Thursday, February 11, 2010

Cruise FAQs

Hope this is helpful. If you have a question that's not listed here, please post it in the comments and I'll add it. Past cruisers, if you see any answers that are just not right, please correct me!
  • What time should I get to the dock?
  • How do I get from the airport to the dock and back?
  • Do I need a passport?
  • Will I get seasick?
  • Can I bring drinks onboard?
  • Is there a safe in the room?
  • Is there a hair dryer in the room?
  • How do you pay for things onboard?
  • Do I have to make a photo group in advance?
  • How does the photo op work?
  • Do cell phones work?
  • How much is internet?
  • How much are drinks?
  • How does the seating work?
  • What did you spend total?
  • What excursions should I do?
  • When are roommates matched?
  • When do you find out the themes?
  • When do you get the full itinerary?
  • How much sleep did you get?
  • Should I bring my laptop?
  • Can I pack an iron?
  • Will there be a pre-party?
  • What time do you get off the boat? How early can I book my return flight?
  • When should I arrive in Miami?
  • What should I tip?
  • What about the door decorating?
  • What should I wear?
  • What are some odd things I should pack?
  • What else should I pack?

What time should I arrive at the dock?
Last year, boarding was from 12-4 p.m. However, people were lined up that morning. You'll be fine if you arrive by 2:30 or 3.

How do I get from the airport to the dock and back?
There are a few options for this. The easiest but not necessarily the cheapest way is to hop in a taxi. From Miami airport, this will set you back about $25 each way. From Ft. Lauderdale, I believe the rate is more like $70. However, if you are fitting 3-4 people in one cab, this could be the most cost effective. When you disembark at the end of the cruise, there will be a line of taxis waiting, so it doesn't require planning on either end of the trip.

Option two is to arrange a shuttle service. Last year, many BHs used SAS Transport. They charged $15 per person each way from Ft. Lauderdale. You must make reservations in advance either on their site or by calling 954-600-0240.

Option three is to book some sort of excursion (more on the Monday end) that will drop you at the airport. And there are other choices like driving or renting a car, but most people will probably choose taxi or shuttle.


Do I need a passport?
If you're not a US citizen, yes absolutely.

If you are a US citizen, not technically, but everyone (Carnival, Rose Tours, NKOTB) recommends it. If there was an emergency while you were in the Bahamas, you would not be able to fly home without a passport. If you really really don't want to get a passport, you need a certified copy of your birth certificate and your driver's license. If your name is different from your birth certificate, you may also need your marriage license (not sure).

Will I get seasick?
Maybe. I thought the boat was quite rocky, especially Sunday morning. Many people got behind the ear seasickness patches.

Anonymous tip: MythBusters tried out motion sickness remedies, including the pressure point wrist band and prescription pills. What worked hands down was the ginger capsules. No drowsy side effects, and might help with the stomachaches if you overindulge on the eating.

Can I bring drinks onboard?
Officially, when you board, you can bring one bottle (750ml) of wine or champagne, per person, only in carry-on luggage. You're also permitted a "small quantity" of non-alcoholic beverages. Unofficially, people got creative.

Is there a safe in the room?
Yes, a small one. It opens with a room key. But only one room key. That means one roommate can get in and the other can't (unless you borrow the key).

Is there a hair dryer in the room?
No, unless you are in one of the swankiest suites.

How do you pay for things onboard?
Everything is on your Sign and Sail card. You either attach it to a credit card when you board, or you pay some cash onto it and use it like a debit card. If you go over, they'll bill you and you can pay on the ship.

MDGirls: We used cash last year for the Sign and Sail Card and they not only bill you if you overspend, but if you put more on the card than you use they provide you with a check the last morning and you can cash it on the boat if need be :)

Do I have to make a photo group in advance?
No, but it will make your life easier. Just be sure to plan where and what time to meet before you even leave for Miami. It's tough to find each other without cell phones.

How does the photo op work?
Don't think of it as a meet and greet. It is a photo op. You will file in with your group of 10, pose, snap the photo, and file out. You get a free hi-res download of the photo.

Do cell phones work?
They WORK but they are outrageously expensive. I heard several stories of roaming charges in the triple digits on the next statement, and that's just to have service, not for any calls. Check with your carrier. Text messages can be $0.50/each and calls can be $4.50/minute and up. (There is a phone in your stateroom that costs something like $9.99/minute.) I kept my cell phone in the safe with the battery out just to be sure I wasn't roaming. See this post for lots more info.

How much is internet?
Depends on if you buy a 15-minute, 30-minute, or one-hour package. The one hour was $24. Each use was charged a minimum of 2 minutes.

How much are drinks?
$4 or $5 for a well drink or a beer. Up to $10 for a speciality drink. $2.50 for water or soda. There is an unlimited soda card you can buy for around $25.

MDGirls: They also have an alcoholic drink card similar to the soda card. I think it was $23, it was for 5 drinks. The only catch is you can only get whatever their daily specials are with it.

How does the seating work?
Suites are guaranteed the first five rows, and 6Es the first six. Seating is assigned based on the time of booking. So the first suite gets the closest row, the first 6E to book the first seat behind that, and everyone else by time of booking behind them. Aside from premium seat category rooms, having a more expensive room is unrelated to the seat you will be assigned.

What did you spend total?
In addition to the cost of my room, I spent at least $1500 last year. That's a conservative estimate. See more here.

What excursions should I do?
My personal recommendation is not to book anything in advance. Would you really want to be hiking if Donnie suddenly decided to have a hot tub party? Play it by ear and see what you feel like doing when you get there. In 2010, Rose Tours advised not to book ANY excursions.

nessa188: If you are flying out on Monday after 3pm, you may want to look into a Miami excursion. Hubby and I did this last year and it was a great way to pass the time. Plus, they drop you off at the airport, either MIA or FLL. We paid approx. $45 each for a guided architecture tour of South Beach. We booked the excursion on the ship.

When are roommates matched?
Rose Tours said they will match roommates after the final payments clear in mid-April.

When do you find out the themes?
Last year we got themes about a month in advance. That's also when we found out about the door decorating contest. 

When do you get the full itinerary?
Two weeks before sailing.

How much sleep did you get?
Very little. Of course it's up to you, but I think most people went on ~4 hours a night.

Should I bring my laptop?
Some people do to transfer photos. I did to tweet. Just keep in mind that it won't fit into the safe.

Can I pack an iron?
Iron, no. Travel steamer, yes. There are laundry facilities on board with at least a few irons/ironing boards.

Will there be a pre-party?
We don't know yet! Last year I don't think we found out till April.

What time do you get off the boat? How early can I book my return flight?
What time you disembark depends on what deck you're on and how much you've packed. It can be as early as 8:30 a.m. Rose Tours says not to book return flights before noon (Miami) or 1 p.m. (Ft. Lauderdale).

When should I arrive in Miami?
You can arrive the morning of the cruise and be fine. If you can arrive the day before, even better. Since you don't get much sleep on the cruise, it's nice to have a lie in and relax the morning of.

What should I tip?
You prepaid through Rose Tours for tips for dining and cabin staff. We also left a tip for our steward at the end of the trip.

What about the door decorating?
I haven't heard if this is happening again but my guess is that it will. We found out a month in advance last year. There was a theme, but it was very vague, and people did their own thing. Bring tape for the decorations, not magnets. The doors are 6'8" by 22".

What should I wear?
During the day, bathing suits/cover ups, shorts and tees, sundresses. It's very casual. For meals, as long as you're covered, you're fine. For dinner in the dining room, you can't wear bathing suits or be too disheveled. At night, dress for whatever the themes are!

What are some odd things I should pack?
Make sure to bring a power strip (there's only one outlet), a nightlight (or stub your toes at night), and a travel alarm (there's no clock). Since the bathrooms are tiny, an over the door shoe organizer is a good way to hold toiletries.

What else should I pack?

32 comments:

  1. Will there be a pre-party?
    Danny said in a recent video chat that he would know in the next couple weeks.

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  2. Here's a seasickness tip: MythBusters tried out motion sickness remedies, including the pressure point wrist band and prescription pills. What worked hands down was the ginger capsules. No drowsy side effects, and might help with the stomachaches if you overindulge on the eating.

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  3. Regarding Danny's party, you said you didn't hear until April? I can't remember when it was announced last year. Or, was there another pre-party that you were referring to?

    Thanks!

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  4. "Officially, when you board, you can bring one bottle (750ml) of wine or champagne, per person, only in carry-on luggage. You're also permitted a "small quantity" of non-alcoholic beverages. Unofficially, people got creative."

    Do they search your bag when you board?

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  5. Anonymous, you go through the same type of security as you do at an airport. Bag goes on the xray machine. Not sure how strict they are about liquids.

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  6. I was in a Penthouse Suite and it had a hairdryer in the bathroom

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  7. We used cash last year for the Sign and Sail Card and they not only bill you if you overspend, but if you put more on the card then you use they provide you with a check the last morning and you can cash it on the boat if need be :)

    They also have an alcoholic drink card similar to the soda card. I think it was $23, it was for 5 drinks. The only catch is yo can only get whatever their daily specials are with it.

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  8. Drinks: I also purchased the Daily Special drink card when I first got on the ship on Friday (on the Lido deck). If memory serves, it was about $25 for 6 drinks (someone feel free to edit this with reliable info) and was a little cheaper than buying them separately.

    Excursions: If you are flying out on Monday after 3pm, you may want to look into a Miami excursion. Hubby and I did this last year and it was a great way to pass the time. Plus, they drop you off at the airport, either MIA or FLL. We paid approx. $45 each for a guided architecture tour of South Beach. We booked the excursion on the ship.
    - nessa188

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  9. LOL, thanks Kerry and Holly for the correct pricing on the Daily Special card!
    -nessa188

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  10. Can I get some information and/or tips for ground transportation between the port & the airports(returning)?
    Do we need to arrange that ahead of time for ourselves?
    Will there be taxis/shuttles/busses at the Port seeking passengers?

    Thanks!

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  11. Seasick - I used a liquid that you dab behind your ears. It seemed to work. The first day was the hardest.

    Internet - I purchased it for the whole trip, Fri-Sun (due to work) and late night tweets - cost me $49.70.

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  12. I thought I saw on the Rose Tours website that everyone needs a passport as of Jun 30, 2009.

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  13. Passport info per RT
    U.S. citizens traveling on cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port must show proof of citizenship (such as an original or certified copy of a birth certificate) and a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license). Effective June 1, 2009, U.S. citizens traveling on cruises that begin and end in different U.S. ports, or begin or end in a foreign port, must have a passport or other recognized document

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  14. I didn't get seasick at all, and I DO get carsick if I'm reading or something.

    Here's a tip for those who are in need of cash while on the ship....(although you don't need cash ON the ship, you might want some for after you disembark or while you are on the island)

    When you play at the casino, all money still on your card when you finish playing is paid out to you in cash. I made the mistake of putting too much on my card while playing, not realizing I just needed to use what I'd already put on my card when moving to another machine and got $70 back in cash lol. I went straight downstairs and put it on my bill even though I was using a credit card to pay, but you could keep what you take out and use it for other things if need be.

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  15. Katie, would you mind starting a thread about when people are arriving into the area, whether they're arriving into Miami or Fort Lauderdale? I wonder if it is a good idea to start coordinating travel in and around Miami/FTL prior to the cruise?

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  16. I bought a calling card from Sam's last yr for the cruise. When I tried to use it on the boat I was told you can only call room to room with the phones. If there's an emergency you have to go to an area where they can get you an outside line. Also once in the Bahamas when I tried the calling card it took off $10 right of the bat for a connection fee!! If you can live with out calling someone for 3 days it might be your best bet.
    Also the 1st night last yr had open bar. I totally didnt know this :( I found out at the end :(

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  17. I have a question. What is the weather like? I know it's nice, island and everything, but is it really humid and sticky? I hear it's pretty windy at night. Just wondering so I know the hair situation.

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  18. The weather was beautiful! Shorts and t-shirt waether :) Sitting by the pool got hot at times. At night I got a little cool so maybe a lite sweater's good.
    Your hair will be blowing all over! It doesnt stay in place like it looks on the Love Boat lol I ended up wearing ponytails more then I would have liked but at lease it wasnt whipping into my eyes.

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  19. thansk! ..is it really humid & sticky thats my biggest annoyance! I hate my frizzy hair.. just want to be prepared.

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  20. Another thing I forgot to mention, I have AT&T and kept my phone on for much of the cruise. All night long to use as an alarm, and on and off throughout the day to check the time. I wasn't charged a single penny, but it did run my battery down quite a bit since I had no actual service. (I charged it at night though)

    Now if someone had not paid attention to the message I sent out before I left that said "Don't call or message me unless it's an emergency!!!" I might have regretted that decision.

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  21. Hi hi,
    First of all, thank you very much for this blog, it is very usefull especially the first year cruisers.

    Have a quick question in regards to the cruise. What types of camera's do they allow you to take to the concerts? At normal concerts you are not allowed to bring SLR camera. Can you do so on the cruise?
    I am going to replace a girl who can't travel, so just found out I will be on the cruise 2010. Can't wait till it is May.

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  22. Hi!
    I'm very excited about the cruise. Thanks so much for posting this blog. It's so helpful for those of us who did not go last year and don't know what to expect.
    My question is...does anyone know how we will be assigned seats to the events? I'm going with 2 friends and we are not in the same cabin (they sold out of 3 person cabins). Can we still be seated near each other? What about the photo-op? Are those assigned groups or are you allowed to make your own?
    Thanks again!

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  23. Hi! I have another question about the Sign and Sail card and cash. If you over pay, and they cut you a check on the last day, is there a place near the port that the check can be cashed, or do you have to wait until you get home to put it in the bank? I ask because we are staying in Miami the night after the cruise and would like to have the funds available to use while we are there. Thanks so much in advance!

    Jodi

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  24. I'd like to point out that ginger gum is helpful for sea sickness. You can get it at health food stores as far as I know of.

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  25. In suite safe -- You do not have to use your room key, you can use any type of credit/debit/gift card that has the magnetic strip. We normally take gift card with no balance and then "hide" it in the room, like in a make up bag or something, so all of us have access whenever we need.

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  26. Alcohol - I checked in with one bottle of wine in my carry on with no problem. If you want to drink it in the dining room they charge a $10 corking fee. I took my own and we drank it in the room, no fee involved. Carnival has been cracking down on checking "checked" luggage for alcohol, even on non-themed cruises. I'm guessing they will pay even closer attention to this type of cruise because they know how much money they could lose in alcohol sales...just fyi.

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  27. If you use hfor your account and have a balance left over, if you want to avoid the whole check thing just go to the casino the last night..load what you have left on the card, in whole dollar amounts. Say you have 25.50 left available, load $25 onto your card from a slot machine and then go cash out at the Casino cashier. Quicker and easier than dealing with a check!

    This may not make sense now if you haven't cruised before, but I promise it will make sense once you visit the casino :-)

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  28. If you have a remaining balance on your sign and sail card they will cut you a check for the remaining balance. You can cash that check on the boat, I don't know exactly where it was (information desk maybe?), but you definatley can, our friend was able to do it the day we were disembarking. Hope that helps!

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  29. Does anyone know if the ship offers an onboard luggage valet service where they will send your luggage to the airpot the day we return to port? My flight leaves from Miami on Monday, May 17th at 9pm which means for me to see Miami I have to lug my suitcase around. I may consider looking into a Miami excursion if that is my best option. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

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  30. The sea seek only goes off with self motivation.
    The first day on the ship I felt diziness. Later, on land I was worst. Back on the ship all was gone.

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  31. I believe the only way they will valet your luggage is if you do an excursion through them (carnival), so your luggage would stay on the bus with you while you do your excursion.

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