ShipsAhoy425

Per the CCL website:

"

• Guests must order directly through Carnival.com.
• We will not accept Pre-Sail orders by telephone, fax, email or mail."

You could try booking onboard to speak with the shore excursions desk staff if needed, but things could be sold out. You could email them if you have questions beforehand though. 

As a caregiver for my parents, who both are in scooters, I can tell you it's much easier on yourself and your companions if you request wheelchair assistance to get onboard. It's free and it's available. We learned the hard way for their first cruise (my mom tried to walk on board through the terminal, my dad has no other option and has to use his scooter). My mom didn't realize how inclined/sloped/long the terminal to board was, and it took us a good 30 mins before we got to the ship. The thing is, while some of us can just walk onboard and it's nothing, it never even crosses your mind, others have special issues, all different, all from different events or from different things that have happened, that cause them to be slower than they want to be.

People passed us, but they weren't rude. We weren't rude either. We had FTTF and got to board early, but they were several zones in by the time we got onboard, and that's okay. Several people even asked if they could help, which as their daughter, and seeing her struggle the way she did, made me teary eyed. She now has her own scooter for our upcoming cruise, and we are all excited... and nervous because we've seen how people can act at the elevators (that's the only way for wheelchair, walkers, scooters, etc. to travel the ship, so please be kind... and handicap people, don't expect to always go first, it's a two-way street)

Just remember folks, life is short. Cruising is something we get to do because we've saved up, we've traveled, we've made it a big deal. So let's just all be considerate and thoughtful of one another. You don't know what anyone is dealing with, regardless of if they are showing a physical handicap or not. Nobody is more entitled than the other, regardless of color of card, handicap status, or color of your skin. Be kind, be humble, and enjoy your vacation.

When you pull up their website, scroll all the way to the bottom, and click on the link "Guests with Disabilities". It will give you a PDF of every ship that includes pathways for accessible ppl, staterooms that are accessible, and tips and info as well. Hope this helps.

I TOTALLY understand what you're saying. I'm the same way!! I want to plan, plan, plan! To me, it's exciting and it's part of the vacation, and I get just as amped up over having my binder or folder all organized and ready to go! Cruising is a little different than land vacations, so it's a little tougher to plan out everything (like say my Disney World binders are very intense lol), but girl it can still be done and you can feel relaxed!

In my folder/binder, I have:

-Fun facts, trivia, road trip activities specific to the route we take to the port.

-Port information, address, phone number, parking confirmation, etc.

-Hotel information, address, phone number, reservation number, etc.

-Fun facts about the city, activities we do in the city the day before, coupons, etc.

-Cruise check in information: passports, birth certificates, summary page, check in info, etc.

-Facts about the ship, a few trivia games (my folder is a family thing, we all expect and know there will be activities in the folder! lol!)

-"Secret" tips or tricks I've compiled lists of based on the ship I will be on from resources here, and other websites I've researched.

-Usually a couple of pages for each port/stop that we are going to be visiting. Tips, facts, history, maps, activities we are planning on doing or are thinking about doing, coupons, etc. per port.

-A few blank (well, they are cute, but blank) for me to keep logs of different things during the cruise. I don't know why, it's just something I enjoy. I "journal" I guess you could say, each day on the cruise, and I also list the food we ate, the drinks we had, etc., for future reference and because I love looking back at all that over the years. I always try to get names of our room steward, waiters, and other people that had an influence during our travels.

-I also make an envelope or folder section to keep all of the daily Fun Times papers, menus, any paperwork we are given, etc. in

So probably by now, I sound like I have OCD, but I don't :p :D I just like planning, and I like keeping up with things.. it has really come in handy over the years when I look back to try to remember what we've done, who was there, etc.

Hi all! I am trying to figure out a plan for Cozumel and looking for any suggestions/advice you can give me! Myself and my parents will be sailing to Cozumel, and both parents are in a scooter. I believe I have gotten transportation figured out (getting a private van/driver), but my question now, is what should we do? My dad said he would like to ride around and see the city and all, but I'd like to visit/do something if it's possible as well. We can hire for 3,4 or 5 hours, so I'm trying to do something worthwhile. I have seen some people go to Chakanaab, and do different things, but it's hard to determine if it is truly accessible, as most posts talk about using a manual fold-up wheelchair, and both of my parents will be in a scooter. I know they can't get in the water, but I would love for them to just see it. My nephew and niece will also be with us, so I figured they may enjoy some beach time too. Last time we went, (their 1st time) we just scooted around the shopping area at the port and that was it, so this time I'm hoping for more.

I'm not real sure where to tell the driver to take us, I don't want to look like an idiot when we get in the van :(

TIA for any tips/advice/suggestions/anything!!

Maybe I'm dreaming, but I could have swore one day I saw a thread with drink pics, sort of like a food porn thread, except it's just drinks. I have searched and searched but I can't find it! So, how about here?! Will you post some of the drinks you have had on Carnival to give me something to drool and look forward too? Even if it's non-alcoholic (say specialty coffee drinks, etc), that's fine too! [emoji4] love the food porn, but sometimes a girl just needs a good drink too [emoji4]

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How much is shipping?

It's really no different than some lines offering state discounts.. for residents of FL, TX, CA, etc., if you don't live there, you don't "qualify" or get these offers. I never thought of it as discrimination though.

Besides OJ, a number of other juices are available for no cost at breakfast from room service, in the buffet and in a dining room. In the buffet you may not see all types, just ask a server if the one you want is available.

 

Milk is also available 24 hours a day at no charge (there is a charge for chocolate milk for adults).

Glad I read this, on DCL, I probably drank my weight in chocolate milk! I have been considering the drink package (the sodas and more) so I do plan on drinking my weight in virgin pina colada's :D

Here is a link to some menus and pictures, it is pretty much what we have seen on our last few Princess cruises although of course some changes may occur:

 

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/Princess/EmeraldPrincess/ep_mdr_dinner.htm

Thank you! I love zydeco's website, but wasn't sure how up to date these menu's were. I feel better seeing you recommend them though! I know that things can always change but it gives me a thrill to drool over this until we leave :)

What do you like to do? How many people are in your party? Ages?

It's only DH and myself. We had looked up some stuff about the Kemah Boardwalk, so we may go check that out, or the Aquarium Restaurant downtown (or possibly anything else that sounds interesting!)

I have added the BW Seabrook to my list to compare, thank you!

You guys are so awesome! For the food found at the International Cafe, is that "included" or is that extra cost? On Carnival they had a similar sounding area, but the mostly desserts found there were an extra cost. Just like to make sure I know ahead of time ;)

As far as formal wear goes, would we be out of place in a nice dress and DH in a jacket with (or without?) a tie or does he have to actually wear a tux?

We are sailing out of the Houston port in March and are looking for advice on a hotel. We are driving down, and parking at the port, so it doesn't matter about parking or transfers or anything, but we can't figure out if we should stay near downtown, Kemah, Galveston or what. What do you like or what have you used that you would suggest? It's a HUGE area to cover having never stayed there it's a little overwhelming!

As others have said' date=' look at the stickies on the front page of the board and you should be able to find the one with the tips.

 

Hmmm, it's no longer a sticky, but here's the tips thread for this year: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2169088&highlight=tips[/quote']

 

Thank you! I was beginning to think I was going crazy since I didn't see any stickies that were related to this, although I kept getting referred to them! :p

 

I have been doing some intense searching and have found more info, but it just doesn't seem to come as easy as say, DCL. I've already started a list of tips and things not to miss, that's why I love these threads!

Hi all, we are gearing up for our first Princess cruise and had a few questions that we are having a hard time finding by searching...

- Any where have dinner menus posted? We are foodies and love to look at that kind of stuff :)

- From what I've gathered just by bits and pieces, I'm assuming that lunch at Princess Cay's is not an additional charge, is this correct?

- What are any tips or tricks we should know? The other lines we have sailed on, we have found ample pages and pages of tips, secrets, etc., but I'm not having much luck so far with this on Princess.

- When booking an excursion, do you have to pay for it in advance or is it just added to your tab while onboard? DCL was just added to your tab, but CCL you had to prepay.

TIA and I'll gladly take any thing you have to offer (info wise) of course! :)

Only if they are 16 or older.

They usually hold some back (they won't show on the website) and I've been told that if a handicap person does need the room and a non-handicap person has it booked, if there are no other options than you can be booted to a non accessible room.

Out of those three rooms, the only one that wouldn't allow the beds to go together is 7026. The other two should though :)

Can't wait to see your pics!!

In the past year, I have found a Carnival 8x10 picture frame still wrapped in the original plastic packaging, 4 whale tail cup/banks and a Carnival t-shirt all at Goodwill. It's really like hitting the cruise jackpot or finding buried treasure when I see these things, it's quite a rush :D:p

Awesome, thank you all for the responses!

If FTTF is currently sold out, in your experience, have you noticed if they become available as soon as someone may cancel or does it seem like at a certain time (say midnight or whenever) does Carnival add it to the quantity? I hope this makes sense, I'm trying to figure out if checking it repeatedly several times a day is what I should keep doing, or if every day at midnight (or whenever) I should check it then. TIA!

We went to the towel animal theater and it was a puppet show where the puppets were towel animals and what it's like when the guests leave their rooms on the ship. It was pretty cute, and the little kiddos get to go onstage and sit.

Eggplant Parmesan:

Grilled chicken:

Okay, I'm hungry and I'm done for now. I can't wait to see more!

Farmer's Salad:

Bitter and Blanc (or something like that...whatever it was, it was GREAT!!):

Steak & Fries:

Chocolate cake: