Carnival Secrets they usually don't tell you about #2

[MeghanJ]

Totally just my opinion, but I LOVE having the Carnival photographers take those cheesy pictures of my family and me. Every once in awhile you get a good one, and I only purchase the one's that really grab me. I am not talking about the fancy formal ones, just the ones outside the ship when you get in port. Just me, but I like them! Remember, there is no obligation to purchase them, and you just might get a great picture that you wouldn't have had otherwise!:o

[crusinpsychRN]

Great idea about the umbrella bags as you enter stores to put shoes in!

 

The plastic liners hotels use to line the ice bucket in rooms are good to line your small collapsable coolers. They keep the condensation down to a minimum.

 

I post an itinerary on the cabinet of the safe so I know which port is the next day.

[beauty1492]

I called purex and they no longer make 3 in 1 sheets. They had the pods instead. I told them this is a big mistake. crusiers love them. my best hint bring magnets and put paper to the wall. also one at the door and hang lanyards when you go in and out.

[lifeisgoodPat]

Thank you for restarting a new thread. The old was was too long and out dated.

 

The thread evolved from "Carnival Secrets" to alos include tips and ideas from seasoned cruisers. I found those actually more helpful than the "Carnival Secrets"

 

Heres one i started doing on my last cruise. With Digital cameras, we all end up taking hundreds of pictures. My problem was that after the cruise when I got home, I would go through my pics and have a hard time remembering where a pic was taken, when, and what it was!

 

So now each morning, before I leave the cabin, I take a picture of the front page of the Fun Times. It has the date and port of call on it. I now know that every pic taken after that one is in sucn and such port and taken on such and such date. Makes organizing our photo albums much easier.

 

Love this tip! Thank you so much.

[lifeisgoodPat]

Apply for the Carnival credit card on the ship. There is usually a table set up w a member of the staff there. You usually get a carnival bag and lanyard when you apply. You can always cancel the card if you are accepted. They don't put the paperwork into the system right then and there, you just fill out the info. Just a great way to get a free gift.

 

I use my Carnival Master card for everything. Real Estate Taxes, car insurance, food, gas, etc. You get double points for cruises, and I have already saved over 1600. by using this card. Love it.

:D

[goldn02grl]

The best tip I learned from the past thread was to go to the spa to take a shower. They are much bigger and some boats have rain shower heads, some have 5 shower heads and it is sooo much nicer than in the stateroom. Every cruise I go to the spa for a nice hot, comfortable shower. :)

 

Never thought of this! Cool!

[CarenBear]

Do not pack a Multi-Tool in your checked luggage! They will call you down to security and they will confiscate it.

 

Sent from my XT907 using Forums mobile app

[GlendaleCruiser]

Just checking to see if some of these are still valid.

 

1. Do they still give out decks of cards at guest services?

Yes, but it may depend upon the cruise and GS. We got about 5 decks between the 6 of us with no problem at all but we were on a Transatlantic so they knew that we would be at sea for lots of days and lots of card playing would go on.

 

2. Can someone still get a lanyard from the casino?

Yes, they are still available, I think. We saw a lot of people with casino lanyards and holes poked in their S&S cards.

 

3. Can I still "cash out" at the Casino also?

Yes. They realize we do it but they haven't stopped it.

Edited December 1, 2013 by GlendaleCruiser

[GlendaleCruiser]

I called purex and they no longer make 3 in 1 sheets. They had the pods instead. I told them this is a big mistake. crusiers love them. my best hint bring magnets and put paper to the wall. also one at the door and hang lanyards when you go in and out.

I still have one package, so I will hang onto them and only use them for cruising. I get free laundry, but I can use them for the items I want to wash cold and hang dry. Platinum laundry is hot and hot.

[GlendaleCruiser]

we always bring the chip clips to use on the shower curtain bottoms.....really keeps them weighted down and no longer flood the bathroom while showering......man that always was a mess......NO more though.

I buy a card of clothespins at the dollar tree before we go. We put some on the bottom of the shower curtain to keep it in. We use others on the shower stall clothesline and then I leave them behind when we go.

[blockhead68]

Parking in Charleston SC is free with a handicapped placard or license plate. Person registered to placard must be in the vehicle.

[crusinpsychRN]

For years now I haven't needed the clothespins to hold the shower curtain in place--stays where it's supposed to stay!

Edited December 1, 2013 by crusinpsychRN

[crusinpsychRN]

If you are a smoker, take an ash tray for the balcony. Hard to find one until the ship is underway.

Edited December 1, 2013 by crusinpsychRN

[interlake547]

In honor of the original thread Link I though it would be nice to restart it since the original is over 200 pages long and some tips might be out of date.

 

Ill be leaving on the Splendor in a month

 

So anyone got tips, tricks or secrets?

 

The original thread has been made into a complete printable list, as of June 2013, it is on approximately page 218 and starts at post #4340

[awhcruiser]

Everybody needs a hobby!

The original thread has been made into a complete printable list, as of June 2013, it is on approximately page 218 and starts at post #4340

[fireman935]

My DW pointed out to me last cruise u can take 1 bottle of wine AND a 12pack of soft drinks per person!! I always had thought you had to pick one or the other. And one trick is all ships I have been on have little strings that stretch across the shower we turn hot water on and steam wrinkles out... Ow lord there are so many tricks the coffee and ice cream for free cold coffee. The best trick when on a cruise think outside of the box to save money and just ask the worst thing they tell you is NO never pay full price in ports!!!!

[fireman935]

You puchase a certificate for a cruise in the future --within 2 years I believe--for $100 each. When you book the $100 is take from the cost of the cruise plus you get $100 on board credit.

 

I was on the dream last April and was told they no longer offered future cruise vouchers. If I wanted a obc I needed to book while on the ship. BUT I WISH THEY WOULD BRING THEM BACK!!!!!!!!!!! And Please tell me if they started this again!

[kona_wahine]

I called purex and they no longer make 3 in 1 sheets. They had the pods instead. I told them this is a big mistake. crusiers love them. my best hint bring magnets and put paper to the wall. also one at the door and hang lanyards when you go in and out.

 

I just checked Amazon and you can buy them there thru a close out place. I picked up several packs before they are gone for good.

[cynthe66]

The last two ships I tried the magnet thing on the walls the doors anything metal and they didn't stick.

 

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Forums mobile app

[momto2kids]

The last two ships I tried the magnet thing on the walls the doors anything metal and they didn't stick.

 

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Forums mobile app

 

It worked on the Valor and Glory recently for me :)

[pb19]

Thank you for restarting a new thread. The old was was too long and out dated.

 

The thread evolved from "Carnival Secrets" to alos include tips and ideas from seasoned cruisers. I found those actually more helpful than the "Carnival Secrets"

 

Heres one i started doing on my last cruise. With Digital cameras, we all end up taking hundreds of pictures. My problem was that after the cruise when I got home, I would go through my pics and have a hard time remembering where a pic was taken, when, and what it was!

 

So now each morning, before I leave the cabin, I take a picture of the front page of the Fun Times. It has the date and port of call on it. I now know that every pic taken after that one is in sucn and such port and taken on such and such date. Makes organizing our photo albums much easier.

 

I did this on our Med trip in September. But I took it one step further. Each morning I also took a picture of the TV screen that had a map of the trip. It showed not only the date, time, where we had been, where we were still going and if I caught it on the correct screen (it scrolls through) it would show the total miles we had traveled so far on the trip. (Final one in Barcelona was 2,948NM I had no clue we were traveling that many miles.) We did 10 ports in 12 days. All the cathedrals and ruins would have been one big blur if I had not done this. I also took another picture before bedtime just for fun to show where we were at that point, how fast we were traveling etc. And don't forget if you are in a different time zone the date on your camera may be wrong. Most of the date stamps on my camera were off by a day.

[TrinaLC]

Yes, but it may depend upon the cruise and GS. We got about 5 decks between the 6 of us with no problem at all but we were on a Transatlantic so they knew that we would be at sea for lots of days and lots of card playing would go on. Yes, they are still available, I think. We saw a lot of people with casino lanyards and holes poked in their S&S cards.

Yes. They realize we do it but they haven't stopped it.

 

Where in the casino do you get the lanyards?

[bibbysnow]

I did this on our Med trip in September. But I took it one step further. Each morning I also took a picture of the TV screen that had a map of the trip. It showed not only the date, time, where we had been, where we were still going and if I caught it on the correct screen (it scrolls through) it would show the total miles we had traveled so far on the trip. (Final one in Barcelona was 2,948NM I had no clue we were traveling that many miles.) We did 10 ports in 12 days. All the cathedrals and ruins would have been one big blur if I had not done this. I also took another picture before bedtime just for fun to show where we were at that point, how fast we were traveling etc. And don't forget if you are in a different time zone the date on your camera may be wrong. Most of the date stamps on my camera were off by a day.

 

What a wonderful idea!!

[crusinpsychRN]

Where in the casino do you get the lanyards?

 

At the cage or from any staff you see. Usually there is someone walking around conspicuously holding lanyards. They are the long springy kind, specifically made for use while using the slots.

[GrummanTiger]

Some great tips here! Any brand new ones??