Elation in 3 days. I have ?'s, do you have answers?

[awesomemamma]

Yikes, it is coming up fast! Trying to prepare for the holidays along with a cruise is wearing me out! Plus, the car just zonked, so a grand+ there. Ouch!!!!

Anyway. Questions (there will probably be more, but these are the 2 I need answered now :) )

1. My kids sign and sail. I think I know the answer to this, but... I can have them NOT put a hold on my CC for their S & S right? So, with hubby and me and 5 kids, and I looking at a 1400 dollar hold on the card or no?

 

2. Internet--has anyone had problems accessing anything? For you tekkies, DH needs to remote into some clients offices to work some, is this possible?

 

Thanks!

[SunnyinMA]

The internet on board is very, very slow...I'm sure it's possible but it could be torturous. I've seen it's best early in the morning or late at night.

 

The S&S card is not a per person hold if secured with a CC (I don't think) I think they do something like a 250 hold...then when you go over that they put another 250 on and so on and so forth as you go along during the week...

 

Have a great cruise.

[MaryZ]

Yikes, it is coming up fast! Trying to prepare for the holidays along with a cruise is wearing me out! Plus, the car just zonked, so a grand+ there. Ouch!!!!

Anyway. Questions (there will probably be more, but these are the 2 I need answered now :) )

1. My kids sign and sail. I think I know the answer to this, but... I can have them NOT put a hold on my CC for their S & S right? So, with hubby and me and 5 kids, and I looking at a 1400 dollar hold on the card or no?

 

2. Internet--has anyone had problems accessing anything? For you tekkies, DH needs to remote into some clients offices to work some, is this possible?

 

Thanks!

 

1. No idea what kind of hold they put on it. I just hand over the cc. They put the charge thru on the last night. With 5 kids, you might want to lay down rules about what they are allowed to spend. At $20 a day in the arcade per child that would be $700 on a seven night cruise alone. Plus whatever else they decide they want to purchase. I've always given my children a spending cap per day. When they were young and even now as college age kids. If they wish to go over it, they just need to come and find us and ask.

 

2. Internet. Notoriously slow. Buy one of the minute packages and figure what you do at home is going to take you 5 times as long on board. The only thing we use the internet for is to chat with our kids at night if they are home and we are on a cruise. And that is incredibly slow. So slow, my kids say one word answers to carefully phrased questions that require one word answers. Such as... did you feed the dogs? Is everyone alive and in one piece? Did you call your grandparents? There is no party going on, is there? LOL :)

Plus, you will need to be sure to bring your laptop if you need to do work. We always bring ours.

 

Anyway, have fun!

[jayesouthworth]

There's internet cafes at the ports you're visiting and it's cheap and fast! If you use the ship's internet cafe there's a $3.95 setup charge (RIP OFF), then 75 cents per minute if you go that route. If you use the printer, it's 50 cents per page.

 

With the children using their sail and sign cards for purchases, I hope you have deep pockets. When you sign in, you can freeze your children's cards from making purchases on board. If they want to purchase trinkets, there's plenty of places at the ports to buy stuff with CASH. Unless you want to play bookkeeper all day this might be a good thing for you to do.

 

The Elation is our favorite ship, the best food we've had so far on any ship. We just got off the Spirit, and still think the Elation is the best. Have a great time!

[pocoehonda]

Have fun on your cruise, I am too leaving Saturday on the Glory. If the kids are younger, omit them from the S&S and buy them coke cards if they must have coke. But there is plenty of free tea and fruit punch available. Give them cash for game room if needed. If they are older give them a daily limit.every night you can look at your account in your room on the t.v. so there should be no suprizes.

As for the internet, I would suggest to use while in ports as the reception seems better. He may just have to tell his clients he's on vacation. lol:)

 

Again, have a great time and good luck @ the casino:cool:

[awesomemamma]

Thanks for your answers. I do NOT want my kdis to have any $ at all on their cards, I was just double checking to make sure that was possible. We are poor and a $1400 hold on my CC would really hurt.

I know that internet is slow and costly, but if one of his networks goes down, he is hoping to be of some help while on VACATION!

Thanks again!

[Brianinidaho]

Will be on that ship with 4 kids and a nephew. We fly into Vegas Friday, and then leave Vegas into San Diego about noon in SWA. Starting to pack. Kids range from1 13-6. See you at the kids club.

[awesomemamma]

AWesome! We are leaving from vegas!

[Brianinidaho]

I saw that... I saw you replied to another thread so I assume you recognize the name Parley P Pratt...

[awesomemamma]

I do. Is he a relative of yours? lol. How old are your kids? We should get together for FHE! :)

[Brianinidaho]

Boys 13,12,8,6, and nephew 19 who just got his call.

RE FHE, More concerned about 2nd day activities at sea keeping somewhat with the day, but FHE is something to think about.

Would like to chat "off line"... do you have an email or something you could post and I will email you off line?

[awesomemamma]

yeah, was kinda joking about having a FHE, athough we are planning to do something like that on the 2nd day..... we have boys, 16, 14, girls 12, 10, and a boy 8. best email for me is cameron@jbgreen.com