Lee Cruiser

We love YTD! It's even better now with being able to request a table on the app. We prefer to eat early, so we typically schedule our table as soon as it becomes available on the app, usually 5:20-5:25 depending on the ship, so there is never a wait for us. We are in the dining room by 5:30 and are able to be out in time for early comedy shows and such. Having the same staff every night has never been a big deal for us. Really, we prefer to meet different teams. Apparently, after looking at polls, surveys and comments in several areas, it is the preferred choice of a huge majority of current cruisers.

We were on the Valor out of N.O. in January. We are platinum and did checked luggage. For those who were not platinum/ diamond self-assist started at 7:25 a.m. Not sure how long it took for everyone. They typically try to have everyone off the ship before 10 as they start boarding around 10:40 or so. I doubt it will be, but if FTTF is back by next month, you would get to go right after platinum, which would have been shortly before the 7:25 for that cruise. We went down to our meeting area for platinum checked luggage at 8 and were able to go right off the ship. If you have a passport, N.O. has the facial recognition system, so going through customs is a breeze. We drove to N.O., so can't answer specifically about the shuttle. But, I would usually recommend using an Uber or taxi. I'm sure that as with most Carnival shuttles, they wait until the bus is full before they leave. We made that mistake last year in Miami because we were not in a hurry. However, we would never do that again. We would have made it to the airport at least 40 minutes earlier had we taken an Uber. Not only did we wait 25 minutes for the bus to fill up before leaving, they made multiple stops at that airport and made everyone wait on the bus until they had unloaded all of the luggage at each stop. Regardless of the whether FTTF is back or not you shouldn't have any problem making a 1 p.m. flight. The airport is only about 30 minutes from the port in N.O.

Check in is currently 16 days prior to the cruise for platinum / diamond as well as suite guests and 14 days for everyone else. Not sure why it's showing otherwise in one place.

We have been on two cruises this year and did not use it. We have our passports and vaccine cards together in a holder. We showed them that and our testing printout. The whole process took less than a minute for both of us. We cruise again in September. We won't be spending time uploading and sharing this information somewhere else, when it really wouldn't have made a time difference for us. Actually it would have just been spending more time beforehand.

This was the letter we received in April before Mardi Gras: VIFP PLATINUM AND DIAMOND GUESTS UPDATE AND ONLINE CHECK-IN INVITATION Dear Valued Platinum and Diamond Guests, This communication is being sent to our booked Platinum and Diamond guests. It is independent from any request our guests might have pending for an exemption to vaccine requirements, and the receipt of this communication is not any indication of the status of your request. We want to thank you for the loyalty and support you have shown Carnival, and also make you aware of the new way to redeem your VIFP amenities. These changes were designed in accordance with our new Have Fun. Be Safe. protocols to minimize the number of stateroom deliveries, while making it easier for you to collect some of your benefits. Moving forward, certain VIFP amenities will be linked to your Sail & Sign folio for electronic redemption, like how we currently handle complimentary laundry. Simply claim your benefit, using your Sail & Sign card, and a one-time credit for that item will be posted on your folio and be visible on your statement. Complimentary Beverages Brunch Beverage – redeemable in the dining room. 1.5L Bottled Water – redeemable from any bar, restaurant or your stateroom. Chocolate Delight (5+ Day Cruises) A tasty treat will be ready for you to enjoy; just call room service to schedule delivery. Carnival Logo Gift & Ship Pin Please visit our Photo Gallery to claim your Carnival logo gift and your Carnival ship pin. We encourage you to claim your gifts no later than two days prior to the end of your cruise. We also want you to know that given our focus on meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) requirements and implementation of new health and safety protocols, we will need to adjust how we deliver some of the VIFP priority benefits, as follows: ONLINE CHECK-IN – All guests will be required to complete Online Check-In, which will open 14 days prior to sailing. Platinum and Diamond guests will be given 48 hours advance access to select their preferred Arrival Appointment. Please visit My Cruise Manager on Carnival.com starting at 16 days prior to sailing to complete your Online Check-In and select the Arrival Appointment that works best for your plans. Due to additional embarkation day processes, all guests will have to arrive promptly at their Arrival Appointment. Regrettably, we cannot accommodate any early arrivals and guests will be turned away and asked to return at their assigned time. STATEROOM ACCESS – Due to enhanced cleaning and sanitation, staterooms may not be ready at the time of boarding for the early Arrival Appointments. If you have not checked your bags, feel free to quickly drop off your luggage while our crew puts the finishing touches on your stateroom. This will allow you to complete your e-mustering process and start your vacation promptly. WATER SHUTTLE PRIORITY – Priority water shuttle debark will be provided subject to local guidance at the destinations we visit, which may change without prior notice. Our team on board will keep you informed of the debarkation plans for each port. CASINO – Although we are currently unable to host casino tournaments on board, you will be given US$25 in Casino FunPlay®, in addition to any other FunPlay® you might be entitled to as part of your booking. DEBARK – We will do our best to offer priority debarkation, however, this may not be possible if we have unusually high numbers of Platinum and Diamond guest on board. We thank you for your understanding and patience as we work through our restart plans. Your continued support means a lot to us and our great staff and crew can’t wait to welcome you back on board! Sincerely, Christine Duffy President, Carnival Cruise Line

It certainly varies from ship to ship and steward to steward. On two of our cruises our room was ready and key was waiting when we boarded. However, on our April Mardi Gras cruise our key wasn't available until after one. We went to drop off our bags and the steward was quick to tell us that our room was not ready. He did seem a little annoyed as well. There were other platinum guests walking around earlier with their keys. They said their rooms and keys were available when they boarded, but our steward appeared to wait until he had every room ready. There is no real consistency. That's what causes the problem for some folks.

We haven't used Verifly for any or our three cruises lately. For us, it is kind of pointless to spend time uploading the information into that system when it only takes a few seconds showing your cards and test results anyway. Since they recommend taking this information anyway in case there is a problem with Verifly, I'm not sure what benefit it is. We have breezed through the check in process all three times. Not sure how Verifly is any faster, only more time consuming up front.

We are with a lot of the others. We would choose the Celebration for the itinerary. We have done that itinerary before and loved it. Though now, Carnival apparently only does Saturday-Sunday eight day cruises and we can't do two Sundays. Our previous two eight day cruises were Friday-Saturday and you can't find those now on Carnival. Either one will be great because you're on a cruise! Hope you enjoy!

I think that many people would love for testing to end. I haven't had any boosters and have no plans to get one. My wife and I both had Covid again a few weeks ago. It was nothing more than a cold (no fever, no body aches, just runny nose). Really, we've had colds that were much worse. We did quarantine for the five days, but we certainly didn't need it physically. We both were fine. On the third day, I went out and mowed and spent the rest of the day painting. I couldn't just sit around doing nothing.

So I just received a survey from Carnival about in-room television entertainment. It asked questions about what you watched at home and what services you subscribe to. It also asked detailed questions about Carnival's TV offerings. Not positive, but it appears that they are looking at maybe going to a more "a la carte" paid TV service. Did anyone else receive this survey?

The two day window gives a different priority boarding. As Greg said, you will still essentially board at the same time as before. The key now is that you have to check in early in that two day window, but on all three of our cruises since the start back we have had Zone A1 boarding. For us, the biggest negative is not having rooms ready upon boarding. We like to go to our rooms, unpack and relax. That's been the biggest downside for us.

Morgan Stanley today issued a price target of $7. That's even more bad news. Currently down nearly 15% today. Other cruise lines are down as well, but not as much (around 9-10%).

I've never had much success with wi-fi calling even using the ship's premium internet plan. It's not something that can be relied upon. We have iphones and are able to Facetime and I Message most of the time. But since you have android, your best bet would be to set up a Facebook messenger account and use that to message with him. Otherwise you will have to pay for cellular at sea service or use the ship's phone to call, both of which are expensive.

I cancelled one a few months back to book another week. In the end, I lost $100 ($50 per person). I received a letter stating that the remainder of the deposit ($150) would be held as a future cruise credit. I called and had it applied to another cruise.

When we go in September, we are actually going to get a ride (shuttle or Uber) from Hobby to the Enterprise location in Galveston to rent a car. It is cheaper there and we can just drop it off there the morning of the cruise.

I am with the others. I don't wait until final payment. I already have received it for our September, as well as our January and April cruises next year.

This is interesting news when thinking about the Carnival corp as a whole. I believe that Costa only has 10 ships now and this will take them down to eight. Someone can correct me if that's not correct. This certainly gives more credence to the speculation about the corporation and the Costa brand.

Prefer the card. We keep them as souvenirs. Have them from all of our cruises. Don't want to have to wear something on my wrist all the time.

I sent my request in back in April for cruises in September, Jan 2023 and April 2023. The Jan and April cruises were booked during the half off sale for the 50th anniversary. I received the benefit for all three cruises.

We love Grand Turk. It's a great beach day!

Back in April I put in a request for our September cruise this year as well as January and April next year. Both cruises next year were booked at the half price 50th anniversary sale. I received the benefit for all three cruises.

Most stocks have gone down this year, but I'm pretty sure that Carnival has had a much deeper drop percentage wise than the overall market. One year ago it was above $28. That's a more than 60% drop.

That's certainly true. I can't bear to watch it much anymore. Should have known better than to pull up my account today.

Wow! I knew Carnival stock was too high a few months ago, but I didn't see it going below $10 again. I was thinking more in the $14-15 range. Nobody knows exactly how low it will go, but now I'm wondering if it will test the 2020 bottom of near $7.

I'm not sure it will be as quickly as some would like. Cruise passengers are going to be on ship with a few thousand others for multiple days and as some others have said, get off in other ports of call. It is the only thing that is preventing more breakouts on ships. I may be wrong, but I don't see testing for cruises ending anytime soon (this year).