Avril

Where did you see that? I've been on 16 cruises with Carnival (sailing on cruises 17 and 18 in 3 weeks) and have never gotten a pop up like that (or any other offer for discounts on excursions) even when my booking is paid in full. :confused: That would be awesome to get, shore excursions usually are pretty expensive!! :D How much was the discount?

:D :D 30 and 36 DAYS!!!! :D Sailing for New Years and the 1st week of January (a 6 day/ 8 day B2B) on the Breeze (my all time favourite ship), I'm SO SUPER excited!!!! :D :D

After that, my next Carnival cruises (for now) are a Transatlantic on the Vista in October 2016 and the Sunshine in December 2016, looking forward to those as well!! :D

I've sailed with him twice (maybe 3 times, can't remember offhand) and I find him VERY annoying!!!! :( Wether it's the announcements he makes during the day/evening on the ship's PA system or in person at a show or some other event, hearing "WOO HOO" all the time (which is how he ends every announcement/speech/intro/whatever and sometimes he'll say it in the middle of one of those things) gets real old, annoying, and tiresome real fast. :( He's good at his job, it's just that I find his little tagline (for lack of a better word) super annoying. It'd be better if he used it way less often.

I'm really looking forward to sailing with Matt Mitcham in a few weeks on my Breeze B2B and again next year on the Vista, I've heard he's awesome!! :D

These look amazing!! :D I hope they're on the Breeze when I sail on my B2B at the end of December/beginning of January. Does anyone know if they put the new gifts on the new(er) ships 1st?

Thanks so much everyone!! :D I'm sure it'll be amazing, I did almost exactly the same itinerary (with a couple different ports) on the Nieuw Amsterdam in 2012 so I know how much fun it is and I love the ship. I'm going to be spending today packing as my Mom and I are flying to Barcelona tonight and spending a couple of days exploring the city before we board the ship on the 2nd. I am really jealous of RuthC, I would love to do a 14 Day/13 Day B2B (but of course, I'm doing a 6 Day/8 Day B2B in December/January on the Carnival Breeze so I can't really complain all that much). I'm not looking forward to the flight (8 hours on a plane, ug) but I'm sure excited to get to Barcelona and really excited about getting on the ship!! :D I hope the seas are nice, calm, and smooth and I hope we have lots of sunshine and heat.

I've cruised MANY times, but what exactly is an outside cabin??? Jealous of the Grand Suite!!! Way to go!!

An Outside (or Oceanview) cabin is a cabin with a window but no balcony. They are nice if you want to have natural light and to be able to see what the weather is like outside (or if you're like me and feel claustrophobic and closed in if you're in an inside cabin) but don't want to (or can't) spend the money on a balcony cabin or suite. Grand Suites are really nice, I've had 3 in the past!! :D

I have printed our boarding passes but I didn't see anything on them (or anywhere else in our cruise docs) about Formal Nights or any other night's dress code. :confused: I'll have to have another look.

Ok, I won't bother packing my black and white dress then. One less thing to worry about, plan for and pack is always good!! Strange, we definatly had one of those events on our other 2 TAs (a 17 Night on the Eurodam in 2009 and a 14 Day on the Nieuw Amsterdam in 2012).

I'm leaving for Barcelona in 10 days (SO excited! :D ) and boarding the Nieuw Amsterdam in 12 days (even more excited about that! :D ) and am starting to think about packing. We're sailing on a 13 Day Transatlantic and I'm wondering, how many Formal Nights will there be? I love those nights so I want to be sure to pack enough Formal dresses. I'm guessing 2-3 but not really sure. Also, will they have a Black/White Party one night (the one with the ship's officers)? They had one on my last TA in 2012 (which was also on the N. Amsterdam) but I'm not sure if they still do them. Trying to figure out wether I should pack my black and white dress or not.

Thanks so much!! :D

The earliest is 10:30-11:00. The slots are in 30 minute increments.

 

It's already showing on my sailing for next year. I picked 11:00-11:30. That works for me.

 

Enjoy your breeze back to back!

Thanks, 10:30-11 is perfect!! :D Huh, it hasn't shown up for our cruise yet, maybe because we're Platinum and so don't have to pay attention to the boarding times? I mean, that letter posted earlier in this thread (the one from the Magic) said that those of us who are Platinum (like my Mom and I), Diamond, and FTTF can show up whenever we want and don't have to follow what time is on our boarding passes. Am I right or did I read that wrong? I don't want to be standing outside the terminal for an hour (or a few) because I misread something!! :eek:

Thanks a lot, I'm sure we'll have a blast!! I love the Breeze (been on her once before), she's my all time favourite ship!! :D

Besides, 10:00 is too early and not even an option with the new process.

First of all, I have to disagree with you. I usually show up at the port between 10 and 10:30 for Embarkation but hey, that's just me. I'd rather be sitting at the port, looking at the ship and surrounded by happy, excited people then sitting in a boring hotel room or lobby or at the airport. We normally don't have to sit long anyway, always onboard by 11-11:30.

Second, what are the options for arrival times? I'm sailing on the Breeze (doing a B2B, YAY!! :D ) in December/January from Miami and haven't heard anything about staggered arrival times (just looked at our online check in for both cruises, no mention of it at all). Now, my Mom (who I'm cruising with) and I are Platinum so I think we can ignore the times anyway and show up whenever we want but it would be nice to know what the earliest time is that we can arrive at the terminal. Also, would staggered boarding times affect what we're supposed to do on turnaround day? Thanks!! :D

Oh No!! :eek: I just realized that we're on Deck 6 for our upcoming 6 Day/8 Day B2B on Breeze. We're in cabin 6499 on Deck 6 aft, right over the Limelight Lounge. Now, I'm not worried about the privacy issue since I'm sailing with my Mom so we won't be doing anything on our balcony that other people shouldn't (or wouldn't want to) see but I am now a little concerned about noise. I tend to stay up until everything closes at night/early morning anyway so it probably won't be a problem for me but quite often (if not always) Mom goes to bed before I do. Will there be any noise problems that might keep Mom awake (and me if I go to bed early a night or 2)? It's most likely too late to change cabins now since we sail on Part 1 of our B2B in 80 days (and we probably wouldn't anyway since we have the same cabin for both cruises) so I'd like to be prepared!! Oh, and the 1st Part of our B2B (the 6 Day) is a New Years cruise if that'll make a difference. No matter what, I'm SO excited for our 14 Day cruise on the Breeze, she's my all time favourite ship!! :D

From what I understand no you can't buy cheers ahead of time. Can only buy it once on briars . I am sure someone will let me know if I am wrong.

You can now!! :D They just made Cheers available for pre-purchase online. Just go into your booking, then to the Fun Shops. It's listed under Beverage Packages along with the Bottomless Bubbles Package. Have a blast on Imagination, she was the 1st ship I ever sailed on (with any cruise line) and still has a very special place in my heart!! :D

Thanks everyone!! :D It's good to know it is possible if we want to.

Wait, December 2016, and you pre-bought CHEERS? Over a year ahead?

Yup!! It's one less thing we have to worry about. :D Now, we've got our cruise, pre-cruise hotel, and Cheers. All we have to take care of is our airfare!! :D

My boyfriend and I are sailing on the Sunshine in December 2016 (it'll be his 1st ever cruise, I'm SO excited to introduce him to Carnival and cruising in general)!! :D We've already pre-bought the Cheers Program online but would like a couple bottles of liquor in our cabin to mix our own drinks (or add to the ones we buy) if we want to. My question is, since Cheers involves alcohol, will the system let us buy a couple bottles online pre-cruise or will we have to wait until we board the ship (which wouldn't be a problem)? I know there's a limit on the number or alcohol products you can buy online (I think it's 2) but I'm not sure if the Cheers program is included in the limit. I hope this makes some sort of sense.

Thanks!! :D

I think you're leaving for Europe fairly soon so I wanted to be sure I got in touch with you before you leave. I noticed on the HAL Future Cruisers List that you'll be on the Nieuw Amsterdam's Transatlantic sailing on November 2nd, 2015. I'll be on that one as well, can't wait!! :D I've seen and read so many of your posts on here and I always enjoy them. I was wondering, would it be possible to meet up sometime during the Transatlantic? I'd love to meet you in person!! My Mom and I will be in cabin 7015. You can get in touch with me there of course once we're onboard or you can get in touch here on CC, on the social media site we're not supposed to mention on here (starts with an F and ends with a K, I'm Avril Birnie on there), or you can reach me by email (assumptionchic@gmail.com). What ports are you going to before the TA? I hope you have a fantastic time and have smooth seas and sunny (and warm/hot) skies!! :D

I'm not sure if non HAL cruises are allowed to be listed here (my 1 HAL cruise I have booked is listed here already) but just in case they are, I just thought I'd mention my others so they can also be listed here. If this is not allowed, I'm very sorry. :o

Carnival Breeze - 27-Dec-15 - 6 Day Western Caribbean (B2B Part 1)

Carnival Breeze - 2-Jan-16 - 8 Day Eastern Caribbean (B2B Part 2)

Norwegian Gem - 9-July-16 - 7 Day Bahamas and Florida

Carnival Vista - 21-Oct-16 - 13 Day Transatlantic (Barcelona to New York)

This will be my 4th Transatlantic

Carnival Sunshine - 10-Dec-16 - 8 Day Southern Caribbean

Just wondering, we will be on the Vista for Halloween next year but I noticed that someone said in an earlier post on this thread that they don't do Halloween stuff on cruises sailing before October 26th. Our cruise sails on October 21st from Barcelona and we debark on November 3rd (I think, might be the 4th) in New York. I was looking forward to Halloween onboard as I've heard that it's a lot of fun but is my cruise too early? I would be disappointed if so but it wouldn't ruin my cruise of course. I can't wait for this cruise, gonna be a blast (especially since Carnival turned our cabin into a Havana cabin after we booked, WOO HOO)!! :D

Hello - this is probably an odd question but I am wondering if when my sign & sail card is scanned can it tell age? I am 25 but often get mistaken for still being in high school so I am always carded. I was hoping to not have to carry around my license around the ship when I go to the bar or for other 21+ activities but wasn't sure if anything on my sail & sign signified that. Thanks!

You will need to carry your license (or some kind of ID with your birthdate) with you at least for the 1st day or so until the bartenders/waiters get to know you. I'm 31 but always get mistaken for being in my teens (mid teens usually, it's insulting and annoying :mad: ) so I get carded all the time. People refer to me as a "little girl" all the time as well. :mad: I think they do have some kind of code on the S&S cards to tell if someone is under 21 but I always carry my ID and 95% of the time, I'm asked for it. I just carry it in my pocket or in a small purse (my S&S Card is always on a lanyard around my neck). Hey, if I'm lucky, maybe I'll actually look my age by the time I'm 85!! :D

This is probably a dumb question but oh well, here goes. :o I'm sailing with my boyfriend on the Sunshine in December 2016, we're super excited!! :D I'm Platinum, it'll be his 1st cruise ever so he'll have a blue S&S card. Will he be able to come with me to our cabin when we first board the ship (before the doors are open and the cabins are officially ready) or will I have to take both our carry on bags and drop them off myself with my Platinum card? I know he'll be able to check in and board with me but I'm not sure about going to our cabin early. Doesn't matter either way, I was just wondering.

Hey Jeff!! Thanks for the review and pics. I love your reviews, I've read almost all of them. They really do make me feel like I'm on the cruise with you. I'm looking forward to reading the rest and it's getting me excited for my cruise on the Breeze in December. I'm doing a 6 Day/8 Day B2B for New Years and the 1st week of January, can't wait!! :D Our 6 Day (the New Years cruise) ggoes to Falmouth, Grand Cayman and Cozumel and the 8 Day goes to St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Thomas and Amber Cove. Falmouth, Antigua, and Amber Cove are new ports for us so I'm looking forward to seeing new places. The Breeze is my favourite ship (been on her once before) so I can't wait to sail on her again!! :D

I have one question for you (if you had a port that you had to tender to and if you're Platinum/Diamond/FTTF). We will have to tender in Grand Cayman so I'm wondering about getting off the ship. My Mom and I are both Platinum and I'm wondering how the Priority tenders work for us Platinum cruisers. We've been Platinum since 2010 but somehow, just haven't been to a tender port since then so haven't used the priority perk. Do we just go to the tender deck and show our cards to ship's security to get on first or is there something we have to do the night before or the morning we get into port? Thanks so much and I hope to get to sail with you someday!!

Lines that do a basic burger free, those with a named burger stand (like Guys) a small charge.

There's no charge for Guy's Burgers, they are included in the cruise fare. :D But, the cruise in question is on a Fantasy Class ship, there is no Guy's on those ships (at least, as far as I know).

Do the Gift Cards have an expiry date or some time frame in which they have to be used? Meaning, if I buy them now, will they still be good in December 2016?

According to the FAQ from Carnival.com :

 

Q: Can a Carnival gift card be purchased online using a Canadian address?

A: Yes, a Canadian resident can purchase an electronic gift card online using their Canadian billing address.

 

I got there from the home page, by clicking on the link at the bottom for gift cards, then looking at the FAQ.

Thanks!! :D I was pretty sure that I could use my Canadian address but wasn't sure where to find them on Carnival's website. Are they listed under Bon Voyage/The Fun Shops?

Avril,

 

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Bob

That's strange because that is my email address. :confused: assumptionchic@gmail.com

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of your review and seeing you pics!! I love the Breeze, it's my favourite ship I've been on so far. I'm sailing on it again for 14 Days (6 Day/8 Day B2B) for New Years and the 1st week of January, can't wait!!!! :D

IF you are talking about the Carnival gift cards then you are good to go, the Cruise Cash is a different story.....

Yes, I mean the gift cards. :D I think cruise cash (the stuff you buy from Bon Voyage) is the use it or lose it variety. I don't want to risk losing money if we don't use it all. I can buy the gift cards online as well right? I live in Canada so can't buy them at the grocery store (or any other store). Thanks so much!! :D