singlerail

Wow, what a bunch of judgemental posts! You have no idea how the OP's children will behave in the dining room, nor what kind of food they'd prefer to eat! My kids love to eat in the MDR every night. I do book early dining though because they are hungry long before 8:00 PM and I myself don't like eating such a big meal so late at night.

 

 

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umm thats what the OP wanted, opinions, and now she has them

Thanks for all of your advice! I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to use the cruise cash as the cash deposit for the Sign and Sail cards, but it seems that is not an issue. I do want to pay off as much of the cruise as possible before we board. I think I'll end up doing the full $500 in cruise cash, plus the extra money I'll bring in cash. For a 7 day cruise, that is definitely not an unreasonable amount for us to spend. I plan on us spending an average of $100 a day, but have budgeted significantly more, just in case we get crazy with the shopping. I don't drink, so that cost is not a concern. I purchased Bottomless Bubbles for her, and since I don't drink soda either, tea, water and coffee are perfect for me. I did do the pre-paid gratuity, but I have also factored in additional tips, including cash tips for everyone else I've read should be tipped (porters, room service, etc). I think with the $500 cruise cash and the additional cash I'll bring, we should be fine. I'll have my cards to fall back on if needed.

you got this well planned out...

just on the vista in march, 13 yr old daughter had a blast in her group, made a lot of friends, same the cruise prior in 2016, she made friends that she still is in contact with via social media...

I just came off the Vista and 3 of us used the Hub Chat. Worked like a champ. One thing I did notice is that if you lose signal (such as when going into an elevator) and you try to send a message, it wouldn't go and it wouldn't resend when signal returns so you would have to retype the message and then send it.

agreed worked great on the vista for us as well

just did it in march, at the miami airport, you can check in, at the carnival desk, when you reach the cruise terminal you go into a separate line as your documents are stamped airport check-in, then didn't care, or question about our check-in times, but your room may not be ready until 1pm

yes, you can buy cruise cash, and all purchases will come off the balance

when booking in , online i set my daughters account to no spending privileges, while onboard, i had to add funds to her folio# so she could buy the chat package, you can add any amount to there card, and it won't effect yours.

Hello! I'm taking my daughter (17) on our first cruise this summer as a birthday/graduation gift. I've read quite a bit about the holds that would be put on my debit or debit cards, and so I prefer to use cash. I've bought over $300 in Carnival Cruise Cash to put toward the Sign and Sail card. However, I can't seem to find anything that says that the cruise cash can be used instead of actual cash. My question is, if I purchase $500-800 in cruise cash for our sign and sail cards, will I still need to put a bunch of cash down as well? If so, I'll probably want to stop buying the cruise cash :-). I do plan on taking several hundred dollars in cash as well, but I thought this might be a good way to avoid both card holds and too much cash on hand.

I've read so, so, so many helpful posts for first time cruisers both in the Carnival forum and in the general New Cruiser forums. Thank you to all of you who post. I feel a lot more prepared after spending so much time reading your helpful tips.

just remember the tips, alot of people seem to forget that...

I buy cruise cash, and I also add cash to my account as the cruise progresses as needed... and u can use cash in the casino slot machines too.

I don;t use a debit card, or credit card

https://www.carnival.com/~/media/Images/Ships/TI/DeckPlans/carnival-triumph-deck-plan-pdf.pdf

not according to this official deck plan

the app needs to be open, it can be running in the background, but it does infact need to be open...

just got off the vista 2 weeks ago, hub app is free download, once on ship u goto airplane mode on your cell, then follow carnivals steps for the free onboard wifi, which gives you limited access to ship only features...

its $5 per person for entire cruise to use the hub app chat feature( I had to goto service desk to add my daughter, as she didnt have any spending limit allowed on her folio) ., and you can add any passengers to you "contact list" to message them if they also have the chat feature set-up

on the vista they had 3 internet packages, i forget the price but the cheapest version was $35 entire cruise (8 days)but got you a limited selection of websites,

theres alot of snorkeling review sites, they have pro's and cons, for beginners there ok, but if you do any diving, as mentioned you cant equilize the pressure by popping your ears... also any mask that is " too tight" is an ill fitting mask to start with. and finally something I didnt know, they tell you to fit the mask on your face when dry, and not to remove it until done

Yikes.....Glad I don't vacation with OP. Seems like you are high maintenance

 

^^^ This!!!

 

Did you walk around all day with pen and paper?

 

yet the cruise reviews with 100 of pictures are ok with you?

 

I agree with the original poster the cruise was great but there were alot of things lacking for sure... I also had to wait an hour for a shore excursion because some passengers chose to show up late and we had to wait for all the buses to load..

Thought I was back in school for a minute with all the grades.

 

So the cruise started bad because you assumed the agent was in a rush to get home. If you know for sure you were the last people, could it have been you in a rush to get on board caused the confusion.

 

Just curious isn't popcorn "popped" that had no flavor. With the amount Carnival needs to make for the pax it was more than likely made ahead of time and definitely isn't as tasty/fresh. That should be expected, they can't just stand and pop it.

its an old school popcorn machine made during the evening movies, it is popped on demand just like the real movie theaters...

I have not cruised since 2012, so the check in time is new to me even though i have cruised several times. I am platinum as is my mother. Each of us is booked in a room with a child. Do the check in times apply for platinum as well, or can we pretty much show up anytime? Thanks in advance, repeat question i am sure so thanks again...

 

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carnival has a really great FAQ section... your answer is there..... and your answer accordingly is yes arrive whenever

if shes 24 and under, she can book if she has a child.

if she doesnt have a child she either needs someone over 25 in the room, or be part of a group where the person over 25 is listed

Has anyone ever tried to carry on a 28" suitcase? Did port employees try to tell you that you were required to check the bag(any port but particularly Seattle)? I called the Port of Seattle and they said that it would work, but I wanted to hear your experiences.

 

I am still trying to get FTTF, but no luck so far. I don't mind having to roll the bag around until 1:30pm. I have two reasons. First, I am a little paranoid and possessive. I don't want to let the bag out of my sight until I get to my cabin. Second, I bought a new bag and I want to use it.

 

Also, my mom doesn't like flying, so we are taking Amtrak from New Orleans to Seattle(changing trains in Chicago). That is four days/three nights there and four days/three nights back. We will be gone for a total of 16 days. I do plan on doing laundry twice(once in Seattle and once on the ship), but I still need more space than what is in my 17" bag. My mom will probably put her jacket in my bag as well as any of her other bulkier items.

 

I don't want to buy a 24"/25" bag so soon if I can help it. It is looking like I will have to add an extra night in Orlando when I go to Disney World this year. A new, decent quality bag on sale would cost about the same as the extra night in a hotel.

ignore the agressive porters at the terminal and follow the carnival guidlines below...

Carry-On Luggage

Guests are encouraged to limit their luggage to two suitcases per guest. For those guests who wish to carry on luggage, it must fit through the security screening machine. When laying flat, it must not exceed 16 inches high x 24 inches wide (40.64cm x 60.96cm); the length of the bag is not a factor. Anything larger, must be checked-in with a curbside porter. We suggest that all luggage be unlocked and have a Carnival luggage tag attached listing the guest's name and stateroom number.

my daughter been to circle c, two years in a row, and loves making freinds, and they get to hang out during the cruise also, she has even kept in touch via social media

Are you sure? Online it looks like they have the pool.

only breeze, dream, magic, and splendor according to carnivals website

If I fund my Sail & Sign account with cash at embarkation, do I have to use actual cash or can I write a check? And also, are those funds immediately available once I am on the ship?

so ignore all the other threads that didn't have anything todo with your question, except one!

carnival has no way of knowing your check is valid, and not going to bounce, therefore, you cant use a personal check. only at the casino, as stated, and the funds are withdrawn right away, with an xtra fee...

so I suggest you just use cash ! i put a minimum amount at check-in, then use the onboard kiosk to deposit more., and dont forget about 1/2 through the cruise the tips will be withdrawn from your onboard acct...

yah makes me mad my friend has literally gone on one cruise and when we went i set it up for both of us so I get her emails for all her offers as the email account i used for her redirects to my email and she constantly gets these casino offers with $500 play and I NEVER get them

I'm thinking your friend spent alot of money in the casino, compared to you also....

We only us Cash for our account. We tell them when checking in we will deposit it once onboard and they are fine with that. We have always had OBC too and that gets used first. I go and check our balance at the red machine on ship a couple of times a day and when I need to put money in if we are getting low. They process tips to your account not sure what day but just keep in mind you need that amount on your account to cover it. We have never had a problem with a cash account.

same, no issues

Says page not found.

delete the last portion of the link / eek:

Our final payment is coming due. the question is can I make the payment(with agent) by ach(check by phone-money is there), since debit cards have limits to what can be drawn daily?

make daily payments or call your bank to raise the limit, I've done this many times...

Is there an easy way to find out the drydock schedule?

yep carnivals very own website