BLOG PAGE
Teresa Barbee is a world traveler and she has lived in and visited numerous states in the U. S. She has also traveled to Liberia and Ghana West Africa, Okinawa, Japan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Her travels provide her with the opportunity to embrace many cultures and to meet people from all walks of life. As a result, she has an awareness about the needs of others particularly those in undeserved communities. She is a Missionary at heart and God has opened doors for her to serve his people in a variety of capacities. Teresa was employed with the Federal government for 30 years, and she and her husband Isadore, a retired Marine who shares her passion of humanitarian efforts, have two adult children, Tia Dubuisson and Erron Barbee, and six beautiful grandchildren.
Check out her travel blog
Well everyone, time is drawing near for the exciting 2015 Midwest Women’s Empowerment Summit! Are you READY??? I am! I stay ready for a cruise! Since I’ve cruised numerous times over the years, I would like to share some pointers with you in order to minimize your “what to do” list and maximize your time of relaxation and enjoyment on the ship and at Portside. In this blog I will discuss what to wear and how to pack.
What should I pack? How should I pack?
Keep in mind that the cruise line encourages each guest to limit their luggage to 2 suitcases per guest and the dimensions of each piece should not weigh more than 50 lbs (airline standard as well) and should not exceed 16”H x 24”W…there are no length restrictions. NOTE: If you wish to carry your luggage aboard the ship, it cannot exceed these dimensions, otherwise your luggage will have to be checked with the curbside porter.
The average temperature in the Bahamas in November is a high of 82 degrees and a low of 69 degrees, with an average humidity of 78%. So pack light-weight, breathable attire, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. You also want to keep in mind the activities onboard the ship (the vessel that never sleeps), and the appropriate attire you’ll need for each as well as the activities off the ship such as the conference in Freeport. There are activities with your name written all over them! While keeping your fitness routine intact in the gym to pampering yourself with a spa visit; to swimming, or while engaging in onboard casino and bingo, to nightclub activity and comedy shows, to dance lessons, just to name a few, there is an appropriate attire for each. Whew! I’m exhausted (in a good way) just writing them down!
The ship has a more than adequate air conditioning system, great for those of us that may experience “personal heat surges” at times, but for some, it might be extreme cooling. I highly recommend a wrap, shawl or light jacket ladies and for the gentlemen, make sure you pack a couple of long sleeve shirts and/or dinner jacket. I find that these items are primarily needed in the dining room.
There will be a formal night which is referred to as the “Captain’s Dinner”. The Captain and some of his crew avail themselves to the guests by mingling, answering questions, and creating photo opportunities. It is a really fun time! So be sure to bring your formal attire for this lovely occasion.
Pack attire that you can mix and match to minimize the number of items in your luggage. On my first cruise I had 2 complete outfits for every day. I can tell you from experience that I have never done that again. I didn’t even wear half of those items!! The goal is to have fun, and not be burdened with dragging a lot of luggage before or after the trip.
Do you think you can limit yourselves to just 2 pieces of luggage (excluding a small carry on for medications or valuables) after a brief overall description of some of the activities? Guess what? I will have 1 suitcase! My motto regarding luggage: “less is more”!
Tip: There are laundry rooms on board that have stationary irons and ironing boards (free of charge) in addition to washers and dryers (a charge) for your use. Pack some 3 in 1 laundry sheets in a ziplock bag, they take up virtually no space in your luggage. Until the next post of Cruisin’ Barbee Style!!