michaelandjoanne

For me it is easy since when I bought drinks individually I always tipped $1 per drink extra, so I did the same on Cheers. They add the 15% on when you buy individual drinks too, so technically you never have to add the tip ever. That line is there for the "extra" tip. Since tipping is a personal choice if you want to be even to the staff, use the "extra" tip line the same whether you are on cheers or not. Although the amount of the initial tip varies depending on the number of drinks purchased with the cheers program, it is no different than a land based restaurant where there are two tables, one table orders $20 steaks and one table orders $10 hamburgers. The work is the same even though the tip is different from each table. If you don't feel guilty in land, you should not feel guilty at sea.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

One thing that may tilt the scales is that with a suite you have a private dressing room with a sliding door and much more closet space.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Not sure if this comes into play but the crew accommodations on the older ships are at a lower standard than newer ships. I remember reading an ebook written by a staff member on that ship and he mentioned about how bad the vibrations were on the crew decks. Itineraries where the ship is constantly travelling at a higher speed means constantly getting poor nights sleep compared to itineraries that allow for slower speeds. It could be why some reviews are good, while others are bad

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

If you have younger kids (4-9) I would sail Carnival. I find the Carnival kids program covers more of the day (10-10, plus at least 3 party nights going to midnight or 1am for a small charge). I do find RCL a step above Carnival in all respects except for kids, and if your children aren't happy, you won't be happy. My rule is kids=Carnival, no kids=RCL

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I plug mine into a plug in the vanity room and run the cord along the wall so it is never a tripping hazard. I also forgot an extension cord once and my room steward got me one in a matter of minutes. Not something you should rely on but the room stewards assigned to the suites are usually there from receiving excellent guest reviews and are probably better prepared for these types of things.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Hi,

I have had suites you get priority on your luggage tags, priority boarding (there are no line ups, you get to the lounge, they take your name and you sit down on a couch with some refreshments and they call you when it is your turn. My room was ready when I boarded and my bags were in my room intime for us to unpack and change before dinner. (I got one bag really early, and another around 5). I believe the only other thing I would have got with FTTF is priority tender (which our itinerary did not need )

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

On the Splendor it was $5.50 to do a load (wash, dry and a box of detergent). I got a roll of quarters from guest services. My son had an accident so I had no choice but to do laundry. That being said, our cabin was steps away and it was a lot more pleasant doing laundry when you wait for the machines to finish while you are on your balcony sipping wine,

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Twice for me it was around 2 weeks before sailing

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Just remember it is not the Carribean and is quite far north. I would only go July-September if I wanted beach/water weather.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I took a two week cruise 5 years ago (before kids) and got to know two bar servers really well. Although all ships are run differently, on this particular cruise they gave some of the staff unoccupied passenger cabins for the duration of the cruise as a reward for excellent feedback on customer cards. It was really coveted perk as the staff cabins are very cramped and they share 4 to a room. The server I got to know well won it for that cruise and was really happy since it was a 14 day cruise and she had an ocean view. It may be why in the unlikely event they don't sell by the sailing date, the cabins aren't available.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I used to be one of those "I will never sail Carnival" people. At the time it was the forced gratuities which made me prejudiced against the people who cruised Carnival. Luckily I gave Carnival a chance on a 5 night cruise and I was really happy I did.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Hi, I have never sailed solo before. Do any cruise lines have activities for solo travellers to meet each other in a non dating way. I would be a solo traveller, not a single.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Very few countries use the US way of innocent until proven guilty.

In fact for most of the world (if you go by population) you are guilty until proven innocent. That is why when you are arrested in one of these countries it can take years to get to a trial. The trial is merely a formality in determining the sentence, so why rush. I am always amazed when tourists from western nations go to other countries and don't get this concept and end up doing something really stupid.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I am a full time wheelchair user and I vote cranky. She had assistance on the ramp, no reason to complain. People like her make it harder for others to get help when we truly need it.

Thanks, I thought the crew handled it very well and didn't deserve what she was dishing out, but wanted the perspective of someone who had first hand experience travelling in a wheelchair since I have no idea what it is like.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

At first I thought this person was just being really cranky, but I thought I would post the two situations on the board. A mother was travelling with her son in a wheel chair. I ran into her twice while on a cruise while she was complaining to staff and escalating to management.

Situation 1 - At Nassau the angle of the boarding ramp was steep. With in the first two seconds of her pushing the wheelchair up the ramp a crew member offered her assistance and helped her make it up the ramp. When she got in she started loudly complaining that the ramp wasn't ADA compliant. The crew members stated that the port supplies the platforms on the piers and also things like low tide sometimes make the angle steeper. She was not satisfied with this response and demanded to see someone in charge. They referred her to guest services (I sometimes feel really sorry for those folks).

Situation 2 - We did self-assist debarkation and again saw her down there complaining that there was no assistance on the self-assist debarkation.

At first I thought she was just being a negative person since in both situation the crew were very attentive, however I don't have any relatives who use a wheel chair or disabled so I thought I may be prematurely judging this person, any thoughts?

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I also don't bother with hand sanatizer. I think it gives people false hope and they relax on what really helps which is properly washing your hands. As for Noro, I have had it twice, and both times were on land. Once I got it from my son who got it at school and once was a mystery.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Price of suites

This is what I love about Carnival too. I used to sail junior suites on RCL. The space was similar but the price was higher and you didn't get the suite perks in that category. With a Carnival the equivalent in size is cheaper and includes the perks.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

If you paid by credit card you may have purchase insurance you are not aware of. A lot of cards come with these extras. I would call and check.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I enjoy dressing up for dinner in the MDR and so does my wife and son. I usually dress how I would in a business environment (so for me a shirt and tie). For me it is a personal preference and I would feel uncomfortable being in a formal setting in casual attire. That being said, we usually pick a private table for our family so I could care less what other diners wear since it doesn't effect me in the least. Another advantage to dressing up a bit for dinner is there are usually lots of photographer station set up and with a 6 year old it is easier to stop for 15 minutes for pictures once a day, than an hour in one day, plus we get pictures of us wearing different clothes.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Cruising without my 6 year old son, price and itinerary would be the deciding factor. With my son, he definitely prefers Carnival for its kids program.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Also, once you get the card punched to the end, they will give you a CD or USB of the pictures aswell so you can print duplicates. Keep that in mind before you buy more than one copy (if it is a group of people and everyone wants there own copy)

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I save by getting travellers cheques, I usually try and have close to a $0 balance on my credit card. I went three times to GS, all time were no one was in line and applied payments to my account. One strange thing though, on the third time I went they asked me for my ID to apply the travellers cheques to my sail and sign. Not sure why as they done it twice before on that cruise without it.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

PS. I don't know if it made a difference, but I had prepaid gratuities.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I was offered an upsell on my first cruise with Carnival. I had a balcony cabin and upgraded to a suite for $150. I seem to always get an upsell call now about 5 days before sailing.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

For a US citizen it may be ok, but a warning for us Canadians. We have to wait for the US guests to clear customs first. Also, you have to check-in 90 minutes before your flight for trams-boarder. That being said, I was off the ship by 9 with self-assist.

Sent from my iPad using Forums