ptod

Just a bottle opener ? as long as i have that i soon forget about the things i should have packed but didnt  ? 

If your smart watch or Fitbit-like device (or anything else) has a special charging cable, buy an extra 1 or 2 and stash one in your travel kit.
A friend realized a couple days into a cruise that she had forgotten her Fitbit charging cable.  I have a different model so I couldn't help her.  While waiting for a show to start in the main theater, I suggested that she just stand up and ask the other passengers if anyone could help her - she was not brave enough.  Needless to say, I won the step challenge for the week.  Thank you 70's dance party!!!!

This might should have been said before now on this string......
When you book with MEI-Travel, yes you are support the sponsor, but you are ultimately support Matt and all he does with the blog.  We give back to Matt, his community and on his group cruises from all of the bookings that come from his site.  While it may not benefit you if you are not on a sailing with him on a group cruise, there are other ways that we give back to support Matt and his followers.

You might be surprised at how many people will stop and chat if they recognize the games you bring.  Maybe even like to join in.
Friends brought several Keyforge decks on a recent trip and had several people stop to chat/sit for a while.
Besides regular card decks, we like to bring a Fluxx deck (usually Pirate Fluxx or sometimes Zombie Fluxx - but never Monty Python Fluxx) and we have been known to bring Exploding Kittens (our 3 cats don't mind that we like the game). 

You might be surprised at how many people will stop and chat if they recognize the games you bring.  Maybe even like to join in.
Friends brought several Keyforge decks on a recent trip and had several people stop to chat/sit for a while.
Besides regular card decks, we like to bring a Fluxx deck (usually Pirate Fluxx or sometimes Zombie Fluxx - but never Monty Python Fluxx) and we have been known to bring Exploding Kittens (our 3 cats don't mind that we like the game). 

You might be surprised at how many people will stop and chat if they recognize the games you bring.  Maybe even like to join in.
Friends brought several Keyforge decks on a recent trip and had several people stop to chat/sit for a while.
Besides regular card decks, we like to bring a Fluxx deck (usually Pirate Fluxx or sometimes Zombie Fluxx - but never Monty Python Fluxx) and we have been known to bring Exploding Kittens (our 3 cats don't mind that we like the game). 

You might be surprised at how many people will stop and chat if they recognize the games you bring.  Maybe even like to join in.
Friends brought several Keyforge decks on a recent trip and had several people stop to chat/sit for a while.
Besides regular card decks, we like to bring a Fluxx deck (usually Pirate Fluxx or sometimes Zombie Fluxx - but never Monty Python Fluxx) and we have been known to bring Exploding Kittens (our 3 cats don't mind that we like the game). 

@michelle - thank you for following up and providing more information on group space.
I think we lucked into a sailing that has group space and my friends and I are currently reviewing some very excellent quotes from the MEI agent.  Group space for 2 being refundable is something that I probably read somewhere along the way but it never stuck in my brain.  It was an added bonus showing on the options we were given.
I am glad I reached out for some guidance and have learned some new things along the way.
Thanks again everyone!

I normally book my cruises direct with RC, however, I am considering working with a TA to book an upcoming cruise with 3 cabins as a test run for future cruises - one in particular that will likely total more than 10 cabins.
I haven't contacted any TA yet, but am looking for some general info on how working with a TA actually works.  I understand the basics - the TA owns the reservation, they may or may not kick in a perk for the trip, any changes to the reservation have to go thru the TA, etc.
People on various online forum suggest looking for a TA that has group space.  Am I going too far out on a limb assuming that the bigger the agency, the more group space they have?  If we use MEI as an example, would an agency that size usually have group space on some, most, all cruises with RC?  Is the answer the dreaded "it depends'?  Is group space usually found on the big ships, certain times of year or "it depends"?  The cruise I am looking at is in early 2021 so I am not close to the cutoff when TAs give back their unsold inventory.
I like to imagine that TAs live regular lives and occasionally go on their own vacations.  If we stick with MEI agents, do you find they generally have a backup agent when they are taking some time off?  Do they do what many others do and check work email while on vacation?  I know the true answer is "it depends".
TIA for any insights - I do have a MEI agent in mind to contact as way of saying thanks for the good info found on forum and MEI's sponsorship of same. 

@michelle - thank you for following up and providing more information on group space.
I think we lucked into a sailing that has group space and my friends and I are currently reviewing some very excellent quotes from the MEI agent.  Group space for 2 being refundable is something that I probably read somewhere along the way but it never stuck in my brain.  It was an added bonus showing on the options we were given.
I am glad I reached out for some guidance and have learned some new things along the way.
Thanks again everyone!

We also use packing cubes and usually end up with 1 empty cube after we unpack.  Before we go gallivanting around the ship, we each put a set of clothes we can wear on the way home in the empty cube and drop it in our carry-on bag.  No worries about forgetting to leave out a set of clothes on the last night.  Never want to be one of those people. 

@michelle - thank you for following up and providing more information on group space.
I think we lucked into a sailing that has group space and my friends and I are currently reviewing some very excellent quotes from the MEI agent.  Group space for 2 being refundable is something that I probably read somewhere along the way but it never stuck in my brain.  It was an added bonus showing on the options we were given.
I am glad I reached out for some guidance and have learned some new things along the way.
Thanks again everyone!

I would be curious to know the dates for each of your sailings to see if G could be an area/group code or specific cabana code.
 
In talking with the Shore Excursion staff, it was explained to us that all cabanas are now to be assigned by the date your booked the cabana - not by when you booked the cruise.  If the cabanas are now lettered instead of numbers, it will take some reports to figure out the lettering scheme.  I would volunteer to investigate. ?
 
On a side note - with the ability to bring music/speakers nearly everywhere on the island, please, please, please be mindful that not everyone wants to hear your music all day.  We had been in our cabana for 30 minutes or so when the guests behind us turned their music on very loud.  I was not going to suffer through that all day (the volume not the genre) so I walked around and asked politely for them to turn it down.  The guests next to the music player thanked me later for saying something as they didn't know what to say or do.  I am glad I got over my fear of saying something a while ago and now I have no trouble asking nicely first then requesting staff to step in if necessary.

There is no need for water shoes in the water at the cabana area, however, I found it easier to walk in the sand with water shoes on than wearing sandals or going barefoot.  ymmv
When you check in at the Cabana Cove hut the staff will ask if you would like snorkel gear.
On our April 6th sailing on Anthem, we went to the Shore Excursion desk right after boarding to choose a Cabana Cove cabana and were told that cabanas were now being assigned based on reservation date.  I will assume that if a Star class guest reserved a cabana that they will still get to pick.
I can also confirm 4 bottles of water in a cooler are provided - plenty of ice in the cooler if you want to bring wine or other beverage that needs to be chilled.
NO roaming bar staff in this area - small bar in same covered area where the buffet was set up and every frozen drink order turned into a Coco Loco.

Every time I have been in Mexico via land trips or cruises, the ice used during excursions was made with bottled/filtered water.  Just like private tour providers don't want to risk getting people back to the ship late, neither do they (or restaurants favored by tourists) want to have a reputation of giving anyone Montezuma's revenge.
When in doubt, ask if the ice cubes were made with bottled/filtered water.  I have never had any restaurant balk at answering the question quickly and emphatically that all ice was made safely for tourists.
Safe travels!

There is no need for water shoes in the water at the cabana area, however, I found it easier to walk in the sand with water shoes on than wearing sandals or going barefoot.  ymmv
When you check in at the Cabana Cove hut the staff will ask if you would like snorkel gear.
On our April 6th sailing on Anthem, we went to the Shore Excursion desk right after boarding to choose a Cabana Cove cabana and were told that cabanas were now being assigned based on reservation date.  I will assume that if a Star class guest reserved a cabana that they will still get to pick.
I can also confirm 4 bottles of water in a cooler are provided - plenty of ice in the cooler if you want to bring wine or other beverage that needs to be chilled.
NO roaming bar staff in this area - small bar in same covered area where the buffet was set up and every frozen drink order turned into a Coco Loco.