Carnival 1st timer -- Imagination to Ensenada

[Need-a-vacation]

We are looking at doing the 3-day out of Long Beach the first week of June. I have never sailed Carnival before and have a few questions.

 

1. My younger son is 14, but he will be 15 less than 2 weeks later. Is Carnival at all flexible about the age grouping for Circle C or Club O2?

 

2. I've seen a couple references to the vanities in the outside view rooms being "bad" in some way. Can someone provide details?

 

3. The kids are 19 and 14. Will there be any issue booking them in a nearby cabin or will we need to book a parent in each room and then do whatever we prefer?

 

4. Some of the available cabins look like they are near the staircases -- is there any sort of wall, etc to reduce the noise from the stairway into the nearby cabins?

 

5. Any recommendations for excursions that would be good for teens?

 

6. Does Carnival offer soda cards for the trip? How much?

 

7. Can you buy liquor from room service to drink in your cabin? Is there a menu available somewhere?

 

I'm sure I'll have a million more. We've just started considering this whole idea. We're probably going to do a day at Magic Mountain before the cruise, so I'll accept any free advice for making that work as easy as possible. :)

 

Thanks!

[Buckett]

hi there, I can answer a couple of those questions, as I have done the 3 day to Ensenada a couple of times. :D

 

I bought a soda card on one of them, I believe it was $18. Remember you can also bring on soda, I want to say 2 six packs but I am not 100% sure on that.

 

Yes, you can order alcohol to be delivered to your room, when you go to carnival.com under the "manage" tab, you will see a tab for 'in room gifts and shopping", it's under that.

 

Have fun!

[SadieN]

Where are you spending the night after Magic Mountain?

 

If you stay in Valencia/Santa Clarita know that you will be going with rush hour traffic into LA Thursday morning. I'd leave around 10 am and plan on being to port around noon.

There is a Walmart in the area and bring your own bags for your stuff.

 

Listen to 1070am for traffic and look at a map for alternate routes.

 

If you want to stay closer in Long Beach that night, look on the West Coast Departure board. Long Beach is a bit over an hour on a good day from Magic Mountain.

-The Queen Mary is a 5 second walk to the Carnival Dome but you'd have to appreciate the old, parking is $17/24hours.

The Maya is nice and has a Corporate Code for Carnival pax and it includes parking.

From the QM and Maya there is a free Passport bus that makes the rounds in Long Beach, including a Walmart/Albertson's/CVS. The area is dicey at night, OK during the day.

 

There are other hotels but these are the closest to the Dome.

 

Our kids enjoyed the Horseback riding.

 

Sometimes kids are allowed to go into the older group, but not always. Depends on the staff, number of kids and any insurance issues.

What grade is you/ child in? If he's in the 9th grade now have him bring his HS ID.

 

***

Are you from Southern California? If so check soda cans for coupons to Magic Mountain.

Edited April 7, 2014 by SadieN

[Need-a-vacation]

Where are you spending the night after Magic Mountain?

 

If you stay in Valencia/Santa Clarita know that you will be going with rush hour traffic into LA Thursday morning. I'd leave around 10 am and plan on being to port around noon.

...snip...

Sometimes kids are allowed to go into the older group, but not always. Depends on the staff, number of kids and any insurance issues.

What grade is you/ child in? If he's in the 9th grade now have him bring his HS ID.

 

***

Are you from Southern California? If so check soda cans for coupons to Magic Mountain.

 

We're from AZ, so probably won't get any CA soda cans, although I think we do sometimes get them here. Usually Coke, right?

 

My son is actually finishing his sophomore year (he's ahead), so he might be more comfortable with the older kids. Good idea to bring his high school id to help with the discussion.

 

We are planning to stay in Santa Clarita because we expect to be at the park until closing time and the prospect of driving to LB and finding our way around to a hotel after the long day sounds a bit overwhelming. We will be getting in late the night before our park day, so we're thinking an easy night might be a good idea. But I'll certainly bounce the idea of transferring to LB that night off the hubby.

 

I like the night before in LB idea so that we can do the park and cruise and not fight the parking at the pier. But that also means we need to check out before we go to MM in the morning and have all our stuff in the car. So we'll try to consider the pros and cons of both.

 

Thanks for all the feedback!

[Need-a-vacation]

hi there, I can answer a couple of those questions, as I have done the 3 day to Ensenada a couple of times. :D

 

I bought a soda card on one of them, I believe it was $18. Remember you can also bring on soda, I want to say 2 six packs but I am not 100% sure on that.

 

Yes, you can order alcohol to be delivered to your room, when you go to carnival.com under the "manage" tab, you will see a tab for 'in room gifts and shopping", it's under that.

 

Have fun!

 

Thanks! We'll probably bring on a little bit of soda just to be able to grab something while we're in our rooms. The flip side of that is it can be a pain to have to go back to the room for a soda, so we'll probably do the cards.

 

I checked the room delivery option -- YIKES. We did that on Princess a few years ago and the price was very reasonable - not significantly worse than the grocery store. So we probably won't do that!

 

Thanks again.

[woodey]

We are looking at doing the 3-day out of Long Beach the first week of June. I have never sailed Carnival before and have a few questions.

 

1. My younger son is 14, but he will be 15 less than 2 weeks later. Is Carnival at all flexible about the age grouping for Circle C or Club O2? Normally not flexible

 

2. I've seen a couple references to the vanities in the outside view rooms being "bad" in some way. Can someone provide details? not ever a issue

 

3. The kids are 19 and 14. Will there be any issue booking them in a nearby cabin or will we need to book a parent in each room and then do whatever we prefer?shouldn't be a issue providing your kids behave themselves

 

4. Some of the available cabins look like they are near the staircases -- is there any sort of wall, etc to reduce the noise from the stairway into the nearby cabins?never have heard people on the stairs before

 

5. Any recommendations for excursions that would be good for teens?

not sure about teens

 

6. Does Carnival offer soda cards for the trip? How much?

Yes see below

 

7. Can you buy liquor from room service to drink in your cabin? Is there a menu available somewhere?not sure

 

I'm sure I'll have a million more. We've just started considering this whole idea. We're probably going to do a day at Magic Mountain before the cruise, so I'll accept any free advice for making that work as easy as possible. :)

 

Thanks!

Here is a good website to gather more info....

https://www.goccl.com/~/media/Files/Irman/bookccl/sections/shipboard/DiningOnboard_master.ashx

Remember keep your expectations low and you will

Have a great Cruise :)

 

 

Carnival Cruise Lines will offer all guests the option to purchase a ‘Bottomless Bubbles’ unlimited soda program which will allow the guest unlimited soft drinks and juices for the duration of the cruise at a one-time purchase price. Prices are as follows – a 15% gratuity will be added (subject to sales tax if purchased prior to sailing).

 

 

 

Child Rate Per Day $4.50 (17 years of age and younger)

 

Adult Rate Per Day $6.00 (18 years of age and older)

 

 

 

Upon purchasing the ‘Bottomless Bubbles’ unlimited soda program, a sticker will be placed on the guest’s Sail & Sign card. ‘Bottomless Bubbles’ can be purchased at the ship’s Casino Bar and Pool Bar as well as through ‘The Fun Shops’ department prior to the cruise.

 

 

 

In all areas where beverage service is offered, guests may show the ‘Bottomless Bubbles’ sticker and receive a glass of the carbonated soft drink of their choice. Juices may also be requested. One 16 ounce glass will be served at a time and only to the guest whose name appears on the Sail & Sign card with the ‘Bottomless Bubbles’ sticker attached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coco Cola

 

Sprite

 

Orange Juice

 

 

Diet Coke

 

Sprite Zero

 

Cranberry Juice

 

 

Coco Cola Zero

 

Orange Fanta

 

Tomato Juice

 

 

Coca Cola Caffeine Free

 

Mr. Pibb

 

Pineapple Juice

 

 

Diet Coke Caffeine Free

 

Barqs Root Beer

 

Grapefruit Juice

 

 

Tonic Water / Club Soda

 

Ginger Ale

 

 

 

 

· The ‘Bottomless Bubbles’ unlimited soda program is non-transferable and may not be shared. Guests or family members who would like to enjoy soft drinks through this program must purchase their own sticker.

 

· One beverage serving, per sticker, will be served at a time.

 

· Soft drink is served by the glass (16 ounces); juice is served by the glass (10 ounces).

 

· The program cannot be used through room service or the Interactive TV system, where applicable, or the minibar, where applicable.

 

· The program cannot be used at Half Moon Cay or Little Stirrup Cay

 

· Note: The following beverages are available in the Lido Deck Restaurant, 24/7 and are complimentary: Coffee; Hot Tea; Hot Chocolate; Lemonade; Unsweetened Iced Tea.

Edited April 7, 2014 by woodey

[SadieN]

I like the night before in LB idea so that we can do the park and cruise and not fight the parking at the pier. But that also means we need to check out before we go to MM in the morning and have all our stuff in the car. So we'll try to consider the pros and cons of both.

 

Thanks for all the feedback!

I'm confused--

I thought your travel plans were Magic Mountain the day before the cruise? As a native I'd discourage you doing MM on day of sailing. Boarding starts around 11:30, all aboard is usually 4pm.

 

IMHO arrive two nights before. Book a motel in Valencia/Santa Clarita the night before Tueday night. MM on Wednesday. Spend the another night in the motel or go to Long Beach.

If you do decide to book a hotel for Wednesday night, give thema call and let them know you'll be doing a late check-in. We do that all the time and never had a problem.

 

OR you could do MM after the cruise. Park opens every day at 10:30a

The park is only open til 9 Wednesday nights in June.

 

https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/store/tickets

Must not be doing the Coke promo anymore but here are other ticket options

Edited April 7, 2014 by SadieN

[Need-a-vacation]

I'm confused--

 

 

IMHO arrive two nights before. Book a motel in Valencia/Santa Clarita the night before Tueday night. MM on Wednesday. Spend the another night in the motel or go to Long Beach.

If you do decide to book a hotel for Wednesday night, give thema call and let them know you'll be doing a late check-in. We do that all the time and never had a problem.

 

OR you could do MM after the cruise. Park opens every day at 10:30a

The park is only open til 9 Wednesday nights in June.

 

 

We are doing exactly that -- coming in late on Tuesday night, MM on Wednesday, cruise depart on Thursday. So the night in question would be Wednesday night -- stay in MM area or go ahead to LB. If we were going to LB, we'd need to check out of the hotel near MM before we went to the park on Wednesday and have all our stuff in the car at MM. And if we stayed through park closing it could easily be at least 11 before we got to LB. I just remember how we felt after the full day at Disney and the only thing any of us wanted to do was crawl in bed and pass out. Of course - we spent the WHOLE day at Disney, open to close, which is about 15 hours!

 

So hubby gets a big vote in that decision since he'd be doing all the driving. :) There are benefits to either option.