Carnival Secrets they usually don't tell you about

[RFA]

Back to the secret door idea, I believe I went through it on the Sensation-anyway a girl I met and myself went out toward the front of the ship and the fog horn started to go off. It scared us both pretty good and almost knocked me over (I'm 6'4- 225) so if you're going to venutre out to the front make sure the foghorn isn't going off. Makes for a very unpleasant experience.

 

Also, remember that there are two cocktail parties, one for the early seatings, as well as one for the late crowd. Nothing stops you from going to both!

 

We also saw a couple of Carnival towels being used as floormats on a cab in St. Thomas, we grabbed them and put them on the floor of our room and the steward brought us new ones, made decent souveniers.

 

Also if you're trying to smuggle alcohol back on the ship, the best luck we've had is to use smaller Polad Spring or Aquafina bottles. I had a Nalgene bottle taken last year.

 

I also usually get a straw hat at the first port- starting to thin a bit on top so that's almost necessary to prevent sunburn, also they keep you a lot cooler in the sun.

[rawley2]

Not to sure if this is a big secret but if you have the souvernier glass you can order any frozen drink as a refill not just the drink of the day. They do charge you the price of the other frozen drink you ordered but you get it in the bigger glass.

[EmmaPeel]

This may be the same secret door others have mentioned....but, on the Ectasy, if you walk to either side of the stage in the theater, you will find a small hallway, walk to the front and there is a door that leads out to a balcony at the front of the ship. Hardly anyone knows about it.

[Tracy1]

If you order a bottle of wine at dinner and don't finish it, they will cork it and bring it back for you the next night. This is nice for people who don't normally finish an entire bottle at dinner but don't want to pay the higher price of ordering by the glass.

[MichelleP]

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:

 

On the Fascination this weekend they were charging $1 for a deck of cards at the casino. There was a sign up at the casino cage. Didn't try the purser's desk.

[Tracy1]

Bring at least 2 bathing suits so you never have to put on a wet one.

[gr81]

My wife and I had some interesting bar tabs but would have been worse

had we not stumbled upon happy hour (half off) in the afternoon when in

port on the Holiday.

[Tracy1]

We lost some of our pictures when our camera bag was stolen with our camera and exposed film in it. The lesson we learned (besides keep a better eye on your belongings!) is after you finish each roll of film, keep it in a separate place than your camera bag so that if it gets stolen or lost you will still have the pictures that you've already taken. Another really good option is to get your film developed on the ship. We've found their rates to be similiar to back home. If you develope them right away not only will you enjoy them but you'll also find out if there is any problem with your camera or film so you can make adjustments and get good vacation pictures.

[Ehpride]

Not to sure if this is a big secret but if you have the souvernier glass you can order any frozen drink as a refill not just the drink of the day. They do charge you the price of the other frozen drink you ordered but you get it in the bigger glass.

 

Awesome!

[Aero247]

The only cruise I have been on so far is a Norwegian cruise last year, so I don't know really what to expect on our upcoming Carnival Triumph cruise. I have a question though....Are towels freely available at poolside or must you sign them out? On our NCL cruise we grabbed pool towels the day before our shore excursions and took those with us on shore packed in our bag along with (shh, don't tell) fruit from the breakfast buffet (although we usually forgot to eat it).

[MrPete]

along with (shh, don't tell) fruit from the breakfast buffet

 

I hope you're joking. It would be a VERY bad thing if you intoduced a harmful insect to a place that had no natural defence to it.

 

 

And that's no secret.

[Aero247]

Wow, one day on these boards and I've been slammed, you're quick here! I paid particular attention to picking oranges with LOTS of bugs but unfortunately, as I stated in my previous post, we forgot to eat them so they went back on board with us. What was I thinking....I so meant to scatter bugs all over the caribbean. :rolleyes:

[H82seaUgo]

Wow, one day on these boards

 

You think that's bad? Can you imagine the havoc one orange with ONE Med fruit fly can do?

[nicolio]

Ok, it's not really fun to read post about people bad talking other people. This board is supposed to be helpful for everyone. So if you know a good tip (such as "don't take the fruit off the ship because of the bugs") please say it politely so you don't offend anyone. I'm sure not EVERYONE knows about that.

[Tracy1]

bring lots of $1 and $5 bills for tipping cab drivers, porters, and to have the exact change when bartering at the straw markets and stores in port.

[SoCalCruiseguy]

Wow, so many self professed agricultural specialists! Pretty silly the number of people trying to lay guilt trips off on other people who are just trying to economize. I like experiancing the local cuisine, but hey thats me. But beyond that, taking food off of a ship is not a sin nor in general, against the rules of every country or cruiseline. Every port of call IS NOT like flying into or out of Hawaii.

 

The adult thing to do is WHEN one of us sees that there is a quarantine for whatever reason, THEN and only then should we dispose of FRUIT before leaving the ship. Its no different than here in California where there can be a fruit quarantine from one county to the next on occassion. You don't see fruit being banned enmasse from the state. That is too stupid of a proposition to even think of. So until that point, go ahead and load up your collapsable coolers and fanny packs with all of the food you have ordered from room service and the buffet line and go enjoy your port of call.

[Island Annie]

On the "cake"/"special occassion" issue . . . . While cruising on the Destiny, after dinner my waiter came to me with a birthday cake, candles lit, & singing "Hoppy Birthday". I thought to myself . . . . if he wants to think it's my birthday, and give me some special attention, then let him. Then his assistant came by with a bottle of champagne & glasses for everyone at my table. Well this was "FUN", and I let them proceed. (even though it was not my birthday).

 

Upon receipt of my sail & sign statement, I found a charge for $32.00 for "Special occassion". So . . . a word to the wise . . . .if they try to pull this on you, tell them immediately that it is NOT your birthday! (unless you'd like to enjoy the extras & pay $32.00).

[Marcys]

My TA (Crucon...for a CC group cruise) asked if we would be celebrating any special occassions on our upcoming cruise. I said yes, our 25th anniversary. He told me he arranged a celebration for the first formal night. Will I be charged for this??:eek: :eek:

[marktac]

I do not know if this should be considered a given bu there are Cruise Critic log books on most the ships... usually in the libraries. A chance to add your comments to the book...Look for that topic here or on the old broads if you need to know where for your respective ship.

 

Another thing, do not forget tea times. Usually these are 2 or 3 days per sailing, and chance to sit and listen to some music and taste MORE free food and lovely teas.. a great pick me up in the afternoons you may not have time for naps.

 

Nancy

 

Nancy,

 

Can't speak for your husband, but my wife really gets ticked off a me when I start looking for topics on the old broads on board the ship. :)

 

MarkT

[marktac]

Pride is a spirit class ship - they have refrigerators in balcony rooms (I've been on Spirit). Triumph is a destiny class ship - they have refrigerators as well.

 

Paradise is a fantasy class ship - no refrigerators in balcony rooms (I've been on Ecstasy, another fantasy class ship and as I know it, only the suites have frigs)

 

Don't be too disapointment, you won't miss it.

 

Naw, not quite so...been on both the Fantasy and the Ecstasy, and they have refrigerators in all the cabins. I don't know of any ship currently in service that doesn't have them.

 

Mark T.

[SouthernCaribbean]

Naw, not quite so...been on both the Fantasy and the Ecstasy, and they have refrigerators in all the cabins. I don't know of any ship currently in service that doesn't have them.

 

Mark T.

 

Unless you had a suite or a medical condition that required a mini fridge there wont be a fridge in a Fantasy-class ship. Only the Spirit and Conquest class ships have refrigerators in all cabins.

[SunFunCruiser]

Unless you had a suite or a medical condition that required a mini fridge there wont be a fridge in a Fantasy-class ship. Only the Spirit and Conquest class ships have refrigerators in all cabins.

 

 

Are they empty or are they mini bars?

[deludeu]

The Mini Bars All Full.. But If You Ask, They Will Empty Them For You.. Also When I Was On The Glory (there Was About 20 Of Us) We Had A Baby Shower .. (we Did Not Set This Up With The Cruise Line Before The Cruise)they Gave Us A Room, Decorated It For Us An A Cake , Also A Server.. They Charged Us Nothing! We Did Give All Involved A Nice Tip!

[ccNVcpl]

My TA (Crucon...for a CC group cruise) asked if we would be celebrating any special occassions on our upcoming cruise. I said yes, our 25th anniversary. He told me he arranged a celebration for the first formal night. Will I be charged for this??:eek: :eek:

 

Yes Marcy - they do now charge. Our TA didn't know this until I told her - as she had ask us the same question. Another reason to keep active on these CC boards!

 

7 days and counting. :D :D

[Marcys]

Since the TA asked, I thought it was a gift from him. I feel tacky asking!!:eek: What would you do?