8 more days unitl we sail...need help

[teletubbymom]

We will be sailing on the Inspiration on 12/22. My DH & 3 DD, 11, 8, 6. My DH & oldest DD have sailed before but it's been a while. I need some help with last minute questions.

 

1. Does any one know what Carnival's policy is on bringing gifts on board? I'm not sure if "Santa" is going to visit on the ship or when we get back home. Also on the subject of "Santa", I read somewhere that he makes a visit and gives the children a gift. Is this a gift that the parents provide or something that Carnival gives out? If we bring wrapped gifts, in a bag, will they require us to unwrap all of them?
   
2. We are booked in cabin E29. Does anyone have any photos of how this is going to look with the 2 pull downs & 1 roll away? Also I have read conflicting stories about the rollaway. Is it a standard cot or is a mattress on the floor?
   
3. How deep is the pool? Will my girls be able to use arm wings while they are in there if it is over thier heads?
   
4. Will my DH have to wear a jacket on our formal night? He did last time but the dress code has become a little more relaxed. I understand it as, if you would wear it to a wedding then it's ok. He is not a dress-up kind of guy, but does have dress slacks and dress shirts. Would this be ok?
   
5. We will be driving to Miami from Massachusetts. I have my e-doc and it says not to arrive at the terminal before 12:00. Does this mean we cannot arrive at the port before 12:00 or will we be able to park in the lot and wait there until 12:00?
   
6. Lastly, does anyone know about the way the arcade works. My girls will be earning arcade allowance on the drive down. Do they need to use thier sign & sail card to play the games or can they use cash? Also if they have to use thier sign & sail card does that mean they will have charging privelages? I'm not too worried about the little ones but the older one scares me a little.
   

Thanks for all your answers.

 

 

Michelle

[crusinpsychRN]

I can answer on the the parking. The best way is to drop off passengers and luggage right at the terminal then the driver can park the car. They usually don't start embarkation until noon so getting there earlier is just sit and wait time.

 

Jacket is not required on formal night but highly suggested. Saw few without them.

[ugen512]

The ships that we have been on the arcade was either tokens or quarters.

 

usually don'y use the pools but my daughter was 9 last time and she could keep her head above water so maybe 4 ft deep?

[iluvdoxies]

You can check in earlier than 12--we always get there about 11.

 

Have a great cruise.

[Chigirlcruzin]

We will be sailing on the Inspiration on 12/22. My DH & 3 DD, 11, 8, 6. My DH & oldest DD have sailed before but it's been a while. I need some help with last minute questions.

 

1. Does any one know what Carnival's policy is on bringing gifts on board? I'm not sure if "Santa" is going to visit on the ship or when we get back home. Also on the subject of "Santa", I read somewhere that he makes a visit and gives the children a gift. Is this a gift that the parents provide or something that Carnival gives out? If we bring wrapped gifts, in a bag, will they require us to unwrap all of them? Pack what you need to pack in your suitcase. You can pack wrapped packages - it's the airlines that don't allow it.
   
2. We are booked in cabin E29. Does anyone have any photos of how this is going to look with the 2 pull downs & 1 roll away? Also I have read conflicting stories about the rollaway. Is it a standard cot or is a mattress on the floor? It's a rollaway bed. The mattress is not on the floor. Don't have any pictures, but it will be crowded when all the beds are down.
   
3. How deep is the pool? Will my girls be able to use arm wings while they are in there if it is over thier heads? The pool is about 4 ft deep. There is only one pool on the Imagination, and it will be crowded. If your girls are in over their heads, I recommend using the splash area in the Water Works area instead of using the arm wings.
   
4. Will my DH have to wear a jacket on our formal night? He did last time but the dress code has become a little more relaxed. I understand it as, if you would wear it to a wedding then it's ok. He is not a dress-up kind of guy, but does have dress slacks and dress shirts. Would this be ok? This will be fine.
   
5. We will be driving to Miami from Massachusetts. I have my e-doc and it says not to arrive at the terminal before 12:00. Does this mean we cannot arrive at the port before 12:00 or will we be able to park in the lot and wait there until 12:00? I've arrived at 10:30 or so on my last 3 cruises to Miami. You will be able to check in. Boarding usually starts around 11:45 - noon.
   
6. Lastly, does anyone know about the way the arcade works. My girls will be earning arcade allowance on the drive down. Do they need to use thier sign & sail card to play the games or can they use cash? Also if they have to use thier sign & sail card does that mean they will have charging privelages? I'm not too worried about the little ones but the older one scares me a little. Can't help you here.
   

Thanks for all your answers.

 

 

Michelle

 

Have a great cruise.

[Sirwinston]

Be careful with the arcade. Last time I was on a carnival ship I asked that my 13 year old boy would not be able to charge things on his sail and sign. Well after he burned though a large bag of quarters in the arcade he was able to use his sail and sign to play in the arcade. Several $ 5.00 charges appeared as he got more tokens. Just let your girls know that you will FIND OUT if they use the cards.

 

Tom in Long Beach

[yogi2929]

Extra Beds-- I have been on the Paradise down on the Riviera deck and we had a pallet on the floor for the extra bed. Plenty big for your little ones. It stows under the bed, out of the way during the day. I would not stress too much about this.

 

Arcade-- Asked the 15yr old -- There is a machine in the arcade that converts bills to tokens. This machine can also take the money off the S&S card. DD said the card was protected because she had to enter her birthday as a password. It was limited to a certain amount per day and the parents can change that amount at the information desk.

 

You can also limit or erase the priviledges of the S&S card at the information desk.

 

**Get lanyards (free!) at the casino for the kids for their cards. They will punch holes in the cards also.

 

If you're stressing about the wrapping of your gifts, just use bags when you get there.

 

Have a wonderful trip!

[teletubbymom]

Thank you for all your answers. I feel like I keep packing and unpacking....

 

We are sooo excited

[Wennfred]

 

1. Does any one know what Carnival's policy is on bringing gifts on board? I'm not sure if "Santa" is going to visit on the ship or when we get back home. Also on the subject of "Santa", I read somewhere that he makes a visit and gives the children a gift. Is this a gift that the parents provide or something that Carnival gives out? If we bring wrapped gifts, in a bag, will they require us to unwrap all of them?
   
2. We are booked in cabin E29. Does anyone have any photos of how this is going to look with the 2 pull downs & 1 roll away? Also I have read conflicting stories about the rollaway. Is it a standard cot or is a mattress on the floor?
   
3. How deep is the pool? Will my girls be able to use arm wings while they are in there if it is over thier heads?
   
4. Will my DH have to wear a jacket on our formal night? He did last time but the dress code has become a little more relaxed. I understand it as, if you would wear it to a wedding then it's ok. He is not a dress-up kind of guy, but does have dress slacks and dress shirts. Would this be ok?
   
5. We will be driving to Miami from Massachusetts. I have my e-doc and it says not to arrive at the terminal before 12:00. Does this mean we cannot arrive at the port before 12:00 or will we be able to park in the lot and wait there until 12:00?
   
6. Lastly, does anyone know about the way the arcade works. My girls will be earning arcade allowance on the drive down. Do they need to use thier sign & sail card to play the games or can they use cash? Also if they have to use thier sign & sail card does that mean they will have charging privelages? I'm not too worried about the little ones but the older one scares me a little.
   

Thanks for all your answers.

 

 

Michelle

 

1. As long as its not anything from their Do Not Bring onboard list you can pack it. See a post below for the link

 

2. Your cabin will look like this one: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=773287&highlight=

 

3. There is the Waterworks Pool park in the back of the ship.

 

4. DH does not have to wear a Jacket to formal night, but it would be nice for the family pics. Shirt Tie and nice Dress pants is fine.

 

5. You can arrive to the port and park as earily as 8am, just won't be able to board till after 11:30am

 

6. We just posted about the Arcade rates and I will find that thread and link it here.

 

 

Fred

[Wennfred]

Heres the info that I posted on the Daily Arcade Rates:

 

Just came off the Elation this morning and I checked the Token machine and found that there is a Daily Adult rate of 50.00 per day and for the kids its 20.00 per day. These Sail & Sign card rates can be adjusted at the Pursers Desk.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=873017&highlight=

 

Photo from Tom-n-Cheryl

 

 

 

Fred

[Wennfred]

Go here to see what you are NOT allowed to pack:

 

Note: alot of these could be XMAS presents

 

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/What_NOT_to_Pack.aspx

 

 

 

Fred