips!
We have just done two celebrity cruises in the past 5 months and had turndown service and chocolates every night!
@@reillydog11 Congratulations! While Celebrity still offers these fantastic traditions, RCCL and CCL do not. While I have cruised every single other major cruise line, I have never cruised Celebrity before. Maybe one day I'll get the opportunity. :-)
I always bring home the daily planners for my scrapbook!
We always bring a small umbrella with us, Celebrity has them, as you said, but you leave them behind!
I am extremely fair skinned (30 minutes to burn) and will always bring a "solar umbrella" (Silvered underside, cool and protective.) I couldn't use the supplied one for what I need anyway.
Folks are jealous when they see me using it though.
Hi Ilana….great video…..
I was so glad I kept all the memorabilia such as daily planners to help me organize my pictures initially when I got home from a cruise. My first cruise was on Princess in 1979 and of course I organized everything in a nice big photo album. Having moved many times since then, my cruise albums were boxed up and awkward to pull out when I wanted to reminisce. So……lately…..big challenge…..I have been pulling each album out of boxes and just take a photo of each page for my photo app on my iPad. Thank goodness I was very detailed by putting the daily planners in front of each days photos of ports of calls, dinners, people I cruised with, etc., so there was no more organizing except to open a new shared album and add photos to it so all my cruises are there for me to view whenever I want. I’ve been doing that with all my old photo albums. I still kept the hard copy phot albums boxed up, but seriously who wants them? My kids have their own memories so they really don’t want my “stuff”.
I still have a Princess shoe shiner and ashtray from that old cruise that I took from cabin…..😮
Great topic! I take home any extra tea bags from the room. It’s nice to remember the trip while sipping my tea.
I am proud of you that you can keep your chocolates for a time after you get home. I will probably eat mine before midnight
“The cabin steward” haha y’all too much ❤
My husband loved those exact MSC coffee cups! We ended up with 2 of them and still have one left! Our room was originally set up for 4 people before the room steward removed the 2 extra life jackets, but left all 4 Carnival big blue towels. We left 2 and took 2. We always end up with a hand towel or two in our backpack, since we are always taking them to the islands with us.
I had to ask for slippers as we were getting ready to leave the ship. I had packed everything up and put my suitcases out when I realized my shoes were gone too. Thankfully HAL brought me a pair and so I didn’t have to leave the ship barefoot lol
Just got back from Celebrity Reflection in Concierge class. No tote bag in the room and was told my multiple sources that now you have to ask for them! When we called Concierge twice no one answered or returned our recorded message. No one would want to take their towels and robes home because they were awful….very thin and the robes were sized for giants! Their web site said the ship was refurbished in 2023 but all we saw was new carpet in the dining room. Room had old decor and worn furniture with stains!
I always bring home the small soap stuff rather from cruise or hotel. I love watching your videos.
I understand why you cover all of the big ships. But I would much prefer a much smaller ship. Can you give me and others like some info on smaller ships? Or do you know another blogger who covers smaller ships? Thanks!
I love your eye makeup especially your eyebrows!☺️
Thank you ☺️
Yes! Nice size without overwhelming your lovely face ❤
I once brought a hanger from a cruise that, upon unpacking at home, I suspected wasn't one of ours - it was a "regular" hanger (not one of those with the small hooks at the top that won't fit a regular rod) but it just didn't look familiar. So I did exactly what you mentioned - on our next cruise (which was only a few weeks later) I returned that hanger. So maybe now it's on a different ship, but at least the cruise line isn't short 1 hanger in their inventory... but if it actually was ours I suppose they now have 1 extra! As for rain gear, we always pack 1 travel umbrella per guest when we cruise. Thus far we haven't had to use them (in nearly 50 cruises) but we have access to them if ever the need arises. But then again, I am probably the model overpacker!
lol I get it
I found a hot redhead in my cabin... I took her home with me. Did not get charged by Norwegian. However, I have had to book 2 more cruises with them since!
This was a great video! It caused lots of chuckles! I enjoy your videos so much. I always take the pens and pads of paper. I also take the little bottles of toiletries and shower caps, etc.
Hopefully, you remember to bring Frank and Ethan home😍
Haha always
Jewel Holder (I've collected 4 on Celebrity) I give them to friends who have new grandchildren in their family for that first lock of baby's hair!!
I bring home shower caps. They are great for covers on bowls and melons!!
Laundry bag from Disney cruise line - asked our host first about how much I would be charged - best $10 ever!
Great video. Thanks for the chuckles!🎉
Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching 😊
I found the laundry bag in my carry on from the Disney cruise. I called to ask how to return..I was told because I'm so honest I could keep it no charge...😊
Few years back traveled on virgin Atlantic flights both premium and business class.when they served the main meal the salt/pepper came in little planes, black for premium snd silver for business,both sets had printed on the base " stolen from virgis Atlantic" still risked it😊
😂
I have those too
Funny! My dentist used to have advertising pens that said Stolen from... his clinic info. So I definitely took those, and they were great pens with a lot of ink. Now the pens in hotels are cheapies so I rarely bother.
We hv a set of those cute airplane salt and peppers too ❤
I've "accidentally" dropped the little shoe salt and pepper shakers from KLM into my carryon
Never been on a cruise. It's a great list!
This was helpful. One thing I would have LOVED to bring home--but didn't, of course--wasn't on a cruise. It was a pillow I used at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. The pillow was so good that when I got home I called the Cosmo and they gave me the website where I could purchase one!
What you do is grab one from the housekeeping cart or closet.
Yes Llana I do keep all the chocolates to take home and savor after the cruise. Also I do take the daily planners as well. A great way to remember what you did on the cruise, especially as I journal after I return from the cruise. Great to hear someone else does the same things I do. Kindred Spirits!
We collect pillow chocolates from HA and leave them on pillows in guest rooms. Guests really love them and the novelty of getting them.
The red blanket from the Virgin cruise......I took it home to wash it. =)
Great video thank you.
The only thing I bring home from my cabin are the daily planners and certificates that cruise ships sometimes provide their passengers- in Alaska, we received a lovely certificate showing the ports and dates of travel - in the Panama Canal, we received a lovely certificate of crossing the PC. I keep these in separate folders for my memories but also to read when I’m about to travel on the same cruise line. Other than that, it’s memories and lots of photos and videos. Would love to take home my cabin Stewart! 😁
Just got back from a Princess cruise on Discovery. We brought back our 2 blue bags and immediately filled them with laundry.
On my Celebrity Beyond Cruise last November, I really enjoyed the Effy Charm Holder Necklace. My husband and I went down every day to collect the charm for the day. It was just sort of fun and I love my necklace.
The medallion from Princess Cruise is the only souvenir I need.They have the ship name and date of the cruise.
The chocolate that we got on the Canadian Empress didn't make it home, but the daily planner, the "Em Press", did. It was a nice reminder of the cruise down the Ottawa River and up the St. Lawrence River. I can definitely see hubby keeping our Holland America planners this summer. And I'm sure we'll come home with mugs, etc. from the gift shop for us, our sons and their families.
The Effy necklace on Celebrity was awesome! Each day I went to the Effy store and was able to add a charm to go inside ... all free! On Holland America, I received a charm bracelet with one free charm to add the next day. All other charms were $5. However, I love my bracelet with the sailing charms dangling on my wrist. So fun!
I have zero desire to go on a cruise, but I subscribed b/c you do a great job!
I still have my canvas tote bag from the Holland America cruise I took when I was a teenager in 1997. It’s not nearly as fancy as that one!
Love all the info your channel provides!❤
Chocolate disappears in DH happy mouth each evening! Having been a full time business traveler I learned to travel with my own shampoo/conditioner and bar soap - no surprises with ship products.
I have done the EFFY charms on both cruises I was on , it’s fun to collect and you get an excuse to go to the jewelry store!
years ago we went to an Animal Towel class. They told us we could take the towels home. So I did. I unfolded the towel for easy packing.
We've never had hardly any of those free things in our cabin - no slippers, chocolates, mini alcohol bottles, toiletries, tote bags, etc. We do get the cruise planners, though.
I am a scrapbooker. I definitely keep my daily planners.
I remember when taking the branded ashtrays from hotel/motels was common.
I've Noticed-A Hammered Cutlery Set@Martin Yan's-ASIA Restaurant-In Horseshoe Casino-At Las Vegas, Nevada!&I've Finally-Got One!&I Bought IT!-Raymond "Mike" Hong!&(I've Learned From Your Videos-Iiana&Thanks!-Mike!)😎👍!!!!!!!!!
What about the icepacks from the brawls on Carnival?😛
I like to collect swizel sticks that are branded or unique to wash and use in my bar at home. They triggar memories when I use them & are reminders of interesting cruise experiences to share with guests when serving beverages at home.
I brought home a large Ziploc bag filled with pillow chocolates (dark) after my last Celebrity sailing. My stateroom attendant learned early how much I enjoy those so he was generous with how many showed up. We share this in common!!! I laughed as you were giggling about if any of the rest of us do these things - absolutely! ❤️😂
I wouldn’t: there’d be none left. Even with a generous steward…..
Is it anything other than dark chocolate
I hate dark chocolate
I love the orange shampoo that Carnival uses. The aroma is one of the cruising experiences that I enjoy. I wish Carnival sold it in their home store.
We found one of the little hand towels they put in public restrooms in celebrity in our backpack when we got home. We’ll bring it back next time!
We liked using it to wipe sweaty brows on humid days in ports
Happy Sunday llana and hope you are having a relaxing and great weekend ❤️🌹🌹❤️❤️❤️🌹🛳️🛳️🛳️❤️❤️🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️❤️💕💕🌹🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️❤️💕✨✨💕❤️🛳️🛳️🛳️🌹❤️💕❤️❤️🌹🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️🌹💕✨✨✨💕❤️🌹🛳️🛳️🛳️🌹❤️💕💕❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🌹🌹🛳️💕💕💕❤️❤️❤️🛳️🌹✨✨
Same to you
@@LifeWellCruised Thank you my friend 🫶🏻🫶🏻
Like you, I collect the chocolates then take them home. I collected the charms for the jewel holder (necklace) from Celebrity, a nice souvenir, also very pretty to wear..
I always save the daily planners....I use them in my scrapbooking of the cruise :)
I'm cruising on Royal Caribbean for my 50th birthday in May. I ordered myself a robe to keep forever. At least I won't have questions about that. Now I want coordinating slippers (if available) and an umbrella. I didn't know those were a thing available on a cruise.
Ok, WOW! I love that VV sextant corkscrew, so nautical cool. I would buy that I admit. 😊
I would never assume it’s available to take anything from a hotel room or cruise line cabin but the most trivial and disposable of items, like a notepad or ballpoint pen. If I wanted a robe, towel, mug, or drink glass from my cabin, I would ask the cabin Stewart if they were available for purchase. If not, they would definitely NOT find their way into my luggage. I would feel incredibly guilty for taking something I wasn’t absolutely sure was I was allowed to take. It would haunt me for days, weeks, perhaps years. Yes, I was always called a “goody two-shoes” growing up.
I think I did bring home the mini toiletries from a cruise, & plastic glasses from The Drink Of the Day which was probably part of the cost of the drink. I don't think I ever took anything else from a cruise. I treated things in the room like you do at a hotel & you don't take just anything you want home with you. I would assume that anything you wore like the slippers that maybe could not be washed they wanted you to take. It would be nice to have a cabin steward who would make your bed or have the turn down service. That always makes me feel so specal to return to your cabin & your bed is turned down, there is an animal & chocolates. I haven't cruised since the gratuities could be paid upfront, so maybe back then the steward knew good service provided them good tips. My late hubby & I always took plenty of cash to pay gratuities & paid well for good service which we always received. Those people work hard & I appreciated having a maid, a cook, a waiter & personal attention while on the cruise. We traveled in a group with family & several friends once & we were supposed to have a large table for meals, but it was not available, so they set up a table just for us sort of on the side & we had our own waiter. We found out about him & his family & he was gracious & gave us extra good service. We all gave him an extra $50 for the week on top of the normal suggested tip.
Thank you, Ilana!
I used to save the daily planners but I never looked at them so I got rid of them all. I DO save all the pillow chocolates (my husband’s also) and I eat one every day after I get home. I never take the slippers. They are WAY too big! I will leave magazines in the library that I have brought onboard.
I always bring home my planners. Helps me when I do my scrapbooking later to chronically post. Always took chocolates honestly for my husband who does not cruise. I did take a towel home but asked the crew member if I could and I was willing to pay the charge. It was the last sailing of that particular ship before being g sold and the ship name was on it. I was never charged.
I collect bathroom doors!
Are they complimentary?
Love that you and my friend Shari cruise tips tv are going on same Greece princess cruise🚢❤️🤗
I've always brought home the day planners from our cruises with the activities that we enjoyed, I marked with a highlighter. Then they are put into a binder and have enjoyed reliving the experiences while reading though them.
Great info!! I will be a 1st time cruiser in April
We've brought home Princess tote bags and I love the canvas bags from years ago, that I still use. I loved the suite metal pens from years ago and miss those. I leave the plastic pens.
I save the daily Princess Patter from each cruise.
Hubby & I each have a purchased Princess robe for home and know it is past time for a cruise when the slippers have worn out.
Update- no pens or note paper on recent cruise.
I dud bring home slippers, daily Princess events listings, and tote bags.
Love you and your videos! (I wouldn't think it's ok to take the umbrella.)
lol thanks for weighing in. Maybe I’ll bring it back next Celebrity cruise 😬😂
I stayed at an ultra luxury room hotel London - partly as a joke I asked conciege what items were free to take home, raised eyebrows .. (they were too polite to say) but later sent a supervisor to my room -- this this this and this but we prefer guests dont take these these and these - thank you for that but I wasnt going to take anything it was a joke ... oh ... ordered some wines and a meal and they seemed happy with that ... another occasion, I wasnt using anything so after two days they removed all freebies from the room .soaps soft drinks even the coffee creamers vanished.. which was extremely irritating ... my grandad used to do cunard yearly and would always bring a menu for me // but by 1980 they asked guests not too ... as at some dinners they didnt have enough menu cards ...... but when you are six years old it was impressive ... did you have all that for dinner grandad oh yes and plenty of bottles of wine ... wow .. in my mind thought he had five main courses and five desserts ... every day ..
We have brought home the cute napkin friends that "auntie" made for our kids!!! They love them! We bring home the daily planner papers as well, for the memories! We also save the chocolates and put them in a dish on the table as well!! We always seem to end up with the pens and stationary too!
As for the nice warm cozy outdoor blanket. It followed me off a transatlantic sailing last year. I started using it early in the voyage and it became a second blanket in my stateroom that I used any time I was cold for the two week trip. By the end of our journey, I knew it needed to be a permanent staple at my home. Most cruisers pick up a blanket, use it for a few hours, and drop it in the bin for cleaning or allow the staff to remove it from the outside furniture. I decided to make it my full itinerary blanket.
😂
Waiter on Princess made an adorable duck with a cloth napkin. I brought it home and enjoying looking at it but intend to bring it back next month.
I take home the daily planners..and I always do the efy charm locket..I give them to my daughter s..
I don't think I have ever taken anything out of the cabin. The one thing I would LIKE to take home is the cabin steward! (oops, jumped the gun!) Ok, I take it back. The pens and paper I have.
I have never seen slippers in a room. We are about to go on only our 8th cruise and are doubling up only for the second time on HAL hoping they will become our 'Forever Line'. Should probably leave the robes though.
I would hope the tote bags were a gift. I THINK we are getting on on our next cruise on HAL!
We keep the "Freestyle" or whatever for the length of the cruise but usually leave them on the saddest cruise day of them all, disembarkation day. I like to do a day to day word program of my/our experience for the survey I expect to get when I get home. The last 2 cruises on Carnival (Bermuda; Sep '22) and NCL (Med Oct '23) I did NOT get a survey. Although I DID get a phone call from NCL asking about the experience. It was good, but not great. My BIGGEST problem was the 'cluster XXXX' for excursions where everyone shows up in the theatre pell-mell and they call out the excursion and there are people climbing over others from the various parts of the theater rather than cordon off sections for each excursion.
I cruise on Viking Ocean cruises. They have a price list in their cabins on what you will be charged for certain items. The toothbrush holder would set you back $250 US dollars. It’s the second most expensive item on the list right after binoculars.
I won a cruise robe in a B2B raffle! Nearly took up the whole suitcase!
I never thought of that!!
I love watching your videos and your videos are very helpful
I’ve taken home from my cruise cabin Baboo our room steward. He’s dressing down my bed now & being small as he is fit easily in my luggage