dawnjam1

Does anyone know if Carnival has pre-packaged pb&j's?

Not that I have ever seen.

Also....baggies of all sizes and a few trash bags take up no space and I use them for wet stuff on the way home. Also, we have ordered room service in the past and taken sandwiches with us to the beach in baggies. When the kids were small it was whatever worked!

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Here is what I would stress.....

First, if traveling with kids think of a way to keep their things together or they end up everywhere. I take each kid one of those square fabric totes that flatten and make each of them keep their treasures in them. They also get a small backpack for excursions and a seperate bag to hold unused electronics or just junk they accumulate. I take 5 mins every day to get things back in order.

Those wrist card holders are 10 times easier to use than lanyards for adults.

The lower you are in the ship the easier it is to get off at port. Plus less movement.

The magnets that stick to the wall can be life savers. Because of the humidity in the bathroom, suits dry much faster in the room on those hooks. Plus you can use them as a command center for the family and papers.

Dry erase markers are great for leaving notes on the mirror for family members or cabin mates.

Over the door shoe hanger is the best for toiletries and...shoes...

Take a few clothes pins and place them at the bottom of the the otherwise swaying shower curtain to keep it from sticking. To you that is.

Use cash on your Sign and Sail. The holds can be a headache. Or a CC. Just not a Debit Card. I am OCD and very budget oriented. I use a similar Dave Ramsey method of cash and envelopes. Keeps my worry down.

Being an extra old used gift card with a magnetic strip and leave it in the slot that controls the lights so that your electronics can charge.

Take a small plastic nail organizer from the hardware dept and put all sorts of meds like cold, advil, stomach, etc in each compartment then close and label the top with sharpie as to what is what. Cuts the size down and comes in handy. Do not forget Bendryl as it can also calm stomach as well as counter any reactions. I just rubber band it and go.

You only need a few pairs of shoes... my downfall.

Take a sweater. It is chilly inside and out and with a sunburn even worse.

Take EXTRA sunscreen and bug repellant.

Ladies.....spend your clothing budget in cute bathing suit coverups, suits and a few maxi dresses. Much more likely to get worn. And easy to pack lighter. One or two nicer dresses for Formal night or something that can be interchanged is good. Re: one formal skirt and two different tops. Bring Tennis Shoes. You don't want to miss anything cause you dont. And bring two pairs of flip flops in case of a blowout. Not cheap or even as easy to find as you might think....from experience.

Two words.....AIR FRESHENER

I know this sounds like a lot of stuff but we each carry our own suitcase and have one small we roll on with the room extras and a few sodas and wine. Vacation doesn't seem like vacation if you cruise as close together as we do and have a huge mess!

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It sounds like the OP's cabin was not ready due to the delay and honestly.....as a Plat cruiser myself.....people need to get over their entitlement. Good grief! They stated that the cabin was not complete yet. Go with the flow!!! Ha! I am certainly sorry for the families loss but maybe they had to remove the body from OPs cabin and the room steward couldn't get in to get it cleaned up as early as normal as the first ones on the ship are often the most entitled acting. And before I get flamed....I too get the perks. But life is life. And you would never see me let something so trivial even cause me to create a post here.

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I booked on Early Saver this cruise and then got my Casino Money offer in the mail for my sailing AFTER booking.

For those in disbelief, if you call and get a PVP or even a good CS person on the line they will work the system for you. They will also explain the pitfalls to you of changes, etc.

I have a suggestion that MIGHT work! There is ALWAYS a way around these things! LOL! As you already know as a parent!

As a single parent I still chose to take my daughter on cruises where I was also needing down time. One time I took my mother with us to help out and give us both some relaxation and still get that bonding time. And last year I took a neighborhood kid to help out. Also to give him some time away from a bad home situation, but just as much to help me keep up with an 8 year old I was sure wouldn't be as thrilled in CC as she used to be. I am an older parent (in my late 40's) and wanted her to have someone that would WANT to putt putt and do slides all day and do some of the things I do not enjoy as much. But for all of us to have the time together when it came to excursion, meals, some swimming etc. They had a BLAST! I had other married couples and they were the only kids, but it worked well!

With that being said....maybe a family member or teenage family friend could go with you to help out and give you some relief as well. Just wanted to give you that thought. Any way you look at it, you and the kids will have a great time! But do call and give them a heads up!

Have a great cruise!

Dawn

Yes I did. And have done it more than once. I did it just last June and I think the two before that as well.

Dawn

I have spent the last hour and a half reading these posts and have enjoyed it!

I also live in the Houston area. As an experienced cruiser and mother of 4 I can give you some tips as well. First of all, do what you feel comfortable doing as far as your travel plans, however, bring more money than planned and give yourself a time cushion. That trip BACK to Canada is going to be the hardest part of the trip making it to the point that you need a vacation to recover from your vacation! LOL!

Hotels - Stay in Webster or Texas City or even North of Houston in Humble or Kingwood if coming on 59 or Conroe or The Woodlands if using I45. The drive will have little traffic going to the port the next morning and it will give you a little better rest and probably save you money on lodging and food as well. Also, as a very experienced traveler, you DO NOT have to book a room for 6. You need to book a room for 4 and ask for a couch bed as well. If there is not one available, the less expensive option is to throw 2 twin air mattresses into the back of the car and use those. They are VERY affordable to purchase.

Let me give you some inexpensive ideas to give your kids a taste of all of the countries you are paying to visit. We too, try to keep to a budget. We plan one big excursion and two beach days normally. Having done your itinerary many, many times I would recommend the following:

Jamaica - take a van (cab) on your own to Dr. Cave's beach. Get there early enough to rent chairs and enjoy the day. It is super inexpensive (even for 6) and they have great facilities. The food is very reasonable as well but we normally just eat a big breakfast and have a late lunch once back on the ship (taking snacks we brought on board in our bags like peanut butter crackers, etc). We have done the big Carnival and others excursions but I hate feeling trapped for the day as well!

Grand Cayman - This is usually our big excursion day (we usually have 6-10 ppl and rent a private charter yacht for the day totaling about $600 or $60-$100 pp for the day). The guide will take us to the stingrays and other points we decide to go to our can just take us to places they want us to see. It is reasonable enough for us price wise and they always say this is the best part of the trip. VERY laid back.

However, for a less expensive option there is the public bus to the beach and back. VERY affordable and very nice. Cayman is a lovely place and safer than most any place you can travel.

Cozumel - There are a few options here that would be great for your family....first off....if you want something EXTREMELY memorable I would splurge here for the Dolphin swim. I would book it on my own and take a taxi to the park. You also get a meal with this and time on the beach at the park after. Or you can eat, look around and go back to the shopping at the port and restaurants to hang out. Not really sure if the little one can do the swim but maybe the encounter!

Another option would be going to Paradise or Mr. Sanchos. My kids love the water park options and the price for not doing it all inclusive is VERY reasonable. We do AI but book on our own with taxi as well.

You are going to have a great trip! Since you are driving you can bring some extras to keep your room more organized and save money! Be sure to research those too!

Have a FANTASTIC trip!

Dawn

I have done it AFTER final payment and had OBC. Many times. Good luck and it NEVER HURTS to ask Carnival! Not everyone's experience is the same!

ABSOLUTELY!!! I even have it on my budget. I tip 2-3 dollars each time. I just keep an envelope of ones in a place all family members know so that everyone has access.

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Yes. Enjoy your cruise!!!!!

I am a former Crew member from back in the envelope days and they did not take any portion of our grats as I assure you that they do not now. HOWEVER, they too have onboard accounts for things like uniform pieces that may be lost or damaged (they give you issued pieces they pay for at first but you have to pay for more if you want to have extras), crew bar accounts, etc. They could make them pay their accounts out of the pool before they are given the tips. It used to come out of our $2.00 an hour paychecks, but I am assuming this could be the case.

And what are your other choices with 5?

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3 cruises now on Magic and Breeze. Plus look at how many pictures you see of it done. Don't worry. They WILL accommodate you.

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The pushing the beds together thing is a stance by the company but we have certainly been able to do that on our sailings. Here is one good question that I asked that I have not gotten answers to. For those that have sailed the Dream.....do the sofa's have drawers like on the Breeze?

Thanks!

Dawn

We have done the workshop on several of the ships including the Breeze. I am excited to see they have gotten the machine now as in the past we hand stuffed them with the same material! Super cool!

OK...I have looked and looked and tried to figure this one out WITHOUT asking....

I have been on both sister ships but due to Dream being older, and this ALSO this being the first time in my 25 plus years of cruising that I have put 5 in a cabin, I am trying to be a lot more organized with 3 kids ahead of time.

There seems to be a lot less cabinet storage on here than the other two in the room counter area. Do you know if there are drawers under the sofa bed like on the Breeze? The Breeze had the great floor to ceiling shelves where this one may be more like the Magic with less. Unsure if Magic had the drawers under the sofa but they were great on the Breeze.

Thanks!

EZ Parking is my favorite as well. Super close!

I always use a rolling suitcase and put my wine in it as well. They can and often do break open the 12 packs and it makes a mess. Typically, you are so excited and in a hurry that when they do that it makes for a anxious few moments and there is no need for that! Plus it is easier to carry in a rolling case!

Parking in Galveston is super easy and not super expensive. Look for cruise parking on the net and there are often coupons as well. Just BE SURE to book ahead of time to save a little money! Happy Cruising!

Dawn

When I was crew we worked clearing the ship of furniture, dishes, etc. for a few days, went home for a week (travel paid) and then came back (travel paid again) for the second week and did MAJOR cleanup (just our crew quarters had literally a half a foot of mud on the floor from something they could not control when slicing and dicing), and we worked our bottoms off getting it ready to go back in service. It was the most tiring and amazing few weeks I had ever had at that time. I will tell you that my whole experience on those ships was that way. But it taught me a whole lot in life as well!

Dawn

You can go on the CC website and see a 360 or a layout most of the time. Maybe this will help!

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When I was younger (late 20's and 30's) I would go on these cruises and party all night! Even after having been a crew member for several years in my 20's, I loved cruising when I was land bound again! But I also found myself stressed over money the whole cruise to make sure I made it to the end! After the ships quit letting us freely bring alcohol on in moderation (we used to take blenders for goodness sake!), we had to worry about smuggling (gasp! flame away!).

Now that I am in my mid-40's and a Mom and soon to be remarried, it is a lot different! Cruising is one of the few times that I DO drink more, though not in excess. When on the Breeze with friends and the kids last year I still managed to hit break even or more. I didn't have to worry about the extras or even bottled water (which I might add that Carnival DID NOT have on their soda option for years), or about smuggling! CHEERS! simply made my trip a TON more enjoyable. And I never regretted the days I did not hit break even because the choice was there to do that! I considered it, like grats, part of my cruise fare as a drinker.

I HAVE seen people cut off. I HAVE seen them continue to serve gamblers even after cutoff. One in particular that was out of control in the casino spending (and my friend). The only thing that bugged me about having CHEERS!, is that I had the Casino card in just two or three days or so. BUT that only works in the Casino anyway. And won't be happening with 3 kids this time!

Having Cheers! on the Dream in July will certainly be happening. It serves a dual purpose for me! LOL! My fiancee is a BIG guy and can put them away. When he does drink (which is not every day) and if he gets Crown going, 15 single pours that he knows he has to spread out over the whole day (I am sure beer, too), will help our relationship (JK!) but also it makes us mindful. It is a legal and liability concern for the 15 cap for Carnival, but it is a smart way to control the atmosphere as well. And it will also help me control the costs! (HA! I bet many of you are thinking to yourselves it will also help me control my fiancee!)

With that being said it just makes sense for us. It seems high only until you get that $2000 bar bill at the end!!!! And the 15 limit is not only worked around all the time, but is a really good measure.

I just got off of the Breeze on Sunday. I had never opted to buy an all you can drink package on any of my priors but with the enhancements, I decided to and highly encouraged all of my newby cruisers going with me to do the same. There was so much push back from them but they DID end up with it! Here are my thoughts:

1) First let me say that I never even came close to my 15 a day.

2) Many of my fellow travelers didn't come close either, but they DID get to try things they never would have before without thinking too hard on it!

3) The additional options of soda, water, coffees, milkshakes etc. were wonderful.

4) It did not matter one bit to me if I drank all of the drinks allotted, or even had one perk off of it each day (which I am sure I did!). What mattered was the amount of freedom it gave me to not have to make any hard choices while on vacation and not have to think about my spending too much! WELL WORTH THE MONEY! And this isn't my first rodeo and I do not always have the funds to go crazy! This way I could go a little out there and still remain in my comfort zone! I have had $1500 bills at the end!

5) The ONLY drawback is.....when you get your Drinks On Us card the 3rd day and you have both! LOL! But don't count on that!!!! And that has limitations!

Happy Cruising!

Thanks for the review, sorry the food wasn't memorable. Did you eat at any of the specialty restaurants?

No Janice. I have experienced them all before and was with several budget cruisers. The MDR has steakhouse offerings, and they are great, I like that they offer them as well, but there is enough on the main menu to hold my attention. Just wish it had tasted as good as it sounded! LOL!

Nice review! Just curious, what did you do as a "former crew member", was it with Carnival? No doubt you have a keen eye with that kind of experience. :)

I started with Delta Queen Steamboat Co back in the early 90's and went on to Royal. Started as dining room to get in the door and moved to Entertainment Staff after. Yes, I DO probably see a LOT more and I am probably much more patient when cruising because of that! Probably why I get so up in arms on here sometimes about tipping etc. LOL!