On 5/2/2019 at 1:13 PM, GUT2407 said:

I’m booked Carnival splendour next Easter.

Good! I look forward to reading your review. I'm booked in November 2020, 4 night  Sydney-Moreton Island-Sydney, in a Spa Obstructed View Handicapped Accessible Oceanview. A new experience sailing at the front, and higher up. Yes I will have anti-nausea medication with me, notorious as a kid for unpredictable travel sickness.

I am planning and budgeting to use cash on my Carnival Splendor cruise in November 2020-Sydney-Moreton Island-Sydney for 4 nights. Have been scouring the website checking the prices of what I'm likely to purchase, and doubling the total for safety. This works best for me. Others may use a different system.

I was told, by an experienced cruiser on another forum, to make sure paperwork, medication, swimsuit, overnight kit and toiletries, and a change of clothes was in my carry on bag so I could change if the weather was too cold or hot. Great tip, and I settled in easily.

On 5/6/2018 at 10:17 AM, coevan said:

Sorry, but what are you 16 years old? Control your spending? Even if I get bashed for this, you save $1000, put it in a bank. Use a credit card and get the mileage or cash back. When you get home pay the credit card with the money you put in the bank. You also just banked 2000 points and have zero balance on your CC. As I said in an earlier post, how do you "cash" people make hotel reservations or rent cars?

I am Legally Blind, so will never be able to rent or drive a car. I book hotel accommodation either directly and pay on arrival, or through a brochure from the Travel Agent, she does the booking for me, and I pay in cash.

I've just paid flights and insurance for a cruise with another company in February 2020, paying cash at the travel agency with no problems. I have been checking the Carnival website, for my November 2020 cruise, to price gifts, and edible treats, so I have an approximate amount to save in cash so I can purchase on board as I want them. The same for the casino, a pre-determined amount saved to be used. Some people's income may be too low for them to be granted a credit card.

Your comment has reminded me to go onto Carnivals website and make a written list of what I want, the amount/s and the costings, so I can start seriously "squirrelling" my money. Even $10-$20 a fortnight will accumulate into a useful amount. I shall allow for extra "impulse" spending, most likely on cookies-a weakness of mine!

5 hours ago, lasvegascruising said:

I, too, vote for a funship.  I think they have a pretty good kick to them and are tasty.

THANK YOU for the warning about the Pretty Good Kick to them, I shall make sure to bring some biscuits with me, so I'm NOT drinking on an empty stomach. Been warned by an ex-ambulance officer about the possible nasty consequences. He told me to, "Get yourself some cookies to help absorb the alcohol and you should be safe. And ENJOY IT!"

On 4/21/2019 at 12:56 AM, aka-texas said:

Customs, DEA and State authorities do not care about a 7 day supply of your RX drugs. They wont even look twice at you. That is not what they are looking for. I know this, because I are one. 🙂 And why would you carry your RX drugs with you in port? That is not a good idea. Put them in your pill pack, leave them in your bathroom, and don't worry.

It is possible the poster may need to take medication at 4, 6 or 8 hourly intervals, so needs to bring the medication with them. I use a pharmacist packed Webster Pak to hold a week's supply and just arrange for a 2nd pack if I need it.

404 days until I embark on Carnival Splendour out of Sydney, Australia for 4 nights. Counting down the days.

6 hours ago, crzndeb said:

You can carry on your own soda, and replenish in port if you need to (just not in bottles). I prefer sparkling water, so I will bring that on in cans. 

In Australia I can bring on 12 x 600ml bottles of Coke or Fanta when I cruise in November 2020. I am getting the Soda Package but want some bottles so I don't have to change and leave the stateroom at night to get a drink.

On ‎6‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 10:02 AM, fishywood said:

Admittedly it is more complicated as Princess is not consistent as to onboard currency.

Sun and Sea Princess are exclusively $AU even on cruises not beginning/ending in Australia or NZ.

Some ships that spend most or all of the year in Asia/South Pacific/Australia regions do switch to $AU for cruises beginning or ending in Australia or NZ, but back to $US when elsewhere.

And some ships that only spend the down-under Summer in Australia/NZ  but return to the western hemisphere the rest of the year do stay with the $US as onboard currency.

 

OP needs to narrow down which ship there are interested in and find out its onboard policies before crunching their budget.

When I sailed the Golden Princess in 2016, my folio was charged in AUD$. The Golden came for the Summer.

On ‎6‎/‎23‎/‎2019 at 12:03 AM, CandR314 said:

It covers soda and juice. 

 

BOTTOMLESS BUBBLES

 

Enjoy ice-cold refreshments during meals, during shows, during, well... anytime you want with Bottomless Bubbles. This unlimited soda program lets you indulge in all-you-can-drink soda and juice for the full length of your cruise. Sweet! Bottomless Bubbles is available for purchase at the Lobby, Casino and Pool Bars.

THANK YOU! Now I know where to go to buy my Bottomless Bubbles! 1 question answered BEFORE I even realised I wanted the information! Trust Cruise Critic posters to be helpful.

I will be cruising on Carnival Splendor out of Sydney in November 2020. Australian currency will be used and our $1 & $2 are coins. Would this be acceptable please? I'm getting the Bottomless Bubbles package, travelling solo I won't risk drinking alcohol as I'm handicapped and quite unsteady on my feet at times. I've always thanked people who help me-not as much of a tipping culture here, but have no problems giving a cash Thank You. Just not sure how the crew will react!

Greatly enjoying the different threads and learning a surprising amount of useful tips that I think, "Now WHY didn't I think of this or that before!

On ‎6‎/‎26‎/‎2019 at 11:34 PM, Organized Chaos said:

 

Just know that if you're going to use this method to cash out things like Carnival gift cards or Cruise Cash, it's recommended to play the slot once or twice. I think the reasoning behind that is, Carnival is aware that people do this and if you play once or twice, at least it looks like you're actually gambling.

THANK YOU! I do like playing the pokies-er I mean SLOTS! Whoops wrong term there. I intend to play a little every day within a budgeted amount.

On ‎6‎/‎16‎/‎2019 at 9:29 AM, mafiadon said:

plastic If you don't spend it all just go to the casino the last night and put it on your card like you are going to gamble and then just go to the cashier and cash it out.  No problem

WOW! THAT is the VERY question I wanted to know the answer to! I had planned to purchase Cruise Cash for my November 2020 cruise on Carnival Splendour (spelling, I'm an Australian?) I will bring some 375ml cans or 600ml bottles-according to Carnival Australia's website, I may bring 12 x 600ml bottles with me upon boarding. I will be getting the Bottomless Bubbles package, but would like some soft drink in the stateroom for when I'm tired or wake during the night and want a drink without having to make myself decent and go to the nearest bar. I'm a compulsive Over-Budgeter, so usually have cash left over when I travel. Which is promptly used as the Foundation Savings for my next travelling. I do intend to explore the Casino, so will use this helpful information.

19 hours ago, memoak said:

Many people are achieving elite status these days with a bunch of 1-4 day cruises.  I firmly believe it should be judged on days not cruise credits 

While I respect your opinion, it would make it virtually IMPOSSIBLE for me to achieve Elite status.

I am on a Government benefit due to being Handicapped. I have to plan and budget VERY carefully to afford a 3 or 4 night cruise. I must fly interstate, with at least 1 overnight stop-not confident to try changing terminals and planes in 1 day due to mobility issues. This adds to my expenses.

19 hours ago, BonnieSte said:

Isn't that what the little heart is to the right of the post? Do they not see the like?

Yes it is, I just placed the pointer on my laptop over the icon on the far right, and it was described as a Like. Even with my limited eyesight-Legally Blind so only 10% vision in my good eye, I could work out how to find it. I shall know for the future, THANK YOU BonnieSte!

8 hours ago, reallyitsmema said:

Nice and colourful! That should help me avoid knocking it over! I can be VERY clumsy at times. I'm learning LOTS of helpful tips on these threads.

15 hours ago, vacationlover_mn said:

On a related note, I always remind my DH to double check he has packed his spare glasses every time we travel.  He is legally blind without them, so if his only pair broke, it would be tragic 😞

A VERY good point! I am also Legally Blind, so have written myself a note to make sure the previous prescription sun and regular glasses are packed as a Back Up. THANK YOU for mentioning that, I didn't even THINK about taking spare pairs!

Looks like it might be an Inside Cabin with a Virtual View for me pricewise. A good reason to be out and about exploring the ship.

22 minutes ago, cynt said:

I had to purchase contact solution a few cruises ago.  That looks about right $13 or so for it. I remember it was less than $20 but more than $10.  I keep a toiletry bag packed and I didn't check the amount of contact solution in the bottle so of course I ran out on the cruise. LOL!  We always take $100 for incidentals on most vacations. So it wasn't a big deal. 

Respectfully, would it be practical to check if anything needs replacing or refilling in your toiletry bag a week or 2 before the cruise?

I try to check when I come home from a trip, and just before I need to leave, so I can buy anything that is running low, and have a back up with me. I do not need contact lenses, but I wear glasses, so must make sure I have lens cleaner in my toiletry bag. THANK YOU for discreetly prompting me, I could so easily have forgotten to pack the bottle!

I'm on prescribed medication, so will check with the Pharmacist what product/s I can safely use, and buy from my local chemist, so I know the risk of a reaction should be controlled. Watched my mother have a reaction between a prescribed and an over-the-counter medications, scared the heck out of Dad and I, so we are both now VERY cautious about mixing prescribed and over-the-counter medications. I won't even choose a different brand of vitamin without the Pharmacist's guidance, and I admitted to being afraid of making a mistake. He laughed and told me, "I'd rather you asked for my guidance rather than get sick with a clash of medication, 1 of yours is strictly regulated." I've been with the same pharmacy for several years, and the staff know me now.

I will be organising a basic First Aid Kit and Webster Paks packed and supplied by the Pharmacist containing prescribed and over-the-counter medications when I travel. I had a fall the other week resulting in an ambulance trip to hospital, no serious damage just a very big fright! It's cured me of going into darker areas with my walker, didn't realise there was a sloping driveway and a drop at the end of where I was walking, until the walker went down and I followed!

5 hours ago, henrid said:

Was on  Serenade June 2-9 out of Copenhagen and the order form to stock empty minibar fridge was in the room when we arrived.  Wish I had known this option was available and the prices as we lugged onboard some diet sodas and a few waters (we opted not to get a beverage package).  I didn't think the prices to stock were bad considering what we paid in Copenhagen to  purchase sodas and waters to take on the ship.   

THANK YOU! I'm planning a cruise on the Voyager of the Seas out of Sydney, Australia in 2021. I do hope this service is still available then, as it would save me the hassle of needing to buy cans to bring on board. I know to allow extra money in case of currency fluctuations or price rises.

19 hours ago, willing292 said:

Try to get a cabin that is mid ship.  The ones towards the bow and stern can be noises due to the anchor, etc.

THANK YOU! I hadn't thought about this possible problem. I'm planning a 2 night cruise out of Sydney in 2021 and currently researching my options. Budget-wise probably going for an Inside Stateroom with Virtual Window IF I can get a Handicapped Accessible Stateroom. I will do the booking through my Travel Agent, not personally confident in booking online, though VERY happy to do most of the research and walk in with a list of bookings I'd like her to make for me. The agency staff all know me now, 2 cruises on other lines in the payment stage, and I'm in every fortnight without fail for more payments.

On ‎9‎/‎17‎/‎2018 at 7:26 AM, Andy C said:

 

This evening’s Coastal Kitchen dinner menu.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

THANK YOU! I hope to sail on the Ovation in a Spa Suite J4-I think-in 2021, and am contentedly researching the ship and possible activities I can manage-handicapped so no Flow Rider or Climbing wall for me! Several nice combinations there to enjoy.

20 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

1804 does not have handicapped facilities.  That would be 1814. It's not classified as a suite

I think I know how I got confused-saw the Junior Suite and got muddles with the OVP.

Have checked on Ovation of the Seas, and there's a Spa Junior Suite, a J4, on a cruise going out of Sydney for 2 nights. 2 ships sail out of Brisbane, but I don't know Brisbane at all so would prefer Sydney, visited several times and have a very basic knowledge of where to go. Does the J4 have access to Coastal Kitchen please? I remember reading booking for dinner may be difficult for the J4 suite, if of course I am remembering what I read correctly! LOL.

On ‎6‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 11:33 PM, John&LaLa said:

Our 6 night adventure is $971 pp with tips and $100 OBC.  Booked it in July last year.  I just wanted the big cabin, surprised I could get it for just the two of us.

I hope to book 1804 on the Voyager of the Seas out of Sydney for a 2-night cruise in 2021. Still in the planning stage, so don't remember the exact day. I need the Handicapped Facilities, just hope I can get the suite as a Single person.

On ‎5‎/‎26‎/‎2019 at 11:15 AM, Shaded Lady said:

@eileen11 I really wanted to enjoy the thalassotherapy pool on the Magic... but I couldn't! I'm not sure when you swim if you're a sinker or a floater- I'm a floater... the pool has these lovely recliners that should allow you to stretch out and relax while the wonderful water floats away all your stress. Except I kept floating off the darned things! I had to brace myself in place which wasn't very comfortable so I ended up sitting on the stairs of the pool while my hubby (a sinker, BTW) relaxed in comfort on the darned lounges!

Apologies for my wild giggles at the mental picture.

MANY thanks for the warning about floating off the recliner. I now know I might need to sit on the stairs holding on to the railing. I haven't been swimming for ages, so don't remember if I sink or float. I shall find out in November 2020 when I sail the Carnival Splendour. And counting down the days!