iahawkize

Like all the rest said HOWEVER, it helps to live near or within a few hours driving time to a port. With Canaveral, Tampa, Miami and Ft Lauderdale being only a 2 to a 4 hour max car ride one can get the " pack & go specials up to 1 week prior to any cruise. Sure you won't get your perfect cabin but it works! ALSO booking far out saves money as well. My 11/1/14 cruise has doubled in price since I booked 1/5/14

I'm an early riser. So Room Service Coffee OJ and maybe some cold cereal around 6:30.

If I'm not of on an excursion then around 9 it's off to the Lido for Custom Omlet or Oatmeal Hash Browns and sausage or bacon. Oh Yes and maybe a Bloody Mary!

On My Fall Cruise on the Carnival Liberty. Just off Grand Cayman we had to stop and pick up these 30 or so Cuban refugees in a makeshift Catamaran.

I have been on the freedom and the previous poster is right that there may still be some unfinished construction. It's a great ship but give it a few months to get the bugs worked out. Some people have said some negative things about Sunshine but their Serenity and Spa areas look wonderful. I'd check the member reviews section on here for more detail

We either organized or joined 6 different small group tours during our two weeks in the Med last summer. Rome In Limo is a favorite, partly because each participant makes a commitment on their website (via credit card) that they will show up. (Cash paid to driver at the end of the day).

 

Helpful hints:

1) Be specific about the tour -- refer to the website if you can, detail the itiniery and payment expectations. Where to pay, in what form, and to whom.

 

2) Volunteer your objectives for the day: "minimal shopping, less time at Vatican, more time at Coliseum, no restaurant lunch, maximize time at venues". We went on to say that our core group wanted to see ruins and architecture, as opposed to museums and artwork.

 

3) Volunteer your own mobility (fit, semi-fit, slow walkers, mobility challenged) and whether your group includes kids, so that others can match ability levels to yours.

 

The more accurately you describe your day's adventure, the more likely like-minded souls will be to connect.

 

The cruise ships frown on actively selling tours on board...

4) Posting a sign on your door "Group Leaders - XYZ Tour on Tuesday" with our picture and a printout from the website. People recognized us in the casino and at dinner, and we ended up with full vans each day.

Hi There How are things going these days? You did an AWESOME job getting our Private Tur organized. Check out our Carnival Splendor Group The Splendorifics thread and check outthe Awesome spreadsheet Angela Bailey put together for the private group tours. As of now we have over 200+ cabins in this group Ken. PS Cricket s doing well in PA and we'll remain good friends but no more than that

We usually leave our car at a hotel that allows it and shuttles us. This time we want to park at the port. Looks like you can drop off your bags before you park but what about after the cruise? Is there somewhere my husband could bring the car to me and our bags at the curb so we don't have to handle dragging them to parking? Is this the dreaded taxi area that is so bad there or is there somewhere else ? Thanks

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At $20/day I find the port parking is too high. 7 days = $120. I use Premier or Global. ( google them. In Lauderdale it's only about 2 miles max to the port. Cost me $5/day + a $5 tip each way maybe tip more for 2. (total $45-$55) but they give you a number to call when you return and the shuttle is usually there in 15 min. I get Priority 1 When i get off the ship so the shuttle has no problem finding me.

I'm just wondering if anyone has thought about this compared to a retirement home, I mean I'm still young enough. How would this actually be cheaper?

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If you've ever watched the travel channel. there is a ship that is called "The World" and it is basically floating apartments. Of course the price to "buy" one of these apartments is outrageous. but one can dream. It travels the world and people can either cook in their apartment or use the ships restaurant.

On my last Carnival Cruise I met a "Diamond" member. Her & Her husband live 20 minutes away from the ports of Miami & Lauderdale. They are Elite members on most all of the cruise lines and hardly use their condo in Boca Raton,FL. Their reason given at the Past Guest party? "We aren't dead yet!"

1) Is there an area on deck where one can sit in the open air and just watch the sea? tons of options. sunny, shade, covered, busy, quiet.

Yes on Carnival the serenity deck at the top of the ship (Spa Deck) has a covered area complete with a bar. and at the hot tubs there you can see over the railings quite well.

2)If one does not wish to go on a shore excursion, is it possible to remain on the boat and will restaurants etc. be open?

Yes but the shops and casino will be closed. the MDR will not be open for lunch but the buffet and other venues like Lido Deck Buffet and Guys Burger Joint and Pizza place will remain open.

I would suggest going off the ship if the walk isn't that far to the shops right there as you can pick up a souvenier there. I agree to find a cab/ tour bus might be tempting but for a newbie going alone with your mom I'd stay with the guided tours of the island offered by the ship

Before I moved to Fort Myers in SW FL in 2010 I had only gone on 2 cruises. 1 in 1990 and 1 in 2003. I have now just booked my 7th cruise for Nov 1 and am Officially a Carnival VIFP "Gold" member

The next level is Platinum for over 75 cruise days and the highest level is Diamond for those who have cruised over 200 days. On my last cruise at the Past Guest Party I met one of the only 80 members of this elite level. She and her husband live less than 30 minutes from the Ports of Ft Lauderdale and Miami and are at the highest levels on 3 other cruise lines RCCL NCL & Princess. When asked why they cruised so much she said because we aren't dead yet!

Keeping hearing crap from friends and family saying how crazy you are to be taking a cruse after two infected ships in two weeks? I'm tired of hearing it and folks always trying to rain on your parade. I've been on five cruises and never had an issue and my friend has been on 20+

Mz Melissa here is my response to them.... DO THE MATH!

With over 200 ships cruising daily with an average of 2,000 passengers and crew that's 400,000 passengers per day. The last norovirus was about 6 months ago let's say 180 days that means 72,000,000 passengers did NOT get the norovirus in 6 months and now 600-800 on TWO ships got sick do the math that's 0.00001 percent of the passengers in SIX MONTHS! You have a better chance of catching a Staph infection in a hospital environment! I'll take cruising any time!

Carnival requires there be 1 adult and 1 teen in a room but when you board just go to guest services and get A duplicate key for you DO NOT put charging privliges on the keys you give to the teens or your S&S bill may jump! Obviously one of the teens will get the duplicate with charging privlidges just monitor your bill! They have to "ding' off the ship with their original room key.

I suggest carnival because they have the best youth programs. Check out the boards for these.

Grandparents Oceanview is better than an inside teens get the inside

#1)in 2012 Getting on the tender at Cozumel to return to our ship I ran into a couple from our park who were getting on their ship ( Princess Line ) while we were in line for our Ship ( Carnival line)

#2 After my family cruise in Nov of 2003 on the Carnival Triumph my wife and I were at a local High school Basketball game and my wife was in the ladies room and a lady from the opposing team ( miles away) approached her and said, " Were you that lady in the "Survivor Contest" in November?" ( She had come in second place! ) of course my wife sheepishly had to admit it! We ALL had a great laugh!

Small World

There have been many great responses to when your cruise ends but the best was harry & Lucilles "For me it never ends!"

Get home. Fall into bed for a good nights sleep. Get up and take care of unpacking. Having paid for an advanced cruise and an idea of what it will be, I spend the day booking the next one, start a roll call, prepare to start a roll call list, set up a gift exchange and a slot pull, etc.,etc. That keeps me busy for the real deal until we go again. Hummmm. Feb. 17th., 2015 on the Royal Princess. Southern Carib. for 10 days. Can't wait, however, the time will pass quickly while my goofy mind spins ahead. Talk about racing thru life after retirement. Sllllloooowww down Harry. :eek:

I booked onboard on the Carnival Freedom 1/5 - 1/11 at the Future Cruise desk for the Carnival Splendor Repositioning cruise out of San Juan 7 ports in 8 days to Miami on November first 2014. Splendor is leaving NYNY Port So while it's a bittersweet moment walking down the gangplank that last day and going thru all the "stuff" others have said the best part that I'm already planning and am in a group of over 50 "Splendorifics" Check out our Cruise Critic thread so far! over 700 posts in less than 30 days!

My GF brought a ton of shoes and it was helpful to have the extra space for them along with places for some odds & ends. Got mine at Bed Bath & Beyond The hooks were a little large ( wide by about 1") for the Carnival Closet doors and the unit was too long for the bottom hook to work . I never tried them on the main cabin door.

I absolutely LOVE seeing a woman dress sexy INCLUDING wearing "Hooker heels" but remember we are on a moving ship at sea subject to pitches and yaws up & down left & right. My date had to take off her 4" stilettoes many times that evening due to rough seas (10' Waves) Saw a lot of cleavage and legs and short dresses by the young ladies 18-45 and some really classy gowns by those over 45. So IMHO GO FOR IT! KPM

TSS Carnivale in 1990. Porthole Port Forward. Heard anchor drop every morning!!

Think about it I was in Grand turk ar margaritaville one afternoon and the same people were at the swim up pool bar pretty much nonstop ( more than 3 hours) Think about it. No potty break! LOL

Like the others have said first find the best time for airfares. and work backwards to find a good date to travel. You definitley need to stay away from peak travel times which MAY necessitate pulling your kids out of a few days of school. ( like they'll mind that!) So Christmas break, Thanksgiving week, Spring Break may be out.

The next thing you have to decide is what type of a cabin you want for the 6 of you. DO NOT do all 6 in a larger cabin as it will play heck on bathroom time. My suggestion would be to book an Outside or balcony cabin for you and your hubby and book an inside cabin DIRECTLY across the hall for the 4 kids. (2 Uppers and 2 lowers) {Initially you will have to place one adult in each cabin when setting up the cabins (per all Cruiselines policy) but just switch when you get to the ship} but you just get duplicate room keys made at guest services and ONLY have you and your spouse allowed charging privleges on your keys. That way you can let the oldest child have access to your room so you then split the bathrooms 3 & 3 . Book Earlysaver with a price guarantee and Definitely use the Cruiseline Personal Vacation Planner to set this up as they will keep you informed about Price drops which would then become onboard credit.

Finally after ALl is said and done go on to the CC Roll Call for your cruise Early and get active on it. Our family is still friends with people from our group that we met on the CCL Triumph in 2003. Let the kids get involved too if there are other families in the roll call. My son had a blast wit one of the other families sons. You didin't say how old your children were, but many ships have youth programs ( Carnivals Camp Carnival for the younger set and Club O2 for teens. So Do your research, talk to a lot of us onhere and HAVE A BLAST! Like you and your DH did.

Ken ( Carnival VIFP Gold member )

Room Service will gladly deliver a caraffe

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In December 2012 took an RCCL cruise out of New Orleans. Went to dinner the first night an a lovely couple and their adult son were seated at my table. The Husband was a young man in a wheelchair. Didn't think anything of it nor did not ask any questions as I am also disabled.

 

After dinner I went down to Guest Services and saw this couple leaving the desk. The wife was in tears while the son was comforting her. Decided to go over and ask if I could be of any assistance. Well it turns out that they had been wait listed for an accessible cabin which never became available so a few weeks before the cruise they placed a request with RCCL's Special Needs department for a shower seat and another item which should have been provided free of charge but were never delivered to the cabin. Nor were there any more available on board. The wife said she didn't know how she was going to get her husband showered each day.

 

Without hesitating told her that I had an accessible cabin but was not able to switch cabins due to my disability. Instead offered that I get a duplicate key card and set up a daily time so that her husband could use the accessible shower. They couldn't believe that I would do that for complete strangers. Told her it was the right thing to do and that I had nothing of value to be worried about. Besides both were Police Officers for the state prison system in which they resided. The Husband was injured on duty. Coming from a family of police officers I had even more of special place in my heart for this family.

 

I made arrangements for them to meet my cabin steward and to have extra towels in the bathroom for them. Everything worked out smoothly and the family enjoyed their cruise. Some how several of RCCL's staff members found out what I had done and came to me to thank me saying that in all their years of working on cruise ships no one ever did such a thing to help another passenger. Not looking for praise or pat on the back because after all being disabled myself it was the right thing to do. My only request made to this couple was to pay the kindness forward which I'm certain they did.

Many People say that there are no such things as "Angels" but sometimes they are living here on earth and have to "Fly around" in wheelchairs or use crutches!

May God Bless you for your random act of Kindness

What is the best reasonable option for pre cruise hotel?

My Friend on Cc Frito58 has used this tactic and so have I. Go to Hotwire dot com and select the secret Z hotels 4 star or 5 star. See what comes up ( no name will be mentioned) Read the description. then go to Hotels dot com and select the same area of Ft Lauderdale. The time I used it for a weekend vacation I was able to get the Westin right on the beach Ocean view for $105 and it regularly goes for $200. Now I am sure you want one a little closer to the port as it's up the road a bit, but The Embassy Suites is right at the bend/intersection of US 1 and FL A1A before youtravel north on A1A.

I just did this for my cruise Sunday1/5/14 trying to stay at TheEmbassy Suites saturday night 1/4 and Hotwires price was $112.00 a 32% discount. So going over to Hotels dot com Embassy Suites rack rate was $164 Take 32% discount of that which is what Hotwire said the discount was and you get to $112 ! I rest my case on price and quality Free shuttle from Airport to hotel and hotel to cruise Port Let me know what you get!

Ken Sailing on the CCL Freedom 1/5/14

Our first cruise, Dec 22 on Carnival Freedom. We may just have carry on luggages. Can we just carry them with us or I need to put tag on and leave at check in? Thanks.

The ONLY thing to think about is You are allowed 1 Litre bottle of wine per person in your carry on not in your checked luggage or they'll confiscate it. You ALSO are allowed 1 12 pack of soda per person. I wouldn't bring bottled water as the water on the ship is fine. Just bring a good insulated empty 32 oz water bottle and refill it onboard. There is no use carrying around all those suitcases, just one is fine> ken

Chef Panda ( India ) Was most informative with his Galley Tour ( we even got the recipe for warm chocolate melting cake ) and the 7 courses were exquisitely presented and the wine was flowing! Hands Down the best experience! Ken

On the Carnival Dream there are connecting cabins with Balconies. You can then have the room steward open the partition on the balcony or go thru the door in the room Or go cheap with an interior right across the hall. Junior suites are still on some Carnival ships A downgrade from the Grand

I've only ever sailed Royal Caribbean. Very strongly considering sailing Carnival next spring/early summer.

 

Are there any major differences? Why do you choose one over the other? Any pros/cons that I need to be made aware of?

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Recently, carnival has been having mechanical issues so I don't recommend using them.

This past year, multiple ships had trouble at see and it can be a really dangerous situation.

 

My suggestions: Stick to what you know and love :)

 

And research b4 going anywhere.

 

Have fun!

First of all Carnival IS addressing the Mechanical/Electrical Issues. On my last Cruise we saw the Carnival ship in front of us at the dock with a VERY LARGE Auxilliary Generator secured behind their funnel. ( an ounce of caution & prevention) Issues Can and have happened on other ships

Secondly If you have kids then Carnival is great for you with their Camp Carnival for the kiddies and Club O2 for the older ones. IF you plan on going over Spring Break you're setting yourself up for lots of kids and possibly college age kids in a Spring Break Party mode (enough said). It WILL be crowded and you're better off on RCCK or NCL during those times of the year. I would suggest one of Carnivals ships that has all of the carnival 2.0 upgrades, Alchemy Bar, Serenity Deck, Guys Burger Joint, Specialty "Captains table Restaurant"

Remember The cruising experience is what you make of it and what YOU prefer in a cruising style. Carnival is called a Funship for good reason. But "fun" is to be had on most lines if you look or it. I ALSO suggest you get involved in a specific cruise Roll Call and get to know new people from across the USA Canada and beyond. You might find a group of friends for life that you continue to cruise with year after year. I have and it's awesome!

Ken Martin (becominga " Gold " VIFP Member on Carnival in January