dawnjam1

It worked for us this past week on the Breeze! I almost think we were TOO connected! LOL! What is that saying about getting what you ask for......?????

We just returned from the June 5th Breeze sailing! As very experienced cruisers we marveled at how drama free the cruise was. No real issues. Made LOTS of new friends! Planning again now!

The ship is lovely and having been on the Magic, very much the same. The decor is nice. Show Entertainment was pretty good and the comedians were excellent. One thing I think this cruise lacked was a really good band like they had in old style cruising. I missed that on the Magic, too. 2-3 players just isn't enough sometimes, though I know they have to scale back witht he way the newer ships are set up.

Casino was lively and VERY full all the time! I can't complain as I spent A LOT of time here and came home a winner! Smoke was BAD, but it is to be expected. I just put myself under the smoke eaters and played. My only gripe would be that I did not get a bounce back cruise offer! LOL!

My BIGGEST gripe, and it has merit considering the number of cruises I have done, was the food this time. We all know that most of the Lido food is semi OK, but edible, as it was this time. There are a always a few hits and many misses, but you are never hungry. As a matter of fact, by the 4th day of a 7 day cruise I am normally not hungry at all. But my gripe was with the MDR food. I was SO excited to have new cruisers with me to experience this! They probably DID enjoy it more than I did, but the food was TRULY not great! With the exception of the Filet, the steaks were not very good. The apps were often cold and not as tasty as normal, and I missed having some of the cold soups and options that they used to have. Many of the dishes were flat out BAD. And I try several apps a night as well as a main. Service was only mediocre though he smiled though it! We did not "meet" our team on the first night like normal. Lots of come and go of who knows what positions over the week. There was a lot of confusion over who to ask for what. It just was NOT up to the normal or the PAST Carnival standard. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't wonderful. I do not care about table clothes or bread baskets. I like the baskets and water jars. I heard a comment from a friend on the trip that this dining room looked very buffet room style. I pointed out that the cloths were gone and she said "oh yeah....maybe that is it!", but I saw her point! Just Average at best!

One last thing I think is lacking.....my daughter usually LOVES Camp! I have to say by the end of the second day she wasn't very interested. It was also very poorly attended so we could not be lone wolfs on this! I got to know some of the Camp Ocean staff later in the cruise and must say they were delightful girls, but the activities are really lacking. Especially during the Night Owls portion. This is the time most parents NEED them to be on their game so that we can have a little parent time. And no go!

None of this put damper on the trip. Just my observation! I do not like to complain as I am a former crew member. Maybe that is why I notice subtle things, but try not to judge it too harshly.

We had a Deluxe OV Room! I have to say it was WONDERFUL to have the extra bath and space of this room! I just took over the small bath and left the kids to the rest. It was very comfortable and the housekeeping staff is amazing! In fact, the whole crew seemed to be very friendly and accommodating there was not one time I passed one that ever had a sour look! I think that was AMAZING considering there is always that one! I can pinpoint who would have come closest in the race, but she didn't go there.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable and fun filled week! Nothing I have mentioned breaks the bank. And we go with the flow. But we here at CC, we need details, so there you go!

Have a great cruise guys!

Dawn

OP take it from someone who has asked this question many times on here and directly to others, and have tried to do it myself on the past two cruises: there is no way to add a lump sum of money and then have a daily spending limit. The only way to have a daily limit is by adding money daily. That's what I wound up doing. I even asked once I got onboard both times and was told that is the only way. I loaded gift cards to my s&s account and then transferred money over as needed. My oldest spent more since he spent more time in the arcade.

 

One other thing, if your kids like to frequent the arcade, they will not cap the spending in there either. I was told numerous times that they cut the kids off at $50 a day, but I know for myself that such does not happen. I would highly advise that you take your kids to the arcade and point out that the games have a single and a multi-play option. We didn't realize this at first and found out the hard way. Take them to the arcade and show them around. Add money daily. It's really not the pain I thought it would be.

Were you able to just move it from your account to theirs at the kiosk???

OH! I will certainly be updating everyone. I am almost Platinum and until this year have never needed to worry about this. But I know others have!

The 16 year old is a neighbor I am taking to help me out with my daughter and to pay him back for all he does for several of us going on this trip (like mowing and babysitting). He is pretty responsible, but that arcade worries me!

My daughter is learning to budget at home (including re-gifting) but it is SO easy for it to get out of hand on the cruise (NO MATTER YOUR AGE) and I would rather they have a lesson each day with the chance to redeem/correct themselves the next, than have them bummed the whole trip and my ending up feeling sorry for them! LOL! I use the envelope method myself and do not use credit so I think the reset is always the way to teach them.

They have a rather generous allowance. I have also set them up with Bottomless Bubbles, Unlimited Theater Passes and spending allowances for land. All while budgeting for Build a Bear and CC activities! Other than some over the top Birthday parties, I don't just buy "things" all the time for my DD so this is a good chance to spoil her while we make good family memories. They have both had a few really tough years with the other parent and his splitting and remarrying very quickly as well, so I feel like this is well earned!

SO....I guess I will just plan to go to the kiosk each day with cash in hand. Sounds like the easiest unless the person in GS can give me a better idea!!! THANKS for the replies!

Dawn

I know that this has been discussed before, but I can not find direct answers from people who have done it before and I need to know how to prepare for next week. (Why do I feel these days that I have to apologize for asking questions on here that MAY have been asked before? Even after being a member on here under two different logins for probably close to 18 years or more?)

I want to give my children a DAILY allowance on their Sign and Sail cards. I do not want them to have it all at once due to the chance they will get in the arcade and blow it each day without realizing it! LOL! Do I need to go to the kiosk each morning and put money on their cards or can it all be put on at embarkation when I put cash on mine and have a spending limit they do not let them go over a day??? Or can I put it all on mine and MOVE it easily to the other cards each day? One is 16 and can watch it but one is only 8. Just trying to not allow them to have any regrets on vacation. They get enough hard lessons at home!

Thanks!

Dawn

But....none of us need it. It is leaving from Galveston, we are from the Houston area, it is returning here. I just HATE, and I am betting MANY of my fellow CC friends will agree, that when ANYONE finds out you are cruising or that you LOVE cruising, like most of us, they have EVERY horror story in the book PLUS some to throw out! The unfortunate thing for me on this one is that they are hitting inexperienced cruisers and making my job harder! LOL!

There is more to the story.

He would not have been allowed to board without a passport if he was going anywhere where one was required

EXACTLY! Plus, half the ship wouldn't be getting off! LOL!

I am taking some nervous new cruisers on a trip June 5th on the Breeze. I have led several group cruises and have never had this question asked so much but now I need to see if anyone has experience with the following.

First of all, my passport is ALSO expiring in two days so I am using my Birth Certificate and ID. Never had an issue with this but I DO understand it is better to have the Passport, and will have renewed upon my return. I am not looking for the Carnival Guidelines as I have sent those out on my own several times today....Just experiences....

Someone told one of the cruisers that her son just returned from a trip and that they did not let him off the boat in a port because he didn't have a passport. Now....my first thought is that either something on the front end was wrong, or that there is more to the story. This could have been any number of things including a non closed loop. And IF this is true, that would mean half the ship would have had to miss a port!

With all of that being said....anyone have this happen????

Its the one with the most members BTW!

Do a search and look for the ship by the date. If you haven't found it feel free to let me know!

I have only had my hair done one time and that was NCL. I TRULY think that you would be better off doing it yourself! Spend the money on a good massage or something! LOL!

BTW...we are on the same sailing! Are you a a part of our Book of Faces page?

Dawn

Wow from asking if we can pay online to being told how and why I should pre-pay them or not to removing them. Geez..... Thanks to those that confirmed I can not pay on line.

LOL! I wasn't referring to your OP! Sorry! It was the comment about "then you can't remove them! Don't do it!" that set me off! You have to forgive me on this subject! Former Crew here! It is EXHAUSTING work!

I hope you were able to call Carnival and get the grats added!

It has been said that you can if you prepay but I have never removed gratuities of any type so I wouldn't know. It would be highly doubtful that you would receive such bad service that it would warrant doing so, but I guess it's possible. In that case I would leave them on and contact their supervisor and be sure to mention the details in the post cruise survey. But again, that's me and I'm aware that not everyone shares the same opinion.

 

Again, it boils down to mindset. I'm my mind it's all a part of cruising and really isn't a tip. It's a service charge. Those who take care of me get extra in cash and an honorable mention in my survey. Those that did a poor job (thankfully really haven't had that happen) wouldn't get any extra and a dishonorable mention in the survey.

LOL! We were posting the same thing at the same time! SEE FIREMANBOBSWIFE! We are closer in our thinking unless it involves credit, than we thought!

Where do you get that you will not be able to adjust your tips. You CAN in fact adjust your tips even if prepaid. BUT FRANKLY, why would you???? Do you work for minimum wage or lower? This is part of cruising. Period.

I wish people would realize that just because it is called a tip, it really isn't. It is the person that is away from their family for months at a times wages. If you have a beef, take it up with the appropriate person and do not take away their pay. Do you sit down at your desk and do everything PERFECTLY, every time? Do you make mistakes at work? If so, DO NOT remove these peoples income!

If you can't AFFORD to pay them, then don't cruise.

YES! You DO get the 25% off. That is why that feature is there. You DO NOT get the whole bottle on Cheers! unless you purchase it but there are quite a few really good wines by the glass. I was specifically looking at purchasing the Cruise The Vineyard's Program at that time but the agent told me "or you can get the 25% off individual bottles". This is my plan. That is a lot of liquor. It comes out about the same price wise per bottle.

Dawn

BEST post in a LONG time!

LOL! I had to laugh when I first read this post! Only because once I figured out WHO chartered it I understood what happened! I used to actually WORK at the same network with Tom Joyner and these are publicity stunts that are honestly very appealing to him! Does not surprise me in the least!

I had the same question and so I called Carnival. They told me that I could purchase either the Vineyard package or the wine by the bottle and still have Cheers. I think that the key is to order the bottle, bucket ,tube, etc. BEFORE you hit the 15! The 15 is an indicator to them that you have consumed quite a bit. Actually, I am in the camp that believes that the 15 limit is not only to limit the amount to make the program also fair for their price for them, but because some attorney somewhere felt they had to cap it to even have a one price deal. I think the rest, if you are willing to pay, goes under the radar.

While I understand that some people would prefer the rewards on a credit card, to get them means you have to use the card. I think that they are too easy to fall back on for anything other than an emergency, therefore I don't.

Listen, not everyone is in the same place financially. I am more than financially sound. But I prefer to save and spend out of my every day budget to pay for my entertainment. I do not consider a cruise an emergency.

I have managed to pull myself out of the situation my ex husband dumped on me and left me with, and even prosper, in a very short period of time. I had the black Am Ex when I was single. I know what credit is and how to manage it well. I just figured out really fast after he was gone that the best way to live within MY means is to do it without credit. And I STILL manage several vacations a year and walk away from them without a bill. Unfortunately, I walk away with no bonus points either! LOL! :(

Because I am part of the Dave Ramsey Envelope "Cult" (just kidding) and choose to pay everything, even my bills, with cash and carry no credit (unless the HOUSE has burned down), I prepay the following using my Debit card:

Cruise Fare (3 payments usually but book only about 5-6 months out)

Gratuities (with Final Payment)

Parking (1-2 months out)

Cheers! (1 month out)

Bottomless Bubbles for Kids (1 month out)

Deposits on Private Excursions (1-2 months out)

Any Carnival Excursions (1 month out and if I miss it I book on my own)

1 Case of Water (when I feel like shopping! and know I don't need to!)

SOMETIMES a Massage (but not always. Usually see how I do in the casino!)

I then set up a lenient budget with some wiggle room and set aside cash for the following and hand carry that in daily envelopes to be applied at check in or kept in my safe:

Gas Money to get to the port (just an hour and change away)

Cash Money for Sign and Sail (about $1500), this covers Camp Ocean, Additional Wine off of using Cheers!, WiFi, Theater for kids, Photos, My kids daily allowances and any extras I haven't accounted for

Casino Money labeled for each day

Porters Tips (2 envelopes for coming and going)

Excursion Balances by Destination

Land Cash by Day

Additional On Board Grats (usually handed over the first day to Cabin Steward. If I get great drink service of Casino service it comes off of S&S)

Room Service Grats in $1 Bills

Transportation (Taxi) Money by Port

I know this sound like hard work but I have a budget spreadsheet that I have used for YEARS that I start with, tweak and re-tweak for each trip, and then it breaks my denominations in bills down for me. I sit down the week before and count it all out into the envelopes. Helps me PACE my spending and keeps me on budget! It also aids me with my own deadlines for saving each portion directly from my household Budget sheet!

I know...sounds OCD, but I promise I DO NOT have a diagnosis! Just cruising fever and I know I have to limit myself or I will over do it! Single Mom who runs a tight ship is more like it!

I LOVE coming home without the feeling of dread after overspending and knowing that I come home refreshed, pampered and still debt free! I know people think why not hold on to it and pay it after, but it is VERY freeing to do it this way!

Thanks y'all! That is what I had figured but wanted to just see what people said that had experienced this.

I have been in Owner's Suites that had two full Bathrooms but now that I budget cruise with kids I am very thankful for this setup! Especially since the 16 year old is actually a friend of the family and not one of my own. It just worked out he could go with this group but only if I am the one chaperoning him. I guess a big reason for my question was to make sure he is comfortable too! This gives him even a little more distance! LOL!

Thanks again!

I have been in almost every type of room imaginable EXCEPT this one. I am also traveling with a teenage boy and 8 year old girl. Trying to make the most of this space for a week and keep the peace.

Really my only question is bed configuration. If the beds are split to twins are they automatically placed against the long wall or on either side of the window? I know they like to put that simulated wood behind as a headboard. I have seen pictures of the quad/5 pax rooms with it on either side of the window but that is with bunks as well. Just wondered if this is an option or not.

Any experienced 3 to a cabin Breeze or sister ship cruisers input would be helpful!

Thanks in advance.

Dawn

You also have the option of putting it on your account when you check into the Terminal BEFORE you board the ship! That is what I usually do!

Clothes Pins are also PERFECT to put a few on the bottom of the shower curtain to keep it from swaying into you and sticking. The shower gets small sometimes and you can notice it with the sway of the ship! Just use an toss the last morning! 50-100 for a dollar!

Also, I love to take the magnets with the clips on them. You can put them on the wall in the stateroom and hang your damp stuff there. It dries MUCH fast out there than in the bathroom!

If this TRULY was the policy why would they also offer you 25% off additional wine purchases, etc. with Cheers!? I think that the person on the phone was wrong. I called a few weeks ago to confirm I could purchase Cheers! and a Wine package and was told absolutely!

Happy Sailing!

Dawn