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

[qwert]

YES YES YES My son and I will be there !! Let do some fishin.....

[MinuteGal]

To read more exciting news about Strela's Big Deep Sea Fishing Adventure in Cozumel, go to reply # 209 on the cruise thread. This will be a dream come true for all FReeper FRishermen.

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

Cruisers, here's a helpful hint regarding your suitcases.

When we disembark, you'll be directed to where your luggage is awaiting you. The area is a large "warehouse" full of thousands of pieces of luggage. A number or color-coded card will have been issued to you prior so you can go directly to the section where your suitcases are. It's a smooth operation.

However, there'll be gobs of suitcases in your section, almost all in similar colors.

To find your suitcases quickly, I suggest you purchase some suitcase straps and put them on before you leave for Miami. They're invaluable. They are also somewhat difficult to find. I needed a few more and was fortunate to find some at J.C. Penney's in my mall. I purchased the bright lime-green color straps as they will be in contrast to my dark luggage.

If you don't want to purchase straps, tie some yellow or other bright color yarn "bows" on the handle of your suitcases.

Be sure every piece of your luggage has an ID tag attached to it with your name, address, phone number and/or email addy on it. This labeling should include your carry-ons.

Make sure you pack your mandatory ID papers first thing.

Don't worry if you don't have smart-looking, new luggage for this voyage. You should see some of my ancient, well-worn suitcases!

Your luggage is really handled with TLC by porters and loaders, so don't worry about that. But don't invest in new suitcases if you don't want to.

Further info on disembarkation is on reply # 152 of this Bahama Mama thread.

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

ATTENTION CRUISERS !

Here's a check list for you of important things to do ASAP:

1) - Do you have your certified birth certificates ready for ship ID? This is a must. Don't let it go till the last minute as you may have to deal with county or state bureaucracies. For complete info on acceptable ID, please refer to Bahama Mama post # 97.

2) - Have you made your air reservatations yet? Do it as soon as you can. There's some good bargains out there. You can make your own reservations or phone our TA, Wanda, and she'll handle the whole thing for you. Details are on post # 152 on this Bahama Mama thread.

3) - Have you allowed yourself wiggle room on your travel arrangements in case of glitches or delays? You MUST, I repeat, MUST be at the terminal at least an hour before sailing time (4:00 PM, Saturday, May 31).

For the sake of a comfort zone, a number of freepers are arriving the Friday before sailing date. We'll be staying overnight at the Embassy Suites in Miami. The hotel van will pick you up at the airport when you arrive (the van leaves every 20 minutes) and will take our group and luggage directly to the port terminal in the morning. The Embassy has a package deal for the night's accomodations including its convenient van transport services at a very low cost. But the number of these hotel cruise packages are limited, so you have to move quickly. You must contact Wanda for this package. Complete details are on post # 176 of this Bahama Mama thread.

4) - Anglers interested in Strela's Great Freeper Deep Sea Fishing Adventure during our stay in Cozumel should freepmail him at "Strela".

Wanda's toll free numer is 1-800-890-7583 (Pacific time zone).

Any questions, contact Bahama Mama by freepmail at "MinuteGal".

More info coming soon. Please make it your personal responsibility to check the regular cruise threads plus the Bahama Mama threads between now and embarkation time. Just click the little ship logo at the top of the "latest posts" page for links.

Thanks and FReeps Ahoy!

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

CRUISERS!

The confirmation papers you recently received is NOT your final mailing. A few weeks before embarkation day, you'll receive a packet containing a document which is your ticket. There are also official forms to be filled out and brought with you.

Read the contents of this packet carefully and fill out all necessary forms. Keep everything together and put the packet in your suitcase ASAP so you don't forget it.

Bahama Mama had an inquiry regarding verandah cabins category 8A (the category most favored by our freeper cruisers). These balcony cabins are all on Upper Deck, NOT Verandah Deck. So don't think an error has been made on your confirmation printout. There's no connection between deck names and and cabin category names.

We all have 2nd seating for dinner.

Smoking is allowed in all cabins. There's no cabins designated as "non-smoking". In case some folks may worry about any lingering tobacco aroma, this is a very new ship, the cabins are completely ship-shape, immaculate and odor-free. The A/C and ventilation system is top-notch.

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

ATTENTION CRUISERS ARRIVING FRIDAY !

Some freepers will arrive the day or night before Saturday's embarkation. We'll be staying at the Miami Embassy Suites. Here's the directions to the hotel:

FROM MIAMI AIRPORT TO THE EMBASSY:

Ask your skycap to take you and your luggage to the "bus terminal" outside the second floor. A van/bus marked "Embassy Suites" arrives there every 20 minutes, 24/7, to take you to the hotel. There is no charge. Make sure you carry enough singles for tips for skycaps, driver, etc.

Remember, the Embassy has a package deal for us for the night's accomodations and free transport to the port terminal Saturday morning.

FOR CRUISERS DRIVING TO THE EMBASSY HOTEL:

Exit I-95 at Rt. 836. Turn west on 836. Go to Lejeune Rd. north exit. Exit on Lejeune Rd. north to South River Drive. Turn right at South River Drive to Embassy Suites entrance on right.

If you're driving, it'll help to bring up a map of the area on your computer to get the lay of the land. Miami is a big city!

Copy these directions and tuck them in with your final cruise ticket packet you'll be receiving in a couple of weeks.

Any questions, post them here or freepmail Bahama Mama at "MinuteGal".

Bahama Mama

[strela]

Got my sunscreen, passport, toothbrush, plane tickets, ugly Hawaiian shirt BUMP!

[BreitbartSentMe]

Hey Bahama Mama,

Do we need to arrange transportation to get us from the cruise terminal back to the airport now, or is it something we can do right then after we disembark? Another couple has decided to join us, and booked thru Wanda, so we're all going to be staying at the Embassy Suites before the cruise, so all our transporation is taken care of there. I just need to get a handle on the transportation at the end.

[MinuteGal]

Hi, BD,

Bahama Mama is checking out the answer to your question and will get back to you either later today or Monday. This is a very good question and the reply will be posted here.

Happy to hear you're coming with friends. They will be most welcome and they'll have a GREAT time with our freeper group!

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

PACKING, LUGGAGE AND STOWING TIPS:

(start making a list and checking it now!)

Inspect your luggage now. Make sure you have secure luggage name tags on each piece, even duffle bags. Add your email addy on the tags if there's room.

Bahama Mama suggests you purchase colored suitcase straps (J.C.Penney carries them). Mine are day-glo lime green. Put one on each suitcase piece through the handle. You'll find out later why they're good to have attached.

Stateroom closets are limited in size. When you unpack, nestle your suitcases into each other and stow under the beds. There's usually extra blankets in the closet. You probably won't need them. Put them under the bed also. Your life jackets must remain on the closet shelf.

You can always get extra hangers from your room steward. However, they are the "motel" type. If you have room, pack a couple small pants/slacks clamp-type hangers to bring with you. I also throw in a couple wire-type hangers with some safety pins for hanging shorts, etc.

There is plenty of drawer space and bathroom medicine cabinet/shelf space. There's also a safe in each cabin.

Ask your room steward for extra ashtrays if needed.

Buy some of those big 2-gallon baggies with zippers at your supermarket. They are excellent for packing shoes. Then just stow the shoes still in the bags on your closet floor to keep everything neat, handy and organized. I carry my jewelry in smaller baggies. In fact, I use zipper baggies of all sizes for packing a heckuva lot of items when I cruise.

Beach towels are provided by the ship to take ashore with you. Your cabin steward is liable for unreturned towels, so he'll appreciate their safe return.

Make sure your prescriptions are filled and any other health supplies are organized now. Don't wait till the last minute. If your ankles have a tendency to swell, bring prescription water pills with you. They are totally inexpensive. I've had many an occasion to use them. There's a lot of walking on ship and shore, and a lot of tropical warmth, oh, yeah!, so be prepared.

There's no limit to the number of suitcases you bring on a cruise. You tip the baggage redcap one dollar per piece he handles. Carry duffel bags and such up the gangplank with you.

Your baggage is handled with TLC by cruise lines, so don't fret. Cameras, eyeglasses and any fragile items you'll want to carry on with you.

Ladies, forget bringing all those space-consuming purses. All you need is a duffel bag to carry wallets, ciggies, cosmetic bags, etc. up the gangplank with you. You'll find a ship's tote bag waiting for each of you in your cabin when you arrive. Everyone, guys and gals included, use these totes from morning till night on board and on shore. A nice evening bag or two for dinners plus a ROOMY beach bag is all you'll need.

I'm already packing some things. About 1/3 completed. Don't you hate people like this?

Bahama Mama

[dalereed]

We have a non-smoking lady looking for a roomie on the cruise. She's over 55, can't sand smoke, is irrepressible, adventurous, and fun. Do you have another lady she could share with?

[MinuteGal]

We've already matched up some roomies. Don't have a spare at the moment. Bahama Mama has just posted a "roomie wanted" on the regular cruise thread. Will also notify Wanda, our travel agent, who may have a standing request in her file for a freeper traveling companion.

We'll keep our fingers crossed for your irrepressible lady friend!

Stay tuned!

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

Cruisers, here's the info on how to get to the port terminal from Miami International Airport:

Transfer vans are available for hire at the airport. Ask your skycap where to go to purchase this transfer.

One-way or round-trip transfers are available. Cost is $11 per person one-way, or $22 per person round-trip. Tip for driver is optional.

To use the van, you must arrive Miami no later than 2 PM and depart from Miami no earlier than 1 PM.

In some cases, especially if people share a cab ride, the cab may be less expensive and more comfortable. Plenty of cabs are waiting at the airport. The choice of van vs. cab will be yours when you arrive at the airport and compare deals.

Although the returning ship arrives in port ostensibly at 8 AM, this doesn't mean you get off at 8 AM. There's usually several hours of waiting while the ship itself is checked by customs.

During this time, you'll eat breakfast, then wait and chat in designated areas till your number or color-code is called over a loudspeaker to proceed to the gangplank.

After disembarking into the terminal, you'll be checked out by a customs officer (a quick, no-brainer). Then you'll go to a vast holding-area to get your luggage. Redcaps are all over the place and will wheel your suitcases outside to the curb (usual tip for redcap is $1 per piece he handles). He will take you and luggage to cab/transfer van stations.

In short, you'll probably get to the curb somewhere between 10 and 11 AM.

If you plan on using the shuttle van, check your airline arrival and departure times so that everything jibes.

Also, and VERY IMPORTANT, make sure your plane taking you back to your home state isn't leaving before you arrive at the airport that morning!

So far, there are 15 freepers arriving the day before embarkation and staying overnight at the Miami Embassy (fun, fun, fun!). The Embassy provides free shuttle vans from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the Carnival terminal the morning of sailing. So these folks are taken care of transportation-wise.

If you plan on arriving in Miami a day early, the Embassy has a neat cruise accomodations package which includes the free van service. These packages are limited in number, so sign up right away if you're interested. To do so, contact our travel agent, the lovely Wanda, at 1-800-890-7583 (Pacific time zone) to sign up. She can also handle your airline reservations also, which may make life easier for you in the long run.

Any questions, post them here.

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

Thanks to Hoosiermama for doing some digging on the network regarding cab fare from Miami Airport to the Carnival Cruise terminal.

She informs us that the port complex is approximately six miles from the airport. The cab fare one way is "under $20.00". This is about as close as we can come.

Therefore, it appears that taking the transfer van is considerably less expensive than taking a cab.

Bahama Mama tips her straw hat to you, Hoosiermama, for sending us this information.

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

Here's some more cruise tips:

Tuck a couple of band-aids into your wallet. You'll be doing a lot of walking in the warm tropics and you'd be surprised how fast a blister can form.

Bring along a few stamps. You'll want to pick up a colorful postcard or two in our beautiful ports-of-call. You can write them in your cabin and take them to the ship's front desk. The mail goes off the ship at each port of call. You'll be home before the postcards arrive at their destinations, but no matter. Your friends and family will enjoy them and be green with envy. Don't forget to bring their addresses. You can also purchase stamps at the front desk, but why stand in line?

Allow for some extra room in your suitcases to tuck in any items or gifts you purchase in our ports to take home.

I always bring along two small plastic trays, one for the desk to hold sunglasses, reading glasses, ciggies, lighters, ship's pass card etc. The other tray goes on the bathroom vanity to hold perfume, lipstick, comb and other frequently-used small items you want to grab right away. For lightweight trays, save two of those foamy-type white trays you get with bakery goods or some frozen products. Then just toss them when the cruise is over.

The reason for trays is so that all these little items won't roll around or fall off if the sea is a little wavy at any particular time.

If your cosmetic scissors are like mine, they're very pointy. So is my ratty-rat-ratting-comb handle. Just stick the points firmly into wine corks when packing and your fingers will be safe from impalement.

Are you making a list for checking it twice before you leave? Scan the Bahama Mama thread from reply # 1 forward to take notes.

Leni

[MinuteGal]

A week or so before sailing, you'll receive via mail your official documents in a nice holder. You don't need what you've received already (your confirmation notice). Don't forget this packet. Put your ID into it (birth certificate or passport/visa. And don't pack them in a suitcase! Keep them on your person for when you check into the Carnival terminal.

Somewhere on your documents will be the Triumph's phone number. Your friends, family (or boss, teeheeh) can dial the ship directly from stateside.

Be sure to leave this phone number plus your cabin number with a family member and a neighbor along with the dates you'll be gone.

Leni

[MinuteGal]

Here is an update and new info regarding transportation from Miami Airport to the port terminal and return:

Here are the choices:

1) - Carnival has its own van service to and fro. One way is $11, round trip is $22. The vans go directly to the port. However, this service requires booking and payment 14 days in advance of embarkation day.. It cannot be purchased at the airport. To reserve Carnival van service with your credit card, phone our travel lady, the lovely Wanda, and she'll handle it for you at no cost for her service. Her number is toll-free 1-800-890-7583 (Pacific time zone). She also can answer any questions.

Or.....

There are other companies you can purchase from at the airport. Just go to the ground transportation area outside of baggage claim. There'll you'll find plenty of shuttles, limos and cabs.

Caveats: Vans other than Carnival's may drop off other passengers on the way to the port and may not go directly there. Cab prices can cost up to $20 one-way, not including tip. We don't have, nor can we obtain, prices of other van transportation companies. It's up to each cruiser to make his/her own choice at the airport.

My personal selection would be to make a reservation right now with Wanda for the Carnival van service, and then relax.

Leni

[MinuteGal]

MORE GROUND TRANSPORTATION NEWS:

I just spoke to Wanda a few minutes ago. She told me that since most cruise registrants are couples, it may be about the same cost and more comfortable to take a cab rather than the Carnival van/bus from the airport to the ship terminal. Cab fare one way is up to $20, but that is per person.

In addition, you may prefer a cab as it will leave the airport right away, while you may have to sit in a Carnival van/bus till it fills up.

Or, you may still choose to take the Carnival shuttle. The cost is posted just above.

In this case you must call Wanda RIGHT AWAY and make and prepay your reservation by credit card. She will then enclose a shuttle voucher(s) for you in with the final cruise documents you'll receive in the mail in about two weeks or so. You will present this voucher to the uniformed Carnival agent who lurks in the transportation area right outside of the baggage claim conveyer belt area.

Keep in mind the vans/buses are not marked "Carnival" as the line contracts this service out to a shuttle company.

Wanda's toll free number is 1-800-890-7583 (Pacific time zone).

If you have any questions, post them here.

It's been hard for Bahama Mama to keep on top of this subject as some services are changed by cruise lines from one year (or one week or one day!) to another. But, this is the final skinny and you can now make your ground transport plans.

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

We have a delightful lady looking for a roomie for this incredible voyage. Please see reply # 108 on the general cruise thread for details.

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

We have a delightful lady looking for a roomie for this incredible voyage. Please see reply # 108 on the general cruise thread for details.

Bahama Mama