Sarah@Sea

When we had our poolside cabana the attendant was a member of the regular bar staff and they receive their tips from the 15% added onto the cost of drinks. We had the cabana for the length of the cruise and gave an extra tip at the end for looking after us.

 

On another note, the chances of being able to rent a pool cabana for a day once you get aboard might not be good. They only open them up for day purchase if they have not been pre booked for the length of cruise. They are quite popular on Caribbean cruises.

Thanks. I know there is a chance not to get one for just a day but I'll chance it, not sure if better or worse chance with the shorter cruise...although right now we might only get off at HMC so maybe I should check for entire cruise.

Going to ask here instead of starting a new thread. We'll be on the 4 day Eurodam sailing in December, I am considering reserving a pool cabana for one day. I think $30 is very reasonable. Is there a tip added to that automatically for the staff that service the cabana? Or just tip cash at the end of the day?

Is there a limit on how many rolls you can order?

Can beer be taken back on board like other alcohol? I apologize, I don't drink beer, would it need to be kept cool for best results? I was thinking of getting some as a gift for a friend.

On another line, I had pre-paid gratuities as I prefer to just include it with my overall expenses, if some terrible service occurred I would definitely reduce them. However, I was SHOCKED that on the first day when I asked for ice for my cooler/drinks, extra pillows, and ....hmm forget what else but there was 3rd request, I went to give the steward a cash thank you (wanting to be sure my cooler got filled with ice each night) and he refused it! :eek: Yes, of course I made sure to leave the extra at the end of he cruise, because he did in fact keep the cooler filled for us.

RCCL will provide wheelchair assistance when embarking as well as on debarkation day. However there are only a limited numbers of wheelchairs available when checking in at the Port. Therefore RCCL will not leave the wheelchair with her nor will they wheel her to the stateroom when ready.

 

Suggest you have her wheeled directly to the Windjammer where she can sit and wait for someone in your group go check her cabin to see if Carevacations has delivered the item you ordered at which time you can take it up to her. You might get some resistance to enter the hallway and or cabin prior to the ready time but I have found that if I politely explain the circumstances it will be allowed or a crew member will check for me.

Thanks! That is helpful to know for planning. I'll be the only person with her and oddly enough I've NEVER driven a scooter, golf cart, go-kart...but I DRIVE quite well, so I'll either go fetch it for her, or she will make that one time journey, plans are to take her walker/seat which will be helpful for that short period esp if the scooter isn't delivered yet...although on past cruise I usually pick a spot and wait verse trying to go around the crowds entering.

You can't rely on golf carts or shuttles at the pier as there are very few ports that offer this service.

 

Personally if you don't have a heavy duty scooter I wouldn't rely on a bicycle lock. Small portable scooters easily breakdown into several pieces making it difficult to secure with a lock.

 

If your mother owns a scooter that she's planning to bring with it isn't a portable travel scooter than you might consider renting a scooter from Carevacations. www.carevacations.com CareVacations midsize scooter is the Pride GoGo Elite Traveler HD that easily breakdown into a few pieces and can fit into the trunk of a taxi. The arm rest remove and could be left in the cabin making it even easier to fit into a taxi trunk.

 

I personally own one and it's very easy to breakdown . Here's link to a video to show you how it break downs. Forward to the 55 second mark to see

She is in the process of getting one but not sure it will arrive in two weeks so YES, I was going to get Carevacations rental...with that though...question???? RCCL will provide a wheelchair at the port to help her board, but if the room is not ready where will they wheel her? Will they leave her with the chair until the cabin is ready and she can be wheeled to the the cabin...aft ...waaay aft.... I want to board early then get lunch, maybe pool...until cabin is ready.

I am planning on going on the Freedom with my Mom in September, same ports. She needs a scooter for distance, this is her first cruise, if we wanted to get off and take a taxi somewhere, not take the scooter how does that work? Can she park it by the exit of the ship or would she have to walk down from her cabin? Also I've seen golf cart shuttles at ports while on other cruises, do most ships offer that service for people who can't walk the distance of the ship to end of pier?

Thanks, we booked it first day of their new promo so got the 1/2 off deposit!

I am looking at either Cabin 6432 or 6459 on Carnival Victory these are the aft corner cabins L shaped. I have searched and found many pictures labeled Victory yet some show the bed between the windows and some show the bed against the wall looking out the window. Wondering if say 6432 is one set up since it's on one side L and 6459 is the flipped L...sorta. No it's not a huge make or break factor for me, I was happy to see them available at all, and love the idea of having a lounger on the balcony to enjoy. Just wondering....

Thank you in advance. :D

I'd love the recipe for the pickled cucumbers served at the sushi bar!

Take NOT getting stamps as a blessing. If they stamped a visa on every port and you take 3 or 4 cruises you could easily fill up your visa pages. Then YOU have PAY FOR ADDITIONAL pages.

 

We got stamped on our med cruise (Turkey I think actually stamps each passport) but most of the time we did not get stamped.

It will be BF's first time out of the country with his new passport so I think just for the sake of breaking it in....but I can see not doing it for every cruise.

We've done stamps twice.

 

We make photocopies of our passports and bring the photocopies off the boat with us.

 

On the day we embark, we bring our passports to the pursar and ask them to stamp them for us at each port. We pick them up on the last sea day with a nice and free souvenir of the trip.

First, I am glad I searched before posting my question...and second I am glad to read this, because I am not comfortable taking my passport off the ship and keeping it with me all day, usually just keep a copy with me, but I did want to get stamps...I can just imagine someone seeing me "seeking" out and asking about where to get my passport stamped then KNOWING I had it with me...I do hope the pursar on my cruise will be able to get the stamps. Thanks for sharing your experience.