ekatiel

I know there are a TON of variables here, but DH and I would like to do a med or transatlantic cruise for our 40th birthdays-- 5 years from now. I'd like to get a ballpark figure on how much to save. We will probably either:

Option 1:

Book a 7 day med cruise on Royal (we've also sailed Carnival and Disney, but we prefer Royal), most likely out of Rome-- doing ports in Italy, France and Spain.

Need round trip airfare from Houston.

Will likely stay in Rome 2-3 days pre-cruise to explore on our own.

DH has never been to Europe, so we'd like to see as much as possible on this trip. I spent a semester studying in Germany in college, so I've seen most of the "biggies" in Italy and France, never been to Spain, though.

OR Option 2:

Book the great Transatlantic that runs at the end of each August from England to Boston with ports in England, France, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland-- just because it seems super cool and exotic!

We would need one-way airfare from Houston to England, and one-way airfare from Boston to Houston.

We will likely stay 2-3 days pre-cruise in London, although this requires a lot of time off work for DH, so that may be a problem.

We want to see as much as possible-- the only country I've ever been to on this list is France.

So, how much did your med or transatlantic cruise end up costing you in total? Also, if you have any money saving "hints" for med or transatlantic cruises, I'd love to hear them.

Toss up between kiss on the lips and BBC. Other lines don't make kiss on the lips, though, so I am actually guilty of bringing the "recipe" on both RCL and Disney so they could make me one :D.

--You have to "play dumb" when talking to "normal" people about cruising so that they don't think you're a complete freak :D.

I like Obsession of the Seas!

 

But how about 'Do I get a bathrobe of the Seas'!!!

Don't forget her sister ship "Why don't I get a pillow mint anymore?!" of the Seas :D! --Katie

Updated list -- keep them coming!

 

• FR - 8/19/2012
  
• AL - 09/16/2012 (not confirmed with RCLDining)
  
• EN - 10/04/2012
  
• EX - 10/14/2012
  
• MJ - 10/19/2012
  
• LB - 11/15/2012
  
• AD - 11/18/2012
  
• ID - 01/13/2013
  
• MA - 02/??/2013
  
• NV - 02/02/2013
  
• VI - 03/8/2013
  
• SR - 05/12/2013
  
• BR - ??/??/????
  
• GR - ??/??/????
  
• JW - ??/??/????
  
• LG - ??/??/????
  
• OA - ??/??/????
  
• RD - ??/??/????
  
• RH - ??/??/????
  
• SP - ??/??/????
  
• VY - ??/??/????
  
• MN - N/A (not confirmed, but she's leaving the fleet on 04/01/13)

According to last week's Oasis Roll Call, the new menus started last week on Oasis (so 9/1/12). Can't wait to try them on our 9/22 cruise!! --Katie

New menus started last week according to the Sept. 1 Oasis roll call: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...86367&page=110

Woohoo!!! :D No more beef stroganoff night :rolleyes:. 13 days :D:D:D! --Katie

Waiting to see if the folks off Oasis today got the new menu or not. Two weeks until it's my turn!! :D --Katie

Hopefully this link will work.

 

http://s654.photobucket.com/albums/uu269/clamett/?albumview=slideshow&track=share_email_album_view_click

I'd like to know about this one, too :D. It looks like they definitely improved the dessert choices overall. On our cruise in March, there were a couple of nights where I didn't want ANYTHING off the dessert menu-- there were definitely not enough chocolate choices. These new choices look promising! --Katie

Thanks for the link. It works perfectly, and it allows me to answer my own question. The "chocolate sensation" is "espresso sponge, chocolate truffle mouse and almond icing with a chocolate glaze" Sound try-worthy to me :D:D!! --Katie

I wonder what the chocolate sensation is. Sounds interesting.

I'd like to know about this one, too :D. It looks like they definitely improved the dessert choices overall. On our cruise in March, there were a couple of nights where I didn't want ANYTHING off the dessert menu-- there were definitely not enough chocolate choices. These new choices look promising! --Katie

Thanks so much for posting the menus! Which evenings were formal nights? --Katie

Your models are amazing!!! You are extremely talented!! Keep posting pictures as you progress. I can't wait to see Voyager finished! --Katie

Considering Capt. Bob for our Sept. Oasis cruise. One problem: DH gets seasick. He's fine on cruise ships with Dramamine in him-- He usually takes extra if we need to tender in to somewhere, and he's OK for a 30-45 min. tender. How choppy are the waters? Is this not a good excursion for us? The reviews sound amazing, but I definitely don't want DH to get sick! --Katie

With ODS in kindergarten this year, we've entered the brave new world of vacationing during peak times :(. Here's what's worked for us: 1) Book early, REALLY early. The prices are generally pretty low when cruises are first released, and sometimes the cruise gods have not yet figured out when school breaks are. 2) Try to find an "odd" school break time that your kiddos have, one that the entire country doesn't share (Get a "fall break"-- book then; your spril break in April?-- book from a port where the Spring break is in March, etc.) 3) We book the cheapest room available for a quad. We don't need a window or a balcony to have a good cruise (it might help that we've always had an inside room!). 4) Watch the prices frequently, they do change. We just booked Mariner out of Galveston for next Spring Break at $659 for passengers one and two (inside room) and $349 for passengers 3 and 4. The price was sky high just before we booked, and then it dropped. It also helps that we don't have to fly-- are you within driving distance of any ports? I hope some of this helps. --Katie

I am also have a allergy to eggs and nuts. I have not had a issue to be honest

with you. I talk with the MD/waiter the 1st night. They will bring out the one

of the head cooks and talk with me about the menus. I can ask question such

as these. They are really good to know what ingredients are in different items

to tell you what to avoid.

 

The camp is also very good about watch for allergy issues. Talk with them as

well on the 1st night and explain your concern. I have one child who as some

minor issues and never had a issue with them feeding him anything to cause

a issue.

If you don't mind sharing, do you remember if the ice cream (on the lido deck or the stuff in the MDR) had eggs in it or traces of nuts? No one at Carnival can tell me, and it will be difficult to bring ice cream with me, so I'd rather not if I don't have to. Also, how about most of the bread products like the hamburger buns, hot dog buns, pizza crust, etc? Did these contain eggs? Thanks SO much if you remember!!! I know that suppliers can change, and I will certainly double check when we get there, but it would be nice to have some kind of idea!

Katie,

 

On the form in the General section there is the option for Eggs. There is also an 'Other' section for you to list specific allergies. Foods that contain eggs as an ingredient also lists eggs such as fried rice contains eggs. Copied below is a picture of the actual form. I circled eggs and added eggs to the 'Other' section. You can print it out and add Nuts and you're all set;

 

This is the form I was looking at. Yes, it does mention eggs as an ingredient in the fried rice, but it also lists items like "muffins" and "chocolate chip cookies", which I'm 99% sure contain eggs, and it does NOT mention that these items contain eggs. So, it is a very incomplete list.

To the PP who said that the list would be crazy if they listed all allergens: It really could be done quite simply. Eight food allergens account for over 90% of all food allergies. They could simply list the food in the first column of a 9 column document, and then list the top eight allergens in the other columns. Then, they'd simply need to X the column if a food item contains a certain ingredient. Most fastfood restaurants have lists like these on their websites for their entire menus. Here's a link to Sonic's list as an example: http://www.sonicdrivein.com/pdfs/menu/Sonic_Allergen_Table_9-30-08.pdf Many restaurants also list the complete ingredients in a separate form so that those who have less common allergies can read all the ingredients. Those lists ARE long!! The main problem Carnival would have with keeping such a list is changing suppliers. The form would need to be updated each time they changed suppliers. Other major restaurants and even cruise lines (like Disney-- which we can't afford :() manage to keep updated lists, though.

I did not book this cruise thinking that Carnival would be wonderful about food allergies like Disney is (and am prepared to bring food on for DS), but since they have a food allergy form, I was hoping that it would at least be a workable form. The form above is not a workable form for those with food allergies. There is no way to tell what allergens are contained in each item. --Katie

I do not plan on letting him eat with the camp (unless I feel REALLY comfortable with the counselors and he BEGS me-- I would hope that I'd be allowed to load up a plate for him before hand). Eating in the MDR with us is much safer. Is the form only for eating dinner with the camp or is it for other times, too-- Do they have snacks, etc in camp? Or activities that involve food?

We are sailing on the Conquest in just under a month. My 5 year old has allergies to eggs and nuts. I have called the special needs department and informed them of DS's allergies, so we're set on that front (and I plan to bring on a bunch of foods since they can't tell me what's in their food until we are on board). However, I just went online and looked at the camp Carnival forms and saw the food allergy form :eek:. It has a ton of foods listed on the form, and you are supposed to circle which foods your child can't have. That would be great, except it doesn't mention the INGREDIENTS of any of the foods :confused:. Some things are no-brainers like the fruits and veggies section, or even where they mention brand name cereals. BUT, it has things like "hamburgers" and "chicken nuggets" on the list. Well, 9/10 times DS CAN have a hamburger, but occasionally, the buns have egg in them. Same with nuggets-- some nuggets are fine, others have egg. I sure hope they know what's in the food when I bring the form to Camp Carnival, but I'm a little worried that they won't. I'm considering circling the entire form and institituting a "do not feed" policy with DS in the camp. Anybody have experience with this?? --Katie

I just found this map and thought some of you might like it, too. Just click on the name of the beach, and it brings up pictures and one guy's review of the beach. Pretty neat. http://cozumelmexico.net/Cozumel-Beaches.html --Katie

They left this little nugget out when I talked to them. I guess I need to call back. I was planning on baking cupcakes and freezing them for my little guy. I was also thinking about making waffles and pancakes (I guess I can buy the frozen versions of those, though). Anybody who has tried to bring food on board know what the scoop really is? --Katie

I did call Carnival back, and the person I spoke to in the special needs department told me that the foods I bring on board do not need to be pre-packaged (ie-- I can bake cupcakes and make waffles and pancakes and bring them on board). I'm not sure what to think, since it seems like everytime I call, I am told something different. I will call back in a week or two and see what they say then. . . --Katie

Has anyone had any experience crusing the ship Gluten Free? This will be my first cruise gf. I have talked to the special needs department and they told me they would accomodate my gf needs but I don't want to get on there and find I have to be real restricted. They also told me I could bring on my own foods for them to use but they had to be in the original manuf. pkging. I am thinking of taking the following, pizza crust, my favorite bread and crackers, gf all purpose flour mix to use to coat a meat or make my waffles. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience on this in today's world, versus 2 years ago?

They left this little nugget out when I talked to them. I guess I need to call back. I was planning on baking cupcakes and freezing them for my little guy. I was also thinking about making waffles and pancakes (I guess I can buy the frozen versions of those, though). Anybody who has tried to bring food on board know what the scoop really is? --Katie

This thread is a wonderful idea!! Any chance we can expand it to all food allergies/intolerances? My 5 YO DS recently outgrew his allergies to wheat, barley, and rye, so we aren't GF anymore, but he is still allergic to eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts, so we're still dealing with food issues for our upcoming cruise. Info seems to be really scarce, and Carnival's special needs department, although they've been nice, doesn't seem to have a lot of answers.

Cruznut1111-- Your general tips were very helpful, and most of them were applicable to our allergens, too! You suggested some things that I hadn't thought about.

I've got a million questions! What about bringing food onto the ships? The special needs dept. at Carnival has told me that I can bring on as much food as I want, and they will store it for me. Is this true (I seem to get different answers from them each time I call)? What sorts of things should I bring on (I'm thinking safe bread, pancakes, waffles, cupcakes, etc-- I'm going to bring my whole kitchen!!). If I brought on egg replacer (it is a white powder used to replace eggs in recipes) what are the chances that they'd use it to make DS pancakes, cookies, etc? Or am I just better off making them for DS and bringing them on board with me? Thanks for any answers, guys! --Katie

I am completely worried about my three year old (who managed to fall out of the END of a bed with bed rails while we were on vacation this Summer). I did read on another thread around here that in most rooms, there is enough space to put the mattress on the floor, if need be. We will probably let my 5 year old sleep up high and put the mattress for my three year old on the ground.

Celebrat-- Did you use the saftey first rail in addition to the rail on the upper bunk? I'm thinking if we can make the entire side railed, and then put a mound of blankets at the end of the bed, my YDS might be ok. --Katie

Hi guys! We just booked on the Conquest for Feb 28th, and it will be our first family cruise (DH and I have been on several cruises, but never with the kids). We weren't planning on cruising this spring, but carnival sent us a really good deal, and we're suckers for a cruise :). We're booked in cabin 2464 (we're cheap!)-- things I'm worried about since we're traveling with two small children (ages 3 and 5):

1)noise (Are we too close to the stairs? Is being below the dining room bad?)

2)movement (How much are we going to feel it?)

3)room (I know the room will be small, but we need to be able to sleep at least one boy on the floor (he will roll right off the top bunk!)-- I read somewhere that there is usually enough room to take the mattress off the top bunk and set it on the floor-- Is that true?)

Does anyone have any input about our cabin? Thanks so much! --Katie