Almost Packed

I usually bring a total of 3 pair. I have to use the clear care solution which I must wait 6 hours before I can use them.I like to have a spare in case I lose one or a pair while diving or snorkeling etc. I usually bring one pair unopened just in case.

My daughter and son in law did this on their honeymoon. They had some awesome pictures taken. Edit your photos etc. They truly did an excellent job on them.

She said there were packages or you could just pick what you wanted.

When I am able to get all of my kids on the same ship at the same time, I plan to do this as well.

Have fun, enjoy and take all the photos you want.

I had Baileys to mine and it is always delicious!

I don't do black coffee so can't tell ya about that. I do know people have said it improved.

I don't think the pirate is that big of a deal. sure, you have the right to call and complain or mention that you didn't like it. If that's the biggest complaint of an entire vacation, I personally think it's great.

Now....when you call in to customer service and complain, sometimes common sense is met with common sense. Sometimes not. Perhaps the agent was rude, perhaps he/she was not. I don't know. But I wouldn't judge an entire company on one bad experience, especially if I had just had a great experience.

If you say you have a heart condition, something so serious that you could be startled and go in to cardiac arrest, then yes, carnival would be aware or should be aware of it.

I too have been startled by the pirate coming up behind me. I did not see him approaching from behind. For some reasons, the eyes in the back of my head missed him lol.

sometimes I let them and sometimes I say no thank you. It's not a big deal for me honestly. I've never purchased one of the photos from dinner either.

Apparently enough people do however as it seems to be worth it to them to pay the photogs to take the pics so there are people who seem to find value in it.

I bring my camera to dinner. It's not a big deal to me.

I think it depends....I have done both.

When I travel with the kids, I set my luggage out the night before. We enjoy breakfast or room service and take our time getting off the ship. I don't want to keep up with kid(s), luggage, other people who are cranky their vacation is over, lines, stairs etc.

If it's just me and dh, and i DID NOT bring everything but the kitchen sink, we will do self debarkation.

Yes, you get off earlier. But sometimes just having a coffee and breakfast before the chaos of a day of travel begins is nice.

IMO, if you have the time to take it slower, that's what I would do. Why stress after a great cruise.

Oh PULEEEEZE! Part of the fun of being on a ship is going to your cabin each night after turn down and finding, along with the towel animal, the FUNTIMES for the following day and reading through it and planning. I would be most disappointed if the cruiselines did away with this. The FUNTIMES also make a good souvenir.

I agree, we do this every night while they eat their chocolates and climb in to bed after brushing teeth. We all grab our differently colored highlighter and highlight away what we are interested in for the next day and compare it with camp's schedule. I for one would not use electronic technology. The paper is recycled, they print their own stuff...not a problem for me.

We left my son onboard on our last cruise in 2 different ports. He had a blast. Way more fun than if he'd gone with us.

I trust camp with my kids while i'm on board. I trust them while I'm off the ship.

I make sure I'm back in plenty of time to not miss the ship.

My son loves his time with his friends. It was his choice. He's 9 now.

Wanted to share what happened this week. This isnt meant to scare anyone but instead to help anyone in this unexpected situation in the future.

 

On Sunday my ex-husband decided to take our son (11) on a 5 night cruise out of our local city which left the next day (Monday), he called and I said it was fine. We both live in Tampa and are on amicable terms. My son has been on several cruises with just me but never one with Dad. So early Monday a.m. we met at the bank where our passports are in the safe deposit box and then they were off to the port. Well they get to the port and oops find out that my son's passport is expired by 1 month. So my son is there with no identification (birth certificate is also in the safe deposit box). My son calls while they are standing there checking in to let me know its expired. He says " Dad said stay by the phone in case they wont let me board". I wait patiently in case I need to run his birth certificate down to the port (luckily only about 30 min. away and it was 2 1/2 hours till the ship left) BUT never needed to. My ex called once they boarded. No birth certificate needed or any other documentation. I was stunned they let him board. I've been stewing on this for a few days and called the Port Authority today. I realize this was my fault for not realizing a child's passport isnt valid as long as an adult's but it still irritated me that they let my son board with no I.D. THANK GOD this isnt a kidnapping situation. The Port Authority said they occasionally do allow this if the child and adult arent on "the list". Guessing its some type of at risk for kidnapping list, who knows.

So in the rare case you are in this last minute situation for yourself or your child (passport expired, lost birth certificate) hope isnt completely lost. Still go to the port. I wouldve never thought this was allowed but apparently it isnt that rare. Son called this a.m. and he is having fun in Cozumel :) Glad my error didnt cost him not being able to go.

By the way his father didnt have written person from me to take him either.

While your situation turned out okay for you, others are NOT so lucky as I have repeatedly mentioned the fact that my friend's son was in fact denied boarding. So while it may be rare, it can happen.

I'm with you however, that I hate the thought of someone easily being able to take my kid out of the country. But I also know that if my crazy ex wanted to, he'd find a way regardless. Laws are only for those people willing to follow them.

I can't really help you answer your questions other than to direct you to the family board for the kid questions, and the wedding board for answers regarding the wedding.

Good luck. I'm sure you can find your answers on the other boards.

My husband will be the first to tell you he loves to dress up...especially in his tux....because he knows how important it is to me. I love it that he takes the time, and suffers through it for ME! And he also knows that he's usually rewarded nicely for it later too.

I wish Elegant night would have a stricter dress code, and that it was in fact enforced. I did notice a neighboring table of ours on elegant night.....the young man (on his honeymoon) was turned away for wearing shorts....on elegant night. He was the 2nd man I saw turned away that night.

He later showed up dressed a little better...not much. I think pretty much everyone knows about dressing up on a cruise.

I think if people don't want to dress that night, order room service, eat at the buffet or have pizza. I love seeing everyone dressed up and I truly do appreciate those who take the time and effort to do so. I'm very proud to see my husband (and my sons) dressed properly for dinner.

Take the tri rail down to Miami then catch a cab to the port.

Ditto!

My wife and i will be on the legend july 6 14. I am wondering

, should I pack my Tux?

DH always wears one at least once on every cruise. Nothing like a sharp dressed man, except the man "out" of that tux!:eek: ;)

REALLY! Why are you giving the OP crap? Her daughter is doing the right thing and coming forward with this info. Daughter did nothing wrong. Parent wants to help another parent and this is what you have to say. Guessing you don't have kids or you just don't give a crap about anyone elses kids.

I agree!

p.s

I'm a cougar...and obviously....a TwiMom LOL :eek: notice quote in my sig!

Wow, those shot glasses and coffee mugs look niiiice. I collect shot glasses so I could add those to my collection and everybody can find a use for a nice coffee mug like that. Granted I have tons of mugs at home already, including many ship-specific ones but still. I only got the cooler one time but those things are nice too. You don't even have to take them to the beach. If you want to bring snacks and Capri Sun drinks to a game for example, they work great because they are quick and easy for stadium security to look at and clear for you. I do have to say they are doing better in this department lately. Now they just have to allow people to use their free drink coupon anywhere on a sea day and we're getting somewhere. :cool:

I agree with you....coupons anywhere on the ship, any day...why be so picky I don't understand.

Good idea about using the bottom to smuggle stuff lol. The thought of sneaking in snacks (or other contraband lol) love it.

I'm still trying to figure out what the hell to do with it....and I live 5 minutes from the beach...LOL! :D:rolleyes:

LOL...i gave mine to my daughter who lives in San Diego...near the beach lol.

Here's my thoughts on it....

I love cruising out of Florida, it's the cheapest and the easiest bar none. I'm a Texan. I'd prefer my $'s be spent here but it's a pain going from HOU or IAH to Galveston.

I've cruised once out of Galveston and have no plans to do it again anytime soon.

I could pay for airfare to FL and still come out ahead of the high rates in Galveston.

I love the choices of ports out of FL. I'm not sure we'd have those choices out of Corpus.

Would I try it if CCL did it? sure. I think Texas is big enough it could handle both ports. Then we wouldn't be going the New Orleans, we could stay right here in TX....I hate cruising out of New Orleans too....I think I just love the ease and cheapness of FL lol. :D but i'd try it.

Loving the review! I cannot wait to read more!

Thanks for taking the time to do it!

Just off the Dream last week. I received an awkward beach bag/cooler. The top half is a small mesh net beach bag and the bottom of the bag is an insulated "cooler" that will hold about a 6 pack. Awkward part is if your bag is full, and your "cooler" is full, you have to tilt the bag over to unzip your cooler part hoping not to spill everything out of the bag.

It also has the logos of CCL's products on it. I wish it was either a beach bag or a cooler not both. Seemed cool at first but not real practical for real use.

This is what I do know...yes, they will let older kids (adults) in. My son was 19, a sr. in high school.

Do I believe the OP's daughter. Absolutely. Why? Because she showed genuine concern for her new friend's well being by alerting her mother.

Do 15 yr old and 20 yr olds date? Sure. should they? Heck no!

At those ages, they are worlds apart...or they should be. And remember this, 20 you are not a child...you are an adult! OP said almost 20, that means 19...still, one should worry about someone of that age willing to make such a long drive to meet a teen girl to "date". It's a bit unreasonable.

I would certainly contact the parents plain and simple.

This may be completely innocent, or this could be grooming.

My daughter was the victim of an aggravated sexual assault. I spent quite a while learning how these people work. This could be completely innocent, or not. I'm a gambler...but NEVER willing to gamble with a child's well being. Are you? I would notify the parents and if unable to do that, I'd call the police simple as that. Maybe I'm biased, or maybe I just have a little more insight and personal knowledge on it. At 15, I put the gray hairs on my mother's head. I know what a 15 yr. old can do. It scares me. OP, please follow your gut!

It's only $50...soooooo worth it to me. Get the kids to the cabin early, drop off all the bags etc. Skip the long line on embarkation and debarkation....totally worth it to us.

Now I'm platinum so I don't have to purchase it anymore. :)

But it was easier when traveling with our youngest.

Blackjack is still on board. The shows are not the Playlist Productions. They are 8 More Seconds, Dancin' in the Streets and Get Ready.

thanks for the info. I'm really glad to hear about those shows. Ive never seen them...

and the band...that will be good stuff too!

Thanks!

***wiping sweat from brow***

I just finished reading 50+pages of this thread....yes, in one sitting...at work no less hehe. :eek: :cool:

thanks to all who have given tips.

I hope to come back and add tips of my own after my cruise next week :D

Things I'm most looking forward to:

The slides (I'm a big kid)

Room Service

MDR & brunch.

Thanks again oh, and I keep hearing about this band blackjack. Are they still on the ship? Anyone know what production shows are on? I'm assuming it's a Playlist correct?

Thanks!

Only a few days to go!

I would love freshly brewed ice tea on every sailing, hot foods on the room service menu and biscuits and gravy for breakfast...or dinner.

Flavored coffee creamer would be nice too.

Loving the review!

That did make for a very long day.

I do have a quick question. You mentioned Platinum Self Assist. I did not know that there was V.I.P. self assist. I do not recall ever seeing a mention of this. I know about the V.I.P. where they call zone 1 and I'm aware of self assist people getting off with early flights. But is that different if you are platinum?

Just curious.

Thanks in advance.