My first Carnival Cruise and I have some questions!

[VancouverStacie]

Thanks for checking out this thread :D We are boarding the Carnival Liberty May 14th so here are my questions....

 

1) Is there smoking on board? My DH and I are non smokers so I'd rather be prepared for this rather than get angry as soon as I smell it.... which will probably still happen, but I wanna know :cool:

 

2) Where can I find out how soon we can get to the ship so we can get as much time on it as possible?

 

3) What is considered a "household item"? I know they supply a hair dryer, but I hate using any other one but mine... so I hope this is allowed.

 

Ok I think that is all for now :) Thank you!!

[sparkscruiser]

Thanks for checking out this thread :D We are boarding the Carnival Liberty May 14th so here are my questions....

 

1) Is there smoking on board? My DH and I are non smokers so I'd rather be prepared for this rather than get angry as soon as I smell it.... which will probably still happen, but I wanna know :cool:

 

2) Where can I find out how soon we can get to the ship so we can get as much time on it as possible?

 

3) What is considered a "household item"? I know they supply a hair dryer, but I hate using any other one but mine... so I hope this is allowed.

 

Ok I think that is all for now :) Thank you!!

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

They do allow smoking on board. Limited to very few indoor spaces such as the Casino, cabins (on some classes of ships smoking is not allowed in Spa Cabins) and one side ot the ship outside. This should make it pretty easy for you to avoid smokers. As a former smoker, In think you will find most to be very accomodating if you are polite.

 

Your embarkation is dependent upon who quickly the ship is "turned" - off with the old passengers, and gettting ready for the new. Many times you can be on board by 11:00 am... its the luck of the draw, but I can certainly understand your excitement!

 

You can bring your own hairdryer - the ones onboard are little things that overheat and shut off quickly....

 

Have a great cruise!

[cuyahoga11]

Thanks for checking out this thread :D We are boarding the Carnival Liberty May 14th so here are my questions....

 

1) Is there smoking on board? My DH and I are non smokers so I'd rather be prepared for this rather than get angry as soon as I smell it.... which will probably still happen, but I wanna know :cool: Yes, smoking is allowed in cabins, on balconies, some clubs, casino, etc. No smoking in any food area or the theater.

 

2) Where can I find out how soon we can get to the ship so we can get as much time on it as possible? We always arrive around 10:30

 

3) What is considered a "household item"? I know they supply a hair dryer, but I hate using any other one but mine... so I hope this is allowed.

You are allowed to bring hair dryer, curling iron (no irons, coffee makers)

 

Ok I think that is all for now :) Thank you!!

 

Answers above - hope these help some

[Razor_Poke]

Some bars, the casino, most staterooms and portions of outdoor areas allow smoking.

 

Fun Pass will tell you when you can board.

 

HD ok but it will NOT work in the bathroom electric socket.

[ncovert]

Thanks for checking out this thread :D We are boarding the Carnival Liberty May 14th so here are my questions....

 

1) Is there smoking on board? My DH and I are non smokers so I'd rather be prepared for this rather than get angry as soon as I smell it.... which will probably still happen, but I wanna know :cool: Yes,smoking is allowed on board.

 

2) Where can I find out how soon we can get to the ship so we can get as much time on it as possible? Should be able to check on the Carnival "Manage My Cruise" sections. Should be on the printable documents. Most likely between 11:00 and 12:30, but check your documents.

 

3) What is considered a "household item"? I know they supply a hair dryer, but I hate using any other one but mine... so I hope this is allowed. Sorry not much here. Pretty sure I have read about hair dryers in other posts, but don't want to give the wrong answer. Talking with my wife right now and she is pretty sure she has brought hers before.

 

Ok I think that is all for now :) Thank you!!

 

Hope this helps

[marshhawk]

If you can't stand smokers or smoke you should choose another line than Carnival. You can get mad, or you can cruise without attitude, your choice.

I'm not sure what you mean by getting there and getting on the ship, but you get processed (which keeps you busy,) you fill out forms, health statement, gets pictures taken, sign up for your sail and sign card, keeps you busy, takes about an hour, and then you are herded to the Lido deck for lunch.

 

I suggest you read a few reviews regarding your partiular ship. This will give you a better idea aabout your particular ship. House hold items are things that you basically "plug in" fans, irons,and again do some research on the Carnival web site. Cruise happy.

[ricew001]

Welcome to the board.

 

We were on Carnival Victory in January and found that people also smoked in the piano bar, which was one of our favorite places to hang out.

 

I think your other questions were completely answered; just wanted to give you that bit of info.

 

Enjoy your cruise!! I am sure it will be fantastic!

[cruisenanny]

Yes there is smoking allowed onboard, only in certain areas though so maybe it wont bother you too much.

Your cruise docs will say what time boarding is (usually officially starts at noon for a 4 or 5 pm departure), I always get there at least an hour before the earliest stated boarding time as sometimes you can board earlier, I want to get on asap!:p

As for your hairdryer, I may be wrong but I think you can't bring your own....

[VancouverStacie]

Thanks so much everyone!! This does help a lot :) My first and only cruise was 5 years ago on NCL in Hawaii for my honeymoon, and I am pretty sure I brought my hair dryer then, but I wasn't sure if different cruise lines have different rules.

 

And now that the smoking areas were listed, I seem to remember them being in those same spots on NCL.

 

Thank you for your quick responses!! It's so helpful :)

[VancouverStacie]

If you can't stand smokers or smoke you should choose another line than Carnival. You can get mad, or you can cruise without attitude, your choice.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by getting there and getting on the ship, but you get processed (which keeps you busy,) you fill out forms, health statement, gets pictures taken, sign up for your sail and sign card, keeps you busy, takes about an hour, and then you are herded to the Lido deck for lunch.

 

I suggest you read a few reviews regarding your partiular ship. This will give you a better idea aabout your particular ship. House hold items are things that you basically "plug in" fans, irons,and again do some research on the Carnival web site. Cruise happy.

 

Wow... this was sure rude! I was being cheeky with the mad about smoking part. It's never the first thing to check because where I live EVERYWHERE including outdoor patios are now non-smoking and I forget that cigarette's are allowed in so many other cities, places, etc.

 

I think YOU are the one needing to "be happy".

[sparkscruiser]

You are very welcome!

[Rottweiler Puppy]

1) Only certain areas and I think rooms. I was on that ship the other week and someone on deck 7 on the right side heading to the front must have smoked like crazy. The hallway smelled real bad of it to the point of we stopped going that way. Whats nuts is that room has a balcony I think.

 

2) I think they start at 12:30. We checked in at 10:45. It goes pretty smoothly. Ignore the morons who get up and stand at the stairs at the first calling. Dudes with zone eleventy billion were clogging up the entrance when they were still calling zone six.

 

3) They supply a hair dryer. My girlfriend brought hers on board though. Think of the one Don't know if was allowed to or not. It was in the checked luggage. I brought a small fan and power s trip. No questions asked, but did see some power strips in the naughty room n the last day.

 

Here is a pic of security examining my girlfriends hairdryer. Well ok no but thats almost the size of hers.

[VancouverStacie]

1) Only certain areas and I think rooms. I was on that ship the other week and someone on deck 7 on the right side heading to the front must have smoked like crazy. The hallway smelled real bad of it to the point of we stopped going that way. Whats nuts is that room has a balcony I think.

 

2) I think they start at 12:30. We checked in at 10:45. It goes pretty smoothly. Ignore the morons who get up and stand at the stairs at the first calling. Dudes with zone eleventy billion were clogging up the entrance when they were still calling zone six.

 

3) They supply a hair dryer. My girlfriend brought hers on board though. Think of the one Don't know if was allowed to or not. It was in the checked luggage. I brought a small fan and power s trip. No questions asked, but did see some power strips in the naughty room n the last day.

 

Here is a pic of security examining my girlfriends hairdryer. Well ok no but thats almost the size of hers.

 

 

LOL!!! Ok this response made me laugh!!! :D

[firefly333]

All cabins are smoking. Some have been unhappy to discover their balcony neighbor smokes and bothers them. As you said prepare for it and it wouldnt bother you.

 

Household items are like blenders, fans, power stripes, etc. Some people want to bring irons (fire threat) and everything else from their house.

[Isa65]

Still a question about the boarding, though. I see on several boards that people go early, as early as 11 a.m. On our Fun Pass it says Embarkation 2.30 p.m - 8.30 p.m.... So can we just ignore this and go early? I mean, I know we can try, but will we be able to get on the ship around, say 12??

[hancogran]

Still a question about the boarding, though. I see on several boards that people go early, as early as 11 a.m. On our Fun Pass it says Embarkation 2.30 p.m - 8.30 p.m.... So can we just ignore this and go early? I mean, I know we can try, but will we be able to get on the ship around, say 12??

 

As somebody previously mentioned, it depends how quickly they "empty" the ship when it arrives back but we got to the port around noon when we boarded Victory last September. We got in line to complete our documents, waited for our boarding # to be called, and were on the ship having lunch by 1:15 :D

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[firefly333]

Still a question about the boarding, though. I see on several boards that people go early, as early as 11 a.m. On our Fun Pass it says Embarkation 2.30 p.m - 8.30 p.m.... So can we just ignore this and go early? I mean, I know we can try, but will we be able to get on the ship around, say 12??

 

Your ship is leaving at 4 pm when I looked it up ... so Im confused why it would say embarkation up to 8:30 pm when they ask you to be checked in 90 minutes before the ship leaves .. 60 minutes before they lock the door.

 

DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART Sat May 14 Miami, FL

4:00pm Sun May 15 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 9:00am 5:00pm Mon May 16 At Sea

 

Tue May 17 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 9:00am 6:00pm Wed May 18 San Juan, Puerto Rico 7:00am 3:30pm Thu May 19 Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands 11:00am 5:30pm Fri May 20 At Sea

 

Sat May 21 Miami, FL 8:00am

 

 

I arrive between 10 am and 11 am.

[Isa65]

Your ship is leaving at 4 pm when I looked it up ... so Im confused why it would say embarkation up to 8:30 pm when they ask you to be checked in 90 minutes before the ship leaves .. 60 minutes before they lock the door. I arrive between 10 am and 11 am.

 

No, no, we sail out of San Juan at 10.00 p.m....

[firefly333]

No, no, we sail out of San Juan at 10.00 p.m....

 

May 14th of this year?? I looked again, and it says Carnival Liberty is sailing out of Miami on that date.

 

I was thinking it sounded like San Juan, ... except that ship isnt sailing out of san juan...:confused: .. as least per the web site Im looking at.

[Isa65]

Ooooh, I see what's going on, Firefly.... I'm NOT the OP.... She is sailing on May 14th, I'm cruising on July 24th out of SJ. I just placed a question related to the OP's... sorry for the confusion.

Now. WHAT time can I go stand in line all smiling and excited?:D

[hancogran]

May 14th of this year?? I looked again, and it says Carnival Liberty is sailing out of Miami on that date.

 

I was thinking it sounded like San Juan, ... except that ship isnt sailing out of san juan...:confused: .. as least per the web site Im looking at.

 

Firefly, OP was sailing on Liberty but this question wasn't posted by the original poster :):) Don't feel bad.. I had to double check too

[stargate fan]

Now. WHAT time can I go stand in line all smiling and excited?:D

 

When we sailed out of San Juan many years ago, our departure time was also late at night. But we got to the part at 9:00 am because just being there meant our cruise began. We love to people watch, so we always go early. If memory serves me, we were on board by noon.

[jjtimes6]

To the OP: Even though they DO allow smoking in the cabins, I have yet to enter a cabin and smell the remains of it. (I may have just gotten lucky!) We are non-smokers, and I am very sensitive to the smell of smoke. It irritates my sinuses something fierce. The only place that I have had difficulties with it are in the piano bar. I am very happy that the cabins have never smelt of smoke, in case you were concerned about that. I have smelt smoke on the balcony from neighbors.