MomofTheBoy

Carnival does a fantastic job with allergies. DD is allergic to both peanuts and tree nuts.

 

My basic allergy post----

We travel with a group that combined has allergies to peanuts, treenuts, shellfish, egg whites, chocolate, MSG and liquid dairy. Only had issues with 'user' error, no issues with Carnival. If you have a nut allergy, know that Carnival classifies seeds as nuts.

 

If you have an odd allergy contact Special Needs before your cruise. If you have a 'normal' allergy no need to do so.

 

https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/special-needs/dietary-needs.aspx

 

See the Hostess at embarkation when the Maitre 'd has hours. Hours will be in the FunTmes, usually starting around 1pm. The hostess will take that night's order. Each night the hostess or your waiter will bring you the next day's MDR menu-breakfast, brunch/lunch and dinner. If deciding between two entrees, order both. For brunch don't hesitate to order a breakfast and lunch if you want to eat both meals in the MDR.

 

For room service, they cannot make special for you but they can tell you the ingredients. No special area so there is always the possibility of contamination

 

Buffet is a minefield. Ask the Hostess or the Head Lido Chef or the Food and Beverage crew in the officer whites. DO NOT ask the line cooks or those serving desserts. They mean well but do not know the full recipes. Cross contamination is always a possibility.

 

Onshore--- we bring allergy cards. I made our own but you can buy some at selectwisely.com.

You can only bring off commercially prepared food. We bring cereal bars, boxes of cereal, bottled water, hard candy etc.

Many ports will check. Some will do a physical search, others use dogs. You do not want the cute Labrador to sit next to you. I've had them alert on my Lemonheads.

 

Kids clubs have a form to fill out. There are some snacks served at times. The younger kids meet up at the dinner buffet certain nights. Ask the counselors what's on the menu.

Never realized we could bring the cereal boxes off the boat. Those will definitely be in the bag. They were really good about his allergies last cruise. He is definitely more vocal now about what he can and cant eat as well as what he does and doesnt like to eat LOL

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Here is a link to the current kids menu for ships that have the American Table menu: http://www.zydecocruiser.net/menus/AT_AF/kids/ATKids.htm

 

That site also has most of the other menus as well.

 

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Thank you!!!!!!!!!! Mind at ease.

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I'm slightly worried about food for my kids as well (I have never cruised Carnival but after looking at the menus, I don't think my extremely picky 4 year old will eat anything in the MDR). My plan is to take him to the buffet, as I cannot imagine that they will not have things that he will eat there. Plus it will be quick and he won't have to sit and wait for his food....waiting in restaurants is not his forte. Then I will drop him off at Camp Ocean (he loves the NCL kids clubs and I'm hoping he will like Carnival's just as much). And then I will take my 11 year old (slightly picky eater) to the MDR for dinner. The kids menu has chicken fingers which I think she will like. There seems to be mac n cheese offered, always a grilled chicken breast, pork chop, salmon (all of which I will ask for no sauce for her), flat iron steak, fruit plate, cheese plate. I'm thinking that your picky kid and mine will be fine. I don't remember if there is a PB&J on the MDR kids menu but I do know that it is on the room service menu. So my thought is....if worse comes to worse, I can get her some room service later in the evening :). Also, my 11 year old won't eat pizza but if you are on a ship with Pizza Pirate and your son eats pizza, that may be an option if he isn't full from dinner. Happy cruising!!

My child loves pizza so much we have it every freaking friday!!! He has a peanut allergy so no pb&j and he hates mac andncheese but thats to you all I think we gonna be just fine.

I hope this kid likes camp ocean as it will give me a bit of kid free time!

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There is really no problem with the new menus at all.

There is still a children's menu and even on the adult menu there are always plain grill options without any sauce at all that you can get.There are always side dishes you can order like a baked potato or vegetable (broccoli if you like) etc.

I don't think you will have a problem finding food.

Ive yet to see a kids menu thats what had me a bit on edge. Thought we were gonna have to eat most of our meals on lido.

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Hey party people

Last time i cruised was almost 3 years ago and there was no American table situation. Now from all the recent reviews and pics of menus I'm a wee bit concerned. I have a very picky soon to be 7 year old. Last cruise we had good meals in the MDR; knew I could pick things on the menu he would eat (fried chicken, fruit, spaghetti, and any other meat that had no type of sauce. I could also get some brocolli). Now it seems like those things are gone.

Is there a menu for kids? We like eating in the dining room so I want to make sure he still can.

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My son has a peanut allergy and our last cruise i let them know. I also had anytime dining. Wasnt an issue. They didnt fry his food with peanut oil. Found out that cruise he was allergic to kiwi. Gave him some benedry and from that point on they made sure no kiwi touched his plate. We do good with restaurants here so cruise should be no problem. I just keep benedryl and his epi with me at all times just in case.

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Thats it for today? Like in real life? So will asking you to take a leave of absence from work until you finish this review be a bit too much? Asking for a friend.

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2003 with a friend. I wasn't nervous but i did get sea sick. Found out the hard way dramamine makes you sleepy. I enjoyed it and have been on several since. I've introduced my lil guy to his first cruise 2.5 years ago and taking him again for Thanksgiving.

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My next cruise is on the Sensation so I am tuned in!!

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Hello – Just found this board – booked the cruise months ago. Just me and my 18 year old son going. This is his senior year of high school. We are pretty excited yet I am nervous. We have never been on a cruise before! We are coming from Indiana. Driving down, leaving on Saturday stopping on the way to see my Dad in KY. Will get to New Orleans on Sunday to do a little site seeing. Forget exactly what hotel we are staying at how.

 

Should I pre-pay or pre-book the parking? I seem to see some mention of that or I can do that when we get to the port. I was going to park at the port but now I am thinking of the Fulton.

 

In Cozumel we are swimming with the dolphins. Something I have wanted to do for so long.

 

In Progresso we have an all-inclusive beach resort booked.

 

Hoping after both excursions we have time to explore the ports a little when we get back. Do a little shopping. Wondering if I shouldn’t have booked excursions in both ports. Does anyone know if this is usually normal or is it usually time to get back on the ship as soon as you get back?

 

A little nervous about it being spring break and being so packed. Not being able to find chairs at the pool. We have any time dining so nervous about having to wait forever to get seated to eat. I am just nervous about all the unknowns LOL. I need to relax and just go with the flow I know. I know we will have a great time.

 

Being a first time cruiser I don’t know what to expect.

I did ATD with my then 4 year old and it was cool. Longest we ever had to wait was maybe 10 minutes. We went during Thanksgiving so there was an abundance of kids/families at that time so there were lots of people. Enjoy. Go with the flow.

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You are over thinking it, and trying to please a 6 year old kid when they should be happy just spending time with you. Been to Jamaica multiple times, and I don't understand why people feel it's dangerous to walk around? Maybe with all the worries you have, that a shorter cruise would be better.

Exacrly! I'm going with a 7 year old and as long as there is a beach, my son is happy. Jamaica I've been to with my son several times and not once have I ever felt unsafe with just he and I walking around.

A 6 year old kid wants to play in the sand and water and have you play with them. He wants to eat and play a few games or even go to a playground. They are so easy to please at this age. Go with the flow and enjoy spending quality time.

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Looking back I would recommend that you have a talk with grandma, talk with the family and once you make your decision be at peace with it. I will say one thing and it is not to be cold, Whether you are there or are not there, if it is grandma's time to go she will pass. At the same time she will know that you love her and she will know that you are having a great cruise and she will be happy for you.

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Talk to your grandmother. I rescheduled my Christmas cruise because we didn't think he'd make it. He couldn't eat anything or pretty much take any liquids. Christmas came and went and he was still here. On the very rare occasion he was lucid he told me to live my life and that I should have gone. He passed January 3. I would have been back home by then. The one thing I will always take away was that I knew he loved me and that I need to truly live my life. Talk to your grandmother. You'd be surprised she may tell you to go ahead.

OK I have another question. Every tour I'm seeing thus far for Stingray City involves snorkeling. I don't want to snorkel. I can barely swim, my son is still learning so I have yet to introduce snorkeling. Is there any way I can do Stingray and then beach without any issues??

Sooo do you all think its possible to do Stingray, Turtles, and beach (with food in there cause well......I gotta feed the kid). OR do either Stingray/Beach or Turtles/Beach?

I'm trying to maximize the fun and of course tire him out.

Is Cayman rum any good? Any place to eat that I just have to try??

Ok im learning to swim so snorkeling makes me nervous lol. My son on the other hand just thinks he ready for the Olympics. So the snorkel portion of the tours.......yeh i dont necessarily have to do that part

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Thank you!!!! Let me research the turtles and the stingrays!

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Hey people

On my next cruise my son turns 7. We are going to Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman. I've never been to GC and need your help on activities I can do with my son. He is truly a beach kid but I want to throw in some other activity as well.

I already have a plan for Ochi BUT wouldn't mind ideas for a back up plan.

Thanks

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I'm torn between two itineraries-

 

1) 2 days in Cabo, 1 day in PV

 

2) 1 day in Cabo, 1 day in PV, 1 day in Mazatlan

 

Which would you do if you had a choice? Is it worth seeing Mazatlan, or is it better to have the second day in Cabo? (I've never been to either of the three ports).

I've done the 2nd and loved it. Mazatlan was awesome. Cabo was decent and I liked PV as well.

Im not a Cabo fan so I'd always pick #2.

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We have done beds in L formation in one interior and one porthole our last 2 cruises. Ask the steward, cause it can be done and the space is great. We've also done beds against the left and right wall vertically when you walk in and that gave us alot of space as well.

Thank you!

Thank you all for being so helpful. I'm a slightly neurotic planner. I need to know how this path will cross that path and so on and so forth. However I will say The Boy does make me stop and take it all in stride and roll with the punches ;)

I have had them in an L in my interior room before. The tv is usually in the corner between them. You could hang it from the shelf under the tv. That's a great idea. I suggest one of those cheap collapsible storage boxes for the toys. I just packed one for my daughter's toys on our last cruise. It fit perfect under the chair.

 

 

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Thank you!!! I'm glad it can be done. I know I have many many days to go but I'm looking forward to my Christmas trip!

On second thought, maybe just put it on one of the closet doors

 

 

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Thank you! I forgot all about the closet doors.

How about home.

How about not. My son is going to be 6 and its Christmas. I didn't say a big 6 foot Douglas Fir. I said a flat Chicago Felt!

I'm preparing to place my Bon Voyage liquor order and need help deciding which Rum to buy. I will be mixing it with Coke Zero and occasionally coffee.

 

Which would you choose? Cruzan Light ($50), Appleton White ($60), Appleton Estate V/X ($60) or Bacardi Superior ($60) or ??

 

Thank you! :)

I'm partial to Appleton! I've tasted Cruzan and not a fan. I drank the bat (Bacardi) in college so....................Appleton would be my choice!!!

Good evening to the smartest cruisers I know!

I come to you this evening with a question. We will be sailing on Magic for Christmas. As The Boy will be 6 then he is very concerned about Santa finding him and us having a tree. This will be my first time ever sailing in an inside room (1800 vs 2400 was a very easy choice) and I am not sure of the space as I know its smaller then oceanview. Anywho, I have to be a good santa mommy and make sure we have a Christmas tree. This is easy as it will be felt. Will there be enough wall space with the beds separate for us to hang our felt tree? It's going to be about 3 to 4 feet tall.

Also all the pics I've seen shown bed configuration as TT (king bed) T T ( or twin separated by night stand). Is it possible to configure them in an L like in oceanview? That seems to give us the greatest floor space. This kid is a hotwheels car fanatic and brings at least 10 to every vacation. We, sorry, HE need racing space.

I LOOOOOOVE your reviews. Not that others aren't good, but you travel with a child that's the same age group as mine and that makes a difference to me! We sail on Magic for Christmas and thanks to your past reviews, my excursions for that trip are just about planned (I even sent emails to the cavetubing folks at .com and .bz to see why they feel they are better than the other). Thank you so very much! I think we may try NCL for next Christmas. Would love to cruise next spring break but we have to go to Jamaica to visit family:mad: If only I could get my son to be as adventurous as your daughter, I'd have the perfect vacation companion!