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How many have sailed with a balcony that you find yourself wanting to go back to your room MORE to enjoy the water on your balcony vs. being up on one of the decks?

We will have our 1st Balcony in May and I told DH, who doesn't like too much crazy & crowds, that I see us enjoying the balcony more then being on a deck to just sit and relax.

Anyone else do this or plan on doing this? Just wondered!!

Thank you all for the comments, suggestions and input.

Yes, I am impulsive and yes, some of you are right about DH who might be mad at me ON this cruise for booking a next and would be ruining our only vacation THIS year. Not worth doing that!!!!

SO...I'm going to feel it out and see how this one goes. Once we are back a few weeks I'll mention the one next year and see what input I get out of him.

Some folks budget with alcohol in mind....for me it is pictures. DH and I don't really drink and I plan on getting him a bottle from Bon Voyage as an anniversary gift. So I have been saving up for the pictures knowing that is will be the first on for DS, 2nd from DH and first family one with hopefully many more to come.

I think checking around the ship at night will be fun to see where they are all located. =-)

We are sailing the Pride this May. My son will be missing his last week of school due to not having school in the end of Dec/most of Jan so they extended the school year. Due to that (and extending school to the max yet it will not be 180 days) next 2014-2015 school year they go from Aug 11th to May 27th BUT it can be extended until the END of June. So the ONLY month we can go on vacation (to be on the safe side of not missing days) is July.

I know myself and I will want to book as soon as I get back...but DH is hesitant about vacations in general. So here is where I dare or not....do I book the same ship next July (it is due for dry dock this year) and surprise them ON the cruise this year of next years sailing?

Looks like I can get Early Saver (Isn't that the one that if the price drops I would get a credit or do they take it off the balance due)?

SO....do I dare? Would you dare? I could even book the same exact cabin but the different itinerary then we are doing this time. I was hoping the Norfolk news today would have given me the option of July. MD is a 5 hr drive, VA 7 hrs the prices of NY in July are just too steep plus that is a 8 hour drive.

Gosh it is so tempting to do....but would you dare?

I know on elegant night there are pics taken and I heard also on casual nights. But out of a 7 night cruise, and two being elegant...how do you know which casual nights they set up for photos?

We sail in May and I plan on making this a very "photo" taking cruise since either DH or myself are always behind the lense.

Thank you!! I must say that I am a bit impressed with it. I thought it would just be wooden boxes with the green fake turf...but these look like they will keep DS busy!!

Thank for the info and places to look!!

@Ter Good to know, thank you. I have not even thought twice about them since this post. I need to add it to my "pick up" list soon before I forget and get ON the ship and realize what I forgot.

Can someone please post a pic if you have one? I've been trying to explain it to DS about there being one on the ship and I don't want to get his hopes up since I, myself, don't know what it looks like. Thanks!!

We will be on the Pride in May and I hear mention about pizza, and a deli location. But what type of food is at chopsticks? I know it is Chinese, but is it like General Tso's or just fried rice? Thanks for the info.

What time did you embark? I have read alot of thread lately stating not to arrive to the pier until 2 pm. We sail in May with FTTF and I was just wondering if 2pm is normal? Thanks!!

When you are in any port and they are selling Conch Shells, can they be brought back home? It has been many years since we have sailed and I thought I read or heard someplace that you can't bring sea shells home with you. Is this not considered a sea shell? Thanks for the info we will be sailing on Carnival.

I went to the 3rd party site for myself (we leave in May) and was looking into the trip interruption for my friend. Sounds like a good deal but a few mentioned that it needed to be purchased around the time the cruise is booked. I'm just looking for overall coverage and booked back in Jan....so not sure we could do that for us.

So,

1- Check Fare Viewer often and 2- call in for the price drop.

What if your cabin category is not listed in the fare viewer? Is there someplace else or can you just call in to see if there has been a price drop for your cabin/category?

I was looking at maybe booking the Valor in 2016 (right now it only goes to April and I would be interested in July). So I am trying to get my bearing on the Early Saver Rate. For those who have booked it that far out, what type of price drops have you seen? Also to verify you can get a price drop all the way until 2-3 days prior to sailing correct? THANKS!

I apologize for any confusion. I DID in fact mean the insurance, not the one that if you are not happy with the cruise....etc.

Since they are offered the free cruise and only paying the fee and port charges they were not so much concerned with that cost (about 500?) but if they need to fly home b/c of the ill family member. To make things easier, it's an elderly mother of a traveler who is having some major health issues. She wants them to cruise and enjoy a free vacation and has even secured someone to pay and stay with her while the couple is gone (they all live together). So the couple is really on the fence in booking the free cruise "incase" something bad happens while they are gone (only her death would bring them home). Would a third party insurance even cover those expenses? I guess I will forward over the link to that third party insurance site and see if it puts their mind at ease.

Thanks everyone for the info!!

We know someone who got the "free offer" but they currently have an ill family member. They want to book (and can really enjoy the financial freedom from paying full price for a much needed cruise) but can they get the Vacation Protection for it "IF" they need to head home early from the cruise, even though they only paid the taxes and fees.

I thought it was a good question and wondered if anyone did this for their free cruise? What if they need to cancel the free cruise prior to sail date and have PPV...can they re-book another free cruise in the future?

Just thought I would throw it out there. Thanks!!

We booked one, but want to know more about it. Have you stayed in one and what was it like?

I have seen pics of these lanyards that look like the old "phone cords", is that them? And do they go around your neck or attach to like a belt loop? Just wondering.

They DO offer a shuttle to the cruise pier BUT there was major confusion when I booked and even though I can keep my car there for 7 days it was booked as a "Park & FLY" and not "park & Cruise". Trust me....I tried to do all I could to get it switched but unless I cancel and re-book directly through the hotel I can't do anything about it.

I read about the door hanger and have already decided I don't own one and will not buy one since I prolly won't use it.

A blender...yeah, nope..not gonna do that one either.

I'm packing SO light that last year when summer/active wear went on clearance I bought myself, DH & DS a lot of the light weight active solid shirts so they weigh nothing and won't get wrinkled. THEN I gave it to them at Christmas as "Cruise wear". It worked as a great gift and for once I really think we will be traveling light on clothing.

I'm happy to see this thread is still going around. My thoughts on buying DH his alcohol on the ship, bon voyage, is 1- We will have DS (9) with us and IF he wants an early night DH and I can enjoy the balcony. We have never stayed in a Balcony before and plan to enjoy it to the max. Again sit, sip & enjoy!

Also, we are not big drinkers...so this is more like his Anniversary gift to enjoy and bring some home. My other thought was that for the price they charge on the ship at a bar, for the same thing he could have in his hand that I have had pre-paid and delivered, it would make HIM feel like they are free drinks. Yeah, I pre-paid for them.....but heck, they are free to him. LOL

I also like to buy some things to bring home that I can't get here in WV like 43 and some of the Bacardi's. We still have one bottle from our honeymoon cruise 4 years ago that we still never opened.

I'm going to REALLY try and pack light and mindful this cruise. Interchangeable clothing, shoes etc.

But I keep drifting over "Packing lists" that ppl post and I think....ok, maybe that. But then second guess saying "I have never used that in the past, what if I buy it, pack it and never use it"

So..what have YOU bought, brought and never used?

I have yet to sail on a Spirit Class (Booked Pride this May) but our option was going on Fantasy out of SC or Pride out of Baltimore. I looked at both layouts and liked the Spirit class alot more.

I have not sailed Carnival is over 20 yrs (Couldn't even tell you the name of the one I went on back then). But this will be DH 2nd cruise (1st on Carnival) and DS (9) 1st cruise and to me the layout seemed to have a good flowing pattern. You can go from bow to stern on any floor which, to me, makes it easier to navigate once on board.

I was on the fence about getting it but I think it will work out. Even if there is a delay in boarding and we get on the ship the same time as everyone else, I think the FTTF tender to HMC and the Guest Service line alone will help offset the money spent.

On our last cruise (4 yrs ago on RCCL) it was my DH's 1st cruise and I remember getting on board by 12:15 and lugging everything to the buffet to eat and then we took a seat in the library for a good 45 mins before we could go to our cabin at 1:30. Only THEN did we explore the ship because we didn't want to lug everything around and not have a free hand for snapping pics.

This time it will be DS (9) first cruise, My DH's 2nd but 1st Carnival and My first time in a Balcony (9b) so to experience all of our 1st with ease when we board...yes, to me the FTTF will be well worth the purchase.

I know once DS (9) realizes there is one he will want to play I'm sure DH won't have a problem joining him as well. LOL does anyone have any recent pics, list of games/activities and how much they were? Thanks!!