sharona211

Thanks all for sharing your experiences and advice. I think we may give it a try. I definitely want to start small in case she doesn't like it so I'll look for something to Bahamas or Cozumel. Southern Caribbean and Alaska are on my cruise bucket list but need to do a shorter "trial" cruise first I think.

Hi. I'd really like to take my 13 yo daughter on a short cruise. I've been on 5 Carnival cruises (so I know I like it) and I think she might really enjoy it too but... I'm concerned that there won't be enough on board activities for us to do together.

She's not the type that will make instant bff's with other kids so not sure if she would want to do the kids club or whatever it's called. And even if she did, what would be the point of us going if she will be off by herself and I will be by myself half the time? I get plenty of time to myself when I travel for work or go on a girls weekend with friends so not really looking for that - the point of this trip is to spend time together.

Thoughts from single parents who have taken a cruise with a young teen just the two of you? Did you find enough activities that interested you both? Did you feel awkward with just 2 of you?

Also, any thoughts on a woman and a young girl going into port alone? I guess we could stick to ship sponsored shore excursions but I usually research on these boards and book separately... not sure I'm comfortable doing that with my daughter along...

TIA for your input.

From what I understand:

The virus can only be transmitted from contact of the bodily fluids of someone who is experiencing full on symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea etc.)

The only people who have contracted the disease in the US are the health care workers who were directly taking care of the patient who died.

None of the non medical people who came into contact with the original patient have become infected. Even though some of them were living in the same apartment with him, the virus did not spread to them.

According to CNN, the lab worker on the Magic does not have any symptoms.

CDC royally screwed up by not restricting travel for those who were in direct contact with the original patient.

The situation in TX has forced our nation's hospitals to plan for the possibility of an Ebola patient walking into their ER. The silver lining of this scare is that real training and real precautions will now be the norm instead of the exception.

We are having a similar debate for our proposed Carnival Liberty Southern Carib itinerary as 5 ports in 6 days is not very relaxing. The sea day is at the beginning of the trip with only 1 port before it then 4 straight port days to end the trip. We are going back and forth between St. Lucia or St. Kitts to stay on board and enjoy an uncrowded ship.

For me, no way would I skip St. Thomas, Barbados or St. Maarten so that leaves St. Lucia or St. Kitts by default. This thread was helpful in that so many singled out St. Lucia as somewhere they would skip.

OP - you may want to browse through the port of call boards for more in depth discussions on some of the tours or beach options available on the islands included in your itinerary.

Nothing cruise specific, just stuff we take on every trip

power strip

bungie cord

the plastic store hangars with the clips (great for hanging bathing suits to dry)

duct tape (you never know)

tote bag for beach

anti-bacterial wipes

I don't understand. Are beers not available at HMC? I've never been...

We always do Anytime Dining. I don't go to the MDR to see waiters dance!! It is not an important part of my agenda at all! In fact I've never seen them and don't think I've missed much!!

I go to the dining room to enjoy my food. It doesn't take 2hrs. for my husband and myself to be served and eat.

I'd say an hour to 1 1/2 would be all. It depends on

While I agree that the waiters dancing is not a top 10 highlight of the cruise, we do find it fun especially if there are newbies in our group. After that its sort of a been there done that item. If you've never seen it, you can't know that you're not missing out. It's a tradition that many others enjoy.

How many people? How many days? Port intensive itinerary? Details...

My cheap luggage set is 13 years old and has been on at least 50 flights, 2 cruises, bus trips and dozens of road trips. It's been dragged up stairs, dropped, kicked over, lost for 2 days, handled by hundreds of porters/bellmen and loaned out to family members a bunch of times. I guess we've been lucky. It doesn't look new but it's not really damaged except for the zipper pulls on a few pockets being replaced with whatever we have on hand. I can't recall the brand but it's not anything I'd heard of before, just something on sale at Macys when we were planning a big trip.

I do use duct tape but not for repairs, I use it to mark our black bags so we can find them and so no one else takes them in error. If you see an old black upright with a stripe of Superman or Hello Kitty duct tape circling the carousel, come on over and say hi!

Yummmm. More brunch food porn please!

The upper would only be used if there were a third person in the room. And I believe the bed would only be opened each night, making the sofa usable in the day.

 

Don't stress. And stop investigating!😄 you will enjoy your cruise.

 

 

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Excellent advice!!! While there is a wealth of great info on this forum and in the CC reviews, there are also many complaints about stuff that I would NEVER have noticed if I hadn't been looking for it after doing way too much research!

Love my Miami Vice. Been ordering them on all vacations, even on land, since my first Carnival cruise in 1996. I'm always happily surprised when the bartender at a hotel pool Bar knows exactly what I'm talking about! Many fellow Carnival cruisers have come over to say hey when they overhear us order one. Just wish they weren't so filling so I could have more more more!!!

Cash seems to help get you "more" regular bar waiter service when at shows, pool/hot tub, and MDR. I'm not saying it's necessary, just that I've noticed a difference from time to time. Even more so in the MDR where there are never enough bar waiters to go around.

 

Sometimes I like to pick up my own drinks, and in those cases I've seen cash lead to more generous pours of liquor on subsequent drinks.

 

Your mileage may vary of course. I try to use the same waiters/bartenders when possible as well, seems to help as they will quickly remember you.

Are you saying you get better service/better pours when you tip cash in excess of the standard added on tip as opposed to just tipping generously using your S&S card? Actually, it's been a while and I can't even recall - is the tip automatically added to the bar/waiter tab when signing?

My PVP said that I can't use the egift cards as down payment - that a credit card is required to secure the reservation. Has this been the case for you all?

I had this room on the conquest in July and I loved it, the only draw back is you will have people trying to see in your room so in the daytime its difficult but PLEASE make sure you close your curtains when the sun goes down because they will be able to see you in your all togethers. I actually had a grown man with his face pressed against the window it was in the day so I walked out on the deck and in a Loud voice told him it was rude to try to look in peoples windows, and told him he was a pervert, and turned and walk back inside. he was very embarassed and frankly I did not care.

It is possible that this man wasn't expecting windows to a public deck to be those of someone's private cabin. He may have been expecting to see an interior walkway or other public area when he peeped.

I can understand how the extra windows and great "interior" price of these cabins make them attractive, but I don't see the point of having the window if you can't leave the curtains open and I value our privacy too much to leave them open ;). Also the motion from being at the front and top of the ship puts them out of the running for me as I'm prone to motion sickness. I'm one less cruiser you have to compete with for these :D

I think it depends on who you talk to at Carnival. I had a similar problem and I talked to my PVP. I told him who I traveled with and a guestimate of when the cruise took place. I also knew the name of the ship. In a few minutes, he had gathered what was needed and got the past guest account created.

I had a similar experience. The last cruise I booked (2008)was the first using my married name. I gave the PVP the very approximate dates and what few details I remembered of my 3 previous cruises (96? 98? 2000?) and next time I looked they were showing on my profile. The ship name and booking number are missing on the oldest 2 so I think the PVP just took my word for it when he couldn't find the info??? Under ship name it says "1 cruises". Most importantly - I did get the 14 VIFP points that the oldest 2 cruises earned should I ever have the pleasure of going for platinum status.

Thanks for the feedback. Glad to know you enjoyed the route and the Liberty, even if it was separately!

No expectations, just trying to decide which fare to book, Early Saver or something more flexible for $30 more.

We'll be cruising mid April during a popular school vacation week (primary school not college spring breaks). I keep seeing posts about price drops for sailings through November. I realize that these cruises are quickly approaching and prices are starting to fall but I wonder if the price drops can also be attributed to it being hurricane season or off-season?

For those who cruise more frequently than we do, are price drops also typical during "prime" season? Am I correct that prime season is roughly Feb - early May? We'll be booking balcony cabins on the Liberty out of San Juan if those details make a difference in your responses.

TIA

Sharon- I just wanted to follow up with you and let you know my Chase Ink card statement closed today. Unfortunately, it only counted for 1% and not 5%. I was suprised because it was labeled as Verizon but they somehow knew it wasn't my cell phone. Oh well, I still saved over $150 buying the cards to put towards my cruise but now I know to put the rest of the balance on a card that gives 2X on everything.:)

Thanks for the info! Yes, still a good deal but I'll also use my 2% card.

Much of this is how it stands today on several cruise lines with the ala carte choices available. Spa level rooms w/ spa access, paid spa passes, alternative paid dining venues, cheers beverage packages, paid on board activities etc. They are just forcing you to choose your extra expenses at time of booking instead of as you cruise.

That being said, I'm not sure we would be willing to book on a ship where we were not going to be getting full access (private club/pool/deck).

I'm curious about the price differences from top to bottom.

Thanks for your help. Sincerely, not sarcastically at all.

Is there somewhere I can find upcoming scheduled dry docks for Carnival ships that don't have 2.0?

We were originally booked on the Valor and just found out that we are now on the Liberty. On this itinerary, the 2.0 upgrades don't mean much to us since we only have 1 sea day and 6 ports. What I'm irked about is being changed from an 8N to an 8F category with no compensation. Carnival's website even shows the price difference and yet 5 different Carnival supervisors refuse to acknowledge that. They keep telling me that I should be happy about the change. I should be happy about being moved from an extended aft balcony to a regular balcony? I just want to pay what I should be paying for an 8F not what I did pay for my 8N! Their arrogance is shocking.

Can't you take a refund and rebook the cabin or price you want?

MA public schools are off April 18th - 26th. President's week is also a vacation week here.