We are taking our daughter on a cruise (11-16-2008) for her 16th Birthday. We are first time cruisers, have no idea what we are doing and feel like a fish out of water already! Any suggestions about what I should know, what we should take or not take, what do we purchase on the cruise and when is the best time to do that? We are not alcohol drinkers but we drink soda, water, gatorade and coffee like it's going out of style. 

We are sailing the mexican riviera. Any suggestions on what is a must see, do or DON'T in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan or Cabo San Lucas? 

Wife and I sailed on the Pride last year, Had a great time. If you drink more then 3 sodas a day buy the fountain card, Two way radios are helpful, Both onboard and off.In Puerto Vallarta the signiture Dolphin Swim is GREAT, so great that we are going back next year on the Splender with both our kids(for sons 17th birthday)and doing it again.Parasailing in Cabo is a BLAST.Carnival has a fantastic teen program(on her birthday nite have a birthday cake brought to the teen club while she is there) She will love you for it. We plan on doing this for our son. We know you are going to have a GREAT time.

                                                           HAPPY CRUISING

Get yours at Webfetti.com

Prepare to have a blast.  You will likely be addicted to cruising.  First, I would advise reading the new first time cruisers board on cruise critic and the Carnival boards.  Loads of info there and I don't know what I would have done without cruise critic advise.  Lots more posters there too.

 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/ (main page of boards)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=97 (first time cruisers)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215 (Carnival threads)

Soda on the ship is only Coke products.  We aren't Coke drinkers so we always carry on what we plan to drink.  Carnival lets you carryon reasonable amounts of non-alcoholic beverages.  I drink Pepsi One and usually carryon 2 12 packs and a couple 2 ltr bottles and never have a problem.  I also like bottled water so I bring on my own.  Provided for free at the lido buffet is coffee, tea, punch, lemonade, milk, juices etc.  Coffee isn't the best on the ship and it s hit or miss whether I can drink it or not but they have a coffee shop like a generic Starbucks that you pay for which is better.  They also have a sushi stand. 

Cabins have 1 outlet for power so be sure to bring a multi-outlet plug or extension cord so you can plug in chargers, alarm clock, nite lite etc.  Ginger pills works well for seasickness and doesn't make you sleep your cruise away like dramamine.  A few people get seasick.  Not a problem for us.  Don't miss the dining room.  Buffet food is just okay but the dining room food is fabulous.  Be sure to order the bitter n blanc dessert.  Order as much entrees, appetizers, desserts as you want.  Bring a magnetized gift card or something that you can use for your in-room safe.  Don't use your cabin card or credit card in case it demagnetizes it.  I usually use a Walmart or Target gift card.  Check your onboard charges (sail & sign card) daily on the tv in your room so you can make sure your charges are correct.  Book ship excursions in advance if you plan to use them cuz some sell out before you get onboard such as swimming with dolphins.   I swam with dolphins in Cabo and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  I booked my next cruise to take my kids on their first cruise and intend to have them swim with dolphins in Cabo.  If you have an inside cabin, it is really dark all the time so be sure to bring a nitelite or you can turn on your tv to the bow camera and turn the sound off while you sleep then you will wake up when it starts getting light.  Otherwise you will sleep your cruise away.  Bring highlighters so you can mark which "must see" activities you want to do.  I also bring post it notes so I can leave notes and instructions for my cabin steward.  My first day, I always find my room steward and tip him a little extra and tell them to fill my ice bucket daily & anything else I need then I leave notes for them with smiley faces and "have an awesome day" messages to make them feel good.  Sometimes I leave candy bars for them too.   Read the capers daily to see what specials are offered.  LIke they have internet specials etc.

Take your daughter to family karaoke if she likes to sing.  Have fun!

Yukon,

Thank you so much for all the great advice...you have helped so much already!

I am little confused about this part: Bring a magnetized gift card or something that you can use for your in-room safe.  Don't use your cabin card or credit card in case it demagnetizes it.  I usually use a Walmart or Target gift card.  Can you explain more what you mean by this?

Thanks again for all the great advice...I am making a list and keeping it close! You are awesome!!!

 some safes use a code u punch in, but The Pride has a safe that you open with any card with a magnetic strip (like a credit card or your key card).  She's suggesting you use something besides them, in case it gets de-magnitized or lost.  I plan to use an old casino players club card. (I'm going the same Pride trip on the 30th!)

Cherylc,

Thanks for the info. That is much more clear now. So you are leaving on the same cruise the 30th or November? I'm sure it will be a great time! I will try to get back on and post our experience before you set sail!

Exactly.  The room will have a safe and you lock it by using any magnetic strip card.  You have to use the same card to open it.  Occasionally the magnetic strip will demagnetize somehow and won't open the safe.  You can call the pursers desk and they'll send someone to open it for you if it happens.   The only bad thing with that instead of the number punch is that if you have your card on you and your spouse goes back to the room to get something, they have to have your card to open the safe.  I usually use an old credit card or empty gift card from somewhere and leave it hidden in the cabin so we all know where it is.  I somewhat trust the room stewards so if they came across it, not a big deal to me.   I've never had a problem with stewards being dishonest.  They know they would lose their job if they were accused of stealing and they depend on their jobs too much to risk it.  Just my opinion.