FINAL PREPS: PT. I

We are now in the “Final Preps” stage – the 14-21 days window.  Much of what we do now relates to packing.  If you have waited until now to take care of Passports and such, you probably are not going on your Cruise.  So… let’s assume that you have your Passport and your Cruise documents in order; now what?

This is the Fun Time… well, that may not be quite right.  The real “fun” begins when you get on the ship.  But it is still a lot of fun now because  you are at the point where you think about the Cruise almost constantly.  The cares of work are really beginning to fade.  Thoughts of the smell of the salt breeze in the air are vaporizing the hassles and routines of your daily responsibilities. 

Perhaps a better term for this time is “The Hectic Fun Time”.  Let’s take a quick look at what a veteran cruiser is doing during these final few days before he sets sail.  I am going to post these tips in a couple of installments, of which this will be the first.

"DO NOT WAIT"

Double check that you have ALL prescription meds filled.  DO NO WAIT until the day before your departure to get those prescriptions filled.  It is not a bad idea to have a written list of all your prescriptions – names (both brand and generic names) and dosages.  In some cases, I might even suggest that you obtain this list on a letterhead from your Physician’s office.  Keep this list with your cruise docs.   Also, make sure you have enough prescription meds packed to last several days beyond the your scheduled return home.  Getting stranded on some Caribbean island, or even at sea, or in an airport terminal, and running out of critical medications would NOT be a good thing.  

"Don't leave home without it..."

While we are talking prescriptions, let’s talk glasses and/or contacts.  Make certain that you have back-ups.  If you wear glasses, take a back-up pair.  I never throw away my old prescription glasses just for this reason.  If you wear contacts, make certain that you have plenty of supplies.

Let’s talk for a moment about OTC meds… Ibuprofen, Imodium (I never leave home without this), Gas-X, Zantac are a good beginning.  Most of these types of meds can be purchased in a “blister pack” form.  I “highly” recommend this method.  Give an emphasis to “stomach / digestion” aids.  A cruise will “test” this part of your body in ways you might not have imagined.  Having lunch at an romantic Island Café may be wonderful as it is happening; but, it may be a nightmare a few hours later.  Be prepared.  Eating 13 meals each day may sound wonderful, but your body might think otherwise.  I always pack digestion aids; a bottle of digestive enzymes, and even a small bottle of Bean-o are great on cruises.