Savlamara

Do keep in mind Carnival's policy about no chargers with surge protectors. Surge protectors are prohibited, so if you have one, you run the risk of having it confiscated.

Nope, my USB hub doesn't have any surge protection. And i have a simple 3 in one splitter that is basic as well, I've been using for the past 5 years and never had a problem.

Interesting choice of word-- "harassed". Would you still feel harassed if it were George Clooney or Brad Pitt approaching you? :rolleyes:

I definitely would feel harassed considering they are both married! :cool:

I have no problem with a man showing interest, but once I indicate I'm not interested, trying to convince me does feel like harassment. To me at least. If I'm offered a drink and I say no, I don't want it pressured on me. But maybe I'm a prude!

One week until I board NCL Escape for my first solo cruise as well... I have some of the same apprehensions others seem to have but am determined to enjoy my time away whatever it may turn out like...

 

I usually have booked port excursions in advance when travelling with others and am unsure what to do (if anything) in this case. Can anyone give me their two cents? Should I book something and just hope I'm not the only solo or wait until I am on board and hopefully meet other like minded travelers possibly looking to book something with another person travelling on their own?

Usually I book Excursions in advance too, but for my first solo I'm winging it. I am part of a busy roll call and f b group and have about a dozen people inviting me on their excursions with them. I'm going to wait till I get there and hang with the group then see what I want to do.

For some reason I thought this thread was about a whole nother type of "naughty" site.

Thanks for the awesome ideas. I'm going to take the advice and charge overnight. My laptop is a small 11 incher so I might see if I can squeeze it in the safe diagonally. The rest I'll just throw in my suitcase when I'm out.

I got a 5 port USB charger on Amazon so it should charge everything at once nicely while only using one plug!

After looking over my packing list it dawned on me I'm bringing alot of electrical items on. Between the eReader, laptop, tablet, 2 cameras, I'm wondering what to do when I'm outside the room. Do I leave things charging out in the open or should I lock them up in my luggage? I've cruised before multiple times but only brought a camera which I kept with me everywhere I went.

What does everyone else do?

And no, leaving it isn't an option.

Why go to the other extreme.

 

Don't limit yourself to one carry on. Take more luggage.

 

Keith

My thoughts exactly! If this is a Caribbean Cruise then you WILL sweat. I don't know about anyone else but I go on vacation to get away from chores, so not wasting my time up doing laundry in the sink or whatever is worth bringing enough clothing. Also I don't know how anyone gets by bringing only one swimsuit? I've never had a suit dry in my room in one day so I always have at least 2-3 for any sailing.

Does anyone know if you still get this if your birthday isn't actually during the cruise days? I indicated in the check in docs that I'm celebrating my birthday on this cruise but my birthday is 2 weeks before my sail date.

I am sailing next month on the Ecstasy 5 day and wonder if one of my favorite desserts is on the menu.

We were on Ecstasy 3 months ago and they did not have Bitter and Blanc, and I was so disappointed... We were on a 4 day cruise, but ate in the MDR every night and no BnB. :(

I keep hoping they add it back as a usual dessert item to the menus though.

How long is the cruise?

That's why balconies are wonderful :D

We only order breakfast through room service. Coffee, tea, and pastries in order to take early morning vitamins before we leave and hit the ship running so any residual smell is gone by the time we come back hours later.

I've gotten the free cruise offer twice from Carnival and I have never played a card game in the casino in my life (dont know how). I do however play about $20-50 in slots playing penny slots which usually last me the entire cruise and I end up walking away with more then what I started with.

So you dont necessarily have to spend thousands to get one.

It sounds like a great excursion, but I don't know if I am brave enough to attempt it considering the chance of being left behind in Belize. Ughhh, decisions decisions

Exactly my thoughts

I'd like to know what type of excursion involves s flight as well...

Reading this is disappointing as we LOVE to dress up for dinner.

I always pack a few nice dresses (No ball gowns though) and Hubbie takes his Tux. He does look smart in it.

I think the amount of people who dress up depends on who is on board and where the ship sails to.

Go on a ship with lots of Brits and you will see a LOT of Tux's on board. Same goes for sailings around the Med.

Us Brits seem to like Dressing up more than our USA cousins...

On our first Caribbean cruise we found so funny on Formal night. Everyone dressed for dinner but then we'd see a lot of them had changed in to more everyday wear straight after. Thought - what's the point in that!!!!

 

Heads up

I will be taking a nice collection of dresses and H's Tux on the Vista when we sail in October. If we are in a minority then so be it. I don't care.

Same here, I am in cocktail dresses every single night of our cruises, sequins, beading and all. Regardless of what everyone else is wearing. Plus I like taking the pics when I'm dressed up!

I usually tip the Head waiter $40, and the two assistants $20 each. All in an individual envelope from guest services with their names written on each one.

You can always bring your own lysol and bleach wipes and like another poster mentioned, wash hands often. I always bring a washrag around with me to hold doors and such, even without any outbreak.

Some of the information posted on this thread is utterly incorrect. :rolleyes:

 

There are MULTIPLE on-line travel agencies that sell cruises at DISCOUNTED PRICES on a regular, and ongoing basis. :cool:

 

One of those on-line sites is a regular advertiser here on Cruise Critic and often has their own reps doing business on Celebrity ships!

 

At this moment, the Celebrity website shows the 14 night Equinox transatlantic cruise on 15 April at $899pp for an inside cabin and $949pp for a balcony cabin. :)

 

An on-line site that I have booked more than a dozen cruises with, has the same ship, same cruise, same date, and same inside cabins for $704pp and the same balcony cabins for $679pp. :eek: :D ;)

 

While the Celebrity "Tuesday Special" price for the 16 night Reflection transatlantic is listed at $799pp for a balcony, the exact same on-line site has even THAT incredibly low price DISCOUNTED to an even LOWER price of $749pp.

 

You do NOT need to be part of some group, ANYONE (at least in the US) can book a single cabin or five cabins on these cruises at these DISCOUNTED PRICES and save HUNDREDS of dollars.

 

All prices from both Celebrity AND the on-line site are per person double occupancy and do not include taxes or tips... which are the SAME whether you book through the cruise line OR through the on-line site. I KNOW because I have DONE SO on MANY occasions.

Since this online agency advertises on CC, please enlighten me on what the name is? Cause I see many ads on CC, but it must be tailored to my browsing history cause travel agencies are not in any of my ads.

Times like this I wish CC allowed people to private message people.

I have this same concern as a solo. My last cruise was with my bff and at times we were at different activities. The time we got dressed separately I actually stuck my head outside the cabin and asked our room steward to help me. She was more then glad to help. Had it been a male I wouldnt ask though. I'm a few months away from my first solo cruise myself and wearing something else isnt an option as at least 2-3 formal dresses I bought specifically for this cruise zips up the back!

In the meantime have rigged up a safety pin to a piece of ribbon in a bind though just in case and it works pretty well! Affix the pin to the hole in the zipper pull and make the ribbon long enough to pull up over your head. Try it! Heres a photo in case that wasnt clear: http://www.bookshelfboyfriend.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/zipping-up-a-dress.jpg

We like to have the same waitstaff and dinner companions each night

Same, plus by the time you get your food its about 6:30 anyway so it works perfect for us. Its a little of a rush on port days but we deal with it.

Great to see the Dream mentioned multiple times as a favorite as its next on the list!

My favorite thus far was the Breeze, cause it felt calming, spa like because of the decor. But to be quite honest any Carnival cruise ship is my favorite! I'm trying to go on each CCL ship at least once!

Love the positive. Unlimited wifi at a reasonable price!

Hear hear! I remember my first few cruises on NCL paying per minute rates trying to keep up with work back home nearly killed me!

It's that song in the MDR on the last night.:(

That too! I am always bawling by the end of the last dinner, in every photo I have with our waiters I look a sniffley mess.

Them and my room stewards! Its like leaving family's house.

Blue Iguana is my number 1 favorite improvement!

I also enjoy the Serenity deck and my DH is a fan of Guy's Burgers.

Hoping to try sea day brunch in April. I always forget about it.

The Sea Day brunch is AMAZE-BALLS! Its the best meal I ever get on the ship. Last cruise me and my bestie went to it twice and we sat there with about 4 entrees a piece and shared one and we finished every bite! The waiters practically applauded afterwards. LOL!

How about the GREAT service on Carnival from all of the fantastic staff?

*APPLAUSE* I'm a big softie but leaving the staff always brings me to tears at the end of a Carnival cruise...

This is what I HATE about the lack of an infant/toddler fare on the cruiselines. We had to be in a 3 person room when my 7 month old cruised even though we still had to request a crib (which he didnt sleep in anyway.) I wish they would do 1 and under fares.

Cant you still do a 5 person room and just ask for a trundle bed? Push it up where you want it so everyone can be in one room?