First time on Carnival, I have Questions? Pls help.

[Destiniiii]

Hi,

This is my first time cruising on Carnival. I am a solo cruiser and I have a few questions. I booked a 1A room, can I still use the Thalassotherapy Pool for a fee? Also, I booked the your time dining. Do I eat in the MDR? or do they have smaller restaurants for your time dining? (like Princess does) I will be sailing on the following ships, the Liberty in April, the Splendor in August, and the Spirit in January 2011. I have been reading a lot of different post, I am curious about the fish n chips. Where are they located? What food do you have to pay for? Besides the speciality restaurants. Do they have speciality restaurants? Are they good? I hate cruising blind. I am very nervous about cruising Carnival. I have heard crazy things about Carnival.

If anyone has any answers, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you,

CJ

[firefly333]

Splendor may have the spa stuff, but Im sure the other two older ships dont. I thought the T pool started with Dream, but it could be Splendor. Someone will correct me.

 

Any time dining is usually the upper deck of one of the two dining rooms, usually the middle one. So, you will be in the same dining room as those doing Traditional. Iv done any time on Princess twice and did not feel either ship had small dining rooms for any time ... seemed quite large to me, in fact on Caribean Princess, they had two large dining rooms for anytime dining there were so many people doing it. So, I dont think you will find it that much different if you felt the dining rooms on Princess for any time dining were small.

 

supper club is $30 per person and most think well worth it. The other venues are free.

 

Fish and chips is only on conquest class and newer so it wouldnt be on the spirit I dont believe, even though Iv never done Spirit. Sur Mer is located up a staircase up above the buffet.

[Cruzman]

It would be interesting to know why you are nervous about sailing with CCL. In my case, I had read a lot of negative comments on cruise BB's that turned out to be nothing more than propaganda promoted by cheer leaders from other cruise lines. Think about it man, there are lots of reasons why CCL is in fact, the most popular cruise line in the world!

[LambKnuckles]

Fire gave you good info!!!

Fish N Chips ill be on your menu somewhere for lunch one day in the dining room, I would think! But ask the first day and see...

Carnival ships are great and I think some of the most pleasant cruisers... Everyone will try to help you, I'm sure!!! You seem to KNOW cruising -- so You would notice anything, but FUN FUN FUN... and want to come back AGAIN and AGAIN!!!!

[5waldos]

Hi,

l. I am a solo cruiser and I have a few questions. I booked a 1A room, can I still use the Thalassotherapy Pool for a fee? When they are onboard, yes. Also, I booked the your time dining. Do I eat in the MDR? In the MDR. There are other venues for food but the your time dining refers to meals taken in the MDR or do they have smaller restaurants for your time dining? (like Princess does) I will be sailing on the following ships, the Liberty in April, the Splendor in August, and the Spirit in January 2011. I have been reading a lot of different post, I am curious about the fish n chips. Where are they located? Generally up the stairs from the buffet. What food do you have to pay for? Besides the speciality restaurants. Do they have speciality restaurants? Are they good? Steakhouse and they are generally very good- an extra $20, or maybe a bit more, have forgotten.I hate cruising blind. I am very nervous about cruising Carnival. I have heard crazy things about Carnival. Odd then to have booked not one cruise to see if you like Carnival but three cruises.

If anyone has any answers, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you,

CJ

 

Maybe if you hate to cruise "blind" then you should do some of the most basic research.

[yst347]

The Fish and Chips station is located on the upper level of the Lido Deck buffet restaurant on Carnival Liberty.

 

On Carnival Splendor has a Rotisserie station in this same location instead of Fish and Chips.

 

Carnival Spirit doesn't have a Fish and Chips station.

 

On Carnival ships all food is included in your cruise fare with the exception of the specialty restaurant and the gourmet coffee/dessert shop.

[ooulio]

Don't be nervous about cruising Carnival. You will have a good time. We have 9 with them. The only cruise I wasn't thrilled about was one I did with RC about 8 years ago. Everyone kept telling me they were so wonderful, better than Carnival. I would never tell that to anyone. Saw so many drunks that one ship. Rooms were smaller. I thought the food was bland. You make the most of your cruises. I have only been on floors 6 and up. I am not crazy about the bottom levels. Some people like them. My favorite floors are 7 and 8, I have done Disney . That was also nice. I enjoy sitting on my balcony and just watching it. So peaceful. So far my favorite ship was Carnival Freedom. We did it twice, Eastern and Exotic Western. Everything was just great on it. Crew were wonderful. Food was Delicious. Casino wasn't as smokey as some of them. Yes, i do sit on the couple aisles non smoking. They are always full . Hard to get a machine. Supper club was Great. I used to enjoy the Fish & chips. They also have other items up there too. I can't have it anymore. I have celiac. Now I am on GF diet which stinks! Enjoy yourself. Eveyone is very nice. Shows were very good.

[*Mach*]

Splendor may have the spa stuff, but Im sure the other two older ships dont. I thought the T pool started with Dream, but it could be Splendor. Someone will correct me.

 

Any time dining is usually the upper deck of one of the two dining rooms, usually the middle one. So, you will be in the same dining room as those doing Traditional. Iv done any time on Princess twice and did not feel either ship had small dining rooms for any time ... seemed quite large to me, in fact on Caribean Princess, they had two large dining rooms for anytime dining there were so many people doing it. So, I dont think you will find it that much different if you felt the dining rooms on Princess for any time dining were small.

 

supper club is $30 per person and most think well worth it. The other venues are free.

 

Fish and chips is only on conquest class and newer so it wouldnt be on the spirit I dont believe, even though Iv never done Spirit. Sur Mer is located up a staircase up above the buffet.

 

 

The Splendor does have a Thalasso Therapy pool in the Spa...

:)

[firefly333]

The Splendor does have a Thalasso Therapy pool in the Spa...

 

:)

 

I thought it might be Splendor, but knew someone would know if it started with the Splendor or the Dream!!! I was going to bed, and not many other posters were posting, so I took a chance and posted so the OP had some answers.

[serene56]

For someone who is "blind" to carnival cruising you booked 3 carnival ships.

 

I woulda only booked one to see if it was for me.

 

But each ship you booked is completely different from the others. so each trip should be different.

 

I was afraid too to try Princess because of reviews etc.

Princess for us was a step up with all the wow factors from minute one.

 

But that doesnt stop us from cruising carnival.

[Destiniiii]

Thank you to everyone who posted with great information to help me on my first Carnival Cruise. For those of you who want to know why I booked 3 Carnival cruises, it's because of the ....savings....savings....savings. I have never booked a solo cruise for less than a $1000. So, when I found 3 I was too excited not to book.

I am looking forward to the fish n chips on the Liberty.

Thank you again everyone,

CJ

[browneyes7]

Don't worry. You'll have a great time!!:)

[jules815]

I have a couple of "new to Carnival" questions.

 

Do the laundry rooms on board take quarters or do you swipe your seapass card? How much to wash/dry? (Really looking forward to having this available; especially for the 7 day we have coming up in June.)

 

I understand you're able to bring wine on board. Is there a 2 bottle limit per cabin or per person?

 

We have two Carnival cruises booked without ever having sailed Carnival before. We have friends and neighbors who have sailed with Carnival several times and they've always had a great time. Always had a nice time on RC, but needed a change. We can't wait! :D

[yst347]

The washers/dryers take quarters. Last time we used them they were

$2/load but we could dry our two loads of laundry on just a single dryer cycle. The dryer ran for over 40 minutes for $2. You can get quarters at the casino or from the purser so no need to bring them.

 

Carnival allows one 750ml bottle of wine per passenger over 21 per sailing at embarkation only. Anything more you care to bring should be packed in your checked luggage. ;)

 

Have a great cruise! :)

[Chacooe]

Hi,

This is my first time cruising on Carnival. I am a solo cruiser and I have a few questions. I booked a 1A room, can I still use the Thalassotherapy Pool for a fee? Also, I booked the your time dining. Do I eat in the MDR? or do they have smaller restaurants for your time dining? (like Princess does) I will be sailing on the following ships, the Liberty in April, the Splendor in August, and the Spirit in January 2011. I have been reading a lot of different post, I am curious about the fish n chips. Where are they located? What food do you have to pay for? Besides the speciality restaurants. Do they have speciality restaurants? Are they good? I hate cruising blind. I am very nervous about cruising Carnival. I have heard crazy things about Carnival.

If anyone has any answers, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you,

CJ

 

I to am a solo cruiser and my very first cruise was on Carnival. I was so nervous until I got on board and then I found out I had myself stressed out over nothing. I had the best time of my life and I know you will to. If you want to have fun, you will have fun, if you just want to kick back and relax, you can do that to. I found that you can do anything you want and at the end of the cruise you will want to head right back out. The crew was fantastic to me, if my waiter from the dining room saw me in the buffet area, he would come over and help me with my tray (I use a walker) and get me anything I wanted. It seemed like my room steward was always around when I needed help to get into my cabin with my walker, it just seemed like the crew could not do enough for me.

 

I know that you will enjoy the cruise and you will be glad that you did book the other cruises.

[Destiniiii]

Again, thank you for easing my mind. I do have a few more questions. Is there an adult only area on my ships? Adult only pool? I love sitting at the back of the ship, is there an open area with tables and chairs? I can't tell from the picture of the ships, or deck plans. How are the casinos? Smokey? Do they have the game Pai gow? I know what some of you are thinking, now that you know the basics, you should wait until your cruise and be surprised. LOL Now I am just really excited to go.

One more question. I am flying in the day before and my hotel doesn't offer a complimentary shuttle to the port. My hotel is near the airport. My question is do I go back to the airport and pay $26 dollars to get a bus ride to the port, or do I take a taxi? or do I arrange a car or van service to pick me up and take me to the port. I am looking for the cheapest way. Thanks

[Chacooe]

Again, thank you for easing my mind. I do have a few more questions. Is there an adult only area on my ships? Adult only pool? I love sitting at the back of the ship, is there an open area with tables and chairs? I can't tell from the picture of the ships, or deck plans. How are the casinos? Smokey? Do they have the game Pai gow? I know what some of you are thinking, now that you know the basics, you should wait until your cruise and be surprised. LOL Now I am just really excited to go.

 

One more question. I am flying in the day before and my hotel doesn't offer a complimentary shuttle to the port. My hotel is near the airport. My question is do I go back to the airport and pay $26 dollars to get a bus ride to the port, or do I take a taxi? or do I arrange a car or van service to pick me up and take me to the port. I am looking for the cheapest way. Thanks

 

Yes, to the adult questions about the pool and some of the ships have an area called Serenity that is only available to adults. When it comes to the Casino, they can get smoky, but when you go on the Splendor they say that it is not that bad since they put in a better air circulation system.

 

When it comes to getting to the port, how far is your hotel from it. If it closer then the airport then just take a taxi, that is what I do. If you do not have a room in Long Beach yet, I would recommend the Long Beach Hilton for $89.00 a night. It is a special Carnival rate and it includes the shuttle

 

Hope this answers some of your questions.

[Destiniiii]

I'm sorry I forgot to tell you what city and airport I was talking about regarding taxi or shuttle or back to the airport. I was talking about my cruise in April out of Miami. My other two cruises are out of California where I live. Thanks

[Karboleda86]

Maybe if you hate to cruise "blind" then you should do some of the most basic research.

 

Geez he just wanted a few questions answered....I'm sure he's been reading but jeez....take it easy...

[serene56]

I have not seen Pai Gaw in the casino.

 

Yoru best bet to view photos of each ship and public rooms--

go to http://www.webshots.com and in the search type in each ship.

 

 

Many people report that casinos are very smokey- but there is supposed to be a section for non smokers.

[Destiniiii]

Geez he just wanted a few questions answered....I'm sure he's been reading but jeez....take it easy...

Thank you for standing up for me. I think some people are just idiots, and want to say negatives things. That is why I am on these posts to get the information I need, so I am not blind going into this. By the way I am a she not a he. But thank you again

CJ

[Bobbareeno]

I have not seen Pai Gaw in the casino.

 

Yoru best bet to view photos of each ship and public rooms--

go to http://www.webshots.com and in the search type in each ship.

 

 

Many people report that casinos are very smokey- but there is supposed to be a section for non smokers.

 

A no smoking section in an enclosed casino is like having a "no-peeing" section in a swimming pool.