5cruizin

We just returned yesterday from our cruise and I wanted to give an up date on HMC. We didn't take a tent nor rent a cabana. We opted for a couple chairs under the trees and 2 at the water. We were on the first trip out (thanks to FTTF) so went straight to the trees. Funny thing is we rarely sat in the chairs. We stayed in the water or on the floats we rented. We just kept putting on more sunscreen! I will say it was one of the most beautiful islands we had ever visited! Glad we didn't take a tent or rent a clamshell. Would have been a waste of money.

We had fun. My oldest, 16 yo son, had the best time because he was able to go as he pleased and met lots of people. My 15 yo hung with us and had a good time but wasn't in to "hanging out." My 5 yo loved the water park and camp ocean. Be prepared to wait in line for almost everything (which my husband didn't like). Food was ok. We felt rushed at port, afraid we would miss the boat so had to relax at Nassau. Half Moon Cay was amazing!

We just got home today and my daughter took her straightener. No issues

We just got off Carnival Ectasy today and our youngest is 5. He is mature for his age and turn so 6 in Sept but we moved him up on day 1. I knew he wouldn't have as much fun with 2-5 year olds so we asked to move him up and had no issues. He had a blast in the older group. We talked to a lady on day 3 after our kids played on the island together and she moved her daughter up that night with no problems.

Any suggestions on where to park? We will be driving in the day of departure.

Just got off th boat today! We stayed in Charleston the night before but opted to drive to port instead of riding in hotel van. Glad we did! First, get faster to the fun, worth it! We got on the ship quickly in that line and got in line to debark at 0745 and was driving out on main road by 0809. I had read about all he bad experiences in port but our experience was great getting on & off. We checked our luggage as well and still out that quick.

What are you looking for? I just got off the boat today.

Great news! Thanks for all the suggestions to use the trees. Are they close enough to the water that we all will feel "together" even if some are under the trees? We looked at a few "beach shade tents" that had mesh or open on 3 sides but if trees will work, I'm happy to not add to our luggage! Thanks again

We leave this week for our cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Ecstasy, FINALLY!! One of our stops is HMC, which we plan to use as a beach day. I was reading we could rent a clamshell but I also read they are hot and stuffy because they do not allow ventilation. We are looking at purchasing our own "tent/cabana/shelter" to use while on the beach to give our little guys some shade. I've looked everywhere but can't find it we are allowed to do so and if there are size restrictions if they are allowed. Does anyone know? TIA!

We are doing this exact same cruise. I and my daughter 7 are the really excited ones and the wife and my son 13 are more along for the ride. I hope to get them hooked as well because we are already booked on our second cruise for Easter next year. I think the wife is coming along because she really needs a vacation right now and the cruise is starting to appeal to her more everyday. I think it is interesting that we are celebrating our anniversary as well.

Congratulations, happy anniversary! I hope we both get the same result, cruise addicts! I would love for this to be first of many cruises. Have fun!

Thank you for the responses! I'm only interested in carrying cash for tips and I was told DL was needed to get child out of Camp Carnival. Is that correct?

Call me a little OCD but are the S&S cards printed horizontal or vertical and do they swip them each time u buy a drink or scan? The reason I ask is that I would prefer it to hang correctly but am also wondering about the plastic pouch. Do u have to take the card in and out each time? If I have DL or $$ behind it I don't want to lose it. TIA!

Uhswim, Organized Chaos andKanyon71

Thank you for the encouragement and positive thought/suggestions. The more we talk the more he is starting to "warm up" to the idea. 10 days and counting! Everyone on here has made me feel more comfortable. My plan is to go and enjoy myself and help the kiddos have a great time. I think he will as well once we get there! Thanks again

You can consider in your planning the use of the Men's and Women's shower area near the gym and Spa check-in. It can lighten up your rotation schedule for shower and dressing.

I didn't realize this was an option until reading the responses. Great idea! We will probably use this option!!

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Unfortunately, we only booked 1 room, but we are not planning on being in there much. We've already discussed rotating down for showers, dressing, etc. We have booked a room at Comfort Inn for our day in Nassau so we have access to Atlantis for the day! He is looking forward to that and at Half Moon Cay, we are chillin on the beach, nothing else! The plan is to look at the daily schedule and see if anything looks interesting, if so, do it, if not, do our own thing; NOT planning anything except Atlantis trip. I want this to be a vacation for all! The older kiddos get along great and will be stuck to each other the entire time, not with us. The younger, we hope, will LOVE Camp Carnival so that we can spend the sea days "alone." We are also celebrating our anniversary while on this trip so alone time is a must!! I think he is hesitant because he thinks it is expensive but doesn't yet understand what all we get for the $$. We've talked about it a little more today while shopping and it sounds like he is a "little" more excited! Needless to say, the rest of us are going to have a blast and hope he joins in!! Thanks for all the suggestions. We'll be looking for "our bar" and hopefully attending a show or 2!

Make sure you fly in a day before departure. The less stress the better.

 

Get to the pier around 10 am beat the rush. Once you're on board head up to the Lido - deck 10 for lunch.

 

Explore the ship, stop by your cabin. Your husband will have a blast. There is so much to do, great bars, lounges, restaurants. You will all have a blast.

 

Happy Cruising.

 

Jonathan

 

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We are fortunate that we are about 5 hours from the port, Charleston, SC so we are able to drive down without flying. We are actually going down 2 days early so the kids can see Charleston and so we will not be rushed the morning of the cruise. I'm hoping all these things will help decrease the stress level!

All great suggestions, thank you all! And IF he doesn't like it, that's OK. We have lots of other things we can go do together, not on a cruise ship! I hope the "open minded" to "addicted cruiser" is true for him as well. Plus, I didn't even think about the multiple bars for bar hoping, that's a GREAT idea! We enjoy that around home. Thanks again and fingers crossed!!

My kids (16, 15, 5) and I are all very excited about our cruise in 16 days but my DH is not "excited/looking forward to" the cruise. I cruised 11 years ago, once, but this is the first time for everyone else. We went with a short 5 day cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Ecstasy. DH has agreed to "be open minded" and give it a chance 😅. He's a drinker so I bought the drink pkg. Any other suggestions to help make it a great time? I want us to go on more so this is a make it or break it cruise! 😳

If your husband enjoys "resort" type vacations, he will have a fine time on a ship. No worries! He's agreed to go and be "open-minded"...so let that run it's course! He'll be fine, and all will have a great time!

That's good to hear, it's been so long I can't remember. Thank you!

Did you book a Carnival cruise? You could ask this same question on the appropriate cruise line board for ship-specific activity suggestions.

Will do, thank you for the suggestion!

What kinds of activities would he like? My father would have been very reluctant to go on a cruise, but he was a people watcher, and would have loved a chair in the shade where he could take in the passing scene. EM

On vacation, he likes to drink, sit in the shade and relax. He also likes to gamble, so we plan on going to the casino as well. He wanted to fly to Bahamas and stay instead of cruising; his thoughts is that we won't be able to relax and enjoy vacation. Feels we will be rushed. My thoughts was food and entertainment for kids included without feeling "worried " about older 2 wanting their space and being safe.

My kids (16, 15, 5) and I are all very excited about our cruise in 16 days but my DH is not "excited/looking forward to" the cruise. I cruised 11 years ago, once, but this is the first time for everyone else. We went with a short 5 day cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Ecstasy. DH has agreed to "be open minded" and give it a chance 😅. He's a drinker so I bought the drink pkg. Any other suggestions to help make it a great time? I want us to go on more so this is a make it or break it cruise! 😳

With your cruise that close, you're going to have to be extra vigilant. Checking to see if they're available regularly. There's also 4-5 threads here that hang around the first or second page that will update when they're available. Typically, AARP was selling them every couple weeks or so and Verizon's come from the same distributor, so usually they're available at the same time. But for the last week or two, they've popped up much more often. Some of them going very fast (selling out before noon), others lasting a little longer, or in yesterday's case, the $100 cards lasted all day and night, but that's very unusual. Then once you get your hands on some, you'll have to wait for shipping (usually up to a week, sometimes longer in some cases). Unless you manage to get the e-cards, those are emailed quickly. Just print them out and take them with you.

Great advice! Thank you!!

Sorry' date=' I meant from the Allstaterewards.com website

 

 

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That worked! Thank you!!

Thank you for all the suggestions in this thread to get discounted gift cards! I signed up for the DriveSafe app but don't see where you can enter promo codes. Can someone help? TIA! We leave for our cruise in less than 30 days and I didn't realize that I could discounted gift cards! I only owe gratuities and OBC for 5 so any additional $$ would be great!

I'm new to this so following! We are cruising in less than 30 days and I need some gift cards at a discount to pay gratuities and for OBC!