Carnival Secrets they usually don't tell you about

[kdickers]

I too have found the "secret door". Makes for a romantic moment with your significant other. Met my husband on Carnival Celebration and this is where he kissed me for the very first time. Always a special spot for us!

Where's the "secret door" on the Celebration??? I'd LOVE to find it!!;)

 

Kim

[travel girl23]

Another tip for you ladies who want your hair, nails, etc. done for either or both formal nights. Go to the salon the day you board and make your appointment. The times fill up fast.

[I Luv Crusin]

When I was on the Sensation 9/02, I had my acrylic nails filled. I think it cost 20.00 but when I checked out they told me I had to pay another 14.00!!! for the color.....I have NEVER had to pay for the color on land, isn't the part of the cost of a fill????

 

Lesson...make sure you know the total cost before you submit to any services by Steiner.

[Mlascheid]

Bring an extension cord or a 3 pug adaptor...there is never an elecrical out let where you need it. Also, buy an 'over the door shoe organizer(avail. at Wal-mart for about $5) and hang it over the inside of the bathroom door....it's a great place to put all of your toiletries that would otherwise clutter up the minimal bathroom counter space. Good for holding many other things as well!

[cruise on carnival]

i would love to hear more tips. taking my first cruise in january on the inspiration.

[litig8rij]

i'm cruisin' in 2 weeks & methinks we need more hidden treasures...:rolleyes:

[egsmom2002]

I am so glad I found this forum! All your tips are very helpful! Looking forward to our first cruise on Elation in May 2005.

[CRUISADER]

Other than the free deck of cards from the pursers desk, the casino hostess will give away used decks of the casino cards and dice sets. One catch...The cards have an edge punched and the dice have a hole in them. I'm guessing they want to make sure the players at the tables don't get confused as to which cards or dice to use.

 

I had asked the pursers desk several times for a deck of cards and was told they were out. DW went to the pursers desk and came back with two decks.

Go figure :confused:

[nhaone]

DH and I sail on Sunday, Can't Wait! I love this thread! Couple of questions if I may:

1. Is there refrig on Victory Upper Deck 8A staterooms? And what "class" is this ship considered?

2. Do you actually get to purchase the chair for $22? What if you want to buy it without "ratting someone out?"

3. We added tip in our pre paid trip, will I be charged more that the initial cost with the exception of drinks?

 

Thanks, l

bah dah dah dah dah, Im lovin it

[skyqueen]

I always bring a 12 ft extension cord. Then it is always long enough to go from the plug into the bathroom. Most bathrooms dont have outlets. I bring the glade night light plug in. I will put that on it and leave it in the bathroom at night. Those rooms tend to be dark. Just that lil light keeps you from bruising a shin. And, it makes it smell nice. Also, the large lidded insulated cups are great to keep things cold. I love shrimp cocktail. They dont tell you - but - I told out waiter this and got 2 of them every night.

 

I love this site. I have gotten a lot of tips!

[vnoyes]

One of the first things I do is ask my room steward for the use of a bath robe during the cruise. These are usually standard in suites, but if you write your steward a note while you are out to dinner the first night (I always include a cash tip as well) there will be one (or two if requested) waiting for you no problem. This saves so much room in my luggage and is useful for the pool and also spa visits. Enjoy!

[Stress]

If you are traveling from the colder areas of the country to a ship in the south, wear your bathing suit under your clothes. When you get on the ship your luggage will take a while and you can still enjoy the poolside in comfort. Or bring a carry-on bag with cloths to change into.

[serene56]

DH and I sail on Sunday, Can't Wait! I love this thread! Couple of questions if I may:

1. Is there refrig on Victory Upper Deck 8A staterooms? And what "class" is this ship considered?

2. Do you actually get to purchase the chair for $22? What if you want to buy it without "ratting someone out?"

3. We added tip in our pre paid trip, will I be charged more that the initial cost with the exception of drinks?

We had a 8A on the Victory and did NOT have a refrigerator. This ship is a Destiny/Triumph class ship.

 

Purchase a chair?? Chairs are first come first serve- there is no purchasing of the chairs. if you lose your towel it will cost you $22.00

 

If your tips were prepaid you should have received vouchers in your documents--did you? You will not be charged more for your tips- you can check that out on your tv. If tips are added again go visit the Purseers desk and ask for them to be removed. IF you buy a drink--the gratuity will be added to the cost. If you buy a spa service--like a massage-- you need to add a tip. You will need to tip the cab driver that takes you to the pier/ tip the porter a buck a bag when he handles your luggage for the cruise. Youwill tip when ordering room service.

[SkylarKD]

a few things...

If you drink a lot, look into sending yourself drink coupons. They save 25-50 cents per drink (on most drinks) and that adds up if you drink a bit. On our last Carnival cruise, we spent $300 on drink coupons and had one left over. Last month on Princess, coupons aren't available and our bar bill was over $400. A couple of drinks at the pool, wine at dinner and a drink or two in the show room after dinner adds up to almost 100 drinks for 2 on a week long cruise.

What are drink coupons, and how do you send them to yourself?

[PelicanBill]

Buy the drink coupons under the "gifts" section of www.carnival.com - send them to yourself. You'll need your booking # and cabin #. If your cabin is not know then you have to order over the phone.

[arcone]

Does anyone want to add anything?

[pryd]

My best little known secret is to tip the cabin steward a little at the Beginning of the cruise. They tend to be very helpful after that. If you have a Soda Card, buy the carnival thermal mug in the gift shop. It hold more (Nearly the whole can).

 

Next is a Packing secret. Bring extra hangers, and a multi socket extension cord. Also the Bunjee cord for the cabin slider if you have a balcony. If you have 2 shopping saver cards with a magnetic stripe, you should use them for the safe as they will be both the same and both of you can open and close the safe.

 

Pryd

[Tamhugh]

My tip is for the photo gallery. On our first cruise, we wandered around for the first few days trying to locate all of our pictures. They move them around to make room for the new ones and you have to look each time. Someone recommended that we pull all of our pictures each day and stack them in a slot one behind the other. The workers usually won't move the whole stack, ao you can just look through them all at once at the end and only buy the good ones. And I don't know the link, but if you google search it, there is a website out there with releases from all the major cruiselines. You can take it along with any pics you buy and get copies made back at home.

 

Tammy

[sea_u_onboard]

And I don't know the link, but if you google search it, there is a website out there with releases from all the major cruiselines. You can take it along with any pics you buy and get copies made back at home.

 

You can also contact Carnival directly and they will send you a photo release.

[dschoultz]

Remember most cell phones have alarm clocks built in you need not pack one if you are bringing your cell with you

[sea_u_onboard]

Remember most cell phones have alarm clocks built in you need not pack one if you are bringing your cell with you

 

True - I used mine on the last cruise to set for times of activities I didn't want to miss - or so I would pick up my son on time from camp. But to be honest this next time I'm just going to take a watch with an alarm - they have cheap ones - cheaper then an alarm clock and much easier to carry around :D . My husband wsn't one the last cruise - but we always used his watch as an alarm.

[Trisha from Albuquerque]

Wow...what a great thread! I've made a list of all the things I need to pack for our Carnival Miracle cruise on Feb. 13. Can't wait!!! :D

[GoinCruisin]

My tip is for the photo gallery. On our first cruise, we wandered around for the first few days trying to locate all of our pictures. They move them around to make room for the new ones and you have to look each time. Someone recommended that we pull all of our pictures each day and stack them in a slot one behind the other. The workers usually won't move the whole stack, ao you can just look through them all at once at the end and only buy the good ones. And I don't know the link, but if you google search it, there is a website out there with releases from all the major cruiselines. You can take it along with any pics you buy and get copies made back at home.

 

Tammy

 

On our last pics, there was NO copyright.... amazed me, but we took them to have them copied and they knew to look.... but had to copy them as there was nothing on the back stating they could not reproduce or any sign of a copyright... not sure if this is something new, but our first ones did have something on them...

[amarvel]

Remember most cell phones have alarm clocks built in you need not pack one if you are bringing your cell with you

 

 

if you do this, also make sure to set your cell phone to the current ship time, since we werent able to use the cell phones for calling, we didn't think about this and we were from the west coast sailing out of tampa and the alarm didn't go off and we almost missed our tour the first port day.

[SunFunCruiser]

I think it's kind of tacky that they charge you for a birthday cake when all the other food is included. Can you just ask for a regular dessert with a candle in it?