Ask Bahama Mama - The Official Q&A Thread for "Freeps Ahoy!", an FRN Caribbean Cruise

Free Republic Network | 11/01/2002 | MinuteGal

[DoughtyOne]

 

Ask Bahama Mama!

Hey Mon, and Freepers of all ages:

Picture me, your own Bahama Mama, lolling on a sun-drenched beach on Freeper Island.
Warm, sparkling blue waters all around.  Palm trees waving.  Coconut rum punch nearby.
It's a Freeper holiday.

I'm here to answer all those nagging little questions you may have
about our week-long "Freeps Ahoy" cruise to the Caribbean,
May 31st aboard Carnival's "Triumph", a beautiful and fun Ship.

Things such as: What do I bring to wear?...  Are there any hair dryers in the cabins?...
What are tipping guidelines?...  Can my special diet be accommodated?...
How much cash should I bring?...

Bahama Mama will answer all your questions.  Use the links provided on this page for information on cabins,
fare and reservations, plus other topics of interest and "chat" about our cruise getaway.
This "Bahama Mama" thread will be for questions and answers only.
Please keep on topic.  Some answers may take a little time to research, so be patient.
Bahama Mama will respond to each of you.

If you want a private reply to a special query, send a freepmail to Bahama Mama's stateside moniker, "MinuteGal".

Do I hear reggae music nearby?  I'm off to investigate.  It's such an effort to pull myself off the beach.

Fellow Freepers, follow your heart's desire for a relaxing getaway in the sun.  Register now!
On embarkation day, I'll be waitin' aboard ship to welcome y'all with a big warm tropical hug!

Remember, post your questions to BAHAMA MAMA on this thread.
I'm here to insure smooth-sailing for every Freeper signing on for our fun-filled Caribbean adventure!

Freeper cruises rock!!!

Bahama Mama's mainland alter ego...
( Leni / MinuteGal )
 

Bahama Mama thinks all Freepers belong on a beach like this.
Who could argue with that? Register today.
 

This page is for questions and answers only.  If you have general comments
please go to the Cruise Announcement page to make them.
Thank you.
 

Freeps Ahoy Links

Cruise Announcement - Comments welcomed here
Cruise Staterooms, Categories and Rates
Registration Form
The Carnival ship Triumph
More about Cruise Staterooms
Deck Floor Plans
Cruise Map
Destinations
More about Triumph

[MinuteGal]

Fisherpeople of the World, Arise!

Great idea, Strela. Our ship will be docked in the calm, azure waters of Cozumel from 7 AM till midnight, the longest stretch in any of our ports of call.

This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fulfill a game fishing dream.

And the company of other freepers on this piscatorial adventure would be an added bonus!

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

Freepers, please refer to reply # 61 on the FReeps Ahoy cruise thread IV for an announcement you'll love!

(Link is at the top of this thread).

Bahama Mama

[Pontiac]

Any changes in the rates?

[MinuteGal]

There sure ARE changes in the rates, Pontiac!

Please refer to the FReeps Ahoy thread (link in "breaking news" on the home page) and refer to reply # 61. Thanks,

Bahama Mama

[hoosiermama]

Saw a piture of the ruins on the FR AHoy thread. Have always wanted to see them. Do you have details as to the side trip?

[MinuteGal]

Hi Ho, Hoo (hey, I like that!)

When a passenger first sets foot inside his/her cabin, there'll be a brochure on the desk with all shore excursions listed....day, time, cost, method of transportation. In the case of the ruins, it'll be by chartered bus.

All the details of the excursions will be in the brochure.

If you decide to take this tour, you'll go to the shore excursion kiosk or counter on one of the decks. Here you will make your reservation for the tour you are interested in. The cost of the trip will be put on your running tab you will pay by credit card at the end of the cruise. Easy as pie.

There is no pre-information available to me on all the tons of shore excursions the ship will have. This is because, due to prevailing conditions at any given time, the actual days, times and costs of the outings are not set in stone till just before the ship sails.

You can do a google or yahoo search for info and photos of the ancient ruins that will be informative and interesting.

Will we be seeing you on board, we hope, we hope?

Thanks for the inquiry.

Leni

[yonif]

Is there some kind of flyer/brochure describing all the stuff we will be doing, all the information, etc. I want to show my parents it to see if they would let me go.

Thanks

[MinuteGal]

Hi, Yonif!

We have no brochure available such as you describe. Even if we did, it would probably just be glossy, advertising hype, anyhow.

Your best bet is to go to http://www.carnival.com/FAQ/FAQ.asp. Here, you'll find straight answers on Carnival cruise life, security, activities etc. Just click on "Quick Reference". A menu will drop down and you can click on the topics you want information on.

Mom and dad, this will be a tremendous educational and joyful experience for any young college or high school student. He will make loads of new, interesting, warm-hearted friends from all sections of our great country. Freepers are like family, nothing more needs to be said.

Bahama Mama, the cruise committee and all the freepers on this cruise will take your son under their wing personally. In fact, we'll probably spoil him to death!

I'm also checking to see if there's a college student discount available, Yonif. Perhaps not since we just received this fantastic discount in the fares. I'll let you know what I find out and post it here.

However, further discount or not, the rates are so incredibly low for what we're getting for a whole week, this golden opportunity should not be passed by.

FReeps Ahoy!

Bahama Mama/MinuteGal
Cruise Chair

[MinuteGal]

Hi, Yonif!

We have no brochure available such as you describe. Even if we did, it would probably just be glossy, advertising hype, anyhow.

Your best bet is to go to http://www.carnival.com/FAQ/FAQ.asp. Here, you'll find straight answers on Carnival cruise life, security, activities etc. Just click on "Quick Reference". A menu will drop down and you can click on the topics you want information on.

Mom and dad, this will be a tremendous educational and joyful experience for any young college or high school student. He will make loads of new, interesting, warm-hearted friends from all sections of our great country. Freepers are like family, nothing more needs to be said.

Bahama Mama, the cruise committee and all the freepers on this cruise will take your son under their wing personally. In fact, we'll probably spoil him to death!

I'm also checking to see if there's a college student discount available, Yonif. Perhaps not since we just received this fantastic discount in the fares. I'll let you know what I find out and post it here.

However, further discount or not, the rates are so incredibly low for what we're getting for a whole week, this golden opportunity should not be passed by.

FReeps Ahoy!

Bahama Mama/MinuteGal
Cruise Chair

[MinuteGal]

Sorry for the hiccup. I had to post this reply five times before it caught, and two replies resulted. Caramba!

Bahama Mama

[qwert]

Can I still sign up for the trip ?

[MinuteGal]

You most certainly can! I'm freepmailing you with some info in a few minutes. Thanks, and hope to see you aboard!

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

Do you want some momento photos of the cruise to take home and show the family?

Shipboard photographers take both candid and posed shots all throughout the cruise. They'll take pictures of us freepers at our dinner tables when we're all duded and shined up.

Photos are put in display cases and may be viewed and purchased during the cruise using your running-tab ship's card. Prices are based on photo size. There's absolutely no obligation to purchase any of these pix.

Special requests, such as a portrait of you and your sweetie pie or your chillun can be made by appointment and are available for a very reasonable cost.

Film for your own camera is available in the ship's duty-free shops. One-day developing service during the voyage is available for 35mm film and disposable cameras.

Say "cheese", everybody!
(oh, no! I shouldn't have mentioned that word!)

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

BRAND NEW DISCOUNTED CABIN FARES - TERRIFIC SAVINGS - REGISTER NOW !

(based on double occupancy)

Category 8A - $710 per person
Category 6B - $650 per person
Category 6A - $610 per person
Category 4B - $560 per person
Category 4A - $510 per person

Categories are explained on the "Fares/Cabins" link at the top of this thread.

Port fees and tax additional.

One person in a cabin pays 200% of above rates. We can help you find a roomie to split fare.

Above fares do not include port fees, tax, personal purchases, adult beverages and tips.

Phone Wanda, our travel agent, at toll-free 1-800-890-7583 (Pacific time) right away for an ENTIRE WEEK of cruising the sunny Caribbean. After March 21, we can no longer guarantee availibility of cabins and our low group rates.

It'll be a long time before you'll see a vacation bargain like this. Aboard our ship, the "Triumph" (a prescient name, indeed!) you'll enjoy the freep of all freeps during a week of tropical splendor!

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

NOTICE TO ALL FREEPERS WHO HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED FOR THE FREEPS AHOY CRUISE - AND TO FREEPERS WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT IT !

It's vitally important to read the notice posted on reply # 151 on the cruise thread. Please refer to it now. The link is at the top of this thread.

Thanks,
Leni
Cruise Chair

[MinuteGal]

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR ALL EARLY-BIRD-ARRIVING FREEPER CRUISERS !

For those FReeps Ahoy cruisers arriving in Miami on the Friday before the Saturday, May 31 embarkation, we've made arrangements with Wanda, our travel agent, to handle accomodation reservations for us for that Friday night. It's a winner!

It's an Embassy Suites near the airport and not far from the cruise terminal. The package cost is $133.99 plus tax. There's also a good deal for kids as noted on the Embassy website.

The package includes the suite of rooms, free shuttle service (every 20 minutes) from the airport to the Embassy, and free van transportation for freepers and luggage to the Carnival cruise terminal door on Saturday morning.

Embassy Suites are usually suites only, but in this one there's a small restaurant with Spanish/South American cooking and a bar. Other restaurants are nearby, or we can order pizza in and eat together in an informal room in the Embassy itself.

Free cooked-to-order breakfast is included, plus 2 hours complimentary cocktail hour in the early evening. Wow! Sounds like a fun pre-cruise mixer. Bahama Mama has already made her reservation and hopes to see y'all there.

I'm not going into that much more detail here. There's complete info and a pic of the Embassy on its website

http://www.miamiembassy.com/htm/hf.htm

There are a limited number of these package deals for cruisers, so I suggest, nay, I STRONGLY ADVISE that you phone Wanda at 1-800-890-7583 RIGHT AWAY to make your Embassy reservation. Wanda can also make your air reservations for you if you choose. She will coordinate your Miami arrival time with staying at the Embassy. All can be done by credit card. Then, BINGO, you're all set for the cruise with no hassle or worries.

Further info is on the regular cruise thread (link at the top of this thread). It'll be near the end of the current FReeps Ahoy cruise thread. I haven't typed it yet so I don't have a reply number.

Remember, you can still make your cruise cabin reservations with Wanda, also. Our reserved block of cabins and our low, discounted group fare is still in effect.

Any questions, post them here on this Q & A Bahama Mama thread.

Thanks,

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

The accompanying comments to the above Embassy notice posted just above can be found on reply # 171 on the current cruise announcement thread (link at the top of this thread. Thanks,

Bahama Mama

[BreitbartSentMe]

I just got my reservation in, and am starting to wade through all this stuff. I'll call Wanda tomorrow and get my hotel reservations in, since we had to come in the day before. Luckily we had two free airline vouchers from being bumped from a flight over christmas, so I just redeemed them for this trip. We're almost set, and I CAN'T wait.

Two quick questions,
1) Is there a costume party on this trip? Some cruises have them one night, and I think we could have a GREAT DEAL of fun with this, if we plan ahead.

2) Do you know about the trip insurance offered by the cruise line vs. the one offered by an outside company (via Wanda)? The cuise line one is a little more expensive, but would they be a little more cooperative if something should happen along the way, if it is their own policy??

One additional note. When I went to the airline counter (United) at our local airport to redeem our travel vouchers, she told us to make sure that EACH bag weighed NO MORE than 50 pounds, or there would be an additional $25 charge for each one. She said that this was a new rule. I'm not sure if this is true on all the airlines, but think everyone needs to be aware of this. Well, it might not be a problem, how much does a bathing suit weigh??

[MinuteGal]

B_D, I'm just as thrilled as you are that you're going to freep the deep with our great gang. Welcome aboard to you and hubby. Check out the cruise thread and the Bahama Mama thread every so often as yo Mama will be posting regular cruise info as sailing time draws closer.

Gee, you asked me a question I can't answer about a costume night aboard this ship. Shipboard events and activities change from time to time for variety for guests. They may have a costume contest on one cruise, but not the next one that pulls out of port the following week. One really never knows what activities are scheduled till you see the activity program in your cabin when you board. Let us know on this Bahama Mama thread what you find out.

However, a weekly costume event may be standard on this cruise. I would ask Wanda when you call her tomorrow. She may have more info than I.

As far as cruise insurance goes, I always sign up for it with my reservation even if I could save a couple of bucks somewhere else. It's just easier. It won't make any difference where you get the insurance. An insurance carrier is an insurance carrier. So, if you have a reputable agent, it's up to you to decide which way to go. Cruise insurance is not mandatory. When I cruised as a younger chick, I never took it out. Now that I'm a more seasoned citizen, hah, I take it out. That's life!

Thanks for the info on luggage weight. I wasn't aware of this, not being a flier myself. I urge all freeper cruisers to check this out when they make their air reservations. Our cruise committee does not handle personal transportation to and fro Miami, so it's up to each cruiser to inquire about luggage weight and other matters before booking a flight. Or perhaps some frequent flier reading your comment will be able to enlighten us on the subject.

I'm sending you a freepmail in a little while with some info on the neat donated freeper gifts we'll be sending you for signing up, so watch for it.

Can't wait to meet you both on board!

Bahama Mama

[BreitbartSentMe]

OK, I asked Wanda about the costume party, and she said that most cruises have done away with them, except for special event cruises. I guess we'll all just have to leave our FReeper costumes at home.

Cruising around the web, I came across a woman who sailed on the Triumph in May 2002, and she scanned and posted all the daily newsletters, food and drink menus, lists of shore excursions, etc., etc., etc. Just a bunch of stuff. Even though it is a year old, some of our questions might be answered by perusing this stuff. (As of a year ago, there were some cabins with whirlpool tubs in them!) Here's the link: http://community.webshots.com/user/minnie64

Also, I heard from Strela that American Airlines has the 50lb per bag weight restriction also, so it may be system wide by now. Bummer. Last item, Carnival has said that it is "studying" and perhaps re-thinking their new policy banning bringing any beverages of any type on board, so we'll see.

79 more days!!!