Pops, Esq.

Blue Iguana Cantina, the BBQ Place on 10 Aft, Guy's and the Mongolian Wok.

It may take longer to clear border security, but the likelihood of a person born in the US being denied entry is very close to zero. And, the likelihood of any US citizen being denied entry is not that much higher.

This! Once on board, she is going to be fine. This is not a Tom Hanks movie where she will be left without a country for lack of an “official birth certificate.” I was concerned they would let her on the ship, not that the can’t get back into the country. It may be a real (real, real, REAL) hassle, but she will be repatriated upon arrival in her home port.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I am not sure your background on this topic but why was a claim done if a port was added?

Because OP purchased insurance that provides for payment if the itinerary changed. The itinerary changed. OP made a claim. There is no requirement that the change actually result in a loss. (Actually, I assume that was the discussion OP is updating — whether an actual loss is required)

In addition, you might be surprised that some on this board would prefer a three-port cruise to a four-port cruise and would actually consider the extra port to constitute a reduction in the value of the cruise.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Following up on previous post. The Air B&B we are staying in this time around is Schaefer Haus in Post Office Street in Galveston. Very near the port.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Doubletree Hobby Airport. Not the greatest neighborhood, but the hotel had a restaurant and a bar and was less than an hour from port. Rooms to be had at about $120. (This year doing an Air BnB in Galveston for less than $200)

Sent from my iPad using Forums

It's probably for the same reason Carnival can't let you use Cheers until 6AM the day after embarkation. That's due to Texas' crazy liquor laws. Also, Galveston is the only port where I've seen state tax people waiting in the terminal after a cruise to collect tax on any booze passengers bought during a cruise. This is one of the reasons I only cruised from Galveston once, and will not book another cruise from there.

The no-Cheers-from-Galveston-until-Sunday thing is related to the Texas law that says you can’t sell all-you-can-drink packages. Tastings shouldn’t be impacted by the same law.

Not saying it isn’t some other messed-up Texas liquor law. Just not that one.

Yes...I know RCL sells its drink package from day 1. I chalk that up to corporate attorneys interpreting the same law differently. (It used to be Carnival would not even sell you Cheers in advance, based on the interpretation that they couldn’t “sell” an all-you-can-drink package).

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I have both price drop OBC (post final payment price drop) and promotional OBC for my upcoming cruise. The promotional OBC still shows up in the cruise manager. The price drop does not show up as OBC, but there is a difference between the total charges and total paid that equals the OBC for the price drop. So, maybe check the math.

Although since you reference going online to make a payment, you are obviously not past final payment date. I assume your OBC will be all promotional OBC.

I think the official stance is that they are to be enjoyed in your cabin. I suspect a lot of folks enjoy them elsewhere as well. I think the key is to not bring the liquor bottles or soda can with you.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

The "official stance" referenced here comes from the Carnival Liquor Policy:

The Fun Shops (pre-cruise orders)

Alcohol pre-purchased through The Fun Shops for on board consumption is designed for in-stateroom entertainment only. Guests cannot take liquor bottles with them to public areas.

So, on the one hand, it says it is for "in-stateroom entertainment only" whatever that means, while on the other, the limitation of taking it to public areas only references bottles, leaving us to speculate whether you can take the liquor itself out discretely in a cup.

Walking around with the bottle would clearly be frowned upon.

There shouldn't be a charge to change cabins but keep the same rate code.

While that sounds perfectly logical, where do you get this information? Everything I see and hear says if you change cabins (upgrade or not) you pay for the current rate and lose any promotional OBC. If you are looking at something that says different (especially a written policy or something on Carnival’s website) let the OP know where that is, so they can use that to their advantage.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

What are you talking about? There is no was security let you board with 2 bottles of whiskey

Sure there is. Security guy #1 spots the liquor, and tells the passenger to take it to the liquor table. But there is no communication between #1 and #2 (at the table) that “this guy has liquor.” (Could be busy, or could be because the two are too far away from one another). Passenger doesn’t stop at the table and security guy #2 doesn’t say anything because he didn’t know the passenger was SUPPOSED to stop. #1 have moved on to the next passenger and doesn’t realize passenger hasn’t checked in the bottles.

It can happen.

And, apparently, it was done in this case with no evil intent.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Certs must be issued by a government authority. Photocopy is not acceptable, and neither is an original certificate issued by a non-government entity, such as a hospital.

 

 

 

Photocopy may be good to leave with a family member in case of emergency or to take with you while in port.

Wrong. That is all.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Ah, anecdotal evidence. Now that's compelling...

It’s not just anecdotal evidence. Carnival says a copy is good. The U.S. government says a copy is good. The anecdotal evidence unanimously says a copy is good. Not a single person has posted on here with even a single example of a copy not being good enough (just vague references to sometimes the folks at check in may not know the rules — which is true, at times).

But because someone says “eh, maybe not good enough” we’re gonna start cracking safes.

On the the other hand, you are going to have to open that safe sometime or another....

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Birth certificates do not need a "raised seal", since many states do not use embossed, notary style seals anymore.

 

And, as Sparks posted above, you certainly don't need a passport if you have to fly home from abroad unexpectedly. You contact the US consulate in the country you are in, and they will issue a temporary passport for your travel home. Having the passport only expedites the process.

I've always wondered when people say in absolute terms "you can't fly home without a passport." Sure you can. (Technically, you probably fly on a temporary passport or even an expedited passport) I guess I should say you can fly home without having a passport in hand when you board the ship...

Is it a pain to get back to the U.S. without a passport? Yes. Probably terribly so. But not impossible.

On the other hand, maybe the United States will decide leave you without a country because you had a few too many drinks and missed a ship in Cozumel.

Thanks!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

One qualifier. Although I said Starfish Point isn’t too exciting, it was my wife’s favorite part of the trip. Apparently live starfish “in the wild” can be exciting for some.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I had a much different experience with my last Price Protection submission. Carnival says it may take up to 2 days to review, but I got approved for both of our cabins in an hour or two.

 

 

 

That’s the same experience I had the last time. I was surprised it was so quick. Pleasantly surprised, but surprised nonetheless. That’s why I took the screen shots after it didn’t happen that quickly again.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Not exactly price protection but re Carnival's 110% Low Price Guarantee within 48 hours of booking:

 

On our Imagination cruise last month, we booked the cruise last-minute directly with Carnival.

The following day they reduced the reduced fare, same cabin category, even further, so I then

submitted their online form to request the 110% Low Price guarantee.

By the time they got around to process my request, the price had gone up again and they wrote

back with some BS of an excuse that the low price I was referring to was no longer available.

I told them "Tell you what, go back in your system to the day I booked the cruise and then check

what the same exact cabin category price was on your very own website 24 hours later, furthermore,

if you processed my request in a timely manner, NOT a week after I submitted it, chances are we would

not be having this conversation". They had the gall to tell me they can only go back in their system

48 hours and I called their BS and pulled my ace card from my sleeve....."OK, I said, how about if I

provide you with a screenshot of the lower price?"

30 MINUTES LATER I HAD MY FARE PRICE-MATCHED 100% TO THE LOWER PRICE

PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10%.

Both the price difference and the extra 10% were processed as an onboard credit. It is a bummer that

they put you through the wringer to get them to honor what they prominently promise in writing both

in their marketing emails and on their website.

 

Thanks,

Fred

I submitted a price match two days ago. When I hadn’t heard back by the end of the day, I was screen-shotting like a mad man. I still haven’t heard back, but I’m prepared if they wait until the next price hike.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Carnival single occupancy passengers pay twice as much but do not get twice as many points.

Suite passengers pay more, too. Should they get more points?

Sent from my iPad using Forums

You can only compare to cabins in your same category. And by "category" they aren't talking interior, ocean view, balcony or suites. Since you are talking interior, there are the following categories of cabins (using the Freedom as an example). 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, and 4H. Cabins on the Main and Rivera Decks will be 4A, 4B and 4C (4A are fore and aft Rivera Deck; 4B are fore and aft Main Deck and Mid-ship Rivera; and 4C are Mid-ship Main Deck).

If you booked a "higher deck" (since you didn't say which higher deck let's assume the Veranda Deck - Deck 8), then you will have either a 4F (fore or aft) or 4G (mid-ship) cabin.

You can't price a 4A, 4B or 4C cabin against a 4F or 4G. They are not in the same category.

To think otherwise, you could book an interior mid-deck on Verandah Deck (4G) and immediately price-compare it to an aft interior (4A) on the Rivera Deck and ask for a reduction.

Been to Rum Point and Starfish Point. While starfish point is neat, it is rather limited. The starfish aren’t very exciting. Rum Point has a lot going on, including swimming, water toys, a bar (not for kids, but. Mom and dad need something, too). I have two kids, now grown, but I would bet both would have liked Rum Point better. One of my two would have hung out with the starfish for a while. The other would have been, “oh, neat, starfish! What’s next?”

Also, I am fairly certain that coral gardens is an area off Rum Point. It is probably technically part of the reef system, I do not believe it is commonly referred to as the “reef”.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I'm really not sure why you are concerned with the deposit at this point. When you book at a reduced deposit, they still require the full deposit amount, eventually. In other words, once you have paid in full, you have paid the full standard deposit. It is the full standard deposit that they will consider when looking at cancellations.

 

At this point, since you booked ES and are past the final payment date, just simply send in your form. You will receive OBC for the difference in fare.

I was concerned about cancellations. Prior to final payment date, you only "risk" your deposit (less the cancellation fee). So, if I had to cancel, I would have less money tied up in the Future Cruise Credit and more money back in my account. I figure out just what you said above, that after final payment date, it's the standard deposit that will be tied up in the FCC no matter what.

Figured it out.

Final payment days, it changes from losing your actual deposit (not "losing" but having it transferred to an FCC) to a "standard deposit rate". That means everyone is "riskinig" a full deposit rate after final payment date, until 55 days before the cruise, where it becomes 50% of the fare. And so on...

Once your booking is within our cancellation penalty period, the amount of penalty will increase as the cruise departure approaches. When calculating the days prior to sailing, the day of sailing should not be considered as one of the days. The day of sailing is considered the first day of the cruise:

• From the final payment date to 56 days prior to sailing (or 46 days prior to sailing for cruises 5 days or less), the penalty is the standard deposit amount.
  
• From 55 days prior to sailing to 30 days prior to sailing (or 45 to 30 days prior to sailing on cruises 5 days or less), the penalty is 50% of the total fare or the deposit amount, whichever is greater.
  
• From 29 to15 days prior to sailing, the penalty is 75% of the total fare or the deposit amount, whichever is greater.
  
• From 14 days prior to sailing to the day of your cruise, the penalty is 100%* of the total fare.
  
• No refunds will be made if you do not show up for your cruise or if you interrupt or cancel your vacation once it has begun.
  

This is my understanding of that type of situation: If you booked early saver & it's already paid in full, then you would get OBC for the difference. If you had to cancel, you would be losing a full deposit. Well, not actually losing. You'd be out $50 per person and the rest of the full deposit would be held as a future cruise credit. We had to change a cruise date & had booked under a half deposit, but the rescheduled rate required a full deposit and we had to pay the difference in the deposit upon rescheduling. I'm sure if that is incorrect, someone will correct me.

I am figuring if I do the price drop, I will then be on the full deposit rate, but that is just an assumption on my part.

I get the part about it will be an OBC and I am paid in full. But, it's a low enough drop that I am sure I will spend more on board than what I am getting.

I am looking at a small price drop after final payment date. I want to submit the form to claim it, but want to clarify something first. I am booked under a reduced deposit fare. Usually, when you claim a price drop, you are moved to whatever the deposit is on the new fare -- for instance, if I booked under a 50% deposit, but claimed a price drop with a full deposit, I would be on a full deposit fare (should I later cancel). What happens when I am past final payment date, which means there is NO deposit, since you have to just pay full fare when you book?

Thanks!

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Sailing out of Galveston, if you purchase liquor, wine or beer from the Fun Shops, is it in your cabin when you get on the ship (or the first day) or is it delivered on the second day? I assume it will be there Day 1, but just don't know.

Remember, Cheers! doesn't kick in until day 2 due to Carnival's interpretation of state law. I'm pretty sure it's a different situation, but thought I'd ask.