travelmomof2

Hmmm we cruise this in just 4 days. We have our own sanitizer and wipes and bringing a mini pharmacy. I wonder about GC though...this is our first cruise and my husband and son booked the parasail...he wanted the first one available so we could have the rest of the day in port... but I did not know about the tender. If they have it booked thru the ship do they automatically get an early tender? And do we as we'd like to go with them (but did not buy the exclusion)? My husband did call and talk to a local parasail and they said they have had high winds the last few weeks and have only done and average of 2 trips a week.

Thanks

thanks!

I realize this is an old thread, but does this mean there are no outlets in the bathroom? And are there any USB outlets? We will be on the Vista in 4 days!

Oh and another newbie silly question... are there little hairdryers like in hotel rooms?

Thanks!

I still wear a fannypack, don't care if it's unfashionable. It's easy.

I think they are making a comeback, and I think the are brilliantly practical...unfortunately I haven't found any I like and we leave in less than 2 weeks!

Will be cruising on the Vista over Christmas. First cruise, asked on a sub forum regarding the dress for 'elegant night' and was told it was mainly nicer casual (khakis/polos for men and sun dresses for the ladies) and maybe a handful of evening dresses and more of church wear. Being that we are cruising over Christmas I am wondering that 1) will there be a special christmas dinner on christmas or christmas eve (Christmas is a sea day) and 2) do people dress up more for the occasion? I am asking because I hate standing out. DH plans on a very nice suit with christmas tie, but I don't want to get all dolled up if everyone is wearing sundresses. More over, since it's the school holidays I expect more families (we have 2 teens) and maybe that makes it more casual? I'd like to fancy up for fun but not if it's out of place.

I did read that, re: the 12 cans of soda. I also noticed someone replied that cans of soda on board are $2...does this mean sodas are not served in cups with ice or there are not soda machines? And can you bring any non alcoholic beverage in a can, not just soda, on board as your 12 can limit?

First cruise in a couple of weeks! Soda package? We don't really drink a lot of soda, but I can see on sea days getting one, or if motion sickness meds aren't 100%, I prefer ice tea or hot tea. What are the one time buy prices for a soda? Are ice tea and hot tea (or hot water if I have my own bags) available all day and night or just at meals?

Good to know...thanks... so a nice long length evening dress (no beads or anything, but nice) would be out of place? I'm the type that likes to blend in easily. Maybe I should just go for a simple black easy to pack dress.

How elegant is elegant nights in the MDR? Or formal, or whatever the going term. My husband plans on a suit, I am trying to decide between a nice dress you'd wear to church/wedding or be a little fun and get something from the 'evening wear' section of Macy's dresses. But I don't want to over dress. ON non formal nights, what is the usual dress?

Thank you.. I hadn't thought of the formal night being the first night, christmas eve, but that would make sense. I think Carnival has a 'resort casual' too but they may be more lenient, I think I just read no jeans or jean cut offs in the DR but I will double check.

Caribbean at Christmas...what to wear? Purely summer? Totally casual? Resort Casual? 'Elegant Nights'?! Is it really that warm?! lol

As a first time cruiser I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at the idea of what clothes to pack. I'm typically a carry on only type of girl (as is my husband and two teens) but we are casual, a bit lazy and I'm a weirdo that likes to escape to a local laundry for solo downtime.

So on the Carnival Vista, at Christmas, typical wear is? Do evenings cool down? Is there a self serve laundry? They say there are two elegant dining nights but don't say what days (I'm assuming the two at sea days but that's just a guess) Are ship interiors cold at anytime that would require a sweater or pants? Looking to get a larger suitcase just for this trip...if anything for the fact that I have to pack nicer dresses.

(Repost from First time cruiser board per suggestions to post here)

Thanks!

Thank you!

hmmm trying to decide when to reserve a date night at the steakhouse. I had assumed the elegant nights were both sea days (the first being christmas day) and the last is the last day... the other days are port days. I wish they would tell us in our info.

Caribbean at Christmas...what to wear? Purely summer? Totally casual? Resort Casual? 'Elegant Nights'?! Is it really that warm?! lol

As a first time cruiser I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at the idea of what clothes to pack. I'm typically a carry on only type of girl (as is my husband and two teens) but we are casual, a bit lazy and I'm a weirdo that likes to escape to a local laundry for solo downtime.

So on the Carnival Vista, at Christmas, typical wear is? Do evenings cool down? Is there a self serve laundry? They say there are two elegant dining nights but don't say what days (I'm assuming the two at sea days but that's just a guess) Are ship interiors cold at anytime that would require a sweater or pants? Looking to get a larger suitcase just for this trip...if anything for the fact that I have to pack nicer dresses.

Hi, first time cruise coming up at Christmas on the Carnival Vista. I have reviewed the dining options so I see that there are some restaurants we can purchase extra to dine at or choose to go with the included dining room and a few other places. We have an 'open' dining time of 6-9pm or something like that...I assume that means we don't have the assigned seating and wait staff like someone had told me is the norm on ships? Also, is the extra charge for some dining places worth it for a family? (Or maybe we can go for the steakhouse while the kids go get pizza?)

And are the midnight dessert buffets talked about during my 1980's youth still a thing?

Just trying to wrap my head around the dining experience...I am a total newbie!

Thanks! We did not book the cruise tour...and it looks like they might be full. I'm not sure what we are doing...booked adjoining ocean views(the ship was 90% full at time of booking and no balcony/near inside available) but we are finding ourselves a little discouraged...ALaska land is proving to be more expensive than we expected, the train to Seward will be almost $400 for the family and the small hotel in Seward is quite a bit...and the more I look around at Anchorage area and Denali I am honestly not that excited. TO really see Denali and wildlife you have to do a 10 hour bus tour (and friends that did that last summer actually saw no bears, moose, etc.) The cruise looks fabulous but main state Alaska...not so much. My husband already has his work booked off so we are solid on our dates. We are actually looking and penciling out a trip to Norway instead.Norwegian Air flies out nearby and the rates are good... hotels are cheaper there and things to see and do cheaper...however renting a car, gas, and food are much more expensive. But we can get transportation and lodging in Norway for that time period for the amount of just our cruise..over $6000. Wondering if we should cancel and book that same cruise for 2017 when the rooms are first put up for sale.

The ship is the Radiance. We booked the 2 adjoining OV rooms. It was space and money over private view. It was a tough call but we are talking $1400. If we love it, maybe my husband I can go back again someday on our own (although we never go the same place twice... too much to see!)

I believe the only way to book parents in one cabin/teens in another is to call RCI directly; if you wanted to do the whole booking online yourself you would have to put one parent/one kid in each cabin and switch after you boarded, even if booking the adjoining cabins.

 

Don't worry about being upsold for anything: the call center reps are just reading a script (that half of them have no idea what it means), you say no, they move on.

 

And I'm curious what issue you have with the 1 AM curfew. Are you worried about her attending organized teen activities that end later than her parents' bedtime? Or that it is none of RCI's business if she is out of her cabin at any hour?

I did book online but did mess up the names as I forgot about the age rule and put my husband and i in the first cabin and it was already set in stone when I went to do room 2....so I am in both rooms and my daughter has no reservations...lol...I just wanted to get those cabins so now I'll call and get it straightened out.

As far as the curfew...it's more of us not sleeping until we know they are in the cabin. If we plan to be in port 7-8am the next morning I also don't want to drag half awake kids off the ship. If they want to do late night activities before an at sea day it's not that much of an issue, but I will still feel the need to stay awake to make sure they make it back to the cabin. But we are not late night social people anyway, so I'm not even sure it will appeal much to them... I guess we'll see! :)

As mentioned before, the road from Anchorage to Seward is not the only option. The Coastal Classic Alaska Rail trip IMHO is an adventure in itself. Really beautiful views along the way. If staying at the Holiday Inn, the train will arrange to have your luggage brought straight there for you (though the Holiday Inn is actually easy walking distance from the train station). We did a 2 night at HI, enjoying some salmon fishing one day. Nice to be able to watch Radiance slide into port across the harbor early in the morning. :)

 

If you do try to book your minors in a cabin by themselves, I would highly recommend that you contact RCI customer service before doing so. I am quite sure that is not allowed and you may find such in the rules also. It is a liability issue.

Noted! That sounds fabulous actually. Yes, I do have to call as I did book the cabins this morning and forgot, and put my husband and me in room 1, and unable to book room 2 with the kids since I already sent in room 1. So I booked room 2 with me and 1 kid, so I'm booked in 2 rooms and my poor daughter has no reservation...lol. I'm sure its an easy fix. I've read that you do have to have 1 adult (over 21) and 1 kid in each when booking but when you check in they'll swap it for you, arrange the correct bedding, etc. They are adjoining rooms so I suppose it's common.

Keep in mind that even though the balcony cabin is likely slightly larger than an OV (not always but usually true), once the third and fourth beds are opened it is hard to walk around a cabin (even if they come down from the ceiling).

 

My vote would be to get two adjoining ocean views. I would not put a 12 and 15 year old alone down the hall. This has no bearing on your children - I would not put anybody's two teenage kids in a cabin by themselves away from the parents.

I agree...I would only feel comfortable if they were right across the hall, but not as comfortable as if there were a door between us. I'm also not comfortable with things like 1 am curfews, etc.

I see a number of E1 (Deluxe) staterooms with sofa bed and pullman, but have not seen any "D" staterooms with that configuration.

The balcony I had a hold on did have sofa and pullman. That would be the configuration we would need, and boy it looked tight. Neither of my kids seemed to keen on sleeping on the pullman (surprisingly, I thought my boy might get a kick out of it...) once they saw the photo...

I would consider a balcony and inside across the hall but according to the website that set up is not available...not many inside rooms with an aft side entrance, so not many on the side we want to be on, and I would not be comfortable with them further away.

I encourage you to book the balcony, even if your finances mean that you have to stuff four people in there. I used that balcony more than on any other cruise I have taken. The cruise through the inside passage was incredible.

 

We opted to book the land tour through the cruiseline because I wanted to enjoy the scenery ... not be focused on the road. The roads you travel will be some of the most scenic ones you have ever been on. And you will only travel into a tiny section of that huge state, but each leg of the trip will take hours.

 

The main roads are good and well-paved, but I believe they were all 2-lane. Never start a leg of the trip without food and water with you. There was an accident two weeks after our cruise that shut down the Anchorage/Seward road for hours (Radiance didn't leave Seward until after midnight because hundreds of passengers were on the other side of the accident). Alaska doesn't have alternate routes. When the road is closed, there are no options.

 

Use the Alaska boards for your trip planning ... that and Tripadvisor. This trip involved more pre-cruise planning than I have ever experienced, but it paid off. Our trip was exactly what we wanted it to be.

 

And I encourage you to read a number of reviews. They will give you a feel for what other people did and you can decide if that sort of thing appeals to you as well. I'll post my link and I encourage you to seek out other reviews as well. There's a post at the top of the Alaska board with links to plenty of reviews from all of the cruiselines.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2240436

Emerald City I had already began reading some of your trip entries! Thanks for posting all that info... I have posted another question on the first time cruisers board regarding the room situation and the majority said the adjoining OV rooms because for this cruise (alaska) several said they felt the balcony was not worth the extra cost that it is in other destinations. Still deciding...

Thanks for all the posters here! I'm definitely looking into a DIY land tour...it's more our style...but I was not aware that things book up so early, so I will be sure to get right on that.

The cruise leaves July 8, and we are thinking of getting to Anchorage July 3. We have an old college friend that lives in Palmer that we hope to see. The other option was to go northbound and be on the ship on the 4th, but that didn't appeal as much.

Are there any superior balconies with both a sofa bed and a Pullman (bunkbed) available? It's denoted by a solid diamond on the deck plans. I sleep on the sofa bed when traveling with my folks and elementary school age would be the oldest in my opinion that could comfortably share. The boy could sleep in the Pullman or vice versa.

 

My sister and I both suffer from motion sickness and have really good results from Bonine. You can get it at the drug store over the counter but may have to ask the pharmacist where to find it.

Does the Bonine make you sleepy like dramamine?

kids that age NEED 2 rooms for the extra bathroom alone. what about splitting the difference: balcony for the adults with an inside across the hall for the young uns/

That was my original plan...except the website shows there are no balcony rooms with close inside rooms still available... or even on the same deck. Does it make a difference to call? When I put the 24 hold on, I received an email and a voicemail of someone at RC wanting to assist me, which if helpful and can get me a balcony/inside I'll do, otherwise I am leery of getting a bunch of up selling...

Thank you so far for that input! I was able to get another 24 hour hold on that adjoining room. Googled some images and video...my kids votes are for the two OV, I am leaning that way, DH itching for a balcony... I think I may book the two ocean view and could upgrade later if we wanted? This ship has more Balconys that other rooms. And since we are southbound I am specific to aft side rooms.

Another concern is fresh air... how is the air circulation in an ov room where the window does not open? Some friends had really talked highly about fresh air when needed. Do rooms have their own thermostat?