ksmcdonald

I'm confused about this too. I'm sailing on the Dream out of New Orleans in October. I don't see anywhere on the website to choose a check in time. The next thing on my "to-do" list is online check in. Do you select it then or is it somewhere else?

 

Nevermind.. Found it. Looks like it is part of online check in.

From what I've heard you do have to do the online check-in in order to select your check in times. In my case, I'm sailing the Vista and since that ship has not sailed yet, they do not have the online option yet. You should be able to start your check-in process and select the time.

No,it does not have to be paid in full and you do not choose staggered boarding, it is staggered check in at the port. You will not be allowed to enter the port until your check in time. It may be a while before you actually board the ship depending on what time you choose.

 

The Vista out of Miami does not have check in times available yet, I have heard it may be available in May

Thank you! I'll wait until May and hope it shows up on my "Manage My Cruise".

Does my cruise have to be paid in full before I can choose my staggered boarding? It does not show up anywhere on my online check-in screen.

Maybe there is not staggered boarding on the Vista. I've already done the online account, entered all my traveling information, including my dinning time, king bed, and passports, and emergency contacts. I've accepted the cruise ticket contract and set up an account for on board charges. No where did it ask me or show my boarding time.

The only thing I have not done is pay in full, as it is not due for 12 months. Maybe either Miami Vista cruises are not set up yet for that or I have to pay in full before it will let me request a boarding time? It says I can't print my boarding pass until I pay in full.

At what point to you learn your staggered boarding time? I'm booked for June 3, 2017 on the Vista. Is it the people that book 1st get the 1st check-in times? Or do you request the check-in time you want? I didn't see in on Manage My Cruise page.

This is totally new for me, been cruising for many years and have never heard of this staggered boarding. Just got off RCL and nothing like that there.

Has anyone out there successfully filed a claim for reimbursement from travel insurance provided by your credit card company, for example Chase Sapphire Preferred card? Is it really a benefit that you can collect on, without a bunch of fine print rules when you go to use it?

Of course, free travel insurance (included in benefit from having a credit card) sounds great, until you actually need to use it. My main concern is we live in Northern Ohio and the winters are unpredictable when it comes to flying out. My main concern is if we ever miss a cruise due to not being able to get the the ship before sailing.

I use to use Capital One but have switched to Chase Sapphire for several reasons. Not only can you get cash back or use it for travel, any travel you book is insured. Worth it. Now instead of buying travel insurance for each trip I buy an annual medical policy (when out of the country) and air evacuation policy for both my husband and I that costs less than what we were paying for one trip.

For ATMs I use my Charles Swab account.

Do you know if you miss the cruise due to severe weather and your plane can't fly out, does that cover the cruise? or just the airfare? I'm looking into switching to Chase Sapphire and we live where there is snow in the winter.

I got $200 in OBC on the Miracle via a casino rate. I also got $40 in casino cash.

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How did you get the casino rate? Is it based on the amount of play you do in the Casino? We do spend time in the casino but have never had any offers like this.

The only problem with checking the prices is if your category room is sold out. Then you have nothing to compare it to and of course you won't see any prices drop in that case either.

Exactly what I was thinking!

They used to allow price match to a higher category but no longer.

 

You are essentially out of luck assuming the remaining cabins sell. About the only way to get a price drop would be if someone cancels but even then if those cabins are selling well Carnival has no incentive to lower the price.

 

If Early Saver was the lowest price you got the best deal.

That is what I was thinking, just wanted to hear it from someone else! Oh, well, at least I will know I got the best deal!

Unfortunately, I probably will not see price drop in my Havana Cabana on the Vista for 2017. I see now there is only two of these Cabana's left, and sailing is 15 months away! Oh well........

I just booked an Early Saver with Price Protection with free upgrade on the Vista a couple weeks ago. When I received my booking reservation by email, I could not find anywhere on my invoice/email that indicated ES, or Price Protection etc. It also has $50 OBC. I did go through Carnival when making these reservations, but just curious if I just go on blind faith that these things are in place?

Also, I booked a Havana Cabana, and I see there are only two left on my sailing June 2017, does that usually mean the price will not go down? I'm sure those two will be snatched up shortly and we still have 15 months before sailing! So basically the price protection is useless, because my category will be sold out and when I check if the price has dropped. The "category upgrade" is basically useless because I could only be upgraded to Havana Cabana Suite, and there are only four of those on the ship and they are already sold out. Do they ever just compensate you the price difference of category upgrade, or do they physically have to move you up to category's? Sorry for all the questions, I just don't know how this works!

Price adjustments (up or down) implemented on the day of sailing will replace any previously advertised price.

Yes, "advertised price", but once you buy it, that is your price. If you choose to wait and then tell them on the ship "it was advertised at a lower price on your website", they will tell you, as of today, this is the price, regardless of the advertised price when you booked.

I believe if you pay for it now through the My Cruise link on the Carnival site, that is the price you pay. If you wait, they will charge you to price the package is on the day of sailing. If you pre-pay, you cannot pay it off with OBC, it goes straight to your credit card.

On the Splendor I drank unsweetened tea with raspberry vodka. (Stoli). Just a splash of lemonade. 70-80 calories! Only downside, I had to go to Lido buffet to get my tea!

We just got off RCCL, Independence of the Seas, and honestly we love Carnival. We just booked the Vista for next year. As you can see by my signature, we have been on both lines. Carnival has much better food (taste and options). Love the comedy shows on Carnival and the casinos are much better! Also, the cabins are nicer on Carnival. Most Carnival ships have elevators front, mid and back of ship. The RCCL only had them front and back.

Just off the Indy three weeks ago (spring breaker cruise). They set off 30 college kids for some reason. They looked terrified standing on dock with their luggage. I wonder if some were traveling with just birth certificates instead of passports. That could of been messy!

Terrible! We tried three weeks ago and the rate was 3X's normal due to heavy volume. Cheaper and faster to get a cab!

I just got off a cruise with a connecting door. We could hear everything in the adjoining cabin. It was like there was no seal on the inside door. You could see light through the crack in the door! Luckily our neighbors were very low key!

I would stay put as well. You have a very convenient location!

Crazy! We are b2b beginning June 3 as well! We are just doing the cabana for the June 3 leg and then switching to a cove for the 6/11 leg. Just can't afford the cabana for both and do want to try a cove.

 

 

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The cove cabins sound nice too! If I had a choice, I would do the cove first. You might really hate leaving that Cabana after eight days! That is why I thought the inside first, then the Cabana to look forward to. And the inside is $1000 cheaper than the Cabana!

We are in a cabana for the June 3 sailing as well! Have a large group...can't wait!

 

 

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We've always said it would be so fun to go with a group of our friends and all have those patios next to each other! You guys will have a blast!

Yeah, I'm thinking a new view and area of the ship will be nice too! With so many unknowns about this exclusive Havana area, either we are gonna love, love, love it or wish we were somewhere else! I do like that the cabin is on Deck 5, very centrally located for night life activities and with our own pool, and reserved lounge chair outside our patio, we might never venture out!

Thanks for everyone's input!

OK, we have the June 3rd 2017 eight day sailing on the Vista. We are debating booking the six day before for a back to back. We have a Havana Cabana for the 2nd leg, and can keep the same cabin for the 1st leg, or book an inside on the Lido.

I was thinking we could enjoy different aspects of the ship with two totally different locations. But those Havana Cabana look so nice I'm thinking the whole 14 days there! Decisions, decisions! I just wish we had a real review of someone in those cabins. Hate to book 14 days blindly, not really knowing what to expect in that area. To complicate matters, the inside is $1000 cheaper than the Havana Cabana.

I would welcome other opinions from B2B'ers. Easier to stay in the same cabin or better to try different location on ship?

I got concerned after booking a Havana Cabana Balcony, not a suite, because I read that only the suites have the hammocks. I asked my PVP about it and he has assured me that they all have the hammocks, not just the suites.

I really hope this is true but I doubt it. You can see in the picture they are only showing the two suites. If you look closely, the next patio does not have a hammock. :(

I'm super excited about our Havana Cabana balcony for our June 3rd 2017 sailing! A little disappointed after reading these threads, I was thinking all the balconies had the hammock, not just the suites! I just booked last night and then found out today. Not a deal breaker, but a little bummed! :(

Love the location though, the ships I have been on never had cabins on Deck 5. For evening activities, the Punchliner is one deck down, the casino one deck down, MDR one or two deck down depending on your table location. With having our own pool, will only have to travel up for breakfast and lunch. Thinking of making this a BTB if I can get the time off work.