CARNIVAL VS DCL: The discussion and comparison thread!

[mevelandry]

I don't keep folders or anything. I've done so much traveling it's all in my head. I do store confirmations on my I- phone. I used to make list so I wouldn't forget anything. I stopped doing that, and I NEVER forget anything from home. That may sound great, but I have my flaws. I can't tell you how many things I've left in hotel room. I think I've lost my credit card at least three times while traveling. I'm great until I actually leave the house.

Impressive!

I usually plan 2 to 3 trips in advance... My husband absolutely mix them all up. I think I would mix some facts up if it wasn't for my binders.

 

[RedSox68]

I'm a binder person too! As I do my research and make bookings things get their own slots in those plastic sleeves. While we are traveling I remove items at the end of each day. Organization is the key I always say

I don't immediately start out with a binder or folder -- I have a bin set (3 bins red, yellow and blue) with a top shelf and wheels -- looks like something a kid would keep toys in. Have had it for years and keep it in my closet. The first bin is for the upcoming trip, second for the next trip and bottom with future trip ideas/info. As I start to collect things, then I start a binder. The thing I like most about the bins is I don't have to think about organization at first -- I just collect the info, passports, money (foreign or US -- whatever extra money I make for the trip) and throw them in the appropriate bin. Then I spend an evening organizing it all -- a set to keep home of the important stuff, which stays in the bin and a set to take, which goes in the folder/binder. It's so fun to read how others do it and what products they use -- more good ideas.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Impressive!

I usually plan 2 to 3 trips in advance... My husband absolutely mix them all up. I think I would mix some facts up if it wasn't for my binders.

That's the same as me - I have several cruise plans on the go.

I generally store my documents electronically until about a week or 2 before the cruise (I have a handheld scanner and a full scanner at work). When I print them out, I use half page sized envelopes with a large binder clip. Each envelope is marked on the outside what it is.

I usually have:

Driving Directions
Hotel Confirmations
Parking Instructions
Cruise Confirmation and luggage tags
Ship information including a deck plan
Accessible ship information (location of companion washrooms, location of accessible seating, etc.)

I also have what I refer to as my "American purse" - it has our passports, a US change purse, my wallet with American cash (ones, fives, tens, and a few $20s) and then the envelope we get from the bank with our spending money.

 

[RedSox68]

That's the same as me - I have several cruise plans on the go.

I generally store my documents electronically until about a week or 2 before the cruise (I have a handheld scanner and a full scanner at work). When I print them out, I use half page sized envelopes with a large binder clip. Each envelope is marked on the outside what it is.

I usually have:

Driving Directions
Hotel Confirmations
Parking Instructions
Cruise Confirmation and luggage tags
Ship information including a deck plan
Accessible ship information (location of companion washrooms, location of accessible seating, etc.)

I also have what I refer to as my "American purse" - it has our passports, a US change purse, my wallet with American cash (ones, fives, tens, and a few $20s) and then the envelope we get from the bank with our spending money.

This made me laugh -- I do the same thing. I get overly obsessed about knowing where everything is so it's handy. So fun to be reading how everyone plans and packs.

I also have my "plane caddy" -- basically a large plastic and cloth zipper pouch that I put my pens, diary, puzzle book and reading book in so I can just pull it out before we put the luggage overhead. (Of course, it also has the sanitation wipes to wipe down the areas LOL)

 

[cruiser21]

I leave on Sunday and haven't done any of that. I'll pack tomorrow afternoon. I have any confirmations I need in my email. I've never really had any problems when traveling. I use Orbitz when booking hotels, Costco for car rentals. I'm probably more organized then I think I am because I don't think of myself as an organized person. It's just become so routine now. Like getting ready for work and being out the door at 510 am.
What's making this trip easier is my husband isn't going so I don't have to worry about cleaning the house, turning up AC, taking out garbage, making sure the timer is set on pool pump, doors and window locked, computers off, hold mail and paper deliver, you know all the little things you have to make sure you get done when you leave a house empty. That is the stuff I have to make a checklist for. The packing part I have down. I pack for everybody in the house. None of them are capable. The last time my dh packed for himself he forget to pack shirts. How do you forget to pack shirts?

 

[tinkerone]

I pack for everybody in the house. None of them are capable. The last time my dh packed for himself he forget to pack shirts. How do you forget to pack shirts?

That I refuse to do. Once my boys hit 13 they were on their own. I figured their wives would thank me later. When we first got married I packed for DH but a few years into it I thought, what am I doing?, and I passed the baton to him. Very early on he forgot underwear. Didn't bother me, I had mine. From that he realized how important it was to pay a bit of attention to packing and has never had a problem since. No, I'll do my own packing and if your not capable then you go without underwear.

I have enough to do since I am the planner and the rest are the followers. The least they can do is pack their own stuff. I do applaud the fact you have such a good memory though. Having a comfort level with just using that and email is a wonder in my eyes. I'm not that good, I would never make it without my trusty folders, ducks in a row so to speak.

 

[RedSox68]

I leave on Sunday and haven't done any of that. I'll pack tomorrow afternoon. I have any confirmations I need in my email. I've never really had any problems when traveling. I use Orbitz when booking hotels, Costco for car rentals. I'm probably more organized then I think I am because I don't think of myself as an organized person. It's just become so routine now. Like getting ready for work and being out the door at 510 am.
What's making this trip easier is my husband isn't going so I don't have to worry about cleaning the house, turning up AC, taking out garbage, making sure the timer is set on pool pump, doors and window locked, computers off, hold mail and paper deliver, you know all the little things you have to make sure you get done when you leave a house empty. That is the stuff I have to make a checklist for. The packing part I have down. I pack for everybody in the house. None of them are capable. The last time my dh packed for himself he forget to pack shirts. How do you forget to pack shirts?

I, too, pack for the three of us -- but there is a method to my madness. We spread the clothes around between our suitcases so if one gets lost (which has happened), we all still have clothes. If everyone has all their stuff in individual suitcases, and one gets lost, someone has no clothes or shoes. Plus I am a "waste no space" packer -- rolling shirts, socks and underwear inside shoes, toiletries in double ziploc bags at the bottom in those annoying indentions between the supports, and dressier shirts/blouses rolled with tissue paper between to avoid wrinkles. They, however, pick out each and every piece of their clothing, shoes, bathing suits, etc. and all I do is space fill the suitcases.

 

[cruiser21]

That I refuse to do. Once my boys hit 13 they were on their own. I figured their wives would thank me later. When we first got married I packed for DH but a few years into it I thought, what am I doing?, and I passed the baton to him. Very early on he forgot underwear. Didn't bother me, I had mine. From that he realized how important it was to pay a bit of attention to packing and has never had a problem since. No, I'll do my own packing and if your not capable then you go without underwear.

I have enough to do since I am the planner and the rest are the followers. The least they can do is pack their own stuff. I do applaud the fact you have such a good memory though. Having a comfort level with just using that and email is a wonder in my eyes. I'm not that good, I would never make it without my trusty folders, ducks in a row so to speak.

He does bring the suitcases in from the garage and checks them for scorpions before I pack .. that I appreciate.

 

[mevelandry]

False hope: my favorite personal cruise assistant from NCL had left me a voicemail. Unfortunately the promotion that he is offering us is still 450$ too expensive for our budget.

I guess the price watch is back on. So stressful.

 

[RedSox68]

He does bring the suitcases in from the garage and checks them for scorpions before I pack .. that I appreciate.

 

[cruiser21]

False hope: my favorite personal cruise assistant from NCL had left me a voicemail. Unfortunately the promotion that he is offering us is still 450$ too expensive for our budget.

I guess the price watch is back on. So stressful.

I've done that with Disney cruises. Waiting for the GT rates to drop. It's exciting when you get a good rate. I honestly don't know how people plan years in advance. I just don't have that kind of patience.

 

[mevelandry]

I've done that with Disney cruises. Waiting for the GT rates to drop. It's exciting when you get a good rate. I honestly don't know how people plan years in advance. I just don't have that kind of patience.

I have a hard time waiting. I get anxious. I can't book that much last minute deals when I have to fly (they are more expensive when I book last minute)... But if I get rewarded with a great deal, it might change the way I travel.

I elaborated a new strategy for the future: I can select cruises leaving a port on the same day or the next day. I will book plane tickets in order to arrive one-two days before departure and book a return on the last day of the cruise that arrives later in the week. Then I'll wait for last minute rates to book the cruise and book hotel rooms accordingly.

 

[cruiser21]

I have a hard time waiting. I get anxious. I can't book that much last minute deals when I have to fly (they are more expensive when I book last minute)... But if I get rewarded with a great deal, it might change the way I travel.

I elaborated a new strategy for the future: I can select cruises leaving a port on the same day or the next day. I will book plane tickets in order to arrive one-two days before departure and book a return on the last day of the cruise that arrives later in the week. Then I'll wait for last minute rates to book the cruise and book hotel rooms accordingly.

I guess when I say last minute I mean 2 to 3 months out. . That's usually when you see some discounts. That's about the right time to see good prices on air and hotels. It's not really last minute except in the cruise world. I have a hard time think thinking a year or so ahead. I will book the wbta when it's released because it's been selling out so fast. I like to vacation late Spring and Early Fall. I tend to change my mind a lot on what I want to do so it's pointless to lock myself into something to early.

 

[mevelandry]

I guess when I say last minute I mean 2 to 3 months out. . That's usually when you see some discounts. That's about the right time to see good prices on air and hotels. It's not really last minute except in the cruise world. I have a hard time think thinking a year or so ahead. I will book the wbta when it's released because it's been selling out so fast. I like to vacation late Spring and Early Fall. I tend to change my mind a lot on what I want to do so it's pointless to lock myself into something to early.

I tend to change my mind a lot too... But the rates can change so fast that I don't know what is going to happen.

Like the cruise assistant told me: "Cruise rates are like stocks. It's hard to predict what is going to happen." The cruise departing a week before the one we are interested in had the lowest prices on friday and suddently this morning, it's higher than the one we want.

All I am praying for is for the rates to go slightly lower and Canada at Par promo to still be available.

EDIT (May 5th): On thursday, the rates finally started going a little bit lower. I think once they go around 802$ CND (+ taxes), I will be confortable enough to book. Hopefully within the next 3 weeks I'll wake up one morning and have a great surprise. *Fingers crossed*.

We have a plan B (short land trip --nothing that can compare to a cruise--) if it doesn't work but I'm praying that we'll get the rates we want on time.

 

[mevelandry]

Interesting news about Carnival:
Now we can book our wifi package online before the cruise. (I think they started it with Vista and Horizon, TBD).

It has to be prepaid (Yay!) but we have to pay taxes on it (Booh!)... I prepaid my 5$ a day "social" package and I paid 25$ for my six days cruise + 1,80$ taxes (I was told that if you book as you sail, it's duty free).

I'm glad I could take care of it in advance!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Interesting news about Carnival:
Now we can book our wifi package online before the cruise. (I think they started it with Vista and Horizon, TBD).

It has to be prepaid (Yay!) but we have to pay taxes on it (Booh!)... I prepaid my 5$ a day "social" package and I paid 25$ for my six days cruise + 1,80$ taxes (I was told that if you book as you sail, it's duty free).

I'm glad I could take care of it in advance!

Yes, Carnival seems to be moving to a model where you can pre-purchase just about everything so you could end up with a small (or zero) onboard account if you choose.

 

[mevelandry]

Yes, Carnival seems to be moving to a model where you can pre-purchase just about everything so you could end up with a small (or zero) onboard account if you choose.

I am a big fan of "pre-paid", and so is my husband. He likes to know what will be the total cost in advance and hates having to check the bills after the cruise and/or having a bill to pay after a cruise.

I have already ordered and paid what I wanted to order for our Vista cruise. Now there's only "cruise cash bar" left to buy. We don't drink enough to make the alcohol package worth it but it's nice to have enough on board credit to cover the cost of a few drinks.

 

[trvlgirlmq]

I love to have as much prepaid as well. We went ahead and booked the MSC Seaside for June 2018. We are doing the combined East/West 14 night itinerary for less than the 8 day Vista we had booked. Of course once I add in the loss of our deposit it comes out about $250 more but that is not too bad for 6 extra nights. We also get 12 drink vouchers per person so we should have nothing on our tab at the end.

 

[mevelandry]

I love to have as much prepaid as well. We went ahead and booked the MSC Seaside for June 2018. We are doing the combined East/West 14 night itinerary for less than the 8 day Vista we had booked. Of course once I add in the loss of our deposit it comes out about $250 more but that is not too bad for 6 extra nights. We also get 12 drink vouchers per person so we should have nothing on our tab at the end.

250$ for 6 extra nights + the 12 drinks/pp is an excellent value. The ship itself looks fantastic (and will be brand new!) Congrats!

 

[mevelandry]

EDIT:

Regarding my Bermuda cruise wish...

DH and I decided to push back our project until next year. (We're going to go on a land trip to Niagara Falls instead). Next year we're going to try to book a bit earlier in june so it's going to be a little bit cheaper.

Now back to planning our October cruise on the Vista!