Recap 2014: Day 1 (Part 1)

How I wish I could snap my fingers and be back to the morning of the cruise. But I suppose I'll settle for reliving it through my blog. So here goes...

Boarding
I always like to arrive at the terminal pretty early, mainly because I can't sleep much anyway and I like to be there when the boys arrive. So my friends and I made our way to the terminal and waited in the chilly Florida rain.

Chrissy and I in the rain outside the terminal

As soon as they let us inside, we opened up our goody bags to find that they were doing a scavenger hunt this year. Well, I'm a fan of scavenger hunts, period. Let alone a Backstreet themed scavenger hunt with some really awesome Backstreet-themed prizes. So I was all over this like a fly on honey!

Scavenger Hunt Rules

After reading through the rules, I saw that you have to work together as a cabin and pick one of the boys to go after. Well, I was rooming with 2 Kevin girls, so there really wasn't much deciding that needed to be done haha. We knew we'd be going for Kev!

We waited, for what seemed like forever, for the boys to finally make their grand entry. I was not so patiently waiting for the elevators doors to finally open and reveal the 5 men I had been waiting to see. Of course the Carnival staff was having fun with us and kept popping out pretending to be the Backstreet Boys.

The boys finally arrived and we got our first taste of the the fun and screaming that was to ensue. Oh, and I totally had a fangirl moment when Nick walked by and grabbed my hand!

Me giving Nick a high-five of sorts

Kev arriving

Now it was time for us to board. Yippee!! I anxiously skipped up the gangway in anticipation of the 3 days ahead. I absolutely love that feeling of stepping on the ship for the first time, greeted by the big ole BSB welcome sign and the cardboard cut outs. Even Howie has fun with them!

"On board the BSB Cruise. Getting ready for a fun party weekend. Funning thing is one of the guys in the group looks like me. I think I'm better looking.... ;)" - Howie D

Things like this are why we love you, Howie. And I'm not even counting the fact that you just made up the word 'funning'.

Anyway, it really is like a kid walking into a candy store. I don't even know what to do first. I want to explore, eat, check out the cabin, catch up with friends, meet up with new friends, get my door decoration up, call my boyfriend back home before my cell service goes away, find the Backstreet Boys, watch Backstreet TV. The list is never-ending.

Scavenger Hunt
This year one of the first things I did after getting settled was play the scavenger hunt because I was just so excited!

Clue #1: Kevin may still think he is the captain from last years cruise, but he's not in charge of the Carnival Ectasy. Kevin left his Captain's hat from last year's cruise onboard and they sent it here for safe keeping. Go visit the Maitre'd and the hat could be near.

My roommates and I figured it had to be in one of the two main dining rooms. We probably spent a good 20 minutes looking through both of those dining rooms, asking clueless Carnival staff, prying open what I can only assume to be confidential cabinets, and scanning every possible area where this hat could possibly be hidden.

It was on our second visit back to the Wind Star dining room where I finally spotted that darn hat! I felt so stupid when we finally saw it, because we literally had to have walked past it like 15 times. In my defense, the white hat blended in very well with the table. Tucked under the hat was the next clue...

Clue #1: Kev's Captain Hat

Clue #2: Kevin hails from the state of Kentucky and is a huge supporter of the University of Kentucky teams. When trying to relax onboard you can find him wearing his UK Tshirt in the back of the ship which is the more SERENE area.

After a mistaken trip to the spa, we ran back the length of the ship to 'Serenity' and stood out there in the pouring rain trying to find our next clue. We scoured that tiny area for a good 15 minutes, at least, with no luck. I'm sure if any staff was watching us, they must've thought we were crazy, but I didn't care. We were on a mission. We tore up the area, searching every nook & cranny, and my roommate, Ana, finally found our next clue attached to a University of Kentucky t-shirt.

Clue #3: Kentucky might be one of Kevin's favorite places to be when he isn't grooming his eyebrows perfect for the fans to see. You're on vacation and deserve to be pampered too, maybe you need to schedule an appoint for an "updo" to look for the next clue. 

Kevin Clue #3

 
I barely had time to laugh at the eyebrow reference before we booked it over back to the spa, hoping to find our next clue. When we got there, lo and behold, Mr. Richardson was at the spa making an appointment! I actually thought that we had reached our grand prize- a spa session with Kev! Maybe he'd be giving us a facial or would we give him a seaweed wrap?! Ha, if only! But it turned out it was pure dumb luck that he was there as he quickly made his way in the spa....without us. *sad face* I have to admit though, I looked like an utter hot mess from running back and forth all over the ship, sweating profusely, and having been outside in the rain for 20 minutes. Seriously, I was quite the site. So it was probably for the best that he went on without us.

I was obviously distracted with Kevin in front of me, but not that distracted. We were still on a mission. I noticed one of the spa attendants putting together an envelope and sticking it on the wall. So I grabbed the envelope, which was hilariously taped to a pair of tweezers. I see what they did there....too funny!

Clue #4: Kevin tickled the ivories for all to hear on last year's cruise but did you know tequila is his favorite booze?!?! While he was in the middle of a piano recital he left his bottle so its location is vital. That is the last clue to find and that special time with Kevin where you can unwind awaits you.

Ana reading our 4th clue in the piano bar

Holy crap, we're actually almost done and actually doing well. I was so freakin excited and just going off of adrenaline at this point. Next we run to the piano bar and Ana spots a tiny bottle of tequila almost right away. Attached to the tequila was the following note....

We won!!!!

*Does happy dance* I'm in sheer shock and still don't believe we won!! So we make our way to the hospitality desk, and sure enough, they confirmed that we won. I wanted to jump behind the counter and hug the ladies!! Actually... I do think I hugged some Rose Tour staff at some point. And not only that, we were the first team to complete the scavenger hunt. I still can't believe it!

It's not a dream, we really did win!!

It probably took us an hour to complete the scavenger hunt. We were seriously on cloud 9! At this point I was pretty darn hungry, but still too excited to eat. I ran into a couple friends who were still working on the scavenger hunt, and because I had so much fun doing the Kevin one I jumped right in to help. My two roommates, Chrissy & Cory, from last year were working on the AJ scavenger hunt and were stumped on a clue that lead us back out in the rain on the pool deck. Since I was already wet, what's a little more rain? I helped them look for their final clue, and they both ended up winning 1x1 time with AJ. So happy for them!!

Chrissy & Cory winning the AJ prize

After helping the AJ duo, I ran into more friends working on Howie's scavenger hunt. So I figured I'd tag along on their adventures. Why, not? I helped Kristie & Callie for a little while, and they eventually won after hours of searching for their clues. I was equally excited for them as well. I'm planning to bribe them all to be guest bloggers so hopefully you can hear more about their experiences as well.

All the scavenger hunt excitement lasted several hours and when I finally stopped to take a breath, I heard my tummy grumbling. Thus I went to grab some lunch, and by the this point the lines had died down. Nothing eventful happened at lunch- no BSB sightings. Gosh, in what world is it considered a boring lunch if I don't see a Backstreet Boy?! But that's pretty much how it works on a BSB cruise.

Before the sailaway party, my roommates and I wanted to get our door decoration up, though we didn't have a whole lot of time. I already wrote a full post on our FRIENDS themed door. I wanted to thank everyone who came by our door and paid us such wonderful compliments. We are soooo incredibly happy that you all seemed to enjoy it. We heard a lot of giggling and many of you shared that you also told AJ that he had to come see our door. A HUGE THANK YOU to those of you who told AJ about the door. I really appreciate!

Our FRIENDS/BSB Door

Before I go on, I want to share my one and only goal/hope for this trip was that AJ would see our door. I didn't care about winning, didn't care about getting any pictures with the boys, didn't care about much else. This was my only hope. But it was still an incredibly tall order. Not to mention I was going against my own #1 advice- don't have any expectations or you'll leave disappointed. But I couldn't help myself as I really thought he'd appreciate it. Anyway, you'll hear more on my journey of getting AJ to see this door as the rest of my cruise adventure unfolds.......

Ana, me and Anne Marie attempting a selfie in front of our door

Information At Last!

Check your emails, cruisers, we finally have some more information from Rose Tours. In case you missed it....

BACKSTREET BOYS CRUISE
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES/ROSE TOURS INSTRUCTIONS


Dear _____,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank for participating in the
3RD Annual BSB Cruise aboard The CARNIVAL IMAGINATION.

Please review below information necessary to ensure a trouble free, relaxing vacation for all. Your booking number is six characters, three letters and three numbers.

All guests sailing on Carnival are required to complete an online check in no later 11:59 pm the night prior to sailing. Once the 4 Step Online Check In process is complete all guests can proceed to print their Boarding Pass and Luggage Tags. Taking a few minutes now will let you start enjoying your long-awaited cruise that much sooner.

 To begin the Online Check In process- Go online to Carnival.com and click on Manage My Cruises

 Or access web page – www.carnival.com/bookedguest

 Click on Login, Register or Access Your Booking Now and provide the following:

 Carnival Booking Number

 Guest Last Name

 Date of Birth

 Ship Name: Carnival Imagination

 Sail Date: 10/25/2013

  Step 1 Provide Guest Information: You will be required to provide personal information such address, an emergency contact, and your travel documentation information

 Step 2 Onboard Expenses: You will open your onboard expense account by providing credit card information or can select to provide cash upon embarkation.

 Step 3 Cruise Ticket Contract: You will need to accept Carnival Cruise Ticket Contract (Please note you will not be able to complete the online check in without accepting these terms)

 Step 4 Check In Summary: You will receive a message you have completed the Online Check In and can now proceed to print your boarding pass and luggage tags.

If you are having technical issues while checking in please call Carnival at 1-866 236-6670 for assistance. If any of the pre- populated information in your online check in is incorrect (example: date of birth) please contact Rose Tours.

 Please remember to bring your Boarding Pass and all Travel Documentation with you to the Pier. 

 Please note, your luggage tag located is on the last page of your documents.

Everyone must check in at the pier. (IMPORTANT - Please remember to fill out your FUN pass/Boarding Pass and Bring with you to the pier for Check In)

It is suggested that you put all medication in your carryon bag. Your luggage will not be delivered to your stateroom until a later time.

Once you arrive at the Pier, go to the Reception Area to check in. **Please have your proper identification with your Boarding pass (valid Passport or State Issued Birth Certificate and government issued photo ID) for cruise check-in.

You will receive your Sail & Sign /Cabin Key/ Wristband and Final Itinerary from Carnival at the pier.

You must wear the wristbands for the entire cruise. Each passenger will receive one wristband, which is non-transferable and will not be replaced.

BEACH PARTY - BALMORAL ISLAND, NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS
Take in the aqua-blue waters of the Bahamas during our Balmoral Beach Party with the BSB!
The luxurious island experience features a plunge pool, and a pristine white sand beach.

Highlights:

    Beautiful plunge pool
    Pristine white sand beach
    Dolphin encounters are available for an additional cost

Try a new luxury destination when your Carnival Cruise calls in Nassau, Bahamas. Transfer from the pier by boat to the private island.

    Transportation, a bottle of water and a boxed lunch are included. (Additional beverages/alcohol are available at an additional charge)
    Your shipboard Sail & Sign card may be used for purchases in Balmoral.
    Bring your own towel.
    Sunscreen and beach gear recommended.

ALL EVENTS ON BALMORAL WILL BE GENERAL ADMISSION

All guests must take their sail & sign card and a photo id  to depart the ship.  If you are going to sight see in Nassau, you must have cash or a valid credit card for purchases.

BSB CRUISE RULES & OTHER INFORMATION

AUTOGRAPHS:
No autographs will be given at the photo sessions. You are more than welcome to ask BSB for their autographs when you see them around the ship, however please respect their privacy if they request it.

PHOTO SESSIONS:
We will have groups of 8-10 passengers for each picture with the BSB. This way we will be able to see everyone, no one will be left without a photo. Please respect this group policy. Group A wristbands begin at11:00 AM and Group B wristbands begin at 1:00PM. These sessions will be in the Xanadu Lounge on Promenade Deck 5. Please arrive at the Photo Session with your group! NO CAMERAS, MOBILE PHONES, GIFTS OR BAGS WILL BE ADMITTED INTO THE PHOTO SESSION. If you do not have a group of 8-10, please go into the Disco to make up your group. Once you have your group of 8-10, please get in line. If you do not get a group of 8-10 you will be added to random passengers in order to get your photo.

PERSONAL CAMERAS / VIDEO CAMERAS:
Please feel free to bring your personal camera to all events except for the official photo sessions. We are providing an official photographer who will be circulating at all official events. Photos will be available thru a website. The link will be provided at a later time. If personal cameras are brought to the photo sessions, you will have to return it to your cabin. Video cameras allowed only for personal events. They are not allowed at official BSB cruise events. NO PROFESSIONAL CAMERAS ALLOWED AT ANY TIME. (SLR, DSLR, HD VIDEO, ETC)

WRISTBANDS:
You will receive your wristband at check-in. There are 6 wristband colors , these colors represent the zones in the Dynasty Lounge. Your wristband will have your exact seat assignment and either an A or B, which will denote your dining and event time. Wristband color and seat assignment number was determined by time of booking. Please note that these wristbands are required for all events. DO NOT REMOVE these wristbands until the end of the cruise.

PERSONAL GIFTS TO BSB:
Gifts will NOT be permitted at any BSB scheduled events.
Gifts can be left at the hospitality desk located in the Circle C Lounge on Atlantic Deck 8. Please consult your itinerary for Hospitality Hours. Your gifts will be delivered to BSB.

SEATING:
All seating in the Dynasty Lounge will be reserved. Your wristband determines which zone you are in and your Seat Number. Please look at the seating charts provided at check in to see where you will be seated. Please respect the seating policy and do not switch seats during the events. Please be respectful of others when entering the Dynasty Lounge.

CONCERT:
The BSB Concerts will be reserved seating in the Dynasty Theatre. Each group gets ONE concert. NO ONE WILL BE ADMITTED INTO THE OTHER GROUPS CONCERT. Please respect your fellow guests during the concert. VIDEO IS NOT PERMITTED DURING THE CONCERT!

DRESS:
Dress during the day is casual (shorts, shirts, skirts, jeans, etc.) Theme nights are as follows:

Friday, Oct 25th  DON'T PUT OUT THE GLOW NEON PARTY.
"Stay here, don't put out the glow..."  Join the party in your favorite neon clothes and accessories. The brighter the better!  Don't forget your glow sticks!

Saturday, Oct 26th BACKSTREETS BACK HALLOWEEN PARTY
There ain't no party like a Backstreet Halloween Party!  In honor of Halloween, we're throwing a massive costume party.  BSB related or not, get creative! After all, what's Halloween without an epic costume?

Monday, Oct 27th BACKSTREET BACHELORETTE PARTY
It's ladies night and it's guaranteed to get wild. Think club attire. Sexy, chic and ready for a good time.  You be the bachelorette and we'll be your eye candy!  P.S. Fellas are still invited too!

Beach & Swim Wear, Tank Tops, Tennis Shoes, Flip-Flops are Not Allowed in the Dining Room.

DINING ROOMS:
Guests with Early Dining are in Group A. (Spirit Dining Room or Pride Dining Room)
Guests with Late Dining are in Group B. (Spirit Dining Room or Pride Dining Room)You will receive dining room assignment at check in. Seating in the dining rooms is open.
Please arrive at your assigned dining room with your party, the Maitre D' will seat you.
Other options include 24 hour Room Service, Buffet on Lido Deck or the 24 hour Pizzeria.

SPA CARNIVAL:
'Everybody' the spa onboard invites you to pamper yourself while sailing on this special cruise.

'Larger Than Life' Relaxation

Choose any combination of three treatments (60 minutes total) - Only $129 - Save $100! 'As Long As You Love Us'

    Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage
    Full Body Brush Exfoliation
    Pressure Point Foot and Ankle Massage
    Scalp Massage
    Hand and Arm Massage
    Hydrating Spa Facial

There's 'More than That…. '
Upgrade your Back, Neck and Shoulder massage to a Bamboo Massage or Aroma Stone Massage for only $25.
Offer may not be combined with other discounts or promotions.

Full itineraries to follow!

Thanks and See you on board!

My Take
Wow, a lot of information to digest! Here are my thoughts

• "We will have groups of 8-10 passengers for each picture with the BSB"
  I honestly have to step back and laugh at this with everyone working so diligently on getting groups of 10. I figured as much they'd throw us a curve ball, but alas, this is a better curveball then them saying 12 people per picture. I think we would've had a mutiny on our hands.
• Beach party sounds AWESOME!!!! The island looks gorgeous! Anyone else want to sabotage the boats back to the ship with me so we can be stuck here with BSB??? Just teasing....kind of ;P But seriously, I'm really happy they're doing the beach party on a private island this year. THIS is what its all about!
  
  
   
• All of the policies are nothing new, at least as a repeat cruiser. But I want to call out for first time cruisers that its very important to check-in and print off your fun pass.
• Spa treatments are always tempting. They're clearly just trying to sell more by throwing a backstreet lyric in front of the existing package, and gosh darnit, I think its gonna work on me!
• Unrelated to this email, but rumors of a Kev solo concert are floating around.... @TheRobGonzales tweeted the following @MikeyBoyCanada @cdubyah76 yes I am!!! Opening for Kevin's solo set and then jamming on the piano with him while he sings! Can't wait!
  That would be super exciting!!! Obviously never seen Kevin really do any solo stuff so this will definitely be a treat. And now we have a Brian & likely Kev solo event....so I'm hoping we'll go 5 for 5 on the solo stuff!
  
• I was looking for the itinerary but caught it said "Full itineraries to follow!" Guess they're trying to finalize a few more items. Rose Tours apparently also runs on Backstreet time....

What to Expect- Downtime

Not every second of the trip will be planned out around a BSB event, though I wish it was ;) Thus there will inevitably be some downtime. I did find that a majority of the time was spent either at a BSB event, or getting ready for a BSB event, which didn’t leave all that much time to relax. But I did have gaps of time that I had to fill with something.

During my downtime I would typically grab some food or a drink and just chat with friends. Another thing you can do if the weather was cooperating was to hit up the pool/hot tubs. Both of these activities had a high likelihood of spotting a BSB, which only made it that much more enjoyable. You could also go to the casino and try your luck at the tables or slots. If you like to shop, the cruise has several little shops onboard. If you enjoy sports, there was a basketball court on board as well, where Brian was seen playing with his son.

If you're feeling particularly healthy, you can hit up the gym or go for a nice walk/run around the promenade deck. Take in some of that lovely ocean air.

As for night life- there will be some sort of lounge or club with music. There will also several bars around the ship. Both of these can be a lot of fun. But just be warned that the ratio of girls to guys will be slightly askew. The Backstreet Boys also made frequent appearances at the club.

Another thing to consider is that we will be docked in Nassau for practically the majority of the trip. Another way to kill some time is to get off the ship and explore Nassau. I'll do a future post on things to do in Nassau.

A less fun, but practical idea- since the Backstreet Boys will be doing every event twice, it also presents a good opportunity to take a quick catnap while the other group has their event. Good way to catch up on some sleep while not missing anything.

BSB Related Activities During your Downtime

If you want to make sure eke out as much Backstreet as possible during your trip, here are a few BSB related activities to do during your down time.

• If you have a few hours to kill, I would definitely recommend taking a friend and a camera down the halls of the cruise ship and look at door decorations. Even if you don’t have a few hours to kill, I would highly suggest making time for this because I really enjoyed it.
  
• Another suggestion if you've got some time to kill- swing by the BSB merchandise store. Even if you don't intend to buy, still fun to look around.
  
• If you’re looking for a more relaxed activity, there’s nothing wrong with chilling in your cabin and putting the Backstreet Boy channel on. Normally I don’t like to sit in the cabin during the day if I can help it, but I can’t think of a better reason to stay there.
  
• Meet other fans. Lots of fun, cool people to meet around the ship. So why not meet some fellow BSB fans during your down-time?

I doubt anyone could ever be bored on a Backstreet cruise, but hopefully these ideas will make sure of that. Definitely not a shortage of things to do!

What to do Beyond the Backstreet Boys

For you first time cruisers, there are tons of activities that will be going on around the ship outside of our BSB bubble. I wanted to share a little bit more on what to expect during any lulls of Backstreet activity, though I hope there aren’t too many of those.

I also don't know if they will cut back on some of these activities due to us being there. However since it is only a partial charter cruise, the other half of the ship still needs to be entertained so I imagine they will still offer the majority of what they normally do.

Shopping
Lots of opportunities to shop on board from souvenir shops to art auctions.

Spa/Gym
If you want to keep in shape, the gym facilities are available to you along with various exercise classes such as body conditioning, indoor cycling, or yoga. They also have health seminars such as Burn fat fast, Puffy Eyes Seminar, or Eat More to Weigh Less. You may see me at that last class...

Casino
The slots machines and tables will be open as long as we are not in port, however they also have events such as Poker challenges, slot tournaments, or Hold’Em tournaments.

Pool
The Destiny has 2 pools and several hot tubs, which are open until it gets dark. During the day they may have fun events such as a hairy chest contest or belly flop contest. Always good for a fun time and some laughs.

Games and Other Activities
I’m slightly biased on these, as this is what my brother does, but I love participating in these events. Here is just a small sample of what you might expect:

Trivia games- And lots of them throughout the day including general trivia and special themes such as movie music trivia.
Bingo- Lots of good prizes here, but you have to pay to play.
Digital Scavenger hunts- Don’t forget your camera!
Name that Tune- Different themes such as 80’s. Maybe they’ll do a BSB themed one, though I think that might be too easy for us.
Karaoke- Just the place to have a few drinks and belt out some I Want it That Way!

Feature Shows
Now I’m not sure how this will work since the Backstreet Boys will be our entertainment. But they do have two production shows that are normally scheduled on the night of Key West and Cozumel. My brother was looking over the schedule and it currently lists “Partial Ship Charter, show changes” Thus we may not get a chance to see these shows, but you can typically expect singing and dancing.

They also have comedy shows, both PG and adult versions, but according to my brother they are pretty low key on the Destiny.



So much to do in so little time! I don't think I'll be getting any sleep for those 4 days.

What to do First on the Ship

It can be quite overwhelming to step onto a cruise ship, particularly if it’s your first time. Meanwhile, you won’t be able to go to your cabin right away. The cabin stewards are still getting your room turned over from the prior cruise that just left a few hours before. Definitely keep this in mind when deciding whether or not you want to check your luggage or carry it on with you. So you can either lug your bags around for a few hours, or risk not getting them until several hours later. But seeing as you can’t go to your room, here are a few things that I like to do when I first get on board until they let us to the cabins:

1. Breathe a sigh of relief. All of the planning and traveling is done so start the festivities by grabbing a pretty drink with an umbrella and let the vacation begin!
   
   
2. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably be hungry if you’ve been waiting in the terminal for a while. Why not grab either a quick bite to eat at the buffet or make your way to the main dining room and enjoy your first meal. Just remember that you will not be the only one with this mindset, thus I can guarantee the buffet will be crowded. Make sure you scope out a table with your friends BEFORE you go get your food. Otherwise it can get quite chaotic. This first meal will be the most crowded, but it should only get better after that.
   
   
3. Make your way to the concierge desk in the main lobby or a lounge and grab your copy of the Fun Times, Carnival’s itinerary of activities for the day. You can figure out what you want to do for the rest of the day and ensure you don’t miss out on any fun activities!
   
   
4. While you’re still in the main lobby, you may want to check out the excursion desk and book any excursions if you haven’t already done so. Depending on what you had in mind, your chosen excursion may fill up quickly, so it’s best to book early. However if you still haven’t decided, you may want to hold off as they will likely have an excursion talk which you can attend and ask questions.
   
   
5. Ok, so you had lunch and figured out what you want to do for the rest of the day, but since you still can’t get to your cabin- why not take a tour of the ship? You can either go exploring on your own, or participate in an organized tour. Carnival will typically offer tours of the ship, which is a good opportunity to see all of the ships highlights.
   
   
6. While you’re making your way around the ship, be sure to check out the spa/gym and see if there are any treatments/classes you may be interested in. The popular time spots (ie before dinner on formal night) and popular classes will fill up. So if you wanted to get your hair done for masquerade night, I’d recommend you book early.
   
   
7. When you hit the main dining room, check out that night’s dinner menu. Maybe it’s because all I can think of is food…but I actually like to do this every day. Knowing that I’m having prime rib for dinner will keep me in check the rest of the day. Now I’m not sure if we will have assigned seats for the BSB cruise or if its open seating. From what I understand, I just know we all have late seating. If we do have assigned seats, you may want to scope out your table so you know where to go later that evening. Otherwise it can be chaotic having 1,200 people not knowing where they’re going. I also like to check out my table in the rare event that the location or table size isn’t what I wanted. You can always speak to the maitre’ d and put in a request for a seat change. This is also a good opportunity to speak to the maitre’ d if you have any dietary restrictions.
   
   
8. While the shops and casinos are typically closed until later that evening, you may want to take advantage of the fact that all of the children’s areas are open to adults those first few hours. If you are bringing children or are considering taking them on a future cruise- swing by Circle "C", Club02, or Camp Carnival depending on your child’s age. You can get a sense of all the activities that are available and more specifics on the programs. Or you could not have kids, like myself, and just like exploring. Word of caution- luckily the ships designers are aware that not everyone wants to be around children on the cruise so these areas are typically tucked away in more remote parts of the ship and can be tricky to get to.
   
   
9. Get in those last few phone calls before we set sail. Your phone should still be fine when we’re at port, though don’t quote me on this. I just know my brother will always call me from Miami on the ship. And since I get those phone bills, I can be pretty sure there are no roaming fees, just bad reception when he is on the lower decks.

Hopefully by you the time you get through all of this, the cabins will be open. If not…you can always try sneaking in ;)

12 Tips for Savings Money on the Cruise

Every time you turn around on a cruise, they are trying to charge you for something. I’m the first to admit that I’m pretty careful with my money… But I look at it this way, All those extra little savings add up to another trip that I could take! So I’ve compiled a list of a few ways to save some extra money. Feel free to add any of your own:

1. If you do drink soda, purchase a soda card at the beginning of the trip. It will pay for itself very quickly, and it is not worth charging each individual drink. Not to mention it will save you time because you don’t have to sign for the drink every time, you just show them your card. Now if you want to go that extra mile...you could probably get away with sharing a soda card with your friend. I'm just throwing the idea out there, not necessarily advocating it. I've never done it, but I know people who have.
   
   
2. Even better, enjoy the free drinks that Carnival will offer. They provide free lemonade, water, iced tea, coffee, hot chocolate and tea all day long. They will also have juice and milk at breakfast. Not only will this save you money, but calories if you’re watching your weight.
   
   
3. Alcohol can obviously be a major expense for those who drink. Take advantage of the fact that Carnival allows you to bring 1 bottle of wine on board. Just don’t forget to bring a corkscrew, or they will charge you a corkage fee in the dining room. I’d also recommend to take advantage of events on board that offer free alcohol. Ex- repeat cruisers party or the final farewell reception. Still not enough? You can always try sneaking some hard alcohol on as long as you put it in a plastic bottle. My dad recommends a Snapple bottle for just such an occasion. But do this at your own risk.
   
   
4. Oh the spa…it can be so tempting when you smell the eucalyptus and see the soothing treatments they have to offer. If you do decide to indulge, I would advise to book your appointment on a day where we are in port. Since the ship will be empty, the spa generally has better deals/discounts in order to get you in the door.
   
   
5. It can be tough going without internet and being disconnected from the world for several days. You can visit the internet café on board, but it will cost you an arm and a leg. Not to mention, the connection will likely be slower than what you're used to. I would recommend you either observe or ask a crew member what they do for internet. You have to remember that crew members are away from home and a good internet connection for 6 months on end and I can guarantee that they do not pay $.75 a minute to check facebook, nor should you. Crew members will have the best insight into where you can access free and/or cheap internet.
   
   
6. Personally I’m not a big gambler. They have a casino on board and will also offer bingo at a price. If you’re in it for the big pay off, good luck to you! If you just like playing the games like myself, Carnival offers many other free games activities. If you’re lucky, you may even win your very own ship on a stick!
   
   
7. There are specialty restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops on board that will charge you extra. I would recommend you skip the fancy stuff, and enjoy all the complimentary food and drinks they have to offer. I’ve found that they will try to charge you for specialty ice cream, but they usually have a free ice cream bar hidden somewhere on the lido deck in the late afternoon. Trust me, you won’t be going hungry, so you may as well save the extra few bucks in the process.
   
   
8. Kind of an obvious one, but take your own digital camera. Carnival has lots of professional photographers on board to try and sell you pictures at an outrageously high cost. So while you may not get the same backdrop and fancy lighting, your wallet will thank you later.
   
   
9. Set limits for yourself and be cognizant of what you’re spending. Since everything gets charged to your room key, it’s easy to lose track of what you’re spending and you can easily go over budget. Check your account balance either in your stateroom or with the concierge so that you are careful not to overspend.
   
   
10. Excursions are another big moneymaker for the cruise line. For me personally, I skip on the excursions. Not only do I save the money, but I enjoy exploring the ports on my own and at my own pace. Plus I can get back to the ship early and enjoy the fact that it is a lot less crowded so you have everything to yourself.
    
    
11. Take advantage of the free classes Carnival offers. They will offer certain select exercise classes at a premium, but they also offer plenty of free ones. No need to spend the extra money in my opinion. Or even better, you can run around the promenade or jogging decks, and get some fresh sea air. Nothing like a jog and watching the sunrise over the water.
    
    
12. Be very careful with your cell phone. If you plan on using your phone at all, contact your carrier before you leave and understand the costs associated with traveling in the Caribbean. You always hear horror stories of unsuspecting travelers who receive these outrageous bills. To make it easy, I just turn my phone off for the whole trip. Truthfully, I find it quite a relief!

While you may not want to follow every one of these tips, I think it’s helpful before you leave to establish what you want to splurge on. I know on the BSB cruise, I’ll probably splurge on any Backstreet souvenirs if they have any. What can I say…its my one weakness.