Carnival Secrets they usually don't tell you about #2

[pajammatam]

The spa has free saunas and steam rooms to use in addition to the large showers.

 

There is normally a little goody basket in your bathroom with different product samples. Don't rely on certain things as it can change a lot, but it's a nice little surprise when you get to your room.

in 2012 Norwegian started charging to use sauna and steam, we were originally booked on NCL and switched to CCL as DH and I love these at the end of the day before dinner...

[goober9]

If you are cruising on a ship with the 2.0 upgrades they have an awesome salsa bar, but they don't have any chips. On my cruise over New Year's I purchased some tortilla chips in one of our ports and enjoyed the salsa with some chips. It was yummy!!! On my cruise in March I will be bringing chips on board with me for the salsa bar!

[navybaby1113]

If you are cruising on a ship with the 2.0 upgrades they have an awesome salsa bar, but they don't have any chips. On my cruise over New Year's I purchased some tortilla chips in one of our ports and enjoyed the salsa with some chips. It was yummy!!! On my cruise in March I will be bringing chips on board with me for the salsa bar!

 

What?!? Why in the world wouldn't they have chips at the burrito bar?

[Marriedl8e]

I love this thread! It is so great to get all these WONDERFUL ideas. I loved the original thread, but as mentioned...it is SOOOOOOOO long!! Here are a few of my favorite ideas I have picked up along the way:

 

1 - If you have a balcony room, order a cheese plate "to go" each night at dinner. Take it back to the room and later that night, you can enjoy your yummy cheese plate snack while sitting on your balcony sipping a yummy adult beverage! My sister and her boyfriend did thise every night and loved it! :p

 

2 - The space under the bed is big enough to store your luggage during the cruise. Once you have unpacked, just slide your suitcases under the bed and they are out of the way for the remainder of your cruise. :rolleyes:

 

3. Me and my DH each bring a 12 pack of soda with us on the cruise...and save a fortune on soda. Hint...do not open a 12 pack and mix up your sodas. I did this and they stopped us at security, opened the 12 pack and pulled out each soda can and checked it. I taped it closed after I did it, but apparently they can tell it's been opened on the xray machine. Next time I will just drink the same soda for the whole trip. :eek:

 

4. Relax and have fun!!! That's what it's all about! :D

[Ms Belvedere]

Bring plastic bags of all sizes, from ziplock snack bags to grocery store shopping bags. Line trash cans in room, bring wet bathing suits back from the beach, carry ice back to the room from the ice machine at the hotel pre-cruise, or, if you can find the ice machine on the ship.

 

Target, Nordstroms and other stores have umbrella bags by their front door that are great to pack individual shoes in your luggage, collect shells at the beach, use for trash in port (kleenex, water bottles, wrappers from food). I've passed these out to fellow cruisers on the beach when I see them picking up shells.

 

Bring small packets of plain sunflower seeds for snacks, to feed free roaming chickens in port, or fish when snorkeling.

 

I've found the Purex 3 in 1 laundry sheets at drugstores, CVS, Walgreens.

 

To avoid possibly catching a cold on the plane to or from the cruise, I use a tip from the Amazing Race and line my nostrils with Neosporin Plus using a Q-tip. There is some doubt on-line about this working but it works for me.

 

Happy Cruising Everyone :)

Edited January 12, 2013 by Ms Belvedere

[crystalies]

This is an awesome thread! Thanks for all the info! Can't wait for more!

[ljhm02]

My husband's aunt was a seasoned cruiser for years. She gave me the best tip ever. Go to the dry cleaners & get dry cleaner bags. Hang two or three outfits on a hanger, cover with dry cleaner bag, then fold outfit in half & put it in your suitcase. When you get to room take out & hang on hanger. Clothes stay wrinkle free. This totally works.

 

In addition to soda pop, each person is allowed a bottle of wine or champagne.

[PrettyHazardous]

Ok here are my ideas:

1. I still use Rum runners! (If you have a problem with it move on to #3 :rolleyes:). I've also seen the equivalent of RRs sold in the dollar tree for $1.00!
   
   
2. I always order a DOD when I first board then I use that cup to mix my own drinks. I don't wash it out I just trade it out at a bar each night.
   
3. You are allowed to take your camera to the Chef's Table event just don't take pics in the galley.
   
4. I used to bring lots of the door hanging racks and organizers etc but really if there are only 2 ppl in your room there is more than enough space on the counter in the bathroom for toiletries.
   
5. Tip you room steward on the first day... IMO it makes for a better room steward (we tip again at the end as well and we don't remove our tips).
   
6. If your ship offers it use luggage express!
   
   
7. Last tip try something new. I see so many posts about ppl eating chicken tenders, burgers and deli sandwiches the entire cruise. :( I say be bold try something new, a unique food item, an adventurous shore excursion, meet new ppl, relax and have fun!
   

[tabithakp]

we always bring a bungie cord with us to hold the balcony door open!

 

as someone else mentions the camp carnival phones are great to call the room or another person in your party with one!

 

a power bar is another good item with camera, ipods, ds's etc. there's never enough outlets

 

tabitha

[jadragnfly]

Thank you for restarting a new thread. The old was was too long and out dated.

 

The thread evolved from "Carnival Secrets" to alos include tips and ideas from seasoned cruisers. I found those actually more helpful than the "Carnival Secrets"

 

Heres one i started doing on my last cruise. With Digital cameras, we all end up taking hundreds of pictures. My problem was that after the cruise when I got home, I would go through my pics and have a hard time remembering where a pic was taken, when, and what it was!

 

So now each morning, before I leave the cabin, I take a picture of the front page of the Fun Times. It has the date and port of call on it. I now know that every pic taken after that one is in sucn and such port and taken on such and such date. Makes organizing our photo albums much easier.

 

so easy why didn't I think of this! thank you so much

[jadragnfly]

last t/a we took on magic when she was 6 months new. well next to last day there was a party around 5pm that wasn't in paper but was opeb to everyone not just repeaters. how do we find out about this party on splendor dec 3-11 next week? ask who?

TIA

~jadragnfly

mychineseauntie...

[Froufie]

last t/a we took on magic when she was 6 months new. well next to last day there was a party around 5pm that wasn't in paper but was opeb to everyone not just repeaters. how do we find out about this party on splendor dec 3-11 next week? ask who?

TIA

~jadragnfly

mychineseauntie...

 

I believe you are referring to the 'farewell party ' with free drinks - but alas that has been discontinued due to 'lack of participation' - I guess the 'non advertising' of the event worked! :(:mad:

[MexicoCruzinMomma]

I always take a battery operated alarm clock. I like to see what time it is if I wake up in the night. I know weird. I also take a large cup or mug to put coffee in. I hate those little cups and I have to go refill too often. I also use it for tea or to mix adult beverages in while sitting looking at the ocean. Last cruise I used it on an all inclusive excursion. They have the smallest cups ever at those places.

 

I hate those small cups too. I bring a mug and a refillable cup for beverages.

 

I also bring clothes pins to put on the bottom of the shower curtain to keep the dang thing from falling out while Im showering and flooding my bathroom floor.

 

I also bring a sound machine to drown out some noises

[MexicoCruzinMomma]

Apply for the Carnival credit card on the ship. There is usually a table set up w a member of the staff there. You usually get a carnival bag and lanyard when you apply. You can always cancel the card if you are accepted. They don't put the paperwork into the system right then and there, you just fill out the info. Just a great way to get a free gift.

 

 

I dont know if they always do this but my sister applied for the card just to get the lanyard and the bag, she was approved and they put all of her sail and sign charges on there instead of the card she had opened her sign and sail account with, they didnt tell her she just got a bill in the mail.

 

Just FYI.

[Rsebdb]

I dont know if they always do this but my sister applied for the card just to get the lanyard and the bag, she was approved and they put all of her sail and sign charges on there instead of the card she had opened her sign and sail account with, they didnt tell her she just got a bill in the mail.

 

Just FYI.

 

Yep, same thing happened to us on our last cruise: applied, received free gifts, but when we went back to see if approved, no one at the kiosk. It wasn't until a week later when calling the card company to find out about approval that I learned that we were not only approved but we had a balance as well. All worked out fine. And as a bonus, I use the free CCL drawstring bags all the time (we were given 3 of them :)).

 

I'm so glad I found this thread. Such helpful info and a nice community of enthusiastic cruisers. Thanks for all the helpful tips!

[FillupD]

Does this go for spoons too? I'm trying to figure out how many spoons to pack :rolleyes:

 

I've ben reading this thread and I read this about the dropped forks, I can't quit laughing. Thanks.

 

Originally Posted by FLCruiser001 View Post

If you drop your fork on the floor, the waitstaff will bring you a clean one at no charge.

 

At least, this was the case in the MDR on Sensation for lunch. I cannot vouch for this practice on other ships, venues, or times.

[GlendaleCruiser]

Favorite things I have learned...

 

Cappuccino is FREE after dinner in the MDR. (at least at the time of this posting) :D

 

 

Cappuccino, Latte, Espresso are now on the menu and are no longer free.

 

ALSO::::::::::::::::::::

 

FUTURE CRUISE CERTIFICATES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. We are still begging for them and they are still saying no.

[GlendaleCruiser]

Complimentary Wash & Fold

(2 bags on a 3 – 6 day cruises,

3 bags on a 7+ day cruises)

 

On the 16-day Transatlantic, we got 5 bags each for a total of 10 (We are both Platinum).

We only used 4 bags between us.

 

Barq's Root Beer is indeed on the ships now.

[GlendaleCruiser]

I found the sheets at walmart

 

I was told in the last month that they no longer sell the Purex 3-in-1 sheets. Hope that is incorrect. They are a great thing to pack in a ziplock. No spillage.

[Rainbowfalls]

Just checking to see if some of these are still valid.

 

1. Do they still give out decks of cards at guest services?

 

2. Can someone still get a lanyard from the casino?

 

3. Can I still "cash out" at the Casino also?

[tara101]

Hi Rainbowfalls, I believe the answer to all of your question is yes. Last year I was on the Valor and they offered all of these free.

Hope to see you on the cruise in 15 days.

[momto2kids]

Just checking to see if some of these are still valid.

 

1. Do they still give out decks of cards at guest services?

 

2. Can someone still get a lanyard from the casino?

 

3. Can I still "cash out" at the Casino also?

 

I can confirm number 1 and 2 for you- I did both on the Glory this month... Not sure about "cashing out" though- sorry :)

[Rainbowfalls]

Hi Rainbowfalls, I believe the answer to all of your question is yes. Last year I was on the Valor and they offered all of these free.

Hope to see you on the cruise in 15 days.

 

I can confirm number 1 and 2 for you- I did both on the Glory this month... Not sure about "cashing out" though- sorry :)

 

 

Thank you both!!!

[Joie]

we always bring the chip clips to use on the shower curtain bottoms.....really keeps them weighted down and no longer flood the bathroom while showering......man that always was a mess......NO more though.

[dulcimergirl]

It might be ship specific but they did not give out cards on the Fantasy. We had to purchase them in the casino. 1$ a deck. Remember to get yours the first day, as the casino isn't open on port days, and thats when we wanted to use them.