I have a VIFP number!

[Admin]

I know...most of you do too. :p

 

I've been cruising since 1984 and yesterday I booked my very first Carnival cruise. I've booked the Sensation to the Bahamas in October for me and my two sons, age 5 and 7. My husband can't go so it's me and the kids. I've never booked this close to sailing, especially on a line I know very little about.

 

Any suggestions or tips for a first time Carnival cruiser? Info about the ship? I booked an aft balcony on the E deck. Empress, I think.

 

I'm not really a VIFP until after this cruise, but I have a number! :D

[aka-texas]

You can have a VIFP # without ever cruising. You signed up for one evidently. Doesnt mean you are credited with any "points" or days yet.

[CoconutJD]

Enjoy the cruise! We expect a full review when you return :D

[LargeCornGyro]

I know...most of you do too. :p

 

I've been cruising since 1984 and yesterday I booked my very first Carnival cruise. I've booked the Sensation to the Bahamas in October for me and my two sons, age 5 and 7. My husband can't go so it's me and the kids. I've never booked this close to sailing, especially on a line I know very little about.

 

Any suggestions or tips for a first time Carnival cruiser? Info about the ship? I booked an aft balcony on the E deck. Empress, I think.

 

I'm not really a VIFP until after this cruise, but I have a number! :D

 

Number really doesn't get you anything. Not even on your second cruise any longer. You want something, you will have to buy it.

[BananaAnna]

Welcome to the Carnival board where, by golly, folks can turn ANYTHING into a negative :rolleyes: .

 

I have seen some VIFP rates offered and of course after your first cruise you can use past guest rates.

My VIFP is one of the few number sequences I can remember - I guess that says a lot about my lifes priorities :eek: .

[Future_Mrs_Wetzel]

Have fun on your first Carnival cruise. You are going to have THE BEST time!

[MrFunInTheSun]

If you want to see the fun times and such, the below live trip review on the Sensation has the Fun Times for the three night cruise. A few ship pictures too.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1734869

 

 

Have a great first Carnival cruise.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Please excuse any typographical errors.

[CoconutJD]

Does anybody else find it funny that people are being overtly rude to the Admin? :confused:

[Ematic81]

Cruising for 29 years and your first carnival cruise you book the sensation?? Lol!!! Even though that was the ship that turned me out(my first cruise) I don't think that is the best ship for an experienced cruiser like your self to comparisons to. Anyways have fun and ill keep an eye out for the review.

[Aplmac]

Cruising for 29 years and your first carnival cruise you book the Sensation?? Lol!!!

I thank my lucky stars that my first cruise was Carnival Destiny (now Sunshine)

and since then I've never cruised any of the small Carnival boats

-only larger-than-Destiny ships...Victory, Glory, Valor.

 

I'm currently thirsting for Breeze!

Nothing under 100,000 tons displacement for me! ;)

.

[pungo3]

Congratulations!!!! I'm sure it's very exciting for you. I hope your cruise is fabulous:D

[jenng1976]

Ah, the Sensation, a ship close to my heart! My first (and second!) cruises ever were on her and hooked me on cruising for life! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

 

Since you've never sailed Carnival before, a few things to try:

 

- Warm Chocolate Melting cake ... Mmmmm, delish!

- your kids might want to give Camp Carnival a try. Though I don't have kids myself, from I've read it's very popular and fun for the kids

- Comedy club ... My favourite entertainment

- Serenity area, for yourself to relax if the kids are at camp

 

Have fun!

Jenn :)

[crusinpsychRN]

Does anybody else find it funny that people are being overtly rude to the Admin? :confused:

 

Just rude to be rude...

 

OP-Enjoy the Serenity area, great place to relax. Easy ship to navigate. Have fun!

[camarowesley]

Does anybody else find it funny that people are being overtly rude to the Admin? :confused:

Not funny, SAD, and Rude. I don't understand why some people can't be happy for others. Jealous maybe?

OP, I'm thrilled for you and your children, have a wonderful cruise.

[winddawn]

I know...most of you do too. :p

 

I've been cruising since 1984 and yesterday I booked my very first Carnival cruise. I've booked the Sensation to the Bahamas in October for me and my two sons, age 5 and 7. My husband can't go so it's me and the kids. I've never booked this close to sailing, especially on a line I know very little about.

 

Any suggestions or tips for a first time Carnival cruiser? Info about the ship? I booked an aft balcony on the E deck. Empress, I think.

 

I'm not really a VIFP until after this cruise, but I have a number! :D

Welcome to the Carnival board, Administrator! You are now officially a Very Important Fun Person! Life will never be the same!

 

Carnival offers great value for tons of fun. Your kids will have a blast.

 

I always book last minute. It's the only way to go on Carnival these days IMO.

 

If you want to share the age of your kids with us, you'll likely get some great advice from some other Carnival parents to ensure your kids make the most of Camp Carnival.

[iruser]

I know...most of you do too. :p

 

I've been cruising since 1984 and yesterday I booked my very first Carnival cruise. I've booked the Sensation to the Bahamas in October for me and my two sons, age 5 and 7. My husband can't go so it's me and the kids. I've never booked this close to sailing, especially on a line I know very little about.

 

Any suggestions or tips for a first time Carnival cruiser? Info about the ship? I booked an aft balcony on the E deck. Empress, I think.

 

I'm not really a VIFP until after this cruise, but I have a number! :D

 

 

we are on first cruise on sensation oct 13 with sons 8 and 11.

 

which cruise in oct are you?

[RWA Cruisers]

Well I sure won't feel so bad about having a blue S&S card now :D

[Lovefuninthesun]

Does anybody else find it funny that people are being overtly rude to the Admin? :confused:

 

What is wrong with people??

Ignore the negativity!

 

We love the Fantasy class ships - so intimate and easy to navigate.

You will have a wonderful time! :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone 5 using Cruise Critic App

[aka-texas]

Does anybody else find it funny that people are being overtly rude to the Admin? :confused:

 

Who is being rude? I don't see it.

[Lerin]

Does anybody else find it funny that people are being overtly rude to the Admin? :confused:

 

Seriously! Thinking the same thing.

A couple of the first posts have a WHO CARES vibe to them. :rolleyes:

 

OP/Admin: have a great time. Check out the family board for hints and tips for your kids and maybe join your roll call. I would say post here...but I'm not sure that's a good idea.

 

Post a review when you return :cool:

[riclop]

You will always remember your first cruise. Enjoy.

[Admin]

Thank you all for the responses!

 

You can have a VIFP # without ever cruising. You signed up for one evidently. Doesnt mean you are credited with any "points" or days yet.

You're correct. They created the number for me when I made the reservation but I don't have any credits for cruises until I finish my first.

Number really doesn't get you anything. Not even on your second cruise any longer. You want something, you will have to buy it.

A journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. ;) I have to have a first before I can have a second then third, etc. But the first is where loyalty begins.

Enjoy the cruise! We expect a full review when you return

Thank you! I sometimes do a review. I usually get judged a bit harshly for negative comments I may make because I work here. But I'm just a cruiser like all of you. I pay for my own cruises and take my vacation to do them.

Does anybody else find it funny that people are being overtly rude to the Admin?

I have a thick skin. I became a member of Cruise Critic in 2001. I've been around longer than the furniture in Cruise Critic headquarters! LOL Tone is hard to read in text so I always assume members are being blunt and not necessarily conveying something negative. That keeps me sane. :p

Have fun on your first Carnival cruise. You are going to have THE BEST time!

Thanks! I'm sure I will.

Enjoy the cruise! We expect a full review when you return

Thank you!

If you want to see the fun times and such, the below live trip review on the Sensation has the Fun Times for the three night cruise. A few ship pictures too.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1734869

 

Have a great first Carnival cruise.

This is super! Thank you.

 

Cruising for 29 years and your first carnival cruise you book the sensation?? Lol!!! Even though that was the ship that turned me out(my first cruise) I don't think that is the best ship for an experienced cruiser like your self to comparisons to. Anyways have fun and ill keep an eye out for the review.

I think you're right. Given all the ships out there, the Sensation would not be my first choice. However, it's the only cruise that fits into the four days I have to work with. We're taking a cruise on the Disney Dream on October 10 to October 13. We're flying all the way to Orlando so why not see if we can add the 4 day Disney cruise before the 3 day we already have booked. Unfortunately, Disney is very expensive and the price of the 4 day was out of reach for us. The Sensation docks right next to the Dream and does a 4 day cruise from October 6 to October 10. That's how we chose this ship.

 

My very first cruise in 1984 was the Norway and that turned me into a lifelong cruiser.

Congratulations!!!! I'm sure it's very exciting for you. I hope your cruise is fabulous

I hope so too! We've booked an aft balcony, E259. The balcony is wider than regular balconies but I've seen photos of the room and it's pretty sparce and small. But that's alright. We'll still love it, I'm sure. I just care about watching water go by.

Ah, the Sensation, a ship close to my heart! My first (and second!) cruises ever were on her and hooked me on cruising for life! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

 

Since you've never sailed Carnival before, a few things to try:

 

- Warm Chocolate Melting cake ... Mmmmm, delish!

- your kids might want to give Camp Carnival a try. Though I don't have kids myself, from I've read it's very popular and fun for the kids

- Comedy club ... My favourite entertainment

- Serenity area, for yourself to relax if the kids are at camp

 

Have fun!

Jenn

Cake! You have my full attention. lol I did the online registration for the kids. They're big fans of the kids clubs on NCL and are eager to try the Carnival one and then the Disney Dream one.

OP, I'm thrilled for you and your children, have a wonderful cruise.

Thanks. I'm thrilled too.

Welcome to the Carnival board, Administrator! You are now officially a Very Important Fun Person! Life will never be the same!

 

Carnival offers great value for tons of fun. Your kids will have a blast.

 

I always book last minute. It's the only way to go on Carnival these days IMO.

 

If you want to share the age of your kids with us, you'll likely get some great advice from some other Carnival parents to ensure your kids make the most of Camp Carnival.

My boys are 7 and 5. Well, a week shy of 8 by the time the cruise gets here.

we are on first cruise on sensation oct 13 with sons 8 and 11.

 

which cruise in oct are you?

We're going to miss you by a week. :(

OP/Admin: have a great time. Check out the family board for hints and tips for your kids and maybe join your roll call. I would say post here...but I'm not sure that's a good idea.

 

Post a review when you return

I went to the roll call and there are only a few there; not very active. But it's 4 days. You only have so much time and maybe not enough to get together with others.

 

We've got a good room, I think. We've asked for anytime dining. Is that what it's called? With the kids we usually eat in the buffet so they can get back to whatever play stuff they want to do and it's more casual. Is there one night we should make sure to go to the dining room? We don't go to shows. Haven't been to a show in several years. It's just me and the kids on this one so I might check one or two out since I'll be alone when the kids are in the club. I do like the casino and to sit and watch water go by. Any day someone else cooks for me and makes my bed is an outstanding day.

 

I booked direct with Carnival but I didn't get a PVP. I guess I could have asked for one when I called but the person that answered was very nice so I made the booking with her. I qualified for a veterans rate (USNavy when I was younger) but some other More the Merrier rate was better for me so we went with that.

 

Now we wait 6 weeks. Thanks again for the nice words. I do hope this is a great Carnival cruise and that we start working on number two soon after. ;)

[Sqwii]

Food! Personally I always eat in the main dining room because I like the atmosphere, however the buffet has mostly the same food as is being served in the Md. I just make sure to stroll by the dining room sometime in the morning because they post up the days menu on a bulletin board next to the door. If I don't like what it is I'll go eat at the lido. http://zydecocruiser.net/menus/CarnivalCruiseLineMenus.htm is a great site to see the menus ahead of time.

[RWolver672]

Food! Personally I always eat in the main dining room because I like the atmosphere, however the buffet has mostly the same food as is being served in the Md. I just make sure to stroll by the dining room sometime in the morning because they post up the days menu on a bulletin board next to the door. If I don't like what it is I'll go eat at the lido. http://zydecocruiser.net/menus/CarnivalCruiseLineMenus.htm is a great site to see the menus ahead of time.

 

You can also see the day's menu on the Interactive TV in your cabin.

[jenng1976]

We've got a good room, I think. We've asked for anytime dining. Is that what it's called? With the kids we usually eat in the buffet so they can get back to whatever play stuff they want to do and it's more casual. Is there one night we should make sure to go to the dining room? We don't go to shows. Haven't been to a show in several years. It's just me and the kids on this one so I might check one or two out since I'll be alone when the kids are in the club. I do like the casino and to sit and watch water go by.

 

Now we wait 6 weeks. Thanks again for the nice words. I do hope this is a great Carnival cruise and that we start working on number two soon after. ;)

 

There will be one 'elegant' night on your cruise, where they serve lobster tail, prime rib, etc so if you're only going one night, that would be the one to choose. Plus, while others may disagree, I enjoy dressing up and the nice atmosphere!

 

I don't think the melting cake is served in the buffet, so you'll definitely want to try it in the MDR.

 

Lunch is also served in the MDR during sea days, we enjoy that too. I agree it's nice to be served!!

 

Jenn :)