NKOTB Cruise blog by Chelo_mx: Door Decorations

Follow @chelo_mx By @Chelo_mx

Decorate your door -

DO I HAVE TO DECORATE???
Not really... It's up to you and your roomies.
It sure takes preparation, time, money and luggage space.. but it can really be fun!!!
It's a nice way to display your Blockhead pride and it helps your friends (and even yourself) to find your cabin faster. LOL

Is it a contest???
Yes, but there's only one winner, and it gets notified while on board so some only findout who the winner was until we get back home. The process of how is it chosen remains a mistery.... some say that NK crew, bodyguards, Rose Tours or someone films or take pictures of their favorite's for the guys to select the winner. Or that they take into consideration the "buzz" of "have you seen the X door?
Prize has varied over the years, but it usually is NKOTB merch, either to be chosen on board or shipped home.

The Rule... HAVE FUN !!
Let your creativity flow, share your best NK memories, show us how you have fun with your friends, take us back to memory lane, kick it old school style, and proudly represent where are you from.

Work as a Team
Discuss with your roomies your ideas, divide and conquer!
Plan ahead, divide work and agree which supplies each will bring on board.

Door Size

There are several "versions" of the measurements but for what I've seen posted on different blogs and websites You can find 2'2" x 68 / 20 x 75 inches / (64.7cm)x (2.03 mts) but it depends if they are talking about the door, the whole frame, or the size they have some banners made clearing or covering the notch

This is the "popular" pic that has been floating around with some measurements, hope it helps (It's not my pic... so I didn't take those measurements)

Handle and lock (notch)

Take into consideration that the handle isn't on the same side for each cabin, some have it on the right side and some on the left.

Additional places to decorate
On previous ships, some rooms had a panel (light) which could be decorated too! (But it changes depending on the ship)
Some people use the ceiling or floors.
It depends on where your cabin is located, sometimes you can have an empty wall next to your door or across from it with NO cabins at all. SO bring additional props.

Before decorating: BE CORTEOUS!!!!
Before spreading your domain and marking your territory.
Check with your neighbors: share half of the "empty" wall or panel with your cabin neighbors. Or use the right side, or left side accordingly. If they are not decorating ask if they mind if you use their wall before you take over.

*** NOT EVERY empty wall can be used.
It's a Cruise Ship, a Floating Hotel, so Stewards or House Keeping have special doors for their supplies or "authorized personnel only" entries or passages. Don't decorate those.
SAFETY FIRST. Don't cover the ship's signs, emergency exits, fire extinguishers, hoses... etc ***
And Carnival has being enforcing some of their policies and removing items that are on the aisles or those thay they consider flamable or hazardous.

If I don't know my roommie, or I'm on the match program?
Hopefully you can get intouch with your roomie before boarding discuss "the door"
If not, make your own stuff, and before placing it ask what did she brought.
If she doesn't want to decorate at all, ask her if it's OK with her if you do, and If you should use the door or the side wall.

What can I use to decorate?
ANYTHING!!!!
Some people make some MEGA productions! with lights, music, tons of props and some keep it simple.
Here are some ideas:

Some have their door decoration printed on a vinyl banner that just need to be unrolled and taped to the door. Use posterprintshop.com or similar site to order a 20x75 inch aprox.
Place your pics with a NKOTB member, of them performing on a Concert, of your BH sisters onboard or back home
Display your flag if you travel from another country, show your Team colors etc.
Paste your pictures on a cardboard so you don't have to place them one by one
Make an interactive door (check below)

Don't forget to make your twitter handle visible.
People may know your virtual self, just from your handle, and you can get some new followers ;)

Is it safe to display my favorite memorabilia?

Hmmm, I honestly don't know... Crazies are everywhere and although we go around saying we are sisters.. some are "jealous" sisters, or some have big claws. But I have also seen some amazing stuff not being "removed"

It's up to you, The rule is: if it is irreplaceable, don't use it.
Yes, it might get signed by a NK, but it might get stolen too!!!

Use copies or prints of your favorite memories. If it's old school or one of the kind and you want to use it is your decision.

Do they sign EVERY door?
Unfortunately... NO.
It is very random, and it depends on each guy. Donnie, Jordan and Joe sign some doors.
Jon usually the ones that he finds funny, or that catches his attention. Danny does his best and goes through almost every door on EVERY deck, signing at least one item, poster or pic.

What to use to paste or hang my decorations?
Not with magnets, the doors aren't magnetic, the frames are but things won't stay in place
Keep in mind the weight of your decorations and that you are using Carnival Cruise Property so don't damage it. It is your responsibility what you choose to use.
Scotch tape, masking tape, duct tape, velcro, mounting tape, sticky tack, pritt tak

Remember to REMOVE your decorations and what ever stickiness left behind, the ship gets boarded again after docking and even though they have a cleaning crew, it is not part of their "regular" duties to scrub NK memories from the walls.

INTERACTING with fellow BH
Doors can also be used to communicate with other BH, leave a cute message, greetings, follow me on twitter note, or See you on lido deck at 10 pm lol
I love the doors in which you can interact or have fun while visiting.
Here are some ideas I've seen or used before

Place a POST - IT pad so they can leave you those notes. (with an attached pen)
Wipe-off board to leave a quick message for your friends.
Visitor's log (place a cardboard or little notepad) for twitter handle sharing or little notes
"Business" cards with your twitter, facebook, instagram info so people can reconnect with you, either leave it on your cabin or hand it one on one.
Bring Sharpies.... lot's of sharpies (for your door) to carry with you while on deck parties to get things signed (and as a gift to NK, because once they get one sharpie they won't let go..... lol they'll use the same Sharpie to sign different things and return it to a "different" person minutes later)

FUN and interactive doors

I really like the doors that are "interactive"

I've seen doors with different props that you can wear and take pictures with,
some people even place disposable cameras for you to snap a shot for the owner to keep,
Face in a hole are fun too
Doors that with cutout NK members and you can dress or undress them.
Jeopardy like games
Memory card games
Guessing games
Some people ask for cooperation from fellow cruisers beforehand to send stuff be used on their doors.

Gifts and Goodies

Not everyone does this, but everyone loves getting one.
You can leave them at your door for others to grab or give them away during the deck parties.
Anything goes. You can have them custom made or make them yourself.

pins and buttons
bracelets
beads
lanyards
keychains
pens
candy
notepads
trading cards

These are some of the things I've gotten from different years

I've been giving away these: buttons, pens and keychains

How to pack everything
It depends of where are you coming from.
I just have a suggestion before boarding the ship, be sure to remove your decorations and supplies from your BIG (check upon arrival bag) and place them on your carry-on.
Luggage can take hours to get to your cabin and usually after boarding if your cabin is ready, you can start decorating before the safety drill and the sail away party.

If you are flying and going straight to the port, remember that you can't have the scissors or tapes on your carry-on.

Pannels and Walls are different depending on the ship

Doors and walls between change depending on the ship, some are "walls" others pannels, some are half fabric half wall..

Carnival Victory
Walls between doors are half wall half fabric with flat hand rails and doors at the same level as walls

not my door, just my pic

Carnival Splendor
Doors are NOT at the same level as walls, they are inside with lights on the sides of the entrance. Walls between doors are flat surfaces with a small stripe of fabric at the bottom.

2014 Cruise Door pics
.

This was my door decoration in 2013 (Carnival Victory)
I was on deck 7 on a single cabin, I way too lucky!!! Besides my door I had the right wall all for myself because it was next to the steward's closet. My neighbors didn't want to decorate at all, so they told me that I could use the other side too.

My neighbors just placed a post-it stating that they didn't want to decorate at all, which JON found hilarious, and he starting banging at their door screamin BOO!!, no one answered so he signed their "door"

Here are some pictures and albums from previous cruises with door decorations for you to get some inspiration

2013
Click on the link to see the whole set

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chelo_mx/sets/72157642737186905/

You can see the general door layout.... Door and wall pannels .