MSNEmommy

We were not trying to "share" our spa amenities either, that's why we reserved adults in the one cabin and teens in the other.  We didn't want that as sleeping arrangements, however; so we asked for the additional key-cards.  The additional key-cards would not have Havana or other stickers, so no amenities would share/transfer - it's just a way for parents to feel safer about their teens overnight on a cruise ship.  I'm not even sure if the extra key-cards had S&S capability - they just opened the family cabins so we could be better connected as a family in our staterooms.

We've asked for main dining room favorites in the steakhouse before.  Once the answer was a happy yes then the other time the steakhouse was too busy to visit a different kitchen.  I may depend on how busy the steakhouse is and the layout of the ship.  We've also gone to our assigned seating and the steakhouse on the same day - no problem.

It's been a few years since our teens were in a separate cabin from us parents but, at that time, we were able to ask Carnival for an extra key-card to the "kids" cabin and also for an extra for the "parents" cabin.  So, basically, the adults with adult amenities were in one cabin and the teens in another but we were able, with the extra keys, to sleep dad with son and daughter with mom.  Even though, per the reservation, mom and dad were in a separate cabin from son and daughter.  FWIW that's how we made it work.  We got the extra key-cards at the guest services desk once on board - no problem as of a few years ago.  Anyone with more recent experience?

We should have checked our USB using our laptop. I don't know if there's anywhere to check if you don't have your own device in which to plug a USB. I hope they would check in for you if you ask...

As far as cost, the deal we had on the Dream was if you buy x photos then you "earn" y giftie. After purchasing 10 photos, you get the USB that looks like a cruise ship with digital copies of the 10 photos you bought. (Or not in our case) Since the formal photos are expensive - $22 each, we ended up spending about $250 total on photos. The deal on your ship may be different, though this is the same deal we had on the Dream in Jan 2014 out of a different port. Hope that helps FWIW

If you buy 10 photos and get the USB drive that looks like a little Carnival ship with your photos on it, check the USB. We made our final decision the last sea day and picked up the stick on the last night of the cruise. We were busy packing and put it in out luggage. I am just now (3 weeks later) looking at our photos and two are missing. We bought 10 and were supposed to have those 10 digitally on the USB, but one of them is a repeat and one of them is of someone else. I am so disappointed :( because I really wanted both pictures that are missing.

Has anyone ever gotten digital files of their photos weeks after their cruise was over and how? HELP :confused:

Thanks folks! Wow, I'm so glad I asked. :D I guess I'll be more diligent in checking, I had no idea what I could be missing out on.

Not trying to be stupid here, but I really haven't seen this. Is my VIFP information automatically attached to my Carnival account or do I need to set it up somewhere? Do different offers go to different family members so that I need to create accounts for each family member? What would a special for VIFP members offer look like? I don't think I've ever seen one and I'm platinum level. :confused:

We want more relaxation on the ship than anything. At Mahogany Bay, we will either stay on the ship or make a quick (morning only) dip into the ocean at the beach within walking distance and browse a shop or two. We are considering bringing snorkel equipment with us - if it's worth it.

I know it won't be ideal due to crowds and I know that it's nowhere near the best snorkeling nearby, but it might be worth bringing snorkel equipment... (We have ventured out of Mahogany Bay on excursions other trips - just have different goals this trip.)

I think the snorkel area others mentioned at Mahogany Bay is "beyond the pier" - which pier and how far beyond/out? Is this a live reef? What have you seen there? We don't have snorkel vests - are they required (or needed for visibility because boats/jet skis are crazy there)?

We tried it once and won't try it again. Two major problems will likely not concern most folks - we were on a norovirus cruise (The last announcement had 54 in infirmary, then they stopped "advertising" the problem) and we have food allergies in our party. The ship was beautiful and had some fun activities, but the passengers and crew and how issues were handled were horrendous.

The passengers and crew both had entitled and/or stuffy attitudes. e.g. Even when we tried to be friendly and say "hi" to our dining room staff at our table in the dining room, they could not manage a smile or pleasant reply. Despite having reported our allergy when making reservations and following up per RCCL procedure and getting a reply from RCCL indicating that they could handle dairy allergy, we were offered only steamed veggies and plain meat without sauce and never dessert in the dining room. We were told that there were only two hot items on the entire lido buffet that we could eat. These dining experiences were after we asked guest services to help us because I had eaten nothing but smoked salmon and fruit for the first day and a half on-board. The steamed veg and plain meat and the person telling us what I could eat at the buffet were my "accommodations" of dairy allergy.

DD was in the 9-11 kids club with a chronic nose-picker and the staff in the club did not require him to wash his hands after nose-picking in the club. Even when we talked to the staff after he vomited in the kids club, they told us that his parents would throw a fit if he were not allowed in the club so there was nothing they could do. So throwing a fit must be the way to get what you want? We were civil - perhaps that's our error... We had to (and did) remove our daughter from the club if we wanted a snot and vomit controlled area.

They really couldn't handle the norovirus cruise. They were squirting everyone who entered a dining area with hand sanitizer but couldn't seem to clean the rest of the ship or suggest hand-washing. While looking for something we dropped in our stateroom, we found a pair of extremely soiled but dried underwear (men's XXL and my DH wears size medium) underneath the sofa in our room. We asked the room steward to attend to it immediately, but it should never have made it from that cruise to our cruise!

I hope you don't face food allergies or a norovirus cruise. However, I can't imagine that the snobbish attitudes or lack of effective cleanliness expectations were confined to our sailing. They may not have caused such disturbing problems on other sailings, but company protocol is company protocol; so we will not try RCCL again. If the activities and casino draw you to RCCL; I recommend that you bring some food for yourself if you have food issues; wash hands after everything you touch; and don't let your kids in the kids club unless you can throw the biggest fit...

We just got off of the dream on sunday. We sailed out on the previous sunday. The first formal night was the monday night, and the second was the friday night.

 

 

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I would love, love, love it if you had funtimes from your cruise that you could scan in and post so we know what entertainments are which nights. :D

I have seen the pools drained when a " tootsie roll" was found in the pools. That'll put the end to that pool for at least a day.

We've seen this on a few cruises. Only you know if your child is thoroughly and confidently potty trained. If a child is so distracted by the cruise fun that they miss a potty need and oops in the pool, then the pool is shut down for everyone. Swim diapers may be gathered to keep chunks contained but they aren't sealed to keep germs in. I know it's very difficult to keep your toddler away from water they love so much. I hope you get something worked out.

P.S. Are there still links on-line to Dr Phil's one-day potty training method? That worked for our DD but not for DS. YMMV

I know nothing about this post's date in question, but have seen ambulances on different cruises - not all on Carnival Dream.

Back when they had informal ask-anything chats with a crew-member, we were told that they expect and are prepared for a few deaths each cruise. We were also told that many elderly people take cruise after cruise after cruise because it's cheaper than an assisted living facility and that many elderly would rather die on a cruise than on land. I assume that this kind of opinion from a crew-member is likely why they don't do chats with a crew-member anymore...:rolleyes: Anyhow, don't now if it's true or just that person's opinion, but it made sense. FWIW

We are booked in a spa cabin on the Dream. However...

We booked the spa cabin to have a non-smoking balcony with non-smoking balcony neighbors before Carnival changed that policy. We have purchased the spa package before and we have stayed in spa cabins before. We have found the spa areas crowded unless you skip a port and go then. As a previous poster mentioned, they are not open past 10 and usually they close a bit early wanting staff finished and out by 10. We often have to wait for a heated lounger or a spot to lounge in the bubbly (thelassotherapy) pool. I would actually hope that the poster who could not purchase a day pass was due to Carnival limiting the number of passes - it hasn't been as limited as we'd like on previous cruises. We will see how it is on our upcoming cruise. Anyhow, if you like steam rooms, there were not waits there because more people fit on the benches in the steam rooms than on the few loungers in the dry rooms. We don't like the steam rooms - if you like steam rooms then this is probably an excellent deal for you. If you prefer dry rooms with heated lounger, you need to be up early and/or skip ports. The bubbly pool was not always full - crowds seemed to come and go there, so availability is luck of the draw there. We did like the iced lemon and orange waters and the tea selection in the sitting area. Sometimes they were out of cups and mugs, though. Again, I think they sell more spa packages than they should; but if you know that going in and plan for it, it is a lovely place to relax.

I know then handle dairy allergy in the MDR, but I want to know what other options I have. We've not had much luck at the Lido buffet. I've always just guessed (and, thus been extremely limited - more salad and fruit anyone?) at other venues, but I would like to know where you found helpful and knowledgeable staff at other venues for dairy allergy.

We will be on the Dream, so there is a pasta bar, salad bar, promenade BBQ, Italian "restaurant," deli, pizzeria, Mongolian wok, ... TIA for any dairy free food information.

The short story is that I am a bit psycho about planning vacations, so I need the most current FunTimes possible. Yes, I know things can and do change and my plans must accommodate that but I still enjoy vaca most when I have the best available info prior to embarkation.

The latest FunTimes that I've found for the Western itinerary are from way back June 2013. Does anyone have anything more recent. Please? HELP!

davidgmg: My children consider public transportation a fun experience and special treat. So we are considering riding lightrail from SEATAC to Westlake Ctr then the monorail from Westlake Ctr to Space Needle and walking 2 blocks to our hotel. Broad daylight - late morning. Are we totally nuts? Cost isn't the issue as for 4 ppl on two types of rail is not much cheaper than a taxi - we're after education value. Of course this necessitates a bit more time than taxi and some hassle with luggage. Do they allow luggage on monorail and would we be clogging the aisles with it? Is there any reason to not walk a few blocks to hotel? TIA for your input.