Sailed out of New Orleans on the Fantasy.  Got to the port early and boarded with the first group because we had a boarding upgrade under our chair. Simply listen and follow instructions and it is a piece of cake.  The food was great and plentiful.  If you set your eating schedule for other than normal times there is very little in the way of a line.  There are a lot of activities, just read the Capers. I can not wait to go again and would recommend it to anyone thinking of going. If you are a smoker, you can save enough at the Duty Free on cigs to pay for your cruise(seriously).

 There was so much good, but there are a couple of negatives which I will share.  On the ship there are ample opportunities to spend money.  While in port they will encourage you to do their excursions.  While they do guarantee theirs, there are other alternatives that are similiar and a lot cheaper(this was in Progreso).

 The other is with the way they charge your credit card.  In my case, I had more that ample credit to cover any charges.  We were told that the charges would hit our card 3 or 4 days after the cruise.  Everytime I use my Sign and Sail they authorized it to my credit card, so when I got off the boat and check the account I had several pending charges.  A couple of days later one big charge hit my credit card, with the charges still pending it tied up my available credit.  I know it will work itself out but if you were still traveling and depended on that it could be a problem so just be aware.

 My best advice is go, enjoy and make friends with an experience cruiser and talk to them about what they have learned.

Thanks for the tips.  Just be sure I understand what you are saying..

For a few days, they double charged your credit card.  I think that they initially charge your card $200 per person.  And in addtion to that, they also charged your purchases?

I'm asking, as I was going to use a debit card.  If this is the case, I may re-consider and use a charge card. 

thanks.

oops - forgot to ask.  We have a couple of smokers in our group.  Can you buy and smoke the duty free cigs while you are on board or is it like the booze and they give them to you the last night of the cruise?  Also, do you remember how much they cost?

Thanks.

Hello absolutedl46

Are you asking about the sail/sign card?  If so it depends on how long your cruise is, A minimum balance of  $200  pp 5 dys....and  $200 pp 7 dys. should be on your card. So whomever is linked to your card ,charges will come from your  $200 balance , no additional charges will be added. Be sure to add extra money to your card for spending.  And you can also check you balance on the TV every day.........Hopes this helps  .........HAPPY CRUSING:) 

You can buy the smokes on board and smke them. I believe you are allowed 1 carton(200) per person of legal age to bring back. I think it was under 30 a carton but it was still cheaper than what we are paying at home. They have limited brands so you have to smoke what they offer on board. Have fun and enjoy the cruise. we are thinking about booking on the Fantasy for early next year when its in Mobile. Already sailed oh her out of New Orleans and enjoyed. Closing in on Platinum next year then its free laundry finally!!1LOL

When I returned home I had pending charges for each purchase that I had made on the cruise.  There was no $200 authorization.  I am a non drinker so there were not a lot of charges but just for what I had bought like bingo cards, some cigs for a friend and a few things here and there.  About 2 days after we got home, I tried to use my card and it declined.  It does not have a real high limit, one of the reasons I used it.  I check it and the total charge from the sign and sail had been charged and the other individuals ones were still pending.  About 2 days later they started dropping, a few each day for about 3 days to all leave so I would consider this if using a debit card.

 You could buy the smokes and use them.  They did not hold them like the alcohol.  I had bought a 5 pack carton for a friend.  No trouble getting them off the boat.  Actually was rather easy off the boat.  We were suppose to get off at 9:00 by our deck assignment.  We were told by a crew member that the assigned time was a suggestion more than anything to control the flow.  We got our stuff together and went to the deck early.  They started letting us off a 7:20 and I was pulling out of garage before 8.  They scanned our Sign and Sail as we left the ship.  We wangled(southern word) our way to the lines for customs.  I handed our declaration form.  I had my passport in my hand closed, my wife had hers open, he stamped our form and thanked us.  We never showed our passports.

 We were told that Carnivale had agree to some new procedures that would allow us to get off the boat easier.  I know they scanned everrything we brought on in the Ports of Call.  Since this was our first cruise we don't know what was normal or not.

Thanks for getting back to me.  Something that I really have to think about, cause I will be staying in Miami another night after the cruise and I would hate to be short on cash, even if the money was in the account.  At least I have some time to think about it.  I read on a thread here that you use cash deposit for your s&s card, and maybe I will do that.  Oh boy another option.  Glad to hear that you were able to get off the ship that quickly.  Not sure what we will do because we are staying at a hotel, but it gives me another thing to think about.  IF we get off that early, we can do some sight seeing in the area.  Maybe I will check out some tours in the area.  Did you put 5 cartons on your declaration form?  I know that the last time I went, I had more than one carton per person in our group and I did not, and was hoping for the best and had no problems.  If they are that cheap, I would like to take advantage.  I know that they are almost $6 a pack here, so my friends would be very happy.

When you returned to ship after visiting an island, did they scan all your purchases?  My last cruise, they only went through the bags and took any alchol that people bought and tagged it, and gave it back to them the last night of the cruise.  We did not buy any, so we were OK.  But they did not scan our t-shirts etc. 

Sorry for all the questions.  thanks

We did declare all 5 cartons.  We were told that we could only take 1 each without paying duty.  I ask about the duty and was told it was a $1 per carton.  I am not sure if that was correct since we did not pay any.

They did scan all the packages when we boarded at the Ports.  You walked on, they scanned your card, you turned in your alcohol, placed your packages on the belt and you walked through a scanner.  We were not scanned at customs in New Orleans, but we were told this was a new way of getting off the boat and this was the first time so maybe all the scanning in the ports changed that.  They allowed you to bring soft drinks on with you and I highly recommend the soft drinks from Mexico as they are made with cane sugar and not corn syrup.

Thanks for the info.  They did scan all our bags when we came back on the ship after each port.  Not sure what I was thinking earlier.  That is good to know about the duty.  I will try it legally this time!  LOL.  I do remember that we just got our bags and then waited in line to go through customs.  They did not even stamp our passports, just looed at us and told us to go through.  That was quick at least.  We won't be going to Mexico on our cruise.  Too bad, I would have loved to try the soda.  Maybe next one. 

I never asked - what ship were you on?  We are on the Liberty next month and booked on the Pride in May.

Thanks for all your info.  It was great.  I'm getting more excited everyday.