MsSoloTravel

If you decide to extend your stay, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park is open on Sat from 11 to 6. It's good for young kids.

I would second the Audubon parks.

Does the soda need to still be in the case? I was asking a few weeks back because I want to split up our second case and just bring some of my favorite but have the bulk of it for my DH... I was told it doesn't matter, that you can have it loose in a bag, or a duffle or something, because they open the case and check each can anyway!

 

Does anyone have experience with this where Carnival expected the soda cans to be in the case?

New Orleans Sept '16. We had a loose 12 pack in a duffle bag. No issues. Actually all 3 of my cruses out of that port the sodas were loose in a bag.

Never heard of Roca Patron.....only Silver, Reposado and Anejo.

We hadn't either until the cruise. It was good stuff.

On Dream we had $20 glasses of champagne in the Steakhouse and $15 shots of Roca Patron on Lido.

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We were on the Dream Sept 2016. They had 80's deck party and white party.

We were the only 2 people dressed in 80's clothing...bummer. It was fun for us, but wouldn't do it again as the party barely lasted 30 minutes.

The white party was the same night in the nightclub. More people participated but not many.

I agree with just giving cash.

We brought a jumbo bag of Hershey miniatures and left them on the desk. We told our steward to help himself to some each day and he did. Then we left the remaining candy for him at the end of the cruise.

Thank you all for the information and picture mitsugirly.

The prices are surprisingly cheap.

All of my cruises have been out of New Orleans and within a few months of the ships drydock. I sailed on Conquest right before it's last drydock. So, I haven't even been on a new or newly refurbished ship. I can't speak for the conquest's condition now, but I haven't had a bad experience with any ship. Maybe my opinion will change once I experience a cruise on a ship that's been recently renovated!

The cheers package runs 6am to 6am. So it would end on debarkation day at 6. Although I don't think anything is open past 2. The coffee shop doesn't open til 7 I think. (Bummer)

When you purchase a bottle of wine at 25% off it does not count toward your 15.

I can't remember the wine selections in the Steakhouse on the Dream last Sept, but I know the cabernet I ordered was either the same or comparable to what I ordered in the mdr and everywhere else. $9 to $10 a glass. We did get a $20 glass of champagne one night for our anniversary. (More about the price since it was a blush!)

If I'm remembering correctly, they did have pricier selections in the white wine category. (Maybe $12 options) But I can't say for certain as we only drink red.

We originally looked at Chankanaab. We have a 3 year old too. Well, he'll turn 4 shortly before the cruise.

But after researchIng some more settled on Playa Mia because he will have more fun on all the kiddie slides in the splash park.

It looks like the inflatables would be fun for a teenager too.

Chankanaab seems best if you're really into the animal interactions.

Thank you so much! Taking our son on his first cruise. He'll be 4.

You can order cases of water ahead of time from the fun shops and have it delivered to your room. Roughly $3.99 a case.

Also you can email the maitre d before the cruise with your dining request change. Someone is bound to know the email because I've seen it posted plenty of times.

You may even call the special needs department if you need early dining for a health reason. They might be able to take care of it right away.

Does anyone know if Playa Mia has lockers for rent? If so, how much are they and where are they located?

The regular staterooms do not have down bedding. Now, I'm not sure about the suites. I would think if it were an upgrade they would mention that in the room description. Surely they would advertise that. The bedding is nice but I'm sure it's a down alternative.

I have not been on the Triumph yet but will be next January. I can agree with a lot of what you said especially about the food. I've never been overly impressed with the exception of the steakhouse and the desserts and appetizers in the mdr. They do have less drink servers than they used to but the drinks have been nice and strong.

I'm surprised you feel you were a different demographic. I always see plenty of tats on carnival. Probably just a fluke.

I would give carnival another chance. Maybe try the Dream. We were on her before her recent dry dock. We had a blast on that trip.

Best of luck to you!

We were on the Dream in Sept and went to the steakhouse twice. I had the bone in ribeye first and while it was good, it wasn't great. The second time I had the spice rubbed ribeye. I have never eaten so much steak! Cooked to a perfect medium rare and perfectly seasoned. I've never had a steak as good as that one. So, the spice rubbed ribeye is my recommendation.

And just to clarify--I predict he will drink a LOT MORE than his typical at home (where he has one beer or one glass of wine per night). He will probably have 3-4 drinks per day, plus bottled water. Maybe more, but I'm not going to know until we are there.

 

While we won't break even, we will have a much more relaxed and enjoyable vacation because of the Cheers package. That's worth $500 to me.

 

And maybe we will surprise ourselves and find that we DO break even.

 

It's our 25th anniversary and we are going to relax, have our first kid-free vacation in years, and not think about how much every drink costs because we have already paid for it.

How exciting! I hope you have a fabulous time!

We also figured in the added financial benefit of upgrading our choice of alcohol. If paying cash we would order stoli, but with cheers we will order belvedere. And now will have a patron margarita or two. I think that's a great bonus that makes it worth it even if we don't quite break even.

Knowingly paying more than you'd spend to "not worry". I will never understand it. I hate looking at price tags in my face too on a relaxing vacation, but if I know I'll spend $100-150 on alcohol, I won't spend $350 up front so that I don't have to think about it.

 

I honestly can not think of many worse budgeting strategies short of paying a la carte and just going wild all week.

I think for a lot of people it's not so much about not worrying as it is overall vacation satisfaction.

Based on your numbers, if someone would like to enjoy $150 worth of drinks, but is so frugal that when it comes time to order a drink they pass on it then they end up spending $50. Which might make the frugal person happy on one hand but lessen their vacation happiness.

I agree $150 to $350 is a stretch that I couldn't justify. But $250 to $350 I could if it means a happier and less stressful vacation. I would gladly pay $100 to take away a known stressor.

That is exactly how I look at it too. Although we should be at the break even point as we are moderate drinkers. But, my husband hates to spend money. On our last cruise he didn't drink nearly what he wanted and I held back a little because of peer pressure. :rolleyes:

This cruise I told him I didn't care about the break even. I want both of us to be able to enjoy the cruise and drink what we wanted when we wanted. (Might as well, it's paid for!)

I don't know if I would feel the same way if one of us only drank 2 drinks a day. But, I completely relate to where you're coming from. Anything that takes stress out of the equation while on vacation is a good thing!

The only better rate than early saver is if they offer a special early saver rate with on board credit or some other promotion. Those come and go.

The best time to book is always now. The prices tend to go up and in the event of a price drop you can match it with your early saver price protection.

I hope you are able to book and you and your family enjoy your first cruise!

I have heard babies crying in hotel rooms from next door, as well as on planes. A cruise isnt any different. Babies cry. As a mom, you would know that sometimes they are inconsolable. That doesnt mean they are being left to "cry themselves to sleep." What do you expect people to do? Stop vacationing until the kids are old? Any place which has a "kids club" will have small children on it, especially a cruiseline which targets themselves as a family cruiseline. When we want to go somewhere away from kids, we go to an adults only resort.

Small children and babies are not the same, especially when we're talking about crying through the night. Carnival may market themselves as a family cruise line but they are not targeting the under 2 demographic...no diapers in splash areas and limited access to camp ocean.

I can't speak for the person you posed the question to, but I would answer yes. I would not want to spend a week next door to a crying baby. A flight is temporary. It's possible to change hotel rooms. On a ship you're stuck. To be fair though, you could very well get stuck next to loud adults who party all night.

Saying this as a mom of a 2 year old...I can't imagine a cruise being any fun at all with a 6 month old. I want to relax on deck with a Pina colada in my hand and a good book and go to comedy shows at night, not change diapers all day! Lol Waiting til mine is 3 to cruise so we can all have fun! I guess everyone vacations differently!

I have a question about*this... my husband and i booked ES with 50.00 deposit. We paid it off and then there was a price drop, giving us 40.00 OBC for each cabin. They didn't ask us for any additional money and sent a new receipt showing the OBC. Is the reason we weren't charged anything additional because we were already PIF by the time the price drop happened?

Correct.

That only applies to people who have not paid at least the full normal deposit amount by the time they ask for a price drop.

I hate to be the buzzkill but I would not do the dolphin swim. I am hoping you will do some research before going, the practice itself isn't humane.

 

 

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Thank you buzzkill...I mean Capricorn! I just read a bunch of articles on the subject. I will be marking that off my list.

DON'T FORGET TO GET THE COUPON!! You can go to their site and get a coupon for $2 per adult and $1 per child. Hey, every little bit helps! :)

Yes, thank you!