Carnival Secrets they Usually Don't Tell You About 2

[msar87]

also, double, double check your packing list. One year I forgot my swimsuit and last year, my formal wear. Made a quick stop in Houston. I had those things already set aside, so I checked them off my list. But, they were not actually packed and got left behind. Now you'd think buying a swimsuit on a cruise ship would be a snap. Not one to be had. And try finding anything other than a thong in Cozumel.

[Attack Dog]

Hate to ask, but there are a few of these that, as a soon to be newbie cruiser, I just don't get. Maybe someone could clarify??

 

1. You may be able to eat free lunch at the places they charge for dinner

- you mean like in the 'steakhouse' or whatever it's called on the legend? Or are there other places that charge for food?

 

2. You may get a free facial if you call the spa and ask to be a volunteer. - My dd was wondering what you volunteer for? She LOVES her facials!!

 

3. Bring travel hooks to hang stuff in your room - What are these??? Never heard of such a thing!

 

4. 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. - Print from the Carnival site? Are you meaning the 'deck' diagrams?

 

5. 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. - my DD cracked up over this one - oh, to be a teenager again!! - NOT!!!!

 

Thanks much! I feel SO STUPID sometimes!!

 

1. On the Legend the reservation only supper club is above the Unicorn Cafe. There is a stair case leading from the buffet to the Supper Club. I never tried this but I think you might be able to carry food up the dinning room from the cafe below. I assume that the poster must of meet that. I've never tried to get a free lunch at the supper club and I have never seen anyone having lunch in there.

 

2. I don't use the spa treatment personally. However, after embarkation and before the muster drill my wife sometimes likes to go on the guided tours of the Spa. (I usually go just so I can check out the gym. I usually spend at least 1 to 2 hours there a day when at sea.) Anyway they usually have models receiving spa treatment so you can see what happens in there.

 

3. I've always found the cabin closets and drawers to be enough. I'm not sure what this one means either.

 

4. When I was a new cruiser I just picked up a map of the ship from the pursor's desk. After a few cruises you'll find that you won't need maps of the ship to get around. If you can find the atrium then you will generally be able to find your way around most anywhere.

 

5. I never paid attention to the brands of toilet paper. As long as I don't get sandpaper I'm happy.

 

Stircrzy, that's too funny. My suggestion about showering in the gym instead of your cabin is also based on reality. My good friend "Rucruzin" works out in the gym a lot and on one cruise she and her husband never used the shower in their cabin.

 

I hope that someone won't tell me a true story concerning some of my other dumb suggestions.

[Attack Dog]

If you luggage is soft-sided, put your glass bottles of wine in your carry-on. A couple of years ago, I opened my suitcase to be hit in the fact with the smell of white zinfandel. It was not a pretty sight.

 

If your flying home then you will have to remember to repack the wine from the carry-on to the suitcase before getting to the airport. I swear that the airlines tie a rope to my luggage and drag it behind the plane espicially after my last couple of flights. I use a beach towel to wrap my rum in and then I pack it in the middle of my clothes. So far I haven't had any problems with the bottles breaking.

[Attack Dog]

Okay I'm running out of dumb ideas. I may let this thread die after this one:

 

Get in the elevator and stand facing the corner while other passengers get on and off the elevator. Don't say anything just stand there staring.:D

[LiLBxQt]

Okay I'm running out of dumb ideas. I may let this thread die after this one:

 

Get in the elevator and stand facing the corner while other passengers get on and off the elevator. Don't say anything just stand there staring.:D

 

Cheater!! This was actually done in a real psychological study back in the 60's i believe and I think people actually did turn around the other way in the elevator just b/c someone else was standing that way... haha I should try and re-enact that... might be fun :D

[Attack Dog]

Cheater!! This was actually done in a real psychological study back in the 60's i believe and I think people actually did turn around the other way in the elevator just b/c someone else was standing that way... haha I should try and re-enact that... might be fun :D

 

I didn't know about the study but I admit that I stole the idea from a psychology professor who gave the class an assignment to engage in abnormal social behavior. I did a modification of this by getting into a crowded elevator and standing in front of the elevator door while I starred at everyone. Sometimes it's hard to be original.

[wework2play]

Sewcarve, fyi, the facials were given for free to show other guests on the ship what it was and hopefully sell some, not for the staff to learn how. :) I heard they aren't doing free facials anymore, though.

[queenie40]

A secret door?!?! Where do they usually go?

 

On a recent cruise, there were four of us sharing a cabin (2 adults, 2 kids). I took along a hanging sweater organizer. The kind that hooks over the closet rail and has several large square comparments. It was great for the kids to store their clothes and I didn't have to worry about cramming everything into the limited drawer space.

[nmyorkiemom]

If your flying home then you will have to remember to repack the wine from the carry-on to the suitcase before getting to the airport. I swear that the airlines tie a rope to my luggage and drag it behind the plane espicially after my last couple of flights. I use a beach towel to wrap my rum in and then I pack it in the middle of my clothes. So far I haven't had any problems with the bottles breaking.

 

 

DS17 on the way back from gymnastics nationals one year got his suitcase off of the conveyor belt shrinkwrapped. They had somehow crushed it and all sides were out. When we took it to the claims window they examined it for 'TREAD MARKS'!!! Said it didn't have tire marks, so wasn't run over & they weren't then responsible. They were SERIOUS!! (Until we wrote a letter to the airline office!!)

[nmyorkiemom]

Okay I'm running out of dumb ideas. I may let this thread die after this one:

 

Get in the elevator and stand facing the corner while other passengers get on and off the elevator. Don't say anything just stand there staring.:D

 

If you are able as my DS17 is, ride the elevator up & down while standing on your hands. Don't answer when people ask & stare, just stay that way. Drove the passengers NUTS the times he's done it and I've been with him. He also frequently finds a 'pole' and can old himself straight out from it like he's blowing in the wind. The looks are PRICELESS!!! He did this in Universal Studios Orlando & people thought it was a 'candid camera' type stunt. (Yes, he loves the attention, but NEVER talks to anyone)

[AmberTeka]

OK. We were on the Legend. I love hamburgers. I live on a diet so they are a rare vacation treat for me. I asked for the children's menu. But instead I got the alternative hambuger. It was good but it was huge. I was chewing on that rascal when everyone else had finished dessert. So when I see where you say Children's menu, does every ship have one? How do you get one? I am not a fancy eater. Actually on NCL's Jewell, they have a children's buffet with mac and cheese, hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, brownies, cookies and you have to beat the grown ups off to let the kids line up. I was polite and waited my turn. My husband is a sophisticated diner and enjoys haut cruisine.(sp). I just want an ordinary sized hamburger, fries, cole slaw, and a banana split. Does that not sound wonderful? Perhaps I would pig out and have a hot dog too! Is not anticipating a cruise at least a part of the pleasure?

[shark Fan]

I didn't know about the study but I admit that I stole the idea from a psychology professor who gave the class an assignment to engage in abnormal social behavior. I did a modification of this by getting into a crowded elevator and standing in front of the elevator door while I starred at everyone. Sometimes it's hard to be original.

 

Where from NM are you from?

[nmyorkiemom]

I'm in Rio Rancho - just noticed 2 of you are NM, as well!

[shark Fan]

From Albuquerque. You can email me at cs1shark@comcast.net if you have any questions that we may be able to answer.:)

[RocHed11]

Oh No, I'm gonna be looking for the secret door also.

 

T

[Team M&M]

I would love to save this thread... how do I do it?

First time cruisers leaving in about a week for the elation, excited !!!

[Attack Dog]

If you are able as my DS17 is, ride the elevator up & down while standing on your hands. Don't answer when people ask & stare, just stay that way. Drove the passengers NUTS the times he's done it and I've been with him. He also frequently finds a 'pole' and can old himself straight out from it like he's blowing in the wind. The looks are PRICELESS!!! He did this in Universal Studios Orlando & people thought it was a 'candid camera' type stunt. (Yes, he loves the attention, but NEVER talks to anyone)

 

Lol.

 

NMYorkiemom I live in Rio Rancho also. Small world. There is another New Mexican from Edgewood that I meet on this website and I also meet her on the Carnival Legend.

[Attack Dog]

I would love to save this thread... how do I do it?

First time cruisers leaving in about a week for the elation, excited !!!

 

The threads tend to last for years. I would just save the link to your favorites.

[KOWkittie]

But on some ships, once opened, the balcony divider will cover 1/2 of the windows of one of the cabins, depending on which way it swivels.

We had 3 balconys booked on Glory for spring break and alas mine was the one with the balcony partition. I had brought the assorted bag of bungee cords and used the short one with one hook on the door handle and the other on the partition forming an S. Everytime we went out to the balcony i had to put my hand to move the partition out but on the next to last night I was really glad because we had a lot of wind and my partition wasnt banging all night as some others were. The other bungees can be used to strap around large souveneirs for hauling off, luggage, etc.

[tinmanswife]

Rather than save the thread, you can save a document in your computer for specific cruises you're planning, or just general tips. Then copy and paste things to the document. I do this before every cruise, esp. about ports and specific things I learn about the ship, then print it out before I leave and make DH read it on the plane and we have it for reference while we're away.

[Jan_In_Maine]

tinmanswife - I do exactly the same thing - it makes it so easy as I don't have to keep searching through threads (and the memory is not what it used to be either!). Jan

[Lefty888]

for the shower curtains that blow inwards and stick to you (and to those before you).. get some heavy clothes pins or those clips you use for outdoor tablecloths and clip them to the bottom to weigh down the curtain so it won't keep trying to hug you!! :p

[Attack Dog]

I would feel lonely without the hugging shower curtains:( . :D :D

[theresef]

I remember one of the prior threads like this that was a godsend a few years back...Just read through. Way too funny:) Okay I will try a few contributions...

 

* Bring singles - pain in the butt to get change from the pursor and helps with tipping for the little things along the way(room service etc)

*Bring a small "sticky" deodorant or air freshener (grocery store item) and stick it on the ceiling of your cabin near the air vent. Helps alleviate any musty smell. Especially if it rained on the prior cruise etc - a MUST for inside cabins.

*Balcony cabins ussually have just chairs and a small table - after tipping your steward on the first day:) - ask for a lounge chair (usually they willl grab one or two and set you right up

*duct tape as already mentioned, freezer bags and clothes pins have TONS of uses - pack them as if you would your favourite underwear:)

 

Therese

[yuccaman]

I* Bring singles - pain in the butt to get change from the pursor and helps with tipping for the little things along the way(room service etc)

 

Good tip, but just in case, I've found the casino cashier to be a much better place than the purser's desk to obtain change, cash travelers checks, etc.

 

No lines, and lots of cash- large AND small bills :)