Aquaman#1

Wonder if they are going to put a Guy's Bar-B-Q Joint on Board during this drydock?

That's what I'm hoping for! We'll be on the second sailing out of dry dock.

I also just finished a cruise 10-21 on Elation! Overall, a great cruise for us. We had an OV on deck 4. We did experience very low water pressure the first night in our sink (shower was fine). We asked our stateroom attendant about it the next afternoon, and later the night it was fixed. Our a/c did fine, but we also take a small box type fan with us for circulation. We also noticed some of the upholstery was coming apart here and there, as if it was done in a rush. The inspiration dining room looked great, glad they got rid of those booths! There was still finishing touches being done almost everywhere. Painting, tile work, trim. Upper decks on the front of the ship were taped off, work still in progress. But there was nothing that we could not overlook, and we really had a great time! Staff was great. Oh, but the Pizza Pirate, there was always one guy working (that we could see) and he would disappear to the back for minutes at a time, come back with a couple of pizzas, which would be gone in a matter of seconds. It seems to me the need to invest another worker or two to keep up with the demand, because he always seemed to be overwhelmed! And oddly enough, it seems I always saw the same guy working, lol. The new Guy's Burger Joint was good, and they kept that line moving pretty smoothly. Same with The Blue Iguana. Oh, and there is a buffet at breakfast with an omelet station at Guy's, with cereals, yogurt and milk at the condiment station. We got breakfast there, and there never was much of a wait. Some areas of the ship didn't get updated, but overall, it looked pretty fresh. Also, I do believe the ducktail that was added helped to stabilize the ship a little more. We cruised it last November, and the movement was the worst I'd ever felt on a cruise, it what seemed to be fairly calm water. This year, the seas were a lot rougher, but the ship was really steady on all but one night. I'd cruise her again. Matter of fact, I will in January of next year!

Did they add refrigerators to the Elation in all rooms? Or did I miss that you were in a suite? Thanks!

I was on this cruise as well, Deck 4 OV, and we had a refrigerator in our room. 1st night, we had very little water pressure in the sink (shower was fine). We asked our cabin attendant about it, and it was corrected that evening when we returned after dinner!

I experienced the same delay in getting my license last year, only having a temporary paper license. The last time I had renewed, they were made on the spot, so this caught me off guard. I called Carnival, they didn't seem like they had ever been asked about this before, read to me the "valid identification" policy listed earlier, and suggested I call customs. I couldn't get any answers at customs (phone wise), so I was prepared to spend the week in Cocoa Beach while my family cruised without me if I was denied boarding. I submitted my license that had expired 4 days prior, and it was business as usual. No one with Carnival, no one in Nassau, no one in Freeport, nor US Customs seemed to care or notice that it was expired. They only looked at the picture, and then me. I never even brought up the paper license, though I did have it in case the expiration came up. And I have since gotten a passport!

I'm on for the 16th as well. If these storms keep it up, we may be the first post dry dock sailing!

A question,,,are they still doing the 'sail away party' leaving Nassau at midnight?

They had a buffet set up by the pool with lots of music at midnight when we used to take the Monarch.

Just off of Enchantment a couple of weeks ago, and yes, they had the party leaving Nassau! And the food was AWESOME! They actually had a huge grill cooking on briquettes on deck!

Yes, maybe it was Super Saver. It's no big deal, I just like looking at the location and trying to figure the surroundings ahead of time. Thanks!

Hey folks, I have a question. I'm fairly new to Carnival, and have booked an Ocean View room on Sunshine for this July. It's the early saver where they pick my room for me. I have used this option with RCCL once, and my rooms were assigned as soon as I got notification of booking the same day, even though the cruise was a few months away. This was not the case for the Carnival cruise, and I just wondered what the time frame was for others, or if it just varies? Just curious, thanks!

Just off Enchantment of the Seas. A couple that went with us bought a case of water at Wal-Mart the night before in Cocoa Beach, I told them I didn't think it was allowed. My wife calls RCCL, they say it's not allowed. He decides to take his chances, puts a few in his suitcase, says worse case scenario they will take it. Makes it onboard to the room, no problems. But I recall seeing people carrying cases in the past, though I don't recall how far or if it made it on."

Love all that pool deck space! :cool:

YES! Makes the sail-away parties much better! Didn't care for the broken up parties on Freedom,

Just there last week, they have wheelchairs available almost as soon as you get off the tender, with the jumbo wheels to make it through the sand. Not sure if they are free, or if you have to rent them, but I bet Carnival could tell you. Surely a gentleman would help to get her somewhere she could settle. I would! Best of luck!

Research is indeed a good thing. For example, if you did even a minimal amount of research you would have seen that the OP is new to Cruise Critic making many of your points moot. Aside from that, isn't that what these boards are for? It seems to me the perfect place to ask a question such as this. Your post seems unnecessarily harsh and is exactly the type of response that causes so many threads to dissolve into discord instead of constructive assistance.

BRAVO!!! So true!!! Seems too often folks are ready to pounce. :mad:

 

OP, YOU are the customer so YOU need to know what you're buying.

If you can find the time to tell us your story, you can find the time to become a well-informed consumer and cruiser!

I suppose I should let my next patient choose their own path of treatment? If you're going to have a heart attack or stroke, you need to be in the know of current treatments, medications and dosages, right? Cruisers just cruise, they don't run the industry. Sure, it's nice to have a little knowledge, but it's also nice for the cruise line employees to have a little more than you to help guide you in the right direction. To insinuate that the OP should have more knowledge as the purchaser than the seller is just ridiculous. Hope you get things straightened out!

I didn't have time to read the thread, but in a street fight I'm pretty sure we can take those pampered Royals. ;)

I ain't scared of y'all! lol! I just got off of Freedom of the Seas, and it was fantastic! But so was every cruise I have taken on Royal. Personally, I can make due without the upcharges. If I want a burger, I'll eat a Windjammer one. If I want orange juice, it's not the fresh squeezed, it's the free stuff. I didn't even use room service on this last cruise, though it was free until midnight. I drank the "Seattle's Best" coffee (free), not the "Starbucks". Even though RC can charge you more here and there, you can manage without those items. Or at least I can! I am taking my first Carnival cruise in October, and I am going with the attitude that no cruise is a bad cruise!

Awesome review! My family and I are cruising on Freedom this Sunday and we're ready to go! I was confused when you said you past Grandeur on sailaway, since it goes out of Baltimore. I forget it stops at Port Canaveral! I like the older ships, I'd like to sail it and Majesty before they go the way of Sovereign and Monarch. I've yet to meet a RC ship I did not like though.....thanks for the pics and info!!

No, its really not that simple. Let's see if this explains it.

 

Say there are 100 inside staterooms and they sell 25 guarantee rooms. They will pull 25 of the inside rooms and categorize them as "guarantee pool." These rooms cannot be chosen from - they are set to randomly assign. The other 75 can be chosen from, even by someone unhappy with their assigned guarantee room (and then one room from the pool will be randomly selected and resent out to general availability). If they let you pick from the guarantee pool they are giving you preferential treatment above everyone else that books a guarantee. Its just not allowed.

 

Likely they sold more guarantees than they anticipated (it happens sometimes) so they had to pull more into the guarantee pool. Once they were pulled, they become off limits until space becomes available again.

I can understand that. And now I am almost positive that's what she said, because now, they show guarantee staterooms as an option, with K category included along with M and another one I can't recall. That was not an option when I called. Just the fact that when I first made the call it was an option is what bothers me. I was getting no preferential treatment, the cruise line themselves told me what I inquired about would be fine if a room in the same category was available. And when I made the call, it was available. So yes, it could have been that simple. They told me I could do it, so that's that. I don't feel like they owe me anything, or any different rooms, I just have a problem that it was changed before my very eyes. I just don't see it as good customer service. You may disagree, and that's ok! But I do thank you for helping me figure it out!

Spend some $$$$ and book a royal family suite. Problem solved

Did NOT think of that! Let me call now!! Oh....and can I borrow some money?!? ;) lol!

If I understand correctly, the negative experience in all of this was actually caused by the excessive wait time during your call to RCI. I can certainly relate to that. The wait times have become ridiculous. I've had to call them many times for various reasons over the last few months and have been put on hold every time. On Saturday it was for an hour, I got hung up on, had to call back and it took another 45 minutes to accomplish what I initially called about which was a price drop of $75pp the day before final payment was due and then to make that final payment. There is no reason it should take that long. But with all the complicated rules it is taking longer for their own reps to navigate the system, not to mention with all the cut backs in the name of revenue, that don't have enough hired reps to take the calls.

 

Yes, that is a very negative experience and it affects different people in different ways. But it seems to be affecting every single person who has to make that dreaded call. I can't imagine how travel agents are coping with the wait times when they need to make calls on behalf of their clients.

 

Had they taken your call immediately, you would have slipped in before they recategorized those rooms. It's a shame they did it while you were on hold.

 

Gina

Exactly! Thank you for paying attention! In the end, if we're not in close proximity, so be it! I just got a little perturbed that it changed while I was waiting!

Most likely they were pulled to fill guarantees which means no, they are not available and yes, they are "booked" they just have not been assigned.

 

Again, I'm sorry but you knew this was a risk. And yes it may have worked out better for you had you called a few minutes earlier..but you didn't. That person you were transferred to? That was Resolutions. And the person they called? That was Revenue. No one overrides Revenue. They are like stateroom Gods. If Revenue said no, the answer is no.

 

Your best bet is to keep looking. Or, pay more and book assigned rooms.

Yes, I knew the risk, but that's not my complaint here! But after reading your post, I believe that may have been the explanation they gave me. But with them not being assigned, they could have easily been switched with mine, and they still would have had my two rooms, the same category rooms, available to assign to someone, right? I mean, where's a loss there? Does that make sense?

Hello, I hope it works out, that you'll be able to move closer together, and as you stated you'll have an enjoyable cruise regardless.

 

I've tried two different types of cost saving measures in the past. One was a 'guarantee balcony', saved about $900 for the cruise. Ended up with an "aft" cabin. Can't remember which ship - it was a big one (Freedom?). I was so upset being all the way in the back until the RCCL reps convinced me by saying "oh, those are popular" and "people book months in advance for those - you'll love it", and so I kept it - and the $900 savings. Well, when I ever went out to the balcony I couldn't believe how much steel was all around us. Could hardly see the water beyond the steel girders. When we looked down we saw decking used by the crew, we were witness to their smoking area, when anyone spoke it sounded like you were in a tunnel. It was the second worst cabin I ever had.

 

Our other bargain was "oh, let's book a lower category, and get upgraded" (we were Diamond at the time, and not my idea, HIS idea). HA! That never happened! We were on the Jewel. Lowest passenger deck available, it was so low the elevator lost sight of daylight when descending to our floor, we had a porthole not even a window. We were in the bowels of the ship. We couldn't fit our suit cases under the bed so we had them next to the bed, had to move them every time we got up. Never again. Will never expect to be upgraded ever again. This was our worst cabin! Right now I'm smiling, thinking about it, but not then. I don't think we talked for 2 days. It's a good thing we spent most of our time up on the pool deck ;)

 

Those are my two little somewhat funny stories. Like someone previously said "live and learn", to which you agreed! And not to worry, I am not here to say anything that will make you feel any worse than you already do. Unlike others.

That's right, lesson learned! All of my cruise experiences have been awesome thus far. Other than this, I expect the awesomeness will continue! Thanks!

I can't believe all the "flaming" people are giving the OP. He made an observation and a, what I think is a legitimate "beef". I have had similar situations where I could see a room online and the cruise line says it isn't available, his was that the cruise line changed the category of the room. The cruise may have been booking up and there are more berths than the ship can hold so they didn't want to book 2 people in a 4 people cabin or didn't want to change them from a 4 person cabin to a 2 person cabin, whatever the reason the cruise line "changed the rules at the last minute". It is their ship and they can do as they wish, but doesn't mean the OP has to "like" it. So get over yourself and your "hating".

Thank you....

So sorry to see so many people who are not sympathetic, supportive or understanding about this situation.

 

I agree -- especially since the two guarantee cabins you have are 4-person cabins, booked for 2 people! -- that it is "fishy" those 14 cabins disappeared while you were on the phone. Highly unlikely they were booked while you were waiting to be transferred; and how weird that no one could make this work out for you. (The "recategorization" issue would have been more likely if you were currently booked in 2-person cabins and were hoping to move into 4-person cabins, which RCI did recently recategorize to maximize the number of people on board.)

 

Better customer service is the secret here, not "you should've known better," or "you knew what you were buying." It does sound like that one person tried to make it work out for you, but couldn't get around some invisible road block.

 

I like the suggestions to keep trying, call back again, call C&A rather than reservations, etc. I wish you a wonderful cruise, and hope that you and your kids can at least be at the same end of the ship, or on the same deck, if not in connecting cabins. Good luck!!!!:)

 

(And no critique intended, but yes, it is easier on the eyes to read posts which are broken into paragraphs -- I hope I made that suggestion in a way that is not offensive!!);)

Lol, yes, it could have been written better, but the words were flowing! Thanks you for your use of "Tact", and thank you for your well wishes!

I was on Enchantment last August, and I enjoyed this ship more than others, for some reason! Windjammer did seem really congested, like the layout didn't work well. I was on Jewel last April, and Windjammer seemed to flow easier on it. But otherwise, I didn't notice anything that really caught my attention.

Sooo your mad because YOU CHOSE to book Guaranteed Staterooms, then get mad because you do not like where your cabins are located.... lololol :rolleyes:

 

Your 7 cruises doesn't even make you diamond status, so please cry a river elsewhere.

No. I'm not. Try reading it again. And it's "you're", not "your". :rolleyes: