MtnDweller

Me too! I took 14 years, but I'm getting to plan our first cruise too. It is addictive! Information OVERLOAD!!:eek:

Good for you!!! Persistence pays off doesn't it? :D

You are soooooooooo right! It's very addicting.

I have not signed up because I don't want to give up that much of my privacy to Verizon.

We're right there with you!!

Yes' date=' you have to lay out some cash as well as use some points. For a $100 gift card, you pay $90 and use 1000 points, plus you have to pay for shipping. If you were to order five $100 gift cards, you'd pay $450 and use 5000 points, plus pay for shipping.[/quote']

 

 

OK gotcha! Thank you!

1000 points per $100 gift card' date=' but you still have to pay $90 per $100 gift card. I just checked and both the $100 and $500 gift cards are sold out.[/quote']

 

 

You confused me with having to pay $90 for a $100 gift card. Do I have to lay out some cash as well or does it use points only?

 

Drats, figured that. It's OK, I'll catch it next go round. ;)

1000 points per $100 gift card.

Really??? Oh my, I think we need to register ASAP. :D

We are with Verizon, but have never "registered" for the rewards program. Our account shows that we are eligible to join and we have already accumulated a nice chunk of points.

How many points does it take to purchase a $100 gift card?

I agree with the previous poster. Especially for shorter cruises, the two cruise lines are more similar than you would think. But yes, Carnival has some of the largest cabins in the industry. I think I would choose based more on the ports or home port that is more convenient to me, or one that is cheaper to fly, rather than choosing based on the two cruise lines.

This is exactly what we're doing. We're first time cruisers and were torn between CC and RCI. RCI was a little more appealing, but CC has a port that's only a 4 hour drive. So, CC won out..........this time. ;)

Phones do not automatically show local time. It depends on both the phone's settings AND whether or not you have a cellular connection that will update the time. If you put the phone in airplane mode, it will NOT update as you change time zones. Also, if you have a CDMA phone and are in Europe, you won't get a signal and it won't update.

 

An old-fashioned, gasp, wristwatch is your best friend. Also, follow this procedure, just to be sure.

 

1) Check wristwatch vs ship's time before leaving the ship.

2) Check wristwatch vs local time as you arrive in the terminal building.

 

If #2 matches, then you can also use publicly displayed clocks to help you keep track of time.

 

Whenever you go somewhere from the ship....time how long it takes you for the outbound, be it taxi, bus, walking - whatever. Then double that for planning the return trip.

 

Final tip....take the number of the port agent with you ashore. If, God forbid, you have some kind of emergency, you will be able to communicate with the ship through them.

Thank you for this tip. We haven't sailed on our first cruise yet and I feel like I would have been a pier runner as I would have used the time on my phone. :D

Depends on what cruise line. NCL has only 'anytime' dining so if you eant reservations in MDR do it onboard.

 

Some cruise lines have only assigned dining, when you book your cruise you choose one of two times, early or late, and table size.

 

Some cruise lines have a choice of anytime dining or assigned dining. You choose at the time of booking.

 

None do it at final payment.

Thank you!

When you book the cruise' date=' you'll be asked for a preference of dining time.[/quote']

 

Thank you!

At what point do you schedule your MDR reservations? When you pay for the trip or once you get on board?

Thanks to all of you for the welcomes and for the great info.

We are definitely going to do it in "fly by the seat of our pants" mode and just take it as it comes. ;)

Welcome! Do you have an idea of where you want to go or an idea of how many days you want to spend?

We're looking at the Bahamas on a 5 day cruise.

Just remember...it's a vacation! Have fun! Research your ports....and don't try to do everything, or you'll need a vacation from your vacation!!!

HEH! My dh is already planning a recuperation day. :D But that's the norm for him.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Don't obsess over the cruise line/ship/cabin. Just look at the info and go with your head and your heart

That's pretty much what I'm doing. :D

Great info, perditax! I have the same thoughts about traveling. Reviews are subjective so I take them with a grain of salt. And nothing's perfect in life so, I just roll with the punches. We've been to Disney several times and always went without a plan and whatever happened, happened.

Be very careful because it is adictive. Have fun.

It's getting there. I am so looking forward to it.

After many years of asking my other half to go on a cruise, he finally said YES!!! I have been scouring the internet for the past few days. Hope I don't overload on information. :D

Thanks for having me,

Tina