mikechass

We've had our card comprised in Mexico while away on a RCCL cruise years ago. When they went to run the final bill through our card was locked. Royal waited for 5 weeks to run our final bill through. We now have three cards.... a Visa, MC and Amex so that doesn't happen again.

Having said that we have had ALL of them comprised at different points through out the years but at least we have several different cards to choose from should something happen while away.

I also ALWAYS call the card companies and give them a heads up that we are traveling from This dates till This date going to these places.

Since doing that we have found things to be much smoother.

Good Luck with things!

Safe Travels.

Looking so forward to reading more of this as its posted.

Thanks for taking the time to write it.

Chass

I have a "noise app" on my phone, helps to cancel out any of the hall noise or banging etc you can hear when you're in your room.

We run it if we need to nap/or the neighbors are louder then I would like.

I also bring a bunch of different size Zip Loc bags, I find I use them for so many things, and often get asked when people see I have them if they can borrow a few of mine,

I have a bunch of other stuff I feel we NEED, like a bag of OTC meds, bandaids etc.

Lastly, I always bring some liquid soap. Not foam soap but liquid hand soap. I find it is so much easier to feel "clean" when we are coming in and out of the room.

Like I said, we are obviously higher maintenance people then some of you but that is a short list of my "must haves"... ha

Hi there.

My kids are 12 and 15. On all the cruises we have taken, I always assumed they would find friends and we would be wondering where they were and how much fun they were having...

In the end, I found the two of them have stuck together and honestly, done pretty much everything with my hubby and I.

To be honest, it has made me want to cruise even more (like THAT is a tough decision to make haha)

They also, asked us to book an inside again this time. We talked about getting two rooms, and maybe them sharing (DS and DD aren't bff's here on land but on trips seem to get along beyond belief) but they wanted to keep us all together in one room and liked the idea of sticking it out in an inside. They loved being all together.

You may find that the kids want to be with you most of the time so the odd message or note and meeting times will work out perfectly!

Safe Travels and HAVE FUN...Your gonna love it.

Chass

This is WONDERFUL!! I'm marking my spot for this weekend when I have some down time and can really read and enjoy this wonderful review.

Thanks for taking the time to write it.

Can't wait for a coffee and some CC time!

Chass

We are traveling on Magic in March

We have a b2b booked in the same suite.

9294

When I booked it last December the VPV we had said it was a room that slept 4 and that they have two beds coming from the ceiling and the normal two twins underneath.

We called it a trundle, not sure if that is still the same name they use, but I was on the phone with the new VPV they gave us and she said she thinks it has a couch that the kids could sleep on. That will NOT work... the kids need their own beds. That is the ENTIRE reason I booked so early and specifically asked for that kind of room.

Now I am trying to find a way to see what the sleeping arrangement will be.

I have gone on the website to the deck plans, looked and I can't see a couch so I am assuming the original set up is indeed correct and my first VPV who I loved and miss terribly was correct when she assured me of the set up.

This new one is awful, and I have tried to call the 1-800 number but they keep saying they will put me through to her when I call so I can't really get away from her.

I just wondered if there were any tips/ideas as to how I can settle my nerves and find out the cabin I booked 9 months ago is indeed going to be what I was hoping for.

Thanks everyone.

Chassity.

We solved the problem of no FTTF on our March cruise.

We booked a back to back. HA

No rushing on the ship for us, because we will get two weeks in the same room, same ship, same tropical weather and different amazing ports of call.

#bestofbothworlds

I admit I was anxious to get FTTF when we booked the cruise December of last year, seeing as we were 15 months out I figured for sure I would get it, BUT when it opened up 7 months later I was at work and missed it.

I was bothered at first but now I figure this way we (family of 4 with two of them teens) can sleep in at our hotel, swim and relax at a place for lunch (having flown in the day before and being at air ports all day will be tiring no doubt) then head over to the pier at 1 or later and get ready for 2 weeks of fun and sun.

I can very much understand why people want to make the most of their 7 days. It goes by fast. That's why we now try to do a cruise every two years and stay on board for two weeks instead....

Seeing as we are paying more for the airfare from Canada then we are for a whole week of the cruise it works for us.

I do have a question, are tender ports listed as such? We haven't sailed Carnival in 17 years, RCCL, X and the others all list tender on the itinerary but Carnival doesn't seem to.

Thanks for the answers in advance.

Safe Travels everyone

Chass

Marking my spot too, won't have time till Tuesday to read this but I look forward to it then.

Thanks for the time and details you've written.

Can't WAIT!!

Chass

Thanks for the review.

I wondered... how much was the cabana?

We are a family of four with two kids, (15 & 12)

I am trying to decide if its worth it to book something rather then sludge around looking for the perfect spot.

The piece of mind that knowing we have something figured out is very appealing.

Thanks for the info

Chassity

I'm sure there are many many posts on this site about getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to the first cruise.

What I have learned is that if there is an excursion you really want to do, I would prebook.

Also, who is going?

Adults only, kids too?

What is your stateroom? Balcony? Inside

Lots of tips are pointless if you aren't doing certain things.

The biggest best tip I could give you is READ READ READ anything and everything you can.

It is honestly the best way to learn what to do.

Lots of packing tips on Youtube... lots of cruise videos too.

Have a blast planning this trip.

It really is the most important part.

Go with an open mind, and a full wallet... don't skip when it comes to the trip. Do what you want to do and keep asking questions.

HAVE FUN!!!!!

Chass.

Feel free to ask me anything if you should need... but there are a million people on here MUCH smarter then myself who likely have a better answer!!!

Thanks for this!!! Loved it!

I realize this is an older review but the photos and videos were excellent.

Always reading to see what is different on Carnival.

We did a very short 4 day one for our FIRST cruise to see if we liked it.

Have done many more now but never back on Carnival.

This was wonderful Thanks for the review.

Safe Travels.

Chass

I just peeked at that private excursion you mentioned. LOVED it. Gonna add that to the list of potentials for our b2b in March.

I appreciate it.

Have a wonderful day.

Chass

This has made my Saturday morning coffee even more delicious.

LOVED your review!!! Love love loved it

We are taking a back to back on this ship, Eastern and Western Caribbean out of PC in March/April.

It is also to celebrate my 40th bday and we are going with our kids too so I have something in common with a previous poster...Lisam81276

I really really enjoyed the write up. It made it seem like you were set on having fun from the beginning which is much like our family.

We are lucky have done many cruises, so we keep the " Life is good when your on a ship" mentality.

We know how lucky we are to be there and will ALWAYS try to see the positive in things.

Thanks again for doing the review.

Very appreciated!!!

Safe Travels.

Very much enjoyed this.

Thanks again for taking the time to write it all up and post the pictures.

We are 250 days out... uggggg seems like forever!

Have a wonderful summer.

Chass.

We went on a 2 week b2b vaca on Freedom of the Sea's (RCCL) a few years ago.

The family would sit at 11 pm every night for pizza and "freestyle" pop choices to go over the day.

Everyone in our family thought the pizza was sooooo delicious, we loved it, craved it and still talk of it all the time but I'm positive I know the secret....

It had NOTHING to do with the pizza and EVERYTHING to do with the fact that we were together, on a cruise ship, on vacation, going over our wonderful day spent in the sun on a beautiful island as a family.

We could have had crackers with butter and warm water and I still think it would have been the most delicious snack ever just because of where we were and who we were with.

I know that wasn't the question of the OP but I think it could be an important part of why people have such different tastes while all eating the same meal.

Safe Travels.

Chass

Thanks for writing this up.

I loooove the pictures.

I'm really enjoying this review.

Can't wait to read more.

Thanks again

Thanks for this write up.

We are going on this itinerary in March.

I loved the idea of the Sloth and Monkey rescue in Rotan.

Is this somewhere you could just go by taxi?

Or would you suggest the tour you booked? My family is NOT one for sitting in a van/car

But the beach and the animal rescue would be fantastic.

Thanks

Chassity

Thanks for taking the time to write this review.

I'm having a great afternoon reading and looking at the pictures.

Keep it up.

Chass

Thanks for the review.

Looks like a nice trip! I appreciate all the pictures.

We are heading to these same ports in the spring.

Thanks again

Chass

I had a friend who left her three son's NIKE sandals at the pool in Grand Turk on Carnival Magic this winter, all THREE pairs were taken when she came back to her chairs after swimming with her kids. They had NO shoes to wear as those were the only beach shoes they had with them. She had to buy flip flops for the kids from the store. . They were $34 a pair.. but thought the same thing... no one wants used shoes...

Lesson learned.

We'll be packing a gym bag that we can put stuff in so they aren't left out in the open for anyone to see or grab.

Sooo after watching every day since Jan 1 of this year, I actually missed the release of the excursions, which makes me CRAZY frustrated just cause it was always part of my morning routine.

BUT seeing that I have missed it, and we are on a B2B I only needed it for the first part of our cruise.

I have seen several people say if you go around 1 or 1:30 pm it isn't that busy and you can usually get onto the ship.

Since we are on for two weeks I can't think of why I would need to rush there etc.

Perhaps getting a late check out and heading there later would stop us from standing in the blazing sun with the masses of people.

I get priority on Royal so I haven't have to wait for several years.

I am diabetic and my meds react poorly to the sun as well as coming early will interfere with my lunch time meal/insulin.

I just wanna try to get there and get in relatively quick.

So those of you in the know suggest going around 1??

Thanks for any help.

Chass

Really enjoying this review.

I love the tips! We have done lots of cruises but its nice to see how some others think when it comes to tricks and tips.

Thanks for taking the time to do this!

Its made my Monday much more enjoyable.

Saving a spot so I can come back to this once our "holiday weekend" is over and the kids are back at school!

Thanks for taking the time to write this!

We sail next year.

Chass

Looking forward to reading this.

Thanks!

I've read your reviews before, LOVE the humor.

Chass

Such a nice start!

Looking forward to following along.

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Chass