cjnwildfire

You can ask your bank to order some for you...Yeap, Mine has done that for me.

Using an ATM in foreign country is an option, just remember you are entering local currency amounts and the charge on your card will reflect in USD.

I like getting mine in advance too, I don't blame you one bit!:)

You may be able to get some at the airport??? Not sure about that one!

Hi,

 

I don't have pictures of our exact room, but here are 2 photos from another CC member who stayed in this room (or one exactly like ours):

 

This one is looking into the bed area from the Master bath.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=309109&d=1397167595

 

This one is a close-up of the same bed right after turn-down service

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=309107&d=1397167595

 

I'll try to give you as much detail as possible about the room setup to help you decide:

 

My DDs slept in the small bedroom. They both slept in the bottom double. We didn't even pull down the single overhead. It looked like more hassle than it was worth, and they were very comfortable in the one bed. They are also tall for their age, 5'8" and 5'1". DS slept on the futon type thing in the living area. It folds out into a twin, which for him was just big enough. He is 6'1" and used to a double bed at home, but he said it was a little small but comfortable. Our bed was somewhere between a queen and a king (it's 2 singles pushed together but you would never know it). One of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in, and we have a king at home. I'm 5'8", DH is 5'10". Each room, including the living area, can be closed off with doors that lock. So DS really got his own room to sleep in, the only thing he didn't have was his own bathroom. The only issue we had with this suite (and it was very minor) was we had to take turns going somewhere to get dressed. For some reason there is a glass door into the toilet area in the master bath. Duh! With 5 of us, and really only 2 private rooms to get dressed in, it involved a little shuffling.

Exactly what I needed, thank you, thank you!:)

We are looking at this room for our next cruise with our kids.

Do you happen to have pictures of the beds all made out. We are wondering how the logistics would work for us?

Thanks for the great review!

Just want to see if these things are still current:

 

1. Can you still get playing cards for free at the Service Desk?

Sometimes

 

2. Do they still do the free phones for Camp Carnival? If so, do you think you can get one without having a kid?

Yes

 

3. Can you still bring a bottle of wine for free per person?

Yes, and bring a small cork screw and you will avoid the corkage fee!

Just open it in your room and use their glasses!

 

Thanks!!

Hope this helps!

One more thing. I have never had to use that "guarantee". I...ME...MYSELF....Pay attention.

Don't book something that gets back at 2:30 and the ship leaves at 3:00!

I always leave a cushion...

We are usually back at the pier at least 2 (I said TWO) hrs before the ship leaves.

WE book for the earliest we can and if I can't have that CUSHION...I DON'T DO IT....PERIOD!

It is after all, at this point, YOUR responsibility to get back to the boat!:eek:

You can always cut an excursion short...better to do that!

Hope this helps....I am happy to help anyone who needs a little extra guidance!

jlcruse@live.com:)

I generally try to avoid booking "excursions" period. I find it more fun, more of an adventure and less costly to do-it-yourself. Why pay $90 each for a family of four when you can rent a car for $50 and pay a small entry fee for wherever you're going?

 

That said, sometimes do-it-yourself isn't practical. So in cases where I am booking excursions I'll do what others have mentioned above. If it is a long distance or if safety is a significant issue, I'll book with Carnival. Otherwise, I'll try to book privately because you usually get quite a bit more for quite a bit less.

 

Wildfire - I'm curious what sort of "guarantee" a private company can offer you. Is it simply they guarantee that if they don't get you back to the ship on time they will refund your cost (which seems like little comfort if it means you're going to try to catch up to the ship on your own)? Do they guarantee that they will pay for you to catch up to the ship? If so, I question the reliability of that guarantee. They can't actually guarantee that they'll catch you up. All they can do is make their best efforts (which I presume depends on flight schedules to the next port, availability of seats, etc.) and pay the cost.

I try to find people who guarantee to fly you to the next port. Part of my research includes the cost of having to fly to the next port, hotel prices, ect...I am very thorough!

I will only book with places that have a good reputation, thru here or other trip advising sites that I use. I read as many reviews as possible and not just the GOOD ones. I have learned to tell who is just whining and who is really telling the real story! Again, A LOT of research!

We love the water and with kids in tow, it is easier to book an "excursion" than do it ourselves type things. We have done that on solos with just my DH and I tho. We also Scuba dive and Kids like snorkeling. We can also book thru our dive shop and they help us with the times. Because these are people who the shop does business with and most of the time someone who is good friends with the owners, they don't want to get a bad review when we get back, so they will bend over backward to get us back to the ship.

I will say this tho, I rely heavily on my instinct! If I have even a thought that something doesn't feel right, or I don't feel comfortable, I DON'T DO IT!

The DD did this on our trip and it was great! Though we spent almost all of our time together we also knew where the other was should we separate for awhile. We found extra copies of the daily are by the courtesy desk.

Don't forget the Fun Times has a perforated flap with the daily schedule on it, you can tear it off, highlight what you want to do, fold it up and stick it in your pocket (i stick mine in my lanyard, I have one with a plastic holder). Then you can just pull out a little piece of paper with out taking the whole Fun times around with you!

Hi,

 

I wonder if someone could advise me. I'll be staying in Orlando for a few nights in October before driving to Fort Lauderdale to get on the Oasis. We plan on driving down after a day in Universal, so around 6 - 10pm.

 

We will have the hire car for 4 days, but using toll roads only for the drive to Fort Lauderdale. As a result, I'm hesitant to pay the daily fee for the car hire Sunpass system, as it must be purchased for the duration of the rental.

 

I would want to travel the entire journey on the Turnpike, getting off at Davie. According to Google Maps I would enter the turnpike at exit 259: Orlando - I4/Disney World and get off at Exit 54: I-595.

 

Is it possible to do this entire jouney with cash payment? I can't find a listing of which exists have tolls booths and which are automated. Also, if there are manned booths, will they be open around 10pm?

 

Thanks,

David

You are looking at $15-$20 USD, for the trip, there are a couple of service plazas is you need it. And the exit for 595 has pay booths (the ones with people). I have personally paid at about 0200.

Hope this helps!

We have done both as well, but I stopped booking thru the cruise line a couple of cruises ago.

Let me preface this by saying, I do A LOT of RESEARCH before I book an excursion.

I have never had a problem and any one that I book with has to have a "if you miss the boat" guarantee! I always get that in writing (email). And if they can't do that, I don't book, PERIOD!

The excursions are often longer, less people, less expensive and WAY better!

Just write down your booking #, Deck and Room #, have it with you. They will give you luggage tags for any checked bags...It will just take an extra minute or 2.

It will be ok, they can print it out when you check in with that info and your ID. If you have FTTF make sure you tell the luggage guys.

Have a great cruise.

There is always a library, Kinkos, the UPS store, or your hotel the night before (if you have one).

LOL, morning of one of my cruises I woke up with the worst sinus infection of my life :(. Swollen face, stopped up head and a cough due the drainage. I knew they would not let me on board like that so off to one of those urgent care centers, got a steroid shot and some decongestants, by 3 oclock I was ready to board. Had a great trip!

I have the same problem with my sinuses and allergies. I will admit that I have gotten on a boat before while on allergy meds...But never with a fever!

I always have something with me to take, mainly because the littlest thing can set my allergies off.

So I guess you can say I have gotten on the boat not feeling well, but not with the symptoms they describe.

I started carrying baby wipes when our kids started cruising with us. And while I am not a big fan of hand sanitizer, cruising is the one exception. I learned I could use the hand sanitizer on the seat of a toilet and wipe it down with a baby wipe to get it clean for the kids.

That also gives me TP and something to clean hands with in case there isn't a place to do that (I have run into this more than once).:eek:

I too have always carried a first aid kit. I would add a small pair of scissors and Benedryl (sp?). I am alergic to anything that stings (at least so far that I have found).

Thanks for the responses and I figured out that it is onboard credit and was wondering if I could use on anything onboard

I haven't found anything that I can't use it on!

We have used ours from the Chef's Table to drinks, merchandise, steakhouse and casino (not me, DH)!

Subscribing for future reference. Thanks for the great info.

I would love to add to this, but I don't know how to upload photos here!

(Not that tech savvy)

I just got $160 on board credit and I see price difference on billing but I don't see anything about on board credit. Where do I look for this or is this something I won't see until on board just curious, thanks in advance

Miscellaneous Charges

Fees & Credits

$279.00

This came from my cruise manager on CCL website at the bottom of the billing page.

This is your OBC

An email will work too. It has all of the same properties of a notary.

And before someone says it. I am referencing 2 amicable parents here.

There are parents like that, there are few of us, but we are here!

Since you are still LEGALLY married to him, I don't think you need anything.

You have the same last name.

US Customs has never asked use for anything; however, we are traveling as a family of 5, Dad, step-mom, 3 kids, all with the same last name.

I don't think you will have any problems, just don't say anything.

Or you can call Carnival and ask.

Say your husband isn't going, don't mention he isn't there to tell you yes or no.;)

See what they say.

Also, if you are still legally married to him, I don't think he can say anything.

I am still legally married to my sons dad ...so I have no custody papers can or do they check for that ? My son will be 17 has a passport and his father isnt around to obtain consent ???

Do you have the same last name? If so, I wouldn't worry about it.

Although we have never been asked for it, we do ask our kids mom for a letter stating that she know that they are going with us.

We had it notarized once, but not since. Just a letter works!

We always include the kids names and the dates we are going!

Hope that helps.

Can't wait to read your review to my kids!

Thanks a lot for wanting to do this!

I am really looking forward to your review. We are looking at booking one of these types of suite (different cruise, but pictures help, even if it is just similar)

Thanks in advance!

Check out these food porn pics from the Carnival Freedom:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1985185&highlight=carnival+freedom+food+porn

 

Jonathan

Thanks sooooo much, I think I needed the review more than the porn!:eek:

Are there any other good cruise food picture sites, other than zydeco cruiser and you tube?