Gypsywych

Carnival seems to be pushing the "People to People" option for Cuban travel. I'd be interested in hearing from Carnival Cruises travelers who've used the "In support of the Cuban people" option on the affidavit and used private excursions. My PVP was rather adamant that we could only use Carnival excursions.

Thank you.

We went earlier this month, and are returning in March. For both trips (as we do with all cruises) we went through insuremytrip.com to find the plan that was best for us. Put in details of your trip (including days leading up to and after if you wish), details about the travelers, and you instantly get quotes from a dozen+ companies, with various levels of coverage depending on what your might want. Many offer CFAR. We've used several different companies through them and always had great service if we had a claim (twice).

I'm sorry, what is CFAR? :)

I'd really appreciate hearing from some others who have already sailed to Cuba or are booked for Cuba about their travel insurance choices. It appears that Nationwide isn't offering travel insurance for Cuban cruises and I don't like purchasing Carnival insurance. Thanks!!

New deli, and I'm sorry I do not know if they will make a peanut butter sandwich there.

You can order a peanut butter and jelly (minus the jelly) sandwich from room service.

If all else fails, order peanut butter at breakfast and keep it in the fridge.

At no time did the name Li Jia Wang show up on my order, and my gift cards arrived within minutes of my PayPal payment. I would definitely cancel your order. Good Luck :(

I would suggest that you use gift cards to purchase cruise cash. The cards are then verified before your cruise and applies towards your sign and sail balance. This avoids delays or standing in line while on your cruise.

The only problem with cruise cash is that once purchased it is no longer refundable.

Where do you pick a time? Is it a part of online check-in?

Yes, it is part of the online check. However, if you completed it before they opened up times, you'll need to go back and select one.

Great thank you!

Will become good friends with Daniel and Enzo.

 

Did the pool and hot tubs get busy after 7PM when others were allowed in?

When we sailed on her, the Havana pool area was very quiet the first 2-3 nights because people are out doing all the fabulous new stuff on the Vista. Then it progressively got busier each night. It was never packed, but it the last 2 nights there was easily 30 people out there lounging, swimming, listening to the music.

Instead of Carnival Clue, make your own Photograph Scavenger Hunt.

You can do a smaller list and have a limited time frame ( 30 - 1 hour) or a longer list for the entire cruise, including things you might see on your stops.

Subscribe to this thread, then click on the triangle at the top right of your first post. Ask an Admin to move it to the correct spot. All fixed and you'll know where to find it.

Have a great cruise!

I think shorts are fine for a 7 year old.

Adblock Plus is invaluable, and free.

I haven't had any malware since I started using it.

South Carolina received a one-year extension as they set up for RealID. They will be able to begin issuing them in late January 2018.

Yes the ceilings (and walls) will hold magnets. Your idea will work great!

When we sailed Vista, the doors leading into the Havana pool area from the Lanai each had a button that we were able to push and open the door. We only went after 7:00 PM. We did not use our S&S cards to enter.

You didn't have to have your key in proximity to the door lock for it to open? Interesting. If we didn't have a key with us, the button didn't work. Possibly the white patio door key? We sailed back in February.

It is always locked. It requires your room key to get in and out of it. When we sailed, a couple of people kept leaving it open a crack, I think to let their friends in and out, but the staff in the Havana area are very proactive during the day to make sure only Havana guests are using the pool facilities. Even after 7 pm, non-Havana guests need to go through the Bar area to get to the pool. They can exit through those outside doors though.

If you have invited general guests to your room, there are hallways behind the elevators that lead to the Havana rooms.

People are cautioning against using the debit for good reason. The initial hold is $200. Say you go the next day and buy a watch in the shops. $140. They add another hold for $140. So now you've got $340 on hold. The next day you get only a soda and a glass of wine. They see you've spent $170 of your $200 so they add another hold. Now you've only spent $170, but you have holds to the tune of almost $600. Then at the end of the cruise, they will actually charge you the $170 you spent. So now your checking account is down $770. The holds fall off one at a time, sometimes taking 10 days depending on your bank. This might not be how it is supposed to happen, and it doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen. Be prepared.

Good to see that you've taken it to Carnival itself on FaceBook. Now, let your sister talk to the actual Guest Solutions people and ignore the peanut gallery on the page. There are always that few that think they know better. :rolleyes:

My sympathies to your sister.

This doesn't make any sense. Why would they charge a cancellation fee if they have already been paid in full for the fare? And you could just be a "no show" and they wouldn't get that $. Something is not right. We cruised a few years ago and my son in laws dad was to join us but pass away a month before the cruise. Carnival was very helpful and for a $50 change fee, we replaced another family member in his place. You need to keep calling until you find someone that knows what they are talking about. Good luck and sorry for your loss.

This.

Obviously your sister spoke to someone not trained in Carnival policies.

If she does not want to speak to another person at the main phone number, I would suggest the Carnival Cruise Facebook page. She can message Mischelle or Mary privately with booking numbers and details and they will help her.

We sailed on the Vista in February. We had a nice cruise with a cabin in the Havana area. Loved it. The quiet, the privacy, the ocean views. The rest of the Vista? Not as much. Very crowded. Too crowded. We have decided we liked the Breeze or the Spirit class ships so much better!

The PVP has your reservation as "theirs" once you book with them... you can pay on-line yourself and do not have to call them. I make all my payments on-line, saves me time and them too... they love people like us who just call for that original booking and we do all the rest ;)

Well then, since I can't get this one to call me back for something they DO need to do.... :rolleyes: time to find a new one.

Thanks!!

Kind of an odd question, but if I book through my PVP and then just make my payments online instead of calling him/her, does the PVP still get the commission?

The Taste Bar on Deck 5 Ocean Plaza on the Vista will also have a smallish buffet open for breakfast and lunch. We didn't eat lunch there, but it was very handy to have a peaceful place for breakfast in the mornings. There were eggs, potatoes, a couple of meat options, grits, oatmeal, cold cereal, juice, pastries, biscuits, coffee. A dozen steps and there was plenty of seating inside and out. AND NO CROWDS! :)

Grand Turk is very flat, very few trees, thanks to a few recent hurricanes. The only place I can think of that you might hike is past the old salt flats. Nothing scenic there though.

It's a beach/snorkel/water day, not an explore day.