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I Wish Someone Had Told Me On My First Carnival Cruise.....

dpeeps87

By dpeeps87,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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bwellen

bwellen

Posted
Posted
I wish I would have taken less stuff.

 

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Forums mobile app

 

 

And that seems to be the universal truth for almost all traveling.

 

Actually the old saying "bring half the clothes and twice the money" is one of my favorites.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

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auscgguysgirl

auscgguysgirl

Posted
Posted
What parts? Whenever I looked for rooms it kept asking front mid or back and to me it makes no difference! We did RC last year through my husband's work so we didn't get a choice on room. They booked it, paid for it, and we were happy with what we got because it was FREE! We were on the 5th floor front and it was just fine for us. I can't remember where we are this coming trip. I know 8th floor, I think towards the front. I guess I didn't realize it mattered! Insight please!

 

 

My parents cruise regularly & have for years, so I was lucky that I had someone to call and ask. Generally, the lower you are on the ship the less rock you feel. The same goes for MID ship (the middle). If you are in the front or the back you can feel more rock/sway than other areas.

As for other things I've learned that no one ever explained:

Suitcases and bags fit under the bed for easy storage and out of the way.

Unpack your suitcases & put them away to make more room in the cabin.

The walls are magnetic - so you can put the important papers they give you on the wall.

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Drazil65

Drazil65

Posted
Posted

YIKES!!!!!!! So they don't have signs when you get off with buses to know where you are going? Our trip last year we only did one excursion and it was in Labadee Haiti which was so small there was no cars or buses. All was walking distance and you followed the signs. This time around, we have excursions at every stop, we have kids (didn't bring them last year), AND all excursions include a bus ride.......now I'm worried!

We have been sailing with CCL (as well as a couple of others) for last 15 years, any excursion (no matter which cruise line) has always had either signs or transpo right there at port if the excursion needs to have transportation to get to the place in question (our tickets for excursion usually has a meeting place on the ship if we need to be transported). If the excursion is walkable from port then we always ask at shore excursions BEFORE we get off the ship for the instructions or expectations with regards to getting to the place in question.

 

 

Do not be afraid and definitely be proactive with confirming all your instructions before hand. It does not take much to ask and will probably save you many headaches when traveling in other countries.

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The4Cruisers

The4Cruisers

Posted
Posted
I wished I'd know that even if you book an excursion through Carnival they basically dump you off at port an expect you to figure out how to get to where you are going. I still hate that part even though I've been able to figure it out each time. It is stressful not knowing what is going on and if you are in the right place.

 

 

Not true! After 14 cruises, we've never had an issue with no signage or directions to access excursions. Most times, the people they to guide you are relentless in making sure you get where you need to be.

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auscgguysgirl

auscgguysgirl

Posted
Posted
I wish someone told me not to like cruising so much. We've spent way too much money going on a bunch of cruises! (With more booked!) ;p

 

Welcome to our world! :') My DH tells me all the time .. NO MORE until we sail a few. Until the next deal comes through and I'm booking away! Such is life!

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TyBaby

TyBaby

Posted
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Take half as many clothes. Take more money than you think you will need. Spend $20 in the casino to remind yourself why you dont gamble. Join in a Lido game, join a line dance. Get up early and watch a sunrise. Find the "wind tunnel" door at the front of the ship and take silly pictures! (Our 1st cruise on the Paradise we spent probably 20 min every morning doing dumb stuff at those doors!) And HAVE FUN and TRY NEW THINGS! :cool:

 

 

I'll have to check out the wind tunnel! Lol! Love the sunrises:) My next cruises isn't until April 2018. :')

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Warm Breezes

Warm Breezes

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Some tips I gave a co-worker of mine going on her first cruise next month on the Carnival Magic:

  • Some of the tables for 2 in anytime dining are extremely close to each other. To avoid these tables ask for a booth for 2.
  • You may bring 1 - 750ml bottle of wine/champagne per person and up to a 12 pack of pop CANs per person in your carry on. No BOTTLES of pop or water allowed.
  • There will be an empty refrigerator in your room for your use. Hang a wash cloth over the cupboard door it is in by the hinge to allow air to circulate around the refrigerator and keep everything in it cooler.
  • You can ask your room steward for a bucket of ice and he will keep it filled for the week.
  • You can ask your room steward for robes if they are not already in your room.
  • Room and Beach Towels are provided. They will give you fresh ones if you leave them on the bathroom floor.
  • In the main dining room you can ask for the cheese plate as an appetizer or you can ask for an appetizer size portion of the entree pasta they are serving.
  • In the main dining room you can ask for as many appetizers, salads, soups, entrees, deserts as you want. If you don't like what you get ask for something different at no charge.
  • In the main dining room you can also order of the kids menu.I've gotten the banana split a few times.
  • You can bring your own water bottle to fill up with ice and water in the buffet to carry around the ship or take with you on an excursion.
  • You can not take unpackaged food or fresh fruit off the ship with you in Port. Only Pre-packaged foods. (like a box of cereal).
  • Make sure to bring suntan lotion and bug spray (for excursions)
  • Bring a 3 plug outlet with a nightlight (only one plug in room by the desk)
  • There is a hair dryer in the desk drawer for you to use.
  • At ports you will need your Sail & Sign Card and Photo ID to get back on the ship.
  • If going to the Comedy Show get there at least 20-25 minutes early. Seats go fast.
  • Avoid the crowds in the buffet on debarkation morning by eating breakfast in the main dining room and then finding a place on Deck 5 to wait for them to call your zone to debark.
  • Bring a travel first aid kit with some band aids, tylenol, cold medicine, allergy medicine, eye drops, sea sickness pills, tums, pepcid, immodium, ear plugs, prescription meds, clippers - expensive to buy on the ship if you need to get some and don't have it.
  • If you over 50, use AARP point to purchase Carnival Gift Cards at 10% off.
  • Tip luggage handlers $1-$2 per bag, tour guides 10-20%, room service deliverers $1-$5 depending on how much you ordered, spa workers 10-20%
  • Bartender tips are automatically added to your bill
  • Waiters/Room Stewards tips are included in the gratuities charged to your onboard account

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cruizergal70

cruizergal70

Posted
Posted
That the Carnival room service items that cost extra (chicken fingers, pizza) are NOT worth it. They are different than the chicken strips or pizza you find elsewhere on the ship.

 

 

Yeah, that's the whole point. If they were the same as the free pizza and chicken strips, why would people pay for it?

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footballmom68

footballmom68

Posted
Posted
I wish I would have taken less stuff.

 

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Forums mobile app

 

 

My first cruise in 2015, we drove from northern Colorado to Galveston to cruise the Magic. My teenage boys were in charge of the luggage. I had packed the biggest rolling suitcase ever full of all sorts of clothes. I had a smaller bag with my shoes and toiletries.

 

We get to the hotel the day before our cruise and the boys unload the luggage. I am ready to get in the shower and realize my huge suitcase is nowhere to be found. Called the housesitter and she confirmed there was a big suitcase sitting in the dining room......MINE.

 

Hit the Walmart, Old Navy and JCPenneys and bought one pair of shorts, one pair of "cruise pants," a pair of cropped pants, 5 t-shirts, swimsuit, nice sundress and some intimates and was just perfectly fine for the entire cruise.

 

Thank goodness the boys forgot that overstuffed suitcase full of things I didn't need. :D

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originalgeek

originalgeek

Posted
Posted
Can these be taken off the ship for beach use?

 

 

they sure can. Be sure to bring them back though because they charge you for missing towels and they ain't cheap. When you come back from the beach they usually have a station near the gangway where you can exchange your wet, sandy towels for fresh, dry ones.

 

Also I was recently made aware of micro-fiber towels that you can buy and bring yourself - the can be compacted into a tiny space so you don't have to lug around the big Carnival beach towels if you are so inclined.

 

 

the one thing I wish I had known before my first cruise is that water shoes and sand don't mix without socks. I had been under the impression that water shoes were meant to be worn without socks - and if you stay just in water I expect they are - but I wore mine to a Mayan ruins excursion and by the time I had tromped all over the grounds my shoes were filled with sand and dirt that rubbed my feet raw. Much pain. The free beers at the lunch buffet on the way back helped tremendously. The next day I wore those little no-show socks and my feet thanked me profusely. A difference of a maybe a million times more comfort. Maybe two million. I dunno - I'm not a numbers guy. The only number I know for sure is 2. 2 feet walking around in sandpaper coffins sucked pretty hard.

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sk8rmomof3

sk8rmomof3

Posted
Posted
The lower decks are the place to be if you get seasick

 

 

 

 

Every Carnival-sponsored shore excursion I've taken has had people with signs right outside of the ship that lead you to where you're supposed to go

 

 

 

Thanks! We are on the 8th floor. We were on the 5th floor towards the front last year and had no problem. Hopefully this will be ok for the kids. They've never cruised before.

 

And you've eased my mind about the excursions. Thank you.

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jayscore

jayscore

Posted
Posted

Bring a battery clock, not plug-in.

After your first cruise, avoid all sales talks. Avoid "gold by the inch".

Get yourselves lost exploring the ship.

Try new food in the dining room.

Unless you have unlimited funds,keep an eye on your S&S account, often.

It took me more than "one rodeo" to realize you can not see or do everything on the ship and on land. (You'll just have to book more cruises for that, eh? ;))

Just take in the ambiance and have fun!:D

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