jerry2457

Been on 10 of these so a few tips: Carnival will take pictures, pictures, pictures all week but do not feel obligated to buy them. It adds up fast and I recommend on a night when you are dressed up to get several taken and pick one you might want to take home to frame. Usually its around $20 or so and if you find a good one its a good keepsake, otherwise take a good digital camera and take lots of your own pictures. 2. For shore excursions, research your ports via your library or book store travel books. What is it you want to do when in port or do you even want to do anything? For example why pay the ship $40-$45 to go to a beach when you can walk off the ship and take a taxi there for $8-$12 and have the same experience? You can check what your ship offers and costs and also look at options via a company called Shoretrips (both are escorted tours for a price) but you might find that, what you want to do, you can do the same thing for less money and not over pay. Don't let people scare you with the myth "if you don't book an escorted tour you could get left behind" just research what you want to do, stay on ship's time and then allow enough time to do what you want and get back to the ship. 3. Take advantage of the free shows, movies at the pool deck, and Carnival activities. They usually have a "hairest chest"contest that is fun to watch and later in the week a ice sculpture carving around the main pool. Most ships also have a Serenity Deck that is adults only with hammocks and day beds usually on the top deck of your ship...less hectic quieter area. 4. On sea days start your day off by going to the fitness center and make use of the steam room or the coed sauna. It helps open up your pores, gets rid of the toxins if you have been drinking, and gets the day off to a good start. I get in a bathing suit then shower in the respective locker room (steam is gender specific only via locker room but sauna area is shared wear a swimsuit). I found that by using this in the morning then shower in the locker room I was awake and ready to go for the day. 5. Sometimes food wise the food is better at breakfast in the formal dining room while for lunch & dinner the buffet is a better deal. Portions for dinner have shrunk over the years in the formal dining room. If you really want a great dinner experience book a reservation at the supper club $35 per person a a long slow 2.5 hour dinner but fabulous food. Enjoy your trip hope the tips help!

Jerry

11 Cruises and counting

Could be Carnival or it could be RCCL as the decor varies a bit but looks like Carnival. You are right the layout is essentially the same although the balcony is slightly larger than the inside or ocean view cabins. I have visited the suites when people stayed in them more room inside and have seen one with a walk in closet and the bathrooms have a bath and shower. Balcony at least via Carnival has the sitting couch area and a bigger vanity area that you don't get with the inside cabins and I have done both inside and balcony but its just myself usually in the cabin as opposed to 3 people so it makes a difference.

My final guess will be Carnival if not its RCCL

Hmm an interesting question as I just came from Cozumel. Now the port dock is fairly spread out so if you go to use ground transportation its several blocks of walking to get back to the taxi stand. Check with your ship and see if you can get a wheelchair for her if she will use it and consider taking it on shore. There are a lot of beaches where, once you arrive and get situated would be easy and relaxing. Carlos N Charlie's has a pay as you go style beach with chairs, umbrellas right next to the water so you pay for drinks or food. There are 2 day resorts that have both swim up style pools as well as the beach but they are all inclusive: Mr Sanchos is around $55-$60 per person all you can eat & drink for the day & they have covered trails until you have to walk across sand to sit at a table or to pick out a beach chair. Iebostar had similiar set up for $67 per person not sure if Discovery Cove will work. Again keep in mind you walk off the ship up the concrete pier, go through the customs guys and that puts you at the front of the shopping plaza. If you are doing an excursion they will meet you but its walking through that shopping area to the back to ground transportation that might be an issue so if you can wheel chair might be useful. Most times from there they drop off right at an entrance but have never done Discovery Cove so no idea there on amount of walking. Carlos and Charlie's would be fairly easy has wheel chair access, covered gazebo and pay as you go while still at the beach so it might be a good option. My singles group did a beach group day there and its usually pretty spread out, crystal clear water and decent service.

If you are going out of Miami and flying there, I would stay there. The port is closer to the downtown area and while South Beach is great for adults not always the best option. As you turn the corner heading away from South Beach (pointing West) there are some hotels there and others around the market over closer to the port. The port is only about 10 minutes or less from downtown Miami area whereas if you stay in Fort Lauderdale plan on about 40 minutes and about $80 by shuttle or taxi to get there. Fort Lauderdale will be better for the beach with kids but during the day South Beach is fine if you stay hotel wise around Miami downtown or Market area. Its less commotion with kids if you can manage stay closer to your port area.

Alaska has to be planned out fairly far in advance. Shorter 5 day cruise to Caribbean might work as it offers lots of shore options depending on the port. I recommend Eastern Caribbean as it has better weather consistently usually lots of beaches, also fair amount of historical sights, parks, nature trails, etc that vary by port or city tours. I would research some of the ports to see what might fit the bill.

I am always with a big group on these trips so sea days are easy for me:

Sleep till about 9-930 then get up and hit the steam room, clean off with shower

Change over to bathing suit, Tee, shoes and grab breakfast.

After breakfast check out activities either set by our group or the ship. If nothing is happening at the time will simply roam around to see who is up.

Might go walk the ship or go up to the serenity deck for a bit.

Sometimes hike to front of ship.

Sometimes go use the water slide.

Sometimes go check out photos posted.

Morning varies as our group has many activities.

Cocktail usually around noon and spend some time lazying in the sun

Afternoon pool side or an hour nap mid afternoon if I stayed up late.

Our group has cocktail hours that vary start time as early at 430 or as late as 630 that carries us towards dinner.

Formal dining or buffett for dinner.

Comedy show after dinner then head to disco to socialize or dance or evening activities sometimes do the movie being shown on pool deck

We have not any better luck on getting them to respond quicker to emails and I was advised, via the tourist center, to call them if I want a more detailed answer. We have a large number of people who want to go to the Baths and because of this they are asking us to provide a credit card but the email failed to say if it was just to hold the reservation, as deposit, or for payment in full. We have decided we will need to call them to lock down details.

Yes, people can see you around the divider if they lean out far enough at the side to peek around it but I don't ever remember anyone doing it. As for cameras shooting down on the side of the ship....really? Then how come with all the people who have accidentally fallen overboard that there is no video? Come on now common sense...while there are cameras on the ship they are NOT posted looking straight down on the side of ship into the balconies, they are pointed out toward the water. However someone may be able to see you if you sunbath on your balcony and wrong there is enough sun to tan on the balcony but will depend on the time of day. Carnival used to have an adult area where you could do this but many have replaced it with the adults only Serenity Spa area but have not seen any topless sunbathing there.

The TRI RAIL runs from the Fort Lauderdale airport to the Miami airport. You could do that if you are coming in a day prior to the cruise and stay in Miami close to South Beach or the downtown area as its close to the terminal. A taxi from the airport to the hotel & the port would be your best bet. If you stay in Fort Lauderdale you most likely will find hotels a bit cheaper and since you have a family the beach there is nice. Its not a long ride from the airport to the beach so a shared taxi might run $20-$25. Just don't expect really high luxery hotels in either Fort Lauderdale or Miami as they they can be expensive. Fort Lauderdale has lots of small hotels close to the beach. If you decide to stay in South Beach, check for hotels on Collins or Washington Boulevard as they are 2 and 3 blocks over from Ocean Drive. Everything you would want or need is within walking distance and its a short taxi ride to the Port Of Miami terminal that exits just south of the southern most end of South Beach. You can actually see the cruise ships as they leave while standing on the beach.

Carnival has a reputation as the "fun ships" With that I suggest you google "singles cruises" and you will find a company or 2 who specializes in these and does specific trips for 20s and 30s and its a great way to travel. I am sure you will find them easily if you google the words "singles cruise" Good luck with your trip

I have done 7 cruises and on each one, my bags arrived at my cabin by early evening. If you are concerned check one bag and take your smaller one as a carryon...but sometimes they do get lost. One Halloween trip one of the guys in our group gave his bags to the porter and 1 came up missing...and was NEVER found. The ship did everything they were allowed to do to compensate him on board and I had heard he had to contact their office after arriving back in port. However its the only time I have heard of a bag not making it to the cabin. On the days we disembark, I put 1 bag out for the porters to take and keep a smaller wheeled bag to use in the morning and to wheel off the ship. I hate packing everythng the night before and one trip I left my bags in the cabin, went to breakfast and came back at about 10:30..and my cabin was the only one that had yet to be cleaned or turned down as I left the do not disturb sign on my door. I wheeled my bags off the ship and was one of the last people to leave.

ALWAYS fly in a day before your cruise leaves port. This gives you insurance in case the weather doesn't cooperate and in most ports, there are plenty of reasonably priced hotels close to the port terminal. Some hotels even offer free shuttles to the terminal but most are a reasonable cab ride.

PICTURES get expensive on board. If you want a really nice picture, get dressed up on formal night and go to several backdrops/scenery and then

pick a favorite. Digital cameras take great pictures and you can print them out yourself although $25 is reasonable for a nice formal picture.

RESEARCH your ports so you can learn about where you are going to stop. Depending on the port you may not want to go to shore but it helps you decide what to do if you have read ahead of time about the stops. I recommend Frommer's Travel books as they are very comprehensive.

BOARDING the ship-Keep in mind every ship is arriving back from a previous trip and has to unload passengers, baggage, etc and restock supplies. Check to see what time your ship arrives back in port as its the same most times except for unanticipated delays. When a ship arrives back at 7 AM they usually begin to board passengers at 11 AM so you can get in line around 10:30-10:45 and be on board by noon. As soon as you are on the ship, head up to the pool deck as they usually serve lunch (your cruise has started). Eat lunch and then walk around the ship to try to get the feel of the layout. Cabins won't be ready until about 1:30 and the pursuer's desk

often has a map of the ship (you may be able to print it out on line) to help you get to certain places. Once they announce cabins are ready, go drop off any carry on items and put them in the closet or under the bed. This is also a good time to take your 1st pictures then be up on deck as the ship sails.

CABINS-If you like to see sunshine every day or would enjoy sitting out at night then book a balcony cabin. If you like or want to sleep in and get up whenever you like, an inside cabin will work fine. Your in room TV has channels that take shots of the outside area so you can turn it on in the morning and see what the weather is like at any time. Take a light weight

poncho or umbrella with you in case you stop at a port and its raining. There are still things to do and see in ports if the weather isn't cooperating!

SHORE EXCURSIONS-Do your homework! If you want to swim with the dolphins, book it early as these always fill up but always check the cost of

booking with the ship vs booking directly with the company who offers the excursions. Many trips can be booked right on shore so check out prices, why pay $80 if you can get the same trip for less? Frommers will recommend companies or you can check that country for a visitors bureau or companies that offer that excursion. For example the ship may offer something as simple as a trip to the beach for $35 when just taking a shared cab might cost $15-$20 so make sure you don't overpay for a trip. In some cases you can cab to an area like a historic sight and just pay the entrance fee. In some cases though its a better deal to go with the excursion due to the distance (ie if you go to Cozumel and go to the ruins

I would take an excursion).