First time cruises requesting tips from the experienced

[pokerguy90]

Any of you frequent cruises have any good tips for a gaggle of first timers? here are some questions I have for you anyway.

 

1) is soap and shampoo provided (wife always brings her own, I do not)

2) is coffee available 24/7

3) in port, are all ships services closed

4) are the pools heated

5) traveling with a very health conscious teen. Is it possible to get very plain food, like Grilled chicken, beef. Baked potato, brown rice etc...

6) we have 11am check in time. Other party has 12noon. How straight are they about that policy since we are traveling together?

 

 

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[grandmarnnurse]

1. Yes

2. In certain areas

3. No

4. No

 

 

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[cruisecheap]

1. yes

2. yes, if only room service

3. Not closed, except casino

4. Do not know

5. Can get plain food

6. Staggered check in enforced

[A&Jfamily]

Any of you frequent cruises have any good tips for a gaggle of first timers? here are some questions I have for you anyway.

 

1) is soap and shampoo provided (wife always brings her own, I do not)

2) is coffee available 24/7

3) in port, are all ships services closed

4) are the pools heated

5) traveling with a very health conscious teen. Is it possible to get very plain food, like Grilled chicken, beef. Baked potato, brown rice etc...

6) we have 11am check in time. Other party has 12noon. How straight are they about that policy since we are traveling together?

 

 

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1) a shampoo conditioner combo and shower gel are in dispenser in the shower ready to go. I'm a girl and I like it just fine

2) coffee is 24/7 self serve on the Lido and from room service (carry some $1 as a tip is polite)

3) the ship, except for MDR, is full service while in port

4) the pools are salt water, changed frequently and not heated as far as I can tell (at least the ones I have been on). The hot tubs are Luke warm.

5) the MDR is best for all meals (especially breakfast and dinner IMHO) - you are on vacation and it's nice to be waited on. There is a wide variety of food and at dinner always a grilled chicken, salmon, salads, veggies, baked potato available every night. You can do a veggie and protein loaded taco salad at blue iguana at lunch (if your ship has it) and a veggie burger at Guys (again if available). Breakfast always has eggs however you like, wheat toast, yogurt, oatmeal etc.

6) they are strict on checkin time. If you wish to go together, everyone should go at noon.

 

 

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[kendracruises]

1) is soap and shampoo provided (wife always brings her own, I do not)

Yes in the shower and sink in bathroom

2) is coffee available 24/7

Yes from room service 24/7 and in the buffet area I have found coffee, 24/7

3) in port, are all ships services closed

Not closed, except Casino in most all ports.

4) are the pools heated

No, only hot tubs

5) traveling with a very health conscious teen. Is it possible to get very plain food, like Grilled chicken, beef. Baked potato, brown rice etc...

Yes, no worries about this. Grilled chicken on menu every night, normally baked potato. Don't know about brown rice but there are veggies

6) we have 11 am check in time. Other party has 12 noon. How straight are they about that policy since we are traveling together?

Staggered boarding is STRICTLY enforced so if you want to board together you would need to wait till their noon time slot. Keep checking though cause I have found earlier times can become available and you can change if available.

Enjoy your cruise!

[Nic6318]

hi

 

1. yes....no conditioner provided

2. yes....always available on lido deck, as well as room service

3. casino and shops are closed

4. no

5. yes...specific diets can be met

6. if you want to board with your friends you will need to wait...they won't be allowed into the terminal until noon

[pokerguy90]

Thank you guys. We can't wait until Monday.

 

 

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[sanmarcosman]

1) a shampoo conditioner combo

No, it is shampoo only without a conditioning agent added. The other dispenser is body wash.

 

[luckybecky]

You've already had good answers to your questions... the only thing I would add is that you may or may not like the quality of the shampoo and body wash. They aren't the worst, but not the best either. I prefer shampoo with conditioner so I bring my own. It just depends on how picky you are.

 

The casino and duty free shops are closed in port.

[easyboy]

6) we have 11am check in time. Other party has 12noon. How straight are they about that policy since we are traveling together?

The other party can not join you at 11am. If you want to be together for check-in, you need to join the other party at 12noon, or, the other party buys the randomly available FTTF so they can join you at 11am.

[nchikk]

1) is soap and shampoo provided (wife always brings her own, I do not) A generic-ish hampoo & body wash are there...if you want something specific, bring your own.

2) is coffee available 24/7 Yes, from Lido or Room Service

3) in port, are all ships services closed Shops & casino are closed...most everything else is open and operational.

4) are the pools heated No

5) traveling with a very health conscious teen. Is it possible to get very plain food, like Grilled chicken, beef. Baked potato, brown rice etc... I don't know about brown rice, but if it's that big of a deal, contact Special Needs a couple of weeks before your sail date. Maybe they can accommodate. They will try, but still, there may be only so much they can do.

6) we have 11am check in time. Other party has 12noon. How straight are they about that policy since we are traveling together? Very. Either check in separately or all show up at noon.

[pokerguy90]

The other party can not join you at 11am. If you want to be together for check-in, you need to join the other party at 12noon, or, the other party buys the randomly available FTTF so they can join you at 11am.

 

 

 

I'm learning the lingo. What does FTTF stand for?

 

 

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[naxer]

I'm learning the lingo. What does FTTF stand for?

 

 

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Faster to the Fun. If you go to your excursions webpage, it's available at the home port, unless it's sold out. It moves you up on the priority list for boarding, lets you go right to your room when you board, lets you access a faster guest services line, and gives you priority when tendering off the ship (at ports that require tendering). There are lots of threads where people argue about whether or not it's worth it, or if it should even be available.

[marshhawk]

FTTF faster to the fun. You purchase this on line as an excursion before you sail. It gives you special privileges, like boarding early, special guest services line, priority boarding on tenders.

[evandbob]

If you happen to be on a cruise that has ultra or premier cruise events, the casino MAY be open in some ports. Carnival {or the casino} pays for a local license to keep open when they have devoted casino players on board. Depends on the local laws/regs of the local port's governance as well. Seen this happen several times on my recent premier cruises. It did looked very strange.

 

We don't care for the shampoo, we bring small 3 oz. travel size bottles of both shampoo and conditioner with us.

[A&Jfamily]

No, it is shampoo only without a conditioning agent added. The other dispenser is body wash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hmmm...guess it changed and I didn't notice because the last few trips I have had my own. I could swear at one point it was the combo.

 

 

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[Shaded Lady]

A couple other tips for a new cruiser:

• if your ship has a Cucina del Capitano, it's open for lunch, free, and rarely busy on the first day. The food is great!
  
• If your ship has Guy's Burgers, try it!
  
• Most items on the Room Service menu are free (although some, clearly listed, have an upcharge). Bring $1s as someone mentioned, to tip the Room Service delivery person.
  
• 24 hour ice cream and pizza. No need to say more!
  
• Don't try to do everything! You'll be frustrated and exhausted all at the same time! Check out the daily Fun Times, the Carnival paper, and discuss as a group what you want to do each day, but be flexible.
  
• Download the free Fun Times hub app- keep your phone on Airplane mode and you will be able to use this to see the Fun Times online all the time!
  
• I repeat- KEEP YOUR PHONES ON AIRPLANE MODE! If you don't want ugly surprises on your phone bill, that is!
  

The best advice I ever read was from a lady named Rose, who posted this one Cruise Critic as I was about to take my 3rd cruise... I've tried to make it my mantra ever since!

 

 

Just my thoughts about makingyour cruise a pleasant experience...

 

Pull out that childlike awe and playfulness buried deep inside you, plan wellbefore you cruise, choose your stateroom carefully, don't let smallinconveniences upset you, explore new adventures, try new foods, talk withtotal strangers, participate, let yourself go and you will enjoy yourself. Berealistic about your cruise expectations, nothing is perfect, things do happen.If you cruise with a sense of entitlement, you will be disappointed. Pack yourhumor, imagination, childlike curiosity, flexibility and your brain. Leave yournegativity and bad attitude home.

 

Someone will be cleaning up after you all week, making your bed, deliveringroom service, cooking all your food and washing all your dishes, leaving cutetowel animals to greet you, dazzle you with shows and demonstrations, thentransport you to exotic ports of call.

 

I follow my own suggestions whenever I cruise and ALWAYS have a great time.

[momonthego17]

If you do order room service, bring some singles for a tip. I would tip 2-3 dollars but I order more than just coffee, like pastries, fresh fruit and yogurt. Write it up the night before, indicate what time in the morning you want it delivered, hang the card on the front of your door and have the tip set out. The next morning you can enjoy a little coffee and snack then go get a full bfast at the buffet or in the MDR (main dining room). We do this almost everyday.

Have a great cruise!!

[momonthego17]

Hmmm...guess it changed and I didn't notice because the last few trips I have had my own. I could swear at one point it was the combo.

 

 

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I just noticed that "Exclusively" is spelled wrong on both shampoo and body wash labels in the photo. Yikes![emoji12]