Cruising_Addict

Same. I have a Chase Freedom and a Sapphire card, and neither have it.

That's a very good point, and I ended up booking the RIB boat. It's a short excursion, so we will have plenty of time to also explore the port. I just can't see doing Troll Road as a cruise excursion. If we like Norway enough maybe we will do a land vacation and take our time and do it.

It's best to call up your bank and ask them. Also, never ever use a debit card to pay for something online or in a store. Your bank is under no obligation to remove fraudulent charges when your debit card is hacked. And it will be eventually. Credit card companies, however, will. Let the thieves steal the credit card company's money, not yours.

I mean, it's the Villa. Not a cabana. It's meant to be shared by a lot of people, and you split the cost. If it's just you and your significant other and/or kids, then just book a cabana.

We typically always book the last night because 1) it cheers me up when I'm depressed about the cruise being over, and 2) the menu usually isn't good that night. It's always the night they do the baked Alaska which I don't like, and there really isn't another good option. I wait until I'm on board to book, though, just to review the menus so that I'm sure I'm booking the night that isn't appealing in the MDR, but it's almost always that last night.

Haha, I was soooo excited to turn Platinum. We were set to turn platinum on a Norwegian Fjords cruise in June of 2020. The COVID happened. Rescheduled for the same cruise again for 2021. Cancelled again because of COVID. We finally made platinum on our Alaska cruise in 2022 after all that waiting and you know what? We forgot all about the Platinum/Diamond party and actually missed it!!! I was so mad. Cruising again in June and going to try my best to not let that happen again, lol.

Sincerely, but how does one pack for what has to be at least a 13 day vacation if it’s a 12 day cruise into just a carryon? I’m not an overpacker and I’m pretty low maintenance in that I can get away with packing only one extra pair of shoes (formal, for elegant night), but there’s no way I could do it. I wouldn’t be able to do more than a few days worth of clothes, my extra shoes and my personal items.

I absolutely LOVE coves and always book them on the ships that have them. I love them for the same reason as you: I love being that close to the water. So close that you can hear the waves and see the flying fish in the morning.

That doesn’t make a difference. There is no discounts to be had onboard when it’s your first Platinum cruise.

Always booked directly with Carnival. Then you have control over your booking and can make changes whenever you need to. Without having to rely on someone calling you back to find out what you need changed, and then you waiting for them to make the change.

I believe they had a hard time selling the cruises out of Boston. I mean, I live 35 miles from that port and would love to cruise out if it. But I have no desire to do a New England/Canada cruise because it would feel like I wasn’t leaving home. And I believe that’s all they did. Now, if they ever did a Boston to Bermuda cruise, I would book it in a heartbeat. But I think Norwegian pretty much has taken up that market.

Have a safe flight! Can’t wait to read the rest.

I certainly hope not. I love that Carnival’s ships still look like ships. Not the floating monstrosities that Royal tries to pass off as ships.

Personally, I think it’s the perfect place to pick it up if we have to pick it up somewhere. Pixels never has customers anyway, so no lines, no waiting.

Which specifically states that the wine can only be consumed in the dining room.

They list what is included n the description of the room. Click on this link and scroll down a bit. https://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships/carnival-venezia.aspx

Yes, we absolutely loved the vista suite. But those particular suites actually feel Ike suites since the bedroom and living room are separate. Plus, they have an aft wrap balcony which is the largest balcony on any cruise ship. Not sure I would pay full price for an ocean suite, however. I much prefer booking early and getting the special bowling alley balcony rooms on ships where they are priced the same as regular balcony rooms.

The only way to book a cabana is through Carnival. If they are showing as sold out, you may be out of luck, HOWEVER, you can check every day to see if one becomes available. People do cancel cruises from time to time. Back in 2021 I had to cancel a cruise two days before it was supposed to sail because my husband tested positive for COVID. We had a HMC cabana booked so someone got lucky being able to book it last-minute.

I couldn’t imagine booking a suite just for the perks. If you are going to spend that much money on the room, it has to be because the room itself is worth it. Last summer we were upsold to a vista suite on the Spirit for our Alaska cruise. Even though we got it at a discount, it was so worth it to have the aft wrap balcony and a separate living room, bedroom and dressing room. We loved it so much that I booked one on the Pride for our Norway cruise this year at the going rate. But the “perks” that come with it do not matter at all.

I can’t tell you what to do, but I can say that I have sailed on a dozen Carnival cruises and have never once had a bad one. I am a firm believer that a cruise is what you make of it. And I personally choose to be grateful that I even get the privilege to cruise since so many people, including some of my own family and friends, can’t afford to do so. Carnival has always been fun, and the food has always been good. If you want to give them another chance, then by all means do so. So many repeat customers can’t be wrong.

Personally, I don’t think that the 1.5 hours of beach time is worth that particular excursion. We will be in St Thomas again this December, and I’m planning on going back to Coki Beach. I love snorkeling and there’s so many fish right near shore there. It’s really easy to take a taxi right from port to Coki Beach, and back again.

I stayed in 7448 and enjoyed the location. As you pointed out, you don’t have to worry about noise from the bar when you want to sleep. And the location is very convenient. Right near the stairs that lead down to the Havana pool area and bar. My vote would definitely be deck 7 over 5.

No one is psychic and can tell you if there will be one on your cruise. But I can tell you I have done two cruises to Alaska and there was a naturalist on board both times. I don’t believe they board just for the fjord cruising, either. They are on for the whole cruise. They do presentations during the cruise and occasionally will point out sea life when you are sailing to your next port.

Personally, as a Platinum, I can say that being one really isn’t that big of a deal. Definitely not worth booking a short cruise for the sole purpose of being Platinum for your longer cruise. The perks aren’t that great, especially since rooms are no longer ready when you board. That was really the only perk that I looked forward to becoming Platinum to get, so I wouldn’t have to buy FTTF anymore. Yes, we can bring our carry on bags to our rooms. But it’s not really the same, in my humble opinion. So, book the other cruise if you really want to do it. But don’t go crazy trying to make Platinum by booking a cruise you really don’t want to go on.

Royal’s ships are floating monstrosities. Some of us actually like cruise ships that still look like ships. I wouldn’t want Carnival to try to be like RCCL.