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Let's talk Carnival cruise

Chet

Chet

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Joined
Aug 18, 2010
Location
San Jose
Moto(s)
SV(sold), D675
Name
Chet
I'll take a cruise with my family for the first time.
7-night Carnival cruise from LA - Mexico.

Tell me what I need to bring and what not. What to do and what not.
People say to bring drinking water and soda :rofl:rofl:rofl
Some even say to ask for automatic daily tip ($15/person/day) back and give it directly to your helper.
 
Done well you only need you and some clothes. :party

Done poorly you will need patience (7 days trapped on board) and a gastro intestinal specialist. :(

I vote no on auto tipping. Some stewards and other help may deserve more.
 
Remember also that at dinner you don't have to choose between let's say the Prime Rib or the Lobster.

Simply order one of each.

They won't say no.
 
The wife and I were drunk before they untied the ropes holding the ship to the dock. :laughing :party
 
Cruises are awesome. Been on a few and only through Carnival. The auto tipping is very nice. I'd rather pay it and not worry abut it. The service help are generally top notch...usually much better than you're probably used to. If any of the help provides exceptional service, yOU can always tip them personally with cash. They won't turn it down and will really appreciate it. They also auto charge tips when you buy drinks on board.
 
Sneak some alcohol on board. Also stay away from the casinos, I've had nothing but bad luck on cruise ships.
 
GAJ said:
Remember also that at dinner you don't have to choose between let's say the Prime Rib or the Lobster.

Simply order one of each.

They won't say no.
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During a Panama Canal cruise I ordered dinner one evening, including an appetizer. I can't remember what they called the appetizer, but when it showed up it turned out to be sashimi. I was all :banana I asked waiter if the kitchen had begun preparing my main course. He said "Probably not." I said "Cancel it and bring me five more plates of this!" His response was "Right away, sir." :teeth
 
Did an Alaska cruise with the wife a few years ago, on Celebrity. Time off the boat was great. On the boat was OK but don't think I would do that again... in warmer water small boat charters are a lot more fun if you can afford it.
 

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Chet said:
I'll take a cruise with my family for the first time.
7-night Carnival cruise from LA - Mexico.

Tell me what I need to bring and what not. What to do and what not.
People say to bring drinking water and soda :rofl:rofl:rofl
Some even say to ask for automatic daily tip ($15/person/day) back and give it directly to your helper.
Click to expand...

Mexican riviera cruise? I did that one on the Carnival Splendor. Loved it. Few months later the Splendor had an engine failure/lost power while underway and she was adrift. Those people didn't love it I'm sure.

If you are a soda fiend like me, just buy the soda card up front. Water is free, don't bother bringing that.

Do the up charge steakhouse or whatever restaurant the first night. Usually so underutilized that first night they may offer discounts but at the very least the food and service will be the very best.

Shore excursions...you can of course use the ones Carnival offers. They'll still make sure to stop by the "preferred" discount jewelry store before taking you back to the ship. But you can find 3rd party companies to arrange excursions with. Just make sure their schedule of whatever it is gets you back to the ship on time. Because they will absolutely not hold up 5000 people because one family didn't know how to plan ahead and read a watch.
 
I've cruised all over the Caribbean. I was hesitant but never felt trapped. Plenty to do and see and that's just on the boat. I ate and drank like a pig. I didn't mind tipping but the head maître d was such a douche, it really pissed me off to tip him anything. Go and enjoy!
 
Throw some hallucinogens in a Tylenol bottle and go Gonzo on the ship. :D

(no, not really, but it would be a fun book to write)
 
TheRobSJ said:
Mexican riviera cruise? I did that one on the Carnival Splendor. Loved it. Few months later the Splendor had an engine failure/lost power while underway and she was adrift. Those people didn't love it I'm sure.

If you are a soda fiend like me, just buy the soda card up front. Water is free, don't bother bringing that.

Do the up charge steakhouse or whatever restaurant the first night. Usually so underutilized that first night they may offer discounts but at the very least the food and service will be the very best.

Shore excursions...you can of course use the ones Carnival offers. They'll still make sure to stop by the "preferred" discount jewelry store before taking you back to the ship. But you can find 3rd party companies to arrange excursions with. Just make sure their schedule of whatever it is gets you back to the ship on time. Because they will absolutely not hold up 5000 people because one family didn't know how to plan ahead and read a watch.
Click to expand...

Mexican riviera cruise it is. I just plan to eat on the free restaurant. Does the steakhouse charge extra ?

Are the stops offer by Carnival included in the cruise ?
Is there any place you would recommend going on our own when ashore? I have a toddler.
 
Most Cruise lines let you bring one bottle of wine on board per adult with no corkage fee, (you can bring on cases of more but they'll charge you a corkage on each bottle).

Bring two bottles of Champagne but don't make the mistake some people make and bring a nice bottle of Port as they will take it from you before you board.

Bring a warmish windbreaker if you want to go on deck when you go under the GG Bridge.
 
Chet said:
Mexican riviera cruise it is. I just plan to eat on the free restaurant. Does the steakhouse charge extra ?

Are the stops offer by Carnival included in the cruise ?
Is there any place you would recommend going on our own when ashore? I have a toddler.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by the stops? If you mean the destination ports, yes, the taxes and fees are included in the fare, so you can get off the ship. If you're talking about doing any excursions on the port stops then no, those are all extra.

I'm thinking by toddler you mean under 3 years old. If your kid is at least 3 they can do activities with Camp Carnival. They do a really good job with the kids, but they won't take em if they're under 3.

For me, screw paying for soda. If I'm gonna pay it's gonna be something that gets me buzzed. :laughing There is always free water, lemonade, ice tea, tea, and coffee. There is also milk and juice, at least in the mornings, at no extra cost. I try not to drink soda anyways.

Yes, they charge extra at the steak house. I've never done that, so I can't comment on whether or not it is worth it, but I will say that the regular dinner dining is top notch. They serve the best food at dinner anyways, and the service is great, so I never felt the need to want to pay extra when excellent dining is included.
 
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Abacinator said:
Njy ur Norovirus :twofinger
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:laughing

Been on many ships and never once gotten sick.

That includes ships decades ago from the UK to South America and the SS France from NY to Southampton.

That thing was a rocket ship compared to today's plodding Cruise Ships though.

Shot across the ocean at 35mph leaving an incredibly impressive wake!

No climbing wall or skating rink though. :laughing

postcard1.jpg
 
some friends did a cruise as an engagement celebration when they got engaged and invited their friends. sadly, i was invited but unable to go.

these friends are the swinging type and as swinging types do, they all got horny and went looking for condoms because... maybe they ran out of what they brought? i don't recall.

anyway the boat didn't have a shop that sold condoms and they got the sads and started asking around amongst the staff. apparently fucking like rabbits themselves when not working, there were free rubbers aplenty but due to policy they weren't allowed to share with guests.

so, bring rubbers.
 
bojangle said:
Yes, they charge extra at the steak house. I've never done that, so I can't comment on whether or not it is worth it, but I will say that the regular dinner dining is top notch. They serve the best food at dinner anyways, and the service is great, so I never felt the need to want to pay extra when excellent dining is included.
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We did that on our last Princess Cruise and, really, the food in the main dining room is so good we won't bother again.

We prefer the traditional late seating so you always have the same staff and they'll do anything for you and bring you as many portions of different entrees as you can shove down.

The wine prices on board are cheaper than most any restaurant I've been to in the Bay Area which is a pleasant surprise.
 
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