In typical Jenn fashion I have lists upon lists upon lists to get myself ready to leave.
The Packing List
This year packing was super easy. I hadn't done laundry in 4 THOUSAND years. So, last weekend I did all the laundry. Instead of folding and putting it away, I put it in the suitcase.
That started the printing of the packing list. I've worked on making this packing list perfect for years. After each trip something gets added and/or removed. I like to have everything I could possibly need and then adjust based on where I'm going.
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This year I added a new check list for my backpack. I felt like I was a bit out of sorts thinking about what goes into the backpack this year, so figured I'd start writing it all down.
The Post Mortem Review
Yes. Yes, I do a post mortem after the trip. It often involves just a conversation with the travel buddy about what they think. I also make notes throughout the trip when something comes up. Last year it was all about being sure enough Imodium was packed! Ahem.
The start of a new trip prep starts with reviewing notes from last year. The typically then creates a shopping list or updating the packing list.
The Cruise Prep
For me the real prep begins about a week before the trip. That's when I start making sure I have everything purchased or together that I think I'll be taking with me.
When you prepare to board the cruise, you have to print out your luggage tags at home and then "attached" them with a stapler to your suitcase before you get to the port. Paper. Every time I did that I was sure that my "paper" tag was going to be ripped off and I'd never see my suitcase.
While checking in last year I noticed the woman in front of me had her luggage tags in a plastic tag holder. So I promptly got home and bought myself one (or 4). So as soon as I could print the luggage tags, I plopped those bad boys into my new plastic tag holder.
Finish Trip Research
I like to know where I'm going and what I'm going to see. Part of that is researching the excursions. I not only research and read about the city, but I do some research on photos as well. I like to put in the name of whatever it is we're seeing and look at all the images on Google to see it. I often find different, unique angles to take a photo too. Or something I might not have even noticed and now I'll watch for it.
This is where I tend to start getting really excited. It feels real now. It feels like it's more than just a thought and the trip is actually going to happen.
Travel Docs / Money
I like to make sure my passport is out and in my backpack. It's the only thing I'm paranoid I'll forget or lose. I take a photo of the opening page as well JUST in case it gets lost while I'm traveling.
I make sure I put travel notifications on all the credit cards and I know the cash pin just in case. This I forgot one year and that was a disaster.
I make sure I have any purchased tours on their specific app (usually Viator) so that I don't have to look for them.
I make sure I can log into the airline app and the cruise ship app.
The Suitcase
Usually the suitcase is out early. This year I didn't get it out until a week before when I did all that laundry. And immediately upon getting the suitcase out I have to deal with this.
Take me! Take me! If only he wouldn't put me over my weight limit for my luggage, I might consider packing him. Not this time Bubba Boy.
I have packing cubes I use to pack, so once those are in, I feel like I'm 90% packed. I like to be mostly packed a couple of days before the trip so that the day of I just have to toss in the toiletries.
Each year I get annoyed that my suitcase - empty - weighs 10 lbs. Every trip I try to find a suitcase after the trip that weighs less. It's hard to do that when I don't like the hard shell suitcases. So I just deal with it for another year.
The Ship Research
This year I decided to add to my research to check out this ship. We'll be on the Norwegian Epic and it's one of their HUGE ships. 4100 passengers. Ugh. I already hate that.
I've been on so many Norwegian cruises that their ships are familiar to me. This one was not so I started watching some youtube videos and looking at the layout. The videos were a little positive and negative. I take it all with a grain of salt because everyone expects something different when they travel.
Frankly I think this boat is ugly. And once I started seeing it in videos, I really think the interior needs a freshening up. One video said it was supposed to go through a refresh in 2025. Not sure if has or if it'll happen later. We shall see.
The room is weird. There isn't a "bathroom" per se. On one side you have the toilet and the other the shower. And the sink is around the corner from the shower. Thankfully they put a curtain in so you can have some privacy. I think it's weird though and it means we won't have as much counter space for all our girl crap.
See the toilet on the top and the shower on the bottom to the right? Weird huh?
It looks tiny. I realize it's just the two of us but sheesh.
The Photo Scavenger Hunt
The last think I do is print out the photo scavenger hunt. I started this several years ago and find it so much fun. Sherrie's never experienced this so she'll have to be trained to look for these odd ball photo ops. Janet was always game and often would see things before I did.
This year is a big one! I'll be shocked if we get 80% of them. Some are too specific and some we won't be in the area of what the requestor has asked.
So here we are. All ready to go. The only thing remaining is to clean out the fridge and take out the garbage.
The weather doesn't look great for us sadly. We specifically picked this time of year because the weather was supposed to be sunny and mid to high 60s. I didn't even consider it might be rainy, but it looks like all of Greece will be rain soaked.
Linus knows something is up and he's been a bit out of sorts today. He'll be watched by a new Rover guy and I'm sure he'll be fine. I'll miss the little fur ball though.
Stay tuned for daily blogs of our adventures.
