MrsK

Never mind, I found the answer to my question.

Yes, on two different cruises.

Yes, we found it quite smoky on some days while walking on decks other than the casino deck.

Other days, wasn't so bad.

I think a lot depends on the outside weather. If people can't get outside to smoke due to the weather then they use the casino which makes more smoke inside.

Breakaway for the Feb 2, 2018 sailing.

Originally booked a GTY category IF and received an IB cabin.

Went from the Interior IB to a BD Balcony cabin for $65.00 (Canadian $) per person minimum bid.

In July, we were directed to the Platinum line for check in, but the agents were taking people from the regular line and we waited 10 minutes. It would have been faster to just use the regular line. .

When we checked in, it wasn't too busy. We had about 6 counter agents all trying to get us to come to them. :p

Just sailed last week out of Miami on the Escape.

There was a dedicated check in line at the port although the line attendants tried to direct us to the regular line. The Platinum check in line was to the far right of the terminal room that we were in. Now I'm having trouble remembering which terminal that was. I think terminal C?

There was also a small closed off designated sitting area for Platinum cruisers at the far end of the waiting area from where we entered. We were given directions to it because when we got to the person handing out boarding cards at the top of the escalator we told him we were Platinum.

There was no one attending the waiting area or paying any attention at all to who ever chose to sit there. No one came to tell us to get ready to board. It was just an announcement that said Platinum was next to board. So if you weren't listening and paying close attention you might miss the announcement. The sitting area was about as far away from the boarding area as you could get.

Sailing on the Escape, Dec 9.

Booked a Sailaway Guaranteed Inside Cabin, received a Category 1D.

Got an email about ten minutes ago saying our bid was accepted.

Got upgraded to a Balcony Category BB for a minimum bid of $65 per person or $130 total in Canadian $.

Or you can ask for one at the Atrium bar. They have them in the back.

Thank you for the pictures.

Nobody can control the weather, but the cruise lines could be more flexible when passengers literally cannot physically get there because there are now no flights to San Juan out of an entire country.

I am Canadian too but do not need to fly to San Juan.

Why not look in to flying to an American city out of whatever airport you were going to fly to San Juan and then getting a connecting flight on to San Juan.

That should work without having to cancel your cruise.

Is it the most convenient or cost effective way to go? Probably not. It is definitely an option you could consider though.

After dinner, AlexandNessa and I headed for the 8:30 edition of "Escape The Big Top," NCL's version of an escape room game. Our team of eight players was comprised of 10 people* most of whom were at dinner in the private room at Taste earlier. Dining in the private room is not a requirement for playing the game, but it is helpful since all the nicer circus folk eat there.

 

Each team is given a locked puzzle bag. You could reach into your bag and feel around to get a head start on solving the puzzles contained therein, but we found that we could lose just as effectively by waiting for the command to begin.

 

One of the most important things to remember is that even if the "ringmaster's" helpers tell you that you can order beverages once the game begins, you cannot. (This is one of the red herrings, designed to throw you off.) Plan for this contingency and make sure you have a full supply of puzzle juice and problem solving nectar when you enter the room. Also pack a small mirror and a black light flashlight. You want to be overly equipped.

 

When the game begins, dump out your puzzle bag. Drink. (Now that your puzzle bag is empty, your goal is to get half in the bag.)

 

Distribute your puzzles amongst your group of circus freaks. It is very important - and I cannot emphasize this enough - that someone takes one of the clues and wanders off. For as long as possible. If you can't do that, take one of the clue sheets and flip it over to use as a note pad.

 

If you are working on a particular puzzle and you get stuck, pass it off to a fresh set of eyes. As you solve puzzles, always... No wait... Never... No always, yes always double check your work.

 

You have 50 minutes to solve the series of puzzles. Once you think you have the numeric part of the game solved, appoint someone to go down front and attempt to open the combination lock. (Pick the most intimidating person. If they're wild-eyed, it really helps!)

 

You may notice people from other teams trying to listen in so as to steal your team's work or eavesdrop on your solutions. You are legally allowed to kill these people. Jam the black light flash light down their throat. Put the empty bag over their head. Use the drawstring to tighten the bag until all the air is gone. Display the "lifeless corpse" on your table. This should dissuade other people from attempting to cheat and steal your hard work.

 

Throughout the game, the ringmaster (or possibly the magician. I'm a little unclear) will give you extra clues. Listen carefully, but bear in mind that none of these clues will get you a drink.

 

After 50 minutes is up, staff members will be be around to mark a red L on your forehead. Then, the magician (or ringmaster) will reveal the solution and your team can begin the important work of placing blame.

 

*-Despite the fact that we were told that there was a strict limit of 8 players, they gave us two extras. Probably because we're the sort of people you'd hold out as roll models.

Thanks for the tips.

I'm still giggling over them :')

The conclusion. I was awake at 4:30am so I went to front desk to ask for a refund. The night manager Pierre was great. He asked me what time we were leaving for the port. I told him 10am He thought for a minute and said " no worries, I will have someone drive you in the hotel car. So at 9:45 We went downstairs and the valet lot was empty except for a Range Rover. I asked for Kerwin. He had a valet grab our bags and put them in the Range Rover. After a few quick illegal turns against the flow of traffic we arrived at the port 15 minutes later. The hotel came up BIG. I appreciated the way they solved my problem. I am just hoping others had success.

 

 

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

That sounds great.

Glad you were able to arrive at the cruise terminal on your schedule.

Enjoy your vacation.

Interesting situation. I've certainly never given any thought to something like this causing a delay in getting to where I wanted to be.

I hope you can find a good solution to your problem and I'm sure you won't be alone as lots of cruisers stay in this area.

Come back and let us know how you solve this. Maybe we can all learn from your experience.

We had one of those bathroom towel "animals" too. I'm pretty sure it was also on the Radiance on an Alaskan cruise.

It was hilarious. Loved it!

Not on Carnival but on our last cruise we found a metal flask complete with alcohol on the top shelf of our closet.

It was sort of tucked back and laying down so we didn't notice it until we were packing to leave.

I know that we have been docked before right next to a cruise ship that had hammocks permanently installed on every balcony of the ship. Unfortunately at the moment I can't remember the name of the cruise line.

Please bring your ear buds and enjoy your music at any level that you would like.

After you are dropped off or park your car, you will give your luggage to the porters. You will then show your boarding pass to a carnival employee. If you are within your boarding time, they will let you into the terminal. If you are outside of your time, you will be redirected to a line in which you will stand until they call your particular boarding time over the loud speaker. My husband dropped me and the girls off and then parked in the Fulton Garage. We were within our window to board, but he was not back yet. They had us wait in a holding area outside until he arrived. Once he arrived, we were able to board. I hope this helps you.

Perfect description of what I was looking for.

Thank you for the information.

Lol, did I mention that you were inexperienced? My reply was simply based upon your comment on not having experienced staggered check in. You asked about staggered checkin and I answered your question. I was not passing judgement, just explaining the process and why it works. I was fine with your asking and was replying....nothing more.

I'm sorry for the judgement but it's very difficult to read "tone" on message boards.

Thank you for your input.

All the issues you are questioning are the reasons why they started staggered check in and more importantly, why it works so well. If everyone follows what they are supposed to do, there are no long lines, there are many people outside giving everyone direction. Bring your sheet showing your time and you are in. The staggered check in is a significant improvement in the process, that solves the "thousands of people milling around" that you describe. Enjoy your cruise.

As I said this is cruise number 39 for us. It's not like I'm a new cruiser but this is something I've not encountered in the past.

If people don't ask questions, how do they get the answers they need?

Thanks so much for your helpful comments.

First, the NOLA airport is not near the cruise port. Guessing 20-30 minute taxi ride. Check-in time is to get into the terminal, not to board the ship. We didn't have FTTF, and arrived about 20 minutes past our checkin time, and walked right past everyone waiting outside that arrived early for their time. IMHO, I would not want to be stuck waiting outside in unpredictable weather. After checkin, we had to sit 15-20 minutes inside the terminal waiting for our boarding zone to be called. Boarding ramp is a zig-zag ramp to the ship. Moved slow for us.

I am aware of where the airport is and that the check in time does not mean the time you board the ship.

I was more interested in the actual mechanics of when you arrive at the terminal.

How do get to the check in line at your approved time with there are tons of people milling around outside waiting? How do you know where to go? How do you just not get stuck in with the other masses of people who are just waiting for their check in time?

Can someone please "walk" me through this process. I am a veteran of almost 40 cruises but have never had to do a staggered arrival time. We are a high enough Loyalty member with most of the cruise lines we sail and can usually arrive when it suits us. This being our first Carnival cruise in 23 years I'm unfamiliar with this process. Also this is our first cruise leaving out of New Orleans.

So ............ someone has their arrival time and you get to the port, how do they handle the process?

Do you stand in the line with everyone arriving with all different arrival times and they sort you out as you get to the front of the line?

Do they have different holding areas for different arrival times?

What do I need to know?

When we were on the Breakaway in January I saw it twice.

Both times it was set up near Le Bistro across from Headliners.

I saw it the day we boarded and one of the last sea days (14 night cruise out of New York).

It might have been other places during the cruise but I never noticed it.

Two' date=' we booked this cabin about 2 weeks ago, so maybe the rules around upgrades in UDS vs CAN have changed from the time MrsK booked to when we booked.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/quote']

 

Maybe, but we've been off the ship for two weeks tomorrow and we booked the cruise 11 days before it left. So it sounds like you booked right about the time we got off the Breakaway.

 

I don't really pay much attention to upgrades or whatever this bidding thing is all about but I do think something might have changed around the first of February. I didn't read up on it but saw something posted here about changes.

Now I am confused by the two different answers!

Did that help to clear up your confusion :p