seamama1

Correct answers. The ships doctor and medical staff will respond to the Alpha signal. The Bravo signal is for fire, whether it be large or small.

 

The signals are designed to not panic passengers.

Well, maybe not. It make more sense to say "Alpha, Alpha, Alpha 4" than to say "attention staff, please respond to a sick passenger on deck four"....

Just like the military, the seamen have their own codes for emergencies and other communications - it is not to keep the passengers from panicking......

However, Zulu would certainly panic me - no more booze? YIKES!:p

Geriatric? At age 60?? Are you kidding??

I thought the same thing! CruisinCouple has a lot to learn, don't they/he/she.

Made me chuckle fer sure....they must be very young!:p

I have to sort of agree with BAX.... If you don't have a medical problem and you don't normally suffer motion sickness, you probably won't get seasick.

It has been my experience that those who think they will get seasick - do.

I'm bothered by loud music when you can't find a indoor lounge in which to have a quiet drink and some conversation. I'm hearing impaired, so background noise is always a problem, but I'd say that there are quite a few places onboard where the decibel level exceeds the OSHA 8 hour maximum (not that OSHA rules apply on a foreign-flagged cruiseship.)

 

Solved that problem last cruise with a balcony. Peace, quiet, and no fighting for a chair!

I don't recall ever being annoyed by the music so it must not be much of a problem for me personally. The only thing I can recall being annoyed about (briefly - I got over it) was the constant and loud announcements over the loudspeakers by "John Doe, your cruise director".... Could hear it in my cabin from the hallway....I forget the ship - think it was Miracle, but don't hold me to it. It was only on that cruise, however.

I soooooooo agree with you about the balcony. That is my little corner of the world, too! Love to hang out there w/coffee in the morning/a good book in the afternoon/watching the stars and the sea at night... Sigh.:)

Derf - thanks for the website - and the memories!!:) :)

I loved their old ones and sailed on them many times. The Mardi Gras, Festivale and Carnivale...what great ships. Unlike today, you knew you were on a ship at all times! Small cabins, confusing hallways, lots and lots of open deck space (missing today, fer sure), little nooks and crannies where you could really get away from it all. The dining staff and stewards were mostly from the Caribbean and were a fun-loving bunch. If you were in rough seas, you felt it. You would sometimes see the bridge officers mixing and mingling with the guests. Flaming Baked Alaska on the last night, carefully placed on the waiters heads. They would turn out the lights in the dining room and the waiters would dance around the dining room with those delicious desserts on their heads (Fire hazard, no doubt).

Live music, all day, on the pool deck - and most of it was of the steel-drum variety. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. I know I did - and so did my friends and the groups of people I escorted on these ships in the late 70's-early 80's.

You rarely heard a complaint. Everyone seemed to understand you were on a ship in the middle of the sea; most of the times is was great, sometimes it was not. Folks were just glad to be there.

Very, very few cruisers brought young children. There was no children's program. Cruising was an adult activity for the most part.

Mickey Arison used to cruise on one of his ships at least once a month. You never knew where he would turn up. When he did, it was party time! He usually wouldn't stay for the whole cruise but would board, sail a coupla days, then get off at an island but he kept his finger on the pulse, fer sure.

I love to cruise today. I would prefer smaller ships but bigger seems to be the wave of the future so I deal with it. I love to cruise and Carnival is my cruise of choice; always has been! :)

...to bring:

 

#1 Bungee cords to hold open the balcony door (just remember to close it when you leave the cabin).

 

#2 A couple of new or old favorite movies on VCR tape (there's a VCR in the rooms, not a DVD). Even if you don't use it, have the option.

On one cruise we were just exhausted, and wanted to lounge in the room and watch a movie (with the balcony open and sea breeze of course).

On another, after the shows some new friends joined us in the cabin, we ordered yummy room service, and watched a movie.

 

#3 Room service coffee to enjoy on the balcony in the mornings.

And cocktails to enjoy on the balcony before dinner, watching the sunset, late at night, etc...;)

 

#4 Please remember to take pictures to share afterwards. I never took any pictures inside of the actual balcony on my Category 12 suite for some reason. And I'd love to see what the view difference is from V4 and V6 (you're closer to the bridge and the stairs leading to the observation deck). That way we can help more CCers in the future.:D

 

CJW

I will try to accomodate with pictures of Cat 12. I am taking darling grandson on Fascination in August. I have stayed in Cat 11 before and found them very nice but not sure if it was worth the extra price what with the Balcony cabins on Veranda being so nice - but it was a really good price at the time. This time I took the Cat 12 for more room for this wonderful 15 year old and all his stuff/and for more privacy. I will take pics and try to get them on this confounded machine somehow in a format that we can all view.:p

Late. fer sure! Most of the families w/children are at the early sitting. Plus, it just seems like the late sittings aren't as "rushed" as the waiters don't have to turn the dining room around so quickly.

And - you don't have to rush back if you are ashore.

I was very surprised to see the Fantasy Lido Deck Pool Bar open on the morning of our debarkation last week, but judged by the number of people walking around with bottles of beer, it was getting plenty of business. I don't remember any bar being open on the last morning on any other ship I've been on.

You are absolutely right. They do have one bar open/cash only......sorry 'bout that!

We cruise Conquest in November. I read so many threads about how to get off the ship in a hurry. What if you are not in a hurry? How long can you stay on? What meals can you get that last morning?

 

Thanks!

If you are not in a hurry, you can have a leisurely breakfast and relax somewhere. Most ships request you vacate your stateroom around 830AM-900AM. Find yourself a comfortable chair/sofa in a lounge somewhere, pull out your book and wait until they call your luggage tag color. The longer you wait, the less pushing and shoving you will be exposed to. So many people think that they simply MUST be the first off that they hang out in the hallways, on stair cases, near the exit and complain about "how long this is taking". This, in spite of the fact, the ship will make announcements to PLEASE don't stand in the stairs and halls...Believe me, you will save yourself a lot of aggravation by just waiting. The ship will not sail with you on it! There will be many, many announcements that all people must vacate the vessel.

The only meal you will get is the breakfast that day. In addition, all of the snack bars, grills, bars, etc will be closed. The crew is trying to get everything cleaned up and stocked for the next bunch of happy travelers who will start boarding about 11:00 - 12:00.

Oh, the memories you are all bringing back...I too was a Mardi Gras cruiser in the late 70's early 80's...and also the Festivale (remember her) and the Carnivale..What party ships they were, great time, great interaction between guests and crew....and so lovely with all the real wood and brass.....SIGH....I remember when they brought Tropicale and HOliday on line...Lordy, they seemed like such GIANTS then..