1st Time Cruiser - Going on Triumph!?!?!?!?!?

[1stTimeCruiser!!!!]

We are going on our 1st cruise during Thanksgiving on the Carnival Triumph. Are there any helpful hints in general or any specific tips about the Triumph????We are staying in balcony room 9267 on the Lido deck. I am so excited about taking my first cruise, but I want all the advice I can get!

[Fiddlemama]

I am a first time cruiser also, but my cruise on the Triumph is not until March. Just browse the boards for your info. It took me a bit but I am used to them now. You will be able to directly email a poster if they allow it. This is the most interesting tip which I enjoyed the most while browsing the boards: Bring a bungee cord to hook to your balcony door so you can keep the door open while sailing. Also there are not but one or two electric plug-ins in each cabin so bring a power strip and an extension cord. Highlighter marker to mark events you are interested in the daily ship activity guide that they slide under your door while you are sleeping. Battery operated alarm clock. "Over-the-door hanging shoe bag". the kind with many pockets. saves the counter space, etc. and organizes smaller things in the small cabins. I am going to bring bubbles the kids and i can blow them on the balcony! Kodak moment?

Have fun make sure you post a review when you get back.

[kcslim]

I booked my first cruise for my 50th birthday in May of 2003. I went by myself, and was definitely a bit nervous. These boards were EXTREMELY helpful, and its advice invaluable.

 

The triumph was a beautiful ship. I had an OUTSTANDING time.. so much that I cruised again the following October out of Baltimore on a Galaxy ship. I'm going BACK to Carnival this November.

 

Triumph has everything you could possibly want!! The piano bar was outstanding fun, the night clubs were great! Classic rock, disco, motown night, all were extreme fun. The food was good, and once I even ordered an extra dessert to take back to my cabin.. (tiramasu.. on my b'day). I had great fun in the casino, met "new" friends at the Lido deck each morning. I spent my birthday in St. Thomas, and the evening bouncing to different nightclubs.

 

My room steward was inobtrusive, but my cabin was sparkling. You will love your cruise.

 

Pointers for first time cruisers: Definitely bring a power strip or extension cord if you blow dry your hair (one on ship is not strong enough), curling irons.. etc. DEFINITELY bring a collabsible bag so you have extra room to bring back everything you bought! I didn't think I would ever need this.. ha! I bought one! Last day specials in the shops are pretty good! Book a massage!!!

 

I developed my film on board, and bought a photo album.. had all my photos ready for viewing by my last night onboard. It really is cool, because I looked at those photos on my flight home, wishing I was still on board.

 

Best advice is to go with a good attitude.. and nothing will disappoint you. Some people will find something to gripe about.. don't get into that.. Keep reminding yourself on the cruise where you would be at that time normally... and you will love the cruise as much as I did!

 

Just relax, enjoy yourself and have fun. IMHO Cruising is a blast! Have fun!

 

Karen

[mafiadon]

Hi I have sailed on the Triumph twice and loved it. My first cabin balcony was on the Lido deck 9277, you will love being up there it is very convienent to everything. There is very little traffic by the cabins so it is nice and quiet and you don't have to go far to the elevators. Enjoy your cruise and you will love the Triumph. Linda

[Gr8tChoice]

We sail on the Triumph next Saturday 8/28. I'll keep an extra eye out and send another post when I return. The best advice I can repeat is to go with a great attitude and willingness to have fun. I've seen a few posters who will let one small incident shawdow their whole trip. The great thing about these cruises is that if one buffet line is long, you can go to another one! Have fun and get involved in as many activities as possible. Almost everyone on the ship is there to have fun and interact with other people. Enjoy that!

[kcslim]

Gr8tchoice.. I couldn't have said it better!! Enjoy your cruise.. I am so envious.. wish I was going NOW!! Have lots of fun!

 

Karen

[Rdabadie]

I've been on Triumph (cabin on deck 2) and on Victory (cabin on deck 6). One thing I will say, if you have a cabin on a lower deck the London Dining room and the galley always seems to be in the way when you're moving about the ship. But once you have a cabins sandwiched between the main public decks and the pool deck navagation is alot easier.

 

Read the reader reviews (I've got one in there somewhere, under robsvacation I think) Have lunch and breakfast during the open seating in the dining room at least once. Find the foward facing decks, especially the one above the bridge that lets you look back over the length of the ship. The upstairs level of the casual dining room usually has seats when downstairs is full (and the staff up there is friendlier for some reason) They have chicken and steak available at the burgerstand, just ask. There are 4 omlette lines in the buffet in the morning, 2 inside 2 out by the center pool so look for the shortest line. The Pizza is great and so are the Calzones (you need to wait to cook them but worth the 5 minutes of time) There are padded loungers under the lifeboats where you can read sleep in the shade, and listen to the ocean. Go to the base of the lobby on deck 3, there are doors leading out either side (one side is suppose to be non-smoking but that's saddly not enforced) Go see the classical Trio perform during the afternoon tea while at sea. Go to the Rome lounge a little early to get a good seat. The first row of seats in the balcony of the Rome Lounge has a railing right in the line of sight, but the second row as perfectly clear views over the heads of the people in front and the railing! The magic show was really good on my cruise, production values were almost as high as the 2 main shows! The cafe is worth the few dollars. There is a lounge on the opposite side of the ship from the piano bar that everyone forgets about, go find it! Ride the water slide, it's faster than you think. There's always a few drink waiters that stand out and make the cruise even better. Can't find a place in the sun? The deck surrounding the upper level of the buffet restuarant always had loungers available. The Topless deck was more of an "anything goes so long as you don't cause a scene" deck. The funnist thing is see the look on the faces of the male "tourists" that wander up to this deck thinking they'll see a playboy model only to gaze upon "ugly naked guy." I wish they allowed cameras up there to take a photo of THAT! LOL. Kids seem well taken care of but expect teenagers in the glass elevators from time to time. There is a small art gallery on deck 2 behind the glass elevators.

 

Pack a good attitude, avoid the complainers (they're on every cruise) Talk to everyone, Carnival has the friendliest customer base in cruisedom and your new best friends (at for the week) are onboard, you just need to find them.

 

Rob

[cyndepet]

I've sailed Carnival 3 times, and all have happend to be on Triumph! I'll echo what everyone else has said. There is a really cool spot at the front of the ship, I think on deck 5 or 6 (or both?) - look for an unmarked door that takes you outside, it's a very private, dark area. I love going out there at night when it's clear and windy. One of the few places where you can usually have a private, quite moment (except for your cabin).

 

Also, I had one of my best manicures last February on the Triumph - I can't remember the woman's name, but she's from Jamaica. Prices were a little high but definitely worth it, since I didn't have time to get this done before sailing.

 

All the staff were so friendly and helpful. Oh, and I think the grill by the aft pool has the best hot dogs. I ate many of them! And great reubens at the deli.

 

Have a great time!

[sgriff17]

So, are you going to change your name after your first cruise?

 

I'm going on the Triumph in December after twice on the smaller Paradise, can't wait!!

[brennan5!]

Great pointers, Rob! I'm so excited for our cruise and looking for any and all information on the Triumph! DH and I along with our 3 boys (10, 8, and 6) will be sailing her on April 16, 2005 - anyone else booked on that cruise?

 

We are in a "family stateroom" cat. 6E on the Spa deck - anyone familar with those rooms?

 

Keep the suggestions coming along!

 

Lisa

[smscunningham]

We just booked our first cruise on Triumph 03/26/05! I am so excited...reading all these posts makes me want to go NOW! We did upgrade our room to a balcony after reading many wonderful things about balconies! :)

[Terre]

Welcome to cruising, you will love it! We sailed the Triumph last Feb. and are going agin Dec. 11. The Triumph is beautiful, great food, great service. Don't expect too much from the Gala Buffet -- that was a joke, but everything else about the Triumph was great! Enjoy your cruise.:D

[pittypat]

I have taken the Western Carribean Cruise on the Triump twice. Great both times. My DH and I cruised on the first we had and inside cabin. It was fine. No complaints. Two years later we took our young adult son, his fiancee and our teenage daughter. We had inside guarantee and were upgraded to the spa deck. These rooms were great, they had floor to ceiling windows and everyone enjoyed the view. You will have a great time. Keep a positive attitude and don't listen to complainers and you should have a blast.

 

Pittypat

[twinkletoes4445]

We did the western route on the Triumph. Here's my review...it's really, really long...but you can scroll through it and hopefully I might answer some of the questions you have....We had a blast.

 

This is posted at: http://www.lifeiscruising.com (thanks Chris!)

 

http://209.250.73.65/i/u/21092/i/TWINKS_REVIEW_LONG.htm

[lmondrop]

I'm leaving on thwe Triumph tommorow...weather permitting...I'll let you know how it is!

[alleauna]

I really enjoyed reading all of your replies! We're going on our first cruise and will also be sailing on the Triumph. I'm anxiously watching the boards for someone sailing with us...October 18, 2005. It's a bit early, but I'm having a blast reading all about our first cruise and imagining what it will be like!

[KarenConley]

I am going on the Triumph in June from Norfolk, VA. Anyone else going at this time. Can't wait