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I have always taken ginger root pills when cruising and in a few weeks will be DS's 1st cruise (9) and I am looking around now to buy it. I know GNC sells it but to me taking it is two fold 1- it has no side effects so can't hurt in taking it and 2- sometimes just the fact of taking something in the back of your mind it helps reduce the thoughts of "I'm going to get sick".

I do plan on also bringing the "less drowsy" Dramamine chewable for kids incase he needs it. I would rather be prepared then not!!

Just being nosey since I sail on her in a few weeks. Saw where they skipped Freeport once and added Charleston,SC....hope she is holding up fine!!!

Gotcha....that is why I'm not seeing it!! Thank you!

I thought it showed as Nov 30th of this year. Maybe I'm confused but at what point are they doing the dry dock? I know it was supposed to be this past Feb and they changed it to later in the year...but I can't seem to figure out when. Thanks!!!

I'm tossing around doing these ports on this ship next July. Would you say that all ports needed an excursion booked in order to enjoy the ports? Or are there one or two that you get off the ship, have some things to see that you can walk to including some shopping? A port like San Juan comes to mind....we shopped and walked to one of the forts. Just wondering how much $ I would been looking at excursions. Thanks and glad you enjoyed your trip.

LOL....you guys made me laugh..thanks for that.

Yes, I do know that they have their little charges up the wa-zoo, but since I am stick flying outta a rinky-dink airport, we would need to do a layover and all flights with two legs around here are very expensive. Grant you, if I have the cruise booked I would prolly be looking to book the airfare far in advance also...so maybe I would get lucky with a normal commercial airlines!!

I would also fly in the day prior...no sense in starting out the day on a long, bad note. I guess there are also shuttle services that might take us to an airport that has a shuttle to the port the next day. Never thought of that until I started typing this...and then just do the carnival shuttle for the trip home =-)

I just recently found out that Spirit airlines has really great rates to ft. Lauderdale in the summer which does not begin until May for a seasonal run. I know airfare can only be booked so far in advance, but I was thinking of a 2015 July cruise which I know I can book now. Not sure of which ship leaving from where but knowing that Miami is only a 30 min drive south does anyone know if Carnival does airport transfers from Ft. Lauderdale or just Miami airport?

I have a confirmed dining and my sister (who just booked) is wait listed for the same dining time as us. We were talking today about both changing to MTD so we know we will all sit together (total of 6, two parties of 3). I was wondering- should I stick with my confirmed time and hope she gets the same dining and only if not THEN we switch to MTD when we get on the ship?

Can I hear some pros & cons with MTD vs confirmed time dining? Thanks!!

AAhhh...you guys give me hope!! I am up early (5:15 am) and go to bead late (11pm) so I'm hoping by checking at "odd times" it will pop up. Thanks for this hope!!

Thanks for the info!! We are under 50 days to sailing, so maybe the blocks of 15 being released has come and gone! I will still keep trying different times during the day & night!!

Excellent to know, I appreciated your time in posting it.

Thank you Mia!!

Has anyone else booked a Guarantee and then once they give you a cabin you try to switch? My sister just booked under the fact of not having to pay in full until 30 days prior to departure. So I am assuming they will not assign anything it is paid in full. So with only 30 days left, could she call up to see if anything near our cabin is open? Not sure how that works since I have never booked a Guarantee room before. Thanks all!!

I know this has been a topic of many conversations but as per Carnival it states this:

Traveling with a Minor

When traveling with a minor where one parent or both parents (or legal guardians) are not cruising, we strongly recommend bringing an original signed letter from the absent parent(s) (or legal guardians) authorizing the minor to travel with you. This will expedite processing by the Department of Homeland Security.

I JUST realized it does not say it needs to be notarized or witnessed. I don't know if this is a recent change or did I miss this when researching about it last time.

Anyone on here travel w/ minors and 1 parents and were not allowed to board? I asked awhile back but thought with new folks on here they may have an experience to share.

<Hand Raised> We are in the same situation except 1- it is at the end of the school year so DS will miss last week of school & 2- we are still going. The kids only went to school 4 FULL days (3 days total with 2 half days) from Dec 18th-Jan 30th, no joking....they took away spring break and added on one week. That is the MOST they can do by law. So what did the school board vote on going forward? Starting next year the kids start Aug 11th and end May 22nd but it can legally be extended to June 30th to allow for a full 180 days. Talk about trying to figure out vacation next year...we will only have July to be "safe" and not miss school.

I'm not that worried about this year since the last week is a week of signing year books etc plus he has not missed a single day thus far (knock on wood).

I did take him out a week in 2012 to go to Disney for the first time and guess what....if I ask him to tell me about Disney he can give me specific details down to what we did each day along with I wore at each meal along with WHAT I ate. If I ask him what did he learn in school the week before we left or after we got back I get a blank stare. So to me....the point on vacation being educational it proof within my own child!!

Yes, I'm trying to get in on a second round and just wondered if you got it at a certain time of the day or so many days prior to sailing? Just hoping and trying to figure it all out!! Thanks!

If I take advance of this and have to cancel do I just lose the deposit I put down? Right now I would have a 50/50 chance of losing it but not sure if it's better to book and pick a halfway decent cabin vs. waiting and only booking 4 week prior to sailing and not knowing what is still open.

Just wondered if anyone know. Thanks!!

Thank you so much for this info!! I makes me feel better knowing that I can spend this extra money and "just in case" I will still get my money back if we don't sail.

Thank you for taking the time to let me know!!

I know this is a crazy question but I know with shore excursions, if you cancel, you can get some of your money refunded.

I have never ordered from Bon Voyage before and was thinking of a few things but with having a very ill MIL, if we need to cancel the cruise all together I know bon voyage would not be part of that.

So has anyone else cancelled an order before? How far out to sail date? What type of reimbursement did you get? Thanks for the info!!!

I have not been on a Carnival ship in over 20 years. Do you need to arrive with life vest on or with you? (yes, I would be that fool thinking you still had to). How long does it take approx? We will be on the Pride if that helps as far as ship size/pax.

Excellent Review!! Thank you for the detailed information for those who are also need gluten free. My friend is like yourself (very sensitive) and she feels the same as you regarding 1 week on a cruise with special attention to the issue is well worth the cruise itself b/c she feels like she can "dine out" and not worry about anything.

We sail with you in the 18th....for me, it can't come fast enough!!

My sister is in this situation. Her ex is not signing anything and she just filed a motion to travel with the courts. Problem is, we sail in about 7 weeks and she has no clue if it will be granted or not, so she has not booked yet. She just wants an inside guarantee, so I doubt it will be a problem to book...depending how far down to the wire it comes. The kids are 17 & 14 with a different last name from her. She and the 17 yo has just gotten their passports but the 14 yo doesn't. Saddest part is that this cruise was FOR their graduations (12th and 8th grades) and the ex still won't budge or and refuses to even acknowledge her request for the signed (and notarized) paperwork. She just found out this week that because his child support is in the arrears HE was denied his passport application for himself. So my sister hopes IF they go to court she can also point out that he is disgruntled b/c he can not obtain a passport from himself to travel and is taking it out on the kids. Such a shame!!

To the OP-I would 100% make sure you have all the documentation everyone mentioned here. It is alot easier to get the parents to sign a bunch of paperwork now rather then YOU having a headache later for being so kind as to allow the child to join you on the vacation!

I have read through a few threads about the Pride & FTTF. For when she arrives later then expected how did Carnival notify you of a later FTTF time to arrive? Was it via email, text, phone call. Just wondering!!

Also who had a tag stating 11 am and really DID get there at 11 am and broaded shortly after?

Thanks!! I didn't know that it changed so that will be fun and different!!

I'm so glad alot of folks gave me their input.

I like to ppl watch but I like the downtime also. On DH's 1st cruise we had an inside. It was a high deck near the bridge and I was worried he would have gotten sea sick from the rocking but he LOVED to be "rocked to sleep". So I thought the fact of getting a balcony for this 2nd would make it a private getaway and if DS wants to sleep in or go to bed, we still have the balcony to enjoy!

And I 100% will be having early morning coffee delivered to the cabin just for the fact of enjoying it on the balcony!!