First Cruise Carnival Pride Feb 14 Cash and questions

[kp58ny]

This will be our first cruise leaving February on Carnival Pride - question is are there any ATM's - how much money should you bring between shopping and casino - have no idea. Also how to pack - has anyone cruised out of Baltimore in February what is the weather like. Is the pool to cold? and if you also can give me some tips on the Dos and Don'ts I really appreciate it.

[Mommabear2Five]

This will be our first cruise leaving February on Carnival Pride - question is are there any ATM's - how much money should you bring between shopping and casino - have no idea. Also how to pack - has anyone cruised out of Baltimore in February what is the weather like. Is the pool to cold? and if you also can give me some tips on the Dos and Don'ts I really appreciate it.

 

Happy first cruise!

 

ATMs are usually located in the lobby and the casino and charge a $4.95 fee. All shoping onboard is done through your sign and sail card. You'll want cash for shopping in ports and tipping room service. If you plan to use your credit card in port, contact your bank before the trip and let them know you are going out of the country. Try not to use ATMs in port; they charge a lot and I have friends that have had their info stolen that way.

 

Also, don't forget some cash for the porters when you drop off your bags at your home port.

 

As for packing, bring items you can layer. It will be cold when you first sail but then will warm up as you head towards your destination. Pools and hot tubs are heated, but the air is still cool :)

 

Best tip I can offer is to relax and enjoy the people around you. Talk to strangers and make friends with the crew.

[kp58ny]

Thank you - did not know there were ATMs on ship :) appreciate the information

[swalton85]

The Pride does have a retractable roof over one of the pools, so when it's cold they close it and it becomes an indoor pool. We sailed once in February out of Baltimore and it was a little chilly embarkation day and a little in the morning of the second day. As you sail down the coast it will get warmer and warmer.

 

One of our favorite things about the Pride is the Serenity adult only area. It is located in the back of the ship and only allows 21+ to enter. There's a pool back there and hot tub, a bar and some really comfy chairs, clamshells, and hammocks. You have to get there early because it fills up quick!

 

If you go to David's Steakhouse on the first night you get a free bottle of wine. It is $35 per person but you get a delicious 4 course dinner.

 

Don't forget you can bring a 750ml bottle of wine in your carryon per person over 21. Don't forget your corkscrew! :) You may also bring a 12 pack of canned soda per person as well. Helps cut down on your costs if you're a soda drinker.

 

Happy sailing! If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. We're heading on the Pride for the 4th time this April :)

[kp58ny]

Thank you - I got the bubbles program as I did not know about being able to bring soda on. Can you tell me what the limit is on Duty Free? I also did the pre tipping thing - hoping that was not a mistake :( first time cruiser learn the ropes

[swalton85]

Thank you - I got the bubbles program as I did not know about being able to bring soda on. Can you tell me what the limit is on Duty Free? I also did the pre tipping thing - hoping that was not a mistake :( first time cruiser learn the ropes

I want to say $500 duty free limit, but I'm not totally sure. We usually only purchase a few souvenir type items and never come close to what the limit is so i haven't paid much attention to it lol.

 

I don't think doing prepaid gratuities is a mistake. It's nice to have that extra expense already paid for when you board the ship. Cuts down on your final bill amount! [emoji14]

 

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[evandbob]

Thank you - I got the bubbles program as I did not know about being able to bring soda on. Can you tell me what the limit is on Duty Free? I also did the pre tipping thing - hoping that was not a mistake :( first time cruiser learn the ropes

 

Pre tipping is a great idea - one less expense when it's prepaid. Duty limit per person is $800.

 

The casino, photos and excursions can be huge expenses, so stay within your personal comfort zone on these items. As a 1st time cruiser, it may be best to use ship excursions, a little more expensive, but a good way to learn how to begin to experience a port. Don't stay in just the port area, get out to the beaches, ruins, countryside, eat some local food, see and hear some new cultures and languages.

 

Most of all enjoy!

[kp58ny]

Thank you for the tips - love it !!!! We did pay for an excursion - the Freeport island tour - and for Nassau we read there is a lot near by so we are on our own there :) please let me know if you think of anything else

[dave_k58]

Thank you - I got the bubbles program as I did not know about being able to bring soda on. Can you tell me what the limit is on Duty Free? I also did the pre tipping thing - hoping that was not a mistake :( first time cruiser learn the ropes

 

We always pre-pay the tips. Its great to have that out of the way and not even consider it while you're on board.

[swalton85]

Thank you for the tips - love it !!!! We did pay for an excursion - the Freeport island tour - and for Nassau we read there is a lot near by so we are on our own there :) please let me know if you think of anything else

In Nassau we've gone to Junkanoo beach. It's a free public beach that is only a 15-20min walk from the pier. There's bathrooms, food/drink shacks and chair rentals. Not a bad beach for free. You get a nice view of the ships as well from the beach! I'll see if i can find some of our pictures :)

 

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[swalton85]

Also the British Colonial Hotel offers day passes and you can use their beach, pool and restaurant and bar. Look them up on google. I forget how much the passes are, but they include about half of the cost in food and drink credit to use while there.

 

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[JMAE]

We will be on that cruise too, our fifth on the Pride. It can be cold until the first evening or so, it depends on the weather. Our Jan. 2014 sailing was so cold muster drill was inside. As an earlier post indicated the pool is covered and the temperature warn enough to go swimming. There is a lot to do and see for your first cruise. We love the comedy shows and relaxing. On the first day your steward will ask or give you a card to have morning cleanup or nightly turn down service. You don't have to pick just one, we always pick morning and evening. You won't find an ice bucket in your room but if you ask your steward on the first day they will fill it in the morning and evening each day.

 

if you are driving to Baltimore bring cash to pay for parking much shorter line than credit card. I think it is still $15/day.

 

If you have any question I will check back. Enjoy your cruise!

[Ship2Shore41]

In Nassau you're close enough to walk to the Atlantis Hotel. It's a cool hotel to just walk around and admire.

[prosconst]

I'm on this same cruise also leaving Feb 14th and it is my first cruise. Thank you all for the great information!

[Jenhem31]

Pre pay your tips, it's so much easier than having them added to your account. As for cash, we typically bring $500 or so. We bring at least $150 of that in ones and fives for tips for room service, taxi, porter etc.

My one tip for a first time cruiser is to bring a pop up hamper- your suitcases for under the bed and that's where most put their dirty laundry but with a pop up hamper you don't have to get on the floor and drag your bag out to put your laundry away.

Enjoy your cruise, I hope you have a fabulous time!

[kp58ny]

Thank you for all the tips!!! Really appreciate it - Do have another questions about the prepay tips - is that for the person who makes up your room - and for what else - I know it does not include tips for drinks

[JMAE]

Thank you for all the tips!!! Really appreciate it - Do have another questions about the prepay tips - is that for the person who makes up your room - and for what else - I know it does not include tips for drinks

 

Tips cover the room steward and wait staff in MRD and Lido deck. On our six day cruise the suggested tips are $72pp or $12/day/person. Which can be prepaid or added to you sign-n-sail card. We also provided our room steward an additional cash tip when we meet on the first day and on the last evening. We give cash tips to the wait staff in the MDR too. Keep in mind that when you pruchase a drink they add 15% tips to the bill automatically.

[amsred2]

If you have been following any of today's posts, you will see it's not a good idea to attach a debit card to your sail and sign account. ( You use this for all your on-board expenses. ) Some people have no problems at all, but others have problems with bank holds on pending authorizations (I think it depends on your banking institution). It's best to use a regular credit card or put cash on your account at guest services.

 

If you take cash, put on $200 per person for drinks, souvenirs etc. (If you plan on drinking a lot of alcohol, add more or get the cheers package prepaid...mixed drinks run around $9-10 each and beers around $7 plus add automatic gratuity)

 

You can cash out anything you don't use at the end at guest services or play it at the Casino.

 

I also like to take $100 for each port day. That is usually more than enough for food/drinks and trinkets in any port.

 

The only time you will incur huge expenses is if you make big purchases at the jewelry stores or duty free shops.

 

Have fun on your first cruise!

[kayjo]

I sailed out of Baltimore last Feb. and it was cold for the first 3 days,and the last 2, so we really only had 2 warm days, though last winter was especially cold. Sailing down the Chesapeake is really neat, but make sure you have a coat and hat. Those lightweight down coats that stuff into bags are easy to pack and don't take up a lot of room.

Also, we waited until we got onboard to book excursions since we weren't sure how cold the water would be that time of year. As it turned out, we did not swim in the ocean, but found other things to do- rented bikes, walking tours, etc.

[kp58ny]

Thank you all for all your help - so excited

[kp58ny]

how do you find out how the weather is going to be and if the seas are going to be rough?

[swalton85]

how do you find out how the weather is going to be and if the seas are going to be rough?

I usually just check the weather online for each port we're stopping at and see what their forecast says. As long as there's no storms or fronts coming up the coast the seas should be ok, but there's no way to really tell for sure. Weather is constantly changing so it's a gamble really no matter what time of year you go. I will never sail during hurricane season again! Lol

 

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[JMAE]

Yes, it could be cold but it may not. Our January 2014 it was very cold, so cold in fact the Captain ordered use of alternate muster drill station which are all inside. The cruising the Bay on our last morning was very different. There were times when I was on our balcony you can hear the ice cracking. Just checked the avg high for Feb. 14 is 45 degrees and the low is 31 degrees. I hope it is the high!

Edited January 18, 2016 by JMAE

[Beeslilmama]

How do you prepay your tips?

[swalton85]

How do you prepay your tips?

There's an option when we are booking the cruise to prepay your gratuities.

 

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