Total newbie to cruising here, and just won a 5 night cruise on myVEGAS game.

[El Gogo]

Hello, Cruise Critic...

 

So yea, my wife and I have never been on an ocean cruise before, and a couple of days ago while playing the myVEGAS game on Facebook, my wife struck it rich and won a reward of a 5 day cruise on Carnival to the Caribbean on the Valor leaving from Galveston ! We are excited, and hope to plan this for our anniversary in January or for valentine in February.

 

With that in mind and after researching stuff for the past 24 hours , I have a few questions that maybe are repeated a lot here, but I’d kindly appreciate if you could please help us get started on planning this dream trip of ours . So...

 

1. Is having a room with a window or balcony worth the upgrade cost than a standard inside room ?

 

2. How does Carnival’s transfer process works from the airport(s) in Houston to the port and back?

 

3. Is the Cheers drink package for this 5 night trip really would cost us over $500 for the two of us if we do decide to get it?

 

4. Is doing prepaid gratuities a good idea?

 

5. We are thinking of doing one excursion for sure to a Mayan Ruin site..can we book those closer to sail date?

 

6. And lastly, we are thinking of using Carnival’s Fast To The Fun program too....how does it work and is it worth it ?

 

 

Thank you in advance, everyone !!

 

- el gogo

[RHilla619]

Congrats on the Myvegas win, that is a sweet prize for sure!

 

1.) Worth having a window or balcony is personal decision, some here with only book inside cabins due to the savings, or others will never book inside cabins due to claustrophobia. Personally I need at least a window room so I would book that if I were you, how much of a difference to go from window to balcony? If it's a $100 or so extra go for it, having your own outdoor space is pretty cool.

 

2.) Carnival will provide you with a time and place to meet the shuttle bus going and returning.

 

3.) Cheers is worth it if you like to indulge while on vacation. Paying for drinks a la carte gets expensive quickly as beers are about $6 cocktails $8 frozen drinks $10 wine $8-12 (rough estimates) so having about 6 or 7 drinks a day will get you to the "breakeven" point, don't forget you get cut off at 15 alcoholic beverages. Cheers also includes bottled water, sodas, powerades, and coffee from the coffee bar so that helps justify the cost to me, also includes gratuity. Side note: assuming you and your wife are gamblers, drinks while gambling are not free from the get go. After a decent amount of play you can receive what is called a "drinks on us card", but you can use Cheers in the casino and anywhere else on the ship.

 

4.) I like to prepay gratuities just to be done with it.

 

5.) Can't speak specifically on that excursion, but the sooner you book it the better. Excursions can sell out especially the ones with good reviews and prices.

 

6.) Faster to the fun (FTTF) will get you priority boarding and debarkation, as well as a dedicated guest services line. Just like room categories, some won't sail without it, and others view it as a waste.

 

 

Hope this helps!

[angela12345]

1. Our first 3 cruises were with a balcony, on our 4th cruise we downgraded to porthole, on our 5th cruise we had interior. Personally, we found we were spending about $300-500 per hour for balcony use (difference in price of interior vs balcony divided by how much time we were actually using the balcony). There is SO much to do on the ship, we are almost never in our room, only to shower and to sleep. And, sleeping is better in the interior rooms (darker). We've never had a window, but we did love the porthole room because we thought it was the best of both ... natural light and (limited) view, but we could close the portholes and get total darkness. That being said, there are others who started interior, upgraded to balcony, and never went back.

2. have never sailed out of Galveston

3. We're low to moderate drinkers, so Cheers is not worth it for us. We drink what we bring onboard, drink our free drink last night (we're gold), and only occasionally buy drinks onboard. If you're a heavier drinker, there are big savings to be had by buying Cheers. Plus the freedom to order anything without worrying about the cost. Plus, it includes bottled water, coffee drinks, sodas, and etc.

4. We typically prepay gratuities, but sometimes not. It usually is dependent on if we have a deal we are trying to take advantage of like Amex spend $500 get $100 back and we're needing it to get to the 500. I do like the room steward knowing the gratuity has been prepaid and not having to worry if I'm going to go to guest services to get it taken off. Plus, we tip extra in the cabin on the last night. I don't know if it gets you better service or worse from the room steward.

5. Yes, you can even wait to book it onboard. Just know there is some risk of any excursion selling out.

6. We used to do FTTF but stopped when they went up on price. Now, we just make sure we choose the earliest check-in time available as soon as it is available to choose and get on early that way (see online check-in). FTTF does allow you in your cabin earlier so you don't have to keep up with your carry-ons until you can get in cabin. And supposedly you get your luggage sooner. It allows you priority in guest services line, but instead we just wait to go when there's no line (for example, on way back to cabin after craps table closes for the night there is literally never one person in line). Also it allows for early debarkation. Now that's one thing I have NEVER understood, who wants to cut the vacation shorter ? We like to be last off the ship, not first (luggage is easy to find because its the only one left, no lines, breeze thru customs). Now, if it allowed a few EXTRA hours after everyone has left, well that we might consider FTTF again !

[TonyinMD]

Hello, Cruise Critic...

 

So yea, my wife and I have never been on an ocean cruise before, and a couple of days ago while playing the myVEGAS game on Facebook, my wife struck it rich and won a reward of a 5 day cruise on Carnival to the Caribbean on the Valor leaving from Galveston ! We are excited, and hope to plan this for our anniversary in January or for valentine in February.

 

With that in mind and after researching stuff for the past 24 hours , I have a few questions that maybe are repeated a lot here, but I’d kindly appreciate if you could please help us get started on planning this dream trip of ours . So...

 

1. Is having a room with a window or balcony worth the upgrade cost than a standard inside room ?

 

2. How does Carnival’s transfer process works from the airport(s) in Houston to the port and back?

 

3. Is the Cheers drink package for this 5 night trip really would cost us over $500 for the two of us if we do decide to get it?

 

4. Is doing prepaid gratuities a good idea?

 

5. We are thinking of doing one excursion for sure to a Mayan Ruin site..can we book those closer to sail date?

 

6. And lastly, we are thinking of using Carnival’s Fast To The Fun program too....how does it work and is it worth it ?

 

 

Thank you in advance, everyone !!

 

- el gogo

 

My opinions...

 

1.) It all depends on the person. I've personally done both and will never go back to an inside or oceanview room unless it's cost prohibited. To me, being able to just go out on the balcony and relax/sip some wine/eat in peace and quiet while enjoying the sound of the waves and views of the water (for the most part) is almost priceless. However, many also prefer being out and about virtually the entire time and are hardly in their rooms, in which case getting an inside room is perfectly fine.

 

2.) You can pay whatever the transfer amount is and when you get to the airport, they direct you to pickup station and they should have representatives waiting on you to direct you to the transfer vehicle. Not sure about Galveston, but I know in the Florida locations, there are a lot of cheaper 3rd party transfer companies and I've even done Uber/Lyft as they are almost always cheaper...many times signifcantly so.

 

3.) Again that depends on how much you normally and anticipate drinking. I've never gotten it as I don't personally drink quite that much...4 drinks or so, sometimes 2 or 3 is enough for me, same with my wife. But if you both plan on drinking 7-8 drinks a day...probably worth it as most drinks are around $10 or so.

 

4.) Again, it depends on the person. I prepay mine every time...some out of guilt due to knowing how little the staffs get paid, mostly because the staff is almost always putting on a happy face and they do a good job for the most part. I have sailed with friends that didn't pay and preferred to tip in cash to only those they directly had contact with and a few in the past that simply didn't tip at all. I'm not one to judge though, it's up to you.

 

5.) I've found that out of 10 or so cruises I've been on, I've never had a problem with an excursion being sold out that I really wanted to go on, even the day before that port day. I would probably say you'd be ok, but if you REALLY want to be sure that you have a spot, paying now is the only way to guarantee it.

 

6.) FTTF. It's a hot topic apparently around here...some look at it as simply a money grab by Carnival and impatient cruises lighting money on fire. Some look at it as a way to be sure that they don't waste time waiting to do the things they want to do once they get to the cruise terminal. Basically, you pay 50-70 bucks, and you get some of the perks Diamond/Platinum members get...Short lines to register at the cruise terminal, early board times (First ones right after Wedding groups/Diamond/Platinum members), short line at Guest Services, Room is ready as soon as you board (normally have to wait until about 1:30), again priority for when you have to tender to port and when you disembark. I happen to personally be in the latter group, after not getting it the first 2 cruises I went on, I got it on my 3rd and now, like a balcony room, it's hard personally to go back. It's up to you though, if you are patient, save your money. I have no problem admitting that I am an impatient person when it comes to my personal time so it's worth it to me.

[mdsgu]

1. Is having a room with a window or balcony worth the upgrade cost than a standard inside room ?

 

2. How does Carnival’s transfer process works from the airport(s) in Houston to the port and back?

 

3. Is the Cheers drink package for this 5 night trip really would cost us over $500 for the two of us if we do decide to get it?

 

4. Is doing prepaid gratuities a good idea?

 

5. We are thinking of doing one excursion for sure to a Mayan Ruin site..can we book those closer to sail date?

 

6. And lastly, we are thinking of using Carnival’s Fast To The Fun program too....how does it work and is it worth it ?

 

1. We have sailed in balcony and interior rooms. If the cost is minimal (you can decide what you consider minimal) the upgrade might be worth it. Honestly, though, we spend very little time in our room and the interior rooms have the added benefit of being totally dark and are great for sleeping.

 

2. Cruise ship transfers (all of them, not just Carnival) tend to be rather expensive. You can usually, with the help of Google, find much cheaper transport that will run on your schedule, not theirs. The best advice I can offer, if you are flying in, is to get there the day before your ship leaves and spend the night close to the port. You don't have to worry about flight delays/cancellations, and the morning you board, just get a quick Uber to the ship.

 

3. Cheers! is worth it if you drink at least 6-7 drinks a day. After that, you are making money. You know how much you drink, so that will be up to you. Just remember that drinks average $8-$10 each with gratuity, and beers are $5-$6. Bloody Mary with brunch, a few beers by the pool, afternoon cocktails, dinner cocktail, wine with dinner, after dinner drinks, nightcap.......it can really add up.

 

4. Gratuities -- you'll pay them eventually. Either pay them before or they will hit your Sign&Sail account on, I think, Day 2. We like to prepay them because it lessens the pain of the bill that they unceremoniously present to you on the last night of your vacation. In fact, we like to order our Cheers! package and excursions before we ever leave just so the entire trip is basically paid off before we board.

 

5. You can book your excursions whenever you feel like -- even onboard. If there is one you really really want to do, I'd say go ahead and book it now to avoid disappointment if it sells out. You can always cancel it without penalty if you change your mind (up until 24-48 hours prior to arriving in that port, I think -- check the fine print).

 

6. Never done FTTF. It depends on what time you want to get to the terminal. If you don't plan to arrive until early afternoon, there's really no point because, at that time, you will generally just waltz on to the ship. If you spend the night in Galveston and you want to get there at the earliest possible time, you might find value in it to get on the ship with all the Diamond and Platinum people (or just after the Diamond and Platinum people).

 

Have a great cruise!

[El Gogo]

Thank you for the replies so far, everyone . We are still in disbelief that we are about to go on a cruise thanks to a video game , essentially . ..

 

Wife and I talked it over and decided Cheers is not worth it for us ....we could use that money saved for a good excursion or two during our cruise .

 

 

We are also planning to arrive in Texas the day before the cruise ...is it better to stay in Houston or straight to Galveston for an overnight before the cruise ?

[nchikk]

You've gotten bunch of answers already. My thoughts may or may not jive with the others.

 

1. Is having a room with a window or balcony worth the upgrade cost than a standard inside room ?

We've sailed in inside, oceanview and balcony cabins. To us, it's no big deal to have an inside cabin as we're in the room mainly to sleep/rest or get ready (shower, dress, etc.).

 

2. How does Carnival’s transfer process works from the airport(s) in Houston to the port and back?

You'd book it with Carnival and meet the bus at a designated point at the airport. Generally, the bus won't leave until it's full or close to it. You may do better on your own.

3. Is the Cheers drink package for this 5 night trip really would cost us over $500 for the two of us if we do decide to get it?

I've heard the break-even is somewhere around 7 drinks per day. If you drink more than that, it is probably worth it.

 

4. Is doing prepaid gratuities a good idea?

For us it is. We get it out of the way. We've never felt like removing them and have often tipped some people extra.

 

5. We are thinking of doing one excursion for sure to a Mayan Ruin site..can we book those closer to sail date?

You can, but you run the risk of it selling out. And if you're going to Tulum or Chichen Itza, absolutely book a ship-sponsored tour.

 

6. And lastly, we are thinking of using Carnival’s Fast To The Fun program too....how does it work and is it worth it ?

We always do this, so to us it is well worth it. Book it as an excursion.

 

Hope this helps.

[pacruise804]

Congratulations! My answers are in blue.

 

Hello, Cruise Critic...

 

So yea, my wife and I have never been on an ocean cruise before, and a couple of days ago while playing the myVEGAS game on Facebook, my wife struck it rich and won a reward of a 5 day cruise on Carnival to the Caribbean on the Valor leaving from Galveston ! We are excited, and hope to plan this for our anniversary in January or for valentine in February.

 

With that in mind and after researching stuff for the past 24 hours , I have a few questions that maybe are repeated a lot here, but I’d kindly appreciate if you could please help us get started on planning this dream trip of ours . So...

 

1. Is having a room with a window or balcony worth the upgrade cost than a standard inside room ? There is certainly plenty to do on the ship that you don't need a balcony, and if you need total darkness (or near total) for sleep then an inside may be a good fit. For me, one of the things I love about cruising is the ocean and a balcony gives us full enjoyment of it. It's nice to step out in the morning and check the temperature without having to go to upper decks, too.

2. How does Carnival’s transfer process works from the airport(s) in Houston to the port and back? I have no experience with this and can't offer any help, sorry:(

 

3. Is the Cheers drink package for this 5 night trip really would cost us over $500 for the two of us if we do decide to get it? A point that I don't think has been covered is that Cheers cannot be used embarkation day in TX or NY, so you would need to purchase drinks the first day. Add in time in ports and possibly just not feeling like drinking much one day and I cannot justify Cheers. I do like to pre-pay as much as possible though, so we plan to get a gift card to apply to our account so we will have already "paid" for our drinks.

Each passenger over 21 can also bring one bottle of wine and 12 cans or boxes of soft drinks (no plastic bottles), so you can provide some of your own. Tap water on ship is fine, but there is also a reasonable package for bottled water if purchased pre-cruise which might be nice for port days.

4. Is doing prepaid gratuities a good idea? We like to prepay gratuities, rather than have the daily service charge (DSC) added to the account during the cruise and having to pay at the end. The crew works very hard and the DSC is convenient for the passenger versus trying to individually tip everyone who served you (many who you don't even see). We will also bring extra cash for additional tips if service was exceptional.

Tipping is also customary for luggage porters, shuttle drivers, and tour guides (and not part of the DSC). Bar services, spa services, and I think room service are not part of the tipping pool (since not all passengers use those services). Gratuities are added to bar and spa charges though. If you use room service it would be nice to provide a small tip for the service.

 

5. We are thinking of doing one excursion for sure to a Mayan Ruin site..can we book those closer to sail date? You should be able to book closer to sailing - some excursions take a while to show up. Many posters find cheaper rates going with private guides versus ship sponsored, but for your first cruise I would recommend a ship tour for peace of mind if the prices are reasonably close. Carnival will price match identical excursions, and they guarantee that they will get you to the next port if your excursion runs late.

FYI - roads and transportation in many Caribbean countries are more 'rustic' than the US. Expect to spend a long time on an uncomfortable, hot bus on narrow, winding roads - and be pleasantly surprised if it is more like you are used to at home.

6. And lastly, we are thinking of using Carnival’s Fast To The Fun program too....how does it work and is it worth it ? We ordered FTTF for our next cruise - this is another very personal decision. It is $69.95 per cabing (not per person) and it gets you the following:

• Priority Check-in - bypass lines and have a quicker embarkation
  
• Guaranteed Stateroom - your room will be available when you board, so you can freshen up and drop your carry-ons (or carry all luggage on if your want and it fits) before exploring the ship
  
• Express Luggage - expedited luggage delivery so you can unpack sooner
  
• Guest Services - dedicated phone number and line at Guest Services
  
• Dining Resvations - priority MDR and Specialty Restaurant reservations (excluding Your Time Dining)
  
• Priority Tender Boarding - if you are exploring a tender port (vs. docked port) on your own, you get priority tendering from the ship to shore
  
• Debarkation - your choice of debarkation time
  

The program basically allows you to purchase many of the Diamond/Platinum perks for the cruise. If you wouldn't use those services or don't value them then you can spend that $70 somewhere else. For us it seemed worth it.

Thank you in advance, everyone !!

 

- el gogo

 

 

Thank you for the replies so far, everyone . We are still in disbelief that we are about to go on a cruise thanks to a video game , essentially . ..

 

Wife and I talked it over and decided Cheers is not worth it for us ....we could use that money saved for a good excursion or two during our cruise .

 

 

We are also planning to arrive in Texas the day before the cruise ...is it better to stay in Houston or straight to Galveston for an overnight before the cruise ?

Congratulations again! Be sure to check in to your roll call for more specific information on your cruise.

[Jldevlin]

We got the 7 day Mexico cruise from Myvegas ..leaving on January 6 ,,,,,the best advice is to read read read ...every thing on this site ....even if the thread title has nothing to do with your ship or your ports ...it is amazing what you can learn ahead of time that will make your trip so much better .....because you are new to cruising the more info you get the more fun you will have ....

[angela12345]

1. Is having a room with a window or balcony worth the upgrade cost than a standard inside room ? There is certainly plenty to do on the ship that you don't need a balcony, and if you need total darkness (or near total) for sleep then an inside may be a good fit. For me, one of the things I love about cruising is the ocean and a balcony gives us full enjoyment of it. It's nice to step out in the morning and check the temperature without having to go to upper decks, too.

I just found out on my recent cruise that they have added the weather information to the Hub App. It's free and you can see the weather for all of the days & ports of your cruise.

[mdsgu]

We are also planning to arrive in Texas the day before the cruise ...is it better to stay in Houston or straight to Galveston for an overnight before the cruise ?

 

I would recommend overnighting in Galveston. Houston to Galveston a little over an hour, depending on traffic.

[Eggfrmr]

We got the 7 day Mexico cruise from Myvegas ..leaving on January 6 ,,,,,the best advice is to read read read ...every thing on this site ....even if the thread title has nothing to do with your ship or your ports ...it is amazing what you can learn ahead of time that will make your trip so much better .....because you are new to cruising the more info you get the more fun you will have ....

We will be on that cruise as well. Also thanks to myVegas.

 

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[Eggfrmr]

We paid $55 pp for an upgrade to an obstructed view blacony through myVegas for a 7 night cruise. Having sailed in interior and balcony cabins previously, I think it is well worth the upgrade at that price.

 

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[Beachiekeen]

Wow, I really need to start playing MyVegas again!

 

As you've seen, alot of your questions are very subjective. I think a balcony is worth it, Cheers isn't, and FTTF isn't either anymore since they raised the price--it was worth it to us at $50 but not $70. But consider the advice here and then decide. We always prepay gratuities as we consider it part of the overall cost. Enjoy your first cruise! :)

[Mr and Mrs C]

Wow that’s awesome that you won on myVEGAS! Do you pay to play or just play the free coins you get daily?

I’ve been hoping they offer obc that you can use the winnings with to buy, I’ll be years before I have enough for a cruise!

 

 

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[Jldevlin]

I have never bought coins but I have been playing for over 4 years ....we have also used Myvegas rewards in London at the Hippodrome Casino for a great steak dinner and free play at the tables ....We have not paid for a hotel in Vegas in years and have seen all the shows for free ....My mom and kids all play too lol ....

[Mr and Mrs C]

I have never bought coins but I have been playing for over 4 years ....we have also used Myvegas rewards in London at the Hippodrome Casino for a great steak dinner and free play at the tables ....We have not paid for a hotel in Vegas in years and have seen all the shows for free ....My mom and kids all play too lol ....

 

 

 

Wow that’s awesome! I set it up on my husbands phone but he doesn’t play regularly, maybe if I tell him this info he will get on it!

 

 

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[dolita22]

Both my husband and I play MyVegas and have used rewards on our last couple trips to Sin City. But we keep watching for Carnival to offer onboard credit through MeVegas. I have over a million points and would love to use some towards OBC for our upcoming Glory cruise. OBC is offered on MyVegas for Royal cruises. I am crossing my fingers they add it for Carnival, though not holding out too much hope since all I've seen is the "free" cruises.

 

OP, enjoy your first cruise! I've cruised in insides, oceanviews, and balconies, and my DH has done oceanviews and balconies. We spend a ton of time on our balcony, so to us it is worth the additional cost. And when you're out at sea, the balcony rooms can be just as dark as insides, IMO, since there's no light - well, except the moon and stars. We love balconies and won't sail in anything but. For your first cruise, I'd go with that if it's not too cost prohibitive. Enjoy!

[El Gogo]

Wow......thank you for the replies, everyone. I appreciate all the info given here from your answers .

 

We have booked the cruise last night; we will sail on June 25th, my wife’s birthday, and was booked a category 4B inside stateroom in the Riviera deck. We’re pretty excited about all this and will use the time between now and June to save money for excursions, souvenirs, and get in better physical shape because after watching YouTube videos on those tours of those ruins, we gotta definitely prep to walk a lot .

 

Thank you again

[mistycruiser]

Just an FYI. Houston has 2 main airports IAH and Houston Hobby. IAH is on the north end and about 1 1/2 hours to Galveston and served by most of the major airlines. Houston Hobby is closer to Galveston about 45 minutes and served mostly by Southwest. If you do plan to take the Carnival shuttles you might want a hotel close by the airport that has an airport shuttle and then return to the airport the morning of the cruise to pick up the Carnival shuttle. The Carnival shuttles only run on cruise days and usually they are down by baggage claim. One benefit of a Carnival shuttle is that you can proceed straight to check in upon arrival at the cruise port. Many cruise ports are closer to the airport than Galveston is but with Galveston being further away from the airports the Carnival shuttles aren't a bad option. JMHO

[nealstuber]

We are also planning to arrive in Texas the day before the cruise ...is it better to stay in Houston or straight to Galveston for an overnight before the cruise ?

 

 

That really depends on a few things, are you flying in to IAH or HOU, your arrival time, the time of year and how much you want to spend.

 

Most agree that HOU is a much easier airport for Galveston than IAH. If you’re arriving much later than 3pm the day before, and doing the shuttle (a decent price on one way rentals is very difficult to find) it’s probably easiest and cheapest to get a hotel that will pick you up at the airport. And stay there for the night.

 

We’ve always been impressed by Galveston, but at certain times of the year it can be difficult to get a one night stay. You’re paying for air and you’re likely taking a weeks vacation for a 5 day cruise, so it might make sense to go 2 days early so you can enjoy a full day there. It is pretty easy to find weekly car rental rates that come close to the round trip shuttle cost and that would give you lots of flexibility for your pre-cruise days but paying $50 to park a rental car makes some people crazy. Some hotels do offer stay and park deals but some of the parking cost is built in to the rate and waiting for the shuttle from the hotel to the port and vice versa makes the small savings not such a great deal.

I’d start by looking at the hotel prices on the island (they fluctuate widely by time of year). If they are acceptable to you, I’d try to fly in to HOU 2 days early and look for a good weekly car rental rate with the idea that you will spend at least $200 on round trip transfers for two no matter how you slice it. Pre book parking with Ez-Cruise or Park and Cruise for best parking rate.

 

With your cruise free, your biggest expense is likely airfare. HOU is a much easier drive than IAH and the rental car situation is much easier - but if I could save $100 or more by flying in to IAH I’d probably do that.

 

 

 

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[El Gogo]

Wow...that was very helpful. Thank you. We won’t worry about airfare until January since our cruise is in June. We have been looking at our favorite airline, Southwest, and it’s good to know Houston Hobby is closer to Galveston than Houston Bush. Didn’t even think about renting a car ...

 

Thank you for the info

[nealstuber]

Wow...that was very helpful. Thank you. We won’t worry about airfare until January since our cruise is in June. We have been looking at our favorite airline, Southwest, and it’s good to know Houston Hobby is closer to Galveston than Houston Bush. Didn’t even think about renting a car ...

 

Thank you for the info

 

 

 

The Southwest thing makes a lot of sense for cruisers because of the free bags. To answer your original question, there are lots of reasonable hotels near HOU with a shuttle that will pick you up at the airport if you end up flying in the afternoon /evening before. One night hotel stays on Galveston are difficult to find in June.

 

Good that you’re looking at Air early, the good rates on the flights that make sense tend to go away quickly. But you may find you can pay for an extra night in the hotel with cheaper air an extra day before or even the day after the cruise.

 

 

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[KmomChicago]

Way to go on your free cruise! Like many others I have been in all categories (except suites). I sleep best in insides - they are like hibernating for the winter. Also they may be cooler. We were in an outside on the Carnival Triumph and with the curtains closed most of the time, we were able to keep the room just bearable for my hot-blooded hubby. Also I think for your first cruise it's good to start at the entry level, else you may have trouble ever going back to humble quarters.

 

We also prepay gratuities. One less sticker shock thing, and one less thing to remember while having a blast on vacation.

 

We don't drink alcohol and not much in the way of soft drinks either so we have no need of drink packages, but we do buy a couple cases of water in advance from the onboard store. The price is pretty reasonable, and though you are supposed to be able to drink the tap water in your bathroom, we feel a bit more comfortable going this route. I recommend bringing a Yeti or similar cup if you like coffee which is provided at no charge at the lido buffet.

 

We used FTTF in March and bought it again for January. These are driving vacations from the Chicago area during school breaks, so at the end of the cruise, we really need to get off the ship and on the road asap in order to get home. Conversely, FTTF gets us onboard and settled before noon, ahead of the crowds, with all our stuff in our cabin and enjoying whatever we want for a little while as everyone else boards.

 

As some others have mentioned, boarding later, when the terminal is cleared out and nearly everyone else has already moved along, and lingering a couple of extra hours at the end of the cruise would have charms depending on your travel requirements. We only needed to speak to guest services once and there was a bit of a line. We went to the empty FTTF window and were taken in front of everyone waiting. I don't identify with royalty so frankly it felt weird to do it, though I realize we were fully justified and had paid for the privilege.

 

We used Lawson's from Progreso for our tour of Uxmal with the Choco Story - not through Carnival. Did I say I am not royalty a moment ago? Well I really did feel like it on this private tour - just a very pleasant guide/driver, a small sedan, my family of 3, and a cooler of water. We did not want to be crammed on a crowded bus and driven to overrun Chichen Itza (which I visited many years ago, but family did not) where you can't climb on anything and you are harassed by vendors (or so I hear). It was not the cheapest possible excursion, but I felt it was extremely high value and well worth every penny.

 

Last point, I use MyVegas also and recently added a $250 onboard credit to our upcoming Royal Caribbean booking with points. Your free cruise on Carnival, by the way, is a much better award than my lowly OBC!! Enjoy!

[El Gogo]

Thank you, Kmom. I did see the water bottle set on the Carnival store website ....not too bad , especially speaking as an employee at a major drug store that sells groceries :)

 

Thank you for your insights on the cabin and FTTF....it looks like FTTF is a worthy purchase then for this virgin cruise of ours ...

 

Now if only MyVegas points can cover airfare for us to Houston ....lol