carrieluvsgreg

The ship docks right at a shopping mall with more shopping along the street. I can't give you any specific places' date=' but I'm sure there are some there. Cozumel is not a place to go off the beaten tourist track. It is totally safe to take a taxi from the port to one of the tourist spots, but renting a vehicle or walking outside of tourist areas is more risky than some other islands.[/quote']

 

 

 

I disagree-

We’ve rented a Jeep numerous times in Cozumel with no incident whatsoever. It is our preferred method of seeing the island. The quiet side of the island is amazing and there are beachfront restaurants that are in such beautiful locations...

Each to his own, but we never truly experienced Cozumel until we started renting Jeeps.

 

 

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Is the thalassotherapy pool opened on embarkation day on the dream?

Yes- we actually were in it while they were still doing tours!

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In Canada, most, if not all, all-inclusives include the flights and transfers.

 

 

 

We have a different opinion on hidden. I say if it's up front, then it's not hidden. Others say if it's in a mock booking or the small print then it's not hidden.

 

 

 

Port fees and taxes are set, otherwise, you wouldn't get the right price when you do the mock booking. Gratuities are set too.

 

 

 

You and I have different opinions on lying. Advertising a cruise for $199 or a hotel room for $89 or Verizon for $40 that I can't get for those prices is not true, IE a lie. The fact that everyone advertises something you can't get doesn't suddenly make it true. Just tell everyone what it costs up front, then no one has anything to complain about.

 

 

 

Cruise lines, Hotels and Verizon all know exactly what price you are going to have to pay for their services. It wouldn't take any effort to put the full price in their advertising, but they choose not to. If they didn't believe it gave them some advantage, they wouldn't do it.

So perhaps the issue is at most basic- cultural differences. “Plus tax” is not part of the purchase. You see, the retailer (any and all regardless of who) do not keep those monies. They belong to the government. So when I go to the “Everything’s $1” store here in Florida where my sales tax rate is 7% I know that if I go in and buy anything I will pay $1.07. Have they lied to me? Everything is supposed to be $1! No, the store doesn’t keep that money. They report and submit it to the government.

It’s no different with Carnival. They do not keep taxes or port fees. Those go to the individual ports and government.

Personally- I like seeing and knowing the breakdown. I know what I’m paying for what.

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I agree with the OP. The prices should show the entire price for the trip including port fees, taxes, gratuities, and the cost for the cabin. Extra's are things like specialty dining and shore excursions, not things you have to pay for to get on the boat.

 

It wouldn't be hard for the cruise companies to do this. They are already doing it when you do a fake booking. What's the matter with showing the real price up front?

I think it’s a little much to ask for in an advertisement...

Can you imagine?

Prices for inside every category

Ocean view every category

Balcony every category

Suite every category

Not to mention spa rooms

Family harbor rooms

Havana rooms...

also all of those things for past guests, casino rates etc...

it would be insane and something I don’t want to filter thru.

It seems much easier for me to run the mock booking for what I want and then give me my totals.

Practically every purchase we make in the US is “plus tax”.

It seems normal to me.

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What parts? Whenever I looked for rooms it kept asking front mid or back and to me it makes no difference! We did RC last year through my husband's work so we didn't get a choice on room. They booked it, paid for it, and we were happy with what we got because it was FREE! We were on the 5th floor front and it was just fine for us. I can't remember where we are this coming trip. I know 8th floor, I think towards the front. I guess I didn't realize it mattered! Insight please!

Lower in the ship, closer to the sea, middle of the ship. Less movement further down.

I must be really lucky then because I've had it happen 2 times personally in the last 4 months and so did a lot of the other people that did the wine tour with us! Believe me, I was shockingly surprised too!

Funny thing about this is there is actually an active thread right now on this very topic... The OP there was upset because they took the Carnival sponsored tour and could not believe that he couldn't bring the bottle of wine back to the room when they came back onboard.

The policy is ALL alcohol purchased or acquired in port is to be surrendered upon reboarding the vessel.

It doesn't matter to me one way or the other.... glad you were able to indulge a little. I just want the policy to be clear and followed across the brand. It just makes it harder for the ships who are just trying to adhere to the policy when another ship/person doesn't follow the rules.

Yo Bo, that's exactly what I'm saying. In order to see the hidden costs you have to start making a fake booking.

I don’t see them as “hidden fees”. Every advertised sailing says- plus taxes and port fees. They are hiding anything. Cruise rates very by category and even cabin; not to mention sailing. I always do a mock booking to see what my cost will be- total.

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If you choose a spa room- pay careful attention to where the gym is in reference to your room. We’ve stayed in spa cabins 2 in the dream and once on the Breeze. The second time on the Dream our cabin was directly over the weights in the gym. We knew this before we boarded but thought it would be fine because of the gym hours... little did we know they let the crew use the gym before and after hours. Ugh! It was miserable. They were supposed to be out by midnight... they weren’t. We had to call security more than once and they didn’t even help...

the other two times we’ve stayed in the spa staterooms have been super quiet.

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If you have a friend and they don't stay on the spa floor or purchase a spa pass, can you get them in?

...is it possible, yes. Is it frowned upon, yes. Does it happen? Probably every single week.

You have to ask yourself if you’re willing to four the bill for your friend who wasn’t willing to pay to be there.

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Going on the Dream in November 2018... Currently booked in a Cove Balcony.

 

Just received an email from the Upsell Fairy / Troll offering the following:

 

$46 to upgrade to a regular balcony ($23 per person)

or

$136 to upgrade to Cloud 9 Spa Balcony ($68 per person)

 

Would you do either one of these? Why or why not?

I would take the spa in a heartbeat!! We love the spa- the thermosuites and thalassotherapy pool are amazing- I would totally do it!!

We had a couples pass on the Magic for two weeks in October and we had to turn in our sail and sign to get the access card. I'm guessing that if you have a spa cabin you can use you S&S card for access, but if you purchased a spa pass you can't.

We haven’t been on the magic but have been in spa staterooms in both the Breeze and dream twice. We always check in at the front, exchange our S&S for a spa access key.

My original experience with the spa was in the dream where I did purchase a pass and got the colored armbands but still needed to get the key in exchange for the S&S.

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Carnival opened bookings on the Horizon earlier than yesterday. I booked my upcoming cruise on the Horizon about a month or so ago.

Pretty sure the thread started months ago.

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While we have experienced this on other Carnival ships with Cloud 9, not so on Magic. You will use your sail and sign card to open the door to the T-pool or the door to the thermal rooms and steam rooms.

Interesting.... the Breeze is just like the Dream I that you exchange your S&S to get the spa access key. I thought the purpose of this was so you weren’t tempted to share your keys with other people on the boat that don’t have spa access.

So if I’m understanding this correctly- there’s no need to check in at all?

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You’re both making assumptions, just because it’s a party to recognize Ds and Ps does not mean they are the only ones invited.

 

 

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I’ve never seen it as a party to recognize Ds & Ps. Rather a party FOR the Ds & Ps. Much like a class reunion - the people invited are those who are part of the class, not open invitation to all so that those classmates can be recognized. I wouldn’t care if the Ps & Ds could bring a “plus one”. But perhaps they should have to pay a fee since they don’t qualify to be there. We’ve not been aboard since it was changed to P & D, but loved the change that moved it from past guest to gold, platinum and diamond. It was less chaotic, you actually could get more than one pass at the apps and drinks. I’m looking forward to our next cruise on the Horizon when we will get to go to the smaller party.

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On the first cruise we took our kids on (9 & 12) we were always pretty early for dinner - usually at the MDR when the doors opened. That would put us at the table first. Since we had early seating- it was still daylight when we ate. We were at a oblong table for 8 near a window. Our kids would always grab the seats on Esther side by the window. On the third night two older ladies at the table stated that it wasn’t fair that our kids always took the window seats and did not allow others to experience the view.... honestly I had never considered that this was rude. Especially since at least 500 other people seated in the middle of the dining room never got the option of a view... needless to say- that made it very awkward after that.

That is one of the best parts of ATD. you only endure one night. [emoji851]

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We experienced our first t pool on the Dream. Since then we book cloud 9 rooms on every ship we can! It is a wonderful experience and never over crowded, even on sea days. I love all of the thermo suites. They’re so relaxing!

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When we go to Cozumel we just rent a Jeep and do the island at our own pace. However- if I were going to do Chankanaab, I would just take a taxi as you can spend a whole day there. They have a nice beach, you can rent snorkel gear (or bring your own), walking trails, “ruins”, (they’re reconstructed) sea lion show and you can pay extra to swim with dolphins. There’s an entrance fee- you can also acquire a coupon. Google it.

Renting a Jeep allows you to see the less traveled side of the island. It’s beautiful over there! We’ve been all over the Caribbean and Cozumel remains our favorite location.

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When we are in Cozumel we rent a Jeep for the day and tour the island at our own pace. You can visit the small temple ruins you mentioned and so much more. It only costs about $125 a day with insurance included and you can see the whole island.

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You can bring as many bottles as you like, you are supposed to pay $15 for each, as a service charge, regardless if you bring a cork screw or it’s a screw top. We paid 3 out of 4 times, after having our carry ons X-rayed. On our last cruise, there were delays in the terminal, and I didn’t even see a manned table after x-ray to get stickers. On the previous cruises, we were directed to a table to get charged.

Sorry- I didn’t realize when I originally posted that this was on a different line. My app doesn’t always make it easy to determine. On Carnival you can bring 2 bottles each. The only time you pay a corkage fee is if you take the bottle to the dining room

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Texas resident here. Carnival can we PRETTY PLEASE get some new ports.

 

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Distance isn’t your friend with this one. Being so far west, it would require a longer cruise to get to eastern/southern ports in the Caribbean.

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I don't put in any forms. I just call the 800 number and they do it for me and send me an e mail showing either the new price or if after final payment then on board credit. Much easier and faster to me than sending in forms.

Sometimes it depends upon who you get.... there was a time when I didn’t even realize there was a form. Then once I called and they directed me to how I could access and submit the form. [emoji15]

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In my experience, cruise lines don’t cancel any POC until the last minute because they don’t want to start the mass confusion this causes onboard and they’re hoping that something will change making it possible to make the stop. Perhaps they also were working hard on making additional stops for substitution. In our eyes- seems simple enough- just stop “here” they have a port. It’s not quite that easy. There are other ships navigating all over the ocean also making stops. Each port has a limit to how many ships it can take at one time. Then there are port fees which vary by port. It’s well within the realm of possibilities that Costa tried to replace at least one of your stops but were not successful.

I’m not sure about every insurance policy out there- but the ones I am experienced with would not have paid out on a last minute cancelation due to you not liking changes in

itinerary. So if you’re not getting your money back- why not just cruise?

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I understand that we can not bring any alcohol but wine on board, and then that comes with a $15 corking fee for each bottle.

 

 

 

We do get the UBP as a perk for our booking.

 

 

 

My husband does not care to drink wine, however we do like to relax on our own balcony and enjoy a drink or two, maybe more on lazy at sea days.... In the past we have been a bit 'sneaky' about bringing our own but have opted not to do that this time as security has changed since our last cruise a couple years ago.

 

 

 

Do we have no other option but to bring our own wine? Can we buy wine we can drink on board, or does that get held until we leave like liquor? What are the reasonable options for people to enjoy a drink (other than wine) in their own space without having to repeatedly go to a bar and then trek back to your cabin without spilling any?! Will room service bring bar options?... I'm thinking this would get ridiculously expensive...

 

 

 

Thank you to anyone who has any solutions or answers.

You don’t have to be sneaky about the wine. You’re allowed to bring two bottles in your carry on. 750ml- I believe

We’ve never paid the corkage fee as we either bring a hand corker or cork-less option. We keep it in the room - on ice and I drink it whenever. I’m not a sticker about a “proper glass” so I have used the water glasses in the room. I have also saved a glass from my kiss on the lips or other cocktail and taken it back to the room and washed it out. You can pour a glass in the room and take it to dinner. There’s no open container laws on the ship.

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The disembarkation talk Rev Dr E provided this morning indicated that there is even priority WITHIN self-disembarkation, with platinum, diamond and FTTF getting to leave prior to other self-disembarking passengers.

 

This post may have been entered by voice recognition. Please excuse any typographical errors.

...interesting- I did not know that. Typically I’m not in that big of a hurry but it’s nice to know it’s there.

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Princess offers $50 for Veterans but on Carnival you have to be retired. Too bad.

Not true. Carnival offers a military rate with submission of a DD214. You only have to submit it once and it stays on your account as a viable choice. However- we’ve only found the military rate to be cheaper than the past guest rate twice in 15 bookings.

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