soonernstlouis

33 minutes ago, hal2008 said:

Yes, my post was based on multiple experiences (including one very recent)

You did not say you tried Uber at Pan Am only that Uber may cancel (never had that problem myself anywhere).  I’ll assume you tried & failed to get an Uber there & leave it at that.  My apologies for potentially proving bad advice.
 

I too like paying it forward thru reviews/suggestions but would never reopen 6+ threads to say avoid it.  Maybe let the 86% 4 & 5 star reviews out of 1,400+ total on a popular travel site carry as much weight as your 1 bad one?

Getting back to something that is never free....those friendship bracelets, rings & whatnot that local peddlers “give” you when you stop by their stand.  Next thing you know you’ve spent $20 on garbage you wouldn’t normally

pay $1 for.  Same with taking your picture for free, petting/pictures with their animals for free.  Heck I even got yelled at by Carnival staff for trying to to take a picture of my wife next to the towel mascot.  You think I’m paying for that silly pic?

@tara1717 

I would suggest bringing and/or using motion sickness medicine as much for the van ride as the speedboat one which I found to be surprisingly smooth.  I did get into the thermal pool & it was exceptionally hot but did not stick to you.  Did not try the adjacent mud bath where you can paint yourself up.  It stinks like sulfur a little but appears to wash away easily.  Just wear an old swimsuit.

 @PaulaB

If you are doing the full day tour, you should be fine getting back to the ship in time. Just ask in your email reservation what time they return. Our port time was 8-5 and got back to port around 4pm.  It IS a lot of activity wrapped up into 1 excursion.  We were exhausted when we got back to the ship.  Edited to say you need to be off your ship early to meet the group.  I was embarrassed that we were the last to show up (maybe 5 minutes late).

@hal2008

Unless you’ve actually tried & failed to use Uber to pick up from Pan Am then I’m not sure why you bothered eleborating your point.  I’ve Ubered  FROM less popular places than Pan Am in San Juan & have no doubt it would work there too.  All it takes is a few minutes on the Uber app while there to test.

As for reasoning skills.....your 1 bad experience at the Boatyard led you to posting basically daily diatribes to avoid it.  So I don’t put much stock into your criticism.

I would not depend on either CVS not Walgreens  near the Carnival dock having 12 pack/12oz cans; they had 8oz ones when we looked last September and selection was limited so we passed.

As for free luggage storage I would recommend Ubering from/to port and Barrachinas Restaurant.  Just Google it or look at the many posts mentioning it in this forum.

Most OSJ restaurants are within walking distance from the San Juan Cruise Port Terminal.  If you prefer transportation, I would recommend downloading the Uber app; never had a problem getting a ride within OSJ in minutes & cost is usually about $5.

I loved my first September cruise even though we changed 1 port to a lessor one, changed the sea day from last day to early and cut short 1 port in order to make up a previously skipped one (all due to tropical systems).  We still hit 5 total ports on a 6 full day cruise, were the only ship in port each stop and otherwise had great weather.  Always buy a good 3rd party trip insurance, preplan sea sickness remedies and make sure 3rd party excursions are refundable or paid when used.

I’ve only been to 8 total ports but Carlisle Bay Barbados is my favorite beach when not crowded.

24 minutes ago, shof515 said:

carnival recently changed the final payment due dates for cruises. maybe your cruise was effected by this

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/481/kw/final payment

Thanks for the link.  I booked my next cruise 3 days before the change so I’m good.  Just need Allstate to have some discounted Carnival cards available & I’ll start paying now anyway.

Has anyone been able to order Carnival gift cards thru Allstate in the past few days?  I am new to their app & was hoping to buy some to start paying on my next cruise.  Thanks

@hal2008 and @PhoenixCruiser

On my Carnival cruise last September I used Uber exclusively after using a taxi at the airport. Never waited more than 10 minutes & never paid more than $5 for the short trips.  Obviously Carnival ports in OSJ & not Pan Am but the online app works great there showing your driver location & they will call you if uncertain about where you need to be picked up.  I asked my driver who dropped me off at Barrachinas to pick us up a couple of hours later for the airport trip.  She did no problem.  She said pay her whatever you feel since the trip wasn’t logged so I gave her $20.

11 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

 

With that theory, several adults could switch on and off all cruise, lulling the crew who after they recognize guests, stop checking.  Same with Cheers, Spa cabins, etc

I’m not suggesting anyone use another person’s S&S card to game the system or get extra benefits.  I’m just stating the obvious that unless the wristbands are chip-encoded, just wearing one & being over 12 should get you into the Havana area.  

49 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

They have responded to complaints about unauthorized users and tightened access to keep it exclusive for those paying a premium.  There is no longer access after 7 pm for non Havana folks.  

What Lincdax is saying is that any 2 adults should be able to use the wristbands since you are not also required to have you S&S card with you when entering the Havana area.  Not sure others might feel this is cheating the rules but I’m fine with it as long as the total # of wristbands = total over age 12 guests entering Havana.

On a beach in Aruba thinking about what you are missing out on while you’re not even using it.

Do post more pictures of the empty Havana area when you get back.  It’s kinda like a live camera where I can dream while doodling at work.

I didn’t check the price over standard interior at the time of booking but after 3 months since booking the remaining few Havana interior rooms on my October cruise have gone up $100/person & is only $10 less/person than a balcony/person.

Edit for @cruisingguy007

My first Carnival cruise was on a Fantasy class which had NO pay food options other than Captain’s Table.  We enjoyed the cruise despite the limited food selections only because the great ports. I think the ship held 2,000 pax. 
 

I selected Horizon for my next cruise mainly due to being able to have a semi-private area and try both free and a couple pay food options.  Even though Carnival ships are becoming more & more mega-ships, I prefer small & would have only chose this class in the Havana area.  So yes for at least once I’m swimming on the dark side.

6 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

What if I'm wearing my VIFP lanyard for my S&S? Or drinking out of my VIFP Tervis tumbler? Is that uncouth and offensive?

No, but I would suggest spending more time in the comedy club if you thought I was serious.

On 12/29/2019 at 10:32 AM, pinto18 said:

Usually they have you meet somewhere like guest services and they escort you there ( just try to ignore the people in line glaring at you)

I only glare when Platinum/Diamond folks flash their status gifts at the MDR table.  How uncouth.

1 hour ago, jbethel11 said:

Also, if available, dine at Bonsai Teppanyaki. But hurry, they only have 16 seats with a few seating times per night, so they might already be sold out.

Hmm.  I wish I’d thought of saying that a

few hours ago.

1 hour ago, Derbie said:

If we decide to splurge on a dinner; which restaurant, would you recommend? 

We sail in October so can’t give a post-cruise recommendation but I pre-reserved Bonsai Teppanyaki very early since seating is very limited (I think 16 total & only 2 seatings a night) and very likely to sell out before you board.

Edit for 1 other item.  There is a much smaller & apparently less crowded area on deck 5 called Ocean Plaza where you can get coffee/juice and some food items.  Hopefully someone who has tried this can comment on selection and how busy.

I liked Guys Burgers from my first Carnival cruise last September.  It started as a well done burger heavily soaked in Worcester sauce.  Didn’t add any toppings.

Unfortunately as the cruise went on, the lines got longer (I think people got more and more tired of the limited buffet selection) and the cooking process seemed rushed and actually needed condiments.  Maybe I was just getting bored after my 5th burger that week.  I’ll probably “try” a burger or 2 on our Horizon cruise but with so much free food at lunch it’s not a priority.

1 hour ago, Oldskl said:

My family and I will enjoy the ship, ports, and restaurants as usual. We just won't be able to enjoy one of our favorite areas on the ship like we have in the past several sailings. Disappointing

If you are still posting about the 2 month old policy change the morning of your cruise then you are certainly setting yourself up for a letdown and taking away from a nice morning In Miami.  Come back after next week & get back on the issue & John Heald’s Facebook.  
 

Every day of my last cruise there were “issues” that could have ruined it if I allowed: overcrowded pools, kids using the serenity hot tubs, people cutting/pushing in lines for elevators and food areas, port changed due to weather, port hours cut short then to make up  a previously missed port......I did not let these small things reduce my enjoyment & always found alternatives to the crowds.  

7 minutes ago, jhubba said:

A lot better than Progressive when I had them.  Their monitor beeped at me all the time and I am a careful driver.

I’d gladly pay for an app that would shout 4 letter words and raise a finger to save my time whenever somebody cuts me off.  Has about the same ignore effect from them.

It’s funny reading some of the posts made since I last responded  yesterday.  Seems like we have a very divisive issue with the Havana area.  I’ve stated that while I’m not a fan of “ship within a ship” ideology, I did take advantage of booking a  room & paying a high premium for that room to have limited access to a few hundred square feet of that ship.  If any anarchists choose to overrun this area, the steakhouse, or any other non-inclusive area of the ship while l am there...more  power to you.  I’ll still be sitting back & enjoying my cruise & will raise my beer in your honor.  Hope you enjoy your cruise equally.  

If it helps I wish they did offer more pools/hot tubs on the Carnival ship for everyone.  Even my daughter (parent of my young grandkids) was a little jealous when I showed her videos of how quiet the Havana area is knowing she will not be able to access this with them for 10 more years.

On my September cruise I never bothered trying to get into the lone overcrowded pool on the Fascination.  And the serenity hot tub on deck 9 that was suppose to be exclusively for over 21 had several teenagers take over & just claimed to be 21 when asked by staff.  And there is no bar near there.

Hope you enjoy your cruise too!

7 minutes ago, Oldskl said:

You deserve this option more than others with families. I don't agree!

I don’t think you and I will ever agree on this.  I (along with 100 or so other cabins) paid a high premium to have exclusive use of the Havana area.  Had I chose to sail with any of my grandkids in the same cabin I would have had to find another room.  But I doubt I would have brought my grandkids to a wade pool so close to an open bar anyway.