Colorado Kat

Number one rule - Sunscreen!

Don't stare. (Sunglasses could be helpful here. Dark ones.)

It's casual. No barrier to climb over. (That could be ouch!)

European atmosphere, so all body types will be there. Go with any level of clothing you wish.

Have fun.

How do you book these Porthole Cabins? Are they considered Interior, or Ocean-view?

I thought Carnival returned confiscated liquor, as long as it was sealed, and in original container.

There's a good Margarita Mix called Coyote Gold. Friends always bring that on white-water raft trips.

Well, thanks for the info about the blankets. I think I'll put my head in the sand, and try not to think about that kind of stuff.

I've always wondered....Are the blankets cleaned after every flight? Fresh pillowcases?

On my flight to Europe, on United recently, blankets and pillows were given to everyone.

Camp Carnival is free during the day. These late night hours are offered for babysitting, when the parents want a late night out for themselves.

I think I would prefer one of these group activites late night, instead of in-cabin babysitting by a stranger.

That is very confusing. I think that somewhere there will be a further explanation. The special parties may include things done roaming the ship? I know in Jan we ran across a group of 10 10-12 year olds in the dining hall, eating late (1am?) They said they were having a great time. They were well super-vised, and in a roped-off area.

The occasional all-beverages included cruise shows up on Carnival, but I don't know how to search for them.

I've never missed a cruise, but I've missed lots of airline flights and connections. It isn't just weather in your area you have to worry about. Weather delays in another part of the country can delay your airplane from arriving for you to board. 3-4 hours late when you're just going to a hotel is annoying, but workable. When you need to catch a ship, it has potential to be really problematic.

They do tend to serve fancier entrees on formal night. (Now called elegant night). Dress shirt for the guys, decent slacks, dress for you & DD. (Or dressy pants and top) You'll be just fine. And I much prefer to have someone waiting on me, instead of doing a buffet.

I was actually surprised that the cans of soda from the mini-fridge were so reasonable in price.

Drinking age - 21. I don't know what the gambling age is, but my 17 year old daughter (girls always look older) gambled on the Carnival Legend, with an older friend. She played slots, and not poker or table games.

There is usually a black hole of entertainment for 18-20 year olds.

If you have ports in Mexico, the boys will be allowed to drink.

On this board, there is Cruise Discussion Topics. Look under there for Cabin Selection Tips. They have many specific rooms discussed.

Take a used-up no-value gift card. The in-cabin safes need a card with a magnetic strip to open and close the safe. You couldn't use your credit card for this, as that is what you want in the safe.

I know this works on Carnival ships - I would guess other lines are similar.

There will be instructions in the room:

1. Activate the safe with the magnetic stripe card you have brought with you.

2. We stash that card underneath clothes in a dresses drawer.

3. Anytime you need to open/close safe, you must use that card.

4. We keep cash, credit cards, passports, and turned-off cellphones in the safe.

I have black luggage, like 95% of other travelers. But I took acrylic paint and painted lime green dots and swirls on all sides. Nobody is going to mistakenly take mine, and I could spot it 300 feet away if someone took it on purpose.

I still take photos of the luggage while waiting in line to check it....

Oh - that sounds delicious! How did you get the recipe? Kathy

Sorry - Have not read the entire thread, so I may be repeating some things here.

I love my ipod - I got the 160 gig one, since I filled up my 80 gig last year. I have tons of music, and probably over 400 full books. Too annoying to swap out books etc on my ipod.

I love the Diana Gabaldon Outlander series, and am currently going thru them all again.

Comes in very handy during plane rides - I have the in-ear ear-buds, and they really do keep out a lot of extraneous noise. I put a book on low volume, and just doze away - the spoken voice lulls me to sleep when I'm tired. (Explains some of my college classes....)

Kathy

This is a great thread - Thanks!

Let me make sure I have this straight - if I cruise by myself, a 1A cabin will make me pay 150% of a single fare, whereas another category will charge me 200%? (Eg: Fare of $600 - 1A gets me $900 for single, but other categories will be charged $1200?)

So 1As are best for solo cruisers? Any other special deals for solo cruisers? Thanks!

Early dining. I let my 16 year old girls decide, and they much preferred the early dining, so they could get a good start on the evening festivities. There are really a lot of things going on at night!

Kathy