dmdiver

One word of caution with credit card provided travel insurance.  We had booked 4 cabins with our card, thinking that was great to have the free coverage.  However, the insurance only covered us, not the other 3 cabins with our adult children.  This was of no use when we had to postpone our cruise.  Fortunately, the cruise line was very understanding and allowed us to rebook for almost 2 years later with no penalty.

If you were sailing with me, I would suggest bringing them and if they won't allow them, I'll help you eat them all before boarding!

When we opt not to be fancy, hubby wears slacks, polo or button down shirt & black sneakers.  I will wear a nice top with capris or slacks.

There is no charge to connect to the ship's wifi.  You have to in order to use the hub app.  Within the app, you find the various chat & internet options.  I found the app very useful for checking the fun times & marking my favorites.  It will remind you when the events are coming up.  You need to keep the app up & running, though - especially if you are using the chat feature.

When our neighbors carried on a 12-pack of cokes, they opened it to inspect.  Fortunately we were able to put the loose cans in other bags.  So, even if you plan to just carry the case, you may still want to be sure you have room to put loose cans in case they rip it open like our neighbors.  That was in Galveston a few years back.

This has been an interesting read.  I use a plastic disposable straw when I drink cold drinks out of my yeti, but don't use one when I drink out of my yeti wine cup.  I don't use a straw with my coffee or hot chocolate.  I don't use a straw in my mug of beer, but I do use one in my water glass at restaurants.  I don't use a straw if I drink out of a soda can, either.  I reuse my disposable straw at home for quite some time, since I mostly drink water through it. I think where I would really miss a straw is in a drink that has ice in it or a frozen drink.  I just find frozen is easier through a straw & I hate it when all the ice attacks your face when you get almost done with the iced drink.  The person who mentioned women not wanting to ruin their lipstick has a point.  I also hate when lipstick gets all on the edge of the glass.  I'm not keen on the idea of carrying around a plastic or metal reusable straw.  I don't have pockets in my swimsuit, so there is a problem there.  Not sure I will bother to ever pack disposable straws to take with me.  I guess I will just suffer through.

Call your PVP, explain the situation.  We had to do this a few years ago when our daughter found out she was pregnant.  Her doc advised her not to go to the Caribbean due to Zika.  We had 4 cabins booked & were able to switch them to a later cruise without penalty.  Even if they had applied the change penalty, it would have been $50 per person, which is still worth it to reschedule to more than a year in the future.

We've only booked one guarantee and we ended up in a handicap room on Lido.  Great location!

Lido is my favorite because it is closer to where we spend most of our time on sea days.  If that's not available, I will do one of the 3 decks below it.  If I go 1 deck below, I check the deck plans to be sure the cabin I select is under other cabins & not the pool or buffet areas.  I've done the low decks before & it is quicker to the dining room & to get off the ship at ports.  So, I'd be okay with them as well.  I just got spoiled to having the cabin on Lido - just easier if you need to run back to the room for something while you are lounging by the pool.

Someone further up said 72 hours prior to sailing.  I would still verify with the cruise line, though.  You never know when they will decide to change a rule.  Unless that's some security rule.

n6uqqq is correct.  I do remember the PVP telling us that if the ship were sold out we would not be able to add another person.  

We booked him solo from the beginning.  

When we first started cruising, we used the wristbands.  They worked fine for us, but I just got tired of them.  Then, I started taking a ginger capsule morning & evening.  No problems with that method at all.  I have heard others recommend trying the patch out ahead of time to be sure you don't have any adverse reactions.  I haven't used bonine or meclazine - just never needed anything stronger than the ginger.  Sometimes I wonder if I actually need the ginger, but I figure better safe than sorry.  I found the yoga suggestion interesting.  I do have some issues after a cruise, so I'll have to try that next time.

We typically use the card to purchase the cruise, excursions & use it for any onboard expenses.  Then, when the bill comes after the cruise is over, we apply the points for a credit toward our expenses.  It will list each qualifying expense & you choose which to apply it to.  You can only apply to an expense one time, though.  Thing is, even though you are supposedly applying toward expenses made a few months ago, it's just a credit on the current statement.  This is the only time we use the card, as there are better cards for your normal everyday purchases.

We were advised by PVP to book with only our son, as he didn't know if anyone would be able to go with him.  Then, if you decide to add someone to the cabin, you're good to go and no change fees to just add a person.  Only extras would be the port fees & grats for the additional person.  As it turned out, he went alone anyway.

We use a magnet on the wall.  Never tried a suction hook.  I have problems with those staying stuck to my marble shower at home, so never even thought of trying on the ship.

Our friend did the whisky class.  I don't know that the class itself was listed in the fun times.  I think they just told him when & where to be.  Man, I wish I had a better memory.  He had his own named bottle of whisky afterward & said he really enjoyed the class.

The only benefit to pre-paying gratuities is if the rates should increase after you have paid, you will not be charged the difference.  We usually pre-pay ours for that reason.  We still take extra cash for those that we feel went above the norm, service-wise.

Yes, my hubby takes premier protein cartons in his carryon bag with no problem.  

To me, this is the craziest thing - not including bottled water with the beverage package.  Initially, I was going to order a pack for the cabin.  Then I found out how much they were charging for it.  Yikes!  If I have room in my bag, I will just bring something from home to fill up & take with me into port.  Otherwise, I'll buy one & just keep refilling the bottle.  

It's been a long, long time since we went to Chichen Itza, but we took lots of pics.  Only thing is, we had a little point & shoot.  If you can find what company is actually running the excursion, you may be able to get info on their website.  Sometimes in the reviews people will mention the name of the company.

I can see the doc requirement if you have a health issue listed on the diving form.  That makes perfect sense.  I would hope they would provide the form in advance if they need a doc clearance.  Hopefully, if you submitted a PADI form with your doc's signature, that would suffice, but you never know.  I think we've always done a form, just had all no answers to health questions.  Several dive operators have asked to see our dive log.  Some require a dive in the past 12 months, some in the past 24 months.  Then, of course there was the time hubby forgot his C card.  Realized it the night before - had to contact our son, have him take a pic of the C card & email it to us.  Then had to print it out on the ship & thankfully, it was accepted.

As far as using Carnival's excursions, we've never had a problem with any of them.  I remember hubby dove with Oasis through Carnival in Grand Turk & it was a small group.  When he mentioned that the wives were at Jack's Shack, they let them stay on the boat instead of getting off at the ship.  Their office is there at Jack's.  Our group in Roatan was not huge, either, although I think larger than the Grand Turk group.  It was through Carnival with Anthony's Key.  I don't recall the group size in Cozumel and I didn't dive in some of the ports hubby dove in, so not sure about the group size there.

We just had to have ours changed to match our passports.  I looked to no avail for a spot online to add my middle name.  My TA called NCL & had them add middle names.  They said when we download our cruise docs they will be there.  When I last logged in to NCL, I noticed my middle name was indeed there.  Maybe it wouldn't keep us from boarding the ship, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

One thing we were told by a PVP - If you are unsure of who the 2nd guest in the room will be, book it under the name of the person you are sure will be sailing.  You will pay based on double occupancy, but when you do find that 2nd person or know for sure a couple is not going to break up, there is no fee to add that 2nd person.  In our case, no 2nd person was ever added, so we had to pay the double occupancy for our son.  

That must be new.  Hubby dove in May of this year & didn't have to have a doc sign off on anything.