I Wish Someone Had Told Me On My First Carnival Cruise.....

Get some magnetic hooks. Great to put on the wall and hang PJs, hats, swim coverup, etc. Great space saver especially if you have kids.

I wish someone would have explained all of the holds that can come up on your credit/debit cards. I was not prepared financially to cruise at all and my S&S got locked so I couldn't do anything. I had to log onto the internet (pay by the minute plan back then) and try to shuffle what little money I had around in my accounts and pray my paycheck got deposited sooner rather than later.

I feel ya! In our case it was 1990, our first cruise and no one told us we were going to have to pony up an extra $50 or so in tips for the cabin steward, the waiter, etc... we didn't begrudge it, we just didn't know. Scraped together the last of our cash to pay the tips, then lived on McD's for the last 3 days of our land vacation :( We didn't have a bunch of credit cards, and the ones we had were pretty maxed out. Like you, we were strapped financially at the time and it seemed like such a great way to cruise- Oh, don't worry! Everything is covered! You don't have to pay for anything!

We managed, and by the time we cruised the next time, they had the automatic tipping on your S&S card, so you didn't need to come up with cash! Plus we were prepared for it, and budgeted accordingly!

You can order a banana split off the kids menu every night.

I love Lanyards so I am not always searching my sail and sign card.

I always order beer before the cruise so it's in the cabin cold when we arrive. Makes DH very happy. (I always get FTTF so we can go directly to the cabin)

Avoid a room under the kitchen galley area if you're a light sleeper. My cove balcony room on deck 2 of the Vista was horrible for sleeping due to banging noises up above us all night long.

 

 

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Are you sure it's the kitchen you were under?

Can these be taken off the ship for beach use?

As someone already answered, yes. But be cautious- if you lose them you'll be charged for them.

:)Before I cruised on Carnival I had heard how loud and rowdy it is.

I have never experienced that.

I still meet people who have never been on Carnival and still think it's true..

What parts? Whenever I looked for rooms it kept asking front mid or back and to me it makes no difference! We did RC last year through my husband's work so we didn't get a choice on room. They booked it, paid for it, and we were happy with what we got because it was FREE! We were on the 5th floor front and it was just fine for us. I can't remember where we are this coming trip. I know 8th floor, I think towards the front. I guess I didn't realize it mattered! Insight please!

Lower deck, (more sway side to side possible on the high passenger decks) and mid ship is most stable. But avoid high deck, front of the ship at all costs if you are sensitive to motion. My first cruise, they "upgraded" me from a mid deck inside to a porthole cabin at the very front of the ship. When we hit rough water going by cabo, it was like riding the maliboomer - there was so much up & down movement of the ship. My name was Ralph. Never, never again the front of the ship.

If you don't get seasick easy, your front of the ship 8th deck cabin may be fine! Or if you have calm waters. But I know when the seas are rough, it's hard for me to work out as the gym is on the top deck - I really feel it in some parts of the ship more than others.

Avoid a room under the kitchen galley area if you're a light sleeper. My cove balcony room on deck 2 of the Vista was horrible for sleeping due to banging noises up above us all night long.

 

 

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Sage advice! I always check deck plans, to make sure I'm not above or below the galley. Banging pots & pans, carts rolling 24/7. There's a thread on cruise critic - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=483344 with great advice for people with questions on the cabin they are considering - across cruise lines.

Bring a light cardigan or sweater for night time...the dining room and theatre are FREEZING

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Do you mean the elevator?

No, there is a set of stairs right behind the stage in a enclosure.

Lower deck, (more sway side to side possible on the high passenger decks) and mid ship is most stable. But avoid high deck, front of the ship at all costs if you are sensitive to motion. My first cruise, they "upgraded" me from a mid deck inside to a porthole cabin at the very front of the ship. When we hit rough water going by cabo, it was like riding the maliboomer - there was so much up & down movement of the ship. My name was Ralph. Never, never again the front of the ship.

If you don't get seasick easy, your front of the ship 8th deck cabin may be fine! Or if you have calm waters. But I know when the seas are rough, it's hard for me to work out as the gym is on the top deck - I really feel it in some parts of the ship more than others.

I checked the deck plans last night and our room is in the back of the ship on 8th floor. I thought it was the front.....

I wish someone would have explained all of the holds that can come up on your credit/debit cards. I was not prepared financially to cruise at all and my S&S got locked so I couldn't do anything. I had to log onto the internet (pay by the minute plan back then) and try to shuffle what little money I had around in my accounts and pray my paycheck got deposited sooner rather than later.

What type of holds and for what amounts. This is what makes me nervous. Not knowing how much money I need to set aside in this certain account. First time cruiser and I'm very OCD and a planner and like to have exactly what we need in this one account so I don't have to be transferring money throughout the trip.

We put cash on our S&S card instead of attaching a card to it. So then we didn't have to worry about any holds on the card or anything like that.

What type of holds and for what amounts. This is what makes me nervous. Not knowing how much money I need to set aside in this certain account. First time cruiser and I'm very OCD and a planner and like to have exactly what we need in this one account so I don't have to be transferring money throughout the trip.

It really depends on what you think you may spend. The boat charges for pictures (you don't have to buy any, but 1st cruise you might). Pictures are taken when you get on the boat, every port you get off the boat, the 1st few nights at dinner, and of course on Deck 5 on formal nights they have all kinds of set ups for formal pictures. They are available in the Pixels gallery. Drinks (alcohol or soda) get charged to the room. Spa gets charged to the room. Casino gets charged to the boat. Gift shop purchases. Etc.

We always pay for all of our shore excursions and spa treatments up front so those are accounted for in advance. Other than that, we spend about $500 to $1000 when we are on the boat. Usually, the boat puts like a $300 hold on our MC. As we charge to the room, they will put an extra hold of $200 or so depending on how many days on the cruise. The final charge is usually on the card the day after debarkation.

I would advise you to check your S&S account occasionally and make sure the charges are yours. There are kiosks around the boat (usually near the customer service desk, the casino, etc - it will show on the deck plans/map). I think you can either It can happen that charges appear that are not yours, or a credit you should have received does not show. Keep receipts that you are given JIC.

I wish I had known that I could ask for a small dish of peanut butter to go with my chocolate melting cake. Didn't find out until right before my 3rd Carnival cruise. Heaven!!! :D

Our favorite with the chocolate melting cake is to ask for Butter Pecan Ice Cream with it.

Wish I knew about FTTF before they sell out.

sk8rmomof3--following along. First off, I've cruised many times of 4 different cruise lines, and I've NEVERTHELESS just been dumped off and expected to find my way to my excursion!! You tickets that will be left in your cabin tell you where to meet, and there are people holding signs so you get with the correct group. So relax on that matter.

As for cabin position, they say to book the lowest deck possible and mid ship if you have problems with sea sickness. Usually I just call someone from cruise line--a cruise consultant--rather than do total booking online--and they help me get the cabin I want.

Let me read further to see if there is anything else I can help you with. [emoji4]

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I just saw that you are on the 8th level, back of ship. Check deck plans. Are there any nightclubs or any late night venues above or below? Call Carnival consultant and have them move you to a room of your choosing. I haven't sailed Carnival in awhile, but this is what I've done with Royal and NCL. I moved one cabin last year that was under a nightclub.

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Our favorite with the chocolate melting cake is to ask for Butter Pecan Ice Cream with it.

Mmmmmm... will definitely try this next time! (y)

I wished I'd know that even if you book an excursion through Carnival they basically dump you off at port an expect you to figure out how to get to where you are going. I still hate that part even though I've been able to figure it out each time. It is stressful not knowing what is going on and if you are in the right place.

When they dump you off at the port .... Look for the GIANT BOAT that you got off of and walk towards it

But no kidding aside I had a tour where they gave me half ass directions on where to meet them when I got off the boat ended up walking around stupid for a while until I could find someone that let me borrow there phone to call the people whom had already left and i had to wait 30 minutes for them to come back

It really depends on what you think you may spend. The boat charges for pictures (you don't have to buy any, but 1st cruise you might). Pictures are taken when you get on the boat, every port you get off the boat, the 1st few nights at dinner, and of course on Deck 5 on formal nights they have all kinds of set ups for formal pictures. They are available in the Pixels gallery. Drinks (alcohol or soda) get charged to the room. Spa gets charged to the room. Casino gets charged to the boat. Gift shop purchases. Etc.

We always pay for all of our shore excursions and spa treatments up front so those are accounted for in advance. Other than that, we spend about $500 to $1000 when we are on the boat. Usually, the boat puts like a $300 hold on our MC. As we charge to the room, they will put an extra hold of $200 or so depending on how many days on the cruise. The final charge is usually on the card the day after debarkation.

I would advise you to check your S&S account occasionally and make sure the charges are yours. There are kiosks around the boat (usually near the customer service desk, the casino, etc - it will show on the deck plans/map). I think you can either It can happen that charges appear that are not yours, or a credit you should have received does not show. Keep receipts that you are given JIC.

So I need to have an somewhere around $500 on the card just for holds that they place? Can you add cash to your s&s card and not the credit card thing? We have another couple going with us so we can take our own pictures. But I paid for everything in advance including gratuities, and had a budget of $750 for on board a few drinks and any shopping in the ports. But if they put a hold on that large amount (300-500) then I may need to reconsider my budget.

sk8rmomof3--following along. First off, I've cruised many times of 4 different cruise lines, and I've NEVERTHELESS just been dumped off and expected to find my way to my excursion!! You tickets that will be left in your cabin tell you where to meet, and there are people holding signs so you get with the correct group. So relax on that matter.

As for cabin position, they say to book the lowest deck possible and mid ship if you have problems with sea sickness. Usually I just call someone from cruise line--a cruise consultant--rather than do total booking online--and they help me get the cabin I want.

Let me read further to see if there is anything else I can help you with. [emoji4]

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Thanks! Although it's not our first cruise (it's the second)....it's our FIRST with Carnival, and FIRST with kids! So I have some anxiety! I had anxiety with the first one as well, but I knew once we got there it would all work out. As my mom told me, the cruise ship has gone through this before and they know to anticipate needs! It all worked itself out!

So I need to have an somewhere around $500 on the card just for holds that they place? Can you add cash to your s&s card and not the credit card thing? We have another couple going with us so we can take our own pictures. But I paid for everything in advance including gratuities, and had a budget of $750 for on board a few drinks and any shopping in the ports. But if they put a hold on that large amount (300-500) then I may need to reconsider my budget.

Yes you can just put cash on the S&S you do not have to give them a card. We always just put cash so there is no holds on any of our cards.

So I need to have an somewhere around $500 on the card just for holds that they place? Can you add cash to your s&s card and not the credit card thing? We have another couple going with us so we can take our own pictures. But I paid for everything in advance including gratuities, and had a budget of $750 for on board a few drinks and any shopping in the ports. But if they put a hold on that large amount (300-500) then I may need to reconsider my budget.

Right, cash for the cruise and cards for emergencies.

Of course, I consider being out of beer an emergency.:D

So I need to have an somewhere around $500 on the card just for holds that they place? Can you add cash to your s&s card and not the credit card thing? We have another couple going with us so we can take our own pictures. But I paid for everything in advance including gratuities, and had a budget of $750 for on board a few drinks and any shopping in the ports. But if they put a hold on that large amount (300-500) then I may need to reconsider my budget.

Here is the link to the hold amounts from Carnival's website. The short answer is: $200/pp for a 7-day cruise.

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1138/~/sail-%26-sign-onboard-account