Carnival Secrets they usually don't tell you about

[LostAgain]

Neat Sheet (like a cloth tarp) - used at Half Moon Cay to cover our stuff, especially when it started to rain! quote]

 

I have been searching high and low on the internet to replace my Neat Sheet that I lent to a friend and didn't get back. We use it when we take the dog out for a ride in the car and a walk. When he gets back in the car all muddy and dirty, we wrap him up in the Neat Sheet. Unfortunately, I was trying to search for this item without remembering what it was called. So it was quite fortuitious that I came across this post. If anybody has bought one of these recently, could you let me know where you found it? If I'm thinking of the same item the previous poster is, the Neat Sheet is a blanket which is light blue on one side and medium blue on the other. It is made of some strange kind of material which resists wetness and staining, but it is machine washable. It is quite study - we had it for years. Meanwhile, I will do another internet search. Thanks!

[GHarkness]

http://www.theneatsheet.com/

[MrPete]

I posted this "secret" several years ago and was flamed by some troll. But here goes anyway.

 

I secure $2 dollar bills from my bank and use them to tip. With over 2 thousand people on board I find that room service, bartenders, ect. tend to remember a guest who tips with a $2 bill. I have even received free drinks from bartenders.

 

The flamer who attacked me thought that since there was no room in a cash register for a $2 bill that they were somehow not real legal tender. FYI, the US mint still prints $2 bills. They are legal tender.

 

I have used these bills on numerous land vacations and the response is the same. The recipient is thrilled to receive them as they use them as presents for children, grandchildren, ect.

 

Try working with the general American public with cash. THEY DON'T WANT THEM. When you try to give them as change, they REFUSE to take them.

 

Although they are legal tender, people think of them more of a nuisance than anything.

 

If you want your servers to remember you, give them a $5 (in addition to your regular tips).

[LostAgain]

Once I knew the name of the blanket I was trying to replace, I found it easily on the web. I have already ordered two. Thanks! It's amazing the things you learn on CC, and some of them aren't even cruise-related!

[beckynva]

Ok...surely I'm missing something here, but if you can use ANY gift card (or card with a magnetic strip) to access the safe.....then can't ANYONE with a "gift card" open the safe? or does it only recognize the one YOU used to lock it? Or is it opened another way?

[GHarkness]

It reads and saves the magnetic strip when you swipe it to lock it. Then, when you want to unlock it, it looks for the same encoding that was on the first strip you swiped. No matching encoding = safe doesn't open.

[michelle1836]

try toys R us for the Neat Sheet

 

I love a $2 bill and actually keep one in my wallet. I was going to bring the $2 for tips but read the same thing so I didnt. maybe I will for the next cruise

[spaganya]

wait. does this mean i cant use my walmart bought walkie talkies to talk to our group on the boat??? how do i know if its a "higher powered" walkie talkie?:confused:

 

Not trying to be a stick in the mud on the FRS-GMRS radios, but the higher power ones (any GMRS capable ones)do actually require a license ($75-85 for 5 years) and are good for use in the United States and its Territories (aka Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, etc) but not other countries where the FCC has no jurisdiction. IOW depending on the country, you may be operating an illegal radio. I am sure it gets overlooked, but the possibility of getting into trouble remains. So use on shore excursions or in port at your own risk...

 

Also technically since the ships are not US flagged they could be considered illegal... however I have yet to hear anyone get in trouble for this...

 

Like I said I personally don't care if anyone uses 2 way radios or not on a cruise, I just want folks to be aware that there is a gray and a black and white area in using these do so at your own risk.

 

I usually carry my ham radio with me (walkie talkie sized) and I have to be licensed in each country that we visit (as well as the country the ship is flagged in) as well as receive permission from the captain. I am also subject to the rules of those countries if I operate my radio in a way that violates their laws, but it is pretty cool to talk to the locals while in port :)

 

Just sayin...

[elstephanito]

I posted this "secret" several years ago and was flamed by some troll. But here goes anyway.

 

I secure $2 dollar bills from my bank and use them to tip. With over 2 thousand people on board I find that room service, bartenders, ect. tend to remember a guest who tips with a $2 bill. I have even received free drinks from bartenders.

 

The flamer who attacked me thought that since there was no room in a cash register for a $2 bill that they were somehow not real legal tender. FYI, the US mint still prints $2 bills. They are legal tender.

 

I have used these bills on numerous land vacations and the response is the same. The recipient is thrilled to receive them as they use them as presents for children, grandchildren, ect.

 

Try working with the general American public with cash. THEY DON'T WANT THEM. When you try to give them as change, they REFUSE to take them.

 

Although they are legal tender, people think of them more of a nuisance than anything.

 

If you want your servers to remember you, give them a $5 (in addition to your regular tips).

 

Yeah, I agree with this. I just find $2 completely annoying whenever I happen to get them when I'm cashiering. There's nowhere to put them! But maybe there's a greater novelty for the employees who probably dont see them very often? IMO, they're just kind of a nuisance. And those gold Sacagewea dollar coins...don't even get me started on those...

[j3r3my]

I did not read the previous 27ish hundred posts, but one plus for the drink card is on debarkation day you can still order soda's where those paying per glass can not.

[Zack Adams]

wait. does this mean i cant use my walmart bought walkie talkies to talk to our group on the boat??? how do i know if its a "higher powered" walkie talkie?:confused:

 

I have never heard of ANYONE getting in trouble for using a radio on a cruise ship so unless the cruise staff fusses at you then you should not have any problems. So don't sweat it!

 

In a port in a foreign country though no one will probably mess with you while using them on the ship, however I would not use them in any port (say on an excursion) that was not US territory (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Key West) because that could get you in trouble. I think that use in Canada is OK. Mexico requires that it be a type approved for use in Mexico.

 

Here are a few articles about the subject:

http://www.qsl.net/wd9ewk/xe-frs.html

http://www.offroaders.com/tech/Family-Radio-Service.htm

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Family_Radio_Service#2.

 

Here are some wikipedia articles on FRS/GMRS Radios: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Radio_Service

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mobile_Radio_Service

 

To answer your question, a FRS radio has 14 Channels and if your radio has 22 Channels it is a GMRS/FRS hybrid that requires a license if you plan on using those GMRS frequencies!

 

Here is a page to link you to the FCC page:

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home&id=general_mobile

 

It is better to be safe than sorry and I just don't want folks to go on a relaxing cruise and find out you were violating some law you had no idea existed.

 

Do your own research and most of all have a wonderful vacation! I was just mentioning this to educate not to scare anyone...

[hlb76]

just subscribing

[gwinel]

just subscribing

 

Me too. I thought that I had!

[spaganya]

I have never heard of ANYONE getting in trouble for using a radio on a cruise ship so unless the cruise staff fusses at you then you should not have any problems. So don't sweat it!

...

 

Do your own research and most of all have a wonderful vacation! I was just mentioning this to educate not to scare anyone...

 

thanks for the update *big sigh* :D

[k2]

subscribing too

[Brenna2112]

Hi Everyone!

I am already subscribed to this thread but I did want to say thanks to all for the wonderful tips and tricks I have learned. I cant wait to try them in 15 days. Also back a little ways someone mentioned about letting the wheelchairs on the elevator with ease...I wouldn't dream of not giving them my spot. wow how rude people couldbe not to consider what wheelchair bound people go through on a daily basis. I'm going to stick with my original thoughts that "most" people are kind enough to do that in this world.

Again thats to all who gave a trick or tip. If I ever find one that isn't widely known yet I will definitely post it here. :-)

Happy sailin everyone :-)

[highbridge5]

I love a $2 bill and actually keep one in my wallet. I was going to bring the $2 for tips but read the same thing so I didnt. maybe I will for the next cruise

 

Anyone tip with the new presidential (or sacagawea [sp?]) dollars?

 

I love the dollar coins but they are not as easy to use. A lot easier to toss a handful of those in a pocket instead of a wad of bills that can fall out of your pocket everytime you reach in to get something. (Of course, you Canadians figured that out a long time ago). And from a bigger view, the lifetime of a coin is something like 10 or 20 times that of paper money making them more economical to produce and circulate. (Of course, you Canadians figured that out a long time ago.)

 

The tooth fairly leaves them at my house but even then, one child was disappointed that the tooth fairy didn't leave him the dollar that he wanted (until it was explained that it *WAS* a dollar that was a coin). Then he thought it was better than just a plain old dollar.

 

hb5

[dan40]

Anyone tip with the new presidential (or sacagawea [sp?]) dollars?

 

I love the dollar coins but they are not as easy to use. A lot easier to toss a handful of those in a pocket instead of a wad of bills that can fall out of your pocket everytime you reach in to get something. (Of course, you Canadians figured that out a long time ago). And from a bigger view, the lifetime of a coin is something like 10 or 20 times that of paper money making them more economical to produce and circulate. (Of course, you Canadians figured that out a long time ago.)

 

The tooth fairly leaves them at my house but even then, one child was disappointed that the tooth fairy didn't leave him the dollar that he wanted (until it was explained that it *WAS* a dollar that was a coin). Then he thought it was better than just a plain old dollar.

 

hb5

 

Crew members almost NEVER get to spend US money on US soil. Dollar coins and $2.00 bills are NOT so useful outside the US. [barely any use here] Merchants in foreign lands are reluctant to take the coins or deuces.

Plain old US Dollars work best, no need for our own egos being poked in the mix.

[MrPete]

Anyone tip with the new presidential (or sacagawea [sp?]) dollars?

 

I love the dollar coins but they are not as easy to use. A lot easier to toss a handful of those in a pocket instead of a wad of bills that can fall out of your pocket everytime you reach in to get something.

 

Now I know why I see those blokes wearing their pants so low as to reveal their undies. They've been tipped with Sacagawea coins. :eek:

[itzkelly]

Now I know why I see those blokes wearing their pants so low as to reveal their undies. They've been tipped with Sacagawea coins. :eek:

 

hee hee :D

[buzzsmom]

In the casino, they'll give you a lanyard, as well as punch a hole in your S&S card for you.

 

Why would they punch a hole in your S&S card? :confused:

 

So you can put it on a lanyard and then pick your kids up at Camp Carnival. So I don't lose it every where I go :D

[N.FL Cruisers]

Ok I have finally read all 133 pages of this, wow!!

 

First off, on the military discounts, I found out today from my PVP that the early bird saver or whatever they call it is actually a better deal than the military discount. Since it's already heavily discounted they wont add the military discount on top of it. Fair enough since we got a 7 day ocean view on the Splendor for just over $400pp.

 

I found out that some hotels that are close to ports will offer discounts to Carnival passengers if they fly in the night before and need a place to stay. They don't advertise this so you have to call the hotel directly and ask. I know for a fact the Hilton Long Beach in southern Cali offers it, but when we called today they were already sold out of the rooms so it seems to be a limited type deal.

 

Those that have kids that use Camp Carnival, don't forget to tip the staff! They are not included in the $10/day mandatory tips.

What is a recommended tip for the camp carnival staff?

thanks!

[bobsfamily]

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What is a recommended tip for the camp carnival staff?

thanks!

 

Depends on ho much you used them, how good they were, etc.

 

Many years ago when I had 2 in at the same time I think I tipped around $50 for the group... but I had just won at the tables!

[bots99]

a daily newspaper distributed free at the fancy coffee bar on the promenade. It's off a satellite feed, about 8 pages with no pictures with an assortment of fairly up to date date news stories. noticed this on the dream Jan 2-9, 2010.

[kingoftheicedragons]

Wow, with so many tips and messages, and well over 100 pages, it's possible I may have missed someone else post this:

 

But one thing we wish we would have liked to have known sooner, and our table mates on our last cruise didn't find this out until their second night on the ship as well...

 

Don't rush through dinner. On our first cruise, we didn't have table companions, and we rushed through dinner. We didn't find out that they had entertainment in the dining room after dinner until our second or third night on the cruise, when our dinner was slowed down by the wait staff a little bit. On our last cruise, we didn't do the dining room the first night, and our table companions did the same thing we did--rush through dinner and left before the after dinner entertainment.