Mickfarland4

Can I ask how or where you saw the prices? I am wondering if we really need the drink package for my husband and I. Thank you!

Hi! I just booked our first family cruise for next October on Anthem of the Seas. I am wondering if someone can please tell me what activities as far as trivia or live music type activities that kids are allowed to attend? I know they have trivia my 10 year old would like to play, but am not sure it's allowed. Any input would be appreciated! Thank you!

How early should we make reservations in respect to the cruise? I just booked today for next October and it's our first family cruise, my first cruise! I want to be sure to do everything to our advantage! So excited!!:D:D:D

I would! And as someone who has not cruised yet, I would find it useful. I love to listen to podcasts while cooking. My 2 favorite comedians from the tv show, Impractical Jokers, got me hooked on podcasts when they started their own called What Say You a few years back. A podcast could be an easy way for us newbies to learn about cruising!

Curious, is this usually a time when cruise lines run big promotions?

One of my favorite authors is Marian Keyes. Her Walsh sister novels are very funny. "Watermelon" is probably my favorite of these. She is a very easy read. I also really adored the Emily Giffin "Something Borrowed" series as well as Sophie Kinsella's "Confessions of a Shopaholic". I always recommend these when I know someone wants something lighter than a Jodi Picoult novel. She is my go to for deep topics. And I also can always revert back to my teens and pick up a V.C. Andrews series, of which "Ruby" was my favorite.

I loved this one, but the cruise had to be fully paid for in order to get the $200 OBS (just to clarify for others). :)

Yikes! Lol.

Ooh, good to know! I thought you could only buy it onboard! I was surprised how pretty I find Pride. I need to find a port close enough to drive to from Cleveland and I really don't want to go past Orlando and would prefer an 8-10 hr drive so it limits us. :(

Does Carnival ever have promotions where you get OBC when booking? I have been looking at all the lines and I just feel like they would truly be the best fit for us with all the food choices and the waterslides, etc. But, I can't get the free beverage package like with NCL and it has me looking at them too. lol. :p The Cheers program is $59 a day plus gratuity? At least it's $20 cheaper than NCL at $79 a day!:eek:

Would you avoid cruising to Bermuda in June 2017 during the America's Cup? We've never been there and I and the kids have never been on a cruise. NCL has what looks like a good promotion for us, but, it is during the race and I'm confused as to how crowded they predict it'll be and how it would affect our trip. Thank you!

Would you avoid cruising to Bermuda in June 2017 during the America's Cup? We've never been there and I and the kids have never been on a cruise. NCL has what looks like a good promotion for us, but, it is during the race and I'm confused as to how crowded they predict it'll be and how it would affect our trip. Thank you!

Did they do the Clue Murder Mystery on this sailing? I didn't see it, although, I may've missed it! This looks like a really fun cruise for a family and I am dying to go now! LOL. I have a question regarding the Red Frog Pub and Karaoke. Are kids allowed in these? Or are there bars that they aren't allowed or it would be frowned upon taking them into? Thank you! This thread is amazing!

Thank you! I see now that I didn't click the link when I thought I had.:rolleyes:

In the Western Caribbean on the Magic, it is listing an extra value Cozumel Plus. Can anyone tell me what the extra value is? Thanks!

Ok! Thank you. I didn't know if the cruise lines ran similar promotions each year like Disney sometimes does with free dining (as an example of a promotion) at certain times of year.

Hi! Generally what are the usual promotions that are offered during February for cruise month? I want to take a special vacation this year for our 10 year anniversary with the kids this summer but, I'm not sure if there will be deals for that time of year or not. Thanks!!:)

Check out retailmenot.com (hope that's allowed) for all sorts of discount coupons. We have in the past stacked these codes on top of our discount club price that BJ's travel gives for rental cars with great success.

I will decline your kind suggestion to use my foot unfortunately!

 

And I truly hope your bathrooms on whatever ship you sail on are kept better and more attended that a Walmart bathroom, or I would be getting off that ship ASAP!

 

ex techie

I figured you would. :D

I'm confused?

 

So you use your foot to flush the toilet, but do you do the same to unlock the stall?

Presumably the toilet button/handle is equally contaminated as the stall lock mechanism?

And whats the harm if you are then going to throughly wash your hands with HOT not warm water and soap?

 

I can't imagine and really don't want to imagine these people contorting themselves inside a small bathroom stall with their leg up touching everything! :eek::D

 

Weird! And how dirty and unclean are these bathrooms?

DCL get a lot of praise for how clean their public restrooms are and how well attended to.

Are restrooms on other lines really that dirty and unclean?

 

ex techie

Good point about the stall door, I never thought about it. It is possible that I use my sleeve to open it, idk, I never paid attention. It may be a completely moot point to do the foot flushing at all if I do touch the door afterwards but, it just skeeves me to use my hand on a public toilet handle if I can help it. It isn't that hard to do, try it. If you think it's super contorting, you are mistaken. It's not at all. I am short and have no issue doing it.

Also, my foot flushing is not referencing any cruise line. I have never cruised before. I am here on these boards trying to learn the ins and outs of cruising because I want to take my family in hopefully 2017. It is just something I do at most public venues. I am sure the cruise lines keep their restrooms cleaner than say Wal Mart ;) but, with so many people in such a confined space, I would probably still be a foot flusher...even though I do ALWAYS wash my hands with soap and warm water.

Is there really a flame debate going on about foot flushing?

 

Good Lord.

 

Only here. This is why I love Cruise Critic. ;)

lol!! Nah, Disboards could argue similar things:p

Isn't it just as easy to use a paper towel, grab on your way in, as it is to balance on one foot to flush with the other? I can't help but think that the door handle is just as dirty as the flush handle. What do you do about that?

 

By using your foot to flush, you are leaving far more germs, since floors are the dirtiest surface in a restroom, on it for the next person who comes in.

I already stated that I do a towel to open restroom doors if it is an "in" opening type door. I do not wish to waste tp to flush when I have a perfectly good foot that fan do that for me. I do not waste towels for the door because I simply use the one I dried my hands with after washing. If no towels or tp are available, I use my sleeve or coat as a last resort. I do not see a problem with being a foot flusher and putting germs on the handle because I am doing it to avoid germs and think everyone should he washing their hands upon exiting a stall, whether they use it or not. There are plenty of times I take my kids to the restroom and dont go hut, still wash my hands because I touch the door to that stall.

It just seems a bit illogical that you disapprove of people who don't wash their hands after using the bathroom, because they're spreading germs; and yet you deliberately put your foot on the dirtiest place on the ship before walking round the ship, trailing your germs everywhere you go, having made no attempt (as far as I can see) to wash your shoes before leaving the bathroom.

My apologies....I didn't realize there were people eating off of the ship's floors. :eek:

When you're surrounded by children, do you still cover the soles of your feet with germs and spread them all round the floor?

At a restaurant or store, absolutely, I do flush with my foot with my sons right there. Why on earth would I flush at home with my foot when surrounded by children, as you say? We don't wear our shoes in the house. I use my hand at home because I clean the toilet every day since I have so many kids using them.