Some first-timer questions

[jnojr]

I'm thinking of doing a short Mexico cruise on either the Paradise or Elation this summer.

1) What do they charge for drinks? I hear you just swipe a card and prices are never mentioned, and you get boned at the end of the trip.

2) I hear you aren't supposed to bring your own alcohol on board. Is this a hard-and-fast rule, or is there a cute trick to get around this?

3) What do they charge for corkage fees? Can you bring any wine / champagne on board?

4) What are the differences between staterooms (6A, 6B, 6C, 6D)? It appears to be level, but they don't come out and say so. Is one room better than others, for any reason other than deck?

5) How much in the way of "extra" charges do they nail you for (mandatory tips, fees, etc.)?

6) Do you have to have a passport for the Mexico cruises?

 

[Gayle V]

Hello Jnojr, Welcome to CruiseAddict's. This is a great board, and I'm sure you 'll find lots of answers here.

Now I'm no drinker so can't offer much of info re: alcohol, but I'll do my best with the other questions.

At embarkation they will electronically scan your credit card, and issue you a ASign and Sail card@. The Sign and Sail card looks like a credit card and is used for any purchases onboard the ship (ie: spa services, beauty salon, ship sponsored shore excursions, gift shop purchases, photo purchases, non-included beverages, charges for alternative dining, etc.) Those charges are then charged to your credit card at the end of the cruise.

If you wish, you can open a sign and sail card with cash and you will have that amount as a pre-set spending limit. You can add more cash to that, during the cruise if you find yourself nearing the limit.

If you do set up a sign and sail card with your credit card, you can pay all or part of it off in cash or traveler’s check before the end of the cruise, if you wish. (Like the time hubby had some luck in the casino.)

The sign and sail card is only good onboard the ship - you must use cash or credit card in ports.

On most ships, your sign and sail card also serves as your room key and your boarding pass, and is required for you to get on and off the ship.

The final total on the S&S card, at the end of the cruise doesn’t need to be such a shocker. They do give you a list of drink prices in the cabin. Look for it. Most people don’t bother. Still, whenever you purchase a drink (or anything else), you have to sign for it, and you are give an receipt. You can keep track of it, if you like. I always put all those receipts in one spot in the cabin, for reference later. Just in case.

If you like you can always check your bill, anytime you like, at the pursers desk, just to see how high it’s gotten. On most of the newer ships you can do this on the interactive TV right in your cabin.

To give you an idea of what the drinks cost I’ve looked at some of those receipts, that are still mixed in with all the papers from February cruise on the Triumph. These are some of the receipts I found.

Corona $4.75 + .71 Tax and Gratuity =$5.46

1 Margarita $4.50 and 1 White Russian $4.95 + 1.42 T&G = $10.87

Ulta Prem. Martini $8.95 + 1.34 T&G = 10.29

1 Pina Colada $5.25 and 1 Bud Light $475. + 1.50 T&G = $ 11.50

Also found one receipt that looks like a bottle of Woodbridge Chardonay from the dining room: $21.00 + T&G 3.15 = $ 24.15


Somewhere on the board, I’ve seen someone past a link to a list of the prices. Maybe do a search for “drink price list†to find it.

About binging alcohol on board. It really is against the rules, but like with all rules some people break them and bring it anyway. Until recently most seem to do so with no problem. They put it in the luggage, and sometime put it in soda pop bottles. But recently I've been reading that the ships are getting more strict, and aren't even allowing soda anymore.

They do say a "reasonable" amount of wine is permitted. Something like a bottle or two. I'm sure others here will be able to give more specific advice. I have no idea what the corkage fee it. Much easier to bring your own opener, wouldn't you think.

 

[Gayle V]

About the state rooms, almost all inside cabins on a ship will be fairly identical to each other, unless indicated that they have only upper and lower bunks. Also some cabins have the ability to hold up to four people, while others do not. For all cabin levels you have to look closely at the symbols on the deck plans to determine which do or do not.

Likewise all outsides will be much like others. The differences will be whether you have windows or portholes. And whether you have a full or obsructed views. On some ships an outside cabin might be labled "deluxe or superior" to indicate a larger size. There are web sites that will tell you the square footage of the different catagories. Perhaps someone else can direct you to one. I don't remember where that is offhand.

Verandah cabins have more differences only in that their verandahs can be of different sizes.

This is JMHO: I firmly believe there's no point in booking an inside cabin anywhere but on the lowest level. The view from the inside of an inside cabin is the same, no matter which deck you're on. As for booking an outside, getting a window is worth the extra money, as opposed to just having a porthole. And in all cases the verandah is worth every extra penny. (But then I suppose we've gotten spoiled. We used to book only insides, and had some pretty wonderful cruises then too.)

When choosing amonst those outside cabins you mention, I would pick one of the lower decks, to avoid having any public area above you, as sometimes the noise from above can be heard. Being near a central elevator is a plus for getting around the ship. If the lower level offers the same room, and the same windows, then why pay more to be one or two floor higher. It's not much different riding an elelvator, three floors versus one or two.

 

[Gayle V]

About the passport, basically the answer is NO you do not absolutely HAVE IO HAVE the passport, but the cruise lines do strongly suggest that you do.

Currently the required identification is:

Either:
1. A Passport

OR

2. A government issued photo ID, like a driver's license AND an official birth certificate. (Either original or certified copy with the raised seal.)

I hope you don't mind a recycled answer, as I just answered a similiar question for someone else a few days back. So this is mostly a cut and paste of that answer:

Currently it is not essential to have a passport to go on a Caribbean cruise, or on one to Mexico. BUT, if for some reason you should have to leave the cruise mid way, and if you have to FLY home you must a passport to re-enter the United States when flying.

Also Currently the rules say you will have to have the passport for Caribbean cruises starting with the beginning of 2008. Who knows what the rules will actually be when that day comes, as they have waffled on this several times already. They seem to be able to change their mind at will.

One warning. Be certain you have enough time for the passport to arrive, before mailing away your birth certificate to get the passport. I beieve it is takiing asl long as ten to twelve weeks these days for passports to arrive.

If you have less than 13 (maybe more) weeks until you sail, I wouldn't risk sending away my birth certificate as you will need a certified copy of your birth certificate AND your government issued photo ID to board the ship, should you not have the passport.

Hint, if you have to order the birth certificate first, go ahead and ask for two copies. If you have one now, maybe order the second copy of the birth certificate anyway. Birth certificates come faster than passports. That way you might still have something to board the ship with, should the passport be delayed.

Also beware, that those fancy footprint birth certificates, that the hospitals issue MAY not be considered official. (Be sure to verify). Aside from that they are a pain in the butt to carry around. So ordering a certified copy is a good idea anyway.

One more note, I've recently read that at some post offices now require appointments, for applying for a passport. I know the post offices around here, only accept them during limited hours.

 

[Gayle V]

And lastly, about the extra charges.

You need to think about the tips as just a part of the overall cruise price. I think the cruise lines and TAs really need to make the tips a more visible item when they book people on a cruise. It gives any business a bad impression when charges, that are not really optional, are added on later. JMHO.

Having cruised many times, I now tally in the cost of tips, automatically when I consider the price of a cruise. But I can remember being a newbie, and finding out about them AFTER we were on the ship. (Now that was a kick in the pants. We were lucky to be able to scrape together that much at the last minute.)

As for other extra, you have total control over whether you incur these charges. The temptation is great to spend a lot. But you don't really have to, and can have a great cruise anyway, even without spending so much.

That being said, I admitt to spending an average of $400 to $700 onboard. for the two of us on each cruise. That covers:

Alcoholic drinks & wine at dinner
Soft drinks & specialty coffees
Excursions
Playing bingo
Spa treatments - hair, nails massage etc.
Buying photos from the ship photographers
Shopping in the ships shops. (now that can cost a whole lot, if you spend a lot.)

And what you donate in the casino is totally up to you.

The bingo and the casino are the only things you can use cash for on the ship.

And maybe tips. Carnival now adds the tips to you shipboard bill, automatically now. If you would really rather tip with cash in person, you can have them removed from your bill. You can increase of decrease the amount of the tip also, should you feel your service warrants.

We used to not like the automatic tipping, but it really is easier, so kind of like it now. But we still frequently tip an additional amount in cash, when we've felt it deserved.

Tipping amounts: I've cut this from the Carnival web site.

What is the tipping policy onboard?

Service Gratuities

For your convenience, we automatically charge the gratuities for dining and stateroom staff to your onboard Sail & Sign account. The total amount is $10.00 per guest, per day (our recommended guideline) as follows:

$ 3.50 Per Day Stateroom Services

$ 5.50 Per Day Dining Room Services

$ 1.00 Per Day Alternative Services: distributed to other kitchen and hotel service staff

For Cruises-To-Nowhere, gratuities of $10 per guest, per day must be prepaid.

Our Staff is totally committed to exceed your expectations in every way possible. If you are not satisfied with the service you receive, we encourage you to contact the Purser’s Information desk while onboard. This will allow us to address your concerns in a timely and appropriate fashion. At your discretion, you may adjust the gratuities at any time.

For beverage purchases, fifteen percent of the bill is automatically added to the Sail & Sign charge. Room Service staff may be tipped as service is rendered. Tipping your Maître d’ is at your discretion, based upon the service you receive.

Other places where you would likely be expected to tip:

A buck or two for each room service order.

A dollar per bag to the dock workers who take your suitcases from you as you arrive at the dock.

And the same to the porters who help take your suitcases to the taxi or bus on debarkation day.

You probably already know to tip the taxi drivers, and sky caps.

Don't forget the bus drivers/guides on the tours, and the boat crew on your snorkel excursions, etc.

And you tip for spa services just like you would at a land spa/salon.

I can't think of anymore. Except maybe the childrens services. I think people tip them too, but I don't know about that for sure, as we've never cruise with children.

 

[SandyBeach]

The Cabins on Carnival ships are usually around 185 square feet - inside and out...unless they are the cabins with just one twin and one bunk - 1A's I think. Those are considerably smaller. The higher up you go the more movement you can feel.

The Paradise and the Elation are sister ships so there won't be much difference - except decor between the two of them. The Paradise has more wood the Elation a bit more color.

All drinks have the tip included. 2 Cokes ran us approx. $4.05 including the tip last month. Remember juice, coffee, tea and hot chocolate are all free.

You won't be able to view your Sail and Sign bill on the tv on these Fantasy Class ships...but you can go to the pursers desk and they'll print one out for you anytime during your cruise.

There really shouldn't be any surprises on your bill...you'll have receipts for everything except the tips for the wait staff and room steward ($10/day/pp).

 

[smoose]

As for the liquor, I pack 3, 1 liter Nalgene bottles full of different types of alcohol {vodka (great with the free lemonade),scotch(ice or water),rum(awesome with the ship's fruit punch)} and place them in 1 gallon ziplock bags in case of leakage. I also bring wine on every cruise. You are technically allowed one bottle per stateroom but my wife and I have brought five bottles before and nothing was said. I tip my waiter extra every night and have never been charged corkage before in the dining room when I bring my own wine (although Imade, my waiter, once told me that if the maitre'd asks, tell him that we were charged). Hope this helps.