johno1234

Is there somewhere (bank or peso currency atm) close the Long Beach Carnival terminal where you can grab a few pesos?

What surprises me is that the prices are actually reasonable. In a captive market I usually prepare to get reamed but these prices seem no more than anywhere else.

We were thinking about purchasing this on our next cruise. But i didn't think we would make up the cost because we just don't drink that much. People are quick to reply that it's not only alcohol included, it's specialty coffee, milkshakes and wine. All I can think of is wow, that is a lot of calories that we normally would not consume! To drink all that just to justify the cost? No thanks. Just not for us.

I throw all that calorie stuff right out the window when on vacation! :evilsmile:

Thanks for the updated prices. I will drink more than half of Cheers at dinner with three glasses of wine. Couple of cocktails, bottle of water and a beer is also likely and I'm already ahead.

Also, I like to pay ahead too and not get too many bills on the vacation itself.

What's the average drink cost?

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/Carnival-Bar-Menu/CarnivalCruiseBarMenu.htm

Is that when you are cruising? I think most people are surprised at how many more they can get through on a cruise - when you count your coffees, glasses of wine with meals, cocktails, shakes, bottled water etc.

I believe so. E.g. 8J is the same price whether deck 5 or 6. But extended balcony on deck 8 is 8K and priced a little higher etc.

Yep - price drops are to clear out unsold cabins. The last thing the company wants is empty cabins and they'll drop prices through the floor to ensure that doesn't happen.

For day trip snacks at ports we often fill up a lunchbox with fruit from the breakfast buffet. Sometimes we also make sandwiches from the breakfast buffet! Cheeky, and we once had a supervisor wag her finger at us, but really what are they gonna do, throw you overboard?

This was in Hawaii. On our Mexico cruise I've heard the food on the port visits is so darn cheap it's not worth worrying about.

Yeah but they're hard to maintain and support. You just can't win!

I just tell my customers: You can have it bug free, on budget, on time... choose any two!

Oh man! Where and when are these cruises with the price drops?

Mine does have price drops but only in GTY ... no use to me as I needed interconnecting....

Does the price ever go back up? If so, can they 'claw back' your price drop benefit?I'm a bit jealous - booked my two cabins a couple of months ago, now 50 days from cruising and no price drop!

Apologies for going slightly off topic but the 8J extended balcony looks like it gets two chairs and a table but no lounger. Has anyone tried cheekily requesting a lounger?

lprp, it is brave to remove some chog's stuff, but it is noble too. If people regularly did this (after allowing a reasonable grace period) then people will stop chogging.

If I was there I would have applauded you.

Wow, glad everyone's survived without anything more serious.

I always worry about our pets on car journeys as they are not restrained by seatbelts.

I think Dogs are way tougher than humans.

Nice work, aimhigh. How much was the discount and have you stayed there yet? If so was it a nice place to stay ahead of your cruise?

Never seen one - would have thought you'd have to book a regular balcony cabin and pay extra for the vacant berth.

Last year we booked a couple of GTY Balcony cabins on the NCL Hawaii Cruise, a couple of months out. The price was sensational at the time. We booked it on the phone through cruise.com. Here's the kicker, we requested the cabins to be next to each other... and the lady on the phone put the request in. Within about two days we had assigned adjacent cabins - and unobstructed views. It was my first cruise so I really had no idea how the GTY mechanism worked, but to this day I can't understand how we got such good service that far out on a GTY.

In general I have found for multiple reasons that you should book over the phone talking to a person rather than using online services!

1) yes, as long as it is one of the common ones - VISA/MC or AMEX. Also you can probably use your bank ATM card to get NZ cash from ATMs (assuming it is Cirrus network). In general I can use my NZ cards in the USA so expect that goes both ways.

2) Don't know but if not just grab a taxi there: http://kawiticaves.co.nz/

3) You can just rock up according to their web site.

4) Yep same as 1)

5) Nice shops and things in Russell - worth a look.

6) Miles away, Treaty grounds at Waitangi. You can get a good idea browsing around with Google Maps.

Cheers

JohnO

It's all about the GOOGLE, and your CONFORT LEVEL.

 

Look at NZ currency rate to Pesos

Look at USD rate to Pesos ( about 20 )

Do math and do what is best for you.

My guess is:

You will lose cinverting to US then to Pesos vs straight NZ to Pesos.

 

I use AAA FOREIGN EXCHANGE.

Good rate, low fee, 2 day delivery.

 

Whatever you do , ask for currency 500 Pesos and smaller.

Could be difficult getting vendors to make change for larger bills.

 

GOOGLE exchange rates, try your bank

And make best choice for you

 

When and what cruiseline you going?

Hi - Apr 15 Carnival Miracle... can't wait!

Hi and thanks Sam - where do you get your Pesos?

I'm coming from NZ - probably can't get Pesos before I leave but can get the best exchange rate if I get my US$ before I leave.

One of the major appeals of cruising to me is not having to constantly open my wallet. Meals drinks and tips are all pre-paid.

I'll know before we leave roughly how much I'll be spending on beach purchased tours and excursions, but wonder how much people average spending on general extra tips and costs per day? I need to convert some NZ$ to green folding money before we get on the ship and I don't want to get too much or too little. The former as it's a dead loss when trying to convert back and the latter because it's awkward or expensive to get hold of some more when on the ship or on the beach.

I know everyone's different but interested to get a feel for how people manage their cash on a MexRiv cruise...

By the way cruisinitaliano , who/where did you rent your jetskis?

Cool that's good to know thanks. Do you just have a bit of fun blasting around off the beach or go on a tour? I'd quite like to do a tour - assuming you get to see some cool stuff and stop off at a remote beach for a rest/picnic etc?