AngAndBoys

I priced out a regular stateroom VS a Cloud 9 stateroom. The difference in price for that was about $250. But we would not have a week pass to the spa. True, it would probably be cheaper to get individual passes here and there, but the last time we sailed on a ship with a Cloud 9 style spa, we used it every single day. It was awesome, but we've sailed in ships without those facilities after that and we still had a very enjoyable time.

 

There are savings to be had if we forego the Spa stateroom, but once again, we loose one of the incentives to make it all the way to Miami.

 

Decisions, decisions! [emoji43]

For some reason, thought you could buy a week pass. Maybe I'm getting confused with Norwegian? Anyway, at a $250 difference and buying the pass and FTTF, you probably could not save there.

Is there really a difference between powdered and a cracked egg, when scrambled?:p

Well, to me, I'm a little put off by the consistency of the powdered ones. I don't necessarily think they're totally inedible, I just rather not go there.

Agree! Those eggs are an affront to my humanity. Or something. I have tried to get scrambled eggs from the omelet guy too with the same outcome as you. Now I just get a cheese omelet and call it a day. Or go to brunch.

I'm all about the numbers, and my wife tends to be the same way. We're planning another cruise for the fall without the kids, so that may weigh in our decision about this cruise.

I'm all about the numbers too! I voted Breeze. What I would do, if it was me, is find a way to get those numbers closer together. I would definitely pull the kid out of school a day early. As others have suggested, at that age, they do nothing on the last day. Take advantage of that while you can, when they hit middle and high school, they'll have finals that week. So, you're up $1000 of that already.

Next thing, I'd forget the spa cabin and buy a pass instead. This saves you in 2 ways, obviously the cash difference, but the other thing you gotta consider with 4 of you in the spa cabins is you are paying those rates for 2 people who cannot even use the service you are paying extra for. I don't know if they sell out fast? If so, you may need to get a FTTF pass to make sure you can get on early. I don't know the calculation on the savings there because I don't know the current prices of cabins.

Last thing I'd do to crunch those numbers is look hard at shore excursions. This is a very personal matter though. I'm one of those all about he ship people so it doesn't hurt me to scrimp here. My kids have always been perfectly happy to just go to a beach. As we've cruised longer, we're not adverse to staying on the ship in some ports or just getting off briefly. To me, ports are a money loser anyway because I already paid my fare which included food and entertainment. The minute I buy my kid a hamburger in port, I've lost money. Not to say I don't, I do, but I can give up extras in port with no qualms, especially if we're on a really cool ship with lots to do there.

Good luck with your decision and budgeting. Bottom line is, your family will have a great trip with wonderful memories either way.

Yup, same story, same nervousness about it. I also read on here that they can fix it via email before the cruise and you don't have to wait until embarkation to change your kid's birthday. Was told they have to do it this way to make their computer system accept the reservation but that it is perfectly legitimate.

A tag for the bag containing the soda, not for the case of soda. There is a difference.

Ah, I misunderstood what you were saying.

Sorry you misunderstood. I have seen some truly rude cruisers in the VIP room towards the check in agents. That, however, is not the norm by any means. Over all, everyone is in a great mood so when I see this, it really sticks out. That was my only point.

Well, it sorta sounded like you thought we were all mean stuck up people in your original post. I felt the need to defend my honor. :D

I'm not sure but it would seem that this could be done at check in and avoid the lines on the ship. At the very least, a seperate cash account on specific s&s cards.

 

The last cruise with the kids, we put a limit on their cards. Once they spent it, we locked them again to keep anything from slipping through. There's enough to do without games for the week and a decent selection of sweets that are free. They do plenty of that at home.

Unless it has changed recently, it could not be done at the check in and had to be done at guest services. Have you been able to do this recently? I've been taking my kids for a long time, got used to this drill, and haven't really asked to do it during check in for a long time.

You just proved what I was talking. That's the very attitude that assumes to know what level I am.

Well, I will say that the very last person I met in the VIP line was a very sweet if rather confused and disheveled looking lady. Of course, I guess we were all disheveled looking being that it was POURING that day! Anyway, not snotty at all. I think that making assumptions about people being snooty because of their VIP level is unfair. Plenty of us are just working joes who live closer to port, can take advantage of deals, always book insides etc and manage to make platinum.

Yes.. I try to avoid that guest service area.

 

Usually, I set it up online.

 

Can I do it online with a cap?

BTW, don't know if this was clear, but you still set up your account online just like always, just have to do the cap part on the ship.

I seriously doubt that you have seen that recently on Carnival or perhaps any cruise line.

In Mitsugirly's current Pride review on this board, she makes reference to that very thing happening. She says the porters told her to just check it and gave her a tag for her sodas.

I do not understand all the hype about this thing either. Value is in the eyes of the beholder. Like other platinums in this thread, I've gotten it for people sailing with me to enhance their experience. I am neither stupid nor an evil wasteful consumer, I don't think. To each their own. I'd LOVE to know how many people posting about the waste of money are driving luxury cars, sporting designer clothes and giving several hundred for purses and Beats by Dr. Dre for the kiddies. To each their own. That is all.

Thats the real money sucker. The dang video machines

I don't think you said the age or sex of your child, but I know my boys like to buy junk in the shops too. They are teenagers now. Last cruise, my oldest blew his entire week's budget on a pair of sunglasses! :rolleyes:

They can also spend quite a bit on sodas and virgin mixed drinks/ milkshakes, candy store. Believe me, they find ways to dispose of the money. I have one kid that has some left over at the end of every cruise...maybe...if his brothers haven't talked him into lending it to them. 3 boys, its crazy. :p

Can you not set up a daily charge limit for certain cards when doing the online check in and sail and sign setup?

It can't be done online. You have to do it on the ship. As far as daily amounts...don't know, I just give my kids a set amount for the week and when it's gone, too bad, so sad. :D

Hopefully someone will come along with more info on straight cash accounts. I've always just done my accounts and the kids' with my card. If they had cash to add (sometimes they bring their own extra), I just use the cash in the casino or port or whatever and then add their money on the account with the same credit card, mostly for my own convenience and ease. With a cash account, if you run out, you're cut off til you get down there with more money, I think...and I have no idea what happens if you have money left over?

I have used my casino winnings to pay my sail and sign off in cash at the end of the cruise, so I know you can do a combination, depending on what fits your lifestyle/budget/convenience level.

I do this when I take my kids. You don't have to do a separate cash account. Guest services can limit any sail and sign card to whatever you specify. I THINIK you can even do this on the self serve kiosks? Not sure, I've always just gone to guest services to do it. Be warned, guest services is a madhouse on the first day of the cruise. Go early.

Funny. I have been on quite a few Carnival cruises and never even considered how much of the food I don't like on the ship until I was planning a cruise with my best good friend and her family, who have never cruised. I started telling them about it and realized I had a fairly decent sized list of foods I avoid. When I go through the buffet, its usually soup and cheese, the fried stuff is usually fairly safe. There is generally very little on that big ol plate when I'm done with the line. Breakfast is just bad, you gotta stand in line for the omelet if you want decent eggs and I HATE the bacon. I've never had anything in the MDR that either wowed me OR that I found inevitable.

That being said, it took me 14 cruises to figure out I'm not a fan of a lot of the food. The thing is, I just don't think about it much. I guess I'm not cruising to eat. I don't have the expectation of good food on a cruise so the quality does not disappoint me at all. I just avoid the stuff I don't like and I don't starve or anything.

Sorry, Thought about it more and we did have to go to the ferry terminal and they dropped us off at port coming back. Sorry, I'm foggy. Hopefully someone who'more recently can help.en more

We did it on our own 2-3 years ago, I wanna say I booked directly on Blue Lagoons website. At that time, the ferry picked us up right at the port. If they don't do that anymore, be advised that afternoon traffic in Nassau can be bad, so plan what time you leave Blue Lagoon accordingly.

I can't remember the numbers, but the last balconies on decks 7 and 8, before the aft cabins, are huge, balconies are twice as long as normal and rooms are much bigger as well. It is found under premium balcony category. Snag one if those if you can. They're great, especially if you've got more than 2 in your cabin.

Thanks for the review!

I am sure I might be wrong but what other options has NCL given to cruisers that do not want to pay for room service late at night? I don't think there is another option late at night...pay the fee or don't get the food?

 

It has been 10 yrs since I have been on NCL because of their freestyle dining and all of the pay restaurants. So not really sure what the other options are late at night if you want food. Please enlighten me someone.

Well, I might be wrong too, but I think they have O'Sheehans that is 24 hours? And there is another coffee shop type restaurants on some ships...forget what it's called.

To answer the original question, no I wouldn't want everything to be pay as you go. It would take away the uniqueness of the cruise vacation...or some of it. And it would make it more difficult to plan for spending. I'm not saying I'd never cruise again, but I'd do other vacations a lot more.

Well, I have been on a JR suite on the Caribbean Princess and thought the cabin was very small, around the size of a regular balcony on Disney or Royal. I have yet to try Cunard or Holland, but thought that Vista might be a good ship for the Caribbean.

 

The one thing I find odd, is that every pricing I have done, on the new ship is More expensive, than Royal; yet most people seem to say, that Carnival is a cheaper option than Royal. An example, is a Havana Suite, on the 2016 Vista Transatlantic is over $7,000+ while, an ocean view on the Crystal Serenity Transatlantic for December 2015, is $6,500 (which I currently have booked).

 

I just can't justify paying more (even for a full suite), when for less money I can go a true Luxury line. Cunard also, is often less in Grill Class than the pricing Carnival is quoting me. What gives??

Supply and demand. It's Carnival's latest and greatest ship, they are always going to be more expensive.

I think you should listen to Tapi. If you are used to luxury and nice suites an lots of perks, you are not going to love Carnival. If you want to try it, I suggest you go for Breeze, Magic, or Dream to get more bang for your buck and a nicer ship. I've not been on Breeze, but I believe the décor is toned down on that one and I know good prices can be found.

Personally, there is absolutely no way I'd pay for a suite on Carnival. None. I consider it to be totally not worth it.

I don't see it as gaming the system. As long as the one who wants it is not trying to share it, I don't see anything dishonest in not wanting to pay for someone that doesn't want it.

You can also just google cruise excursions to Nassau and get a list of websites to check out. I've had good luck this way.

There are TONS of different excursions: beaches, blue lagoon island, all inclusive resorts, Atlantis, historical tours, shopping, Segway, boat rides (yes, that's right, you get off the ship and get on a boat-Ha!), horseback rides, snorkeling, an underwater scooter excursion, glass bottom boat. Its quite touristy, you will find something cool and fun that fits your budget.

I honestly can't comment on the pricing because when we did Playa Mia, we had an entirely different package than what they offer now. I don't even think you can get the same package now. Ours included admission and frees drinks all day long. We opted not to do the buffet with our package because we had heard the food was American and left out most of the day. We ordered off the menu instead.

 

Nooooo, the shoreline was not rocky and the sand was soft...not even the kind of sand you sometimes get with the crushed up coral in it. It was nice and soft.

 

 

 

Yes, you will have areas, or huge rocks, here and there, but that's what makes it nice to dip your head under the water and see some sea life. :D

 

 

 

 

But plenty of places to just swim with the sand under you. :)

 

 

As for the inflatables. When we were at Playa Mia, I'm pretty sure the water park was included...however you won't see pictures of it because they were not up that day and according to the staff they were "out for repair". But, I honestly think their "repair" consisted of expanding it because the pictures I seen shortly after our cruise showed a complete new obstacle course. :D

 

At Mr Sanchos, you have to pay extra for it. I believe it was $10 for a wristband and that was no matter if you were on the AI side or the PAYG side. Everyone had to pay. The water inflatables are also located on the PAYG side.

Thank you!

Question, between Playa Mia and Mr Sanchos, which ended up costing more? It looks like $30 to go to Playa Mia, but no food or drinks with that, just the facilities, right? I know Sanchos is $50 all inclusive. Do either include the inflatables in the water?

Last thing, it has been years since I went to Playa Mia, unless I remember wrong, we didn't go back because the shoreline was very rocky and uncomfortable to walk on, like right where you go in the water and a few feet out. I didn't see that in your pics. Is it not this way anymore? Maybe they took out the rocks? Or I remember wrong. It's been 10 years or more.