Three Questions.

Carnival

 

4 Day Bahamas from Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL

 

Departs from: Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL

Aboard the: Carnival Ecstasy

Ports of Call: Nassau, The Bahamas Freeport, The Bahamas

• Will we need to bring birth certificates?
  
• Is food/ect. included in the cost of the cruise?
  
• Are there phones on the ship?
  

Yes to all. Unless you bring passports. Then you don't need the birth certificates.

1. Yes, you will need birth certificates or passports as well as picture id's.

2. Food at the buffet and main dining room is included and iced tea, lemonade & ice water at meals are included. Alcoholic drinks, beer and bottled water are not. Most ships offer specialty dining for a fee!

3. There are phones but to call home is ver y expensive!!

Happy sailing!

That's the one we plan to go on because it works for our dates.

 

 

• Will we need to bring birth certificates?
  
• Is food/ect. included in the cost of the cruise?
  
• Are there phones on the ship?
  

1) You need proof of citizenship. If you have a passport you don't need birth certificates. I strongly recommend you get a passport. You can not fly back to the US with a birth certificate - you need a passport for that. Why would you have to fly? What if there is an emergency (your Mom or Dad suddenly takes ill for example).

2) All food except certain specialty items are included.

3) Yes, there are phones on the ship. Take out a second mortgage, 'cause the ship phone run about $12 per minute. You are better off with a cell phone. Most ships (and I believe all Carnival ship) have cell phone towers. There are roaming charges, but they are less than the ship's phones. Calls to other rooms on the ship are free.

That's the one we plan to go on because it works for our dates.

 

 

• Will we need to bring birth certificates? Yes or Passport Preferred
  
• Is food/ect. included in the cost of the cruise? Yes
  
• Are there phones on the ship? Yes , very expensive to use to call home.
  

Passport is preferred in case you miss the boat and have to fly home.

All meals and entertainment is included on the ship .

Phone will cost you about $5 per minute to call back to the US.

Coffee is also free in the dining room and buffet area.

If you want sodas -- you will pay for them.

I would only use the phones to call other phones on the ship. That is free. Calls to shore are expensive.

So, with food and (most) drinks paid for, will we need much cash/credit cards?

I read something about a gratuity being around $11.00 per day, are we supposed to pay that in bulk at the beginning, or how does that that work?

What about shore excursions...

Thanks for all the help guys, I'm so clueless...

Keep reading Cruise Critic. There is a vast supply of info here.

So, will food and (most) drinks paid for, will we need much cash/credit cards? You'll be asked to supply a Credit Card at check in for your on board expenses

 

I read something about a gratuity being around $11.00 per day, are we supposed to pay that in bulk at the beginning, or how does that that work?

Gratuity is added to your on board account every . Then you pay in cash or charge to credit card

What about shore excursions... Depending on the company excursions are either prepaid before sailing or charged to your shipboard account. All cruise lines have organized excursions. As a new cruiser is would use cruise line excursions for your first cruise.

 

 

Thanks for all the help guys, I'm so clueless...

Hope this helps you.

That's the one we plan to go on because it works for our dates.

 

 

• Will we need to bring birth certificates?
  
• Is food/ect. included in the cost of the cruise?
  
• Are there phones on the ship?
  

while a passport is the preferred form of ID, if you do not have one (or a passport card) then yes you need a BC for each member plus a government issued ID such as a Driver's license. Children of course do not need the DL.

most food is included. the only drinks that are included is plain coffee at meal times, iced tea and lemonade. soda and all alcoholic drinks are extra as are specialty coffees. there are for fee restaurants( clearly indicated) as well as for fee options in the main dining room( also clearly indicated) Casino, Shopping, Bingo is an extra fee. Spa services are extra. some enrichment programs are free, others incur a fee. some fitness classes in the gym are extra. shore excursions are extra.

the phones on board are free for inter cabin usage.. to call outside the ship prepare to be paying $8-10 a minute.

So, will food and (most) drinks paid for, will we need much cash/credit cards?

 

I read something about a gratuity being around $11.00 per day, are we supposed to pay that in bulk at the beginning, or how does that that work?

 

What about shore excursions...

 

 

Thanks for all the help guys, I'm so clueless...

gratuities are posted to your on board account. your cc is charged at the end of the cruise. you can of course choose to pay all or part of the bill in cash at any time during the cruise. the suggested amount of gratuities is PER PERSON per day, regardless of age.

You will need to register a credit card with the ship at check in just like when you check into a hotel (as that a what the ship is). They will pre-authorize about $100 per day up front ( call cruise line to verify ) and more as you go depending on whether up "spend" up a storm. The ship is "cashless" in other words you can not pay for anything about the ship, instead you use your "room card" as your ships Identification and it works as a credit card to. As you purchase drinks or treats thru out the ship, or ships excursions they will be charged to your shipboard account. You can monitor your spending daily as it is posted to your acct by either going to the front desk or accessing your acct on the TV in your cabin. As you spend more money they will reauthorize addional money on your credit card. Tips are put on your acct at the end of the cruise.

If you don't want to use a Credit Card but would rather pay cash then you need to contact the cruiseline to see what the requirement for the deposit is.

While food is included and certain drinks at meal (no alcohol or fancy coffees) you need to go to the cruiselines website and pull up their FAQ and you will get this and many questions answered.

Pay very close attention to the legal documents needed to even board the ship!

Passports are the easiest, no hassle way. Birth Certs, marriage cert and any thing documenting name changes need to be "official, certified docs " and not just photocopies. Traveling with children can be another whole can of worms.

Start reading lots of threads on CC and also go read FAQ on the cruiselines website. Great info in both places.

Happy sailing!

Almost forgot....... You are taking a very short cruise so about the phone??? Unless there is a huge emergency don't "phone home", the ships phone is mega expensive but using your cell phone and roaming especially if its a "smart phone" could end up costing you $1000's - ya $1000's do not turn on your cell after the ship sails out of port in Florida! It's not just the phone calls but the international Data roaming. I accidently left my phone on as we left Key West and went up for dinner.... 2 hrs later returned to m cabin and found my iPhone merrily updating and downloading.... The bill for that little Opps was nearly $500 from AT&T when I got home.

Put your phone in "airplane" mode and Turn it OFF and lock the thing up in your cabin safe never to see the light of day until you are off the ship in the US at the end of the cruise. The risk of accidently running up a huge cell phone bill is to great and simply to easy to do.

Can I tell you how I wished. Had just used the ships phone and had been charged $40 for my call to home! Instead of the nasty surprise from AT&T .

Anyway, calling home??? Only in an emergency and if grandma is keeping the kids and she has an emergency she can contact the cruiseline and they will come find you.

Don't do it!!

Carnival will charge the "tips" to your account daily....you can request that you pay them in advance of your cruise, if you wish.

You will not need to carry cash or credit cards around the ship with you. Just like in a hotel, you will show your room key and everything will be charged to your shipboard account. Your credit card that's linked to the account will be charged when the cruise is over. Or, you can go to the customer service desk and pay it off in cash on the last night or last morning....up to you.

So, with food and (most) drinks paid for, will we need much cash/credit cards?

 

I read something about a gratuity being around $11.00 per day, are we supposed to pay that in bulk at the beginning, or how does that that work?

 

What about shore excursions...

 

 

Thanks for all the help guys, I'm so clueless... by any chance, are you in Seattle?

I find it easier to use a credit card for the on board account. Some people like to use cash. Gratuities can be paid before or during the cruise. If during the cruise, then it will be charged to your on board account.

With some lines you can purchase your shore excursions ahead of time. Other cruise lines let you reserve the shore excursion ahead of time, but the cost goes on your on board account. You can also purchase shore excursions on the ship. That will be charged to your on board account.

You'll also need some cash for purchases on shore. Most stores on shore will also accept credit cards.

If you choose not to register a credit card up front you will be asked to deposit a fixed amount in cash prior to your account being activated. It varies by cruise line but typically $50/day or so. Credit card is so much easier

If you choose not to register a credit card up front you will be asked to deposit a fixed amount in cash prior to your account being activated. It varies by cruise line but typically $50/day or so. Credit card is so much easier

PER PERSON (again, regardless of age).

you can disable kids' cards so that they cannot charge anything at all if that is your preference.

Forgot that detail but it is true. Also if you deplete your account to zero while on the cruise you will be asked to make another deposit to it. One other thing I forgot. It can be a huge pain in the butt to settle your final bill. Typically you will be asked to settle the account the night prior to completing the cruise. No lie, I have seen as many as a hundred people lined up to do it. It only takes one person to dispute one charge and you get the pleasure of wasting your last night on board in a line with a bunch of grumpy people. Best to use the card, get a print out every second day or so and if there are questionable charges, and they do happen, get them sorted out early. Also, once you settle your tab there can be no further charges on your account.

PER PERSON (again, regardless of age).

 

you can disable kids' cards so that they cannot charge anything at all if that is your preference.

Yes, you can limit your child's charging privileges.

The calls from ship to shore are not as expensive as they used to be. The following is from the FAQs on Carnival's website.

For our guest's convenience, the ship's telecommunications network offers direct dialing via satellite from the staterooms telephone. This is available 24 hours a day regardless of the ship's location. This service is closed on the final day of the cruise at 4:00AM. The rate is $1.99 USD per minute, and charges are billed to the guest's on board Sail and Sign Card. Since all communication is via satellite, the charges apply to all calls including calling cards, credit cards, 800 toll-free numbers and collect calls.

Don't be afraid of a quick call home if it will make you relax and enjoy your cruise! At $1.99 a minute, the call won't break the bank!

Happy Cruising!

That's the one we plan to go on because it works for our dates.

 

 

• Will we need to bring birth certificates?
  
• Is food/ect. included in the cost of the cruise?
  
• Are there phones on the ship?
  

You'll love the Ecstasy! We sailed on her twice before she moved away from Galveston. Happy Cruising!

Carnival Ecstasy (and other Carnival Fantasy class ships) do not have any for fee restaurants. And unless you are in a suite, you will need to bring a hairdryer (if you use one). EM

Add to the list of free drinks: Orange and other juices in the morning (both in the dining room and buffet), and milk and hot chocolate anytime in the MDR or buffet (when open). Carbonated drinks and alcoholic drinks cost extra, and a 15% tip is always added to these. Note that room service is free, but you should tip a dollar or 2 or 3 (depending on the size of the order), so bring some single dollar bills. You can always change a large bill into singles at the casino cashier window if you want. Casino is open when outside the territorial waters of the countries. Carnival also has 24 hour free pizza and soft serve ice cream. You can get free scooped ice cream in the dining room for lunch (open only on sea days) and dinner.

You might want to join your roll call. Scan this to find yours: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=339

Also read on the Carnival board for info.

Bring a hairdyer (if needed) and hair conditioner. Carnival only supplies generic shampoo and generic body wash.

To check in with those at home we use Currently Onboard on the carnival.com site. It is free to use onboard. It is an open message board. We set it up ahead of time.

carnival.com-community-forums-user groups (currently onboard)