Old Fart Cruisers

9 minutes ago, anastasia3939 said:

I've never been on a cruise ship with self serve laundry but I guess I will be when I go on the Pride. How much does a load of laundry cost, and do you scan your sea pass card, or should I bring quarters?

 

TIA

Self-Service Launderettes
Self-service launderettes are located on staterooms decks. There are 2 or 3 washers, 2 or 3 dryers, and 1 iron and ironing board in each launderette. The cost is $3.50 USD per washer load and $3.50 USD per dryer load. For your convenience, if you have not packed your own, each launderette has a vending machine that dispenses small boxes of detergent and water softener at $2.00 USD per box. 

On most ships, the machines are operated using your Sail & Sign card for payment. On the following ships, only coins are accepted to operate the machine; change can be obtained at the Guest Service Desk, if needed: Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise.
 

17 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

How do you know what sewage tastes like?

I've been in an elevator with people who's breath smelled like they would know first hand what sewage tastes like.

1 hour ago, Robpuffdaddy said:

1.  The reason they do not give you your sail and sign card is now it is your cabin door key. This way you can not access your rooms till they are ready.  At least you can use that sheet of paper to start drinking.

It's been my experience that the the cabin door is wide open until they are ready for you (not that you should enter before it's ready), and the door is then locked.  That's when the sail and sign cards will be in the mailbox.

11:45 might be possible, but really cutting it close.  When we flew home in from LGA in October on Southwest, we booked a later flight because we weren't sure how long it would take with debarking and traffic to the airport.  We ended up arriving at the airport more than 4 hours before our flight.  Southwest put us on a nonstop flight leaving in just 45 minutes for no additional charge.  That was a whole lot less stress than booking too close and rushing to catch a flight.  Even if they hadn't put us on the earlier flight, I would rather relax in the airport than the stress on possibly missing the flight.  If you get to the airport too early, it never hurts to ask about an earlier flight.

8 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Wash and fold only, pressing isn't free for ANYONE. PERIOD.

VARINA65 just asked a simple question.  You don't have to jump on them with BOLD text. PERIOD.

42 minutes ago, jsglow said:

I'm honestly glad it worked out for you @Old Fart Cruisers. Our absolute minimum cutoff for Europe is 36 hours meaning I'd consider the overnight from ORD (non-stop) landing at 8a on Friday for a Saturday cruise although our preference is more like 2-3 days.

 

If you're ever going to London, try the AA-81 daytime flight. They're the only ones that do it. Leaves ORD at like 8a and gets to Heathrow at like 10p. Man did it save wear and tear on the body having a bed both before and after the flight. 

4 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

 

DH and I kinda did the same/not same strategy with our Med cruise.  Flew in 4.5 days before embarkation.  If something went sideways (airline delay, train strike, whatever) we would pivot. Trying to be flexible if needed but hoping it all went well, like your trip!

I still say you are a THRILLSEEKER!! (Remember that TV show from the 70's with people doing adventurous things?) 😉👍

We are doing another B2B in July.  It's 21-days out of London (Dover).  This time we will probably plan on arriving in London 3 days before the cruise, but, but. . .This time we plan on flying standby using our daughter's airline flight benefits.  As parents, we will be at the bottom of the standby list, below ALL employees, so we could spend some time in the airport.  I haven't decided yet if we will book a hotel in London, since there is always a chance we could miss the flight and by the time we know won't get on, it will be too late to cancel.  Since we are both retired, we have plenty of time, and I am always up for a challenge (the wife - maybe not so much). 

3 minutes ago, jsglow said:

Oh, and as for flying to Rome morning of...... Insane, like certifiably. 

A lot of people told us that were crazy, but we really weren't worried at all.

Our PVP assured us that we would be fine since we booked using Carnival Fly2Fun, Carnival's transfers to the ship and travel insurance all through Carnival, that even if we did miss the cruise they would put us up in a hotel and get us to Mykonos to catch up with it (day 4).  So, we actually looked at it as the possibility of an interesting adventure with the worst case scenario missing two sea days, but spending more time in Greece.   Everything ended up off without a hitch, and didn't have to worry about any of the back-up plans🙂.

11 minutes ago, jxtgreek said:

thanks for the suggestion but the offer is gone.  I logged on and double checked.

Try a different browser.  If that still doesn't work, try calling the number on the email.

Check to make sure your VIFP number is showing correctly.  Sometimes when you click on the email that field comes up blank in the cruise search window.

20 minutes ago, Soaperstar said:

Tomorrow!!!!

  Have a great cruise!

27 minutes ago, CruzerDeb said:

No layover. Flying direct from Cincinnati to FLL, landing at 9:30am. 

I think you are confusing a non-stop flight (with NO stops) and direct flight (same plane, same flight number, but it makes a stop(s) along the route).  Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with taking that flight(although I'm sure many people on here would disagree with me about that).  I would be much more concerned about a direct flight because even though you stay on board, there is always an additional chance of a delay each time the plane stops. 

6 minutes ago, CruzerDeb said:

I have a direct flight landing at FLL at 9:30am. Weather shouldn’t be an issue in June (fingers crossed).

Where are you flying from and where is your layover?

50 minutes ago, ledges1 said:

My daughter did this once on a direct flight to Miami and was fine. Flight left at 5:30 AM landed in Miami at 9:00. She got an Uber, picked me and my wife up at the hotel before 10:00 AM and we were on the ship by 11:30.

Luckily, it sounds like she didn't have any issues between her flights, but given a choice she would have been better off with a non-stop over a direct flight. 

All of the a-list celebrities were probably too expensive for Carnival, so they took someone that was within their budget. 🤔

I often will fly in the morning of the cruise.  I have even flown to Rome (including changing planes in London), landing the morning of the cruise to make connections for the two hour transfer to Civitavecchia for a 32-day B2B2B cruise.  Although, I did get the airfare and insurance from Carnival that time.

15 minutes ago, CruzerDeb said:

I’m breaking all of my self-imposed rules, anyway. In an effort to sail as cheaply as possible as a solo cruiser in June, I’m letting Carnival pick my inside cabin (never allowed this before and I’ve only sailed inside on 2 prior cruises out of 11); I’m also flying in the DAY OF the cruise instead of the day before. Please pray for me! 😱🛳️

I really don't think it makes much difference what the location is with an inside cabin.   It's not like one is going to have a better view or anything like that.  Maybe a bit more noise or movement in some locations, but other than that the rooms are all pretty much the same.  None of the rooms are that far to walk to an elevator, and it's not much difference between taking the elevator up one floor or eight floors. Have a great cruise. 

6 minutes ago, abby1257 said:

What is the ABC

 

Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao

ABC Islands, are the westernmost isles of the Leeward Antilles

Tracking cookies 🍪. 

13 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

Yep, the boot will be on for a month longer than expected as well as being non weight bearing. We felt the cruise could still work but getting around otherwise and not being able to walk was too restricted.

Sorry you will have to miss your cruises.  More importantly, hope everything goes well with your surgery and wish you a speedy recovery 🙏.