Carnival Secrets they usually don't tell you about

[Paleochick]

...and is there any secrets to getting "processed" earlier so that I can start partying ?

 

We traveled with two small kids. One in a stroller. Once the people in the port saw the stroller, they sent us to the wheelchair line. The whole cattle call took less than 5 minutes. Take a baby in a stroller. :D I'm tempted to keep having more kids so that we'll never have to wait in line again (kidding).

[stargate fan]

The picture in your signature looks lovely. How was the zip tour? Did you book through Carnival or yourself? I really want to try a zip line course but am a bit nervous. Height doesn't bother me but speed does.

In other words...tell me all about it.

[gizzie]

For those of you who say that "oranje Juice" is available all day, that they just change the label, is not true. I just came off the Triumph and OJ was available during breakfast hours only.

[lhc2266]

For those of you who say that "oranje Juice" is available all day, that they just change the label, is not true. I just came off the Triumph and OJ was available during breakfast hours only.

 

I found that out on the Conquest last week. I tried to get some orange juice after lunch, and found out that there was only lemonade in its place. However, I meant to request some orange juice from one of the bartenders, and just never got around to it. I wonder if you could request it that way?

[spieks1985]

My girlfriend and I are going on our first cruise in about three weeks. I will for sure use these tips for our benefit.

[Almost Packed]

the pic in my signature is from the zip line in montego bay. it was fantastic!!!! i highly recommend it. we booked it through the cruise line. if i do recall correctly, through the cruise line is the only way to get to it. it was at chukka park. it is different from the other zip lines, as this truly is a canopy tour, not just a zip line. there was a series of 7 zip lines i believe. i completely felt safe at all times...well, maybe the bus ride up there was a little scary, but it was beautiful. there are more details about my canopy tour in my member review if you can find it. they (cc) have listed the wrong week for my cruise, but you can find lots of details of it there. i strongly recommend the canopy tour here! almost the highlight of my cruise....for sure dh's highlight!

[cruseholic]

One thing they omit to tell you is that if you book a New Years cruise and are in port on Jan1st everything will be closed - shops, restaurants etc..

 

Be wise, and always check itinerary to make sure you will be at sea that day and not on say St.Thomas which has the best shopping of all Caribbean.

[Dantana22]

^^Thanks for that :)

I'm pretty sure the 6-night Western Caribbean on Liberty is at sea that day... *runs and checks*

[lawoman]

Please tell me more about your zipline in Montego Bay, what tour guide did you use and where do I find your member review?TWe are leaving on January 20th and that sounds like a lot of fun

[cruisegal320]

Myself and a friend are just back from the Fascination 12/14/07. We were not charged for cappacino ??? or expresso after dinner. Also, it may be a good idea to go ahead and bring your own hair dryer - just on this ship though. First cruise I have been on when there wasn't one of those little hair dryers in the cabin. Highly annoying!

[Cayenne.SF]

One thing to bear in mind, at least for weak-willed folks like me.

 

If you buy the soda card, when you are thirsty you will say "should I have a beer? Nah, I've already paid for my diet coke." So you save a few bucks as well as a few calories.

 

Oh I came out way ahead with the soda card. I also drink too much soda, but that is a different issue....

[IslandToIsland]

Hi all,

Just wondering if you can sit alone in the dining room on formal nights, or do you have to sit at a table with others. I have read that you can request to sit at a private table. Is this true?

[asader83]

Hi all,

Just wondering if you can sit alone in the dining room on formal nights, or do you have to sit at a table with others. I have read that you can request to sit at a private table. Is this true?

 

I'm pretty sure that your best bet is to talk to the maitre'd once you're on board. If I'm not right, I'm sure someone will correct me! :)

[Almost Packed]

Please tell me more about your zipline in Montego Bay, what tour guide did you use and where do I find your member review?TWe are leaving on January 20th and that sounds like a lot of fun

 

we booked our tour through carnival. i believe it is the only way to book this excursion. it was at a park, (like a state park here in the U.S.) we were bussed up the mountain (or big hills whichever you prefer) and it was beautiful.

you can find my review if you click on reviews at the top of the page, then click on carnival, then conquest and scroll down to the date of 03/07. for some reason CC got my cruise date wrong, but it really doesn't matter. look for the date, and my review (almost packed) and there ya go. i'm sure there is probably a way to link it, but i don't know how. in my review, i talk alot about the canopy tour. it was awesome. if you have any desire to do it, this tour or if you are in costa rica, "The Original Canopy Tour" is the one to do. I have not personally been to Costa Rica, it is definately somewhere i am going however. i have watched and read a few books on it. on the travel channel is where i first saw the canopy tour. the company is The Original Canopy Tour. a portion of the proceeds go back to the forrest etc. i felt completely safe the entire time. it was thrilling! but i felt safe. there were2 pulleys & two cables. you are escorted by 2 tour guides one at the front of the line, and one at the back. it is beautiful. take some money...they take awesome pics that you can purchase on a cd. they have a souviner shop and small snack shack too. (jerk chicken, hubby enjoyed) i did not have any. make sure you purchase your water bottle when you are getting off the ship, so you can take it with you.

hope this helps.

i have attached a pic of my dh during one of the zips...i think it is the first one they took this pic.

[Almost Packed]

also, the best kept secret i found out about...call them (Carnival) when prices drop and get a credit. we got a whopping onboard credit!!

[leadout_kv]

also, the best kept secret i found out about...call them (Carnival) when prices drop and get a credit. we got a whopping onboard credit!!

 

I just checked our booking for Dec '08. The prices actually went up $15/person. i don't think I'll call. I can see it now. We'll have a debit for our onboard credit :mad: :D .

[roswellmom]

One of the best tips I got was to bring an over-the-door shoe holder thingy. It held everything including the extension cord, the hair dryer ,the highlighters, post-it notes, cameras, sunscreen, bungee cords, night light, clock and postcards. :)

[NCTribeFan]

Must say that about 90% of the things recommended to pack and take that I learned about on these boards, I never used.

 

You cannot pack for EVERY possibility! Next time, I'll pack even lighter and leave all that other stuff at home. Power strip? Do people really need to be able to plug in 8 electronics at once? Plugged my cell phone in overnight one night. Plugged my camera charger in over night a different night. If I had been sitting in my cabin on a laptop the entire cruise, I should have my head examined! Never got the stupid power strip out of the bag.

 

Bungee cord? Only propped the balcony door open when I was waiting for room service and needed to hear the knock on the door.

 

TP and wipes? The "horrible" facilities at the beach in St Thomas weren't so horrible after all. And those things aren't of much use when they're locked in the tour bus, anyway.

 

Use common sense. Take plenty of bandaids. That's my one recommendation (even though I've heard that some ships have them available at the infirmary door). That's the one thing you'll be miserable without. And even those can be purchased in port.

 

To me, hauling around all that stuff you'll probably not use is silly and a waste of energy.

 

Oh, one other recommendation! The ginger tablets + Bonine am and pm seemed to work. Sea bands never needed! :D

[rin1]

Agreed with the previous post. The one thing that I really wished I'd had was after-sun lotion. That's a must bring.

[the4dreamers]

Here is the list after reading all 56 pages. I was already at like 46 before i found the web list..I listed ones that i found to be most helpful to me and my family.

Cruise Tips

1. If you don’t like what is offered on the main menu, you can ask the waiter for either a steak or grilled chicken.
   
2. Any pasta item on the main menu CAN be ordered as an appetizer. Just ask.
   
3. Post cards, foreign postage stamps and playing cards are available at the pursars desk.
   
4. Get a FREE lanyard at the Casino. Pursars desk will punch a whole in it for you.
   
5. 24 hour pizza place also serves Calzones and Caesar salads. If you want a special topping and they have it they will make you that pizza.
   
6. Go to tea-time they have different snacks and its a nice place to relax
   
7. Ask the steward if you forget something ie toothpaste...they often have samples
   
8. Bring baggies of assorted sizes. For saving snacks for excursions and wet clothes.
   
9. Take the tour of the galley
   
10. They have an early and late night seating as well as captains party...take advantage of both for double free drinks.
    
11. Bring on own bottles of water, and soda and save $$$
    
12. Bring a reusable cup with lid...less trips to get a drink
    
13. Ask for your drink in a plastic cup (not the fancy one ) saves $$$
    
14. You may be able to eat free lunch at the places they charge for dinner
    
15. Orange juice is available at the same place all day they just remove the label
    
16. You may get a free facial if you call the spa and ask to be a volunteer.
    
17. Tie a bright ribbon/scarf to your luggage for easy spotting. Also can work on cabin door
    
18. When the regular hot tub is too full, use the spa one.
    
19. Use of the sauna/steam room is free
    
20. Use the spa shower if multiple people need to shower at same time
    
21. Ask for children’s dessert menu (banana splits)
    
22. Bring Duct tape
    
23. Bring a highlighter
    
24. Bring post it notes
    
25. Sit close at the port talks sometimes they toss out free stuff
    
26. You can ask for extra pillow chocolates
    
27. bring an extension cord/power strip
    
28. Early and extra tips for stewards = more perks for you
    
29. You can order free drinks from the bar in the room at Captains dinner as opposed to those on the tray.
    
30. Bring travel hooks to hang stuff in your room
    
31. Bring a few paper funnels to make filling the water bottle easier.
    
32. Bring towels from home to avoid fearing losing one
    
33. Take a hand towel with you to the beach it will help remove sand and is handy for lots of other things too
    
34. Baby powder helps remove sand
    
35. Use a magnet to trick the balcony door into thinking its closed to keep the air on
    
36. Most ships have a secret door...find it
    
37. you can also print cards to take with you on the layout of the ship...simply use a word document...format in normal 8pt bold: Times New Roman: 8pt and divide into for equal columns.
    
38. Self disembarkation is FASTER
    
39. It is possible to ‘smuggle’ alcohol on board
    
40. Make sure to stock up on "snacks" before debarkation. The wait can be pretty long and everything is closed during this time. Except for the coffee shop which takes cash
    
41. Cards become demagnetized don’t use your credit card for the room safe
    
42. If the safe will not open call the desk they will send someone to open it
    
43. If you get sea sick you can go to the Pursers desk and ask for pills. They are free there
    
44. use your telephone for leaving each other messages in the cabins
    
45. Did you know you can call Carnival's Bon voyage department and pre-order alcohol to be delivered to your cabin? You can order bottles of hard liquor so that you can make your own drinks. You can't order online. You must call to set this up. It is a little pricey but worth it and cheaper than buying by the drink.
    
46. Do walk the entire ship on your first day
    
47. You can also ask your Room Steward for the book that is in your cabin
    
48. Bring a night light/ alarm clock
    
49. bring water shoes
    
50. The ship uses two types of toilet paper. Both are made by the same company. The sandpaper they call "envision" you will not want to subject your bottom to for 8 days. Ask your room steward to make sure that your stateroom is stocked with the "preference" paper instead.
    
51. Bring a sweater the dining room can be cold

Cruise Tips (some carnival specific) and cruise packing list

http://home.comcast.net/~dadsaccount...ome.html-.html

..lots of good tips!

 

http://home.comcast.net/~dr.crash/HomePage.html

 

 

Thank You so much Dr. C for compiling all the tips!

 

I used tip 45 for already for my upcoming cruise.

 

Did you know you can call Carnival's Bon voyage department and pre-order alcohol to be delivered to your cabin? You can order bottles of hard liquor so that you can make your own drinks. You can't order online. You must call to set this up. It is a little pricey but worth it and cheaper than buying by the drink.

 

Thanks again

 

Kelly

[the4dreamers]

These aren't secrets but they help me make my cruise experience memorable.

 

 

A few more ideas to help your cruising experience;

 

Pre-print on labels the addresses to any one you want to send post cards or letters to. Saves the hassle of taking address books, plus serves as a great reminder not to forgot that "special" person.

 

If your bar tab is as large as my wife (aka the flower) and I's you seem to accumulate a lot of receipts along with documents etc on the way to and from. I carry a small vinyl bank deposit bag (with the zipper on top) It collects all of our small scrap paper, receipts, boarding tickets, etc and upon return I can put all of these in a manilla envelopes with our room cards, folio receipt, etc. I have gone back to those envelopes countless times for a variety of reasons, i.e. frequent flyer miles, looking up how much a gift cost etc.

 

Set your tv to the bridge cam when you go to bed at night (the t.v. will be black) but will slowly come to life as the sun rises. If you're an early riser, if not, turn off everything, close the shades and sleep till 3p.m.

 

If you have a balcony room that adjoins someone else in your group and you would like the divider between your rooms open, go immediately when you get on the ship to the pursers desk. Believe it or not they have a limit of the number of these they will open (I've been told for safety reasons) and you room steward will typically not be able to open them for you.

 

Have fun during your sail a way. Remember the old days when there was confetti and streamers that everyone shot when you pulled out of port? With environmental concerns it doesn't happen anymore. Want an eye opening way to have a fun sail away? Try Bubbles! We first sailed with a couple that took a few small bottles of childrens bubbles, essentially liquid soap, that they had bought for .99 and it was a great time. Everyone thought it was a really interesting way to sail away. We found some toy bubble gun's (you insert a bottle in the bottom and pull the trigger and it will shoot hundreds) for about $5.00 at a toy store and we carry them on each cruise now.

 

Lasty, make yourself a "cruise kit" I keep a small tupperware type container (it's not even big enough to hold a pair of shoes) and before each cruise I toss it in my checked luggage (you'll see why when I give you the contents) That way it's always there and ready to go. It may sound crazy but almost all of the items I have used at one time or another.

 

Flat first aid kit. A few antiseptic swaps, bandaids etc. Typically a campers type from Wal Mart is perfect.

 

One small container of Purell hand sanitizer

 

A miniature cigarette lighter (neither of us smoke, although I will get the urge for a cigar every once in a while)

 

A miniature bottle of OFF insect repellant

 

An off brand Gerber multi-tool. It has a knife, small pliers, etc. Handy for everything from cutting a string off a frayed edge to using the pliers when ultimately your luggage zipper is caught.

 

A miniature screwdriver set (the kind used for repairing glasses that has an extra couple of screws) Nothing is worse than having to use your duct tape because the screw to your sunglasses fell out in the sea.

 

A combination corkscrew/bottle opener. I hate getting a bon voyage bottle of wine and having nothing to open it with.....

 

5 to 10 wet one individual wipes. Throw a few in your pocket at each port. You can never tell when you will have a chance to clean up before a lunch or after a long day of touring.

 

SHOUT individual stain remover packets. Perfect for that occassional food dribble that I am required to get on my shirt I planned on wearing later in the week or within 5 minutes of putting it on.

 

Two rolls of Tums. We can talk all we want about buffets and multiple meals, but you also have to worry about the consequences and it's not like you can run down to the local convenience store in the middle of the night.

 

The always critical extension cord.

 

A aa mag-lite. Perfect to put beside the bed for when a late night bathroom run is needed, plus an added bonus, screw the head completely off, stand it on it's end and it makes an excellent night lite for reading.

 

A tube of super glue. I've actually used this a few times for a minor repair that duct tape wouldn't help, specifically a decorate type button or item on my wife's clothes.

 

A few safety pins. Not usually for me, but definitely a life saver for my wife.

 

Clear finger nail polish (once again for my wife, she wears more hose on these trips than at home and ultimately a repair has to be made)

 

A bungee cord (for the balcony rooms)

 

2 refrigerator magnets, thick size (for the AC unit when the bungee cord is being used)

 

Three or four pens, for some reason we can never find one to write a note or jot something down.

 

A small hotel type sewing kit

 

Immodium AD, once again for all of over indulgence and port visits.

 

A couple of minature chip type clips. Sometimes they are used to hold things on a refrigerator or come in a bigger package, you could always use clothes pins or the like. We always use ours on the window drapes to keep sunlight out early in the morning.

 

Zip ties. These are the ties usually to hold audio video cables together (you've some the much larger ones used as plastic handcuffs in riot situations on t.v. etc.) We always put these as a lock on our luggage, not so much to keep anyone out but to keep the bag from opening inadvertently. They can be taken off by security if necessary very easily, plus it lets you know immediatly if someone has been in your bag.

 

Almost all of the above items are very very inexpensive and a majority of them I found a "everythings a dollar" type store.

 

Thank You sfagent for another great list of tips

 

Kelly

[ECP]

This has got to be the dumbest thing that Carnival does not mention to it's passengers, unless there is some non-competition laws I don't know about.

 

* - * -* - * -* - * -* - * -* - * -* - * -* - * -* - * -* - * -* - * -* - * -* - * -* - * -* - * -* - * -*

 

When starting a cruise where you plan to buy souvenirs on the islands, before you get to your first destination careful check out the prices in the ship's stores before going ashore.

 

 

We did not do this on the Destiny, and finally went to the store on the last day on the ship (At Sea Day), to our surprise we found many of the same items we bought on the islands at either the same price and sometimes a lot cheaper.

 

If we had checked first we would have (a) saved money (b) not have to carry some items all day before we got back to the ship.

 

Why does Carnival not mention this?

[jpowers1979]

Where is this door on the Celebration?

[crusinpsychRN]

ECP -- many of the prices are marked down late in the cruise. Earlier and they may have been higher.

[Almost Packed]

i wanted to mention one other thing about the canopy tour in jamaica...they have a little shop where you can buy t-shirts and photos and stuff. make sure you stop in the "school bus" shop. the t-shirts run very very very large when you are looking at them. but after you wash them, they shrink up terribly but still look great. take money to purchase your cd of pictures that they take of you on the zip. they are great!