Everything you need to know about Carnival Cruising

This is a little long, but I have had a few people ask so here it is!

We cruise a lot so I tried to put as much as I could into one document to help others who might be interested.  I'm sure there are things I forgot but here's what I could think of right off hand.

Before you plan: Do you need a passport?  It makes things easier yes but if your leaving and coming back in the same port, then no it is not required.  Our boys have been several times with only a birth certificate and they did just fine.  If you are older than 16, you will also need a photo id.  Find more on that by clicking here.

The first thing everyone asks is “how much does it cost”?  But that’s not really a simple question.  What I will tell you is we have spent a weekend in St. Louis before and we spent just as much in that weekend as we did in an entire week on a Carnival Cruise.  So the math is really up to you and how much you want to do.  First thing you need to do is go sign up for the VIFP club on Carnival's website.  CLICK HERE   That will give you super awesome discounts and help you stay in the loop when there are amazing sales!

Choosing your room:

There are different levels of rooms.  The lower the room the cheaper the price, unless you get in on one of the specials where it’s “unlimited Free Upgrades (those are awesome!). 

An interior room (one with no windows) is usually the cheapest. And really, your on vacation so what do you need a big room for other than to sleep!  GO enjoy the boat and have some fun!  One tip for an interior room, turn the TV on to one of the outside cameras so you can see outside without paying the extra for that outside view.  This will also help your body know the difference between night and day because I assure you in an interior room you will sleep soooo good! Just be careful not to sleep your cruise away!!!  One thing to keep in mind, if you smoke and you want an interior room; book your room on the same floor as the casino or the pool because those are the only areas where you can smoke on the boat. 

If you like to look around, and your body doesn’t really have a good feel for night and day but you still want to save some money, get an ocean view.  I would recommend an ocean view for anyone on their first cruise.  It will save you some money, and you can still see the outside world.  Plus the scenery is beautiful!

The balconies are so relaxing! At any given time you can step out onto your own private balcony and enjoy the fresh air without the other 3,000 passengers on board.  Just make sure you get your door closed good!  One night, about 2 AM our door came flying open when we hit a wave.  Talk about scaring the crap out of ya!  Again if you smoke, this is another area that you can smoke without having to go to the casino or pool.  The picture below is the view out of our Carnival Magic Corner Balcony.

The suites!  Oh how I love the suites! They are good for families who want a little extra privacy from the kids!  We did an ocean suite on the last cruise and we even had a door between the kid’s room and ours!  It was WONDERFUL!!!! 

Now that you have chosen a room, what’s next?  Well once you get on board, your food, non-alcoholic drinks (excluding soda) and all the shows you could possibly want to go to is all free!!! YAY! Go have fun! The restaurants are all you can eat!  So say you want to be like little Mr. Jeramiah who ordered 3 servings of Escargot in the dinner dining room.  Yup, they will keep bringing it until you are stuffed to the gill!!  I love the lobster, not one but two!   Oh and don't forget about room service!  Mr. Maison was soooo tired and mad that I was taking his picture but he just had to have that toasted peanut butter and jelly before bed.   Check out other dining options here.

The very last financial thing you HAVE to plan for is gratuities.  They will be billed to your room the second day of your cruise.  There are a few events where you can get free drinks, like the Art Auction and the Liquor tasting.  Go do all the free stuff you can!!  Also take advantage of the spa raffle because who knows, you might win a great spa treatment.  At the very least you will get some great discounts if that’s something your interested in.

Want to take your dining to another level?  Some of the boats have a steak house. The food is extraordinary! They go above and beyond.    The steak house, the coffee shop, and shake spot are a few things on the boat that cost a little extra.  They are nothing you have to do.  After all there is unlimited ice cream by the pool, regular and deaf coffee in the lido deck dinning rooms, and food around almost every corner.  They are just a little treat if you want something special.

So we have kind of figured out the cost or at least by this point you should know where to start.  What’s next? 

When you walk on board first thing you need to do is grab a schedule.  They will be handing these out the second you step on the boat or you can find them in the coffee shop on the counter. These are printed daily so you don’t miss any of the awesome fun events! Take advantage of everything FREE in the specialty shops.  There will be a spa raffle, generally about 5 PM the day you walk on the boat.  If you have any interest at all in the spa, GO!  The raffle is free and they hand out incredible prizes! Plus, if you don’t win one of the prizes you will at least get coupons to make your spa experience a little cheaper. 

Taking kids?  Camp Carnival ROCKS!  You can sign up and fill out the forms at home or you can fill them out on the boat.  I have noticed a lot of times the camp carnival sign up on the boat is the same time as the spa raffle, do the spa raffle because you can go back to camp carnival at another time to get the kids signed up. 

There is also a shopping seminar.  If you want to buy anything in port, go check it out!  They hand out coupons to get free gifts in port and just like the spa raffle; they are always giving free stuff away at any of the “info” type shows.

Not a big drinker but want to have a taste here and there?  Check out the Champaign Art Auction and the Liquor tasting. Want to drink on the boat?  On specific boats you can buy a package where you get unlimited alcoholic drinks every day! You can even wait until halfway through the cruise to get it and save a little cash.  If you plan on drinking more than 4 or 5 a day, I recommend it because it will save you money in the long run.  They also have an endless bubbles package where you can do the same thing and get soda.  But heck why not get the alcohol one and have the best of both worlds. 

So we have the boat covered but what about the ports?

Carnival offers so many different ports the opportunities are endless! If your one of my local readers I will tell you that New Orleans and Galveston are about the same drive time and New Orleans boats are a little bit cheaper. 

 

Jamaica was our biggest disappointment.  It has always been a dream of mine to go there so we were really excited!  Do an excursion, simple as that.  If you go, do something that is well organized.  If the excursions aren't really for you and you would rather shop, carry small amounts of cash.  Without an excursion, Jamaica really isn’t a place I would take my children.  The sidewalks are narrow and the traffic is FAST!  The picture to the left was in Jamaica.  The guy was really nice wanted to take a picture with us and then he wasn't so nice after I told him he could not have my shoes.  My shoes!! REALLY???  Just be careful...

Cozumel is pretty safe and there is a lot to do!  We have been several times and feel like we really know the island.  Pick up a bottle of the vanilla it’s unlike anything you will ever get here in the states.  IF you like fast fun try the twister boats shore excursions that you can book through Carnival. 

Progresso Mexico: you either want to do an excursion, stay on the boat or not venture to far.  If you’re feeling witty go into town on the buss it is an experience to see the low levels of poverty but don’t carry more than $20 and carry those in small bills and in different pockets.  The town is still not really developed but they are getting there.  It will take time I'm sure.  This is another country that there really isn't much to do unless you book an excursion through the boat.

Camen Islands: Are BEAUTIFUL!!!!  They are like shopping in Key West which is another one of my favorite ports!  I really felt safe and peaceful in the Camen islands. 

Nassau Bahamas:  I’ve been to Atlantis; it’s an experience and something everyone needs to do at least once.  But if your saving cash, you can walk about a mile or so to a free beach that absolutely BEAUTIFUL and clean!  But it’s just a little far from the main shopping area. 

 Just got on the boat.  GOODBYE CLOUDY SKYS!

 Yup they were tired of me taking pics.

Honey & Jeramiah

  Dream on little man, dream on!

 Dad, a dancer, and Jeramiah.

  Dad even got on stage and performed!

Cruising is the way to go!  In 2012 we were able to afford to take our entire family including grandchildren and my parents.  We could never have done that to simply go and stay at a hotel for a week.   We all had so much fun I cant wait to do it again!   

Precision Voyager Digital Luggage Scale

Vacation time is just around the corner and it’s been plastered all over the news how expensive it’s getting to go over the weight limits for luggage at the air ports. So here is a neat little gadget that will help prevent those costly errors in judgment.

Eat smart has a Precision Voyager Digital Luggage Scale that is easy to use, compact and lightweight. The durable strap connects right to the handle of your suit case and the soft grip handles make it easy to have an exact reading on how much your luggage weighs. This simple scale can really save money on your next trip through the air port.

I found this pretty easy to use and am adding it to our Mothers Day Gift Guide. My thought is… Give Mom a trip this year. You could even get the Luggage Scale and sneak the trip tickets in the packaging. How surprised would mom be to receive something like that? Maybe I should make hubby read this one? *Hint hint

Check it out on Amazon CLICK HERE
Eat Smart Website CLICK HERE
Social media sites:
LIKE EatSmart Products on Facebook  CLICK HERE 
Twitter @EatSmartScales CLICK HERE
Pinterest CLICK HERE 
Google Plus CLICK HERE
Follow the EatSmart Blog: CLICK HERE  

TETON SPORTS

Summer is right around the corner and for the boys that means camping trips, sleep overs and lots of fun and exciting things to do.  But the extra beds or a comfy place to sleep can be hard to find.  While I was on the search for some sleeping cots, I came across TETON Sports and found some really “manly” sleeping bags.  Now please understand, if I say cute, which is what I really mean, then the boys will think they are girlish or not for them because nothing can be cute at their age. 

So on with the “manly” sleeping bags.   From TETON Sports we received a Celsius Jr.Boys Sleeping Bag and the quality for a children’s sleeping bag is far beyond expectations.  Being over 5 feet long, the bag will should fit my monsters well into their teenage years, (hopefully) and being lightweight its easy for them to roll up on their own. 

One thing that really surprised me is the temperature rating, -7* C/+20*F.  Ok, it may just be me, but I’m not camping anywhere when its 20 degrees out.  But at least I know if the boys have a scouting trip in the winter, they will be warm. 

With summer right around the corner, I encourage you to check out TETON.  A sleeping bag on the hard ground isn’t my first choice for sleeping arrangements but the kids like camping so it will have to do.  Now to just break up the fight over who gets it because both Jeramiah and Maison liked this one!

Celsius Jr. Boys Sleeping Bag

TETON SPORTS HOMEPAGE                    FACEBOOK 

 TETON SPORTS Ships to the lower 48 states.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above free for review purposes. Regardless, I will only recommend products that I have personally tested/tried and believe will be a good fit for my readers. AlyGators is not responsible for any Giveaway items. All giveaway items will be shipped directly from the company that sponsors our giveaway.

Carnival Elation

 

While looking at different vacations the math really started to add up that we just may not be able to afford to go anywhere and as disappointing as that is, it’s reality for most people. Then I remembered the lectures my grandma would give me, “go on a cruise honey everything’s included and they are amazing”. Well coming from my not so young grandma her picture of amazing and mine are two totally different things, so I thought.

We finally decided we would hop on a Carnival Cruise, and choose Elation, because the price was pretty reasonable and it was a smaller boat meaning we would be less likely to get lost or be overwhelmed with the size. I was wrong, the boat was a lot bigger than we expected and there was plenty of room to get lost!

The activities were endless and the food was amazing and it was really pure relaxation! Which is why 7 months later we took the rest of the family with us back on Elation again? It was kind of nice knowing the ship a little better and the kids had the time of their life! We all did really.

Jeramaih ate and tried new things including alligator and snails and Mr. Maison loved the endless ice cream that was ready to go at any given moment. Of course they both loved the Peanut butter and jelly toasted sandwiches delivered right to our cabin at bed time. The food was endless!

What I loved most of all about cruising is you can really turn yourself off to the outside world. Sure they had computers and internet if you were just dying to connect with everyone back home but the lack of distractions really allowed for some quality family bonding time. It was amazing to spend good time with my kids and rest of the family without the phone ringing or them being glued to cartoons. The activities on the ship really kept them entertained and happy.

Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy going to the art auctions and the spa and in those places the boys can get pretty bored, that’s why there is Camp Carnival!!! An entire group of employees to cater to the kids and “party “with them as the boys called it. They loved camp carnival and I loved camp carnival! *Wink

We are already planning another cruise, in May hubby and I will be taking our break on the Magic and are more than excited!

What does your family do for vacations? If you haven’t taken a cruise I highly recommend trying it at least once, it’s a pure addiction to get back on the boats again and again.

Oh!!! And before I forget, Carnival is running a contest right now to win a FREE trip for two on Sunshine! Don’t forget to enter!

Carnival is giving away hot prizes and a cruise for 2 on Destiny!!! Click the link to see if you win! http://carnival.checkd.in/r/ea51ce93e805caeb7236

Tulsa Oklahoma Zoo

Tulsa Zoo, Tulsa Oklahoma

                This was another day trip that turned into a very quiet ride home as all the kids were asleep before we even left the parking lot.  Along with our two boys, we took a friend of theirs along with us and boy did they have a blast!

                There was so much to touch and feel and even ride!  The train ride was informative, we road it last although I think it would have been wiser to ride it first to see what all was available before we began wondering aimlessly.  Located inside the zoo were endless activities, including a petting zoo area that the kids could get up close and play with small animals.  There was even a large playground area that the kids could run free and burn off some extra energy before you hit the next animal exhibit.  However, I think the favorite part of the entire zoo for all three boys were the camel rides.  Yup I said it, Camel rides! It was a short ride, however inexpensive enough and really where else are you going to get to ride a Camel?

  The cost to get in was extremely reasonable, and at the time that we went there was even free parking!  Honestly, I am not a big zoo person, but I can remember going every summer with my grandparents and that is a memory I value now as an adult.  I defiantly recommend the Tulsa Zoo if your ever in the area.  It’s well worth not only the drive, but the value and the experience of seeing how much fun the kids had!.  We will be going back for sure!

Crater of Diamonds State Park

Diamond Dig

 Do you like to play in the dirt?  Me either, but I jumped right on in with the kids and hubby when we went to the Diamond Dig in Crater of Diamonds State Park.  This is located in Thomson township Arkansas which isn’t to far from Hot Springs.

As you pull up into the park, the first thing you see is a small waterpark that the kids will beg to go to!! It looks like a lot of fun, but it wasn’t something we planned on doing therefor we stuck to playing in the dirt. 

When you sign in and purchase your tickets, which I have to say were pretty inexpensive, you are offered a variety of additional tools you can purchase to help you explore.  I recommend going ahead and brining a small bucket and shovel, but if you forget of course they have some for just a couple of bucks.  Then there is a short but rather interesting presentation about the land and how to dig or more precisely what to look for.  Once you have learned a little bit of what you’re looking for you are released into the 37 acres of plowed dirt to roam, play, and dig your way through.   

Tired of digging?  Take a break under their canopy where they have a snack bar, a little shopping, and a few activities to keep the kids busy while you are resting.  The entire park is kid friendly and really a fun trip.

Crater of Diamonds State Park was defiantly an experience and I absolutely recommend it if you have little ones who love to play in the dirt!  Even though we went in the middle of summer where the heat seemed like just a little too much to handle, there is an adventure for the entire family.  And of course if the heat gets to be just too much, take a dip in their pool after your dig. 

Nashville Tennessee

                I’m not sure which one of us thought it would be a good idea to take two young boys to Nashville…. But it was fun and they are little music gurus.  My boys love music, they love to sing, play guitar, and jam a little bit on the piano.  Yes, I said jam and piano in the same sentence because they are young enough it sounds like they are just banging on it sometimes. 

                When the opportunity came to take a trip to Nashville with the family, it sounded like a good idea at the time.  They had fun, they really did but it was a little stressful trying to keep track of them on the extremely busy streets.  Maybe I am just a worry wart mom, but I really don’t let them wonder more than an arm length away.  Plus, the boys really did not enjoy it either.  Walking through the busy streets can be pretty difficult for such little feet. 

                Nashville offered some great food! One of my favorite places to eat is Wild Horse Salon.  Yes, it sounds a little iffy, but they have some amazing food and it is defiantly a kid friendly restaurant before the late hours.  Plus, they play music almost non-stop and there is a huge dance floor filled with children running around dancing after their meal.  It was really entertaining to watch even one of the times we were without the kiddos. 

                Different shops throughout the town offered some history and you could tour their mini museums which I felt were interesting enough.  However, if the busy streets aren’t really for you, then take the family onto the outskirts of town.  The Grand Ol Opry offers shopping and near by is more restaurants and even some go-kart racing which the entire family enjoyed. 

                  Personally, I have been to Nashville several times and it is really a place I would go to again and again.  I don’t recommend taking the kids or at the very least not taking them out after dark because the town fills with alcohol and people who won’t make the smartest choices.  But it is really an experience everyone should have at least once in their lives, especially if you love music as much as we do.    

Fort Scott Kansas

Fort Scott Kansas

              If you’re a history buff this day trip is for you!  Fort Scott is a small town with big history located in south west Kansas. I think at the time I took my boys they were a little young to understand actually where they were sitting and standing but there was plenty of room for them to run around and a lot of great photo opportunities.   

                 The U.S. Army established the Fort in the 1800’s and later abandoned it when it was purchased by local settlers and became the center of one of the largest towns in Kansas Territory.  During the Civil War, the fort became a supply depot, training center, and recruitment for the United States Army.  During this time, Fort Scott became vital to the defense of Kansas and the Midwest. 

                As a young child, I can remember my grandmother taking my sister and I to ride the trolley through the historic town.  Fort Scott is such a preserved and friendly community I recommend this as a must take trip at any age. 

Hot Springs Arkansas

Hot Springs Arkansas is one of my favorite central location travel spots with so many different places to eat, see, and even just enjoy the great outdoors.    

Hot Springs offers just about anything for everyone.  There is of course the Hot Springs National Park which provides beautiful views of the city below.  I've found there are many places to go hiking and even easy walking trails and the views are just breath taking.   Plus there is a ton of shopping in small crafty shops that line the roads through the historic down town district.  They are absolutely darling! 

This is not really a kid friendly town, but it’s exciting for anyone to see 147 degree steaming hot water come straight from the ground so maybe make a trip with the kids, and then one without.  That's what I've done.  It's been a little while since I've been down there but the streets are just not completely great for a stroller.  

While your there, take a stroll down Bath House Row where you can even tour the one of them known as Fordyce.  There is still two of the bath houses even remain in operating order, what an experience!! Not only found them rather interesting were they interesting, but it was kind of fun to go through these old buildings and see how things used to work. 

Of course the lake is also near by for some exciting or even relaxing fishing, however you choose to look at it. We even spent one black Friday down there just to do our holiday shopping and it was a breeze!

Of course if the nature scene isn’t for you, you can journey on down to Oaklawn Park and do a little gambling in their two story casino. 

Hot Springs really offers a little something for everyone.  We were fortunate enough to take our children once so they could see and feel the piping hot water.  But the rest of the trips there are reserved for just for adults!  I love my babies but this town just have so much to offer and having small children can definitely make it difficult to get around.