RECAP Carnival Secrets they usually don't tell you about

[WinnipegCruiser]

I wanted to do a recap of a great thread. The Carnival Secrets they usually don't tell you about is 72 pages long and growing.

 

I like so many others slogged through it, but I expect it is daunting at that size.

 

So I wanted to post a recap, and maybe get some more people to add their tricks and tips.

 

You can order a second entree or second anything in the dining room.

 

If you get the souvenir drink with the special glass you could order a refill at a "discount" rate, but the cost of the special in a regular glass is almost $2 cheaper, and is the same amount of drink.

 

Any pasta dish on the main entree section of the menu is also available in an appetizer size. This way you can have a taste without gorging on pasta.

 

If you want post cards, go to the purser’s desk... they have those with the picture of the ship for free!

 

In the casino, they'll give you a lanyard, as well as punch a hole in your S&S card for you. This makes carrying around the card easier for some.

 

In the dining room, ask for espresso after dinner - not usually listed on the menu, but you can have either espresso or cappuccino every night at no extra charge. Although it seems that Carnival has different polices on all their ships, so ask your waiter to be sure.

 

Ask your Room Steward for the hardcover book that is about the ship. It is in your cabin. And he will be pleased to give it to you. It is basically a Carnival commercial, but a nice souvenir.

 

Drink cards: not such a good deal for adults, unless you are a big soda drinker. Drink cards for adults are $38 and $28 for kids. The card allows you to get a glass of coke, which is about 2/3 can. A can of coke costs $1.50 for the whole can. That is about 30 cokes over a 7 day cruise (not including the time you are off the ship) or 4-5 per day.

 

Men - if you forget your razor...please do not use the ladies disposal one that is in the bathroom. Take this as a "Public Service Announcement".

 

On the formal nights - have your picture taken at each of the settings...you don't have to buy them...and it is fun to sit at the photo gallery going through all of the pictures.

 

If you walk around after the late seating on formal nights, the photo station and backdrops are usual still standing and unattended long enough for you to enlist a friend or fellow passenger to take a quick picture with your private camera.

 

If they have the "Galley" tours on your cruise....take it. It is incredible to see the activity that goes on down there. Sure makes you appreciate your meal a little more as you are eating.

 

At the Captains cocktail party (and after your second cruise, at the past guest party), avoid what the waitresses are carting around drink wise, and order directly from the bar. All drinks are free. Remember that there are two cocktail parties, one for the early seating, as well as one for the late crowd. Nothing stops you from going to both!

[WinnipegCruiser]

If you have kids 12 or under, they can order soda or "pop" free of charge with dinner in the assigned dining room at night only (not in the buffet areas). You may have a waiter/waitress attempt to charge you for it, as it seems they are not all aware of this policy. A smile and a reminder that Carnival offers free carbonated beverages to children at dinner was all it took for us, our waitress returned later and apologized, while informing us that we were indeed correct.

If you want to avoid the little kids during the dinner, take the late seating. I love kids, but not on vacation.

If you play blackjack, one secret to keep in mind is the Fun21 table - there are NO QUEENS in the decks - They will tell you this IF YOU ASK but what they won't tell you, and 98% of the players do not realize, is that this forces a change in the way you play.

In the morning for breakfast they have those tiny little individual boxes of cereal. There's Fruit Loops, Frosted Flakes, and lots of other name brand cereals. Grab a few for snacks for you during shore leave.

The Purser's Office will carry stamps of the different countries that you are going to. I like to buy my stamps ahead of time so I don't have to find a post office in each port. Makes it much easier to send the postcards home from the different ports.

You don't get much room in the bathrooms to put all your toiletries so get one of those cloth shoe holders you hang in back of the doors and all you do is fill them with all your little things that clutter up the bathroom! Walmart or KMart for $5.00 or less. Dollar store sometimes.

Carry Ziploc bags of varying sizes - from sandwich up to quart. You just never know when they'll come in handy and fit in the little compartments of your suitcase you never use anyway.

When the lights start to dim in the dining room this means Entertainment is coming. Make sure you have your camera ready.

Bring a thermos style hot/cold mug with a lid and fill with coffee, ice tea, lemonade or self made ice coffee from the lido deck dispensers and ice machines. Works great for coffee in the morning or even a cold beverage while lounging at the pool.

If you are cold natured, take a light sweater. It is often colder in the dining room, casino and the show lounge.

Don’t go to dinner early, you will be waiting outside of the dining room. Wait just a few minutes and then walk down and you will walk right in.

[WinnipegCruiser]

Bring duct tape. If the airline puts a three inch rip in the side of your luggage you will be able to patch it up.

If the port is not a tender port and you are there for most of the day you can come back on board, freshen up, drop off packages, grab a bite to eat (it's already paid for) and go back out.

If you have a computer, cell phone or anything else that needs power. Take a small power bar and extension cord since most cabins have ONE plug, usually far from where you might need it.

The best showers on the ship are located just outside the steam and sauna on the Spa deck. They are about the size of a closet with one shower head above and four shower heads in the wall on the sides.

Bring a light weight folded ice chest, give your steward a $10 bill and he will keep it in ice all through our cruise. That way the water you brought on board is cold.

Stop in at Walmart, and buy the bottled water (24), also purchase a xxl insulated mug usually the cheaper the better ( you will probably just toss it out at the end of the cruise) & a couple of powdered fruit mixes. Place it in a suitcase, and the porters will deliver it with your other suitcases.

If you did bring that insulated mug, you can make your own really cool drinks with the stuff they have on the lido. You can mix ice cream and hot chocolate together for a cool, creamy drink. Free frappuchino? Go to the ice cream station, fill a cup half way with ice cream then add some coffee and ice cubes to it.

Buy wide ribbon, bandanas or large bows (red, green, yellow, etc) any color that stand out and tying them on the handles of your luggage just before you put them outside of your room on the last night of the cruise.

If you drink a lot, look into sending yourself drink coupons. They save 25-50 cents per drink (on most drinks) and that can add up. 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 known then you have to order over the phone.

Most cell phones have alarm clocks built in, so you need not pack one if you are bringing your cell with you. Be sure to set the time to local time. You might want to shut off the roaming feature for the trip.

Don't ever pay for Cruise ship transfers from the airport to the port - taxis are cheaper (especially with 4 of us) and faster and you don't arrive with a busload of people.

There is a mini-refrig in every room. You can ask to have the cabin steward clean it out so you can put your water in it.

[WinnipegCruiser]

A quick hint about buying pictures. The ships tell you that they will not scan for reproduction, but they will. I don't even have that great of a scanner and the pictures I purchased came out great. So, buy one really good one and make copies to give to friends and family if you want to share. HOWEVER-be careful taking the "professional" pictures to WalMart and doing a "do it yourself" scan...even though the pictures are of YOU and YOU paid money for them-they're still considered "copyright protected"..

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

You can get to the cruise terminal early. If you get to the terminal at 11:00 am you can be on board and eating lunch by 12:00. Your room will not be ready, but you beat the crowds and had time to roam around before sailing.

Plan to do laundry. Usually $2 each for washer and dryer, $1 each for detergent and fabric softener. You can get the roll of quarters from the casino.

Make photo copies of your passport (inside page with your photo/ID#/date of issue/exp), credit cards, and air tickets - if they're not e-tickets.

SUNSCREEN SUNSCREEN SUNSCREEN

HAT HAT HAT

A good way to get cash rather then pay ATM fee is to get money in the casino. It will go on your credit card bill as a regular charge at the end of the cruise. No ATM fee or cash advance.

Check Ebay for valuable Carnival coupons. (search: carnival coupon) you might pay $1.50 to someone selling a $100 off coupon.

Pack a 9x12" manila envelope with a piece of cardboard in it to keep our photos from getting crushed on the way home.

Don’t bother with an underwater disposable camera. You can buy a clear flexible plastic case that will hold most digital cameras. You will want to see the pictures you take, and make sure they work. You will not be able to go back and take the pictures again later.

There is also a hamper on a hanger at the dollar store...just the right size for the closet that has the shelves in it. For a buck you can't go wrong!

If you decide to snorkel, you might want to bring dog biscuits to feed the fish. This way the fish will come to you. If you forget the dog biscuits, a bun or bread from the ship will do.

Suitcases fit nicely under the beds. No problem with storage space.

[GoinCruisin]

A good way to get cash rather then pay ATM fee is to get money in the casino. It will go on your credit card bill as a regular charge at the end of the cruise. No ATM fee or cash advance.

 

 

But there is a 3% fee charged...

[big_duck]

But there is a 3% fee charged...

 

True, but with most ATM fees these days, that could be a bargain. ;)

[GoinCruisin]

True, but with most ATM fees these days, that could be a bargain. ;)

 

No kidding!! I think last time it was $5-6... plus the bank charge. But if you are getting $200 or more, it's probably cheaper with the ATM, if they haven't run out of money yet :p

[WinnipegCruiser]

But there is a 3% fee charged...

 

I checked over my bill from Valor feb 25th cruise and I don't see the fee. I did the transfer right at the slot machine. Anyway I also got the "Points" (in my case AirMiles) which you don't normally get from cash advances. So for me it was worth it...

[GoinCruisin]

I checked over my bill from Valor feb 25th cruise and I don't see the fee. I did the transfer right at the slot machine. Anyway I also got the "Points" (in my case AirMiles) which you don't normally get from cash advances. So for me it was worth it...

 

If you get a cash advance from the casino, they charge 3%... if you get it from a slot machine, that is different... some seem to get charged, some don't... but just going and getting it from the casino, there most definitely is a charge.

[EarthGirl517]

 

There is a mini-refrig in every room. You can ask to have the cabin steward clean it out so you can put your water in it.

 

Not all ships have fridges in every room. The fantasy class ships only have fridges in suites.

[jaymay36]

If you have kids 12 or under, they can order soda or "pop" free of charge with dinner in the assigned dining room at night only (not in the buffet areas). You may have a waiter/waitress attempt to charge you for it, as it seems they are not all aware of this policy. A smile and a reminder that Carnival offers free carbonated beverages to children at dinner was all it took for us, our waitress returned later and apologized, while informing us that we were indeed correct.

Actually this is no longer true.. EVERYONE PAYS.. :(

[WinnipegCruiser]

If you have kids 12 or under, they can order soda or "pop" free of charge with dinner in the assigned dining room at night only (not in the buffet areas). You may have a waiter/waitress attempt to charge you for it, as it seems they are not all aware of this policy. A smile and a reminder that Carnival offers free carbonated beverages to children at dinner was all it took for us, our waitress returned later and apologized, while informing us that we were indeed correct.

 

Actually this is no longer true.. EVERYONE PAYS.. :(

 

Alright then, fall back to this tip:

 

If you did bring that insulated mug, you can make your own really cool drinks with the stuff they have on the lido. You can mix ice cream and hot chocolate together for a cool, creamy drink. Free frappuchino? Go to the ice cream station, fill a cup half way with ice cream then add some coffee and ice cubes to it.

[Jrod99]

Thanks so much for the information. We booked our cruise last minute and this is our first time. So, I have been so freaked out about reading all the post and getting all the information we needed. I feel much better now. :D

[DrayP]

This is directed to the hint about setting your clock (alarm or cell phone) to local time...I believe that everything runs on "ship time" not local time...;)

[WinnipegCruiser]

This is directed to the hint about setting your clock (alarm or cell phone) to local time...I believe that everything runs on "ship time" not local time...;)

 

I meant Ship time... as that should be local time for the cruiser... thanks for the clarification.

[FastFreddie]

If you don't want the hassle of packing alcohol in your baggage and sneek it into your room call the Bon Voyage service of Carnival and have a bottle of your favorite delivered to your room! call 800-522-7648

 

 

FF