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Planning My First Cruise


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Hi all

I am currently planning my first cruise and have plenty of questions.

I will be sailing on Carnival Spirit for a 9 night cruise, from Sydney Australia to New Caledonia on the 9th of December 2019.

I will be travelling as part of a group of 11 if all goes according to plan.

We are considering your time dining. The youngest will be in a high chair.

1. Are there tables on board this ship big enough for all of us?

2. Is there normally a long wait for a table this size?

3. If we decide to eat somewhere else for dinner do we still inform the MDR?

4. Can we all eat at different times or separately if some want to dine elsewhere?

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Hi Chuck. I was on the Spirit in July - here’s what I can tell you...

1. Tables are big enough - they will make up a table for your party.

2. There can be a long wait depending upon the time you go, especially as you will want a table for 9.

3. You do not have to inform MDR if you are dining elsewhere.

4. You have the choice of dining when, where and how you want - not necessarily all together all the time.

Don’t worry too much about this - enjoy the cruise, there’s always plenty to eat, no matter where you are seated, who you are with or what time [emoji1].

 

 

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Hi Chuck. I was on the Spirit in July - here’s what I can tell you...

1. Tables are big enough - they will make up a table for your party.

2. There can be a long wait depending upon the time you go, especially as you will want a table for 9.

3. You do not have to inform MDR if you are dining elsewhere.

4. You have the choice of dining when, where and how you want - not necessarily all together all the time.

Don’t worry too much about this - enjoy the cruise, there’s always plenty to eat, no matter where you are seated, who you are with or what time [emoji1].

 

 

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Thanks for your reply Jandex and all your help, I hope you liked your cruise on the Spirit in July. I can not wait for December 2019 to finally arrive :)

 

Plenty more questions to come I am sure.

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The MDR is pretty accommodating. You'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. The alternate dining areas are more flexible if you feel like something more casual. MDR do a good sea day brunch and you don't need a booking for that.

 

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Thank you for the help Suzanne :)

 

What else is open for dinner apart from Nouveau which seems a little swanky for my taste?

 

Also thank you for the heads up about sea day brunch, it sounds like a delight :)

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Nouveau is actually really good and pretty good value for what you get. The buffet is available for all meals. I'm not a fan of it for dinner but its fine for breakfast and lunch especially on port days. Guys burgers is good as is the blue iguana Mexican and the pizzas are delicious. I don't really like the BBQ place. People can be a bit funny about carnival but I like the relaxed nature of the Spirit.

 

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Nouveau is actually really good and pretty good value for what you get. The buffet is available for all meals. I'm not a fan of it for dinner but its fine for breakfast and lunch especially on port days. Guys burgers is good as is the blue iguana Mexican and the pizzas are delicious. I don't really like the BBQ place. People can be a bit funny about carnival but I like the relaxed nature of the Spirit.

 

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Don't get me wrong Nouveau sounds amazing and great value for money compared to land based restaurants of its calibre, but I have not tried things like escargot or even lobster yet and wouldn't even have a clue what steak to get. I am not very refined and feel that places like the MDR, buffet and Guy's burgers are more my style.

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Cruising is all about being relaxed so whatever you're comfortable with is the way to go. They have escargots in the MDR so you might get to try some new things there and the beauty is if you order something and don't like it you can just tell your waiter and they will happily bring you something else.

 

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Cruising is all about being relaxed so whatever you're comfortable with is the way to go. They have escargots in the MDR so you might get to try some new things there and the beauty is if you order something and don't like it you can just tell your waiter and they will happily bring you something else.

 

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Yes I have read that you can order as much or as little as you would like in the MDR, I would love to try escargot not sure if I will gain the courage though always said I would try when I eventually get to Paris.

 

I have also seen that the soft serve ice cream and pizza pirate are 24/7, but when are places like Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana Cantina open for breakfast/lunch/dinner?

 

Thanks again for all your help Suz :)

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Maybe you could have a practise on the cruise before you get to Paris!! Guys and iguana I have only done at lunchtime and I'm assuming they open dinner but not sure about breakfast. You will get a daily newsletter in your cabin and it will list all the opening hours for the next day. Happy to help, I remember being the same before my first cruise! I hope you're ready to become addicted to cruising!

 

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I am also wondering about taking food around the ship, I have read it is pretty common to move from place to place with your food and drink.

Just wondering are you allowed to take food into the main show room, comedy club and casino.

If so is there anywhere you can not take your food and drinks? e.g. arcade, gym or library.

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Maybe you could have a practise on the cruise before you get to Paris!! Guys and iguana I have only done at lunchtime and I'm assuming they open dinner but not sure about breakfast. You will get a daily newsletter in your cabin and it will list all the opening hours for the next day. Happy to help, I remember being the same before my first cruise! I hope you're ready to become addicted to cruising!

 

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Great idea a trial run sounds smart and if I don't like it I can get something else or just order two starters or what have you straight away.

 

Yeah I know about the fun times aka my new collectors item, I will actually be using the Carnival hub app which I have already downloaded ready.

 

I am definitely a planner and want to know everything I can, than I can be a source of knowledge to my travelling party. I am so ready, sign me up to cruisers anonymous meetings now will need them next year :)

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Maybe you could have a practise on the cruise before you get to Paris!! Guys and iguana I have only done at lunchtime and I'm assuming they open dinner but not sure about breakfast. You will get a daily newsletter in your cabin and it will list all the opening hours for the next day. Happy to help, I remember being the same before my first cruise! I hope you're ready to become addicted to cruising!

 

Sent from my Lenovo A7600-F using Forums mobile app

 

Also wanted to note that Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana do sound more like lunch time eats, as does Fat Jimmy's. May I ask what you didn't find appealing about the BBQ at Fat Jimmy's?

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Chuck; I have never seen anybody eating in Showroom, Comedy club or Casino on any type of cruise. Eat on balcony if you have one or any where up on lido deck 9....

 

Thanks Hunter

 

What about the pubs and bars is there food available there, even just snacks?

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There was nothing really wrong with fat Jimmy's. I just didnt think it was that tasty and preferred the other choices. Its popular though so maybe its just me! Some bars have packets of chips for sale. There is a place just outside sports bar and I can't remember what its called but each night they have little snacks, something different each night and they are good little tasters to tide you over to dinner.

 

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There was nothing really wrong with fat Jimmy's. I just didnt think it was that tasty and preferred the other choices. Its popular though so maybe its just me! Some bars have packets of chips for sale. There is a place just outside sports bar and I can't remember what its called but each night they have little snacks, something different each night and they are good little tasters to tide you over to dinner.

 

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I will definitely still try Fat Jimmy's I hope it good, thanks for the tip about the sports bar sounds good :)

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Yeah packing cubes are good. We use it to split up the clothes for each person so that they're easy to grab. Usually whatever cheapie cubes we can find. I prefer using the ones made from thin material as they don't take up as much space, and I don't mind replacing them if they get ripped or stretched.

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Yeah packing cubes are good. We use it to split up the clothes for each person so that they're easy to grab. Usually whatever cheapie cubes we can find. I prefer using the ones made from thin material as they don't take up as much space, and I don't mind replacing them if they get ripped or stretched.

 

Thanks losfp :)

 

Can you recommend any specific ones, where do you normally buy yours? also from Sydney looking into buying a 3 pack from Big W for $25

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I could talk all day about this. I have cruised twice on spirit, three different P&O ships and doing first royal Caribbean in December. I'd say take a highlighter and when you get your fun times newsletter each night, highlight what you want to do the next day. Be open minded and try new things. Try everything ship has to offer. What I love about cruising is you can do as little or as much as you want. Be on deck for sail away, its a fantastic way to start your cruise. Also get up early on last day and enjoying coming in through the harbour in the dark. Buffet is open when you board so you can have lunch straight up. Be nice to your room attendant. They take good care of you. We always tip up front and have always had great service and always with a smile. Make a list and check it twice. Your suitcase should fit under your bed to give you more cupboard space. Don't listen to people who say take a power board, it will be confiscated. I take a small first aid/medicine kit as all that is expensive on board. I'm sure others have good tips too. I'm excited for you, you only get one first cruise!!

 

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I could talk all day about this. I have cruised twice on spirit, three different P&O ships and doing first royal Caribbean in December. I'd say take a highlighter and when you get your fun times newsletter each night, highlight what you want to do the next day. Be open minded and try new things. Try everything ship has to offer. What I love about cruising is you can do as little or as much as you want. Be on deck for sail away, its a fantastic way to start your cruise. Also get up early on last day and enjoying coming in through the harbour in the dark. Buffet is open when you board so you can have lunch straight up. Be nice to your room attendant. They take good care of you. We always tip up front and have always had great service and always with a smile. Make a list and check it twice. Your suitcase should fit under your bed to give you more cupboard space. Don't listen to people who say take a power board, it will be confiscated. I take a small first aid/medicine kit as all that is expensive on board. I'm sure others have good tips too. I'm excited for you, you only get one first cruise!!

 

Sent from my Lenovo A7600-F using Forums mobile app

 

Hi Suz

 

A stand out there to me is the power board thing, I have read that they most likely will confiscate and if it gets through it can not be surge protected. What if I take a USB hub will that get through?

 

Thanks again :)

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Thanks losfp :)

 

Can you recommend any specific ones, where do you normally buy yours? also from Sydney looking into buying a 3 pack from Big W for $25

 

Yeah that'd do the job. I've bought them from Aldi, K Mart, Target... basically whenever I find cheap packing cells I grab some. Makes it really easy to unpack too, toss a couple into each drawer or shelf and stick the suitcase in the closet or under the bed. Much easier than chasing rogue undies down the side of the suitcase.

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