We chose the dark side - Carnival VS Disney

[Love2Cruz]

Dug, I get what you are saying, but walking around with a digital camera taking pictures of the sites will also stamp you as a tourist...as locals aren't taking pictures of the places they live...to me it's more about how to prevent it from getting stolen...I carry it in a zippered messenger/crossbody type purse. I'm from NY so I know how to blend in, and yes I'm Italian and I speak the language, as well as get by pretty well in Spanish...I think I can meld in until I take out a device to take pictures of the Sagrada Familia, and bang...I am now a "tourist". But I like to think of myself as a traveler.
But still I think I may upgrade my iPhone 5c to the new 7 as it will have better photo quality and keep my iPad at home. I also don't dress "American"..I wear jeans and plain blouses and I don't wear white sneakers...lol

Since I'm going in March...I plan to bring jeans and black and white turtlenecks that I'll dress up with some nice scarves...bring sweaters, layers and a black waterproof sport coat that I'll need to buy for the chilly nights. For evening some some dresses that won't take up a lot of luggage space...I plan to pack light...emphasis on "plan"

 

[Ofinn]

"Not looking like a tourist" has very little to do with skin tone and eye color - especially since so many places ARE multi-cultural. It has to do with dressing (writing on t-shirts is a BIG give away), the amount of "stuff" you have (I had a smallish bag that hangs cross-body it held a hand-held camera, my phone for in case I wanted to take a picture to upload immediately when I got to wifi, printed directions from Google maps (something I've seen even locals here in NYC move), money, ID, a pen, and chapstick - but it doesn't look any different from a "regular" purse because really it IS a regular purse - and that was it!), and again, attitude with how you walk around. It is quite possible to take things in without gawking with your mouth hanging open and stopping and staring. Again, no iPads for photos - that screams tourist like nothing else. I travel solo, so talking isn't a big thing for me, but if you're really worried about it (my guess is if you don't look like a tourist they may not bother to get close enough to listen), work on not having the kids scream or talk loud (think inside voices even outside) and consider trying to keep conversation to a minimum in public areas.

At restaurants, DO NOT put your bag on the back of your chair under any circumstances. Again, advantage of the small purse I carry is I can leave it across my body and put it in my lap. If you MUST carry a mini-suitcase with you and place it on the floor, put it between your legs and wrap the strap around your leg so the bag cannot be scooted off. Ensure that all zippers are closed. And I'd take out the wallet and put it in a front pocket or hold it between your legs while eating so if the bag DOES walk away, your wallet doesn't go with it.

It's hard to explain - and I don't have pictures of myself from when I was in Barcelona, but I know my guide from Rainbow Barcelona when we met up in my hotel lobby said "OK, well, I can skip the normal first part where I talk about not looking like a tourist. Usually I have to give people lots of tips because they are obvious. But you? You fit right in on the street."

I understand Europe is probably as multicultural as the United States. When I traveled in Ecuador I really stood out. We still look, talk and dress like Americans. When I was in London it took two seconds to spot who was a tourist and who wasn't. Mostly because locals were dressed for work and tourists were dressed in casual clothes. Ethnicity is not that big a deal, but Greeks still look Greek and Italians still look Italian. I appreciate your advice, but honestly I'm not that worried about. We plan on talking, laughing and having a good time, and I don't think that two kids out of school in Europe are going to be mistaken for locals. I going to carry my money belt and that's about it. I'm not sure how I'll take pictures probably just use my phone. My husband is the photographer and he's not going. I'm mostly worried about my kids and their cell phones. I'd like them to have them in case they get lost, but not sure how they are going to carry them. They normally put them in their pockets.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Is pick pocketing really that bad in Europe I hear about the stories all the time...

 

[RedSox68]

Is pick pocketing really that bad in Europe I hear about the stories all the time...

They say the same thing about NYC and Philadelphia and Chicago, etc. We've been to them all and never had a problem and all these warnings never keep us from traveling. Just stay aware of those around you, and don't keep your wallet in your back pocket. My husband either wears his travel vest with the wallet on the inside zipped pocket, or a waste wallet.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

They say the same thing about NYC and Philadelphia and Chicago, etc. We've been to them all and never had a problem and all these warnings never keep us from traveling. Just stay aware of those around you, and don't keep your wallet in your back pocket. My husband either wears his travel vest with the wallet on the inside zipped pocket, or a waste wallet.

Oh ok sounds good I guess like NYC you just gotta be on your toes...however I just heard that overseas especially in France/Rome/London it gets really really bad.

 

[mevelandry]

Dug, I get what you are saying, but walking around with a digital camera taking pictures of the sites will also stamp you as a tourist...as locals aren't taking pictures of the places they live...to me it's more about how to prevent it from getting stolen...I carry it in a zippered messenger/crossbody type purse. I'm from NY so I know how to blend in, and yes I'm Italian and I speak the language, as well as get by pretty well in Spanish...I think I can meld in until I take out a device to take pictures of the Sagrada Familia, and bang...I am now a "tourist". But I like to think of myself as a traveler.
But still I think I may upgrade my iPhone 5c to the new 7 as it will have better photo quality and keep my iPad at home. I also don't dress "American"..I wear jeans and plain blouses and I don't wear white sneakers...lol

Since I'm going in March...I plan to bring jeans and black and white turtlenecks that I'll dress up with some nice scarves...bring sweaters, layers and a black waterproof sport coat that I'll need to buy for the chilly nights. For evening some some dresses that won't take up a lot of luggage space...I plan to pack light...emphasis on "plan"

White sneakers. Does that mean I should wear white sneakers in order to blend in when I travel to the United States?

 

[RedSox68]

Oh ok sounds good I guess like NYC you just gotta be on your toes...however I just heard that overseas especially in France/Rome/London it gets really really bad.

We spent 10 days in London last August 2015. We were aware daily as we walked around to stay alert and, to be honest, worried a little when going underground for the trains. But anymore you have to worry about walking into a mall or McDonalds here so I think everyone is nervous to travel anywhere with all the news reports. When we went to Rome in 2007 they were making a huge deal about the gypsys and how they trick you into buying stuff and I even read one report where they will "throw" their children at you to distract you so they can steal your belongings. We never saw any of that and felt it was a little exaggerated. We never put our valuables in a backpack and keep our bags in front of us -- they are safety bags with impossible to cut straps. Heck, in Brazil during the Olympics, in broad daylight, youth gangs were attacking groups and knocking people down and stealing. No one was prepared for that at first. It's all relative.......just go, stay aware and enjoy the beauty and history of your surroundings.

 

[Ofinn]

Oh ok sounds good I guess like NYC you just gotta be on your toes...however I just heard that overseas especially in France/Rome/London it gets really really bad.

Where I live in you could leave your purse for 15 minutes come back and it would still be there. We didn't have to worry about it in Northern Europe. I didn't notice it in London. My husband went to Europe with some of his buddies in his early 20's. He said girls were always hitting on them all the time in bars...because they wanted their wallets. So yeah it's a problem. You just have to be aware.

 

[Love2Cruz]

Oh ok sounds good I guess like NYC you just gotta be on your toes...however I just heard that overseas especially in France/Rome/London it gets really really bad.

It is pretty bad. I don't think you'll go a day without having a gypsy asking for money...or Africans trying to get you to buy fake designer purses or selfie sticks. It's pretty rampant, but as others have said, be smart, don't take any money out in front of them since the one coming up to you is probably a decoy to distract you as the other ones go to "work". The African migrants can get pretty pushy and hostile, you have to stand your grown and don't EVER show you are scared. I came across a pretty hot exchange with one in Venice who was trying to bully my mom into buying a purse. I stood between them and told him SHE SAID NO. And we played the staring game until he walked away. Being that I'm from NY (Bronx to be precise) I'm more of a fight (not flight) girl and if they see strength they will back down. I found Europe in general (at least in the MED) to be pretty tough..they are not overly friendly, not into the customer service we're used to here (they can't shine Disney's shoes) and they are aggressive. So as they say, when in Rome......

 

[mevelandry]

Is pick pocketing really that bad in Europe I hear about the stories all the time...

Youtube "How to avoid pickpockets" you will learn their techniques and how to avoid them.

 

[mevelandry]

They say the same thing about NYC and Philadelphia and Chicago, etc. We've been to them all and never had a problem and all these warnings never keep us from traveling. Just stay aware of those around you, and don't keep your wallet in your back pocket. My husband either wears his travel vest with the wallet on the inside zipped pocket, or a waste wallet.

Good tips.

I have a special purse that can't be cut, with zippers you can lock...but most of the time, when I go to NYC, I try to avoid having a purse with me, and keep a light version of my wallet in my front pockets or inside pockets.

 

[mevelandry]

Heck, in Brazil during the Olympics, in broad daylight, youth gangs were attacking groups and knocking people down and stealing. No one was prepared for that at first. It's all relative.......just go, stay aware and enjoy the beauty and history of your surroundings.

I've seen videos of that... I thought it was very helpful in order to recognize what behavior to avoid and what items should stay home while you travel.

 

[trvlgirlmq]

Please... don't be like that. I'm not here to argue or fight with anybody. I'm here to have fun and talk about my passion.

Also my tone (which was intended to be... light?) can be lost in translation: english is not my first langage (I'm french), therefore, my writing skills still lacks nuance and sometimes, I may sound more dramatic than I really want to be.

I apologize for antagonizing you.

I really get peeved though when generalizations are made about a place or people. For all my 40+ years I have "heard" about pickpockets and gypsies and all sorts of not nice things about Europe. When I finally visited a European city I didn't have any problems because I did my research and stayed alert. I encountered the "deaf" girls in Paris as well as the African vendors. We just keep our hands on our bags, look straight ahead and say a firm NO. Do not stop walking. Easy peasy.

I have seen lots of white sneakers on local people (mostly the younger generations).

 

[Ofinn]

Good tips.

I have a special purse that can't be cut, with zippers you can lock...but most of the time, when I go to NYC, I try to avoid having a purse with me, and keep a light version of my wallet in my front pockets or inside pockets.

I went on Amazon and bought one of those bags. I also got my kids phone holders for runners. The kind that go around the waist. They have expensive phones so hopefully they'll still have them when we return home. We will have free texting in Europe. I feel much more comfortable if they have their phones on them. Normally they leave them on the ship. Due to how crowded some of these places are I could see how loosing track of a kid could be pretty easy.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

DD#2 booked her first cruise yesterday, for herself and SoIL#2. They are going on Carnival in January (I can't remember where exactly...I'll have to ask her). Just the two of them; their LO gets to spend a week with us, getting spoiled rotten. (She wanted a Disney cruise, but they agreed to wait until LO is older...he's only 6months...and to go as a family.)
They've been separated since June, when SoIL went to training for his new job in the military, and they were all supposed to go to Japan for 3 years in January...but DD was denied due to concerns over her mental health...so she and LO are staying in the states with us, and SoIL is going to Japan for just a year by himself. Sad situation, but...

Back to what I wanted to post about..
Any advice that I can share with them about cruising, both in general and on Carnival?
How much should they budget for drinks, extra meals? Is there anything on board that they should definitely do or avoid?

 

[PrincessTrisha]

DD#2 booked her first cruise yesterday, for herself and SoIL#2. They are going on Carnival in January (I can't remember where exactly...I'll have to ask her). Just the two of them; their LO gets to spend a week with us, getting spoiled rotten. (She wanted a Disney cruise, but they agreed to wait until LO is older...he's only 6months...and to go as a family.)
They've been separated since June, when SoIL went to training for his new job in the military, and they were all supposed to go to Japan for 3 years in January...but DD was denied due to concerns over her mental health...so she and LO are staying in the states with us, and SoIL is going to Japan for just a year by himself. Sad situation, but...

Back to what I wanted to post about..
Any advice that I can share with them about cruising, both in general and on Carnival?
How much should they budget for drinks, extra meals? Is there anything on board that they should definitely do or avoid?

It really depends on what ship.

Some ships have several additional restaurants and some ships have none.

Alcoholic drinks are reasonable on Carnival - fruity, frozen drinks are about $8-$8.50 plus gratuity. Beer is around $6. Canned sodas are $2 each; specialty coffees are around $4.

I highly recommend pre-ordering bottled water as it's only $3.99 a case of 12 and delivered to your room.

Carnival is known for their day time activities - they have also teamed up with Hasbro so they'll have a trivial pursuit game each sea day, a Clue Murder mystery game played throughout the cruise and a Hasbro game show in the main theatre.

They have a comedy club on board that usually runs 4 shows per night (2 all ages and 2 adult only). If you love comedy, get there early.

Warm chocolate melting cake in the dining room is to die for - super rich though, ask for 2 ice creams.

They have a number of new or existing deck parties - 80's glow party, Mexican deck party, Serenity nights (for adults).

Some of their ships have the "Dive In Movies" where they show 1 - 2 movies each night on the pool deck - complete with warm fuzzy blankets to borrow and fresh pop corn (no butter but they do have regular salt you can add).

Most if not all Carnival ships have a Deli (open 11am to 11pm) and a pizza place (24 hours). These are both great options with made-to-order food for lunch or later nights. Oh, and 24 hour soft serve.

Carnival has started rolling out their "comfort matters" forms on some ships. Basically your room steward will ask if you want robes, extra pillows-blankets-towels, and if you want your cabin serviced in the am, pm or both.

The sea day brunch is not to be missed - filet mignon and eggs, eggs benedict with either ham or salmon, omelets, cereal encrusted French toast plus grown up macaroni and cheese, hen ala divoila (spicy split chicken), and a whole bunch of other options.

Make sure she does her online check in ahead of time, you print off your luggage tags from there and some ports have started a staggered check in process where you select your check in time.

That's the general stuff I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

When you live in a tourist area, you can tell who is a tourist and who isn't. That goes for Europe and USA. And it's not about what color you wear or what color your shoes are.

Thieves like easy targets. If you carry a purse, keep it in front of you. Don't put money or wallet where it can be gotten to easily. Don't hang your bag off the back of a chair, etc. People ask you to give them money or buy stuff, don't be afraid to say no, or walk away.

 

[Ofinn]

It really depends on what ship.

Some ships have several additional restaurants and some ships have none.

Alcoholic drinks are reasonable on Carnival - fruity, frozen drinks are about $8-$8.50 plus gratuity. Beer is around $6. Canned sodas are $2 each; specialty coffees are around $4.

I highly recommend pre-ordering bottled water as it's only $3.99 a case of 12 and delivered to your room.

Carnival is known for their day time activities - they have also teamed up with Hasbro so they'll have a trivial pursuit game each sea day, a Clue Murder mystery game played throughout the cruise and a Hasbro game show in the main theatre.

They have a comedy club on board that usually runs 4 shows per night (2 all ages and 2 adult only). If you love comedy, get there early.

Warm chocolate melting cake in the dining room is to die for - super rich though, ask for 2 ice creams.

They have a number of new or existing deck parties - 80's glow party, Mexican deck party, Serenity nights (for adults).

Some of their ships have the "Dive In Movies" where they show 1 - 2 movies each night on the pool deck - complete with warm fuzzy blankets to borrow and fresh pop corn (no butter but they do have regular salt you can add).

Most if not all Carnival ships have a Deli (open 11am to 11pm) and a pizza place (24 hours). These are both great options with made-to-order food for lunch or later nights. Oh, and 24 hour soft serve.

Carnival has started rolling out their "comfort matters" forms on some ships. Basically your room steward will ask if you want robes, extra pillows-blankets-towels, and if you want your cabin serviced in the am, pm or both.

The sea day brunch is not to be missed - filet mignon and eggs, eggs benedict with either ham or salmon, omelets, cereal encrusted French toast plus grown up macaroni and cheese, hen ala divoila (spicy split chicken), and a whole bunch of other options.

Make sure she does her online check in ahead of time, you print off your luggage tags from there and some ports have started a staggered check in process where you select your check in time.

That's the general stuff I can think of off the top of my head.

This is very helpful. Thank you.

 

[mevelandry]

Only 8 days before our vacation. It's going to be the longest week ever!

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

It really depends on what ship.

Some ships have several additional restaurants and some ships have none.
.

Thanks! I'll pass this on to her.