imwebe

Thanks guys. I appreciate your answers. The credit is for early booking with Carnival, and we did pre-paid gratuities. Good to know the kiosk option.

We have a $200 onboard credit for an upcoming May 21 cruise. Since we don't drink alcohol or sodas, or use the Casino, we really don't spend much on the ship. We were refunded the balance left on our S&S account last cruise.

Just wondering, do you have to use all of your credit, or is the unused amount refunded? If not refunded, we will be sure to spend it all :)

My issue is somewhat related, but not quite. I bought my grandson a Pride lego ship model that was missing several pieces. He's a perfectionist at 8 and couldn't handle the not quite complete finished product. That was in October 2016 when our Caribbean cruise was diverted to Canada - thank you Hurricane Matthew. We are back on the Pride in a few weeks and I have the repackaged model to exchange. The only receipt I could find was a line item on our Sail and Sign statement for the Fun Shops, with a total I'm sure included a few other items. Hopefully, this will work out OK.

Thanks for your answers. We'll be sure to lug our towels to Turk. Very helpful info.

Rented a cabana on both Grand Turk & Half Moon Cay - hubby with frequent bouts of skin cancer and I want him protected. I've read all the descriptions of what is included and see no mention of towels, although I thought I saw on a thread that they were provided. I'd hate to lug beach towels off the ship if I don't have to.

I can thank you, now. I've gotten that sage advice from others here, and plan to make a dash for the excursion desk as soon as we're on board. I have my heart set on one right in front of the bathrooms!

We're sailing on the Pride May 21 and I've booked cabanas on both Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay. I also purchased FTTF. I use a walker and on our cruise in October was ushered pass the longer lines to handicap check-in.

It just occurred to me that perhaps buying FTTF was overdoing it since, if I understand correctly, a cabana will already get us priority passage on the tender to HMC. We also won't care when we debark since we'll be driving home from Baltimore - only a little over an hour to home. Do you guys see any advantage in my holding on to FTTF? I also really don't care if my luggage is already in my room when we get there.

HMC and Grand Turk are pretty much my all-time favorite ports of call, and they've been in the itineraries of my last four Carnival cruises. (Haven't always made it to HMC, though.)

 

 

 

If mobility is a serious issue for you, you might want to consider Cabana #1. It is the only cabana that is handicapped accessible with a ramp. Since you have a disability, I'd suggest emailing shoreexcursions@Carnival.com with your sailing info and reservation number and see if they can reserve #1 for you in advance. If they can, KEEP THEIR EMAIL and bring it with you when you check in for your cabana on board. I'd suggest hurrying to the ShoreEx desk ASAP on general principles, just in case they try to give it away to someone else.

 

 

If your mobility issue is less serious I'd suggest any cabana out to #10; beyond that and you're getting a bit far from the BBQ buffet, although there are bathrooms behind #9. I've had #9 and #11 in the past and loved it. Floaty mats and snorkeling gear will be provided and it's a great way to spend your day. The tram that runs behind the cabanas on the road will pick you up if they have room when they encounter you. It was not handicapped accessible the last time I was there.

 

 

 

Oooh! Oooh! Mr. Kotter! Mr. Kotter! :D

 

let's see....

Half Moon Cay -- real name: Little San Salvador -- owned by Holland America Line

CocoCay -- real name: Little Stirrup Cay -- owned by Royal Caribbean

Great Stirrup Cay -- real name: same thing! -- owned by Norwegian (it's next to CocoCay)

Castaway Cay -- real name: Gorda Cay -- owned by Disney...and it has a dock

Princess Cay -- real name: Eleuthera -- part of it is owned by Princess. I'm pretty sure they don't own the entire island. :)

Grand Turk -- real name: Grand Turk -- not owned by Carnival (it's the capital of Turks & Caicos) but they built the cruiseport facility and it's quite rare for ships from other lines to make port there. I'll be there on a Royal ship next Feb., though. :o

 

 

 

There are reports that Carnival is building a new dockable port on Grand Bahama Island. It'll be a while, but it'd be nice to have a new option in the area that's less susceptible to wind, water and waves.

Pellaz - thank you! I think I'll pass on Cabin #1 since I don't really need a ramp - I just can't stand too long. This is such a great place to get information. I never would have known to go to the Excursions Desk as soon as we get on the ship to choose a cabin. And since I've bought FTTF for the first time, we should have good choices available. Really need to be close to potty since I am slow getting around - don't want to turn the beautiful blue Caribbean waters green.

Thank you for your responses. We are sailing from Baltimore on the Pride on 5/21 and can't wait! Our first was a short cruise to the Bahamas out of Miami in 1998, a high school graduation gift for our daughter. We took an excursion on a party boat to Carnival's private island at that time and remember it being one of the highlights of our vacation.

You should be fine with the rollator, I believe last time there was someone with a power wheelchair on our tender. You will really enjoy the cabana. As far as location, 1 is closest to where the tenders dock with 14 the furthest away. The lower numbers are closer to the food and bathrooms and bars and will have more noise and activity nearby. The higher numbers are much quieter if that's what you're looking for. We had number 12 and it was amazing, very relaxing and enjoyable place to spend the day. They do have a tram/truck that can drop you off and pick you up. It's been a few years since we were there so some of the details are a bit fuzzy so maybe someone else can chime in that's been more recently.

 

We are going back next month though, can't wait!

Thanks for taking the time to answer - We are sailing on 5/21 - it can't get here fast enough!

Thanks so much for all the work you and Patti put into posting your review. It's been keeping me very happy, and anxious to get back on the Pride in May (sailed to Canada in October, thanks to Hurricane Matthew).

One question after reading another post - does the Pride have the slot that needs a card inserted to work the electrical outlets in your cabin? Since we were just on her in October, I don't think so, but I am curious if anything has changed.

Due to bad knees, I have a hard time staying on my feet for very long. Can I take a rollator (walker) to HMC? Also, we've rented a cabin. Is there transportation to get us to it if we choose one further down the beach? Walking could be an issue. If any one who has rented a cabin can give me insight on a good choice (something near bathrooms, near BBQ, etc.) it would be much appreciated.

We ordered two 12 packs at $4.50 each - no sales tax for us either. They were in our cabin when we arrived about 1 pm on our cruise last October. I wonder if the sales tax is applied because of your state of residency. We are from Delaware, one of only a few states with no sales tax.

We were in room 8178 extended balcony on 10/9 cruise and it was very noisy at night. We were just below the party area of the Lido deck (mid-ship) and heard thumping feet and furniture moving all evening. We booked on board for May - same ship - and chose a room on the floor below.