happybooker1

Son & I have had ATD the last 3 cruises. Some nights -- longggg waits of 30-40 min in lines wrapping around the floor. Other nights -- 5-10 min. We are always prepared for the long wait and pleasantly surprised if we have a shorter wait. The time you go really doesn't seem to matter.

Actually my (& my Ex's) first cruise was 4/'82 on a Windjammer barefoot cruise. It was wayyyy fun. However due to life, it was 2004 before I got to enjoy a "standard" Carnival cruise, which REALLY got me hooked.

One of my dogs (Tiny Toy Poodle) would do great on a cruise. Well he'd do great anywhere he was w/in >5' of me. As long as he can lay touching me he's happy. Doesn't need walks, eats anything, housebroke, yep I'd bring him.

Thanks SRQbeachgirl and Essiesmom. I had hoped the cruise ships had joined the modern age with the creamers (sigh) .

Cruising on the Carnival Valor in a couple weeks. I have some ???'s

* Do they offer flavored coffee creamers (even powdered) at the coffee stations yet? (like vanilla, hazelnut, etc.)

* Do they offer bigger cups or mugs to fill with coffee?

* Do you have to pay extra for room service now?

* Are you offered second entrees in the dining room or only 1?

* In the bathrooms, do they furnish hair dryers? And shampoo, body soap, conditioners still?

* What size wine bottle can you bring on board per adult?

Thanks for your answers.

I use a cleaned out, rinsed Hydrogen Peroxide bottle, since I only bring vodka. Not see thru, and easy to obtain.

I can tell you what to do in Belize. Take a water taxi to Caye Caulker. The water taxi stand is about 1 block to the left when you exit the main port entry. You can google "water taxi belize" and get the costs pp to go wherever and the time it takes.

Its about a 45 minute trip to Caye Caulker. When you exit their port, go on the first "major" road (its dirt) to the right. Or ask anyone how to get to the "Split". Everyone knows. You'll walk about 15 minutes to the end of the island, which is the Split. There is a bar there "The Lazy Lizard" that serves drinks and meals. Hamburger is great and be sure to have their signature drink "Lizard Juice". Hang out at the beach all day, drink, eat, then meander back to the port and catch the water taxi back to the mainland. Fun times!

Fascinating read. Gave me lots to think about, since it's been 3.5 years since I last cruised.

.....gambling (21), dancing in the clubs, and vaping on the smoking deck.

He doesn't drink anyway (not all teenagers do) so NOT being able to was no big deal to him. Young people who vape have their own culture so he hung out with a bunch of young adults on the smoking deck.

He also enjoyed gambling. But only played 21. The first night he won $75 which basically paid for his $20/night self-imposed limit the rest of the cruise. He was never in the room befor 2:30 or 3 AM and thoroughly enjoyed himself.

For us anyway. Two years ago took a cruise out of Galveston to Roatan, Belize, and Coz all Thanksgiving week. Weather was FREEZING through the entire 2nd day. It rained every.frigging.day. Until after Roatan. In fact, they had the worst storm in YEARS in Roatan the early morning we got there & we docked late. Couldn't even get off the ship till noon. All Carnival tours were cancelled because of high winds & the torrential downpour.

Belize was ok as was Coz, although it rained in Coz in the afternoon. Coming back it was FREEZING again both sea days. I decided never again for November-January cruises.

On our recent August 6-10 cruise there were literally HUNDREDS of pounds of bottled water & soda getting tossed. No bottled water allowed must be a newish rule and one that caught 100's of people unaware.

My 18-year-old son and I did the tour 1 August about three weeks ago. I booked online it was $15 per person and the taxi to get there was $11 One way.

The tour was excellent -- we got a brief history of chocolate by Victor, who spoke excellent English.. Then we toured the factory and watched the workers hand wrap all the chocolate, we ground roasted chocolate beans and made our own hot chocolate mix, we tasted all sorts of exotic chocolate flavors, and then we could shop as long as we wanted. When we were done Victor called a taxi back for us.

The entire thing took about an hour plus the time to shop. We thoroughly enjoyed it and it was very informative. I wouldn't think this tour would be suitable for children under six or seven though.

http://www.chocolateskaokao.com

Very interesting for my 18-year-old son & me. I signed up online for $15 each. We got a tour of the factory, saw the workers hand-wrapping the candy bars, got a history of chocolate plus video, ground chocolate & made our own mixture for hot chocolate, and tasted (and BOUGHT) lots of different chocolate. Taxi ride for 1-4 ppl is $11 one way & they will call a taxi back for you when the tours done.

English is spoken well. Probably not an activity for children under 6 but very engaging for adults.

Takes about 1-1.5 hours depending on how long you shop.

Does your cruise have a 'social media website' group? That's a good way to find out who else is traveling in that age range. Since there's no meet & greet for that age once they are booted from 02.....it's hard to find someone to hang out with.

According to the Roll Call boards, NO ONE is going on our cruise yet the ship is full! LOL. August 6-10 Triumph out of Galveston.

Answers above. Have a great cruise!

LOL sparks1093. DS could drink in ports on LAST cruise too!! He'd swagger up to the bar with money, order a drink, take a couple of sips and push it across the table to me and ask if he could go get a Coke. He STILL doesn't drink!

So I have a couple of questions about our upcoming 4-day cruise on Triumph.

He just needs his DL & birth certificate. It's a closed loop cruise. Previously I had to have the permission letter from his Dad but now I don't right?

He can stay in the clubs at night? He doesn't drink anyway. But he's already graduated HS so he can't get into O2??

He likes to vape but just flavored juice, no nicotine. (If you don't understand this last part just skip it). Can he just vape in the smoking areas?

What else can he do or where can he go that he couldn't at 16 when we took our last cruise?

Thanks for your help.

My family used to travel EXTENSIVELY in Mexico -- in the '60's and '70's.

Papantla is the "vanilla bean capitol" of Mexico. If you buy vanilla produced in Papantla you are getting the 'good stuff'. They even used to sell little figures made of twisted vanilla beans in the markets. I remember I had a scorpion that lasted for YEARS! Think there were over a dozen beans in that figure!

Back in the '70's I bought a 750ml bottle of vanilla. I don't do much baking so I was still using it till about 3 years ago. (!!!!!) I dropped it and broke it then and it still had about a 1/5 of it left. It was still good.

On our last Carnival Magic Cruise there was a shop right across from the dock where I bought little gift bottles of pure vanilla for $4 each. That was T'giving 2013.

I totally agree with the OP. I luckily live about 80 miles North of Galveston so it's pretty convenient for me to just drive down, park, and cruise.

What I read here on CC: Due to the LACK of affordable hotels for ONE night, AFFORDABLE transport to/from the port, the distances involved, construction (which is ALWAYS present & has been since I moved to Houston 35 years ago) and logistical nightmares for anyone NOT living here -- I would NOT consider this a port conducive to any type of cruise. Never mind the Liquor Tax.

And I'm a 7th Gen Texan and usually TEXAS PROUD!!

The only line on our last cruise I minded was the 1.5 hours we stood in line to board a tender back from Belize City. But we met some lovely people that we had drinks with later so it wasn't a "waste".

But ppl who've bought it seem to love it, so there ya go!

We watched DVDs on the TV several times November 2013. DS Had to kinda squeeze his head behind the TV to find the connection, but once he unplugged the ships cable & plugged the HDMI cable in it was no problem. Except the remote didn't work.

It was cold, raining, WINDY and we still landed. Wind gusts in the 40-mph range. Every ship excursion was cancelled, and most of the private ones as well. Mahagony Bay was shut down, the overhead tram to the beach--shut down, zip lines-shut down, & we still landed. Winds strong enough to completely uproot & topple over a 5" diameter tree planted at the port (they were cutting it up with chain saws when we finally decided to walk around a little bit in port).

So I don't think you have anything to worry about. :D

This was my sons favorite thing on his first cruise @ 7 & he STILL gets a kick out of it now @ 16. I always leave a stack of $1's in a drawer so he can tip if I'm not there. Kids LOVE opening the door and PRESTO! There is FOOD!

From our November cruise on Magic.

One night they had a "Glow" night with glow sticks, glow bracelets, mini flashlights, etc. That he enjoyed. One night they had a contest where they divided the participants into 2 teams. The DJ would play a song & they'd try to name it. One category was The Beatles which DS was up on since I'm a "classic Rocker".

He was bummed that they closed down @ 12:30. He was just getting started!

And you will find plenty of latches or door locks that are installed with no tools and are made to keep doors closed safely!

I would just like to VISIT Eastern as I've never had a choice. Western C. is all they offer from Galveston on the few weeks I can go.

I have never had the pleasure of Eastern -- I bet it's lovely.

That said, Belize is my TOP favorite port. I have been visiting Belize (by air and by ship) since 1991. Once you get to the Islands the water is the clearest you will see anywhere. Try one of the Cayes and you will see. Or take a trip out to the Barrier Reef. BEAUTIFUL!!!

Never felt unsafe or in danger and everyone speaks ENGLISH -- a real bonus!