M2LR

18 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Just announced on CNBC business news Carnival to phase in cruises starting AUGUST 1ST

I am relieved to finally have some closure on our July cruise.  I knew we weren't going for some time now but waiting for Carnival to have more options. Just trying to decide now if I want to do the refund or FCC. About 2/3 of the balance is gift cards so probably FCC makes sense.  There is always the chance of bankruptcy but I feel like Carnival is one of the better positioned lines and people aren't going to stop cruising forever. 

I've been going through the scenarios too. I  probably have 2/3 paid with gift cards. I am leaning towards FFC but something else worth considering is I would have to rebook by the end of the year (for sailings thru 2022) so gift cards would give more flexibility if you want to wait to decide. 

Sure cruises bring lots of people close together but so do many other things. Are they going to close Disney World?  I feel far more crowded there and if someone gets sick can they account for every person that was there that day like on a cruise? Only targeting certain things doesn't make sense. If you are going to quarantine you have to shut it all down like they did in China. Not necessarily advocating that just picking and choosing is not an effective strategy.  

I've been getting price drops on our July cruise but I've gotten them in the past too so nothing too crazy or out of the ordinary. There is only one left in my category right now for 4 people so I am almost to the end of price adjustments unless something opens up. 

I tried to visit our last cruise but found it was closed due to an emergency somewhere else on the ship. It was interesting to see that backstage level (our waiter actually recognized us and asked us later if everyone was ok). My son had an allergic reaction to a nut on a dessert and I'd never experienced a food allergy before so I was a little overwhelmed what to do. Fortunately he only had a tiny amount and was just complaining of throat pain and his face was broken out so we self treated with Benadryl and he was doing good within an hour so we never went back.

I can't answer the first ones since my Dream sailing is still upcoming but I can answer the Italian question.  There is Pasta Bella which is a lunch option only. It is deck 11 AFT. It is one thing I've been looking forward.

Just now, PhillyFan33579 said:

Just an FYI, suite guests also board before FTTF. 

I thought maybe they did but I wasn't sure so I didn't want to mention it and give incorrect information. Living large is getting a balcony to me so I am not certain all the suite perks.

13 minutes ago, Drinal01 said:

Thanks all!  I have been reading and it seems that in Galvaston port opens at 10:30 but boarding starts at 11:30.   

 

What time do you all suggest we get to the boat / terminal?  11 seems to be the sweet spot?

Boarding time is going to vary based on how long it took to clear the ship. I've heard a lot of people advise to arrive around 10 or 10:30 at the port but for me I'd rather avoid waiting than be among the first on the ship so I shoot for around 11 so that either boarding is underway or will begin fairly shortly. 

57 minutes ago, Garth2 said:

I have never received an upsell offer that I found to be worth taking.

Same. I usually agonize so much over the decision of which room to book it would take a pretty amazing offer to lure me away which usually there is enough people willing to take ok offers that they don't offer me an amazing deal. 

If you arrive after boarding has started then you join the special FTTF line. We basically didn't stop walking once we arrived at the terminal.

The check in times apply to people without priority boarding. Once the ship is cleared the order is weddings, diamond/platinum and then FTTF. 

19 minutes ago, gmblr said:

I doubt they were handing out n95 masks. First because of cost. Second, I doubt there was any crew qualified to properly fit them to the cruisers. Third, none of those cruising would likely wear the n95 mask as it would need to be worn.

 

The people in the pictures were all wearing face masks. If you search for n95 masks on Amazon you get get a multi pack for like $25 bucks. Maybe you are thinking of a different type of mask. Even if you go for the 3M ones you still can get a 10 count box for $25. If they can't spring for $2.50 a person then that is sad.

5 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

I do not disagree, and I think they were given those quality masks.  What I do not know is how many Americans stayed on the ship.  There could also be other reasons, ie a loved one who tested positive and is remaining there for treatment.  Not a good situation.  

That makes sense. The person quoted in the article I read sounded like they were staying just to avoid being exposed to everyone else but I could see staying behind for a loved one if they were not able to be evacuated. 

That's why I don't get why people chose not to be evacuated. Yeah I understand that getting thrown together as a group is scary and will potentially expose you to the virus but clearly the Diamond Princess is not capable of being an effective quarantine. You basically are waiting for it to slowly spread to you. I would put on a N95 mask and any other PPE they could provide me and take my chances getting out and getting to a place that can actually host a proper quarantine.

I don't think this is controllable, the question is how bad it is going to get before it gets better.  We'll just have to wait and see. I am glad we aren't cruising until summer so we have time to see how this develops.  

I don't know what they'd do with someone from Toronto because so far I've only hear about Americans, but the Americans are getting flown on charter flights to military bases in California and Texas. They will remain there on base in strict quarantine for 14 days. Once that is over, assuming they are still not testing positive, they will be free to fly/drive back to wherever they came from or wish to go.  I think Canada is doing something similar with its passengers.

My husband works in a virology lab and they are prepared for if they need to start testing. Assuming this follows the paths of similar coronaviruses we've seen he's hopeful that it will die down and become less of a concern once spring starts but he's also said this is more of a concern than SARS because it spreads more easily.

I believe they are flying them back to the US and going to do a 14 day quarantine here. Then they can actually take them to a facility set up for a proper effective quarantine.

I was just matching early saver to early saver. Maybe I am just cursed. The phone reps are so nice I really should just go that route every time.

Agreed that the flu shot is irrelevant to this discussion. I just concerned when people get into the narrative that why bother getting one since it is so ineffective. Getting back on topic as for "Is the current incubation protocols incorrect?"= I had read that the quarantine was not 100%, it was just slowing the spread of the virus. Sure they follow PPE guidelines and all that but a ship isn't designed for this. So while 14 days might be the incubation period, that means 14 days from the time the last person has the virus, if it keeps spreading person to person it can keep going on. But it is possible the incubation period is different.

I am surprise you got approved. What is the secret? The last 3 times I've done it they rejected it and then I called and they were happily able to update it for me so I was right about the price being lower. I've tried both the price with and without taxes/port charges in case that was it. I  never had problems in the past, only recently.

15 minutes ago, smokey11 said:

New to Carnival:  Is the FTTF pass worth it?

It really depends on the person.  We bought it last time because we have younger kids and didn't want to lug around a bunch of carry ons and have the option to nap if the youngest was tired. I also know if you have a tender ports that convenience is nice as well. I would say it is a luxury,  not a necessity so you need to weigh out if the benefits are worth it to you. 

I think most people look at it as for $52/55 per day I can have pretty much unlimited drinks (15 but that is a generous amount). If you start breaking it down into a cost benefit analysis then you probably are better off not purchasing it. It is like paying more for a spa room, you book it because you enjoy going to the spa, not because you are certain you will go to the spa enough times it will be cheaper than day passes. 

1 hour ago, ilovetotravel1977 said:

 

On NCL, you are definitely paying for it.  In your cruise fare and the 20% you pay on it.  And they don't include most items that Cheers does (specialty coffee, milkshakes, water, etc).

Agreed. I always price out all the companies since I am not not sold on one cruise line and consider each vacation separately. Pricing out our upcoming trip even with all the "freebies" I still would have been paying more for NCL. Because I am a light drinker I actually prefer to cruise Carnival because I can easily opt-out and not purchase Cheers vs with other lines where it is included I am paying more money and not getting the full benefit.

30 minutes ago, joepeka said:

If I recall, it has been made available twice a year for the last 2-3 years: once early in the year then another later in the year (Fall time frame). But like with the financial markets, past performance is not an indicator of future performance. 🙂

Thanks I appreciate it, that is helpful to know.