Oshawapilot

Make sure you fully understand the roaming costs associated with both cellular at sea as well as connecting at your foreign ports - roaming is notoriously expensive unless you specifically subscribe to plans that cover your destinations, and many carriers don't offer *any* options for cellular at sea, so WiFi would be a much better choice there from a cost perspective - tell your friends and family to keep in touch via something like Facebook messenger instead which works over WiFi vs needing traditional cellular connections for SMS.

Can't say I'm overly excited about the late return as we have a 10 hour drive home after disembarkation, but we will opt for self-carry and try to expedite as much as possible.

What time are the stateroom attendants looking to get in and start turning over staterooms, and what is the latest time to still catch breakfast? Although I'm an early riser and will almost certainly be up to enjoy our last few miles up the Chesapeake (as well as watching the docking), the rest of my family are more apt to sleep in and wake up just in time to grab some breakfast and then disembark the second the gangways are open.

Baltimore is a crapshoot, have sailed out of it many times. Have had departures and arrivals in beautifully warm weather even in the traditional winter months, and have also had the opposite and woke up to snow on the pool deck on our debarkation morning once.

As for the Bahamas in March, probably going to be decent, but yes, they are not that far off the coast of FL which this winter has been suffering through some cold snaps, so again, you never know what you're going to get. But March is fairly late in the winter, so again you're probably reasonably safe.

Ultimately, if you want guaranteed warm, cruise out of FL and do a Caribbean itinerary.

Have a suite so I get priority boarding in Captains Lounge.

Only if you have a certain status level, suite aside...as I understand it anyways.

Edit: Ok, looks like captains lounge is included for *anyone* in a suite regardless of status level? And I see references to "suites" and "deluxe suites"...is there a difference, kind of like how RCI has "Suites" and "Junior Suites"?

It's all very unclear to me.... Priority boarding I like. Captains lounge access because we're in a suite, bonus. ;)

Edit 2: Looks like no captains lounge at the port of Baltimore. Sad face.

Definitely a Carnival thing then, not a Port of Baltimore thing.

We are hoping for a smooth disembarkation, we will be doing self carry off - 10 hour drive home ahead of us after we get off the ship, so we need to get out of dodge as quick as possible.

Suite perks on Carnival are pretty pitiful compared to other lines.

Indeed. We are trying CCL for the first time and I had to laugh that even though we are in a suite we get the blue "First timer card of shame", LOL.

At least on RCI you get a Gold card when you're in a suite, regardless of your status. ;)

You do get Priority boarding but you don’t have your cabin ready, Priority GS line, or Priority luggage delivery.

Fair enough, but none of that is worth the additional cost to me. Priority boarding, I am looking forward to, but from what I can gather, that seems to be the one and only perk for being in a suite on CCL.

No tablecloths isn't a big thing to me - actually, I'd kind of like not feeling guilty for that inevitable bit of slop that ends up on it on occasion, knowing that the entire tablecloth is going to have to be bleached and laundered because of it.

Less bleach/laundry being done at sea seems like a good environmental move to me.

Typically, but not always (but it's generally a reasonably safe bet), the more expensive the cruise, the less of a "party" crowd you'll get, since you mention that's what you're looking for.

But, that said, don't discount having a little fun. Even the more fun oriented ships will have lots of places where you can go and enjoy some quiet peaceful time if you want, but I've been on cruises where the average age was >80, and it leaned too much to the other side...there was absolutely zero vibe on the ship. ;)

Interesting thread, we board pride a week tomorrow.

I read up about chopsticks, and I do like Chinese fare...but I like sushi more. ;) On that topic, for those in the know, I've read mixed information on the availability of sushi outside of the ala-carte options in Bonsai. Some threads indicate that it pops up in the buffet (or elsewhere) gratis on several occasions during the 7 night cruises?

And the green waterslide is now officially on my to-do list!

Is FTTF necessary when you have a suite already? It's my understanding that it's already included as part of the suite. We board Pride a week tomorrow, have a suite, and when I printed our boarding passes yesterday we show as "Priority" boarding...and I most certainly didn't purchase FTTF.

I will agree with others, I'm not sure who told you Baltimore is difficult, but I've sailed out of there lots of times on RCI Enchantment & Grandeur and it's always been extremely smooth.

My only advice would be to bring warm clothing for disembarkation day even if it's warm on embarkation day - when you disembark and clear customs you will be directed outdoors quickly, in no uncertain terms. If you have to wait for a shuttle or anything you may get cold quick if the weather is cool upon return. There are a few overhead heaters in a few spots outside the terminals, but they crowd up quickly.

Would need multiple cases to last the duration of the cruise between all of us. This isn't a 5 day cruise.

And as I've said in other threads, I don't want to be "that person" who carries on everything plus the kitchen sink aboard on embarkation day and then spends hours lugging it around the ship banging it into people in hallways and corridors, the buffet, etc. I don't drink alcohol on cruises so the soda pass is an easy one to justify the price of for me, especially since I'm on vacation, not pinching every penny.

It can't hurt, but only pictures (copies) of certain documents will actually work to get one onboard the ship versus having the original.

Indeed, there are limitations, but once *on* the ship, if your passports were lost of stolen at some point...having copies is going to be better than nothing. At least once back on land and the cruise is over it will make getting replacements (or probably, just getting home) easier, at least for those like myself that have different levels of US customs plus a border crossing to deal with after it's all over.

A lanyard sounds great to be purse-free when walking around the ship, but what do people do when swimming? I would imagine at a minimum I would have a towel and whatever clothes I was wearing over my bathing suit. Do you just leave it on a chair with no one watching it? Assuming you can even get a chair...

Wrap it up in your towel. Peoples cards are everywhere so you won't be alone. Also, since they don't print your stateroom number on the cards even if someone else scooped it it's of no use to them anyways aside from maybe charging a drink or three to it, something that would be promptly undone by guest services when you report the loss, get a new card, and the old one is immediately deactivated.

I use a lanyard. To begin with, I don't care what others think - if they want to be childish and get their nose up in the air thinking I'm a "beginner cruiser" because of it, have at it.

But, on my lanyard, I have about 25 or 30 pins, one for every port of call we've ever been to. Along with my RCI status pin, anyone who has a clue should be able to put 2+2 together that I'm not a beginner.

The pins make a great conversation piece as well I've discovered over the years - I often get asked several times a day where I got them all, the stories behind them, that sort of thing.

Enjoy your cruise and don't fret about what others who have nothing better to do are thinking about.

On another note, I would steer clear of YouTube as a method of reassurance. YouTube is chocked full of "Cruise ship horror story" videos as well which your daughter will inevitably run across if she decides to continue surfing YouTube on her own after the fact.

We are dealing with a similar situation right now - my 17YO (well cruising experienced) daughter is bringing a 17YO first timer with us on this cruise. While exploring YouTube she came across the classic "Piano crashing across the room/plates crashing everywhere/people holding on for dear life/etc etc" videos and promptly texted my daughter all freaked out.

Us experienced cruisers know that these situations are very rare, and many of them (like the ones where people claim the ship is sinking because a little water came into their stateroom under their balcony door) are blown entirely out of proportion, but nonetheless, they will *not* be reassuring to her. ;)

The best advice I can give is snorkeling and mustaches are not compatible - shave it off before you leave.

Vaseline fixes that.

Any reputable dive boat will have a tub onboard, just ask for it.

Carnival soda is by the "can".... Once you get to know the bartenders...I'm sure they would empty a full can into your tumbler. Not sure if there are any limits on how much soda you can get at once...

I've read that it's technically supposed to be 1 "serving" at a time (to discourage sharing, obviously), but it sounds like serving size is the part open for interpretation. ;)

My experience on The Freedom is that they filled my large yeti clone tumbler with Bottomless Bubbles, no hassle.

Good to hear, I'll bring the RCI tumbler then - might be good as a conversation piece if nothing else.

What are the bartenders like for people ordering "only" soda? On the occasions where I went to the bars without my tumbler on RCI ships (you must have the tumblers to unlock the Freestyle machines) I found that the bartenders often ignored people who were very clearly there only for soda while rushing to serve the (gratuity-earning) liquor drinkers instead. Worse yet is when there's only one single bartender running the entire bar and 15-20 people bellied up there.

I hate to go straight to the medications route as well, but honestly, along with talking about things and making reassuring statements, some meds may be genuinely helpful for the situation. Talk to your doctor - even something as simple as lorazepam is quick acting, non habit forming for short term use, and will help with anxiety - a lot.

Most kids, once they get on the ship and they get involved (be sure to register her in the teen club), these sorts of irrational fears and concerns melt away quickly, so meds will likely be a very short term thing just to get over the flight and the first 24-36 hours onboard.

A very wise idea is also to take photos of all your important documents and keep them on your phone. The iPhone for that matter (I suspect Android has a similar option) can "lock" things in the notepad app so things like photos of passports remains secure in the case of theft or loss....but, having a photo of everyones passport as a last ditch emergency option may be the difference between boarding a ship (or being able to get home afterwards), or not.

Did a search and found mixed information on the topic, not all of it totally recent.

I'm going to subscribe to bottomless bubbles for our first Carnival cruise in a week.

Having been spoiled by Royal Caribbean's self service Coke Freestyle machines the prospect (from what I've read) of getting stuck waiting in a crowd of people at a bar to get a tiny little glass that contains only half a can of soda sounds really, really crappy to me.

I'm contemplating bringing one of my old RCI tumblers with me, or something similar in size that will hold at *least* a full can. I might even try to find something that will hold a little more than a full can actually - I like being able to go sit in a hot tub somewhere for an hour socializing while having lots to drink..and not needing to get out multiple times to repeat the "tiny little glass" routine over and over again.

Is this something that is going to be a problem?

Inform the one who's decided to maybe bail out that she's out the money if she does. Make sure (as per my earlier comments on who has control of the booking, and the possible requirement for single supplement if the other person does manage to yank their booking before final payment) that the person who IS still going doesn't get hosed as a result.

And then board the ship and enjoy having a stateroom all to yourself.

Even when doing ship sponsored excursions, 2 ports = 2 excursions. Don't attempt to do more. You will have no time for relaxation. You'll spend all of your time rushing from one to the next and stressing over whether you'll make it or not..

Agreed, like I said, do NOT overwhelm yourself, and also strongly consider not bothering with anything on your private island day - go get a few lounge chairs with umbrellas on the beach, get a few beverages, and relax. Enjoy lunch, relax some more. If you want to do anything so far as activities/excursions, pick ONE and then leave yourself a few hours to do the relaxation thing.

Trust me, the time will FLY on a 5 day cruise - don't get home not having spent some time unwinding.

Most (all?) cruise lines don't do Northeast/Canada in the winter months, so make sure to adjust your search periods to include the summer months.