Carnival Secrets they usually don't tell you about

[rpclmc]

They set the pic. They took the pic. They developed the pic. They placed it on display for sale. That all costs money. And when they throw away the ones people don't want or aren't good, that costs money too. The price, too high? Don't buy. Thievery is not an option.

 

If you take your own pics, film or digital, you shot them, good or bad, you paid [i hope] for the camera. You get them developed or print them. They're yours, same as the ship ones are NOT your until you pay for them/

 

And $20. for a picture of the quality they produce is cheap. Much less than you'd pay from a professional on shore. Who well might be no better trained than the photogs aboard.

And for those who think because the shipboard photogs are not professionals, its OK to steal their work. They are professionals, they do what they do for money. That makes them pros. That's all there is to the "oldest profession." They do it for money. And if you steal their work to save money, you are a professional thief!

 

And stealing someones work to end up with a blurry, crappy, copy, makes you a thief and a fool.

 

Dan

 

That was a nice lecture. I think we all already knew what your opinions are. I am not voicing mine, we all have different ideas/thoughts and mine might (or might not) be exactly like yours. I sure hope you don't live in a glass house.

[CuplACruzrs]

Sooo, anymore Carnival secrets??? Hate to let this thread get lost..

[Mike981]

I just made it through all of these pages myself. It took over a week and I must say that the information was great, but it was also interesting the different feelings the thread took on depending on the topic at hand and the people posting.

 

Great stuff!

[gill_boo]

While I don't agree with all this talk about just taking pictures of pictures, I do have one thing to add into this whole they are professionals mix.

 

A friend of mine worked for Princess for 3 years, originally he was told he was going to be working in the on-board shops, however when he got there he was told he was going to be a part of the photography department. Other than using his own camera at family birthdays and such he had never had any training. They provided him with a one week shadow where another person who had only worked for princess for 2 months showed him how to do what he was required to do. So I would hardly call them professional photographers.

[junior 1]

Yes, the Conquest class ships have the Fish and Chips - It was extremely good on the Conquest and the Glory! :)

They have Fish & Chips on the Valor also.

[gandh621]

Just a question about the fish & chips......

is it just the standard fish & chips or is it other types of seafood also? In other words......what is the menu of items available? :) THanks!!!!

Holly :D:D

[chandom]

Just a question about the fish & chips......

is it just the standard fish & chips or is it other types of seafood also? In other words......what is the menu of items available? :) THanks!!!!

Holly :D:D

Fish and Chips Menu

[gandh621]

Fish and Chips Menu

 

 

GREAT! Thank you :)

[kelly99is]

I found that when you get to your room, there is one "Carnival" towel per person in your room. If you tell your room steward you need more, They will Bring you some and then they will let you take the extras home at no charge. Especially if you tip them well!! This may not always work...

 

Also, the Carnival lanyards with the clear covers can sometimes be found AS SOON AS YOU BOARD (while supplies last) for free upon the second or third floor of the main lobby (top of the spiraling stairways) right in front of that dining room across the lobby from the big glass elevators.

 

If there is a desk by the casino (usually around the cafe) for you to sign up for carnival sea miles credit card, you can buy them there for $5.

[dab141]

Any tips for the Legend?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ms simba]

mrios1,

 

I really like your signature countdown. I was able to get to the My Space countdown vacation clock and mad one. However, when I then clicked the "Next" button it went to another countdown clock.

 

How do I get this My Space countdown clock in my signature here on Cruise Critic?

 

I know this isn't a tip but don't know where else to put it.

[arm2msm]

yall are so funny i cant control my laughter. getting all bent out of shape about a photograph. who cares. i have several clients that are photographers and believe me carnvial does not do professional pictures. they get lucky with some of the pictures they take. they are very over priced i do have professional pictures taken every year they don't cost that much.

if i like a photo i will buy it but most maybe kind of good but not good enough to purchase. i like the idea of taking a photo of a photo.

 

LIGHTEN UP there are so many more things worth worring about in this world than a photo.

 

but keep the comments coming yall really make me laught. makes it more fun during my work day.

[CarribbeanTina271]

love the tips and secrets, keep them coming....

some of my fav are clothes pins on the shower curtin(to hold down), shoe holder over the bathroom door, stick notes(to leave notes for each other and room steward), high lighter (for the capers)

Tina

[keesh-n-bopperb]

Okay, I have a tip, but don't flame me for this. I admit it's a little sneaky. And you can blame my husband, it was his idea. He goes to the galley of pictures and finds ours. Then he gets up real close to our picture and takes his own picture of it. That way he doesn't have to pay for our picture. I know. We're bad. Real bad.

 

Haha. This is great! Gonna try it. :D

[nulf4me]

We just came off the Holiday a couple of weeks ago. I spent about $150 on pictures........this included 5 8x10's, 2 5x7's, 8 wallets, our embarkation photo and our photo in Cozumel. For all of that and the quality of the photos, I thought it was a good value! The photos were extremely good and I loved the quality--I thought they were very professionally done.

 

Karen

[Texas_Diver]

LOL - those are NOT professional pictures, those are just 'pictures', and they happen to be for sale!

 

Taking a picture of a 'NOT professional' picture will not professionalize it either.

 

That being said, my belief is that Carnival is infringing on my rights by forcing me to get my picture taken, so I wouldn't feel bad about taking a pic of their pic - if that upsets them, then great. :p

 

 

With the exception of the picture taken for identification on your S&S card, Carnival does NOT force you to be photographed. You are welcome to decline.

 

Geez.

 

D.

[cruiserami]

The last time I cruised we took our own pictures in front on the ships photographers backdrops when they were'nt using them, printed them in the print it yourself located in the hallway outside the photo gallery, and put them in albums. I was all set with my filled album before I got home for about $30 including everything. This was on the Triumph.

[TheRaven]

Concerning tipping:

 

Either way that same amount of money is coming out of your pocket. If cruise lines do away with tipping, they will have to adjust the cost of the cruise to cover the raise they must give to employees to keep them.

 

Same thing with restaurants. If restaurants suddenly did away with tipping, in order to keep employees, they would have to hike the cost of the food in order to compensate employees at a higher hourly rate.

 

The system isn't perfect and does have its flaws.

 

ok i know this is an older post but being a server/bartender it hits home

 

the way i understand it Tips started out as T.E.P.S or To Ensure Proper Service

 

but essentially servers and bartenders are sub contractor of the restaraunt or bar that they work at. the place provides the product and they sell serve it and all the other stuff cleaning etc.

 

since most servers make around 5$ an hour and at a decent restraunt make 15-20$ an hour in tips im sure you can imagine how much the cost of your meals and drinks would go up to keep any kind of decent waitstaff at a restraunt

 

it really irks me when foreigners come in and have no idea about tipping or customs i cannnot imagine going to another country and looking into their customs about everything, being a professionall i dont allow it to affect my service and hope for the best when we do have foreigners which is fairly often( i work at a business hotel) but very often travellers will have a great meal and compliment me on my service then leave a few dollars on a bill of over a hundred and say keep the tip

 

servers are taxed based on an assumption of a minimum 10% of their total sales for the shift so it actually costs them money to serve if you are a poor tipper as an example

 

if your bill is 150$ and the average tip now adays is 18-22% so we'llk say it is 30$ but if some people living in the past or not knowing or caring better were to tip less say 10$ the server is still going to be taxed as having an income of 15$ ( 10 % )

 

now obviously if the service is sub standard then so should the tip be but the other major mistake people do is tip less because of two reasons 1 they can't really afford a proper tip at where they go to eat ( then dont go there) or 2 because they didnt like the food. not liking the food is most likely not the servers fault they dont cook if there is an error in your order it can be their fault but not if you simply dont like the way it was made or tastes. HOWEVER if you let your server know that you are unhappy with an item and they dont see to it that you are taken care of then it is their fault for not helping you since you are also their quasi employer

 

ok my rant is over

[CaribeDiver]

Haven't seen this one but, it has come in very handy. Make 2 color copies of your picture page from your passport and keep them in places other then where you keep your passport just in case you lose your passport. If it becomes lost you can use your copy to reenter the country (but not without a little extra scrutiny by the customs agents). I had this happen and thank god I had the copy or we would have been stuck in quarantine until the next business day. :)

[tigger615]

WE will be sailing on the Conquest on 8/29 too!!!!

Do you have kids? i have an 11 year old boy coming with me, it would be great to know if he will have anyone to hang with right off the bat.

AFter reading the boards and 11 cruises under the belt...here is what i can add...

i will be taking my own beach towels, i will be taking my own diet sprite (can't do caffeine) and Jack Daniels, I will tip my cabin steward early and often, i will get one drink pass for my son, i will take a reusable cups with lid and straw to keep our drinks cold, prevent spills and hide the fact that i am bringing my own JD, taking a fanny pack for shore excursions and on-board, taking late seating as i think it is best for most scehedules and you can always eat someplace else earlier if you want.

Let me know if you have any other questions and i will try to help!

Have you cruised before?

 

Soda tip: If you can wait until your first port of call for soda it is easier to buy it in port & bring it back on the ship (unopened). It makes your luggage alot lighter!! We have been doing this for years. They don't charge for a glass or cup of ice at any of the bars, you just have to ask.

[curlymama]

Someone posted earlier that plug-in night lights don't work unless the light switch is flipped on in the bathroom in order to activate the electricity, which kind of defeats the point of having a night light at all in your cabin. Am I to assume correctly that if you'd like to leave something charging in your room overnight (or at any other time, for that matter), you have to leave the bathroom light on???

[bobsfamily]

I just wanted to see how the photo question got started - the one about taking a picture of a pic... well this thread goes back to July of 2004!!! and that comment is made first at that time. Almost 4 years ago and still getting flamed about it. WOW - I bet that poster either has never been back or uses another name now.

 

The best tip I have is to become addicted to this board about a month before your cruise - ok more if you like. It seems to take the edge off and it REALLY does give you a "one up" over others.

Bob

[luv2vacation12]

If you bring your own crockpot, I definately reccomend bringing a powerstip.

 

Why would you bring a crockpot..? just curious

[Debe7ing]

Someone posted earlier that plug-in night lights don't work unless the light switch is flipped on in the bathroom in order to activate the electricity, which kind of defeats the point of having a night light at all in your cabin. Am I to assume correctly that if you'd like to leave something charging in your room overnight (or at any other time, for that matter), you have to leave the bathroom light on???

 

If you live near a Walmart (and who doesn't???) go to their hardware supplies and they have this nifty little motion detector light...it comes with the 3AA batteries it needs, and it has a LED light...we just got off a cruise and LOVED this little light...as soon as it detects motion, it comes on and stays on for 20 seconds after the motion stops...PERFECT for cruising. I was so impressed I even bought my 80 yr old mom one for her bathroom! It is by Meridan and called "LED Motion Sensor Light". States it uses up to 95% less battery power, turns on automaticlly when motion detected only in the dark, and detects motion within 15 feet. 30,000+ hours of bulb life. Not bad for less than $6.00!!! :)

[Terre]

Impressed with the amount of people who think that there is a charge for room service. Room Service is free.

Room Service is free, but you should tip the person who delivers it. I know some people thought the tip was included with Room Service.