9 days to go and this cooler virgin needs advice

Well the countdown has officially started in our house!

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

9 days and wake up and we are headed to Blue Water! STJ Beach to Beach Swim, staying with friends who live on island, and 8 days of down town all make me anxious! Why do I have to wait soooooooooooooooo long?

Question for those with cooler carrying experience. I am thinking about taking a 24pk Polar Cooler this trip. Do most folks carry the cooler on the plane or do you put it in luggage. What does TSA think of frozen meat?

thanks for any input

Assuming your cooler meets the carry-on size restrictions imposed by your airline you'll have no problem taking frozen meats through the TSA checkpoints - we've done it at least once a year ever since the TSA started checking things.

Make sure, however, you don't put anything in the cooler that is a liquid or gel in its "natural state" - i.e. no ice cubes, frozen sauces, or frozen gel packs, etc. - as they will be confiscated. Also, you cannot use dry ice if you are carrying on your cooler as airlines won't allow that in the cabin. You can use a limited amount of dry ice (check directly with your airline for allowed amount) if you decide to check your cooler.

I'm jealous Tom! We always check our "48" polar bear packed with close to 50lbs of frozen meat (we freeze food 3 days early so it's solid). I don't use/need to put any ice products, the meat stays frozen from Dulles to the villa! Dry the cooler out on our last night and carry it on the plane. Have a great trip! I think I can see your villa in this...............

As folks said, no problem with carryon frozen items with no freezer packs or ice. They usually open our well used Polar Bear 24 (sitting on the kitchen counter right now after a weekend trip) to check the contents. As long as everything is well frozen it will stay hard for a long trip.

I quit bringing the cooler for land-based trips on STJ. I did bring the cooler down four times in the last 12 months for sailing trips, since it shortens the provisioning trip so much to have the proteins pre-packed, marinated and seasoned, and ready to cook. But, I'm still tempted to bring down some growlers of fresh Mad Fox beer in my polar bear for the land based trips - works like a charm as checked luggage and the beer arrives cold.

Cheers, RickG

As someone else said, so long as it fits the carry on restrictions for size and there is nothing that will unthaw into liquid, it's safe to carry on and I personally prefer to carry on my frozen meat. I trust airlines not at all. The one and only time we ever checked some meat, we got separated from the luggge and by the time we saw it two days later, obviously the meat was thawed and we had to throw it away..

Beerman you are correct... It is where the others live!

Hard to believe that after 35 years of STJ visits... first time staying Coral Bay and the first time for a cooler.
The cooler is really to bring supplies for our friends who have moved there. A few treats for extending us the hospitality to stay with them. Also this would be a practice run with the cooler.

Over the weekend, we also booked a trip in December. There is a group of us, which kick-off the season with a pre-holiday feast to stretch our stomachs for the coming festivities.

We all love to cook and drink wine. It is always a 5 or 6 course meal with each family doing a course and the accompanying wine. Well since our normal host (they had the best kitchen) moved to the islands we are invading them.

We rented a 5 Bedroom villa with a excellent kitchen and we are all going for a week! In my best Cajun - "Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

What made it real sweet is we all got a direct flight from IAD to STT for $379. So… the first week of December will be another visit to the blue water. That trip the cooler will be stuffed.

I think for this first attempt, I will keep the cooler close and give it a ride under the seat in front of me.

Unregistered above is me... the sign in challenged one
TomB <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

We just got back from two weeks on Virgin Gorda. Took a polar bear backpack cooler. Carried it on, it fit in the overhead bin. Had to make an unexpected overnight in St Thomas due to missing the last ferry. Asked the people at Windward Passage to put it in the freezer. No problem. I think everything would of still been frozen. Filled it with dirty clothes on the way home.
Ellen

Polar Bear 24 arrived to today!
Amazon Prime 2 day free delivery!
SWEET!

Will a 24 pk cooler fit under the seat or does it have to go in the overhead? I am hoping under the seat, but I am thinking it may be too big. But it sure looks close.

Thanks

Speaking of PB coolers, they are offering 10% off all coolers.
Code is 5150
www.polarbearcoolers.com

We used two Polar coolers which were checked from Lax through Miami to STT. Ferry to Tortola and 24 hours later, everything was still frozen. I did deep freeze of all items for several days and used technical-ice packs. They work very well.

We had a successful transit also. I was very pleased. Although our run was much shorter than your from the left coast.

I was still a doubting Thomas before our trip so I put all of our food items in my dry bag and then did 4 days in the freezer. The morning of our departure I put the dry bag in the cooler stuffed a few carry on items on top of it for the trip. Nothing had even begun to de-thaw when we arrived. Very impressed with this cooler.

Thanks to BEERMAN I bought a 24 pack Polar Bear and used it for the 1st time this week down to VG. AWESOME! Just used my vacuum pak to seal/freeze tune, swordfish, marinated filets, and some great Bolognaise (sp?) NO added ice packs and just carried on without any hassle! Food frozen solid until we unpacked after a 14 hour day. Bringing in specialty items isn't about saving money it's about having fun cooking in a gourmet kitchen looking down over the water and Leverick! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />