pe4all

Great review, as usual. TY for taking your vacation time to do this.   Safe travels home.  

Loving your review, as I have done so with all your others.  I think it is wonderful you took Karl with you as part of your family.  Great pictures of everything!

Everyone has great suggestions.  Our first few times there we did the ATV tour and horseback ride into the water  and Jack's Shack - all good.  Now we just hang out at the Margaritaville pool and watch the people on the flow-rider.  

Sorry to hear of your experience.  I am surprised no one got back to you.  On the few times we had a problem with our cabin on any ship (a/c problem, stuffed drain) we immediately got resolution, plus follow-up calls and letters to our cabin making sure everything was ok.  Hope you took pictures, and will follow-up with letters/emails to Customer Care.

https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/contact-us

My dd35 was diagnosed with seizures and a left temporal lobe astrocytoma at age 1.5, had a partial resection of the tumor  at 2 1/2, then again at 5 years old and has always had uncontrolled partial-complex seizures.  She has been on around 10 different meds - none work.   She is now on 3 meds, (24 pills a day) and also had 2 seizure surgeries which did not work.  8 years ago she had a VNS put in, which helps a bit.  Her seizures are unpredictable, and luckily not grand mal.  She has been on all 33 CCL cruises with us, plus another 12+ on other lines.  She still lives with us and we watch her 24/7, giving her every opportunity to enjoy life.  She bike rides, does the ropes courses on the ships, etc.  Living with seizures is tough, but Carnival is fantastic in meeting her needs -especially in the dining room, as her processing the menu is tedious at times.  I hope you enjoy every minute of your cruise!

So sorry to hear of your cat's passing.  I dread the day my 16 year old cat (her bd was yesterday 5/1) leaves us.  I tear up every time I think of it.  Safe travels home.

We also have a special needs child (well - she's 35 but lives/travels with us).  We usually do the ropes course first thing when we board as it is pretty much empty, and then on port days as soon as it opens.   As staceyglow and sparks1093 said - it is hit or miss when there gets to be a line.  Sea days can get crowded.

17 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

Think I missed this the other day.

 

Never got a letter nor did we get a mirror message.  Guess they don't love us as much as they love you - lol! 

16 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Well done, Carnival Corp!

Agree!  I still remember my first cruise (Home Lines 1984) watching the crew dump large black garbage bags off the stern of the ship. Hopefully other lines will get this software also.

OP - sorry to hear of the loss of your property.  I understand you venting here on CC, but I do not think you will get too much sympathy here.  Maybe post somewhere where there is a roll-call for the cruise after yours.  Perhaps you will be lucky and a person on that roll-call will have been in your cabin after you and can help in some way.   If you have travel insurance file a claim through them.  Also, some major credit cards have trip insurance as a "perk."  Look into that also.

It might be a glitch in the system.  Or maybe you are trying to check in too early - are you Platinum or Diamond?  If so, you should be able to check in 2 days earlier than others.  If not you may be trying to check in too early.  Also - try another browser.  I know Safari doesn't work for checkin for me - I have to use google chrome on my computer.  Good luck!

Can't believe how big your daughter has gotten!  Looking forward to your review.

Have done both itineraries many times.  ABC all the way!

Have a wonderful cruise.  Looking forward to reading your take on the TA.

It is hard enough finding a table to eat at on Lido a lot of times.  Having a large group monopolizing a table for 90 minutes is just rude, imo. 

If you want to check your luggage - as per CCL - you have to do it 2 hours before your posted departure time - so 2 p.m.  Otherwise you will have to carry your own luggage on the ship.

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2621/~/embarkation-and-departure

I would suggest getting on earlier so you can do muster, enjoy lunch, and explore the ship.

Arrival time back in Miami is early - we have been in as early as 5 a.m., but I would say 6 a.m. is more like it.  They have started calling self-debark at around 7ish, with checked luggage around 8 -8:30.  Again - this is all dependent on weather, medical emergencies, customs clearance for the ship, etc.  All unpredictable.

15 minutes ago, mz-s said:

I talked to one CD (I forget which one) and he said that he enjoyed the older/smaller ships that do the same itinerary every week. He was able to get into a rhythm. The fun ashore talk was the same every week, the activities were the same, etc.

Same here.  Many of the CD's I spoke with are very content with the "smaller" ships - Conquest class, Spirit class, Fantasy Class.   Personally I do not ever take a cruise based on who the CD is, though I am sure people do that - especially if Mr. Heald is on the ship.  Many times I do not even know who the CD is until I  walk on the ship - and even then I do not know until they begin making announcement.

Prayers out to the injured, and condolences to the family who lost a loved one.  We should be thankful for every minute we are here, as you never know what may happen.

Thank you for coming back with an update.  Glad it all finally worked out.  So many OP's leave us hanging.....

8 hours ago, pirate4me2 said:

B asked for pizza about 9, so I went with her to get some. There was no line and the fresh pizzas took maybe 5 minutes? We got some and headed back to the room. It was hot, ooey, gooey, but slightly burnt. I’d give it a 6/10. 
We are now watching some ghost show on TV as B debates her decision on eating pizza. Tomorrow is an EARLY day, we are in San Juan 7-1. Why such a short port time?? At least there’s a Walgreens (or is it CVS?) at the end of the pier for B to get seasick meds. 

 

There is both a Walgreens and CVS across the street from the terminal.  Hope B feels better.

1 hour ago, bled01 said:

Been wondering the same about Amber Cove.  We have Atlantis booked just to do it.   Will prob just hit the beach in Grand Turk.   Have no idea if anything is really worth doing in Amber Cove.   Might stay on the ship but not sure. 🤷🏻‍♂️

If you have not been to Amber Cove it is nice taking that long walk (or short bike jitney) to the port area and walking around a bit.  They have some stores, a pharmacy, a restaurant, and it is fun to watch the zip-liners flying overhead.  The pool is also nice, with a dj and some dances/games - kinda like Margaritaville. We get off for an hour or so, then back on the ship to enjoy the quiet and get to do things when things aren't crowded.

Of the 3 ships you mentioned Horizon is the newest and largest ship.  Not my favorite due to its size, though it has features the others don't have. (Havana area which we were in,  some food differences, sky ride, etc.). We have been to Ochos Rios many times.  If you have never done Dunns River that is probably a must-do.  Do not go "wandering" outside port area by yourselves - not too safe.  Haven't been to Montego Bay in years, so can't really help you with that port.

20 hours ago, CruzerDeb said:

Just wondering where you got that delicious looking steak and cheese sandwich from! 

This sandwich is one of my favorite things on any ship!

You don't need to carry your boarding pass around to get a drink, etc. when you first board.  Just give them your cabin #.  They input it, your picture pops up on their screen, and you are good to go.  

1 hour ago, Sabalon said:

 

I saw that elevator on the map but never did find it.  Just took the stairs.    Now that I have it up on my desktop I can see where you get to it.  Oh well - adventures for next time!

That elevator was out of order when we sailed in January!