Elaine515 Posted February 4, 2007 #1 Share Posted February 4, 2007 After spending hours reading the original thread...I "borrowed" this from one of the posters. Let's see if we can continue this one and make it a bit easier for all of us.... If you don’t like what is offered on the main menu, you can ask the waiter for either a steak or grilled chicken. Any pasta item on the main menu CAN be ordered as an appetizer. Just ask. Post cards, foreign postage stamps and playing cards are available at the pursars desk. Get a FREE lanyard at the Casino. Pursars desk will punch a whole in it for you. 24 hour pizza place also serves Calzones and Caesar salads. If you want a special topping and they have it they will make you that pizza. Go to tea-time they have different snacks and its a nice place to relax Ask the steward if you forget something ie toothpaste...they often have samples Bring baggies of assorted sizes. For saving snacks for excursions and wet clothes. Take the tour of the galley They have an early and late night seating as well as captains party...take advantage of both for double free drinks. Bring on own bottles of water, and soda and save $$$ Bring a reusable cup with lid...less trips to get a drink Ask for your drink in a plastic cup (not the fancy one ) saves $$$ You may be able to eat free lunch at the places they charge for dinner Orange juice is available at the same place all day they just remove the label You may get a free facial if you call the spa and ask to be a volunteer. Tie a bright ribbon/scarf to your luggage for easy spotting. Also can work on cabin door When the regular hot tub is too full, use the spa one. Use of the sauna/steam room is free Use the spa shower if multiple people need to shower at same time Ask for children’s dessert menu (banana splits) Bring Duct tape Bring a highlighter Bring post it notes Sit close at the port talks sometimes they toss out free stuff You can ask for extra pillow chocolates Bring an extension cord/power strip Early and extra tips for stewards = more perks for you You can order free drinks from the bar in the room at Captains dinner as opposed to those on the tray. Bring travel hooks to hang stuff in your room Bring a few paper funnels to make filling the water bottle easier. Bring towels from home to avoid fearing losing one Take a hand towel with you to the beach it will help remove sand and is handy for lots of other things too Baby powder helps remove sand Use a magnet to trick the balcony door into thinking its closed to keep the air on Most ships have a secret door...find it You can also print cards to take with you on the layout of the ship...simply use a word document...format in normal 8pt bold: Times New Roman: 8pt and divide into for equal columns. Self disembarkation is FASTER It is possible to ‘smuggle’ alcohol on board Make sure to stock up on "snacks" before debarkation. The wait can be pretty long and everything is closed during this time. Except for the coffee shop which takes cash Cards become demagnetized don’t use your credit card for the room safe If the safe will not open call the desk they will send someone to open it If you get sea sick you can go to the Pursers desk and ask for pills. They are free there Use your telephone for leaving each other messages in the cabins Did you know you can call Carnival's Bon voyage department and pre-order alcohol to be delivered to your cabin? You can order bottles of hard liquor so that you can make your own drinks. You can't order online. You must call to set this up. It is a little pricey but worth it and cheaper than buying by the drink. Do walk the entire ship on your first day You can also ask your Room Steward for the book that is in your cabin Bring a night light/ alarm clock Bring water shoes The ship uses two types of toilet paper. Both are made by the same company. The sandpaper they call "envision" you will not want to subject your bottom to for 8 days. Ask your room steward to make sure that your stateroom is stocked with the "preference" paper instead. Bring a sweater the dining room can be cold Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dallas52 Posted February 4, 2007 #2 Share Posted February 4, 2007 thanks needs alot of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerseyGem Posted February 4, 2007 #3 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Thank You Elaine! I've been slowly reading through those many, many pages of hints. Now I can stop and just use your condensed version- my family thanks you- I may even cook dinner tonight now that I have the time! My tip- we bring an over-the-door shoe bag to attach to the bathroom or closet door (or just hang in the closet). We have a cloth one, so it folds up very compactly (I don't think those plastic ones would travel well). This is not just for shoes- we use it to hold all the assorted junk (cameras, sun blocks, water wallets, duct tape, highlighters, etc) that would normally clutter up the cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I&MsMom Posted February 4, 2007 #4 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Elaine - Thank you, thank you. All that wonderful information in one spot! I agree about the over-the-door shoeholder. It keeps the "desk" clear of stuff, so it can actually be used! I hadn't thought of the travel hooks...great idea! Happy cruising, everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LHP Posted February 4, 2007 #5 Share Posted February 4, 2007 A great thread...keep it going! No matter how long a person has cruised there are still things we can learn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachj Posted February 4, 2007 #6 Share Posted February 4, 2007 One of those hints is incorrect. They serve breakfast before debarkation on Lido deck and in one dining room. At least they did as of July 06. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honeywell Posted February 4, 2007 #7 Share Posted February 4, 2007 "You may be able to eat free lunch at the places they charge for dinner" I've never heare this one...anyone do this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smrn Posted February 4, 2007 #8 Share Posted February 4, 2007 The room steward can also get you some sea sick pills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darlipoo Posted February 5, 2007 #9 Share Posted February 5, 2007 The over the door shoe thing, does it actually go over the door or hang on a hook on the back of a door? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golf_hawaii Posted February 5, 2007 #10 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Sorry...newbie cruiser here. What are the duct tape, post it notes and highlighters for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patinthehat Posted February 5, 2007 #11 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Sorry...newbie cruiser here. What are the duct tape, post it notes and highlighters for? People always say that when they bring these things, things happen (such as things breaking, etc.) and they use the duct tape a lot. I think highlighters are good for telling your fellow roommates where you are going, for example, if you're going to the pool for a few hours, you leave a note on the door that says "On the lido". The highlighters are good for highlighting the activities you want to do in the Capers (the daily newsletter that says all of the things happening each day), but I find that a little arrow with a pen works fine. Hope this helps, Pat P.S. Just wondering, where are you from "Up north"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhioJeff Posted February 5, 2007 #12 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Sorry...newbie cruiser here. What are the duct tape, post it notes and highlighters for? highlighter can be used to mark things on the Daily Capers cruise newspaper) post it notes...to leave room steward notes duct tape...in case something breaks or rips..like luggage. I dont bring any of the above, but many do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgk Posted February 5, 2007 #13 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Could this be made into a sticky. Seems to me that this is a great list and I for one don't want to have to search for it (again) :) Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckycruzer Posted February 5, 2007 #14 Share Posted February 5, 2007 The over the door shoe thing, does it actually go over the door or hang on a hook on the back of a door? works with over the door type wreath hanger(from craft store)metal is really thin and works fab. I put a small dowel rod(wood) in the top hem for stability. mine is on its 6th trip in 6 months. I write on strips of masking tape to label each pocket, if yours isnt see thru. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseCentric Posted February 5, 2007 #15 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Could this be made into a sticky. Seems to me that this is a great list and I for one don't want to have to search for it (again) :) Thanks You can subscribe to this thread or bookmark it in your favorites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccartman2 Posted February 5, 2007 #16 Share Posted February 5, 2007 All the seasoned cruisers are going to have a good laugh at my expense, but you can detach the days activities instead of carrying the whole capers. I didn't figure it out until the last day of my first cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanessa L Posted February 5, 2007 #17 Share Posted February 5, 2007 All the seasoned cruisers are going to have a good laugh at my expense, but you can detach the days activities instead of carrying the whole capers. I didn't figure it out until the last day of my first cruise. Hey, I think this is great!!! You know, we were ALL first time cruisers once ;) I appreciate your adding this info. I've been cruising a long time and still learn stuff on this board, almost daily!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseQueen0107 Posted February 5, 2007 #18 Share Posted February 5, 2007 I never knew you could pre order a botte on telephone line that's great how much do bottle's run is it very pricy? ~Lauren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LHP Posted February 5, 2007 #19 Share Posted February 5, 2007 I never knew you could pre order a botte on telephone line that's great how much do bottle's run is it very pricy?~Lauren I am going on memory here...warning number one...LOL I believe a 750 size of rum was around $40.00. (but don't quote me) I just remember it being a little less than 4 times what we pay for it at a liquor store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveltart Posted February 5, 2007 #20 Share Posted February 5, 2007 One of those hints is incorrect. They serve breakfast before debarkation on Lido deck and in one dining room. At least they did as of July 06. I was confused by this one as well. I thought you could eat and hang out on the Lido deck while waiting to debark. I had asked about this before and had a few people respond that you can have a "leisurely" breakfast on Lido day of debarkation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine515 Posted February 5, 2007 Author #21 Share Posted February 5, 2007 I was confused by this one as well. I thought you could eat and hang out on the Lido deck while waiting to debark. I had asked about this before and had a few people respond that you can have a "leisurely" breakfast on Lido day of debarkation. Since we live within an hour or hour and a half from Miami or Pt Everglades, we always just get breakfast and hang out on the Lido Deck eating breakfast and watch everyone get off... SO YES, you can eat on the Lido deck while waiting to debark..... BUT.... a couple of times we were held up getting off the ship, for one reason or another, and they did close down the Lido Deck and there was no food available and we were just wishing for something to drink or a little something to eat.... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronkay Posted February 5, 2007 #22 Share Posted February 5, 2007 what happened to the other posts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dromMOM Posted February 6, 2007 #23 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Don't forget to bring the thick rubber band found on Broccoli to hold the button to the on position on the dryer! This button needs to be held for the dryer to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine515 Posted February 9, 2007 Author #24 Share Posted February 9, 2007 This isn't a Carnival secret but I think its a good thing to know/do... If you plan on using your credit card either on the ship or on the Islands, call your credit card company prior to cruising and tell them where you will be using it, when you will be using it and to please note your account. While cruising with our friends last year, their card was denied in Antigua. Boy were they embarrassed. Luckily, they used ours but when they did get back, they were told that because the credit card company couldn't get in touch with them and they had also used it on a previous Island, they thought it might be fraud so stopped charging privileges. Hope this helps and its ok to put this here :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinmama06 Posted February 9, 2007 #25 Share Posted February 9, 2007 I have talked about this on the Family Board but I will add it here for those with young children.... --If you travel with young children, bring a cup (sippie cup) because they WILL give your 2 year old a huge goblet glass of apple juice as you sit there praying it won't spill over your table mates. --The kids club acitivities MAY be wrong in the kid compass. They have been known to have misprints. So double check all events before you leave your child. --The kids will get a smilie cookie on their pillow during turn down service on the first night. So don't refuse turn down service for that night. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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