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melicious
Citizen
Username: Melicious
Post Number: 659
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 3:09 pm: | 
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Going with SigO and kinder. \
I've heard that embarkation is a nightmare. Anyway to ease the pain?
Do you really tip everyone $10 a day, per person (in my case $50 a day!)?
Any insider info you can share?
I'm psyched and nervous, all at once. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4947
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 3:24 pm: |
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Meli, when and where...PL me if yu want.
Which cruise line? Royal Caribbean has a tipping guide. I have to ask my aunt ( a frequent cruiser) what she tips. She also said give your waitstaff tips in the beginning for extra good svc, though I have found RC waitstaff to be exceptional.
I have never had much of an embarkation nightmare in the 2 family cruises we've been on. Did you do the online check in? That helps. Getting in early helps too. |
melicious
Citizen
Username: Melicious
Post Number: 662
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 3:36 pm: |
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We have been lucky enough to be given the cruise - I didn't pick it. My parents booked us on Carnival. I know its not the fanciest, but I cannot wait to not-cook and have the kids enjoy a couple of hours in the "camp" without me.
We're going to Canada, leaving from NY. Where is the port?
Should I bring toys for the 2-year-old? The room is tiny and I am trying to avoid my usual "Invasion of Normandy" packing style. What would you think the essentials are? |
twig
Citizen
Username: Twig
Post Number: 193
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 3:47 pm: |
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We're headed off on our 4th cruise next week. Not sure which line you will be on but here are a few things we've learned that have made a difference.
Embarkation - It can be a pain but that really depends from where you are sailing. The cruise lines will tell you to board at noon or later but most will allow you to get on earlier and that can make all the difference. Last summer, we got to the port (Baltimore) at 10:30 am and they started boarding at 11:00 am...took us about 15 minutes. Embarking in NYC is a bit more difficult because of the parking mess but getting there earlier does make a difference.
Carry On - You will have to check most of your luggage but take a carry-on tha includes clothes for dinner the first evening...which means pants/dresses (no shorts in the main dining room on most lines). Your bags may not be delivered until later in the evening - perhaps not until 9 or 10 pm. We've never gotten ours before 8-9 pm and once didn't get all of them (they tend to come one at a time) until almost 11 pm.
Tipping - Varies by line but the suggested rates are (per passenger per day) Cabin steward- $3 to $4; waiter/server, $3 to $4; assistant waiter/busboy, $1.50 to $2.50; headwaiter/head server, 50 cents to $1.Some of the cruise-lines will automatically include the basic tip in your bill but you can reduce or increase the amount at the end of the cruise.
Excursions - if you haven't already booked and are considering ship sponsored excursions, book soon after you get on. The best ones sell out.
Specialty Restaurants - some lines have a number of special restaurants in addition to the main dining room. If you want to eat in one of these (there is a surcharge) you need to make the reservations as soon as you board to have choices in time. They will sell-out by the second day.
Soda Card - Most lines have an all-you-can-drink soda program for kids. Tends to run $30-35 for a 7-9 day cruise. May be worth it if you like that much soda but coffee, tea, and some other beverages are available for free all day long in the informal dining area that all/most ships have.
Alcohol - many lines will confiscate it, hold it, and charge you a corkage fee for delivery at your dinner table if you try to bring on too much in your carry-on luggage. Some lines will allow you to bring 1-2 bottles of wine. After the recent incidents of people falling overboard, some lines (Royal Caribbean) are really coming down hard on this policy.
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Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4949
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 4:00 pm: |
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Ahhhh...we did that cruise 2 summers ago! On the Carnival Victory? I think it's 5 nights?
How old are the kids? Are you all in one cabin? We did 2 cabins.
The Port is right near the Intrepid. We drove, but parking for the week cost $125, and they made it exremely difficult to get to the car after departing. If you can have a car or friend drop you off and pick up you will save yourself aggravation. (The money wasn't even the issue, but they don't let you bring baggage on the escalator and that's the only way to the lot!)
My older kids (esp. the then 8 yo) loved the kids camp. The older 2 barely even ate dinner with us. The baby (just 2) reluctantly did the camp a few hours a day. (An hour here or there).
You don't need toys, maybe a favorite doll or stuffie. If she does the camp,they have everything there—if you don't have it in the cabin camp will seem all that much more important to the kids! I remember packing too much and not using a lot of it. I think I let my kids put a few of their favorite things in a small backpack.
For clothes, bring one nicer outfit for the kids(if they even join you fo the "formal" dinner). Most of the time they will be in shorts or capris and t-s, and even at dinner people don't dress the way they used to...a "neat" capri outift or sundress is fine. Even adults don't dress up as much anymore.
When we went we had very cold weather in mid-july. I had brought lots of jackets for evening but not much for day. The one essential I forgot was my black turtleneck, and I would have worn it every night (that's how cold it was!). Definitely bring warm sweaters just in case. We walked through St John and Nova Scotia bundled up and were still cold! Bring rain gear too. (Of course I bet you'll have 90 degree weather because you pack some warm clothes!)
I hope you like smoked salmon...I think it was in every course of every meal! (Luckily I like it.) Food was good, not incredible, but better than cooking! There was always something I liked enough at every meal, and the waiter was good about bringing me 2 appetizers instead of an entree if nothing suited my fancy. The pizza place, by one of the pools, actually had great pizza. Often a late night snack or a meal for the kids! Lunch in the dining room was much better than the buffet, though kids always like the buffet.
Embarkation did take awhile, but it wasn't a nightmare, just a bit of a wait.
Don't stress it! Keep just a small bag with you because once you board you can have lunch but will have your carryons with you. Maybe have the kids in swimsuits under their clothes so they can go in the pool, but I remember that was when the pool was really crowded. Speaking of crowded, it does get very crowded and people can be so rude. If you have to take elevators be prepared to wait...we had a stroller but often opted to take stairs because of the elevator lines.
The boat is pretty big (esp. if you've never cruised before) but you'll figure it out...I studied the floor plans so I knew where to go! |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4950
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 4:05 pm: |
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Twig, we're going to Baltimore next week for a cruise too. How long it it take you to get there? |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4951
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 4:10 pm: |
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Meli, we never did the soda card. My kids drink milk, juice, lemonade etc.
Unless that boat has changed they don't havea specialty/surcharge restaurant.
Carnival will stash your liquor until after the cruise, so you will pay tariffs or whatever on it. The free cheap rum ended up costing us about $10. I forget how many bottles you are allowed to have before tariffs, but it's almost not worth it. |
tjd
Citizen
Username: Tjd
Post Number: 34
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 5:12 pm: |
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Go to www.cruisecritic.com. They are chock full of information for cruisers, first-time and veterans. |
melicious
Citizen
Username: Melicious
Post Number: 666
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 5:22 pm: |
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Twig and VIG - thanks that is so helpful.
Yup, its the Victory. I love their quote: there are no losers on the Victory. My husband was like, "Well, that let's me out!"
We're gonna cram into one room. I don't know why...
THe travel agent wasn't sure if milk was free - glad to hear it.
What're the chance I can get soy milk for my little lactose-intolerant boy? Guess I'll call em.
Here's to hoping that the kids LOVE the camp.
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msg
Citizen
Username: Msg
Post Number: 233
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 7:32 pm: |
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My mom just recently got back from that trip. 2nd summer for it. She just loves it. I took her into the city by car service and sent the car service back to get her (I don't drive in NYC) We have found that they'll let you on earlier than what's posted. Do it. Lunch is available right after you arrive (buffet). I would think your family would enjoy the buffets more than the sitdown dinners. They do have babysitters available so you can enjoy some adult time. My husband and I went to Alaska last summer on RC. Fabulous time. No problems with embark either way. (Seattle) Have a fabulous time. Let us know your opinion from a younger person's side when you return. We're thinking of having a 4 couple law school reunion next summer. |
K_soze
Citizen
Username: K_soze
Post Number: 663
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 8:15 pm: |
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Here's the most important tip...don't even try to figure out how you gained so much weight in so little time it happens to the best of us...oo, is that a burger and hot dog station by the pool? look at the size of that omelette!! 24 hour pizza bar, here I come!!  |
twig
Citizen
Username: Twig
Post Number: 194
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 9:37 pm: |
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Virtual It Girl
If you are cruising out of Baltimore next week, we have to be on the same cruise. We are taking the Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas, leaving on Friday, August 18th. Actually, we did this same cruise last year and hadn't planned to do it again so soon but after they changed the itinerary by dropping Freeport, Grand Bahama (which we didn't like so much anyway) and adding Miami and Costa Maya, the priced dropped so much that we couldn't resist.
The drive to Baltimore usually takes about 3 hours but, since it's a work day, we've decided to avoid the issue of rush hour traffic around Philly and in Delaware by going down the day before and staying in a hotel a few miles east of Baltimore. The South Locust Point terminal is new but I've heard good things about it. As I wrote before, last year we got to the pier early just so we could be sure where everything was. We had planned to do something to kill the time until the "offical" noon boarding but the parking lot guards told us just to sit tight and, sure enough, we got on about 11 am. There was no line whatsoever. However, an hour or so later, it was taking a lot longer to get through. We plan to get to the terminal about 10:30 am again this year and see what happens. Given recent events, I am anticipating it may take a bit longer getting through security.
Don't know if you've been on Grandeur before, but we liked it a lot. It may be older and a bit smaller than the newest ships but we thought it was much more "tasteful" than the garish Carnival ship we once cruised on. The tall glass walls in the atrium area offer great ocean views and there are plenty of activities. I have a 14-year old son who was unhappy with the small (only 3-4 games) arcade area but he found plenty to do, anyway. The kids programs seem to be okay. Plus, the 5 ports in 9 days is a nice plus.
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Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4953
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 9:51 pm: |
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Twig, YUP...SO FUNNY! I agree, I chose it b/c of all the ports.
We will have to meet up on the boat! Do you have other kids besides the 14yo boy? My girls are 4, 8 & 10.
What hotel are you staying at? PLease PL me if you don't want to post the info. My bro lives in Bethesda ( and we thought about staying there)but he might be away, we were considering driving down Thurs. nite too.
We have only been on one other RC cruise from Miami, found the service & food amazing (better than Carnival) but my girls liked the Carnival kids programs better. (may have been their ages)
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mickey
Citizen
Username: Mickey
Post Number: 464
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 11:04 am: |
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Definitely go to www.cruisecritic.com
It will give you all kinds of tips on your cruise line, ports of call, tipping, alcohol policies, dress codes, children's programs, ship amenities, even photos of your cabin (or one just like it). I've been on 4 cruises and cruisecritic helped me plan each one of them. |
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