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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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dland4us

dland4us

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:

Wonderful advice! Thank you so much for sharing. We've cruised many times and have never watched the sun rise. We're cruising in January and this time, will definitely watch the sun come up.

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train460

train460

Posted
Posted

bring an power strip for charging stuff as plugs are limited. We bring a small battery/plug powered fan for air movement and some noise. bring a plugin nightlight and use in the bathroom as it is DARK in the inside cabins.

Tons of other ideas I am forgetting.

Michael

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MTruvillio

MTruvillio

Posted
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Wish someone had said, "Don't take the chance of getting sea sick. Take preventative measures!" I learned after that first cruise believe you me LOL!

 

I have been on 3 cruises (getting ready for my 4th in May). Two of the times I had no issues with sea sickness. The 3rd time our cabin was on the 11th floor towards the front of the ship. Due to the motion with being that high up and forward we could definitely feel the ships movement and felt nauseous. Thankfully I brought ginger pills with us and it helped a lot. I also understand ginger candy helps as well. I didn't want to take Dramamine because it makes you tired. There is no side affects with ginger. You can get these at any Vitamin Shoppe or online at Amazon. Better to take with you just in case if you have never cruised before.

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MTruvillio

MTruvillio

Posted
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Pack a power strip.

Matches for freshening the bathroom.

Clorox wipes. I wipe down all of the handles, knobs, remotes in the room.

If you're a reader, download your books to your e reader before you leave

Take a pic of your parking spot at the port (or airport ) so you remember your spot

 

I agree on the clorox wipes! Having been at an all inclusive resort in Turks & Caicos when they had to shut down the resort because of a norovirous outbreak at the resort and on the island - I always wipe down everything we will touch immediately after getting into my room. Don't forget light switches too.

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CatgirlNC

CatgirlNC

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...that I should grab a porter as soon as I have all my luggage - because the porters have their own customs lines and it's worth the $10 to fly through the chaos called disembarkation!

 

 

Yes! I just learned this one at Port Canaveral. I was with my husband, plus my parents and aunt & uncle were there. A porter came over, and the rest of our party waved him off, but I said “Yes please!” for mine & my husband’s bags because we did have a lot of stuff. I didn’t even realize if you use a porter you go through a different customs line. Actually, there was no line...I ended up almost walking right past it because I was looking for a line to get in, but instead we walked right up to the desk. Then we got outside and had gotten separated from the rest of our group, and we hadn’t even said our goodbyes to each other. (we were all taking different shuttles from that point). I looked and looked, and had almost given up, when I finally saw the rest of them coming out of the terminal, and I was like “wow, we really got through quickly!”

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easyboy

easyboy

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Yes! I just learned this one at Port Canaveral. I was with my husband, plus my parents and aunt & uncle were there. A porter came over, and the rest of our party waved him off, but I said “Yes please!” for mine & my husband’s bags because we did have a lot of stuff. I didn’t even realize if you use a porter you go through a different customs line. Actually, there was no line...I ended up almost walking right past it because I was looking for a line to get in, but instead we walked right up to the desk. Then we got outside and had gotten separated from the rest of our group, and we hadn’t even said our goodbyes to each other. (we were all taking different shuttles from that point). I looked and looked, and had almost given up, when I finally saw the rest of them coming out of the terminal, and I was like “wow, we really got through quickly!”

That's true. We don't have second thoughts in using a porter. Luggage-free convenience and saves time.

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Fran Record

Fran Record

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Avoid a room under the kitchen galley area if you're a light sleeper. My cove balcony room on deck 2 of the Vista was horrible for sleeping due to banging noises up above us all night long.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

What was the room number of your cove balcony?

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hollyisu

hollyisu

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What is FTTF?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

 

 

 

You can pre-pay before you get on board. We also get Carnival gift cards 10% off from the AARP rewards for good site. It is available for all ages. (Neither of us are old enough for AARP). We use these to pay for our gratuities. I also try to estimate our S&S bill and buy a couple to cover that.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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bnorris10

bnorris10

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Bring a pop up hamper for your dirty clothes. It keeps the room tidy!

 

I always leave my suitcase open while its slid under my bed and just put my clothes back in the suitcase after I am done wearing them

 

You can pre-pay before you get on board. We also get Carnival gift cards 10% off from the AARP rewards for good site. It is available for all ages. (Neither of us are old enough for AARP). We use these to pay for our gratuities. I also try to estimate our S&S bill and buy a couple to cover that.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Don't forget the drivewise app can do the same thing ... I just did that last night and got $500 for $450 and it was emailed to me within minutes

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beshears

beshears

Posted
Posted

I have cruised many times on Carnival, and a few other cruise lines.

 

In regard to the banana split desert on the "children" menu, how do we get it??? The reason I ask, when we are in the MDR for dinner, I have never seen a childs menu, always the adults.

 

I may be wrong about this, but if we are in the MDR, and a desert we like, we want more, do we ask next time for a larger amount, or what?

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bnorris10

bnorris10

Posted
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I have cruised many times on Carnival, and a few other cruise lines.

 

In regard to the banana split desert on the "children" menu, how do we get it??? The reason I ask, when we are in the MDR for dinner, I have never seen a childs menu, always the adults.

 

I may be wrong about this, but if we are in the MDR, and a desert we like, we want more, do we ask next time for a larger amount, or what?

 

If there is anything you want that is not on the menu just ask for it - the worse they can do is tell you no ... I have been told no before but if it's within their power to get it they will

 

If you want extra of a dessert just ask for 2 or 3 or 4 what ever you want - Or if you already ate it just ask for another one - You can get as many desserts, entrees or apps as you want - My husband often orders 2 because he want's to try something else especially on nights they do fun stuff like snails

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Cruiser3121

Cruiser3121

Posted
Posted
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:

 

Great advice!!!

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sprint180 Great Review Rare

sprint180

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!

I'm sure this has been answered but I'm not reading all the posts.

I have never felt "dumped" at a port. Never had a problem knowing where to go, just ask if you do. Someone will help you. I have 5 kids so I know how you feel.

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beshears

beshears

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Bnorris10, thanks for your reply. At least I know about the banana split deal. :) Guess (not that I need it) if I find a desert that I really like, I may ask for MORE.:)

 

It is hard to believe that we are leaving this SATURDAY. YEH!!

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Pellaz

Pellaz

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Posted
...that I should grab a porter as soon as I have all my luggage - because the porters have their own customs lines and it's worth the $10 to fly through the chaos called disembarkation!

 

This is not the case at all ports.

 

It IS the case at PortMiami and (based on a post here) Port Canaveral, but it is NOT the case at Port Everglades. Your porter will be your constant companion during the 30-45 min. it takes to get through the Customs line. :(

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