A few questions - Flight, Money, etc.

Just a few questions.  I havent booked my cruise yet, but I'm going to need a flight and I wanted to know what flight times I should be looking at.  On the carnival website it says that the ship departs at 4PM and arrives at 8AM.  When should I look to arrive at (i'm guessing) Miami airport? When should I scheule the flight home?

I know that I've seen many posts saying "if you dont have money, dont cruise".  How much money should you bring with you? I plan on buying a bottle of alcohol from Bon Voyage, but I just wanted a rough estimate of how much I would have to bring for spending money. 

Also, is there a card (I forgot what it was called) for each person in the room or does everyone have to charge to one card? 

Sorry if these are EXTREME first timer questions, but I'm nervous...

Thanks in advance

KalieC:

Also, is there a card (I forgot what it was called) for each person in the room or does everyone have to charge to one card? 

Yes, it's a Sail & Sigh card. It is also your stateroom key. So everyone will have one. It's up to you as to who charges on your card. Everyone can have their own account.

KalieC:

Sorry if these are EXTREME first timer questions, but I'm nervous...

Ask all the questions you want. That's what the forums are intended for!

KalieC:

but I'm going to need a flight and I wanted to know what flight times I should be looking at. 

You will find that the majority of regulars will advise that you arrive the day before to eliminate the "oh my God, we're going to miss the ship" stress.  You can also get air fares that in many cases will be cheaper.  If you're flying in from the North to the South, depending on the weather a perfectly normal flight can become a real hassle!  Also, by doing this, in many cases the money saved can sometimes pay for the hotel room.  If the hotel has a "snooze and cruise" package, that also can help (ok...you don't need the parking portion...)  It also gives you the option of sleeping in "late", getting up for a leisurely breakfast, then head to the ship, relaxed, and ready to cruise.  Same for going home.  Plan on the latest flight, or even flying out the next day.  Same thing....why put back all that stress you just got rid of, trying to make the mad dash to the airport.

KalieC:

How much money should you bring with you?

That is totally up to your habits... if you gamble, money for the casino....shopping in ports, what ever you are looking to spend.  The gratuities are $11.50 per person/per day.  That can be prepaid. If you are doing excursions, they are paid for at the time of booking.  If you've never cruised before, I'd strongly suggest you stay with Carnival excursions, especially because of the "will not be left behind" guarantee. It's entirely possible to get on board and not spend another dime, with the prepaids, etc.  Budget accordingly.

KalieC:

Also, is there a card (I forgot what it was called) for each person in the room or does everyone have to charge to one card? 

It's called your S & S card (sign and sail) and it is used for everything....it's your room key, it's your pass to get off and on the ship, and it's used for any purchases on board. (Bottom line, if someone asks for your S&S card, you are buying it).  Every person has a card, but they can be tied to a single payer. (husband/wife/children have their own cards, but are billed to one account)  You can also allow or not allow children purchasing priveleges, or a daily amount, if you so desire.  Relax...pick a ship, itinerary, cruise length, and HAVE A BLAST!!!!!

KalieC:

Just a few questions.  I havent booked my cruise yet, but I'm going to need a flight and I wanted to know what flight times I should be looking at.  On the carnival website it says that the ship departs at 4PM and arrives at 8AM.  When should I look to arrive at (i'm guessing) Miami airport? When should I scheule the flight home?

i would fly down the day before and stay in a hotel that is near the port. try to find one that has a cruise and stay deal.  the hotel will take you to the port in the morning.  after the cruise i would book a 2pm flight home. many people fly down the day of the cruise but even more fly down the day before the cruise.  all it takes is a delay and you miss your cruise.  

I know that I've seen many posts saying "if you dont have money, dont cruise".  How much money should you bring with you? I plan on buying a bottle of alcohol from Bon Voyage, but I just wanted a rough estimate of how much I would have to bring for spending money.

it really depends on you, i usually do $100 per port per adult.   if you buy a bootle for your room that will help a lot with the money being spent on ship.  another way is to buy drink coupons.  i always get my wife some because she drinks mixed drinks which cost more then beer so it helps you just pay the difference.  the coupon is $5.75 so if a frin is $7.75 you just put the $2 on your S&S.  

Also, is there a card (I forgot what it was called) for each person in the room or does everyone have to charge to one card? 

it is called your sail & sign card (S&S) it is backed to a credit or debit card or backed with cash you give the guest services.  it again depends on you. i have my credit card backed to my wife and mine and i back cash to my sons S&S card.  mainly because i want him to be able to buy soda or get change from the change machine in the arcade but at the same time i don't want him having full access to my card.  plus if he lost it and someone found it they can only use it so much. (we all know when they take your card and run it through the cash register they don't look at the picture that pops up to make sure they are serving the right person)

Sorry if these are EXTREME first timer questions, but I'm nervous...

understandable, have fun and stop being nervous ;)

Thanks in advance

Hi.   You don't say when you are cruising, and where you are flying in from.  We cruise out of Miami in the winter.  I would never dream of flying down the same day.  We fly down one or two days early, stay in South Beach, and we fly home a day or two later.  

 And oh, GET THE TRAVEL INSURANCE.   Get it either thru Carnival or another vendor.  

You can prepay the room tips, 11.50 per day per person before your cruise.  That way they are not on your S&S card.   Then, for other expenses, it depends.  How long is your cruise?   Ours next week is 8 days.  We do not drink or gamble.  We will put 100 each on  our card and will probably have something left.   We are taking 300 for spending money in ports.

Hope this helps.

I'm flying out from BDL (Bradley in CT) and probably going to Miami in late April/early May to do a Western Carribean (6-7 day) cruise. 

I am still a little confused about the S & S card.  Everyone gets a card, but can they each have their own account tied to it? Or can only one person pay at the end?

KalieC:

I'm flying out from BDL (Bradley in CT) and probably going to Miami in late April/early May to do a Western Carribean (6-7 day) cruise. 

I am still a little confused about the S & S card.  Everyone gets a card, but can they each have their own account tied to it? Or can only one person pay at the end?

0ne person can pay or everyone can have there own account. Each person has their own account and has to be set up after you book under "manage my cruise."

For instance, I set up a cruise for myself my wife and one of our friends. We all three have SS cards but only myself and my wife are tied to my credit card for onboard purchases. Our friend gave me his credit card # and I set his SS account  up to his credit card and set it up to where only he can make charges against his SS account.

Sounds confusing but once you actually book the cruise and set up the accounts it will be pretty self explanatory.

KalieC:

I'm flying out from BDL (Bradley in CT) and probably going to Miami in late April/early May to do a Western Carribean (6-7 day) cruise. 

Be aware...you have a few options.  BDL to MIA, BDL to TPA, BDL to MSY (NOLA), all these ports have the 7 night to Western Caribbean, so it then becomes a price/date since ship size is similar. Also, sometimes the airfares are better to TPA or MSY vs MIA  One other option for flying is FLL (Way easier to fly in the day before, just because of distance to MIA port

S&S card...each gets a card.  Either one pay, or separate pay, depending on how yo set it up at embarkation.

Coming from BDL, even tho it IS early spring, as you know weather can be somewhat dicey so i'd DEFINETLY fly down atleast a day ahead of time...coming back, i'd book a later flight if you plan on leaving the same day you get into port - although you are scheduled to arrive at port at 8am, you may not get off the ship until 10 or 11 after getting your luggage and going through customs - if you can, stay an extra night and even catch the first flight out the following morning (no stress about getting to the airport) - PLUS, when I was on the phone with a transportation company i was thinking of using, the person I was talking to was waiting on a ship to come in and it was delayed for whatever reasons and wasnt getting into port until 9:30am - things happen...

EACH person can have their own account with individual S&S cards.  If you can, pay ahead of time for as much as you can (gratuities, alcohol, drink coupons, soda coupons, etc - you can even put money on your account to spend ahead of time)  As everyone else says, your spending is what you are comfortable with - i personally bring enough with me so that if i happen to see something that i MUST have, i can buy it without having to be cautious throughout the rest of the trip with my spending. 

MOST IMPORTANTLY...RELAX and HAVE FUN!