Carnival Secrets they usually don't tell you about

[gypsyrose]

Why don't you save this thread in your favorites and you can read it whenever you like w/o a lot of searching for it:D Have a great cruise and write a review

[smrn]

this is a great thread especially for newbies!

[Cruisin Angel]

Nouveau Supper Club on the Carnival Spirit...

 

My husband has a question about this club. He's heard that if you want a soup and salad you can't have both. I guess he wants to know if the same rules apply here as in the dining room where you can get whatever you want and as much of it as you want. If you're paying $30pp extra, he feels you should be able to get what you want during the course of the meal.

 

Does anyone know???

[ShoMeChiefsFan]

As CRUZIN' SUZIN said, there is no reason that they shouldn't let you bring your pop into the dining room. My steward wasn't rude when he said no, but I guess it would have been nice if he took it away and stocked it somewhere else.

 

Back to what I said before, I brought a can of Pepsi into the dining room a couple of times, and it was fine. Our drink server gave me a funny look though, lol.

 

hell i have even brought my own cans of beer to the table, but of course all my table mates, were bringing wine....or other drinks that they too had already purchased in the day (value drink of the day) or what they had snuck on board!

[GoinCruisin]

Nouveau Supper Club on the Carnival Spirit...

 

My husband has a question about this club. He's heard that if you want a soup and salad you can't have both. I guess he wants to know if the same rules apply here as in the dining room where you can get whatever you want and as much of it as you want. If you're paying $30pp extra, he feels you should be able to get what you want during the course of the meal.

 

Does anyone know???

 

The salad is a different course from the soup. The soup is in the appetizer category. So yes, he can have soup and a salad. No, the same rules do not apply... Believe me, $30 is CHEAP for everything you are getting... he won't leave hungry. It's a supper club, completely different from the dining room... you choose one of each course, and it's plenty. Sometimes, if you get someone REALLY nice, they might let you have an extra from the appetizer category... but they are not supposed to. I could understand wanting more if there was a $80 upcharge, but it's only $30 and it's quite a bargain even for one of each course.

[iluvdoxies]

The salad is a different course from the soup. The soup is in the appetizer category. So yes, he can have soup and a salad. No, the same rules do not apply... Believe me, $30 is CHEAP for everything you are getting... he won't leave hungry. It's a supper club, completely different from the dining room... you choose one of each course, and it's plenty. Sometimes, if you get someone REALLY nice, they might let you have an extra from the appetizer category... but they are not supposed to. I could understand wanting more if there was a $80 upcharge, but it's only $30 and it's quite a bargain even for one of each course.

 

 

 

Correct ! I luv the supper club !

[Adeena62]

Apologies in advance if this is a stupid question...:)

 

What are the magnets for?

 

Not stupid at all, I was wondering the same thing.

[Adeena62]

"What ships have you been on? And when? The only time Agents were onboard any of my cruises was in San Juan on Destiny. On all the others it was handled at the pier after getting luggage."

 

What ships have YOU been on and when? Have you sailed every international itinerary on the globe? You know, not all ships sail within the confines of the predictable ports of the Caribbean and the U.S.

 

It doesn't matter what ships I have been on. International itineraries are in progress all over the world. The ships and lines all handle customs in different ways.

 

The POINT is that when you are called for customs, be considerate and just GO to customs. Don't hold up debarkation because you can't be bothered to wake up early. You MUST go through customs eventually. Making people wait to debark on your schedule is outrageously rude.

 

Relax..... All that was asked were a couple of questions because they didn't have the same experience you had on evey ship!

[cruisecrasy]

The salad is a different course from the soup. The soup is in the appetizer category. So yes, he can have soup and a salad. No, the same rules do not apply... Believe me, $30 is CHEAP for everything you are getting... he won't leave hungry. It's a supper club, completely different from the dining room... you choose one of each course, and it's plenty. Sometimes, if you get someone REALLY nice, they might let you have an extra from the appetizer category... but they are not supposed to. I could understand wanting more if there was a $80 upcharge, but it's only $30 and it's quite a bargain even for one of each course.

 

Will be 'on' Spirit in the fall - can we have a table for 2 and if yes cld u recommend which table/area u enjoyed and which level as I can see there are 2 levels for the club.

 

Appreciate reply - thanks in advance.

[cruisecrasy]

The salad is a different course from the soup. The soup is in the appetizer category. So yes, he can have soup and a salad. No, the same rules do not apply... Believe me, $30 is CHEAP for everything you are getting... he won't leave hungry. It's a supper club, completely different from the dining room... you choose one of each course, and it's plenty. Sometimes, if you get someone REALLY nice, they might let you have an extra from the appetizer category... but they are not supposed to. I could understand wanting more if there was a $80 upcharge, but it's only $30 and it's quite a bargain even for one of each course.

 

Will be 'on' Spirit in the fall - Can we have a table for 2 and if yes - cld u recommend which table/area u enjoyed and which level u wld recommend as I can see there are 2 for the club.

 

Appreciate reply - thanks in advance.

[Cruisin Angel]

Will be 'on' Spirit in the fall - Can we have a table for 2 and if yes - cld u recommend which table/area u enjoyed and which level u wld recommend as I can see there are 2 for the club.

 

Appreciate reply - thanks in advance.

 

I havne't been on yet but I have friends that have... and they have tables for 2,4,and 6. I believe the tabels for 6 are all ont he downstairs main floor and the tables for 2 and 4 are on the upper level. There are alot of "booths" for 4 on the upper level. And the tables for 2 seems to be near the railing looking down over the lower level. I would think that would be real nice sitting there!!

[Cruisin Angel]

I cruise for a living and I can't believe how much I've learned in this thread!

 

I bring Curel for my hands but never thought of Clorox wipes for the life preserver. Brilliant! I come home not feeling well so often I've started to take Airborne before going but I bet the Clorox wipes will help a lot too!

 

My hint is in the "just in case" department, and it's not original but it's a good idea. There are several reports of bedbug incidents (there's one on the RCCL board right now with some icky photos) so I thought I'd bring this up:

 

Take a big trash bag or two (along with your duct tape) and put your suitcases in them, fold the top, and tape them shut. The only thing worse than finding bedbugs in your cabin is bringing them home with you.

 

Ewww.

 

Thanks for all of the great suggestions!

 

Jana

 

Also.. if you are a customer of Melaleuca and have solumel... take some with you and dilute it when you get there.. spray down your bedding and anything else you want and it'll kill any bedbugs. And it's 100% non caustic! I get all my household stuff from this company and because so, my family hasn't been sick in 4 years and through 2 cruises!!! Our immune systems are incredibly strong now :) It's amazing what the cleaners in your home, even the shampoo, is doing to your body.

 

Anyway.. the solumel is priceless!!! Worth it's weight in gold! And you can clean anything with it, it's a natural disinfectant!

 

If you're not a customer of melaleuca and want to be.. message me and I'll show you how. I'm asthma and migraine free for 4 years now!!

[GoinCruisin]

Will be 'on' Spirit in the fall - Can we have a table for 2 and if yes - cld u recommend which table/area u enjoyed and which level u wld recommend as I can see there are 2 for the club.

 

Appreciate reply - thanks in advance.

 

I've never had a table for two because we go with a group... but yes, there are tables for two. The Spirit class has the best supper club in my opinion... you can get a table by the window if you go early to make ressies.

[Modernchic]

Hi all!!! If you get sea sick, and I did, you can go to the Pursers desk and ask for pills. They are free there. They also have them in the gift shop on board for a little over $6.

 

I can totally vouch for this. Our first cruise hit a tail end of hurricane and made me slightly nauseous. I bought Dramamine first, and it made me SLEEEEEPPPY (I actually lterally feel asleep over salad one eve). We ran out of it, and so did the gift shop (guess I wasn't the only one)-I remembered something about the free pills at the Info desk, and got some. These were SOOOO much better than the Dramamine!!! Miraculous little pink pills! From now on, I am just getting these from the info folks if I need them, they were great!

 

[Criscomia]

It's called meclazine..........they were a God send for me on my last cruise. Almost flew home the 2nd day until these pills came to my attention. Take one in the morning and you are good for 24 hours.

[Patinthehat]

I know this has been mentioned countless times, but there's no reason it can't be repeated. You can get a free deck of Carnival cards if you ask at the Purser's desk. Just go up and ask.

 

Pat

[suziehmkr]

I remembered something about the free pills at the Info desk, and got some. These were SOOOO much better than the Dramamine!!! Miraculous little pink pills! From now on, I am just getting these from the info folks if I need them, they were great!

 

Meclazine is the generic version of the NON-Drowsy Dramamine & Bonine. You can buy it in the same section of your drug store for a FRACTION of the cost. But if you don't have it - YES, you can get it at the purser's desk. We saw them handing them out on our last sea day a couple of weeks ago (we had high winds and 18 ft swells)

 

Some people still get a little tired from it... if this is the case, take it at night before you go to bed.... they are good for 24 hours and you get the sleepies out in the beginning of it.

 

Personally, I use ginger. Works like a dream for me.

[baseballdad]

These aren't secrets but they help me make my cruise experience memorable.

 

 

A few more ideas to help your cruising experience;

 

...

 

 

Almost all of the above items are very very inexpensive and a majority of them I found a "everythings a dollar" type store.

 

WOW, SFA - a few Great ideas in there, including a few I've never seen before! That Tupperware Cruise Kit is absolutely Right On...

[beezy089]

Okay, I have a tip, but don't flame me for this. I admit it's a little sneaky. And you can blame my husband, it was his idea. He goes to the galley of pictures and finds ours. Then he gets up real close to our picture and takes his own picture of it. That way he doesn't have to pay for our picture. I know. We're bad. Real bad.

 

I've done that. Don't be ashamed haha.

[Mz CB]

Hey everyone, thanks for the tips!

 

Here's what we do re: drinking water. We are big water drinkers, don't want to lug lots of bottles in our baggage, and don't want to pay exhorbitant prices for water onboard or on shore. Whenever we go into a situation where water flavor is an issue (like the desalinated tap water in the cabins), we add a powdered electrolyte mix, like Emergen-C (available now in most supermarkets and in nearly all health food stores). These little packets are easy to pack and come in a variety of flavors. The added benefit is that they replenish electrolytes lost through activity in the sun (ha ha - sweating). We add them to regular tap water in a drinking bottle or to our portable water bag backpacks, which we use as a daypack when going on outings. Works great!

[GoinCruisin]

I know this has been mentioned countless times, but there's no reason it can't be repeated. You can get a free deck of Carnival cards if you ask at the Purser's desk. Just go up and ask.

 

Pat

 

The last few cruises, they have actually been selling them in the casino (I think only a buck or so) but the pursers desk told a couple in front of us they needed to go to the casino to get the cards, so I'm guessing they had to pay.

[Jsme]

Okay, I have a tip, but don't flame me for this. I admit it's a little sneaky. And you can blame my husband, it was his idea. He goes to the galley of pictures and finds ours. Then he gets up real close to our picture and takes his own picture of it. That way he doesn't have to pay for our picture. I know. We're bad. Real bad.

 

I have a friend who steals them. Now that is bad. I have never ever done this and would never ever steal them.

[Rudyard]

Brand new to cruising here and we're currently planning our first cruise on the Conquest in September of '07. This thread has been a great help as I'm the type that likes to research every little aspect of a vacation before I leave. I've probably learned more from this thread than any ten guidebooks. :)

[mojo2rusty]

Who ever ask about the laynard vs the clear plastic thing for your S&S card, a couple yrs ago on a cruise my friend lost her S&S 2 or 3 times from the little plastic holder. One time she was just walking on deck, the wind was blowing and it blew it right out of the holder. I also heard others say that they had lost their S&S card the same way. The Lanyard is by far the best way to go. I keep my lanyard packing in my cruise stuff so I have it each trip.

[suziehmkr]

A teen on our excursion lost her 3 cards that she had in the plastic sleeve while we were riding horses. We found them all on the way back, but easy to bounce out. It was the sleeve from the Carnival Vacation Club that they give out for free... DH kept his in one without incident, but I carried his driver's license with me. Just in case!