atlantatransplant

Sailed out of Charleston last week...6 in my group and I showed the app for each person & government ID. Didn't have to take out paper work but had it just in case. There were no separate lines.

The employee seemed happy I have the app.

I'll post my 1 rant about verifly here I guess. I did the eMed testing and they email you the results. The attached result has the times in UTC timezone which is a few hours ahead of EST (the time clearly states UTC...). Verifly employees are uneducated, or poorly trained - and I got rejected each time I tried to submit immediately. I'd need to submit either a few hours later when it's "not in the future" (that was their response) or I found out only later I can go to Abott's website and get another report that had the time in EST.

I just cruised out of Charleston. From reading the forums here I thought you have to walk your bags after you park somewhere to a porter. Nope. When you pay for parking, the porters are right there. If things go well you pop your trunk, point out which ones and they roll them a few feet away to their cart.

I didn't have my tags prepared as we were still deciding on how/which bags to arrange. When I said the bags were not tagged he gave me quite an attitude. I said ok, well I can pull ahead to those parking spots right? (there was someone parked there already, too). He said yeah.

I tagged the bags, pulled them outta the trunk and rolled them up to his cart. I tipped him $5 for 3 bags for barely any work (I don't believe he is a driver of the cart so I really did 75% of his work). A guy with that kind of attitude...I'd probably get my bags accidentally off the cart.

I'd wager the guys behind the scenes who sort and deliver the bags did more work than the guy who just got my $5 of cash and likely unreported income.

I wished the porters were actual Carnival employees...they're much more friendlier.

Edit: Having said that I did tip the shuttle bus driver because he helped with getting my kid's stroller (with my daughter still sitting) on/off - which IMHO was work on top of his regular job duties.

Hah! Just got off the Sunshine...paid the $150 for my 3 year old. Oh well. But glad to hear that it is lowered for other future cruisers.

Also, the 2nd test on board was a 5 minute rapid test. I don't know why they can't use those for getting onboard...which is the 15 minute test. I'd rather get on faster!

As others mentioned...you can book in advance.

Steakhouse wine on the Sunshine was Santa Helena Varietal Merlot for the red. I took a picture of it - so I don't know what the white woulda have been. I'm not a wine expert but that's what the label said - though on Google I see different labels of the same text.

We saw people take the open bottle back.

Yeah I feel ya. I have a 4 year old and was unaware kids club was not available to them when I booked. I just knew from years past it was for 2+ but I didn't actively seek what activities changed due to Covid. Luckily I have my wife and family going as well.

Also a reminder that the unvaccinated can't just walk off the boat at the ports...only at the private islands can the unvaccinated come off by themselves. You'll need to book an excursion...but apparently from what I read after excursions are over you're free to roam about before boarding *shrug*.

I feel that it's more cutting costs than anything. Carnival could help out parents with 5 and younger for an hour or two a day with camp time slots where the kids need mask, or do something outdoors if Covid is the concern (I don't feel Covid is the issue since the kids can roam around maskless anywhere else...)

In case anyone else has cruised with a 5 and under (or unvaccinated) - for the rapid test at port, do we need to reserve a testing slot. I've reserved the boarding time but didn' see any indication a testing time is to be reserved.

I feel like I need a PhD to navigate all these policies...I don't know how others who don't know Cruise Critic can do it!

I have a 3.5 year old, so obviously not vaccinated. We are cruising in 2 weeks from Charleston.

It seems like she needs a PCR or NAAT test while the rest of us who are fully vaccinated can do a antigen. All of us can do it within 72 hours.

Then when we get to embarkation, our unvaccinated daughter needs to do a rapid test. It seems like it is done at the actual port before going on board. Is there any scheduling required - or it is automatic? I did not see anything...and I don't believe Charleston even offers that $10/$100 test.

My family contracted Covid in Feb (allowing us to comfortably go on this cruise!). For my daughter she had symptoms, but we didn't get an official test but I can probably get an antibody test and a "Document of Recovery" from pediatrician. From reading the policy, it seems like this would avoid both tests?

Thanks in advance!

I'll piggy back off this since this is the first time I'm doing specialty on the cruise, with steakhouse being one of them...maybe Jiji the other. Does the 2 apps extend to other restaurants as well?

And main course...is that 1 only?

Thanks!

I just got off the Carnival Glory and was intrigued with Dreams studio, came to search for other people's experienec. Wife, baby and I were taking photos against the regular backdrops on formal night. Our photographer introduced us to another photographer and said we can get a free session. I have my own DSLR, have backdrops at home to photograph our baby so know a bit more than the average joe when it comes to photography (but by no means a professional).

I asked about pricing up front and the photographer gave us the price sheet. $35 per print, pricing for the packaging was ridiculous. We had a great time and our baby was cooperative. ...we walked away with 3 awesome prints. Her camera and setup is much better than what you get with the photogaphers that just do the backgrounds. Honestly, we loved every pic (about 40) but no way we'd buy then all. I tried to negotiate and she said if we bought 5, she'd give us 1 free.

Having said that - you could easily make an appointment with JcPenney photo studio and get similar quality and for much cheaper price and have access to the digital photos for reprints (I did JcPenney for our daughter's 1 year old birthday, found a groupon).

She did do some touchups upon our request. We found that the photographer (or someone...) that did our photos upstairs touched up our photo, so we requested she did it too.

They usually do the photos in black and white it seems..but we requested color prints. You can always scan it and convert to black and white if that's what we want.

Hello! I am on the Carnival Glory waiting to set sail. Our room card says all 9 of us have a 6PM dining reservation at the same table. Thank you all for the advice! :D

Thank you Bonnie. Our cruise is this coming Saturday so I emailed Maitre'd. He/Carnival then contacted my Travel Agent, who then contacted me.

They were not able to move us to a set time. 7 of us are on Your Time Dining now, and the last party of 2 they will try to give YTD as well.

I guess when we board we'll see what happens with the last party. I believe this cruise is sold out now, so not sure our odds of having 9 sit together for a dinner. Fingers crossed that we can (even if we need to wait).

Thanks again!

I'd like to piggy back this...got wait listed months ago for Carnival Glory. Travel Agent said there's not much he can do...Can I the e-mail address for the Maitre'd?

I'll be traveling with 8 adults and my 15 month old. Any suggestions? Should we try to get 2 tables, or a big one? Or even split the dining time if someone needs to take care of the baby while some of us eat? I can post this question on a more relevant sub if needed.

Thanks!