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going on a carinval cruise for the first time soon


Posted: Apr 16, 2015

have any advice??

;

Depends on your expectations. Where are you cruising? - nm

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The Bahamas - OP

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x

Cruisers - Me

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We sail to the Bahamas twice a year. If you're going to Nasssau, watch out. They'll mob you trying to sell you things. If you do any shore excursions, book them through the ship. They cost a little more but if you're late getting back the ship will wait for you. Every cruise we hear intercom pages for missing people. They wait a while but they have a schedule to keep and must move out. Don't be late! Everyone should experience Nassau once. Once is enough!

What ship are you sailing? - cruiser

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I was on the Carnival Pride a few years ago. The Bahamas are beautiful! Be sure you're on deck with a camera when coming in close to Atlantis because it'll take your break away. I think the packages they sell for touring are way overpriced. Don't buy any of those because you'll be able to all the things much cheaper than the tickets the cruise line will sell. Nausea has a very high crime rate so make sure you're back at the ship before dark.

The food on the Pride was pretty good, lots to choose from.

The ship motion takes some getting used to. The bands you can get for your wrists work great.

Have fun!
Fascination - OP
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thanks for those tips!!!

carinval cruise - Vera

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I went on Carnival to Alaska 4 years ago in Sept. I had a good time. Alaska was beautiful and the air was so fresh. We went to Juneau, Skagway and Ketchican. Food was good too.

We want to go to Alaska next summer - OP

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my grandmother will be 75 this year and we are trying to do all of this while her health is still good. It will just be 4 of us because one of my sons and my brother and his family do not fly (we live in the south). I'm equally excited about Alaska!

Think about the logistics. If south of Mason-Dixon - would need to drive to

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Florida port or say Houston, Texas. No flying? You could leave out of Seattle to go to Alaska but still have to get there. Unless you had a huge amount of time to spend, you would take more time driving to get to a port than to actual spend time en route to Alaska. I have been to Alaska twice and loved it, both times flew and never by ship. It is a majestic place. Saw lots of animals the first time, hardly any the 2nd time.
it is about a 45 minute drive to a small airport here - take a flight to Seattle
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my son has never flown. A cruise is still cheaper than several nights in a hotel room and all of your meals are included. That's why we chose a cruise.
I see now, you are taking a flight because am - south also and going to Alaska
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from where I live was almost all day long flying. Leaving from Atlanta Airport flying to Chicago, across the US to Seattle and then Alaska Airlines to Anchorage was an all day long flight on the big jets. Had I flown out of a smaller airport would probably have to fly the, what I call hopper jets, really small planes that I do not like to fly on. Another time going to Atlanta flew from Houston to Atlanta then straight flight from Atlanta to Alaska. I do all inclusive ground deals where all meals, travel and lodging included but only did 1 cruise and not for me.

Love - Cruising

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The single most important thing, in my opinion, is Bonine or Dramamine! Don't let seasickness ruin your cruise!

Don't get to the port before 10:30 or 11:00 a.m. You'll fry in the sun. Not sure about Carnival, but they won't let you on the ship that early anyway. We've gotten to the port at all different times. The busiest I've seen it was in the afternoon. You can't get in your room until usually 1:30 or 2:00 p.m. You can leave your bags in a common area and pick them up before you go to your room or, if you're like us and stay at the bar too long, they'll deliver them to your room later. If they don't show up at your room by dinner, you have to go find them at the service desk.

Take lots of one dollar and five dollar bills for tips. Most people expect tips even if it says otherwise. They get outright nasty if you don't tip enough! Don't forget the sunscreen. Ships have onboard shops but the prices are super high. I believe Carnival has a dress code so, if you eat in the restaurants, don't forget the shoes! I always forget to take extra shoes. If you want to save on luggage space, don't take a ton of clothes. If it's a longer cruise, wear the same thing to dinner in a different restaurant. These people don't know you and you'll never see them again. Plan your packing for two outfits per day. I pack really light so if I run out of shirts or something, just wash them in the sink.

Almost forgot! Take wrinkle release spray (Dollar General or Wal-Mart) and just put it in a small travel bottle. The ships don't allow irons because of the potential fire hazard.

Sorry so long. I'm excited for you. Have a good trip!

Be sure and stock up on any kind of medication - available you think of

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There are stories each and every week almost of trouble on the seas. No thanks, do not care to be a captive audience and unable to get off. Just this past week another shipwreck so to speak.

thats how my husband felt. He asked for a divorce so - im going on a cruise finally

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good riddance.

You could not go on a cruise while - married. I did, did not

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like at all, never again.

Try to relax, if you can. - Sailed last year. sm

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Friends and I were on Norwegian (sp?). So many activities available onboard. You will probably get a daily listing of free and paid activities, shows, etc. From trivia games to martini tastings to sporting events to magic shows. Thanks to free onboard lessons, I am now a certified hula dancer (have the certificate to prove it, LOL). My friends and I rarely just sat around the pool. One mistake we made was with cocktails. The bill came with, I think, a 15% gratuity, but we did not catch that at first and double tipped a few times. Have fun!

I'm so happy for you! - Wonderful news!

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I've never been on a cruise, but I want to wish a you fabulous vacation!

thank you! I have never left the country before - so stoked

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x

Been about 6 times - see msg

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I've cruised about 6 times. Since you've already made reservations, I'm assuming you've researched to see what's important to you. Some ships have different "specialties." In other words, some have superior entertainment, but so-so food, then vice versa. Some are party boats, so expect a lot of noise on a Carnival. We've always done Celebrity because we like the quiet relaxation.

Don't overpack. It's easy to do. Have your daytime and nightime clothes figured out in your closet and stick to the plan.

Don't go out on your own long excursions at port to save money! If you're not on one of their excursions, they'll leave port without you if you're not back in time!

Have fun!

we are really just going on a cruise to go on a cruise - not really thinking about the island

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I'm thinking of a lot of laying on the beach when on the island!!!

Lying Around - see msg

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Yeah, we're relaxers, too. If you have a lot of sea days and like to relax by the pool, or are just doing the beaches when they are in port, then you can definitely pack much lighter. I was practically in my bathing suit all day long during sea days.

We live in FL, so we don't do the beach when we go away (we get enough sun!), but it's a treat when you don't live in a warm climate.

I agree with not getting to the ship too early--you'll just be hanging around outside somewhere with a bunch of luggage.

Cruises Are All About the Ship - see msg

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It's not about the islands you'll be hitting during the day, it's about the ship. The ship is where you eat all your food and have to sleep. Honestly, it doesn't matter which islands you go to. If the ship isn't good, you won't have a good cruising experience.

I've heard nothing bad about Carnival, but hubby likes 5-star restaurants, so we do Celebrity. I have heard there is nothing wrong with the food on Carnival, so if you just don't mind basic okay food, you'll be fine.

Sometimes the buffet food is better than the dining room/restaurant food, as on a Princess cruise we did one time. The dining room food was actually not good at all, so we ended up getting our food at the buffet each night and bringing it to our room--we had a balcony, so we ate it out there. The buffet room was okay, but it's more of a diner/cafeteria atmosphere, so we felt more "cozy" eating in our room.

There are so many variables on cruises, and so many different types of people with different priorities, so if Carnival isn't a good experience for you, you can try another cruise company. I wouldn't shoot down a cruise because you didn't like a particular company's cruise.

I have to say, one thing I like about Celebrity (and other cruise companies are following suit) is the any-time dining. I want to go to dinner when I want to go to dinner, not be locked into a "seating" of 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. Sometimes with the anytime dining you DO need to make a reservation, but you're not locked into a particular time otherwise.

Also, with the locked in time, you will be at a table of all different people, kind of like if you're at a big wedding. With the anytime dining, you can request a more private table.

Either way, just have fun and enjoy the relaxation of it all! Sounds like you are there to relax, and not be flitting around all over the place, so ENJOY that!

thank you for that!!! - Lots of info, much appreciated :)

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z

No Problem - The 6-Cruiser

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Ask me anything you want. I'm the one who has been on 6 cruises.

When are you cruising? - Hurricane Season

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When are your cruising? I think Hurricane season starts in June in Bahamas. Though, this isn't too scare you. The good thing about hurricanes is that there's plenty of notice, and it's easy enough to re-route the ship/change the itinerary.

Hurricane season, what about the rogue - waves?

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Those are the most scariest things of all, just out of no where they can rise up and strike a ship, from even calm seas. Talking about hurricanes- remember being in the Turks and Caicos some years back. Hurricane sitting between us and flying back to Miami. It just sat there several days and we had to wait until it moved before being allowed to fly back.

Oh, waves - see msg

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Oh, yes. We were on a cruise one time and all of a sudden, a huge wave came upon us. We were on I believe Deck 5 in the dining room, and the waves were crashing the window.

I had enough wine in me to not worry about it.
Wave reaching the 5th floor on a ship, did you ever - cruise again after that?
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I have seen stories, so interesting, on TV about the rogues. I could be on life support, receiving CPR and there would never be enough for me to recover from that. BTW, also scared of tidal waves. Remember my son telling me, Mom you are hundred of miles from the ocean so chill out. If I go to the beach, I do know what to look for in case there would be one though (not that I could ever run fast enough to outrun one).
Yes, Have Cruised Since - see msg
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Actually, deck levels are not as high as floor levels---in other words, 5 decks up is not the same as 5 stories. But yes, it was pretty creepy watching waves come up to our window in the dining room.

We were sleeping on the 7th deck and had our balcony door open every night for some nice, fresh sea air, and our mirror and furniture in the room was misted by the morning.

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