Taking a cruise with no money, questions?

[I Luv Crusin]

We are gong on the Fantasy on 9/24 and just found out today that our van is on death's door and we will probably need to get a new or newer car. :( The cruise is paid for including tips but we hadn't planned excursions yet and now won't. We were thinking of just walking around Nassau or walk over to the hotel-Colonial Hilton-I believe. We were thinking of doing an excursion on Freeport because we have never been there before. What is there to do on Freeport that is free? Or should we just hang out on the ship?

 

Also, we have Anytime Dining. If we bought a bottle of wine to use over two nights will the hold it for us until the next night? I know they can do this in the regular dining room. I'm thinking of just bringing our allowance of wine aboard for the stateroom and just not have wine at dinner.

[astropilot]

If we bought a bottle of wine to use over two nights will the hold it for us until the next night? I know they can do this in the regular dining room. I'm thinking of just bringing our allowance of wine aboard for the stateroom and just not have wine at dinner.

 

 

Don't know about Freeport, we've never been impressed while there, and usually make it a ship day. As to the wine, I know they will for regular dining, I would assume they will for anytime dining too. But don't hold me to that :D

[NYrunner]

You didn't ask about Nassau, but I would recommend taking the #10 jitney bus to the "fish fry" for a great lunch and maybe visiting the Ardastra Zoo and Botanical Gardens ($15 for adults) which is just across the street from the fish fry.

[scchasgal]

You didn't ask about Nassau, but I would recommend taking the #10 jitney bus to the "fish fry" for a great lunch and maybe visiting the Ardastra Zoo and Botanical Gardens ($15 for adults) which is just across the street from the fish fry.

 

Hey fellow Sens fan. I think they were literally trying to spend zero dollars on their vacation

[cruzdawg69]

They will hold your bottle for anytime dining also. Life on the ship in Freeport is great if you decide to stay on board ! We do..........

[LemurCat]

You have my sympathies, ILC. Cars have a bad habit of pulling this before my vacations too. You can wander around downtown Nassua on the cheap, window shop or take a relatively inexpensive cab ride to Atlantis and check out the free parts of it. As for Freeport, there's a small shopping area at the port, but everything more or less requires a cab ride to see or do there.

[carnivaljunkie]

I would love to hear your experiences with minimum money on a cruise. I have always thought you could have a wonderful time with no expenses other than tips. Just walking around ports and exploring or going to the beach. Go for it!

[serene56]

I would love to hear your experiences with minimum money on a cruise. I have always thought you could have a wonderful time with no expenses other than tips. Just walking around ports and exploring or going to the beach. Go for it!

 

Last cruise our sign and sail bill was -0-

 

we pre pay tips. and nothing catches our fancy to purchase any longer.

After 15 cruises-- we dine in the buffet. We do our own excursions which are pre-paid. we do not drink. Very easy for us for a cruise to an an all inclusive place.

[I Luv Crusin]

You didn't ask about Nassau, but I would recommend taking the #10 jitney bus to the "fish fry" for a great lunch and maybe visiting the Ardastra Zoo and Botanical Gardens ($15 for adults) which is just across the street from the fish fry.

 

Thanks. Is the "fish fry" a shack thingy or a restaurant? My DH wanted to go to Ardastra Zoo but the Carnival Tour included a city tour which we have done.

[basill1970f]

I personally have never been to Freeport, but I say still get off since you havent been there at least to say you have "seen" it.

 

We cruise very cheap often not because of vehicle problems, but mostly because I like to sail often and the budget doesnt always allow for extras while im gone.

 

Take your wine allowance on if you want it with dinner. If you are pop drinkers take the 12 pops on with you. We never eat in port, I just cant justify that when the ship food is free (well in your cruise price anyway)

 

I hope you have a great time, dont let the vehicle get you down, you are smart to pinch while you are gone, the most important thing is you get to go and take pictures thats what vacation is about, somehting to look back on and remember a great time away!!!!!!!

[golfadj]

In freeport there is nothing near the ship so you would need a cab to go into town.

 

Went there once and if we were ever on a ship calling on freeport would stay on the ship.

[NYrunner]

Thanks. Is the "fish fry" a shack thingy or a restaurant? My DH wanted to go to Ardastra Zoo but the Carnival Tour included a city tour which we have done.

 

The fish fry is kind of a mix of shack thingies and restaurants. Here is a pic of one of the restaurants at the fish fry.

 

 

Personally, I never visit Nassau without stopping at the fish fry for some cracked conch and a strawberry daiquiri....and I'm a home brewer so I don't normally drink daiquiris.

[basill1970f]

In freeport there is nothing near the ship so you would need a cab to go into town.

 

Went there once and if we were ever on a ship calling on freeport would stay on the ship.

 

o lol then maybe i would change my recommendation to stay on the ship ;)

[GAMOM4]

We didn't do any excursions this year at all. We were just in Nassau this week and at Half Moon Cay. I posted a review today of what we did. We have been to Freeport 2 times and both times - we literally just got off the ship took some pictures of the Bahamas sign walked around the few little colorful buildings there at the port. In Nassau we have been there 4 times and the first time we did an excursion to the Blue Lagoon one year we paid $4.00 each and took the ferry taxi thing (and there are tons of them after you get off the ship) and went over to the Atlantis - all we did was walk around and take pictures. So for $8.00 we were able to see such an amazing place - just looking at all the yachts sitting outside the Atlantis was amazing in itself. We don't drink wine - and in the dining room all we have ever had was tea or water. This week all of our sign and sail card was for drinks (which we didn't have to have - we had ordered from bon voyage...I wrote about that in my review also) and souvenirs and one carton of cigarettes - so basically we could have done without any of those things. Last year we actually received a check back under our door the last night because we had booked early saver and the cruise kept dropping in price. So we had enough credit to pay for the tips for all 4 of us, buy some drinks, and souvenirs and still have over $129.00 left to bring home with us. So it can be done.

[uppitycats]

We are gong on the Fantasy on 9/24 and just found out today that our van is on death's door and we will probably need to get a new or newer car. :( The cruise is paid for including tips but we hadn't planned excursions yet and now won't. We were thinking of just walking around Nassau or walk over to the hotel-Colonial Hilton-I believe. We were thinking of doing an excursion on Freeport because we have never been there before. What is there to do on Freeport that is free? Or should we just hang out on the ship?

 

Also, we have Anytime Dining. If we bought a bottle of wine to use over two nights will the hold it for us until the next night? I know they can do this in the regular dining room. I'm thinking of just bringing our allowance of wine aboard for the stateroom and just not have wine at dinner.

 

Yes, they can hold your wine with anytime dining, so you can enjoy it at dinner if you wish.

 

I often stay on the ship (although I've not been to where you're cruising!) and you can have quite a nice time aboard, when it's not so crowded.

[BLUEROSEKY]

There is a great walking tour that you can do of Nassau if you would like, here are a couple of links to it, one has some great pics so you can get an idea of what you can see.

 

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nassau_walking_apr_2006.htm

 

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/newprovidence/0251010008.html

 

Not sure if that would be something you would be interested in.

 

There is a small straw market and a few shops at Freeport in the dock area, however for the cost of a cab ride you can go into town and there is a beach area that is free to use. I believe the cab fare is $5 each way per person. Freeport is on a beautiful island, but you really have to get away from the dock to experience it.

 

I completely understand the car problems cutting into the vacation budget. A few years ago, our transmission went out on our van the day we arrived at our destination. Between the unexpected cost of a car rental, and the very expensive transmission replacement, we cut down to nothing extra that hadn't already been pre-paid. You can still have a wonderful time, especially knowing this before you leave. Enjoy your cruise! :)

[okwriter]

When my friends and I were in Freeport in January, we got off the ship and walked around the little shopping area there for a couple of hours. You don't have to buy anything---it was fun just to walk around and then get back on the ship!

 

Enjoy! And sorry about your van!

[MacBrokefoot]

I agree with most of the above posters - Freeport (the port) is kind of far away from the slim attractions available for free, and those are basically open air shops to walk around or a beach. There is a casino (which I swear is fixed - I have never won a dime) and if your lucky you can watch some tourists navigate on their mopeds through traffic which seems to me always good for a laugh.

 

My recommendation - get off the ship - walk through the shops at the pier, get back on board, enjoy the lack of lines at the buffet and catch some sun.

[sharecruises]

In Nassau the Hilton now charges $40 per person for lounger, use of pool etc and you get $30 back in food drinks (pricey)

 

Junkanoo Beach however is right there and it is free (maybe not the greatest, fair amount of vendors, hair braiders etc)

 

You could just walk around the town...check out the straw market

 

You could take a cab over to Atlantis for $4 per person each way and just walk around the part of the "dig" *aquarium that is open for free, check out the hotel, casino, etc

or you could go over or back on the water taxi for $3 each, each way

 

~~~~~~~

Freeport is an industrial port...you will need cab both ways, once you get to the town, you can walk around Lucaya Marketplace . It costs to use the hotel/s chairs/pools....pricey

 

IMHO to save money I would do "something" fun and cheap in Nassau (go to Atlantis maybe)....and perhaps stay on the ship in Freeport.

IF you want to simply say you have been there, you can get off and check out the *few stalls selling stuff right by the pier, and they do have a bar there that is OK

 

~~~~~ Bring one bottle of wine on each...

and...(flame away)....ask room steward for glasses (or get glasses)

 

Bring a corkscrew or ask room steward...

pour wine in your glasses and carry it right in the dining room ..enjoy

 

(I know some won't like that idea but they also are not going to offer to fix your van or buy you a new one)

 

~~~~More Budget ideas>>> you have auto tipped and that IS enough

You need the money so don't tip extra (except for room service)

 

>>>> Don't buy any of the photos....none....don't even walk into the casino.

 

Have a great cruise and good luck with your vehicle !!

[RBCL]

How much are drinks on Carnival again? For example, a Shirley Temple? :confused:

[sharecruises]

In freeport there is nothing near the ship so you would need a cab to go into town.

 

Went there once and if we were ever on a ship calling on freeport would stay on the ship.

 

Actually they now have some little stands/shacks or whatever with stuff to buy....they have an "island" type tiki bar type bar too

 

The town of Freeport is not much compared to Nassau

[Frygirl23]

In Nassau the Hilton now charges $40 per person for lounger, use of pool etc and you get $30 back in food drinks (pricey)

 

Junkanoo Beach however is right there and it is free (maybe not the greatest, fair amount of vendors, hair braiders etc)

 

You could just walk around the town...check out the straw market

 

You could take a cab over to Atlantis for $4 per person each way and just walk around the part of the "dig" *aquarium that is open for free, check out the hotel, casino, etc

or you could go over or back on the water taxi for $3 each, each way

 

~~~~~~~

Freeport is an industrial port...you will need cab both ways, once you get to the town, you can walk around Lucaya Marketplace . It costs to use the hotel/s chairs/pools....pricey

 

IMHO to save money I would do "something" fun and cheap in Nassau (go to Atlantis maybe)....and perhaps stay on the ship in Freeport.

IF you want to simply say you have been there, you can get off and check out the *few stalls selling stuff right by the pier, and they do have a bar there that is OK

 

~~~~~ Bring one bottle of wine on each...

and...(flame away)....ask room steward for glasses (or get glasses)

Bring a corkscrew or ask room steward...

pour wine in your glasses and carry it right in the dining room ..enjoy

(I know some won't like that idea but they also are not going to offer to fix your van or buy you a new one)

 

~~~~More Budget ideas>>> you have auto tipped and that IS enough

You need the money so don't tip extra (except for room service)

 

>>>> Don't buy any of the photos....none....don't even walk into the casino.

 

Have a great cruise and good luck with your vehicle !!

 

That is a really good idea!!! Why would people flame you for it?? Its always nice to save money on vacation

[ebonniekins]

~~~~~~~

 

~~~~~ Bring one bottle of wine on each...

and...(flame away)....ask room steward for glasses (or get glasses)

 

Bring a corkscrew or ask room steward...

pour wine in your glasses and carry it right in the dining room ..enjoy

 

(I know some won't like that idea but they also are not going to offer to fix your van or buy you a new one)

 

~~~~More Budget ideas>>> you have auto tipped and that IS enough

You need the money so don't tip extra (except for room service)

 

>>>> Don't buy any of the photos....none....don't even walk into the casino.

 

Have a great cruise and good luck with your vehicle !!

 

No need to flame away on this one considering that they can bring on a bottle of wine in their carryon when they embark. That is listed in the carnival "rules" I too am on a very tight budget and I am flying solo on this cruise. I will be bringing my bottle of wine on board to help me keep my cost down. Do what you have to do to have a good time!! Forget what everyone else will think. :)

[travelntreats]

Just remember that if you bring a bottle of wine to the MDR (regardless of which dining time), you MAY INCUR a "corkage fee". Some crew make certain this is paid for and then others overlook it.....

[Jeepers385]

I haven't cruised Carnival in a few years and was curious if they charge a corkage fee by bringing your own wine into the dining room. as other cruise lines do?

And as for bringing a glass of wine from your room how do they know that you didn't get it from a bar before you entered the dining room :D.