Shelbyjane56

We booked the Magic for March 4 next spring Looking forward to it as we have not been to texas except to change planes. Have our hotel for 2 nights before the cruise as we live in indiana and have our flights and seats...now we just have to get through another winter lol

I know I'm dating myself, but are they any cruisers out there that ever sailed on the Mardi Gras? We sailed back in 1986 and that seems like centuries ago.

We sailed on the Mardi Gras when we got married in 1976, so we are 11 years on it before you lol Other than an elderly man died right in front of us, a shock for a newly married couple. Now that our youngest is in college and on the soccer team in college we spend time at games, (just like when she was in travel soccer) and do our best to get our cruises in too...will be platinum on our cruise in may...so looking forward to it

Also what kind of classes are they, if they are hands on like music, arts (acting) then no you will not be able to miss, even though the homework will be on the web in most cases, like blackboard.

 

You and her could talk to her advisor, to make the decission.

You are suggesting that a freshman go with her mom to make the decision with her advisor!!! I asked our daughter who will be finishing up her freshman year the early part of May, division 1 school, she is also on the soccer team. She said no way would she want myself or her dad (my husband) to go talk to her advisor. Knock on the head...You daughter is expected to take care of problems themselves, its called growing up and learning...I also asked daughter what she would do...and she said the best thing (for her as soccer practice starts again not too much later than after the end of freshman year} she said take me on a cruise when I graduate! She said to tell the moms who think they should get involved, its time they grow up and take care of whatever they want to do. Her college has limits to how many days you can miss..and going on a cruise would put her over no doubt

Does anyone know if we can visit both on the same night? Just curious because there are often 1 or 2 items on the MDR menu we want to try (mostly desserts). So we were thinking after dinner we could head to the MDR for dessert. Thanks!

I cant believe you would even be able to eat that much food, the desserts are enough to fill most up, I think once you go to the steakhouse you will probably be saying, ohhh I cant eat anymore!

Its the same way when you go to the Chefs Table...it was to die for!!

I'm in the "it looks tacky" minority. While I could see it would be helpful for a child to find the cabin, or perhaps an elderly forgetful parent, we (husband and I) are quite able to find the cabin based on the cabin number which is on the door.

Have not done the doors before..but since we will be celebrating our 35th anniversary. We are even doing an inside cabin like we had on the Marti Gras like we did when we got married......yes of course we love a balcony but we want to have fun with it, added to the fact we will be on a lot of ports, so wont be in the room all that much, Nothing wrong with having some fun, even if some think its tacky, one persons tacky is another persons fun, we only live once so might as well try new and different things from time to time. I choose not be be snob :)

Hey everyone, we're booking our vacation on the Dream and there are four cloud 9 spa balcony rooms remaining on the panorama (deck 11). 11229, 11230, 11235, and 11236. These should be covered balcony rooms. They have been coming up as the last 4 rooms for the last 2 weeks. Can anyone give me any input or advice as to which room would be the best choice. I hope they aren't in a undesirable location.

By the way, this will be my family's 2nd cruise, we did the Legend last year and had a blast.

Thanks, Scott

Trying to think of the number that we were on last summer. We were in the spa cabin forward, we were one cabin behind the last cabin you can get . We were also only a few feet away from the elevator (pretty much private for those in spa cabins) We had no problems with noise at all, one of the best cabins we have ever had. Best part to us was no smoke smells at all!

I believe its supposed to be something like 12x12x12 but ours is larger, we dont use it till we are in the cabin, we just pack it with our checked luggage, it folds up neatly, Im sure the our cabin person likes the fact it doesnt leak at all, just makes it easy for them. Not to mention, we get a lot of use out of it at soccer games, have a daughter playing college soccer, it even has a bottle opener hooked on it

The 12 one is fine!

What size of polarbear cooler can you take on the boat? The 6 pack or 12 pack one?? I was wanting to order the 12 pack one, but didn't know if it would be too big and didn't want it to get confiscated. Thanks!

I believe its supposed to be something like 12x12x12 but ours is larger, we dont use it till we are in the cabin, we just pack it with our checked luggage, it folds up neatly, Im sure the our cabin person likes the fact it doesnt leak at all, just makes it easy for them. Not to mention, we get a lot of use out of it at soccer games, have a daughter playing college soccer, it even has a bottle opener hooked on it

The one time we tried to take a collapsible cooler, it leaked! We ended up keeping it in the shower (when we weren't using it!). Otherwise, it was a mess! Maybe a more expensive one would have worked?

I think you are right, our cooler was about 55.00 and its worth it, it doesnt leak at all nor do we have to put any towels around it.

We use a polarbear cooler, it doesnt sweat and it does not leak. It folds down and it easy to pack. Last July we took it and our cabin guy (who was wonderful) kept it full of ice. We bring our tervis and that keeps everything cold while out in the sun!

I know I'm dating myself, but are they any cruisers out there that ever sailed on the Mardi Gras? We sailed back in 1986 and that seems like centuries ago.[/quote

 

 

We sailed on the Mardi Gras for our honeymoon back in 1976. It is amazing how different the ships of today are compared to 35 years ago. I can still remember the first time we took a shower and found out you would be left with wet toilet paper. We also went back and forth as the ship was moving and you had to learn how to stay on the wood platform...on the sad side we were right next to an older man who died right in front of us from a heart attack. Wish it were still around so people could see what it was like back then!

no you can only reserve them on board.. we tried ! LOL

 

Yes you can .. The Cabana rental includes snorkel equipment that will be in the cabanna..no we did not use it as we dont snorkle..

 

I can not tell you how good the snorkling is or isnt sorry!

I know this is an older thread, however you can now reserve a Cabana on line after you have paid for your cruise however you have to wait till you are on the ship to choose the cabana that you want..also several of the cruises are not going to hmc , its different each time, something about saving on fuel. We booked our Cabana and it was 199.00

We prefer in the middle may , most kids are still in school, the college kids are looking for summer jobs (as our daughter has a coaching job for Soccer camp at notre dame) Its not too hot and the prices are great....its what we have been doing since we started cruises with a few exceptions!

I just love to share with newbies some of my ideas and suggestions for that first cruise. But remember, you never stop learning. I've been on about 15 cruises and am STILL learning great things from the wonderful folks who post on these message boards.

 

Take a light-weight sweater or windbreaker (or just a long-sleeve blouse). Even in a warm climate, chilly winds can blow out on the decks and the AC in some places on the ship can be quit cold. Take a small fold-up umbrella & a tote bag to take on shore with you. We got caught in a rain storm in Aruba and were so glad that I had put the umbrella in the tote when we left the ship! I take several little packages of antibacterial wipes to wipe down surfaces in the cabin...like the TV remote, light switches, drawer pulls, bathroom door handle, any surface that has been touched by multiple people before you...better safe than sorry! Put one package in your tote when you go on shore too; you never know what you might want to wipe down while you're out & about. I also take my eye glasses prescription with me, tucked away safely in my wallet. Just in case something happened to my glasses, I would at lease have the information necessary to get new ones made. I've never had to actually use the information, but it's there if needed. Binoculars (small pair) are a great thing to have also. There will be many occasions when you will want to use them from the outside decks. I take a small roll of duct take and scotch tape. It's amazing the uses you'll find for them! When I zip my bag us to check at the airport (or at the pier if not flying) I lock the zipper ends together with an electrical tie. Works great for security, and if your bag is one of the lucky ones chosen for inspection, it's easy for them to cut it off. I take a small bottle of Downy Wrinkle-Release. It's great for getting wrinkles out of some things after being packed in a suitcase.

 

Someone mentioned about night lights and not being able to find a place to plug them in. I too am a night light user when away from home, and on a cruise ship by far the best thing to do is leave your bathroom light on, close the door, and sufficient light shines beneath the door. Works great!

 

Hair dryers and shampoo are provided in each cabin so don't waste suitcase space packing these. Seasick medicine is available free at the Purser's desk; all you have to do is ask.

 

Hope these suggestions are helpful...ave a great cruise!!!!!!

 

kruzkween

Some great ideas kruzkween, but not all cruise lines hand out free sea sickness meds, for that matter some wont even give you a free bandaid, so come with a small medical kit, with a little of this and that

 

One bottle per adult... can open with in room for free (don't forget corkscrew) or in dining room for a fee.

We were on the Dream in july for our sons wedding on the beach in St thomas..we had quite a few people who sailed with us, from family to guest....We had ALOT!!!! of wine between all of us...we were not charged a fee at all for the wine we took turns bringing wine to dinner! So its not written in stone that there is a corking fee all the time :)

My husband and I are cruising with my sister and her husband on November 14th. Both of our anniversaries are a few weeks prior so we will be celebrating (me 11 years...her 1 year:)) I think I noticed on the form that we have to fill out online that it asked if you are celebrating anything. I could be wrong, as I haven't filled it out yet, just peeked at it....Just wondering, does Carnival do anything special if they know you are celebrating a special event? Not that it matters if they don't because the cruise itself will be fantastic I'm sure....

You can have flowers in your room if your hubby gets them for you, (this is something my hubby has done since our first cruise in 1976 when we were on our honeymoon) You can also have an anniversary cake delivered to your table at dinner...and they might sing to you, they did for our son after they got married on the beach this summer, they even sang happy anniversary and the next day it was happy 2nd day anniversary...do they give you freebies...no lol Have fun!!

Ours was on the mardi gras back in 1977...back when the drink of the day was 95 cents, you could also touch the ceiling in the dining room (and Im 5'2") we had a couple from canada who sat with us, they were in their late 70s but oh so adoreable..they would tease us if we were late for dinner or didnt show up...wouldnt want to change anything even the better ships today...that week was magical and to add to that, we have been married 34 years this year...not overly seen these days, unfortunately!

Dog AND pony?

 

Won't the show at RCCL headquarters miss the star performers?

:D:D

Thats known as the dog and pony show!:o

Ive had the same problem...swelling. I know its the only time I suffer from swelling, so this time Im going to make sure I drink ALOT to flush out the salt....I still want tasty food, something that all ships have...salt on the food. Im not a big drinker so that wont be an issue

We are doing the dream (carnival) July 17 and I hope its hot as it can be!! :) Live where its cold a lot now, so head is always something we look for! Son is getting married on the beach in st thomas so we hope for no rain but have an indoor plan should that happen...we actually have had good weather on every single cruise we have been on....have a wonderful time!!

Your pics are wonderful!! Thanks so much for sharing. A question for you, is Big Bay right by where the water taxi comes in in Phillipsburg? We want to do a bit of shopping as we will be involved with our sons wedding when we are in st thomas, would like to be able to find a beach closeby?? thanks for your help and your pics!!:)

Can you get lounge chairs at great bay?? It sounds like the place we would like to spend some time on when we are there in july, but we also want to do some shopping! Thanks for any responses:o