Room service

[serene56]

tip room service per delivery not per person.

we also got choc milk and cookies before bed

[SadieN]

Ya'll are so helpful! Thank you! :D

 

Is there a place to do laundry?

I am wondering if I should get there early, I know they said our rooms will not be ready and we have to carry our luggage around the ship.

this seems like a huge inconvenience and not quite sure what to do......what do you guys normally do?

 

 

Laundry--

All Carnival ships have a laundrymat for guests. They are puny machines. Lately I've been reading that it is $3 wash and $3 dry. Quarters can be obtained at Guest Services or the Casino. There are irons available also.

 

At least once a cruise there will be a laundry special. $15 for all you can stuff into the bag provided. If the clothes are rolled tightly a good amount can fit in. Clothes are washed on HOT and dried on HOT. Only send sturdy clothes--Jeans, Tshirts, socks, etc.

 

Waiting--

We usually only do carryon. We carry everything with us. We try to get there early enough to get a table. One will stay with the luggage while the others grab lunch.

[joeyancho]

Thank you all for all the tips and suggestions, I had planned on using my cell phone for pictures but I won't do that now.

I will make sure to take plenty of dollar bills as well for tipping.

as far as the luggage tag goes I printed them out last night and my tags dont fit into my plastic tag. How do we attach it to the suitcase without it falling off?

 

I use the wide clear packing tape. I sort of laminate the tags then cut them out and attach the to luggage. That stuff won't come off.

[lego7191]

Ya'll are so helpful! Thank you! :D

 

Is there a place to do laundry?

I am wondering if I should get there early, I know they said our rooms will not be ready and we have to carry our luggage around the ship.

this seems like a huge inconvenience and not quite sure what to do......what do you guys normally do?

 

We give our large suitcases to the curbside porter when we arrive at the terminal - trust me, you cannot miss them, they will see you when you arrive with your suitcase and take it from you. Just make sure your luggage tag is on it so the staff knows what cabin to deliver your luggage to later that day.

 

Since we drop our large suitcases with the curbside porters, we each carry a small carry-on type bag with, as someone else suggested, a change of clothes, sunscreen, swimsuit, flipflops, medication, anything you may need for your first few hours on the ship before your big suitcase is delivered to your cabin. I also carry my electronics in my carry-on just for safekeeping and peace of mind. It's much easier to navigate the ship with my smaller carry-on bag than it is with all my luggage, but you'll see people who would rather carry all their stuff on with them.

 

Most important thing - make sure that you have your passport, birth certificate, ID, boarding docs, credit card, money, etc with YOU when you give your bag to the curbside porter and not in the suitcase that you are handing over to the curbside porter!

 

Also, we take some small ziplock baggies and when we're at the buffet, we'll grab some extra cookies or pastries or fruit. Comes in handy for a quick snack while lying in the sun later or back in the cabin at night.

 

Have a great cruise and ask anything! I swear I never could have made it through my first cruise without the wealth of info I received here beforehand!

[glrounds]

Good idea. ;) I also put a copy of one IN the luggage. And also any hotel/air info if applicable.

 

I do essentially the same. I always put a large cardboard (ones used to give folded shirts backing) on top of everything in my luggage. On it I write:

 

Carnival Cruise Lines

Name of the ship

Date of the cruise

My name

My cabin # if I have it

 

Then turn that over on the final day. Cross out the front and put my name, address, cell number, and e-mail addy on the other side of the thin placard. Place that on top of my luggage. Now its safely identified on the way home.:)

 

[Crusin Karen]

Most important thing - make sure that you have your passport, birth certificate, ID, boarding docs, credit card, money, etc with YOU when you give your bag to the curbside porter and not in the suitcase that you are handing over to the curbside porter!

Also, in your carry on, put all valuables, jewelry and such, and ANY MEDICATION also.

[ccruisequeen]

Thank you all for all the tips and suggestions, I had planned on using my cell phone for pictures but I won't do that now.

I will make sure to take plenty of dollar bills as well for tipping.

as far as the luggage tag goes I printed them out last night and my tags dont fit into my plastic tag. How do we attach it to the suitcase without it falling off?

 

You can use your cell phone as a camera if you can put it on airplane mode. That cuts off all the connection to wi-fi signals.

[sccindy]

The ships are large. We find delivery time for Room Service could run 20-40ish minutes. Enjoy your cruise, it will be great!

[tiffanywilliams]

Thank you everyone! Those are really good tips! Ya'll are Awesome! :D:D:D

[Room Service!]

tiffanywilliams ... and family, hope you all have a great time.

[Gazelle2]

Thank you everyone! Those are really good tips! Ya'll are Awesome! :D:D:D

 

Have a great cruise with your family. My wife and I cruise three or four times a year but I still envy you for going on your first one. It is hard to ever replicate the thrill of watching the great ship pulling away from the dock for the first time.

 

Bon Voyage!!!

[cruzinlisa]

 

Just remember that there ARE things that are chargeable to your sign and sail card, including soft drinks and any alcohol. Does anyone know if juices and milk are free in the MDR?

 

I'm excited for you! I think you're going to have a great time and please don't forget to come back and tell us all how it went. Enjoy!

 

Milk is free. Juice is free at breakfast. Never tried it any other time of the day.

[cruzinlisa]

Ya'll are so helpful! Thank you! :D

 

Is there a place to do laundry?

I am wondering if I should get there early, I know they said our rooms will not be ready and we have to carry our luggage around the ship.

this seems like a huge inconvenience and not quite sure what to do......what do you guys normally do?

 

Not all your luggage, just your carry-on bags. Your checked bags you can give to the porter at the curb. As others said, be sure to have your id/passport/travel docs, medications and anything you will need right away in your carry on bags.

 

The only travel tip I can think of, is whatever you wear on the ship, consider you may be wearing it all afternoon until your luggage arrives. My first cruise my mom wore a skirt and said she wished she hadn't because we were on deck and it was windy. :eek: Also we wanted to sit in the outdoor areas and enjoy the weather (it was snowy December back home). Our sunscreen was of course, in the checked bag.

 

As far as ports go, you can sign up for excursions, but don't feel pressured to do so. YOu can do it on your own, especially with Key West and Bahamas. Also, often in the port area they will have people offering tours which are much cheaper.

 

Also, keep an eye on your Sign and Sail bill, as it can be easy to get carried away on your first cruise. The newer ships allow you to keep an eye on it on the TV. For those that don't have that, I would imagine you can get a copy of your bill at guest services.

[CarribeanDiva]

OP, in Key West it is easy to walk around and see a lot. Do some of the walking tours suggested. Skip the trolley, it's crowded and honestly you don't see much. (Wished we had saved the money, because we ended up getting off and walking). In Nassau you can take the #10 Jitney to the Junkaboo beach. The Jitney is $1.10 pp and the beach is free. Bring a towel to lay on.

[MissKIA]

Keep in mind that while room service is free, soda or pop or whatever you want to call it, is not. I believe that even if they have the bottemless bubbles package they will be charged if they order it through room service. Hopefully someone else can confirm that.