Cruiserbarbie

I always back up my timeline:

flight: 1045

need to be at airport for 1045 flight 90 minutes before: 915

travel to airport takes 30 minutes IF ALL GOES WELL AS MAYBE 500-1000 PAX from just that one ship try to get to the airport to fly out of FLL: 845

ship docks: let's say 800

So you have 45 minutes for the ship to dock, leave the ship, clear customs, get a cab, go through security, etc. Everything has to go smoothly, bam, bam, bam.  One thing goes wrong and you could be out of luck, rushing, stressed.  Have you ever self-embarked?  I've seen folks in wheelchairs pulling their bags self embark!  Pax with 3 pieces of luggage each try to manage it and all it does is hold up pax like me who travel with 1 carryon. Go with the 1155 flight and end your trip as happy as you started out. And depending on your airline ticket, if in fact you arrive in time for the 1045, you could always ask if you can switch flights.  My philosophy is that it never hurts to ask! 

I agree completely with Nic.  I thought I might have to cancel and followed his instructions.  Then I called Carnival.  So from now until Nov 25, I pay a penalty of $800 and rest of the fare gets returned to my cc.  After Nov 25, I pay a penalty of 1/2 my fare.  So follow Nic's instructions, see what the amount is and then call and see when the next penalty phase begins.  You don't want to wait to call and see your penalty jump just because you waited.  Act now!

At Galveston, in order to get past certain checkpoints you have to show your boarding time pass.  If it later than the current window, then you have to wait outside the terminal building. So, if you checkin time is 1130-1200 and it is 11, you have to wait.  If it is 1230, you get to go right in. 

Online checkin-anytime

Final payment -at least 90 days out

Boarding pass availability-after final payment and when Carnival opens it.

We are leaving on a PC cruise Jan 19, final payment Oct 21 and boarding pass availability did not open until Nov 1.

We gave a cruise to our son and DIL at Xmas in 2010.  2011 was their 10th anniversary, he was turning 40 and we were going to babysit.  The cruise was to be in April.  This was enough time to put in for vacation and get excited.  We too filled a box with suntan lotion, flip-flops, deflated beach ball, menu from the ship, etc.  We also got cancel for any reason insurance for them. 

Don't think you can give at Xmas for a cruise a week later but that depends on your girl's situations.

Unfortunately we had to use the cruise cancellation insurance--my dad (son's grandfather) died that Tuesday and the funeral was the Saturday they were to leave.  So he went to the funeral with us, insurance reimbursed me and they went on the cruise another time with that money. 

We booked our Panama Canal cruise 2 years ago while living close to Galveston.  Now we are in Mexico and will have to fly out of Phoenix to meet the cruise in Galveston.   Having to cross the border, and fly from PHX to Houston we have to stay in either PHX or Houston overnight.  We opted to fly to Houston and stay in Houston overnight.  Better to be as close to the port as possible, so if anything went wrong on the flight portion, we still had almost a whole day to get to Houston.  And likewise, being in Houston the day the ship departs, we have a whole day to go a few miles.  About 65 days to go-Yeh!

Depending on which port you use, might want to check out the PC cruise now. Balconies go the fastest on the PC cruises. We cruise out of Galveston and ships only go 2-3 times a year. We booked 2 years out and leave in January.

It's a long time to wait, new options may come up in the meantime, dry dock situations, etc. We're not particular but with balcony and wanting cabins not decks above us, far enough from elevator to avoid congregating pax but close enough to stairs to walk where we need to, we book early. Our room is now $2K more than when we booked.

Just curious so went to carnival.com and they have info.

Thanks SC. CC article had a list.

I thought maybe it was a game and we got to keep it. Oh well, will be fun just finding it. Thanks. jk

Just read a thread about what to do on a ship and "search and find the ship's coin" was one of the things to do. Have been cruising both river and large ship and never heard about this. What is find the ship's coin?

cruisetimetables.com and whatsinport.com can tell you what ships will be in each port and when they arrive and depart. This might give you an indication of what ships you might sea at sea!!!

If by the double sofa you mean it breaks out into a double bed, why not give that to your MIL as I would think a double bed would be plenty big, the kids take the upper and lower Pullmans and you take the king. You and hubby sharing a double sofa bed will make for a long week. I may be reading the bed configuration all wrong especially about the pullmans, hope not.

A tropical beverage and afternoon delight.

I am one of those who made comments without actually traveling with kids. So my suggestion: think of a schedule for a day.

Everybody wakes up, what happens next, change diapers, give bottles, which one first, who dresses who? So when kids are dressed, you and hubby figure out how to complete your toilette and dress and hope kids behave and don't make too much noise while you are getting ready. OK, off to breakfast or could room service be easier? If a port day, all of you go/older kids in Camp, probably change another diaper or 2 and you take baby and stuff and head for the excursion Does stuff stay in the bus on the excursion or will you need to bring it with you? Suppose one or other of the Campers does not want to go to camp, do you have snacks for bringing them on the excursion. We won't get into cranky and tired kiddos on the excursion itself. At least due to their age, hopefully no extra fee.

So we're back on board, maybe a little hot and grimy and at least 1 if not 2 kiddos who probably need a nap, like you. With no tubs, you might try practicing at home in the tiniest shower in the house how you will go about giving the kids a "bath". You might after head to the pool for the afternoon, maybe after picking up the Camper but now you will have all 3 at the pool and baby in diapers are not allowed in although I may be wrong about that. So one of you has the baby and the other one the other 2 kids. So then maybe you and some of the kids head back to the room to dress for dinner, again rinsing off chlorine from the pool in the tiniest shower ever. Door to shower would need to be propped open no matter which kids you have with you. Certainly not even a minute to yourself moment. Then hubby arrives with the 3rd kiddo, he gets ready after you take care of that one so you might want to delay getting dressed until after this happens. Does everybody nap at the same time like perfect sublime little angels or are we juggling that too?

OK, so all dressed, ready to go to dinner. Who's helping who eat and how are you eating?

I don't think I need to go on. This has worn me out and you would be paying for the pleasure of all the above!!!

Just think it though.

We love to cruise. Are seniors and never brought kids as they were adults when we started.

Questions: will family members "assist" with kids?

Are you willing to put older ones in Camp?

Would stay at home grandparents/family members help to step in and babysit while you and hubby go it alone?

(this is what I did when my brother flew me to his house to take care of the kids).

Can you take the 2 older so they go to Camp and leave the baby at home or take the baby and leave the older 2 with family/friend?

Can you afford to get 2 rooms and bring along a babysitter whose job would be to relieve some of your stress and let you have a little fun? Multiple details about this -- cruise for free but almost no pay, pay a set fee plus fare, how much time off, etc,

To me, at home I'm sure you have things organized the way you want them and probably a schedule of sorts as much as you can with those kiddos. On a cruise, even in 2 rooms, room is tight, things are unorganized, etc. Frankly I don't see you having that much fun. Family members are paying for a cruise to enjoy themselves and unless you are absolutely sure you will get some help, if they cruise often, I would plan on going the next time.

Diapers etc: don't lug them on board, buy in ports if possible.

Just my 2 cents.

Generally do 7 days but have done 21 day transatlantic, 14 day Med and will do 14 day Panama Canal in January.

PC will be on Freedom and it has a self service laundry, so for those who mentioned laundry expense, that is lessened by the W/D.

Relaxing, more chances to try all the different restaurants and menu items, more ports, more dressy nights if you like that, really a chance to decompress if you have to go back to work and it really is a pleasure to know it does not end in a week.

Yes more gratuity costs and port costs but with the cost of a 14-21 day cruise, those expenses are miniscule.

My husband prefers balcony rooms to sit outside while I take advantage of every activity

Sounds like Plan B went into effect.

Just a little clarification: You need to have paid the total cost of the cruise before you can get a boarding time.

We are also on the Freedom in January. Nobody answered Edie as to where the laundry is on 7 which is the deck we are on. ?????

On there a few weeks ago, always spots available and the weather was great so enough to share.

We were on the Valor a few weeks ago, no party. I know I went online and looked that up on Carnival's website (couldn't tell you where now) and states no party on less than 7 days.

On Valor last month and yes everyone wants Guy's. But if you are facing the big screen with Guy's on your left, everyone croweds that line. If you go around to the left of Guy's there is a secondary line, usually less crowded.

Carnival recommends not before 130pm. On Valor last month, port closed due to fog, opened again but we were 1 1/2 hours late getting off the ship. Of course, everyone who leave their humongous bags with the ports on checking it, decide they are carryoff bags when departing.

Same parade on Valor last month on the last night and then everyone got a piece--some chocolate and some vanilla.

On Valor last month and we bought a 12 pack of soda. Got pulled over for secondary screening of the soda. Unfortunately, they tear the carton open and you are left with probably a purse, carryon and a carton of soda torn open. Bring tape or a bag for the cans. ,