Carnival Sensation

LoveBugBaby

I've been on 9 cruises (7 being Carnival) and highly recommend it! I love cruising!

I will say though that most people either seem to love it or hate.  Some people just can't seem to get over the thought of being in a floating hotel for a week!

Included in cruising: your room, all meals (they always have somewhere on the ship serving food!), ice tea/water, and usually lemonade/juice, entertainment (shows), and free drinks in the casino

Not included: Alcohol (which yes, can add up if you like to drink), Soda (you can purchase a soda card if you're a big soda drinker), Spa services, and excursions/souvenirs on the islands.

Also, check out CruiseCritic . com - they have some great reviews, but remember to take some peoples critiques with a grain of salt.  Some people just like to complain about EVERYTHING!

mwhitson14

So, stupid question: If tips are included, who do we tip? Or not inlcuded, I just mean with the $10 a day.

janedoe1113a

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_carnival-sensation?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6c0fd905-8759-4600-9d72-2ab119e97d0ePost:7c7caeee-5637-48c2-80d4-5f51885454df">Re: Carnival Sensation</a>:
[QUOTE]So, stupid question: If tips are included, who do we tip? Or not inlcuded, I just mean with the $10 a day.
Posted by mwhitson14[/QUOTE]

You don't actually tip the person yourself.  Carnival automatically puts it on your sail and sign card.

LoveBugBaby

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_carnival-sensation?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:6c0fd905-8759-4600-9d72-2ab119e97d0ePost:7c7caeee-5637-48c2-80d4-5f51885454df">Re: Carnival Sensation</a>:
[QUOTE]So, stupid question: If tips are included, who do we tip?
Posted by mwhitson14[/QUOTE]

You can opt to have your tips prepaid.  If you choose not to do so, you will need to check out at the end of the cruise and pay your tips/bill.  You can also choose to tip extra to your room steward/waiter if you want at the end of the cruise (just put it in an envelope and give it to them).  They ask you to tip the Maitre'D - but he's never done a darn thing for us to warrant a tip! Half the time you don't even see him so we never do!

louisvillebride21

The 10 is distributed automatically. You will want to tip the person that you give your bags to at the port. Room service also. Usually $2.00 a bag/order. I like to tip my room steward also. I usually give him about 20. They do SO much work and do it well.

janedoe1113a

I highly recommend checking out Carnival's FAQ page.

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/FAQLanding.aspx?icid=CC_Footer_88

Here's the breakdown for your tips:

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 Guest Services 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 while onboard. Gratuities will be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship.

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.

scoetto

You can tip me. Bill's in the mail.

Also, check out the different kind of motion sickness preventers out there. Pills, patches, wristbands, etc. I remember wearing wristbands (remember, 16 yrs ago) for a day or two.

louisvillebride21

Navy, can you give me the code for your rsvp checker?

mwhitson14

Thanks y'all. Sorry for all the silly questions, I was confused who the $10 went to and who we needed to tip that didn't get some of the $10. LVB, you answered that one for me.

Navy, thanks for that. I'll check out the other stuff (carnival faq and cruise critic) as soon as we officially book (IF he does, grrrr!). The money is making his stomach hurt, but I'm saying it's not that bad!!

mwhitson14

Sco, if y'all make it to the wedding, I'll tip you in person

janedoe1113a

Not silly questions girl!  If you've never cruised before, you're not expected to know.

scoetto

WHOOT!!!

stefani103

FI surprised me with a cruise for our honeymoon. We went with Carnival out of New Orleans, so spent a couple days there beforehand.

We are doing a longer cruise for the honeymoon, and are going with Carnival again. They are fantastic and the best-priced. Yes, alcohol is pricey, but if you went somewhere else, the room, food, and shows would be a lot more, so it balances out.

janedoe1113a

I don't really consider their alcohol terribly pricey.  It's about what it would be in a bar on land.

squirrly

Hey Whit. . . you can carry on a couple of bottles of wine, too.  They charge you a corkage fee of about $10 to open, serve, and store them for you in the dining room, but it's a lot less than buying by the bottle on the ship.

Um, when are you planning on going, by chance?

mwhitson14

I think the 14th, and it's 4 nights. Leaving sunday at 4pm

mags0607

Whit- what site are you booking on? I highly reccommend vacationstogo.com for last minute deals. We had friends join us last minute on our last cruise, and they paid very little for an oceanview room, they got a tremendous deal.

squirrly

Of March?  You'll beat me to the ship, then.  My sis and I are going Easter weekend.

kbmeow

I went on the ship 5 years ago.  It was out of New Orleans.  I loved it.  After Katrina they docked it in New Orleans for the people and refurbished the ship after.

mwhitson14

Travelocity

janedoe1113a

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_carnival-sensation?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6c0fd905-8759-4600-9d72-2ab119e97d0ePost:23784815-fac9-464b-b0f6-d51ba199499a">Re: Carnival Sensation</a>:
[QUOTE]Travelocity
Posted by mwhitson14[/QUOTE]

I highly recommend booking through Carnival.  They will match the deal on any other website.  If you book with a travel agent (which would be Travelocity) then you can not communicate with Carnival yourself and they have to do it for you.