Carnival Secrets they usually don't tell you about

[Crichard]

We just returned from the Conquest today. Seven wonderful days. How many in your party. Any children? I would be glad to answer any questions.

[Cinderelli]

We are a family of 4 -- myself, hubby and son 14 and daughter 10.

 

Any tips the kids would love -- things they should not miss?

 

Thanks!:p

[Cinderelli]

I have read several places that you're not allowed to bring food off the ship.

 

Does this apply to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel? Can you take some cookies with you?

 

:p

[bethm214]

Oh, and Beth, we are on the early dinner seating. Any later and my kids will be passed out in their dinner plates. We NEVER do late seating. Just our style.

 

Talk to you soon!

Mary Ellen:D

I signed us up for the 8p seating and my dh says i should ask to change it to the 8:30. Last time we cruised PJ was 10 and he would eat a snack with the kids or room service earlier in the evening and then go back to the kids room while we went to the casino/show/dinner. Then we would pick him up from the kids room at 10, take him back to our table where he would get treated like a king by out waiter who was just serving dessert to the rest of us...he would get him ANYTHING he wanted.

Then we would go to a show or to the deck or to bed depending on how tired we were and if it was appropriate for a 10 year old. This kid needs less sleep than anyone i know!!!

Looking forward to meeting you all!

[cruisinqt]

In the morning for breakfast they have those tiny little individual boxes of cereal. There's Fruit Loops, Frosted Flakes, and lots of other name brand cereals. We always grab a few for snacks for us and the kids. The authorities will not confiscate anything that is in a sealed container. And I think it applies to all ports. Though we have taken sandwiches and cookies with us off of the ship with no problem. We never put them in a cooler with our drinks or any other place that would be obvious. Our children have backpacks with a few beach toys in them. We stick our sandwiches and cookies in amongst the toys in the backpacks. I have heard of people with coolers full of food being stopped. I have also heard of lunch sacks being examined. But a couple snacks in our kids backpacks where the toys are have never been a problem.

 

But if you are a little afraid of getting something confiscated, then go for the foods that are completely sealed and unopened like the cereal. There are other things that are sealed that you can get on the ship. Or you can bring a few of your own snacks as long as they are in a brand new package and unopened. The cookies they have on the buffets and at dinner are not in a package. I hope this helps. Enjoy your cruise!

[artsytart]

Maybe someone here can answer this question. I've heard that Carnival now charges for the cakes/singing for special occasions now. Is that true? If so, that really stinks. What about the other cruise lines? Any one know?

Yes, there is now a charge for cake. We went on the Conquest and celebrated my birthday the last night of the cruise. Luckily, we were at a table with honeymooners, who got the chocolate cake first. (Now I have had the chocolate cake in the past and it was great). I'm glad they got theirs first; it made me change my order--it was awful! Not advertised, the chocolate has layers, one of which is a fruity flavor, and one coconut. Yuck! I opted to get the vanilla cake instead, which was much better! ;)

[taszmom]

Usually the first few days at the pool, if you order a drink and you don't specify a size, they will automatically give you a drink in a large souvenir cup and charge you accodingly. Tell them you don't want it in any fancy souvenir cup (unless you do!), just a regular drink in a regular paper cup.

[kapcruiser]

How much is a frozen drink in a souvenier cup?

[Philly Steve]

Okay, I have a tip, but don't flame me for this. I admit it's a little sneaky. And you can blame my husband, it was his idea. He goes to the galley of pictures and finds ours. Then he gets up real close to our picture and takes his own picture of it. That way he doesn't have to pay for our picture. I know. We're bad. Real bad.

 

I like the way you think! I've shot video of those pics too.

[rduke]

Does Spirit have a deli? and if so where is it?

[dmdiver]

cruisinqt, be careful on that photo thing. my hubby was videotaping & narrating our vacation. he saw one of our photos on the wall and zoomed in on it. the photo guy ran up to him and said he could not video in the picture display area.

[dukecruiser]

These are fantastic, please keep the tips coming! I'm sure they will come in very handy on our first cruise 10/09/04 on the Glory......:D

[cpayne]

If you don't have a fridge in your room and want to take sandwiches ashore for your day excursion, try making them at breakfast. There is always bread available that is used for toast. There is also usually ham and/or turkey lunchmeat that many people put on bagels, etc...for breakfast. That's all you need for a simple sandwich!

 

I too have found the "secret door". Makes for a romantic moment with your significant other. Met my husband on Carnival Celebration and this is where he kissed me for the very first time. Always a special spot for us!

[beaming90]

Thank you all for the great ideas! These tips will come in handy when we go on our very first cruise. I am taking my mom (she is 74) on the Carnival Fantasy . Any info on this ship would be greatly appreciated. She is kinda nervous...! Thanks again

[Liner]

Another tip......

The Purser's Office will carry stamps of the different countries that you are going to. I like to buy my stamps ahead of time so I don't have to find a post office in each port. Makes it much easier to send the postcards home from the different ports.

Keep the tips coming!

[kristikae]

I guess I am the only one who didn't care for the fish and chips on the Conquest. We didn't think it looked good last year, so didn't try it. In preparing for my trip this year, I noticed all of the people raving about the fish and chips, so decided to try it. Ended up throwing most of it away...I have had less greasy fish and fries at Long John Silvers! I just don't get the attraction....oh well....different strokes...

I felt the exact same way. I'm not a big fish eater anyway so it's no big loss for me.

[artsytart]

The fries that come with the Fish and Chips are, to me anyway, not that good - the fries with burgers are much better... The fish itself and fried oysters were on our list for most lunches...!

 

Casino tip:

If you play blackjack, one secret to keep in mind is the Fun21 table - there are NO QUEENS in the decks - They will tell you this IF YOU ASK but what they won't tell you, and 98% of the players do not realize, is that this forces a change in the way you play.. check out wizardofodds.com and read about SPANISH21 !

 

Tom

No kidding about that Fun 21! We sailed Conquest, 7/11. My DH is a pretty experienced blackjack player, and one night decided to try the "Fun" 21. Lost about $80 in 3 minutes. Stay away from this sucker game! Also, slots seemed really tight. Best odds are on the 3 card poker. I won a lot of money there. I hit a 3 of a kind once : 6-6-6. How about that one? :rolleyes:

[BigDoug]

The "Fun 21" game has some other good attributes as well. If you read the rules before playing, you will see the need to change strategy. It pays all 21's. You can also get even money on a BJ if the dealer is showing an ace. You can also double at any time and also surrender. It also pays 2 to 1 on certain combinations: 7-7-7, 6-7-8. Because there are fewer face cards, you have to hit anything lower than 17. The "Fun 21" game is not a rip-off.

[MusicMan]

Well YOU may not think it's a ripoff, but the experts say it is!

[BigDoug]

Got this off the wizardofodds.com website: "Spanish 21 is a variation of blackjack that is one of the best bets in a casino. In locations where the dealer stands on a soft 17 or redoubling is allowed, Spanish 21 is probably a better bet than blackjack, depending on the specific blackjack rules. If you are looking for a change of pace from traditional blackjack but insist on a game with a low house edge you may find new excitement in Spanish 21. "

Not all the "experts" think it is a rip-off.

[tinydancer21]

I too have found the "secret door". Makes for a romantic moment with your significant other. Met my husband on Carnival Celebration and this is where he kissed me for the very first time. Always a special spot for us!

 

OMG! That is so romantic! How cool to meet your future DH on a cruise!

[Cruise lover 01010]

I don't consider these secrets, but people always say "I didn't know you could do that" when I order a second entree or second anything in the dining room, or order a refill in my souveneir glass at a "discount" rate. And then there's the soda card.

"souveneir glass", you mean tha cheap piece of stained plastic that's worth about a dime? And the discount? You mean its now about 30% less than the 300% overpriced drink in the first place?

[Cruise lover 01010]

$6.25!!!!!! Crazy--don't do it!!

[BottledRed]

Got this off the wizardofodds.com website: "Spanish 21 is a variation of blackjack that is one of the best bets in a casino. In locations where the dealer stands on a soft 17 or redoubling is allowed, Spanish 21 is probably a better bet than blackjack, depending on the specific blackjack rules. If you are looking for a change of pace from traditional blackjack but insist on a game with a low house edge you may find new excitement in Spanish 21. "

 

Not all the "experts" think it is a rip-off.

Yeah, I have a couple of co-workers who play it and make BIG money. It just has a different flow, which is why I haven't learned it yet.

[JkyLovesRuss]

How do you add the cruise countdown numbers on your signature?

 

help please! thanks! :confused: