mondello

1 hour ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

We were spotted disappearing into them. #CAUGHT 

Didn’t you host others to view the PS during a Cabin Crawl when Mardi Gras was new?

8 hours ago, Universe93B said:

Isn’t the vista going into dry dock to fix the engine/transmission/propellor issues?  That’s what I heard, no cosmetic fixes 

You’d think that would be the most pressing need for Vista. We didn’t have any noticeable problem on our 3/2022 cruise. However, many others were affected by the propulsion issue, with constant port shuffling, port time changes, and late returns.

Wow, thank you for for the detailed play by play of dealing with the Covid. Hope you’re both getting back to fully recovered. Sounds like everyone did the best they could with a bad situation.

8 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

Yes.  Taking a car, bus or train excursion from an American port to Canada is different than the cruise ship docking at a Canadian port.

Very popular excursion for cruise pax, just a heads up for those that may not be aware they need their passport for the excursion.

6 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

Yes.  Taking a car, bus or train excursion from an American port to Canada is different than the cruise ship docking at a Canadian port.

No, I’m talking about our excursion from the ship. Canadian Customs boarded the train and checked passports.

Pretty sure our passport was required for the White Pass Railroad to the Yukon. 

5 hours ago, jsglow said:

You actually choose your 'terminal arrival time', not your actual boarding.  And unless you are at least Platinum level, you do so 14 days before embarkation.

Says 2/27/2024.

9 hours ago, sallyb said:

I sure hope we still get towel animals!

What happens if you use your beach towels, and you need clean ones for the next day? 

You can swap wet towels at the towel hut on Lido deck after using the pool or hot tubs. Also, when returning to the ship with wet/dirty towels after a beach day, they sometimes have a hamper of clean, dry towels by the gangway, for swapping.

3 minutes ago, Pellaz said:

 

I think it was a bit earlier than 8 pm, but reports on CruiseCritic have varied.  

Yeah, even if it’s earlier they’ll still be behind those already checked in. No problem if the venues aren’t backed up. We had YTD on Celebration Christmas 8 day and only went once, to Cucina.

4 hours ago, cellfree said:

Are Chibang! and Cucina (still) free at dinner time? Are reservations required?

Those with YTD can request a table on the app; those with assigned dining (Early/Late) can not request a table until 8:00.

11 hours ago, Mic101680 said:

Well aware of this, and this was not the case when I first started receiving the free room offers. They were simply free room with OBC. No free drinks, nothing in the terms, descriptions, or offer codes indicating they were from the casino. I've also never been to an MGM casino on land.

I do get the casino offers from time to time now that I have actually spent money in the casino onboard, and those offers have been nowhere near as good as the free room offers.

Seems to me that Carnival really rolled out these offers after the Covid restart. I’ve been booking “free” cabins Christmas, Spring Break, and Summer the past 2 years.

2 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

I don't know about 2012 but I remember credit card holds being discussed in the funtimes more recently - like early 2020 before COVID. It may also have been discussed in other paperwork that used to be delivered to the stateroom...

I thought this was covered in the Debarkation Information letter they put in your cabin the last evening.

7 hours ago, bostonian19 said:

Appreciate it, I promise I will post when I get back!

 

 

Which ports are on your cruise?

5 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

You should get a ship-specific pin if you are Platinum or Diamond. If not, ask.

 

The generic pin is the Gold gift.

Okay, that must be why, 4/2 on Spirit is our first Platinum cruise.

2 hours ago, wemjam said:

Actually there is an art gallery area, was just there.  It is behind the elevators on deck 2.  

 

It is a smaller area, but they do their business transactions there and there is art work set up on the walls to view.  It is very similar to a lot of the ships I have been on.

 

Amy was the lead auction person when we just sailed (not sure how soon you sail).

 

As always, the auctions will be held elsewhere on the ship.  They held them in 2 different locations just a couple weeks ago depending on the day, so you will need to watch the hub app for location.

Yeah, I saw that too. Riding the glass elevator from the Atrium you can see them behind the elevator on one of the mid-decks. I’d consider the halls between the elevator to the Lido doors a gallery with so many displayed.

3 minutes ago, Lee Cruiser said:

 

Guess I didn’t know the secret handshake?

Just now, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

We missed out, by one cruise, on the signed Mardi Gras books (I think by Duffy, and someone else?). We were on the second sailing of the ship as it turned out.

 

Tom

I wasn’t even thinking about it, just happened to see a girl in line at the Coffee shop looking at one and talking to a guy. Saw they were crew and asked her how to get one; she took my cabin (folio?) number and sent one to me.I was on the fifth(?) cruise so, I felt lucky to get one. Guess that’s just life inside the velvet ropes.

3 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Yep - that kind of takes some of the point out of collecting them.

 

About the only thing I collect any more are our ship cards. I've given away (friends or Goodwill) all the other stuff, including my John Heald bobble head.  🙂

 

Tom

Hate to brag but, I was able to snag a 2-sided book: Celebration Inaugural Season/Carnival 50th Birthday.

28 minutes ago, Lee Cruiser said:

Our pins last week on Valor were ship specific 

Yeah, each ship had to use up their supply of generic pins. Got the “Back To Fun” pins after the restart and then the “VIFP” pins. We were on Valor B2B 7/25-8/4/2022, would have loved the pin you got. Not to mention: Sunshine12/26/2021; Vista 3/25; and Celebration 12/19/2022. I’m not complaining though, just would prefer something to show I hit that ship.

18 hours ago, overeasy said:

Yes, last October I had to request it, then they poured one glass each and the bottle disappeared never to be seen again.

Dang server chugged it!

15 hours ago, hard_eight said:

Depending on the boat, you don't even talk to customs anymore...just sayin'

Very true! Those with passports breeze right through, don’t have to declare, thanks to facial recognition. Galveston relies on honor system to collect Texas tax.

3 hours ago, kerota said:

What deck is the art gallery on Sunrise? Thanks.

I don’t see an art gallery on Carnival Sunrise; don’t believe there is a dedicated art gallery. Park West art auctions are held in lounge/ library on Carnival ships.

7 hours ago, clackey said:

Don't hold your breath.  We got off of the Valor last Thursday and received absolutely nothing.  This was our 13th cruise with Carnival and did not receive so much as a pin.  We did get to board and disembark early and went to the Platinum/Diamond party, but no gift.  

I always stop by Pixels to get our pins, wish they’d have ship specific pins instead of generic Carnival/VIFP pins. 

2 hours ago, geovet said:

Does carnival sell tequila in their gift shop to take home?

 

Thanks

 

Some of the port stops have stores with a huge variety of choices; different brands/age/quality and prices to match.

22 minutes ago, csoud68 said:

Days prior to sailing..we are sailing may 14th on the magic. The hub app says we can check in Feb 13th..

 

I expected the window to open around may 1st..

Your Cruise Planner on the Carnival site will show the correct check-in date. To Do list will also have an option to print your documents.