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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
February 14, 2008 * Issue 8.07
PassPorter.com - http://www.passporter.com
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Welcome to PassPorter
News, an online newsletter
about PassPorter travel
guidebooks, the
Walt Disney World Resort,
and Disney Cruise Line.
PassPorter News is
available by free subscription to all readers and friends of our labor of love
--
PassPorter Travel
Guidebooks.
Learn all about them:
http://www.passporter.com/aboutpassporter.htm
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In This Newsletter:
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From the Authors: Happy
Valentine's Day!
Travel Feature: Disney's
Hilton Head Island Resort
Disney Feature:
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
Updates: What's New and
Changed
Tips: ADR Alarm, Faux
First Aid, Nice Nap
Captain's Corner: Skatt's
Sweetheart
PassPorter PhotoPick: On
Hiatus
Q&A: How should I
pack for a two-week repositioning cruise?
Our Sponsors: We
Recommend...
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FROM THE AUTHORS: Happy
Valentine's Day!
====================================================
Hi,
{{user("firstname")}}!
Happy Valentine's Day! Our
virtual Valentine present for you is free MediaMail shipping in the PassPorter
Store from now until midnight on Monday, February 18, 2008. Please note that
Monday is President's Day and no packages will be shipped that day, but if you
order before 7:00 am ET tomorrow (Friday) morning, your order will ship during
the day tomorrow (Friday). Visit http://www.passporterstore.com/store/freeshipping.aspx
Our 2008 edition of
PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line and its Ports of Call is on track for a March
15 release date. We are doing a press check on Monday to ensure its quality.
Just a reminder that all chapters of this new edition are in an electronic
preview file for anyone who pre-orders through the PassPorter Store at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/dcl2008.aspx
Our 2009 edition of
PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions is continuing to
develop (August 2008 release date) and we are still seeking feedback from both
readers who have our first Disneyland edition as well as from those who have
not yet seen the book -- please take our Disneyland Guidebook Survey (
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8UdpipuOw0_2bvtFICCJDjCA_3d_3d ) and send
us your Disneyland tips and magical memories at http://www.passporter.com/customs/tipsandstories.asp
Congratulations to Sue
Kulick, who is now a "PassPorter Featured Columnist" as well as a
PassPorter Guide (moderator). Sue joins Cheryl Pendry, who became PassPorter's
first Featured Columnist in 2007. Congratulations and thank you, Sue! Read
Sue's articles at http://www.passporter.com/articles/sue-kulick-featured-columnist.asp
and Cheryl's articles at http://www.passporter.com/articles/cheryl-pendry-featured-columnist.asp
.
We are continuing to work
on our PassPorter.com server upgrade and you should already be noticing faster
responses from our message board. Our photo archive is currently offline while
we complete its move -- we apologize for the inconvenience and hope to have it online
again soon!
We have new and FREE
e-worksheet that calculates Disney Dining Plan credits for two adults and one
child on a trip of up to five days long. This e-worksheet is available to
everyone free of charge! Check it out at http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/150415-free-e-worksheet-dining-plan-2-adults-1-child-5-days.html#post1924516
PASSPORTER'S CLUB UPDATE
* More than 1200
vacationers are now enjoying access to all our e-books, e-worksheets, and
super-sized photo archive images. Thank you for your continued support!
* We have two new
e-worksheets for you to use to plan your next trip (click the link to go
directly to them): the Disney Dining Plan E-Worksheet for 2 Adults and 1 Child
( http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/150415-free-e-worksheet-dining-plan-2-adults-1-child-5-days.html
) and the Disneyland Park Hours E-Worksheet ( http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/150398-new-e-worksheet-park-hours-disneyland-s-california-any-destination.html
).
* Our latest e-book,
"PassPorter's Festivals and Celebrations at Walt Disney World by Thomas
Cackler," is available for Club Passholders to download free of extra
charges: http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/passporters-club-gallery/144369-new-e-book-passporters-festivals-celebrations-walt-disney-world.html
* More details at http://www.passporter.com/club
n this issue, frequent
Guest Contributor Michelle Kosloff shares her love for Disney's Hilton Head
Island Resort. Then, Featured Columnist and PassPorter Message Board Guide Sue
Kulick reports on another Disney Vacation Club property, Walt Disney World's
Saratoga Springs Resort. Finally, Jack Skatt is back with a brand-new Walt
Disney World Treasure Hunt. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Publishers and
Authors
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TRAVEL FEATURE: My
Favorite Disney Resort: Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort
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by Michelle Kosloff,
PassPorter Guest Contributor
I almost didn't write this
article as it is so tempting to keep this wonderful resort a secret but ... I
think my favorite Disney resort so far is Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort.
It isn't close to any
theme park. It isn't "in your face" Disney. It isn't right on the
beach. But it is right on the marsh, relaxing, cozy, and fun. It had something
for everyone in our party -- and boy, we did have a party!
There were 17 of us in
all, ranging from 1 to 66 years young. We stayed in three, two-bedroom units,
generously paid for through points by my sister who is a Disney Vacation Club
(DVC) member. The units were very nice. They aren't quite as big as those of
Old Key West, but bigger than Saratoga Springs or the Beach Club Villas. She
had tried to get a Grand Villa and a two bedroom but there was no availability
of Grand Villas during the time we were there. However, the three units were all
in one building and worked out wonderfully.
Each two-bedroom unit had
a bedroom with a king bed and second bedroom with two queen beds. There was a
full kitchen, complete with stove, microwave, full size fridge, dishwasher, and
dishes and pots enough for six people. There was also an apartment-size washer
and dryer in an alcove. The dryer left a little to be desired but it did dry
the clothes in a second run. In our unit we had four adults, a
"tween," and a teenager and we never felt on top of each other. We
all fit around the table for a meal and we could all sit and watch TV together
comfortably.
Our unit was in a fabulous
location. We had a wonderful view of the marsh. We were close to the community
hall and the pool. We were not close to the main building but the only one who
spent a lot of time there was my teenage son, who played a lot of pool. Because
the resort is small, it is not a long walk.
There are tons of
activities at the resort. In the main lodge, there is Ben Murggie's Den where
my son played pool. In the den, there is also checkers and a TV with some very
comfy couches. There is a nice playground for the younger set. There is a
shuffleboard court, horseshoe pits, a basketball court, foosball table and
Ping-Pong. There is a very nice pier with a fishing area at the end. And of
course there is the Big Dipper pool and water slide. (I went up and down
several times!) There is also a kiddie pool and a large hot tub.
Aside from all this, there
are also many scheduled, guided activities. Some had a charge but nothing was
outrageous. The most expensive were the kayaking trips, which were $25 for
adults and $15 per child, which is a reasonable rate for activities of this
type at a resort. One thing to remember is that for almost all activities, you
had to register in advance. You can do this at check-in. The more popular
activities do fill up.
Since we were there with
such an age range, we were able to experience a number of the activities
offered. Some of the activities we attended: Toddler Time Crafts (ages 1-5),
Lady Bugs (ages 3-5), Dinosaurs (ages 7-10), Capture the Flag (Teens),
Geo-caching (families), Mickey Tie Dye (8+ - $15 DVC, $18 guests), Shark Teeth
Necklaces ($10 DVC, $12 Guests), and Secrets of the Marsh (families). On the
last activity we even had a surprise visit from a dolphin!
There is a campfire every
other night (one activity that did not require registration). Unfortunately,
the rain didn't seem to want to cooperate on the night we attended and it was
cut short, but the kids still got S'mores. On alternate nights there is Sweet
Goodnights. In this, children listen to a bedtime story and have cookies and
milk.
Because we were there over
the New Year holidays, there were additional parties. My son participated in
the Teen party ($25 DVC, $30 Guests) and had a blast. He played Dance, Dance,
Revolution, and pool and had pizza, pop and candy. He met many friends which
made his time on a family vacation much more fun.
If you aren't the type for
group activities, there are still many other options. Disney does have a
private Beach House located right on the beach across the main drag from the
resort. It is a short drive over there or you can take a shuttle. We rented
bikes for the week so we rode over and it was a beautiful ride. Once there you
use your room key to access the Beach House. Inside there is a warm pool and a
seasonal snack bar (which unfortunately was closed while we were there due to
the fact that it was winter). There is an arcade and a nice warm area where we
sat, watched TV, and warmed up while the younger ones played a bit longer on
the beach.
For the golfers in our
party, Hilton Head is a golfing mecca. If you are there off-season like us, the
prices are reasonable and you can always use Last Minute Tee Times to try and
book a tee time for the next day if you aren't picky about where you play. Our
guys tried two courses and they enjoyed both immensely. We also tried our hand
at mini-putt golf. We visited Pirate Island Golf that was very well themed and
that would not have been out of place at Walt Disney World.
Finally for the ladies in
our group, there was shopping! Just off the island there is a good-sized outlet
mall (Tanger Outlets). We all found many bargains there.
One complaint I have heard
about this resort is that there is no full-service restaurant on site. There is
a snack bar, but nothing sit-down. We didn't find this an issue. Since we had
the full kitchen, we purchased enough groceries at the Piggly-Wiggly (love the
name!) for breakfast and another meal and then ate out for the third. This plan
worked out well for us. I don't like eating breakfast out and we like to
experience a variety of restaurants so we didn't miss having an on-site
restaurant. But you do need a car or at least bikes to get around as the Island
isn't tiny.
We had to go for seafood
once and ended up at the Crazy Crab. It had decent prices and the seafood was
well done. We also visited the British Open Pub with relatives who live in the
area and the food there was very, very good.
Unfortunately for us, it
was rather cold when we were there. We were told that there are maybe two cold
snaps a year and unfortunately we hit one of them. The day we got there it was
very nice and had it been that temperature for the whole of the vacation, it
would have been fabulous. We could have hung out on our deck enjoying the marsh
view and spent more time around the pool but unfortunately it was freezing. I
guess that is the chance you take when visiting in winter.
We rented bikes for our
stay and again, we didn't use them as much as we would have liked either
because of the cold. But for the first couple of days it was tons of fun to
zoom around and see the sights at a slower pace. There are designated bike
paths all over the island so there is much less concern about accidents. I
would definitely recommend them. You can rent right from Disney but they have
limited availability and are more expensive. We stopped by one of the many
rental places on the island and they dropped them off at the resort for us. My
sister booked hers beforehand and got a discount for using the internet and for
booking two weeks in advance. Hers were there ready for her when she checked
in.
So if you decide to visit,
be sure to get your activity guide when you check in and don't be afraid to
join in. Like any Disney resort, the Cast Members were super friendly and made
everyone feel welcome and part of the group. You can relax and do nothing or
have a vacation as busy as at any resort in Walt Disney World.
Official Web Site for
Disney's Hilton Head Island: http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/resortDetail?id=ProspectsHiltonHeadIslandResortLandingPage
About the Author: Michelle
has previously contributed articles on Prince Edward Island and Niagara Falls
to PassPorter News. She is a Computer Programmer from Woodstock, Ontario,
Canada and is married with two children.
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Did you enjoy this
article? Have questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit
http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss your Disney travel plans. Also check
out our Article Collection at http://www.passporter.com/articles for more great
information!
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DISNEY FEATURE: Saratoga
Springs Resort
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by Sue Kulick, PassPorter
Featured Columnist
When you think of Saratoga
Springs, you may think of a quiet sleepy town in upstate New York, nestled
between beautiful mountains and lush meadows. You think of the mineral springs
that made Saratoga Springs famous. If you are a history buff, you may even know
that the Battle of Saratoga is considered a pivotal turning point in the War
for Independence! And, of course, you think of how the town comes alive every
August with the elegance of horse racing!
Disney Vacation Club (DVC)
has recaptured this amazing slice of American culture right in Orlando. Of
course, there are no mountains, no race track, and no battles, but there are
plenty of touches of that famous New York town!
When you first arrive at
Saratoga Springs Resort (SSR), you are greeted at the Carriage House check in,
which is representative of classic Victorian architecture. The lobby soars
above you in beautiful muted pastels surrounding an intricate carousel horse
centerpiece. The check in process for us has been quick and easy each time we
have stayed there.
The theme continues as you
make your way toward your Saratoga Springs Resort room. You will pass statues
of horses, beautiful fountains, and places like "Horsing Around
Rentals" and the "Win, Place and Show" arcade.
Saratoga Springs is
divided into five sections. The Grandstand is the newest, and close to the
Carriage House and amenities. It has a quiet pool and overlooks the golf
course. The Carousel is closest to the resort entrance. The Paddock (our
personal favorite) flanks Saratoga Lake and also has a quiet pool. The view
from your balcony is magnificent! Congress Park overlooks Village Lake and has
views of Downtown Disney. It also has a quiet pool. The Springs are closest to
the Carriage House and the main themed pool. You can drive to your villa and
park right outside. If you don't have a vehicle, bell services will be happy to
assist you.
One complaint that some
guests had is that the doors to all villas are outside, only accessed from
exterior walkways. We did not find this to be a problem at all, but others felt
it gave the resort a "cold" feeling. However, when you enter your villa that feeling will instantly evaporate, thanks to the
beautiful decor. Decorated in more pastels, you get a sense of richness as soon
as you enter. Your accommodations include a flat-screen TV, laptop-sized safe,
and starting this year, free Internet. A studio unit has a small refrigerator,
microwave, sink, and coffeemaker, while the one- and two-bedroom villas have a
full kitchen, whirlpool tub, DVD player, and a washer and dryer. If you are
lucky, you may find a horse-shaped towel animal when you arrive!
Once you have settled in,
it's time to go exploring! If you are hungry, Saratoga Springs Resort offers
several options. The Turf Club offers full service dining as well as cocktails.
For a quick bite, The Artist's Palette serves meals cafeteria-style, as well as
a variety of snacks and bakery/breakfast items. This is where you would
purchase your refillable mug. If you are thirsty, in addition to the above
options, there are two pool bars, "The Rocks" and "The
Backstretch." You can rent surrey bikes, play tennis or shuffleboard, and
of course, play golf at the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. Sadly, Disney did
away with the horse-drawn carriage rides around the resort.
If you'd rather relax than
play, head for the Saratoga Springs Spa. While you might not be able to
"take the waters" like in days of old, you can work out, get a
manicure, or go for a full line of spa treatments from a facial to a massage.
If you are more of an outside type, Saratoga Springs Resort offers a nice
jogging/walking path. And if you would like to swim, might I suggest the High
Rock Springs pool? I am not a water slide person, but my husband is, and he
spent a good part of our swim time heading down the rock slide. He said it was
a really great slide! I relaxed with a Blue Mai Tai from the pool bar, and then
we both went in the hot tub. We also tried the quiet pool and the hot tub near
the Paddock, and both were very nice.
And if you are ready to
party, it is just a short walk or ferry ride to Downtown Disney. If you head
out behind the Paddock and Congress Park, you will find the footpath to
Downtown Disney. It's a short and relaxing walk to Disney's answer to fun and
nightlife. We took this walk back from Downtown Disney, and it was a beautiful
late night stroll. The Disney Vacation Club ferry also runs between Old Key
West, Saratoga Springs Resort and Downtown Disney. You can board right behind
the Carriage House for a relaxing trip. The ferries run about every 20 minutes
or so up until 11 PM. The Downtown Disney ferry drops you off at the boat dock
near Captain Jack's, and the Old Key West ferry drops you off at the Hospitality
House (the main building at Old Key West).
Our only complaint about
Saratoga Springs Resort is that we feel the signs are a bit confusing. The
resort is large and spread out (Disney Vacation Club's largest resort yet!) and
the signage could be a little more concise. After Day Two, we were comfortable
enough getting around, but before that, more than once we ended up in a loop
around the golf course entrance.
Bus service has not been a
problem. The bus makes several internal stops, as is normal with a resort of
this size, and then heads straight out to your destination. The bus stops are
well laid out, and just a short walk from most villas.
I love staying at Saratoga
Springs Resort. It brings back memories of a peaceful easier time, and gives
you that relaxed feeling as soon as you walk in. I am very happy that we took
the plunge and added points at this resort!
About the Author: Sue
Kulick is a resident of the Pocono Mountains and an avid Disney fan. She and
her husband, Steve live in a log home with their Golden Retrievers, Cody and
Belle and their cats Tigger, Rocky and Adrian.
- - - - - - - - -
Did you enjoy this
article? Have questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit
http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss your Disney travel plans. Also check
out our Article Collection at http://www.passporter.com/articles for more great
information!
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Did You Know?
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Disney World in Style!
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luggage help, free car seat
Free 30-minute grocery
stop with
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Special! $5.00 off airport
round-trip
Use Discount Code:
PassPorter News
Call 888-GO TO WDW
or visit http://www.quicksilver-tours.com
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==========================================
UPDATES: What's New and
Changed
==========================================
Here's a few relevant news
items:
The Treehouses are back!
The Treehouse Villas near Downtown Disney are going to become part of Disney's
Saratoga Springs Resort according to MousePlanet.com. Plans filed by Disney
indicate that the existing Treehouses will be torn down and replaced with new
units. The Villas have been used as housing for College Program cast members
but were vacated at the end of 2007.
The dates for the 2008
Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios have been announced. The Star
Wars-themed events will take place June 6-8, June 13-15, June 20-22, and June
27-29. No celebrity attendees have been announced yet.
Figment is taking a little
vacation! Journey Into Imagination and the Kodak "What If" Labs are
closed for a general rehab February 12-24, 2008.
Our thanks to AllEars.net
and MousePlanet.com from which we get some of our news leads.
Hear some news? Be a
"PassPorter Reporter" and send it to us at http://www.passporter.com/report.asp
==========================================
DISNEY TIPS FROM FELLOW
READERS
==========================================
Our readers deliver a
wealth of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:
ADR ALARM
"I enter in all of my
dining reservations in my cell phone's calendar. I also set an alarm for 30
minutes prior to the Advance Dining Reservation time to make sure I have enough
walking time to get there."
-- contributed by Heather
R.
FAUX FIRST AID
"While raiding our
medicine cabinet to make sure we had packed everything we needed, I found our first
aid kit, a sturdy plastic case filled with assorted supplies. I had already
packed all our medicines but I realized the case itself was a perfect solution
to a different problem. My kids are very particular about their snacks -- they
only like certain brands and certain flavors of certain brands. So I dumped out
the first aid kit and filled it with breakfast bars, granola bars, pop-tarts
etc. This way my kids had the snacks they enjoyed and nothing got smushed while
traveling! This was great for a quick bite in the morning since we usually just
ate a late breakfast and then dinner. That first aid kit came in really handy
and luckily it wasn't for a medical emergency!"
-- contributed by Meryl H.
NICE NAP
"When our children
were young and needed a nap, we would just hop on the Walt Disney World
railroad train that goes around the Magic Kingdom. The kids would sleep in our
arms and we could relax and keep cool with the breeze of the ride. The train is
so smooth and fun to ride. It was a great way for the kids to rest and we
didn't have to pack up and leave the park."
-- contributed by Lisa M.
>Notes: Send us your
tips! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter! Visit:
http://www.passporter.com/customs/tipsandstories.asp
>>Want more Disney
tips? For Walt Disney World fans, we've collected 500 of the best tips
submitted by readers over the past six years. All have been edited for accuracy
and categorized. For details, visit the PassPorter Disney 500 info page at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.asp
>>For Disney Cruise
Line fans, we have an e-book with 250 cruiser tips, as well as a special cruise
line comparison section and seven customized packing lists. For information,
visit the Disney Cruise Clues info page at http://www.passporter.com/dcl/cruiseclues.asp
==========================================
CAPTAIN'S CORNER: Treasure
Hunting Game
==========================================
Play our fun and quirky
treasure hunting game, hosted by Captain Jack Skatt from our book,
"PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World."
The Captain makes a study
of the delightful details -- sometimes hidden, sometimes in plain sight but
often overlooked -- at Walt Disney World and aboard the Disney Cruise Line.
Using notes from his journals, he will lead you to this "treasure" at
Disney with clues, questions, photos, or riddles. Your challenge is to discover
the answer by searching your memory, visiting Disney, or even just looking
really hard on the Internet. If you think you've found the answer, e-mail it to
jackskatt@passporter.com -- the first person to correctly submit the FULL
answer will receive a free PassPorter enamel pin or PassPorter name badge pin.
Here is this week's
journal entry:
"Love is in the air
... well, at least something seems to be. Odd shapes are flitting through the
air all about me. The lights are dimmed. I can even hear the steady thrum of a
heartbeat. What a delightful atmosphere to woo my sweetheart. As I write this
journal entry, I'm waiting for my lovely lady to get off work -- she's employed
as a medium and her work takes her to regions beyond. I plan to take her on a
river cruise tonight to celebrate Valentine's Day. I do wish she'd hurry up and
finish. She works much too hard. She says she thinks her work is a ball, but I
worry she might just lose her head over it."
Who is Captain Jack
Skatt's sweetheart and where does she work?
Send your full answer to
jackskatt@passporter.com -- the winner will be notified by e-mail and announced
in a future newsletter, along with the correct answer!
Congratulations to Mary
Andrews who was the winner of last week's trivia contest! Mary was the first
person to identify Mrs. Walt Disney's gift to Disneyland as the Petrified Tree
found in Frontierland. Mary was also the first person to find the photo on our
web site and post a comment. To view the original clue, see last week's
newsletter at http://www.passporter.com/news/news020708.htm#captain
If you enjoy treasure
hunts, we've got an entire book with over 100 distinct treasure hunts and over
1500 questions, complete with clues and contributions from Captain Jack Skatt.
Get more details on "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney
World" book at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710269.aspx
==========================================
PASSPORTER PHOTOPICK
==========================================
Each issue we choose a
special photo from the PassPorter Photo Archive which highlights something
beautiful, interesting, humorous, or timely at Disney or around the world. This
week the PassPorter PhotoPick and Photo Archive are on hiatus due to a server
move. We apologize for this and hope to bring back our photos in time for next
week's newsletter.
====================================
Q & A WITH JENNIFER
& DAVE
====================================
Tracyvp asks: "Ok, I
need some advice from those who have done a repositioning cruise before. How on
earth do you pack everything you'll need for 2 weeks!? Did you exceed your
baggage limit?"
Dave and Jennifer answer:
"Not only did we do the two-week repo, but we spent four days in LA before
we sailed! Alexander was just about one year old, so we were carrying all the
usual infant/toddler extras. We still did it with no more than two bags per
person, and I'm pretty sure it was more like four or five bags between the
three of us.
Yes, we did laundry. There
were two formal and two semi-formal nights, so we planned to send our formal
wear out for dry cleaning from the very start. That worked like a charm. We
also did loads of wash in the guest laundry during the course of the cruise.
With all those days at sea, finding time to do laundry (and finding an empty
machine) isn't nearly as bad as it is on the shorter cruises. Bring lots of
quarters and your own laundry detergent.
A bit of careful planning
with mix-and-match items will help keep your wardrobe varied during the cruise,
and expect that there will be one or two decent sales on cruisewear in the
onboard shops during the cruise. Also, the longer you're at sea with the same
group of folks, the more relaxed about wardrobe you're likely to become. That,
plus all those sea days meant fewer wardrobe changes than on the typical
cruise."
Have a question? Post
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