This is a tips and trick post for the Splendor
Our trip was wonderful and I wanted to give everyone info about the ships and ports. I tried to find out everything I could about the ship and the most cost effective way to have fun. For people that have taken this trip please post your tips. I want this to be info for everyone I have copied thiese tips from several other postings
On the Splendor Ship
-Deck 10 has a lot of seating during lunch time when the lido deck is full
-First day at sea Kids color a free t-shirt in camp carnival
-During the Build a bear workshop fun ship freddy is cheaper to stuff plus he comes with an outfit and a t-shirt, they don’t always display him but just ask, you still get a birth certificate and everything
-Bring swimsuit and sunscreen in your carry on when boarding if you board early there is food to enjoy before you get to your room.
-The Rotisserie is on Deck 10 and is open as soon as you get on the ship and usually has no line. I can be a little trick to find because it is above the last lido buffet station
-The main diningroom serves breakfast and lunch, you don’t always have to do the buffets on lido.
-The saunas above rm 1102 and in the gym are free for everyone
-Make sure that your bank and credit card company are aware that you will be out of the country. They will note it on your account so you won't be flagged for fraudulent activity.
-The pursers desk will carry stamps of the different countries that you are going to.
-You can also go to the pursers desk for seasick pills.
-In the casino, they will give you a lanyard as well as punch a hole in your S&S card for you. (Some people carry their S&S card around their neck on a lanyard.)
-The library has a great supply of books and board games you can check out
-There is lots of room under the bed to store all your suitcases so you don't have to have them out taking up room.
-room service had bottle openers for the wine you may bring on board
-You can call Carnival's Bon Voyage Department and pre-order alcohol to be delivered to your cabin. You can order bottles of hard liquor so that you can make your own drinks in your room. You can't order online. You must call to set this up. It is a bit pricey but worth it and actually cheaper than buying it by the drink.
-If you have a fridge in your cabin you can ask your room steward to remove the mini bar stuff that is in it and use it for your own stuff. Or just let him know that you are going to do it yourself so you do not get charged by accident for it
-There are showers in the SPA/gym bathroom also. They are multiple head showers like being in a rain forest. Very cool. Good place to take a shower if you have multiple people in your cabin trying to get ready for formal night.
-As soon as you get on board make all your SPA appointments. You should make your hair appointments for formal night also because they book up fast. You can call from your room or just go up and make your appointments in person.
-Make your reservations ASAP for the alternative dining room as they have limited space and reservations go fast.
-Go to the dining room as soon as you get on board and check out your table. If you are not happy with your table or dining time speak to the Maitre D and if it is possible he will help you get what you want.
-You can bring a reasonable amount of wine, soda and bottled water on board.
-You can set automated wake-up calls for yourself on your cabin phone.
-You can order as many entrees, appetizers and deserts as you want in the dining room.
-Any pasta dish on the main entree section of the menu is also available as an appetizer.
-In the dining room when they bring out the dessert menu ask to see a childrens menu. They have great things like banana splits, hot fudge sundaes
-Cappuccino and Espresso are free in the dining room.
-You can see the menu for the dining room on your tv so you can see if you like that day's selections.
-You can buy buckets of beer.
-Look into sending yourself drink coupons. They save 25-50 cents per drink.
-You can order a whole pizza at the pizza stand with whatever toppings you want. It takes about 10 minutes but its worth it.
-The pizza place makes a great ceaser salad. They make great calzones also. You have to wait while they make them........about 10 minutes but they are great.
-There are usually two grill areas open on the deck. (One near each pool area) One of them only serves hot dogs and hamburgers. The other one does the hot dogs and the hamburgers but they also serve grilled chicken *** sandwiches and minute steak sandwiches.
-The Deli and Tandori are located in the adults only swim area and the back of the lido deck
-There is 24 hour soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt. Make sure you check your Capers to find out what days there are sundae toppings.
-Coffee, Tea, Iced Tea, Lemonade, Fruit Punch, OJ, Milk and Lemonade are free!!!!!!!!!
-You can make your own drinks with the stuff they have on the Lido. You can mix ice cream and hot chocolate together for a cool, creamy drink.
Get crushed ice, coffee and ice cream for a good coffee drink.
-Bring your own travel coffee cup it is bigger and easier to walk around with
-If you have the souvernier glass you can order any frozen drink as a refill not just the drink of the day.They do charge you the price of the other frozen drink you ordered but you get it in the bigger glass.
-On formal nights get your pictures at all of the "settings." You do not have to buy them all and that way you will have choices and get to pick out a few that you really love.
-I found that often the less popular main dishes tasted way better. For example the night they serve lobster you know that it is the most ordered dish so they don’t take as much time putting it together so they can serve it quick. To me the other dishes had better sauces and seemed to have had more thought put into them.
-Room service is free but you should always tip the person who brings your food.
-The gold and silver that they sell by the inch are plated not solid.
-They have 600 of the $20 watch sets they sell the last day. There is a huge line in the begining but they do not sell out
-If you forget to pack anything (ex. toothpaste) ask your room steward if they have any sample sizes. They usually do.
-You can ask your room steward for the book that is in your cabin that is about the ship.
-Don't be a chair hog
-Don't sit in the balcony when attending the shore/shopping talks, they give stuff away and it rarely makes it past the first 15 rows of the main area.
-If you like to check your email, most ships now have wireless and you can bring your laptop. Compose email in notepad before you connect to save money. At 75 cents a minute you don't want to be writing letters online. Alternatively, all ports will have an internet cafe somewhere near the dock with rates like 3 dollars for 30 minutes. You can do your leisure surfing there.
-Do not book shore excursions through the cruise line. Do a little homework before you go and book your excursions directly. Cruise Critic Boards and an excellent source of information and many excursion companies live or die based of cruise critic reviews.
-If you have early embarkation to the ship (before the cabins are ready) proceed directly to the lido deck for a buffet lunch.
-Cross pack everyone's clothes that way if a piece of luggage gets lost everyone will still have clothes to wear.
-Bring your bathing suit and a change of clothes in your carry on. Sometimes it takes a while for you to get the rest of your luggage. Some people just wear their bathing suit under their clothes so they can enjoy the pool and hot tubs as soon as they get on the ship.
-If you play blackjack, one secret to keep in mind is the Fun21 table- there are NO QUEENS in the deck.
-When the ship is in port you can always come back on the ship to drop off packages, get changed or have dinner on board and you can leave the ship again. Just remember to be back a half hour before the ship leaves.
-Look for specials in the spa on port days. There is also happy hour at the bars on port days.
-When the lights start to dim in the dining room this means entertainment is coming. Make sure you have your camera ready.
-There is a Bingo game every day. They are large bingo pots. Usually its just one game. $500 one day. $600 another day, 1$1,000 another day and even a 7 day free cruise for two.
-Carry off your own bags at debarkation to save time and prevent potential loss of luggage.
-Make copies of your passport.
-Carnival sells Coke products. If you want another brand (ex Pepsi) bring your own.
-Bring a sweater the dining room gets cold.
-Put down a towel on a balcony chair if you are wearing white. There is a light layer of soot and it shows on white clothing.
-Deck #9 Port Side Forward has a “secret Balcony” it’s behind a unmarked door
Note: Port is the nautical term (used on boats and ships) that refers to the left side of a ship, as perceived by a person on board facing the bow (front), starboard is the right. I also found the same balcony can be accessed from the front of both sides of deck 10.
-There is no need to bring towels they have plenty to use on the boat and on shore
In Mexico
Local buses use pesos
May want to bring Bug Spray and hand sanitizer
Cabo
-If you want to avoid the long lines to get back on the tender come back early
-watch starboard side as the ships leave to get great views of the “Famous Arch”
-You can take water taxis over to lovers beach, negotiate the price before you get in the boat
-for $12 a person they take you on one of the glass bottom boats and a small tour.
Prices for souvenirs are more expensive here so try and do you souvenir shopping in other ports
The water is clearest here and the best place for snorkeling, for a couple bucks have them take you to pelican beach.
-Jet ski rentals are between $70-90 bucks an hour, if you want a fast one make sure you ask for it, some of them are really slow because the water is rough and they don’t want you going to fast.
-lots of places do the 2 for 1 beers but they are twice the price as the other ports
Mazatlan
-Hotel Las Flores lets you use their beach and pools for free, just tip the guys that set up your chairs and umbrellas. You will see lots of carnival people with their towels there.
-Just a block away is the hotel Playa Mazatlan and a couple’s massage in the palpas on the beach is only $61 for both you can contact the at concierge@hotelplayamazatlan.com
-we did 2 parasailing and ½ hour jetski for $105
-Golden Zone is a tourist area to go to for shopping
Puerto Vallarta
-Take a taxi downtown they sell all sorts of tours for less than half what the ship charges
In PV we did a city tour and we added on a ATV ride. The tour was given by a woman named Celia and she took us to some great spots and can arrange other tours(i.e ATV, zipline etc) much cheaper than the cruise. She was great and I wanted to pass her info on. She took us out on a private tour in a van with AC and knows a lot about the area. She used to work for a company but has started her own tours and she is great! celiahernandez95@hotmail.com tell her Melissa sent you!
Hope all/any of this help!
