CruisinMermaid

5 days!!!

My family stayed at the Hotel Maya a couple years ago and left our car there for a week. The hotel parking lot is secured with one of those electronic arms so it's not really open to the public. I think it was pretty safe to leave our car there. We'll be there again in five weeks for another cruise and will leave our car again. You just park and lock your car and you're good to go. Don't leave your car keys. Take them with you.

Hi, I also got the $139 rate for our second night when I used the corporate code I used a few years ago (0560018220). The first night was not elligible for the discount. They were quoting us over $200 for the first night. I supposed we can just stay one night instead of two, but most importantly we get the free parking.

My family and I stayed at the Hotel Maya in Long Beach a couple years ago for a pre-cruise stay. We used a corporate code and got the room for $99/night and free parking for 7 days. This was in 2011. I think the code I used then has since expired and was wondering if anyone knew of a new code, or where I can call to get that code? I tried combing through the boards but couldn't find anything. I'm hoping Carnival negotiated a new contract with Hotel Maya since it was so convenient to stay there before our cruise, and it seemed like a safe place to leave our car for a week.

My family and I take the stairs as much as possible when we're on a cruise ship. It's faster than the elevator and it's good for your health! I mean, c'mon, with all that food we're consuming on board the least we can do is take the stairs to burn some of it off! :D

We are taking our first cruise in October and I was wondering...I've seen a lot of people saying that if you don't like your dining companions you can change them but do you always have dining companions? I thought I read somewhere that some dining (we have the anytime dining) can be just the two of us...it's not that we are anti social but it seems like if we are showing up whenever we want that it would be bothersome to have to wait on a table opening and then wait for it to fill up in order to order...Anyone know about this...Oh yeah, we're on Carnival Conquest...

 

Your dining table is assigned to you before you board and will be listed on your sign & sail card. On your first day on board, go straight to the dining room and check out the table. If it looks like you're going to be seated at a table for four or six go and talk to the maitre'd and request a table for two. The maitre'd is usually very good at accomodating your request. Before dinner you'll get a message in your stateroom with your new dining table assignment. AND if you'd really rather not deal with the formal dining room you can always eat at the buffet.

If you like to laugh, I'd recommend anything by Sophie Kinsella, Wendy Markham or Marian Keyes. Those ladies are funny!

I have, also, asked them if there is anything special in town I could pick up for them when in a port if I know I am going shopping. They have a store on the ship but I understand the prices are not exactly WalMart.

Tucker in Texas

That's actually a very thoughtful gesture. Everytime we cruise our cabin steward is one of the most important people on board for us. We've had stewards go out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed and I truly appreciated it. I think it's a pretty good idea to ask them if they need something picked up while we go on shore. I know they work all day long and don't get to go down when the ship docks, it's the least we can do.

Money always works. We usually tip our attendant the first day and then at the end of our cruise we give them whatever's leftover of our spending cash. I think we had about $52 left in our pocket on our last cruise and we just thanked our attendant for taking good care of us and my hubby gave him the "special hand shake." ;)

We were on Holland America's Oosterdam on formal night. I was wearing my cocktail dress and heals and the boat was a little rockier than usual. As I was trying to walk down the stairs the boat swayed and I lost my balance and practically tumbled down some steps in front of two elderly ladies. My husband just watched me as I "ate it!" :(

We were on E187 last year on the Elation and I don't recall hearing any noises either. Our cabin was towards the rear of the ship as well. We sail in 22 days and now have booked E199, which is a little further back than our cabin last year. I hope we don't have that constant noise this time.