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Need to know for new cruisers

lharry

By lharry,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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SmittyCo

SmittyCo

Posted
Posted

You can get a free deck of cards at guest services.

 

Bags ARE checked when getting off the boat or shortly after (as you go into the customs areas). They have trained dogs smelling for food.

 

If you book a cove balcony, set your phone on the deck over night and record .... you have a great sound bite of the ocean to listen to anytime. (we listen to ours at night to go to sleep).

 

Bring a power strip, a highlighter, and tape several strips of duct tape to the inside of your luggage.

 

The crew doesn't want small gifts from your home state ... they share small cabins and don't have room for stuff (I was told this by a crew member).

 

Bring a tervis type cup. we also use a carnival water bottle to fill up with guava juice served at breakfast.

 

Room service in the am. Ask for extra sugar, cream, etc. They are skimpy on what they send.

 

When you are packed ... take out half of the clothing you packed. You won't use it.

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queenofthebalcony

queenofthebalcony

Posted
Posted
I'm making a list of "need to knows" or "good to know" for people we will be cruising with that have never cruised before.

 

So far this is what I have:

* no clock in the room, may want to bring one

* night light in the bathroom may be useful

* room has one or two outlets! may want to bring a double outlet adapter as power strips are not allowed

* a bottle of wine per adult and a 12 pack of soft drinks allowed to be brought on

* no need to pack a beach towel

 

What are some others?

Just catching up with this thread. Regarding bringing a bottle of wine on board: Can we take it to our cabin? Or do they keep it?

Thank you,

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Pesh

Pesh

Posted
Posted
Just catching up with this thread. Regarding bringing a bottle of wine on board: Can we take it to our cabin? Or do they keep it?

Thank you,

 

 

You keep it. It must be in your carry-on and you take it with when you board the ship. They never even touch it.

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imaboo

imaboo

Posted
Posted
To bring on a first cruise:

 

Anticipation and a good dose of childish wonderment.

Expectations laced with reality.

Excitement and a whole lot of patience.

Understanding that naivete is a good thing, too much information is like cooks spoiling a clear simple broth.

A commitment to ask questions from the staff...they are more than willing to impart their knowledge about cruising.

Remembering to read all the "good" advise from curise critic and then to forget most of it. It's fun to be a fist timer and to stumble about a bit. You only get that initial cruise once...besides nobody likes a know everything who gets all their knowledge from outside sources, personal experience is the best teacher.

 

Have fun, enjoy yourself, read the Carnival schedule diligently each morning and remember to try new things.

 

And my best advise....don't worry about doing everything together with whom ever you are cruising with. Cruising is an excellent place for some alone time or couple time or for kids to enjoy kid time without adults and extended family or friends NOT to be together 24/7. Just sayin.

 

Great response! I agree completely.

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Roscoe13

Roscoe13

Posted
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My tip is to take a flashlight for each person in your cabin in case of emergency/electrical outages, etc. You will then be able to find you way around.

 

 

My smartphone has become my Swiss army knife. As long as I keep it charged, and I do, it is a flashlight. Yes, there's an app for that!

 

It also is my alarm clock, music player, reader and when I pay $5 for the Hub App it is my fun times.

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  • 2 months later...
gailypaily

gailypaily

Posted
Posted

1.You are not limited to one entree (even lobster) or dessert. You can get an appetizer size of any entree.

2. You can bring your own wine. check with line for quantity.

3. Room service is free except for late night.

4. Soft drinks are not free.

5. If you get a specialty drink in a special glass, save it for a discount on your next drink. Order with no ice and get more. 15% gratuity charged.

6. Bring nightlights or magnets to stick on stateroom wall (if metal)

7. You need to ask for a top sheet if you like one.

8. Green apples are good for seasickness.

9. Go to the casino when it opens and get a lanyard for your room key. They will punch your key. Be careful they don't punch it on the part you need to scan.

10. The beverages in your room refrigerator are not free. Have your steward remove them if you do not want them.

11. You can get a fruit basket from room service.

12. Go to the dining room on embarkation day. It is not as crowded as the Lido.

13. If you must show your room key to get a beach towel, make sure you turn the towel back in.

14. Some cruise lines have different color carpet on the starboard side and the port side.

15. You can shower for free at the spa. The shower is usually larger.

16. If you purchase a soda card, you need the special cup.

17. If you plan on doing laundry, bring soap pods and dryer sheets. Iron free.

18. You can bring a hanging shoe bag for extra over-the-door storage.

19. Bring a highlighter to mark the activities you like on the daily newsletter.

20. Get soft serve instead of Ben and Jerry's.

21. Some lounges offer 2-for-1 drinks at happy hour.

22. If your ship has a rock climbing wall, bring sneakers.

23. If you need a lot of outlets, bring a power strip.

24. To find location of your photos, look on your cruise card.

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tigresslea

tigresslea

Posted
Posted

Since you added these to the Carnival forum and some of them don't hold true for Carnival...

 

1.You are not limited to one entree (even lobster) or dessert. You can get an appetizer size of any entree.

2. You can bring your own wine. check with line for quantity.

It's one 750ml bottle per person over 21.

3. Room service is free except for late night.

Room service is free on Carnival 24/7, but now they have added some items with a minimal charge.

4. Soft drinks are not free.

5. If you get a specialty drink in a special glass, save it for a discount on your next drink. Order with no ice and get more. 15% gratuity charged.

6. Bring nightlights or magnets to stick on stateroom wall (if metal)

7. You need to ask for a top sheet if you like one.

8. Green apples are good for seasickness.

9. Go to the casino when it opens and get a lanyard for your room key. They will punch your key. Be careful they don't punch it on the part you need to scan.

10. The beverages in your room refrigerator are not free. Have your steward remove them if you do not want them.

11. You can get a fruit basket from room service.

Not sure about this one.

12. Go to the dining room on embarkation day. It is not as crowded as the Lido.

The dining room is not open on embarkation day, but some other dining venues are and may be less crowded if your ship has them. Example, the Italian restaurant, fish & chips, etc.

13. If you must show your room key to get a beach towel, make sure you turn the towel back in.

14. Some cruise lines have different color carpet on the starboard side and the port side.

15. You can shower for free at the spa. The shower is usually larger.

16. If you purchase a soda card, you need the special cup.

Not sure what special cup, is this if the ship has the fountain drinks? Carnival has cans they pour into a regular cup over ice.

17. If you plan on doing laundry, bring soap pods and dryer sheets. Iron free.

18. You can bring a hanging shoe bag for extra over-the-door storage.

Be careful with this... Carnival has specified that these must now be fire retardant.

19. Bring a highlighter to mark the activities you like on the daily newsletter.

20. Get soft serve instead of Ben and Jerry's.

Carnival doesn't have Ben & Jerry's. They do have free 24/7 soft server and hard ice cream is free in the MDR. You can get a banana split off the kids menu too.

21. Some lounges offer 2-for-1 drinks at happy hour.

22. If your ship has a rock climbing wall, bring sneakers.

23. If you need a lot of outlets, bring a power strip.

Power strips must be without surge protection or will be confiscated.

24. To find location of your photos, look on your cruise card.

Don't think Carnival has this option.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Dunnik

Dunnik

Posted
Posted
Here is a pretty comprehensive document I made (attached) "Tips For New Cruisers"

 

Some really good info there, some of it may even be useful to more experienced cruisers as well. Well done Barsnikel.

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  • 3 weeks later...
tigresslea

tigresslea

Posted
Posted
Does Carnival charge a room service fee if you order between the hours of 11pm and 6am? Celebrity charges $5. Also what do they charge for specialty restaurants?

 

Room service is free 24/7, however, they have added some items for a fee.

 

The steakhouse is $35 and the Italian restaurant is $15, I think.

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  • 2 months later...
saltybones

saltybones

Posted
Posted

I think I read somewhere that you can get a few items at the coffee shop for no charge, anyone know anything about this?

I always have to get one of those chocolate fruit cups, they are out of this world good!

 

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

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crusinpsychRN

crusinpsychRN

Posted
Posted
I think I read somewhere that you can get a few items at the coffee shop for no charge, anyone know anything about this?

I always have to get one of those chocolate fruit cups, they are out of this world good!

 

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

Saw that on JH's page. It looked like a big donut. I never saw things like it when I was on Sunshine.

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