mississauga

I don't see any Carnival cruises in your history, but I did a B2B2B in 2012 on the Spirit, a B2B in 2014 on the Triumph, and recently a B2B2B on the Vista, and have never had this happen. So if you have first hand knowledge on which Carnival ship did this, maybe you could share that info.

i have friends that do many Carnival B2B's . They have lately be getting a key card at the start that is good for the whole cruise.

Many cruise lines are going that way to save a couple of dollars on supplying a new key card.

Debbie is correct. This does not happen on Carnival. The info on each card for each cruise has different info on it so not possible to have one card for 2 cruises. One example is that it is impossible to have your dining table listed as the Maitre'ds do not even assign the seatings until about 3 or 4 days before the current cruise.

Maybe other cruiselines do it but not Carnival.

We're doing a B2B on the Vista next April.

I know the regular procedure of de barking with a GS rep, going through customs and re-board.

 

But this time we want to get off the ship, rent a car and run some errands.

Do we still need to wait until all guests are off the ship in order to debark?

No, you can get off when self assist is called. If an in transit card has not been delivered to your cabin along with the info re the b2b procedure, I would go to GS the night before and ask for one.

Then when you return, you can bypass everyone to get your new S&S card. However, if you are gone until close to departure/ all aboard time, it should be no problem with lines.

No, you cannot. You are either assigned or YTD. No switching back and forth.

Just as a YTD person would not have a seat in assigned, the open seats in YTD need to be made available for those coming in for YTD.

I mostly see cabins underneath the Reflections Restaurant. Do you think I would hear noise in my cabin if I chose one of these cabins that are underneath this restaurant?

 

And which side is the port side?

The cove balconies which are under the Reflections dining room are probably the best ones. It is only used for dinners from 6pm to 10:30pm. Would you be in your cabin during those hours?

The other vote balconies are under the kitchen. Those I would not choose as crew is working there in the early mornings and you would probably hear them. You never know what part of the kitchen you are under. I would not choose a cabin under the kitchen.

Thank you so much for that info - I'm getting closer to the answers I'm looking for. We will be in Cabin 5210 on January 8, 2017 (so excited). Could I just ask a couple of questions, please?

If you are coming from the Plaza area, do you have to walk out to the pool area and around to the cabin? Or is there a "short cut?"

Is the sliding door only lockable from the inside or can a keycard be used from the outside?

Thanks again.

There is a regular inside hallway to the cabins at both ends. Doors for privacy to your hallway. Once in the hallway, just like other decks with insides on one side and cabanas on the other side.

For the person concerned about privacy on the patios. Even if no one else comes through that area, your patio is accessible to your neighbors. You all share that walkway from your patio to the glassed in railing.

If I were you, I would ask the person(s) who has that date on their signature. If correct, they could give info you are seeking and if an error, you will alert them to it so they can correct it.

Hope that is still the gift in January. Sounds like a gift everyone could use. Do you have a pic of the light?

Some decks have refrigerators in the cabins and some do not. For example, I'm booked on deck 8 for a cruise on Sunshine next month and I don't have a refrigerator in my cabin. Not sure if that matters to you.

Just curious how do you know you don't have a refrigerator? I've been on 10 cruises w/4 different cruise lines and never had a cabin without a fridge. I guess I just assume all cabins have them like all hotel rooms I've stayed in.

I'll be on the Sunshine in February on deck 8 and this now has me concerend.

Thanks.

The Sunshine did start out without fridges in some cabins. However, I believe most if not all have them now.

We always book the same area on all our cruises, but with the different layout of the aft of the Sunshine, I am looking to your expert :p opinion on what cabin to book.

 

We always get a balcony now. We are in our early 50's .

 

I have a cabin booked that I noticed is over the casino. Just wondering if this will be a bad location ? Should I move to the front of the ship ? Any i should avoid ?

 

I am in shock at how much of the ship is already sold out !!! our cruise is still over a year away !

 

Thanks for any help. :)

Deck 5 cabins are great. Newly added to Sunshine and is a quiet part of the ship. Close to all eating areas. Breakfast in Ocean Plaza has hot breakfast.

Our favorite deck on the Sunshine

Yes, they all have a throwback day. One day is devoted to activities that used to be on cruises back in the80's. Wooden horse racing, Frog races, Captain's night ending with a Midnight Buffet.

Does anyone know if you can go to Bonsai Sushi and get it to go? My wife is thinking she might want something that's not on the room service menu, and she'd like to have it on our balcony.

 

Thanks!

Yes, have seen many carrying take out boxes from Bonsai Sushi

Could I ask how much you paid for your excursion in Grand Cayman and what the name of the tour was? Swimming with the Stingrays?

We sail on the Breeze next week and I am hoping for the night light. What happened with the USB charger with case I thought I read about?

We got the USB charger on the Vista. I think it was only a temporary gift until they got the night lights.

The USB Chargers were the gift from the spring, I believe. Not a new item as I saw pics of them previously.

I hope the night lights stay around for awhile, until we cruise in Jan and Feb.

Epic Rock and America Rocks are two different shows.

Epic Rock has been around since 2013. We saw it on the Sunshine TA. America Rocks, I believe debuted on the Vista this year. We saw America Rocks on the Inaugural in May and then on the TA in October. They have changed it up it a bit and it was different than it was in May. Also, a different cast makes a difference.

Despite all the criticisms of the Liquid Lounge on the Sunshine and Vista, the set up works well for these type of shows. Saw Epic Rock on another ship and it does not work as well as it was on the Sunshine.

I got a brand new platinum gift this week on Conquest. It is a VIFP night light that shines blue. I think it's LED and I really like it. I think Carnival scored a winner with this one! Every time I walk by that little blue light in my hallway, I think of cruising. :)

Sounds like a gift we can all use. On the ship and at home.

This list posted may be outdated.

Last November2015, we were in a balcony on deck 9 and had a fridge. We are Diamond. I understand that all Platinum and Diamonds on that cruise had a fridge put in their cabin.

I read that since those fridges were already on board that other cabins besides the newly installed ones for the Sunshine, now have fridges.

I do not have personal knowledge that all cabins now have a fridge. However I for believe there are more cabins that have fridges now or maybe all now

I really would have to see it to believe that JH is going to be on the ship the first 3 weeks. I have had 5 cruises booked that JH was "suppose" to be on and each one, he has cancelled.:rolleyes:

 

As far as Ken goes, he is a very nice maitre 'd. He does love to sing, for sure. But, I have had better.

 

I guess I just don't see the hype of having Ken for a maitre 'd or JH on the ship.

You quoted a post that was prior to the Vista Inaugural. Yes, he was on the inaugural. Eye witness. I believe he did stay on the ship for a cruise or 2 after the Inaugural but cannot confirm as I did not follow his whereabouts after the Inaugural cruise.

He was on the TA. Again eye witness. He is on the present cruise NY to NY.

Like you, I have seen him post his intent to be on a certain cruise and then cancel but recently, he has cruised on the cruises he said he would be on.

Since they now have a dedicated room/space for the chef's table on the Vista, they can do more than one per sailing.

We were told that on the Vista TA, there was one every day. Even on port days.

We had Ken a few time on the Pride and always had a good interaction with him. I hope he is back on the Pride during our April 2017 Pride sailing.

Unless he is on vacation, he will be. He is returning to the Pride as of Jan 2, 2017.

Rod in AZ pretty well answered all of your questions accurately.

The only thing I would add is that the social package is $5 per day but on most cruises, if you want it for the entire duration of your cruise, there is a rate that is a good value. For our 10-11 days cruises, it was $40. Our 13 days one was $45 for the entire cruise.

I mean any wrap, labels or cards attached to the "gift" may contain symbolism that is offensive to the recipient like Christmas trees, Santa, elves, 3 Wise Men, some colors, wreaths, ornaments ...like wrapping a gift to a vegan in a butcher shop paper bag wrap.

Wow! Jumping to a lot of conclusions here from a mention of an act of generosity and thoughtfulness.

In over 40 cruises, have never had a negative encounter with crew or staff on a cruise. Never reported anyone. Have only written commendations to the Hotel Director about his staff and crew. Those are well appreciated too.

No one has expressed offense since it would be a complaint filed against them for doing so. If your items are dressed in anything other it's original package, you may be indeed giving offense.

Dressed in original package?? What do you mean by that?

If being offered a gift at Christmas offends you all you have to do is say no thank you.

Don't be so sensitive the gift is offered in good faith no matter what faith you believe in.

A very wise man once said "God has no religion " he also dose not have pockets!Happy cruising all.

Certainly that can be true, but in the case of cruise ship employees who regularly "serve" international guests of many religions, were selected on the basis of their genuine warmth and friendliness, and have regular training, I doubt they would be offended but rather recognize a nice gesture - and not view it as an attempt to convert!

 

And frankly even for other persons - people of good faith would generally recognize such a gesture as being well meant and not take offense.

So true!

You do realize that giving gifts in recognition of Christmas can be offensive to those of other faiths?

We are very PC and never say it is for Christmas. It is for the holidays when they are away from home. Nothing we put in the stockings or gift bags are religious in any way.

The " holidays" are celebrated on the ships. No one has ever been offended.

For the poster who asked what we give for EID, we have never cruised during EID.

We have neighbors who celebrate EID and we do exchange gifts when it is appropriate and also at Christmas.

BTW: Happy EID to those of you celebrating today.

The small gift marks you as a problem guest who is more concerned about being special than consideration for the crew member.

Oh no. If a small gift is given, it is given at the end of the cruise with the added tip. We never give anything at the beginning, not even a tip. Perhaps, I should not have generalized with the other gestures.

Also, when we give a small gift, it is usually during a special occasion. We were leaving our cruise on Dec 9 last year. We knew the staff and crew were going to be away from home during the holidays and we brought stockings and gifts bags filled with treats and small gifts to hand out. Some had tears in their eyes, saying they had never gotten like that. So, yes, it is appreciated but as with everything else, it has to be given with thought and not just to give them something to get better service. Not saying a gift is appropriate each time.