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The answer is yes

thong bathing suits can also be worn in regular pool as well

Great Idea

I cant get list

however, I have been on 30 cruises and most of the older ships >5 years old have facilities but you have to look for them.......When they take you on the spa tour they do not show you them....only the facilities that you have to pay for

You just have to go exploring on your on

Look in the spa lockers rooms or down the hall somewhere close

Sometimes by the gym

POINT BLANK ask the staff where it is.....they wont volunteer the info but if you specifically ask they will tell

Liberty of the sea has free steam and sauna in the spa area

Most carnival ships have faciltities

You can get tthe light link (metro) at the airport it is afun way to get downtown to hotels

It was a GREAT CHOICE we have been in those cabins several times and NO one can see in unless they press their face up against the window and really looks so don't worry

You are smart for booking

Recently we have been booking porthole cabins to get the benefits of natural light at an interior price, This time carnival suggested a "skylight cabin" (4J) which has a window to a deck (which is accessed by a door just steps away from our cabin door) rather than the ocean. And we are on the Lido deck rather than way down at the bottom of the ship (for just $32 total than the porthole) I think booking it was a good decision.

I know its weird but I usually lose weight while on a cruise

There are tons of vegtables cut up and ready to eat along with fresh fruit and salad bars

I have found most restaurants dont have salad bars like they used too

I am also very active and make it a point to work out every day

I am away from all the things that let me focus on me....I need to lose 10 pounds so Im starting back on WW

I am excited to find this thread

It lets me be involved in two things I like

Losing weight and cruising

Im following the weight watchers diet and getting ready to go on a alaska cruise in aug

If you spent time outside or watching from somewhere, whales and lots of other wildlife can be seen from the ship

We saw tons from ship

All this talk about cheese plates has made me think of wine

Usually when we get off in a port we will try and buy a local bottle or wine to enjoy with our Cheese plate in the cabin before dinner. I always take a picture of the bottle and the chees plate to remember. my next cruise Eurodam Aug 18 .......Not sure how many wineries are in alaska but I will do my best to fine local wineries. I have sevaral pics of fondly remembered ports

I have found that it is easiest and cheaper to book HAL cruisers from other 3rd party travel agency

Even calling and getting a live person does not help.

I too agree the HAL website is the worst I have seen.

Just wanted new cruisers to know about shareholder benefit.

Anyone who has 100 shares of carnival corp stock which owns holland america, princess and others

You can take advantage of this......you need to contact holland america with proof of stock and you will get at least $100 cabin credit per cruise.....only one person in each cabin may take advantage of this

1800 522-3399

fax 206 281-0627

Holland America

World Cruise Reservations

300 Elliott Avenue West

Seattle WA 98119

This is great benefit

I have been on 22 cruises and have found that booking about 6 wks before sailing usually gets the best price USUALLY. It depends if something is really important to you.... you may want too book early.

For my group it is not.

I have stayed in suites down to inside cabins and always had a wonderful time.

Sometimes WE book airfare to Miami months in advance and just wait and see what is the best deal. we have been to most of the ports so the ports are not as important to us.

That is the great thing about cruising everyone can do what they want........

That is a great deal!!!

WE WENT OUT OF GALVESTON IN OCT FOR INTERIOR 344 PLUS PORT TAXES

I HAVE FOUND LUCK JUST WATCHING AND HAVE FOUND THAT ABOUT 5-6 WEEKS OUT IS BEST

WE ARE GOING OUT OF TAMPA IN FEB 435 INTERIOR

Once I bought airfare and just watched for the best deal....

I like seeing information about other lines not just Royal Caribean

Take a look at the tidwad cruising threads lots of good ideas there

Cruise lines often will send out emails to advertise last minute cruise...the time frame you mentioned is a little tight. We got a great deal this weekend 28 DAYS OUT ON rc 7 DAY INSIDE CABIN 344

Will be going on my 26 cruise in three weeks on RC. I love all the ideas most we already do. We have been in inside cabins to suites and We have had a great time on every cruise. We love to get a deal and usually wait til 5-6 wks out to book...we usually get a great deal.

Only have a couple of additions I have not seen

Bring wine on board. Usually every adult can bring one bottle of wine on board. Use wine glasses in the room.

Instead of buying laynards I save some from meetings and use them for our cabin keys. $1.00 stores have them some times by eyeglass rack.

if you have a balcony

Bring an old tablecloth to put on the table for room service and throw away at the end of the cruise

Get the shareholders benefit from having 100 shares in the cruise line. 7 days usually get you $100 in credit.

Last seven day cruise we went on our account including tips was ~300.00

I enjoy finding ways to save money not because we have to but we spend on things we really want

Once you get off the ship and get your luggage you are at a city street,,,,that is where our shuttle has pick us up on previous cruises.

We have had stock for years and it has done well. You get the credit for ANY CRUISE that is owed by carnival.....holland american, princess, P and O etc...

Just remember you only get 100 total per cabin, So my husband and I just get 100 per cruise

even if you both each own 5000 shares

It really is a pretty good return

Buy stock in Carnival Corp,,,,,get 100 credit on any cruise the line owns.....carnival....holland america...etc

Good for you

Hi Everyone

Ive been reading and many of the posts have made me laugh.....I have always said...YOU HAVE TO TRY VERY HARD TO HAVE A BAD TIME ON A CRUISE (VACATION) .....BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO DO IT!!!!!!

If they spent a little more time focusing on relaxing and what is good about the trip....

AS I have cruised for many years. I have become more bold about saying to complainers...We are trying to enjoy our cruise please don't spoil it for everyone...then start clapping.....usually others who are suffering in silence will join in which usually causes the complaining to stop....IF we the ENJOYERS did this more...we might be able to take back our vacations....

WE could start a thread about our success!!!

I think you cango ahead and book if you are ok with price,however, I monitor the price as many times it wil go down 40-100 per person and depending on what the rules are when you book they will honor. They usually will not gve you a refund, but will give cabin credit. I monitor on several sites which Ihave had luck with them honoring...I would ask before you book. vacations to go allows you to put in specific cruise with amounts which makes it easy to m onitor

You can also shop around to see if the same cruise is cheaper on an other week if you can go anytime. I have bookedairfare for week and watched cruise fares to see what line was cheapest.

I have found that 70-90 days the price dips. Also sometimes before 25 days but if you want a balcony maybe not