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

[Interesting Times]

Hey, guys.

Where can I track down more information about onboard activities, particularly programs for kids?

Many thanks,
I.T.

[MinuteGal]

The "Triumph" has a program called "Camp Carnival" that provides free daily fun-filled and age-appropriate activities for children and teen-agers between the ages of 2 and 15 years old.

Scheduled activities are planned for the following age groups: Toddlers (2-5 years old), Juniors (6-8 years old), Intermediates (9-11 years old) and Teens (12-15 years old). In addition, there is supervised "free play".

Detailed program schedules for kids will be in your cabin when you arrive. They are not available at this early date. Rest assured the folks running these activities are experienced and know what the crumb crunchers in each age group like to do!

Older teens can participate in disco, Karaoke, a night movie or swimming "under the stars". One never knows what nice activities are planned for each cruise, but they're all good.

Every Camp Carnival activity leader is college-educated in a child-related field or has professional child care experience, or both. Carnival performs a thorough background check on every staff person supervising childrens' programs. All are trained in CPR and first aid.

I've observed some of these programs on previous cruises. The staff really puts on imaginative, creative and fun activities. Costume parties (with costumes made from things found on the ship), tours of the bridge, the galley or the engine room, pizza or ice cream parties, crafts, pool games, you name it, they have something for all ages. The staffers are fun guys and gals also!

The kids have a ball plus they learn a lot. There's nothing like a cruise to broaden their horizons.

The kids activities are NOT a baby-sitting service and are structured for the benefit of the kids. Parents can hang around or leave their kids to have "alone" time with their age-group peers, whatever is desired. There is evening baby-sitting service for a fee.

Hope this gives you a good overview, Interesting Times!

Bahama Mama

[Interesting Times]

Outstanding. The kids program at last year's cruise was for three-year-olds and up, and since our daughter was 2 years 11 months, one of us had to stay with her throughout the program. Needless to say, this cut into our free time just a tad...

[diotima]

WOW, Leni...er I mean Bahama Mama, you sure a wealth of information!

I have a question: Why can't the cruise be tomorrow? I am so excited I can hardly wait.

[MinuteGal]

I wish it were tomorrow also, Dio! Except we have to vote!

Then we can all celebrate in grand style on the cruise and exchange "war" stories how we won the Battle of November 5, 2002 !

[Utah Girl]

I have a couple of questions. Will there be the "pay one price for drinks" option? Two of my sisters took a cruise a couple of years ago, and paid a lot of money for juices and soft drinks.

Are there safes in the cabins?

[MinuteGal]

I will find the answer to the drinkey-poo question and get back to you.

Yes, the cabins have safes for your valuables. There are no fridges. Happy to say there's a hair-dryer in each cabin.

Bahama Mama

[Utah Girl]

Cool. One other question, I know the cruise lines don't furnish irons in the rooms. Can we bring one of those cute little travel irons with us? (Thanks for the all the work you do. Does the cruise committee need any help? I would be more than willing to help you all out in any way that I could.)

[MinuteGal]

There are no computer hookups in cabins. Carnival's Internet Cafe has 11 computers and it's open 24 hours a day.

There is a one-time activation fee of $3.95 to set up an account. A computer user can purchase blocks as follows:

100 minutes - $55.00
250 minutes - $100.00
Per minute usage is $.75
Printing out is $.50 per page.

Your charges will be added to your running tab on board ship. No cash is exchanged on board a cruise liner except for adult beverages and the casino.

Bahama Mama

[Cyber Liberty]

Do all the staterooms have showers? Or, do the upper decks have bathtubs, like RCI did?

[MinuteGal]

The "Triumph" has a "Fountain Fun Card" whichs costs $29.95 for adults over 21 and $19.95 for those under 21. It covers the entire week's cruise. You can purchase the card right after you board. This charge will go on your running tab. You pay your total tab by check or credit card at the end of the cruise.

The are scads of info brochures in each cabin upon embarkation that tell you EVERYTHING, including how and where to purchase the soft drink cards.

Of course, all sodas are complimentary in the dining room with meals.

Thanks for your offer of help, Utah Girl! We certainly will be looking for more "crew members" to lend a hand as plans firm up the next few months. I've made a note of your offer.

Cheers, and bottoms up!

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

All cabins have nice-sized shower compartments. No bathtubs. Several thousand tubs aboard add to tonnage, I suppose.

It's a new era, Cyber, sniff, sniff!

Bahama

[Cyber Liberty]

That's why we don't do Carnival....

[MinuteGal]

All cruise liners have coin-operated laundromats with ironing boards and irons located every couple of decks. There'll be a ship's deck layout posted in your cabin with information about what is where.

You may bring your travel iron or steamer. It's preferred you bring one of those tiny portable ironing boards with because there's really no place to iron in the cabin.

There's also a dry-cleaner service aboard and they will do ironing also for a charge.

Many times after unpacking, I have given some of my hopelessly-wrinkled duds to my room steward to take down to the cleaners for ironing. Ironing alone is not that expensive. The charge gets put on your running tab.

If you do this immediately upon unpacking, you'll usually find your fresh and crispy clothes hanging in your closet when you return late at night from the casino, hah! I give the room steward a buck for his service.

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

The many freepers who can afford this terrific cruise because of the unusually low fares probably won't care too much about tub vs. shower for a week. Wish we all could afford the QE2 (sigh!)

Bahama Mama

[Utah Girl]

I owe you, big time! Another question from me. I am assuming that the FReepers on the cruise will be at the same dinner seating?

[MinuteGal]

See reply # 193 on announcement thread.

Bahama Mama