What should first time Carnival cruisers know? — featuring LifeWithUsTV (Carnival)

0:00 Welcome back to Life with Us TV. It's your girl Lynette >> and it's your boy Stanley. >> All right, in this video we are coming with 21 tips for the first time Carnival Cruiser. You ready to get into it? Let's go. >> Tip number one, a very important one, one that I hear quite often. When do I

0:22 do my check-in? Thus, what time do I arrive to the ship? Yeah, >> this process starts 2 weeks prior to your selling. You'll get an email from Carnival. You'll also get an email, well, you should be getting an email from your travel advisor reminding you to be up as close to midnight each day

0:44 because it opens at midnight, Eastern Standard Time, when you can go in. And this is where the magic happens. This is where you elect for your sign and sale card. We can talk about that in another video, but the sign and sale card is basically the way that you pay for things once you're on the ship. The ship

1:05 does not directly take cash. It does not directly take credit card or debit card. You have to fund this card. So, this is where you elect how you're going to fund it. >> We always recommend that you do cash or credit card. >> Credit card. Yes. Yes, do not put your debit card on file for that. You can pay

1:24 for your cruise with your debit card cuz a lot of people get that um confused. You can pay with a debit card all day long, but once it comes to how you're going to fund that onboard spending account, stay away from your debit card because there will be major holds on your debit card. And this is still true

1:43 for your prepaid cards, is still true for your Cash App cards. >> Yep. >> The holds will be there. >> Yeah. Carnival want to make sure that they going to get they got that money. >> Yes. So, also 2 weeks prior to that, you will have the time to elect what time you want to arrive to the ship, whether

2:02 it will be 11:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. You will elect the best time to arrive at that ship. >> Yes, indeed. And also since we on that debit um card train, do not use your debit card import >> because import is actually in destination. So that's whether you're going to Bahamas, Jamaica, KSML,

2:25 wherever you going to, that's import because >> these vendors, man, is famous for skimming cards. >> Yeah. >> Yes. And the last thing you need is to get off your first cruise and Yeah. you at home on the bankute trying to dispute the charges in your bank looking at you crossey trying to wonder if you trying

2:41 to scam them. >> That is true. >> So only to use your credit card and use small bills in port cuz another thing they try to do too is Yeah. They try to they'll act like they ain't got no change. >> Mhm. So you'll buy something that's $2, you give them a 20, they act like they can't give you 18 back.

2:59 >> So they'll try to upsell you on $18. Yeah. So, we had some family members in the comments say that they don't been got like that. So, yeah, that's definitely do some small bills. >> All right. And before we move on, two weeks prior to the sale, before I forget, right, >> this is when you print your boarding

3:17 pass and your luggage tags. Um, you don't have to worry about the information once you go through the process of all the steps. Yep. within the check-in process. At the end, you will be able to download and then print off your boarding pass and your luggage tags. >> All right. So, the next thing we love to

3:37 tell our first time cruisers, man, is book the cabin that you want. One of the things we always get >> uh our family members, we go into these Facebook groups, some of these forums, and we see people tell you that, hey, if you book a interior cabin, it's a good chance you going to get upgraded to a

3:59 balcony. I'm going tell you, we've been sailing on Carnival since 2019 before our bad cruise where we didn't cruise no more. Start. >> Yeah. Yeah. Our first cruise was horrible. And that's why we doing what we doing now because we bombed our first cruise because we didn't know this

4:16 stuff. So now we out here to make sure that you don't bomb >> your uh first cruise. >> Shameless plug if you want to see that video of how our first time experience was. We're going to link that down below so that you can experience it with us. You can laugh with us now. >> Yeah. Yeah. Cuz we can laugh now.

4:34 >> Yeah. But we can laugh now. >> We have not gotten an upgrade. >> Nope. You have to book the cabin that you want out the gate. So, if you've been out here doing research online and you fell in love with a balcony, get a balcony. You fell in love with a ocean view, get a ocean view. You fell in love

4:51 with a interior, get that. Buy what you want. The reason we say that because Carnival do not play with changes. They will charge you out the butt for changes. We looking anywhere from from $50 per person any way up to $250 per person when you need to make a change to your booking. So, we always tell our

5:14 first timers, make sure you book what you want. And then also make sure that you got the PTO time at your job. Don't don't pay play Russian roulette with this because Carnival will get you on them change fees. >> Yeah. And I think people go into a cruising thinking that I can just puzzle

5:34 piece and shuffle board my way through it. So if this sailing don't work for me or you know >> the deposit for it was cheap enough I put a deposit down and then if it the dates don't work I can move it. Every move cost >> yes >> every last one of them. And depending on when you make that change in the

5:54 cancellation policy that change like my husband said it could be a $50 change. It could be a $250 change. It just depends on where you are falling at the time that you are trying to make that change within the cancellation policy. >> Yes. And then also, this is the bonus tip, pro tip right here, cuz I know it's

6:12 a first time, but you don't know this >> that when you run up on Countable's website, you're going to see different deposit amounts. Yes. And the one that's $50 is the most attractive one. And most people book that and don't know the rules that comes with that particular booking. So I'm gonna get the queen to

6:32 explain what happens when you book that 20 that $50 deal >> in a nutshell. >> Yeah. May >> it is cheaper deposits for a reason. It's really considered a reduced deposit. And what it simply means is once that deposit is deposited, >> you're not getting that money back. >> Like you're not. You change that sale

6:51 and usually they'll use that as the penalty. So if you find another selling that you want and that's a $50 deposited sale, they're going to ask you for $50 more dollars per person to order to move that selling. So just know that reduced deposits mean that that's money that they are grabbing at the top and

7:11 regardless of what you decide you want to do, whether you go or you don't go, the money stays home. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Carnival got that $50 hustle on lock, boy. It work. >> Yeah. The third tip is and I want y'all to listen to me. >> Please listen to this one >> very carefully.

7:29 >> Choose your sailing mate, cabin mate, travel partners wisely. >> Listen, you could be good friends with your good girlfriend, but she may not be the person you can travel with. You could be good friends with somebody from down the way and you be like, "Yeah, yeah, I No. Everybody is not to be

7:50 traveled with, especially if they're going to be on the booking with you. What does that mean? You're sharing a cabin with somebody because this essentially means that >> from the time y'all make that deposit to the end of this trip, you're in contract with each other. So, what does that

8:05 mean? If you're in the room with Peggy and y'all started making the deposits, the payments and da da da and then Peggy gets to 4 months before you all are to go on the cruise and decide that you know what, I don't want to go no more. Guess what has to happen? Either you need to cancel as a collective or you

8:26 are now 100% responsible for the room because the cabin pricing is at double occupancy period. So, one person is always going to pay for the price of two people minus the um taxes and port fees, >> right? >> So, regardless if there's one person or two people in that cabin, >> somebody's going to pay for that entire

8:48 cabin, whether it's divided up by two people or by one person. It's a little different when you add the third person, but we're just we're just talking right now. So, choose them wisely. >> How you can choose them. Here is the red flags. when you come to them and you ask them say, "Hey, sis, bro, you want to

9:07 travel?" If there's any hesitation, uh, I'll let you know. I'll think about it. I'll let you know in a few weeks, don't do it. If there's any humming and hawing, >> don't do it. >> It's going to be humming and hawing. When it come time for them to bring up the money, and it ain't about being

9:24 broke, cuz we have some people come to us and say, "I've been trying to get my boys to travel forever." And they loaded. They just cuz some people just mindset. Yeah. Some people just don't want to travel. So they can be good on land but not good at sea >> or any type of troop to be honest with

9:40 you. >> So yeah. So please listen to us and then anybody that have witnessed what we talking about. Please put that in the comments. >> Yeah. You would not believe as a travel advisor. Shameless plug. This is what I do for a living. If you ever need help with any of your cruise vacations, I may

9:57 not be available right now at the time of this video coming out, but I am available to help book you on an amazing sailing. But you will not believe in my business how many relationships I have seen be strained just because, oh, I wanted to take my sister with me and my sister don't stuck me up for some money

10:16 because the sister convinced you to put up all the money. >> Yep. I say, and now you trying to get your money back. And now you trying to get your money back >> and they ghosting you >> and they don't ghosted you. So either you let your sister come and sail with you free because she hadn't put no money

10:32 up or you take her off the booking and sail by yourself and that wasn't the move that you were trying to make. You weren't trying to go on a solo cruise. You were trying to go with your sister. You know what I'm saying? So I have seen it so many times. >> Yes indeed. All right. So, the next

10:48 thing that you want to definitely make sure that you do, and this becomes very controversial for us, is getting travel protection insurance. We've had a few of even our clients that declined travel insurance and they had strokes right before their trip. There was a mishap. So, let's not talk about the client.

11:07 Let's talk about ourself. So, we just got off of a cruise and we were on our way back home. So, not to draw out the long draw the story long, we were on American Airlines. We were in Charlotte to get ready to come home back to our things happened in Charlotte >> and they started boarding the plane and

11:24 then the plane got cancelled >> in the middle of boarding. >> So, we had to end up going to American Airlines customer service desk. They told us they couldn't help us because it was an act of nature. Supposed to have had been a storm on the east coast. That's the reason why they canled. It

11:38 was like, you got to do your own hotels. You got to do your own food. You got to do your own transportation, >> your own toiletries. Whatever you needed to make it through, >> it was on it was on you. >> We had to end up buying a hotel, buying food, getting transportation. The next

11:51 day to fly back. We couldn't fly back to RI cuz it was We could have, but it was going to be like 8:00. Yeah. Yeah. Another day. We was like, "No." So, they flew us to Norfol. Then, we had to catch a Uber from Norol to RI to get our car. >> It's an hour and a half away. The trip protection or travel insurance is going

12:08 to protect us, but we had to have the money too >> upfront. >> I said that to say for all of our family, new and old, make sure you have some money for mishaps because travel protection don't cover you until you pay for it. End up costing us an extra how much was it? >> $732. >> Yes. Because they cancelled the flight.

12:28 >> $32 freaking dollar. >> Yeah. We're going to get that money ran back to us. But if we didn't have child travel protection, >> we would have had to eat it. >> Yep. That cost plus the cost we spent on the trip. So that's why we said get your get the trip protection because it is

12:43 worth it. You spending too much money on your trip not to >> that part. >> Like you put insurance on everything else. You got health insurance on your body. I hope >> you got health insurance on your keys. You got life insurance on yourself. Hopefully you got insurance on your car.

12:57 And you got insurance on your house. So if anything disastrate, get your protection, man. The next tip, make sure that you have your travel documents ready to go. Usually when I'm working with clients, I try to get this information out of them before they secure the deposit. And the

13:15 reason being is some people think they know where their documentation is or they think they have the right documentation and in actuality they have an outdated piece of vanity of a birth certificate and you can't use that. So, what do you need to get on a sailing? If you're leaving from the USA and you're

13:35 leaving from just say Miami and you're returning back to the port of Miami, you can legally travel with a birth certificate. >> Yep. >> With that birth certificate, you must have a valid ID. >> Yes. >> If you're I think it's 14 years or older, you need a valid ID in order to board the ship. or or or or you can

13:58 travel with a passport book or a passport card. So any of those two combinations will allow you to board the ship. I also tell my people that hey, even if you're traveling with a passport book and a passport card, also travel with your valid ID. And the reason that I say when I say valid ID, I'm talking

14:20 about something from DMV, whether it would be an ID card or your driver's license. And the reason that I say this is not every time you step foot off of that ship, you may not want to take your passport with you, right? You may not want to take your passport card with you. And in most of these ports now,

14:36 they are making you show some type of ID before you can get back through the gates in order to get back to the ship. Unless you want to take that big passport. And me, I'm the kind of person that once I know that I'm on a ship, I lock that up in the safe, right? I locked my passport up because I don't

14:54 want to deal with it anymore and I don't want it to get lost or damaged because that's that's like gold. >> Yeah. >> For a traveler, your passport is like your lifeline. >> That's your lifeline. >> I'm not trying to take it and I'm out there swimming with the dolphins and next thing I know I don't know what my

15:11 passport is. >> Right. >> But with that, we also take calculated risk as well. We're not going to go out there on third party excursions and, you know, be out there willy-nilly and no have no guarantees of getting back to the ship in time and things like that. So, we take calculated risk. Yeah.

15:26 >> When we say we do. >> And I guess this is another pro tip quick we can throw in there that when we deal with the license because I had an instance where we was traveling and I lost my license, man. You did. And thank God for a good Samaritan took my license and put it in the mail and mailed it

15:41 back to me. So, ever since that happened, we take two forms of well, two two license with us >> that I always keep in my one of them is in Yeah. And then one with me. So, and I'm glad I do cuz that recent story about bro went to Miami on his first cruise. >> Oh my god. >> And they was partying in Miami on the

16:00 day before and he was in the club and lost his wallet. And I guess he got on the ship. >> He got on the ship. We don't we don't know the rest. >> Yeah. So, >> we don't know the rest of the story. I was like I told the queen that was proof positive right there that we definitely having two license but if you was a

16:15 first timer and you close don't worry about that. So this is more >> take a picture of your license. >> Yeah. And this is more for us you know people that's experienced cuz I know y'all watching to get some some tips too. >> All right. So that lead us to uh tip number six which is we strongly believe

16:31 that you should get a pre- cruise hotel. The reason being so much can happen if you come in on the day of your cruise. And a lot of people take this risk. We I was just recently in our comments and one of the sisters was like, "Hey, I am so glad that we came in the day before because our rental car got a flat." And

16:54 y'all already know when you get a flat that that's hours. and not only hours, it drains your energy because now I got to deal with this problem. So we always come in the day before and the next thing especially if you over 40 and you already know you know by 5:00 we already sleepy. So don't do us like that.

17:17 >> So you already know what's going to happen. So man, come in the day before, get the hotel, be refreshed some rest. >> Yes. Be refreshed when you get on the trip. So that imbarcation day won't be a wash because I'm telling you it will be a wash. And if you have been a victim of

17:34 imbarcation day being a wash, put that down in the comments. Please let the first time cruisers know that coming in the day before can hurt you in the end because you ain't going to have enough energy to finish. By 5 or 6:00 you going to be gone. >> Feels personal. >> I'm I'm telling you. I I done been

17:50 there. I done been there. So I'm telling you, consider yourself warned. >> It's going to be hot today. I want you to have a fun invarcation day. I don't want you to hear the stories that you miss because you were asleep. >> All right, tip number seven. This is something that we've been guilty of

18:07 doing both in land vacations and on cruises. And it's kind of one of those things that you learn this tip just by going and seeing everybody else doing it. And baby, >> you need a tumbler. >> Like listen, listen. Those little teeny cups that they give you, they're not going to cut it. And I'm not even just

18:27 talking about for alcoholic beverages. If you want to go somewhere and fill up with water, ice water, >> soda, whatever. Yeah. >> You're going to need something bigger than this, than a sippy cup. >> Yeah. >> And plus, when you're walking around, you don't want your drink all exposed

18:42 and whatnot. Like after day one where you drinking out the little cute glasses and you get your little photo op done, it's over after that. Get you a tumbler. Also couple it with some disposal with your own like metal straw or something like that because they on Carnival cruises they give you know them paper

18:58 straws, man. >> No, they don't even give paper. They give you them candy candy ones now. That's right. >> They're disgusting in my opinion. Some people like them. I think they're disgusting. >> Yeah, I don't like them. >> But also invest in some luggage tags for your luggage. So, we talked about you

19:12 being able to print off your boarding pass and your luggage tag during the check-in process. You want to invest in this because guess what? This is the paper that comes from out of your printer. You do not want to tape this on your luggage and have it ripped off. >> Please, >> it gets ripped off. Guess what happens?

19:26 No one knows where the freak to take this luggage to. And guess what's going to happen? It's going to be sat at guest services waiting for you to claim it. This is another tip that I will say when it comes to your luggage. Print two luggage tags. Put one on the luggage. put one inside the luggage so that at

19:46 any point that somebody one picks up the luggage by mistake or they're looking to see who it belongs to because the luggage tag is going to say what room number you're in and they can deliver it to your room. Also, another thing that you want to take on a Carnival cruise is because your onboard spending account

20:04 card >> is going to have a hole punch in it. You're going to want a lanyard. >> Yeah, man. and you'll be able to take the lanyard, put it around your neck, and have this card just on you. Cuz if not, you're going to lose that card. >> I've seen people go to guest services two and three times because they won't

20:25 take a lanyard and you don't even have to do one. >> Put the solid cell in your pocket. >> In your pocket and it's gone, >> then it fall right out. >> Yeah. There are some people that do the little wristlet ones where you have it on your wrist. If that's better for you, do that. But you're going to have to

20:38 secure that lanyard some kind of way. with me. I also have like this little pouch like plastic pouch that the card is in and then it goes on here. But yeah, just just get a lanyard. >> It's gonna save your life. >> So that leads us to number eight that we believe that you should bring, which is

20:56 a carry-on bag. Now, for those of y'all that have taken a flight, we not talking about a flight carryon. We talking about a carry-on >> that's for a cruise that can be a backpack, duffel bag, >> trash bag, another full, a beach bag. It doesn't matter. Just something that you can take on board so that you can be

21:15 handsfree. >> So within that carry on, we say that because you want to have specific things that you need to put in there. So number one is going to be your boarding pass. Please do not put your boarding pass and your check luggage cuz let me tell you what's going to happen. You ain't going

21:31 to be able to get on the ship. They ain't going to take no excuses and they're not going to go onto the ship and get your bags to get your uh boarding pass. Number two, if you've taken any medicine that you need to take while you waiting to get to your room at 1:30, bring your medicine. Also, make

21:47 sure you bring on your canned sodas. That's because we can all have 12 cans of sodas that you can bring on. Also, if you like to drink, and I'm not talking about liquor or beer, I'm talking about wine. You can bring wine or champagne. 750 milliliters. >> One bottle. >> One bottle. We ain't talking about the

22:06 leader of the two and a cat, >> right? And you can't say, "I'm bringing a liter and me and my girl and my boys going to split it." It don't work that way. So, you want to make sure you put that in your carry-on. If you looking to swim, you want to have your swimwear inside of your carry-on. Also, you want

22:23 to make sure if you want to change clothes prior to that 1:30 time, you can do that. But even still then I would say if you want to change bring some clothes because when you get to your room at 1:30 it don't mean that your luggage going to be there. So I want to make sure you know that. Make sure you have

22:37 all that in the carryon. Did I forget anything? >> I also like to do charger. I I like wireless chargers. >> Yes. >> Cuz your phone is going to take a beating and you're going to be doing a whole lot of flicking it up for the grab Facebook if that's your thing. >> Yeah. For some reason chips kill phones.

22:53 They Hey boy. You look at your phone you at 95%. and come back 40 minutes later I'm like what the >> And then another thing that you want to make sure that you have in your carryon are your boarding documents. >> Yes, >> that is outside of everything else. I think that those are one of the most

23:10 important things because if you don't have your boarding documents on you and you make the mistake and put it in your check luggage, you're not getting on the ship. There's no chance in heck that you're getting on that ship at all. Another thing that you do want to have in your carry-on, it doesn't mean that

23:24 everything has to be in the carry-on, but these are things that you must carry on the ship with the ship. And it's also your medical device, like your CPAT machine. I was getting ready to say that. If you take a CPAT machine, that is considered a medical device. You can bring that. You have to bring that on

23:41 board. And one, you want to you don't want it to get, you know, have the risk of being lost or, you know, not coming to your room because there's always a chance that your luggage can be lost even on a ship. >> And they got to bring distilled water on with them, too, don't it? >> Yeah. They you can actually buy it.

23:56 >> Okay. >> So, if you don't want to take the jug of the steel water sealed on the ship, you can pre- buy it. And that's what we're going to talk about. >> Make me think of other family members that need scooters. Please explain to them how that work as well cuz we have a lot of family that like how they get it,

24:13 how it works when they get to port. >> Okay. So, not in my notes, but thank God I know this. So, if you have a mobility scooter, just saying that you're going to bring your own mobility scooter first and foremost. Stop what you're doing right now. Call Carnival, speak to the ADA department because what happens is

24:31 some people will get a cabin that cannot accommodate the scooter that they're bringing on board. What you need to do is let them know that one, I'm going to be bringing my scooter. They're going to let you know if the cabin that you're in can accommodate and then they'll go from there. Because what's been happening in

24:47 the past is people will come bring a scooter on board. They can't get it through the door of their cabin and they leave scooter outside of the door. They've gotten really strict with you all not being able to do that because guess what happens? It's a trip risk. It's a fire risk. Well, evacuation risk

25:04 also in the way of your room attendants when they have to push the carts down those narrow hallways. They can't get down there because the scooters are in the hallway. Also, if you a person that needs to rent a scooter, a lot of the bigger ports, your most popular ports, we talk about your Miami, your Orlando,

25:23 Galveistston, Texas, most of them have a desk set up right there where you can pick up the scooter that you pre reserve. Usually it's scooter around. So if you go to scooteround.com, reserve the scooter. You pick it up right from the port area. They give you a Yeah. And they give you the instructions of how to

25:43 get that scooter back to them. Either leave it in your cabin or bring it back to a destination, a reserve designated place. They'll let you know that. And there's other things that you can rent as well. Like I've had clients rent mobility beds, different kind of chairs and lifts to go in their cabins as well.

26:01 It really is just you being able to speak to the ADA department, letting them know what it is that you need, and they can go from there. >> Number nine, this is my rule of thumb because I love resorts. >> And the reason that I love resorts so much is because I love all inclusive >> types of vacations. What do I mean by

26:23 that is when I say pre purchase everything when it comes to cruising you have to realize that there are a lot of inclusions but there are some things that are not included and these are some of the things that take people by storm because they don't realize that it's not especially as a first timer

26:40 >> right >> the main thing that you're going to have to realize on a cruise is that Wi-Fi is not included >> what do you mean Wi-Fi is not included no it's not you would think that it would be but no you definitely have to pay for Wi-Fi. So, if you want to be connected to any WW,

27:01 >> you're going to have to pay for something. There are people that be like, "Well, can I pay for it by the day?" That's an option, but I'm going to be honest with you, >> it's way expensive. Yeah. >> So, you might as well just go ahead and buy the package or make a decision just

27:14 to disconnect for the week. >> Yep. And while you on the packages, so they actually have three different packages. Uh they have the social package, the value package, and the premium package. So the social package is $1870 per person per day. The value package is $2210 per day per person. And the premium one

27:37 is $23.80 per person per day. But now they got the multi-premium package and it's only on select sale um ships for right now. But basically what that allows you to do is in your cabin, hear what I'm saying? Cuz I've had clients be like, "Well, I'mma I'mma share my um multi-device package

27:58 with my cousin in another cabin." It doesn't work like that. >> No. >> Um in your cabin, and this only will work if you're working. >> Yeah. >> Or you have children. Up to four devices, it is $84 per day. Yes. So basically 84 times how many days you're on that sailing. You can connect to up to four devices that

28:21 are registered to your cabin. Catch what I said with the social media package. These are questions that I get a lot. >> Yeah. >> What can I do on social media? Basically the description is in the title. Social media, >> Facebook, Instagram. And when I say Facebook and Instagram, I'm talking

28:39 about the fact that most of the time it's viewing it, >> right? Not even being able to post. Sometimes it's hard to even post in the social media package. I have stopped doing that package years ago just because of that. >> Oh, you can do email on that package, too. >> No, you can't.

28:55 >> You can't do email on that one. Okay, my bad. >> It's value. >> Yeah. Oh, that's right. That's right. >> Value package is where you can start doing like email. You can It's You can get a little bit better results with being able to post pictures on Facebook, Instagram, or whatnot. Also, between

29:11 social and value, if you want to look at your cameras at your house, you would be able to do that in between those two packages. Of course, you can on premium, but for us, like, you know, Ring doorbell or our we have several different cameras in our house. You know, we can be able to view our cameras

29:28 that way, >> right? >> Another thing that people always ask, can I make phone calls through my Wi-Fi package? I'm gonna be honest with you. In order to do that, it's going to be the value package or the premium package. Yeah. To be able to do that. And the only way you can do that is

29:43 through like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or some kind of wif-fi based system that you can call through, >> right? And so before we get into the rest of the stuff that you should prepay for, since we on this thing, we go back to we have a lot of our family members ask us about the chat app. Do I need the

30:02 Wi-Fi package to use the chat app? >> Yeah, we gonna get there though. >> Yeah. >> But no, >> no, you don't. You don't need that to use the chat app, but I thought it would be fitting to put that right here. >> Yeah. So, one of the other things that I always tell people to pre purchase to

30:16 get it out the way. >> Yeah. >> Your prepaid gratuitities. I know >> less. >> It's a controversial subject. How you going to tell me to prepay my gratuitities? I want to tip who I want to tip. I'm not going to fight with people no more. You do you. >> But I will advise as an advisor, that's

30:35 what I do, is to prepay the gratuitities. Cuz guess what's going to happen? >> Now, this is the part that most people are not aware of the day prior to you getting off that ship. If you did not prepay your gratuitities, >> it's going to sneak its way onto your bill. >> It's like a garnishment.

30:53 >> Yep. And guess what happens when it pops up on your bill? People that don't want the prepaid gratuitities on their bill and that have been tipping people along the way have to go down to guest services and get it removed off manually. >> Mhm. >> If you have ever seen that line, I just

31:13 walked past it and I've been judging a little bit, >> man. >> Just a little bit. But that line is insanely long because you have a freaking ship of people trying to take that pre-baked off. I'm one of those people. I'm gonna pray pay my prepaid gratuitities and I'm a overt tipper. So

31:31 those people that go above and beyond for me, I'm gonna tempt them as well because I also want them to get their just due as well. >> Right. >> Also, if you want specialty dining >> Oh yeah. back on before we move forward on the tips, I thought you were going to say this. The reason that we love doing

31:48 the the prepaid couturities because we take care of the people that's behind the scenes. >> Yes. that you don't see >> because you don't see the dishwashers, the people that's making sure that your laundry is done laundry is done. All them back there and we didn't had the pleasure of going in the back and seeing

32:02 them. They work hard. They work hard to make sure we have a good experience. So that's why we do it because if we don't prepay, they don't get nothing. And they the hard and they the hardest workers. >> Yes. And don't fall for the hype when people be like, I talked to somebody on

32:16 board and they say they don't divide those things up. Yes, they do. >> Yes, they do. So what's happening is your room attendant is trying to get trying to X out all these other people and take all the money for itself. Don't tell nobody else. I told you >> they just hustling. That's

32:29 >> it's a hustle. >> They hustle. >> But also specialty dining. If you want to, you know, have a steakhouse experience or the seafood restaurant, you prep purchase that in advance. If you want excursions, >> there is nothing like getting on the ship and just trying to figure out what

32:44 I'm going to do on my um vacation. Prepay all of that stuff while you're at home. Also, I'm a stickler for bottled water. And the one thing that you don't want to do is touch that bottle water that they have in the cabin. >> Well, it was $195. Now, they dirt down. >> It started at like $4.95 a bottle. I

33:03 think it's up there like $7.95 a bottle at this point. >> If anybody recently been on, put in the comments like what's that price? We're going in a few weeks, too. So, >> so we'll be able to verify that. But you can pay to get water into your room. >> Pre- purchase that beforehand. Get it

33:20 out the way. That way you don't have to worry about it no more. >> Yes, indeed. And then also, we know that you since it's your first cruise and this is advice we give our first timers, don't feel the pressure that you have to do specialty dining. No. Because there is so much free food, not free, that

33:38 food that you've already paid for, >> right, >> that you don't have to do it on your I would we tell first timers uh take that money and buy an excursion. >> Yes. >> So you can have an experience off the ship. So don't make yourself think that. So we say budget for the Wi-Fi if you

33:57 really need it. Budget for excursion. And the waters if you want to drink water other than everything else, forget it. If you if you ain't got the money for it, forget it. >> Right. >> Yeah. Forget it. >> Because it took us probably like what, four or five sailings before we did our

34:10 first specialty dining. >> Yeah. All right. So, the next thing, the 10th thing, as a first time, I'm telling you, please attend the E- Mustard Station. Wingabout Carnival. As soon as you come on the ship, they're going to be trying to point you in that direction, right? >> Because your muster station is actually

34:28 going to be on your boarding pass >> and it's also when you get your sign and seal that's going to be on your door when you get there. You it's going to be on there, too. So, I know that you knew. So, a mustard drill is the safety >> mustard cuz you probably heard mustard, but it's

34:43 >> mustard. So, uh, that's when they do the safety thing so that if something happen on a ship and we need to evacuate, you know where to go to get on the lifeboats. And the thing about any cruise ship, but Carnival, we talk about Carnival, if you don't do it, they will call your name over the loudspeaker.

35:00 That's embarrassing. So, don't be that guy. Don't be that girl. They will hold up the ship and we got to wait and can't dance and they going to keep the bars closed until you check in. >> Yes. So, please. And as a first timer, you don't know what you're doing. Why the heck? And you be the first person

35:16 talking about I'm scared of water. I can't drink all that water. But then you don't want to go. >> But you know what? I don't think it's the first time. I think it's all season folk. >> It's all of them >> cuz we get to be honest. You get to having fun. You can't forget. >> That's why you do it immediately.

35:29 >> As long as you get on the ship, man. >> Do it immediately. >> And then the next thing that you want to do immediately after you book this cruise >> Yes. >> is download the Carnival Hub app. Yeah. Don't be like your boy. >> That hub app is your lifeline once you're on board. And once you're at home

35:48 before you get on board, it's nothing more than a countdown clock. >> Yeah, that pretty countdown >> cuz it's really lifeless. Nothing happens on that app until you get on board. Connect to their Wi-Fi signal. Not their wifi, but connect to their Wi-Fi signal so that the hub app can

36:06 actually work on board. That's the only thing that that Wi-Fi signal is going to give you access to is the Carnival Hub app. Also, once you get that Carnival Hub app and you get on board, you also can pay for a chat feature. >> Yeah. We was just talking about earlier. >> Yeah. So, you and your family can pay $5

36:24 per person for the duration of your sailing. So, if it's a 7-day sailing, you're paying $5 and whoever you want to talk to also have to pay that $5. Yeah. >> And you all can chat via that. So, some people get away with not doing the internet package and they just do the chat feature so they can keep up with

36:42 their family. Is it perfect? >> I already said >> now. >> Yeah. So, yeah, it might not be perfect. They you might send a message today >> and you might get it tomorrow. >> And sometimes it's not that it doesn't go through is that there's the notifications on it do not come through

36:59 all the time. Right? >> So if if you're not a person that walks around holding their phone all the time and looking, >> you know, your mom or your aunt could be hitting you up and be like, "Hey, you want to do dinner at 7?" You look at your clock at 9 >> like they don't left you.

37:16 >> All right. So that lead us to tip number uh 12, which is you definitely want to do this cuz this could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. >> And that's not a joke. >> And that's not a joke. Is putting your phone in airplane mode. Let me tell you this may sound simple but even sometimes

37:32 I got to remind myself and I done been on we done been on 20 something cruises and it is so easy to forget but if you don't do it we've had people say I came back home and I had 300 500 $800 I think the highest was like $1,200 and roaming fees >> because what you have to understand is

37:52 your phone is going to do exactly what it's designed to do try to find a signal while it's trying to find a signal signal while you're in the middle of the ocean. There is a such thing as roaming for land and roaming for sea. >> They're two totally different things in your package on your cell phone. You

38:12 could have unlimited roaming anywhere in the world, but does it cover C? >> Yeah. >> So, that is what's important for most people to know. And then like if you have a prepaid phone package, >> it don't even matter. >> It don't even matter. >> Yeah. We used to have one and we didn't

38:27 care. Now we switched over to uh who we with >> who we with >> T-Mobile. T-Mobile. >> So now we got now we got to remember but but what most people they forget to tell their children to do it. So make sure that you tell your children or anybody that's selling you. Make sure everybody

38:43 put it on airplane mode, man. >> Yes. Some people say, "I'll just go in the background and turn off my data." You can do that as well. But here's the thing. If you're not putting your phone in airplane mode, what makes me think you're turning off data? Like, but I also have a story for myself because as

38:58 a business owner, a travel advisor, I travel with two phones. One for the plug, one for the my phone that I have on me for vacation, bop bop bop, was fine. I forgot that my business phone in my backpack wasn't in airplane mode. Thankfully, I remembered it the night that I got into my room.

39:18 So, my room in charges for that day was probably like $40. >> Thank God. But that's $40 freaking dollars of Roman that I paid just >> you didn't get nothing for. >> I ain't get nothing for it literally. And it was sending me notices. It was telling me sending me text messages indicating you're at sea roaming at sea.

39:36 >> Nope. >> Put it in airplane mode. Oh, it was telling me, but my phone was in my backpack. Tip number 13 is make sure that you bring a good amount of cash to spend. And we're not saying that you're going to spend it, but just in case something happens, just in case you're at airport and like my husband said, you

39:56 don't want to be taking no debit card and just swiping it everywhere. And some vendors don't even take >> any kind of cards period. If you want to buy something, they want that cash. I don't blame them. That's a business owner. I understand. Yeah. >> Is that you don't want to pay those um

40:12 those fees, but make sure that you have some type of cash. And then one, not trying to be fun. This also goes along with making sure you traveling with the right kind of travel mate. Don't travel broke, >> right? Please. >> We're not saying have a buttload of money, but at least have enough money on

40:28 you to get out of a sticky situation. >> Yeah. >> Have enough money to get you a good taxi ride and a good Uber ride or something to get you back at base. If you don't have that and you're traveling without any money or you really like tight on funds, right, it could it could turn

40:45 into a nightmare or it just kind of puts a damper on your fund where you see people out here day over at the um seen frogs turning up and you see that that drink is $20 and you like >> I ain't got the money. >> It does put a damper on you. So make sure that you're budgeting for that.

41:02 >> That actually lead us to our next tip. Tip number 14, and this one has really blessed so many people on our channel. >> It has >> is joining the Facebook group for your sailing. And I want you guys to put down in the in the comments so the first timers can see how much of a blessing

41:21 this has been to you. This is a perfect time to meet people before you get on this ship. And people have done bar crawls. People have >> gift exchanges. >> Gift exchanges. people that done sail away together. People end up meeting and now they buddies outside of the cruising world. True.

41:40 >> You can meet so many good people by going into the Facebook groups for yourself. And how you do that? You go to Facebook, you type in whatever you think is Carnival Marty Gro and the date and it should pop up. If somebody got a group started, you can join that group. Or if ain't nobody got one started, you

41:58 start it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Cuz they are very powerful. They are very powerful. Tip number 15. >> Yeah, man. >> If you want to do something on board that you can't reserve prior to you getting on, take care of that as soon as you board the ship. >> For instance, example, when we were on

42:15 the Carnival Celebration, there were so many people that were disappointed cuz they could not ride the roller coaster boat. >> Yeah. >> And it's because you have to reserve that once you're on board. And most people just went around, you know, went about their day. Oh, I'mma ride it

42:29 Tuesday. normal ride it Wednesday and by the time Tuesday and Wednesday came they looked in their app there's no reservations left because everybody knew to reserve it ahead of time get it on get it popping and the good thing about it most of the time if you reserve like later on in the week they'll give you 24

42:48 hours prior to to you know change your mind cancel do whatever you want to do but lock it down >> yes indeed so that lead us to the next tip which is please tip number 16 for the first time cruiser don't double tip at the bar >> on all the bars on Carnival on the slip they give you they actually add the

43:12 gratuitity in and we always tell people keep your gratuitities for when you want to be a blessing to the bartender or the runners that are really helping you out. Now, this is a pro tip is that if you in a location and you want them to continue to keep coming to Runner, if you tip

43:29 them, they will stay in your vicinity. >> Yes, they will. >> Yes, they will. So, save your money for that, but don't double tip them. Also, we like to tell our first timers, especially if you like to go to the bar what bars we think is the best bar on the ship. Yeah. >> And that's going to be the Alchemy Bar

43:47 >> in our opinion because they make all their drinks from scratch. There is no premix, nothing. Uh, everything is fresh. But the thing about it, that bar stays packed. Another bar that we feel like the drinks are strong, which is the casino bar, of course, because they want to get you tow up so you can spend more

44:06 money on them slots and on them tables. >> Another one that's a one that's overlooked a lot is the sports bar. >> Yeah, >> the sports bar is really overlooked. Um, because you would think that you would have to just go in there, look at the TVs or whatever. No, you can just slide

44:20 in there and get something. And um the drinks are pretty good. I would just stay away from like those drinks that's kind of like already in the blender. I mean, get your one two because >> you drink nothing but sugar, >> but it's nothing but sugar. Like get something that at least is not going to

44:34 give you a hangover or a sugar hangover, right? >> In my opinion. That's just that's just what I say. >> Hey, look. Another pro couple of drinks that I want you to try and this for the first time. The first one is called a Tokyo tea. >> Don't do it. Don't do it. >> Get you a Tokyo tea from the casino bar.

44:53 Okay. >> Yeah. >> The next thing I want you to go to the tequila bar that's on the Leo deck and get you a margarita picture. The margarita pictures is your best value. I I can't tell you what the price is now. I think the last time we was on it >> was $40. >> I think it was 40 something dollars and

45:09 we were able to get about six or seven drinks out of it. >> Seven drinks out of it. >> Something like that. But you want some ice? Light ice. >> Yes, please. Light ice. So, it's a picture. It's a picture of margarita. >> Margarita. Yeah, >> you can get another drink in the picture

45:23 as well. I don't I can't remember which one is rum punch. >> Just get the margarita. >> Yeah, get the margarita. Light ice. If you have a preference of tequilas, tell them that. >> Yep. >> And you'll be fine. >> And then our uh carnival sailor already to sell. Sound off in the comments and

45:39 give our first timer some drinks. What can they try other than what I just gave them? But I I I gave them some strong punches, buddy. Tokyo punches. Of course, you can get a long island, too. But get Tokyo tea. Get the Tokyo tea. >> Tip 17. Especially if you've drank a Tokyo tea, make sure that you arrive

45:58 back to that ship from being in destination in port an hour before it takes off. >> I say hour or more. >> An hour or more, but at least an hour. And here's the important thing that you have to realize. Whatever time zone you're leaving from may not be the time zone that you end up in whenever you

46:17 depart that ship in your destination. For instance, when you go to Cosmill and you left from Miami, that's two different times. Make sure that you are staying on ship time. Make sure your phone is not flipping and flapping. And make sure that you are arriving back to that cruise ship on ship time according

46:38 to the time that they told you to get your butt back there. If you're confused, Google is free. >> Yep. >> Learn that because if you get back to that ship late, >> you'll be them peer runners you've been saying on Facebook and Instagram >> or you'll be on TikTok left behind. Yeah.

46:56 >> Because they're not going to wait for you. Unless you're on a carnival excursion and they are running behind, then that's that guarantee that you have that they'll get you back in time. >> Yep. And if that happens, you done lost the rest of the money for your trip and you got to pay to get back home

47:14 yourself. >> And if you don't have a passport, >> Uhhuh. >> now we got to deal with the embassy. >> And that's not free either. >> Yeah. So go out there, have fun, get lit, but get back on top >> on that ship. >> So that lead us to tip number 18, and I love that most cruise lines do take this

47:33 serious is your allergies. So, we recommend on day one going to the dining room and telling their major D, but at some point early on in the cruise, you need to let them know what your allergies are so that way they won't serve you nothing that's going to get you sick cuz that's the last thing you

47:51 need for your throat to be closing up on you and you can't breathe. >> All itching. >> Yeah. So, please let them know so they can take care of you. >> Absolutely. And also let them know ahead of time because there is a place on the on the back office for us travel advisors and for Carnival Direct. They

48:08 can indicate that you have allergies. We just can't indicate what that allergy is. >> So that's why we said please take the extra step. Go to the matraee. Let them know what your allergies are. Now if you're going to eat at the buffet, you just need to know and read the labels to

48:23 see what's in the food that you're putting on your own plate. >> Amen. Um, but there also is an iPad that you will find. Ask any um of the staff that you can actually go and you can kind of say what your allergy is and it'll tell you all the safe foods and the foods to stay away from on the ship.

48:41 That's a really good tool that most people don't know exists, but there is a pad that you can go to. >> Tip number 19, controversial. I don't know why, but we always tell people to go to Elegant Night. >> Please do Elegant Night, man. on a five day sale and there's a one a one one

48:58 night of elegant night. If you're on a 7-day sale and there's two, I still think that's a little obsessive, but um the way that we do it is we we kind of treat one as the elegant night and then the second one is kind of >> like a date night. >> Business casual, like a little business

49:13 casual date night, >> like a little date night. But there are also different themes on the cruise ship as well. For a given, you're going to have white night mostly. >> Oh yeah. a given. You're going to have a rock and glow party. What does that mean? Just wear loud colors. You >> And bring your glow sticks.

49:31 >> And bring glow sticks. They will try to give out as many as they can. But of course, you can't give out 4,000, you know, glow sticks. So, you could go to Dollar Tree, get some of the ones that you snap and then they'll glow. You know, little bracelets. They're cute, especially if you're traveling with

49:48 families. They also have like a I don't want to call it a soul train night. Mottown. Mottown. hotel night >> where you can dress up in your bell bottoms, your your big wigs, things like that. So, make sure that you know what your themes are. You can look that up online. Um, they usually don't change

50:05 much, but they are up to the cruise director. So, they don't really publish publish because the cruise director could say, "We're just having white night and glow party >> and that's it." >> And that's it, right? >> But I would always say just prepare for at least the glow party, the white

50:19 party, and your elegant nights and you'll be able to go. you'll be able to float on by. >> And pro tip for the elegant night, I'm going to tell you that when you take your pictures, your pictures are going to look fabulous. >> They are. >> You probably going to see yourself the best you've ever seen yourself in a

50:34 picture >> and you going to want them. >> All of them going to look good and you going to want all of them. But here's the safety net. >> Carnival have a picker picture package. >> So, we don't want you to make the mistake like us and spend over $300 on pictures on your first cruise.

50:48 >> Haven't seen a wall in our house yet. >> Right. So, they have a picture package that's $99 and I think you get four or five pictures and you can you can add that to when Lynette told you the queen told you to pre- buy everything. Add the photo package in there and pre- buy that

51:04 right there. So, that way >> it keep you on task. >> You can only pick I think it's four or five pictures. Four pictures. >> Yeah, four or five pictures. I can't remember. But get that and that'll alleviate the temptation. >> Yeah. Now, this is another question that people ask me a lot. Can I use my own

51:18 camera to take pictures? Of course, you can take pictures of yourself, but when it comes to those professional backgrounds that you see with the ship and the pianos and the different lighting and all of that, you cannot jump on that deck going in front of those backdrops and just flick it up.

51:36 You can't do that. >> Can't do that. >> Usually, when they're not occupied, they're kind of caged up or they barricaded where you can't do it anyway. Of course, you could take pictures with your phone, but the professional pictures, professional backdrops, no. >> All right, so that leads us to tip

51:53 number 20. And this is another thing that you might want to pre- purchase, but we kind of separated this because the cheers package cuz we just want to kind of talk about itself cuz we get a lot of questions. >> What's the cheers package, baby? >> Yeah. So, first one asks us, is it worth

52:06 it? So, our first thing is if you're not a drinker, the cheers package is not worth it. If you just a social drinker, you only make one or two drinks, it is not worth it. You going to pay too much. >> And I don't want to hear this. Oh, the Cheers package has more than alcoholic beverages.

52:23 >> You ain't spending that kind of money to drink no milkshakes and sodas and juice and all that >> and juice and water. >> No. >> And especially coffees. >> Yeah. So, don't do that, fam. >> The alcohol is the star of the package package. Yes. >> Everything else is just Otis. >> All right. So, for our family members

52:42 that don't know what the cheers package is, it is Carnival's beverage package where they allow you to get up to 15 cocktails per day. >> Beer, >> beer, wine, liquor, but as you get them, you only get 15. Also, if you are in the cabin with another adult that's not pregnant, you are or a child

53:07 >> or they're pregnant, it doesn't matter. The drink package has to be paid for >> by all the adults. >> All the adults that are in the cabin. Now, that pregnant thing, you could try. >> It doesn't work. >> It don't work. People try to Okay, all the adults in the room, you going to

53:24 have to pay for it unless you in a room with a child. That's the way that you don't have to do it. But each person has to pay for it. So, you're probably wondering, what is the price of the drink package? I'm glad you asked. So, there's two different prices. So, it's a price you can pay for prior to you going

53:41 on a ship, which is $69.95 per person per day. So, and then if you decide that, hey, I'm not going to pre- purchase it. I'm not going to do the pre- buy everything. I'mma buy it on the ship. It is $5 more per person per day, which is $74.95. So, you looking at on a fiveday sale and

54:02 you're probably looking at probably upwards of what >> 1,200. >> Yeah, something like that. So between 12 somewhere it's going to cost you >> cuz you have to put the 18% gratuitity onto it as well. >> Yeah, >> that's going to tack on to it automatically. >> Let me let you guys know that that are

54:18 in Texas, Norolk, and New York. Uh I don't know why they do this. >> It's some kind of law. >> That's some kind of law. >> I don't know how Norol got in it because this was never a thing for us. >> But you won't be able to partake of your drink package until day two. >> You also did not pay for it for day one.

54:34 >> You didn't pay for it for day one, right? So, they will give you access to it at 6:00 a.m. on the next day two of your cruise. So, just know that. >> Also, with the drink package, just know when we say 15 alcoholic beverages, all other non-alcoholic beverages are unlimited. >> Yeah. They don't count. Yeah.

54:53 >> So, that does not count towards your 15. You can drink all the sodas, juices, specialty coffees, milkshakes, energy drinks, monsters, all that you want to consume. >> Now, the special the specialty coffees do the alcohol. >> The alcohol ones though, but if you're just getting like a crafted coffee, that

55:12 does not count. >> I want to clear the air cuz like I I would got I would got one. >> As soon as you put liquor, >> it's count. That's one. >> In that coffee, it counts. If you put looker in that milkshake, it counts towards that 15. And the 21st tip, now I want to say it like that. The 21st tip

55:32 is, I'm sorry, I like this rule. Don't fight me, but if you're traveling with kids, and when I say kids, anybody 18 or below. >> Mhm. Just know that there are curfews that you have to adhere by for these children. I still think that they are a good curfew at this time. If you're 17

55:56 and under, it is 1:00 a.m. >> You have to be in your cabin. I don't care if you sleep, looking at TV, what you doing, you just not, you better not be in General Pop, >> right? >> After 1:00 am, >> if you are, you need to be accompanied by an adult. Yeah, >> and we're not talking about an

56:16 18year-old adult. >> Yeah. Not your little c. Yeah, >> we're talking about an adult adult. >> 21 years old. >> 21 or older. I think it's 20 if not >> 21 years or older. Yeah. >> 21 years or older. They just changed that because the hack used to be my 17-year-old is with my 18-year-old.

56:31 Yeah. >> What? >> So, yes, if they are out and about because baby, the kids be having a time on Carnival and I love that for them, but I also want to go to sleep. >> Yeah. >> I also don't want to be I don't want to be u what's it what's it called? Dingdong ditch. I don't want to be

56:47 ding-dong ditched on it. >> All right. And as a bonus, most people don't realize this, but if you're doing a seven night sailing or more, so seven plus night sailing on Carnival, you can do bottle service in your room. So if you don't want to do the drink package, if you don't want to buy your drinks one

57:07 by one, you just want to buy a bottle of a drink tequila rum that now just know it is overpriced. But for somebody that just wants to have one spirit in their room or two, you can buy a couple of them, >> right? >> And have it in your room, you can also buy mixers to be brought into your room

57:26 as well as it is considered bottle service and you can have that and that will offset a lot of people's cost. But that service is only for 7 plus night sailing. Also, now this is on all sailings. It doesn't matter. Most people don't realize that Carnival has a wine >> wine package. It's called the around the

57:46 vineyards or something like that. So, it starts off with three bottles of wine that you get to choose from. Usually, these are like your your your base wines, your house wines, but you can get three bottles for $81. If you're a wine drinker, that's not too bad, >> right? >> Or you can opt for the five bottle

58:05 package, and that one is $126. Of course, there will be options for you to probably tack on a little bit more money for more premium values of wine, but yeah, most people don't know that that exists. So, you can do bottle service for the seven night more or you can do the um the wine for any night.

58:25 >> You might not want even want no cocktails. >> You might not. Also, another hack is throw this in here for free. If you go to the steakhouse on night one as a part of your specialty dining, you get to indulge in a bottle of wine for free. Yep. >> And then on the house >> on the house.

58:41 >> And if you don't finish that bottle of wine, most of the time they'll cork it and give it to you. >> Yep. >> You can just take it to your room. >> All right, fam. If you have enjoyed this video, you want to check this video out next on what you shouldn't pack on your first Carnival cruise. And we're going

58:55 to see you in the next video. Peace.