First time Carnival cruiser - a few questions

Hi,

My first cruise with Carnival will be after the new year on the Miracle, heading to Mexico. I'm taking my wife and 2 young ones, and just have a few questions.

1. On my previous cruise with Royal Caribbean, they allowed me to sign up for an unlimited soda package at a fixed price per person. However, after booking my trip with Carnival, I could not find a similar package offered. I do see shore excursions offered, as well as gift packages for on board the ship, but not a soda package.

2. My wife and I are not completely sure what we want to do on shore yet: if we sign up for shore excursions on the ship, will it cost more than doing it beforehand? Do these excursions typically fill up?

3. Is room service (food) free? Are there certain items free? E.g. if my wife and I tried to get breakfast delivered or an after-hours snack, would it cost extra? What hours does room service operate?

4. Do the children's activities (I think its called Camp Carnival) cost extra?

5. Actually come to think of it, are there any hidden or otherwise important-to-note extra charges that I should be aware of?

6. I am interested in doing the Chef's Table, but similar to the drink package question above, I cannot find an option to add it to my cruise reservation. I do see an option for steakhouse dining, but not the chef's table.

Thank you all!

#3 Room service is free. Should tip a buck or two when delivered. You will not find hot foods on there like bacon and eggs for breakfast

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/menus/roomService.htm

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camp is free- broke down into age groups 2-5 6-8 9-11 12-14 15-17

Open on sea days at 10am- closes at 12:45 open at 2pm and closes at 5pm and open again at 7 fee based at 10pm

do your online registration before you go.

Orientation the first day you get onboard usually about 5pm.

camp is not opened the first day.

You will be given a activity sheet for the entire week. (take a highlighter marking up the stuff you want to do as you go through it with the kids

how old are the kids?

I would wait and see how the kids do at camp to see if you will be able to partake in the Chef Table. Unless you are taking people that can babysit for you if they do not like the camp

1. On my previous cruise with Royal Caribbean, they allowed me to sign up for an unlimited soda package at a fixed price per person. However, after booking my trip with Carnival, I could not find a similar package offered. I do see shore excursions offered, as well as gift packages for on board the ship, but not a soda package.

http://www.carnival.com/cruise-food/bottomless-bubbles

2. My wife and I are not completely sure what we want to do on shore yet: if we sign up for shore excursions on the ship, will it cost more than doing it beforehand? Do these excursions typically fill up?

the prices will be the same but the popular ones do tend to get booked

3. Is room service (food) free? Are there certain items free? E.g. if my wife and I tried to get breakfast delivered or an after-hours snack, would it cost extra? What hours does room service operate?

http://www.carnival.com/cruise-food/24-hour-room-service

4. Do the children's activities (I think its called Camp Carnival) cost extra?

http://www.carnival.com/onboard/camp-carnival

5. Actually come to think of it, are there any hidden or otherwise important-to-note extra charges that I should be aware of?

there are some charges on the ship. Bingo, some Restaurants, pictures, not sure if any of them are really hidden

6. I am interested in doing the Chef's Table, but similar to the drink package question above, I cannot find an option to add it to my cruise reservation. I do see an option for steakhouse dining, but not the chef's table.

http://www.carnival.com/cruise-food/chefs-table

#2 SHORE EXCURSIONS. go over to the port of calls board to see if there is something to do for cheaper then the cruiselines excursions.

what you see on carnival web page is what it will cost you onboard.

Some excursions sell out more quickly then others.

The soda package is purchased onboard.

No charge for room service, but do tip. Room service only stops during embarkation. For the last morning you'll need to use the hang tag instead of calling it in.

Just one more tidbit regarding room service..... There will be a door hanger tag on the wall with breakfast items. Your room steward will keep you supplied with more. You can fill this out the night before and put a time for delivery of your breakfast items then hang on your door. Only Continental type items are available.

For snack and sandwich offerings, one of the papers in your cabin will have general information on it. On the back is the room service menu with all the items that are available. Keep this handy for those late night calls for snacks.

Enjoy!!

Cheers program available for alcoholic drinks. Bottomless Bubbles program available for SOME non-alcoholic drinks. Both can be purshased after you board.

Check Carnival faqs for details.

The soda package is purchased onboard.

 

No charge for room service, but do tip. Room service only stops during embarkation. For the last morning you'll need to use the hang tag instead of calling it in.

1. On my previous cruise with Royal Caribbean, they allowed me to sign up for an unlimited soda package at a fixed price per person. However, after booking my trip with Carnival, I could not find a similar package offered. I do see shore excursions offered, as well as gift packages for on board the ship, but not a soda package.

 

http://www.carnival.com/cruise-food/bottomless-bubbles

 

2. My wife and I are not completely sure what we want to do on shore yet: if we sign up for shore excursions on the ship, will it cost more than doing it beforehand? Do these excursions typically fill up?

 

the prices will be the same but the popular ones do tend to get booked

 

3. Is room service (food) free? Are there certain items free? E.g. if my wife and I tried to get breakfast delivered or an after-hours snack, would it cost extra? What hours does room service operate?

 

http://www.carnival.com/cruise-food/24-hour-room-service

 

4. Do the children's activities (I think its called Camp Carnival) cost extra?

 

http://www.carnival.com/onboard/camp-carnival

 

5. Actually come to think of it, are there any hidden or otherwise important-to-note extra charges that I should be aware of?

 

there are some charges on the ship. Bingo, some Restaurants, pictures, not sure if any of them are really hidden

 

6. I am interested in doing the Chef's Table, but similar to the drink package question above, I cannot find an option to add it to my cruise reservation. I do see an option for steakhouse dining, but not the chef's table.

 

http://www.carnival.com/cruise-food/chefs-table

Okay, so if I understand correctly, the difference between Royal and Carnival is that on Royal you optionally pay for these services before you board whereas on Carnival, you must do it after boarding. And I am guessing it is the front desk which is where you do this?

They have stations set up on lido around the pool where you can purchase bottomless bubbles. I think you can purchase it at any bar though.

Typically they have someone in either the atrium or near the pool bars selling the soda packages. Not sure where they sell Chefs Table reservations. (Possibly the steakhouse?). Be aware that on Carnival the sodas need to be ordered through wait staff or at the bars. They do not have the nice Freestyle self serve machines.