LHP

Luggage handlers will need to put the extra ORANGE tag on your luggage if you qualify for Priority luggage delivery.

It will not be delivered early without it.

AND you need to stand there and physically watch them put the orange tags on.

We tipped David very well and made sure he knew we needed the orange tags (saw them hanging on the luggage cart) and reminded him twice that he would need to put the orange tags on.. (which means if they do not to this....you do not get this benefit you have earned OR paid for with FTTF).

This was at the Early Luggage collection. David assured me that he would put the orange tags on TWICE...and still did not do it.

Sofia is a relative of Eduardo. She has not been with the company long - sorry to hear she is leaving. If Eduardo has left I would be concerned, he is the driving force behind the administration and is very knowledgeable and efficient. He has been away for a while and I don't know if that is permanent.

I agree. Eduardo is who runs the show (so to speak)....

There was a trial run on a few ships with unlimited internet for $139.

Carnival CORPORATION is currently converting all their 100+ ships to a new internet service that is suppose to be faster and better.

Whether they go the unlimited internet route again ....well, we will just have to wait and see.

Personally, it would be a fabulous thing for us since our 22 year old son with Autism has aged out of all the groups...he spends a lot of time on the Internet at home and we would definitely purchase him the unlimited service.

A simple solution is to use a Carnival PVP.

You are still dealing directly with Carnival and they do all the leg work (or phone waiting).

Hubby received a letter because he was already past Milestone when they started the program for the 25%.

My youngest son and I used ours ON our 25th and never received a letter because it was a B2B (24th and 25th).

Our oldest son received a letter for his 25%.

For our 50%, we all received letters.

We have never had an issue using any of them.

Actually, no cruise line is in any kind of Spa business.

Steiner owns them and simply leases space.

Just like any company that leases space in a mall at home.

I want to know why CCL has a problem with me smoking a non-tobacco electronic cigarette that has not odor, no smoke, and no ash anywhere other than the "Smoking Section."

 

Really?????:confused: I quit regular cigarettes and NOW I am supposed to be subjected to second-hand smoke?!?!? SMH!!!!

 

By the way, I smoke the electronic in my cabin (like a chimney) and manage to avoid the $250.00 cleaning fee :p Duh right?

Many of my friends discreetly use their E - Cigs in "nonsmoking" places without issue.

The reason Carnival currently says "smoking areas only" is for 2 reasons:

1) to prevent the staff and crew from having to chase down every puff of smoke to verify it is real or E....

2) sadly there would be additional problems with smokers seeing the "puff" and assuming it is a real cigarette and then lighting up themselves.

The " well I saw them doing it" would just add a whole new can of worms that staff and crew do not have the time to handle and should not have to handle.

I am hoping that when E-Cigarettes become common place, this restriction will be lifted because that is what E-Cigs are designed for.

I do not smoke, but I have pushed for years for Carnival to sell E-Cigs at the bar.

It would be a win/win for smokers and nonsmokers alike AND would make Carnival money.

I would give the Breeze a try.

We have sailed all the Carnival ships and the Breeze was wonderful.

Im sorry I omitted the port, New Orleans. Thanks everyone for your quick response.

Skrufy:

New Orleans has Priority starting right at the front door HOWEVER

You have to walk to the line all the way against the wall and it can be hard to see.

Once you get inside, they will direct you to the separate line for security screening and a separate room for Diamond/Plat and Suites.

Btw when you hand your bags to the porters...point out the FTTF that they put on Platinum/Diamond luggage tags and they will ADD an EXTRA ORANGE luggage sticker so that your bags are easily spotted for priority delivery.

We were just there last month.....

The "rules" say that only "revenue cruises" count......

but we all know that Carnival is about as consistent as flour blowing in the wind....

so it could go either way!

For some reason the Bahamas seem to be extra extra tough about children's paperwork.....

so I would double check with your Travel Agent just to make sure.

IF you did not use a Travel Agent, then I would be talking to someone at US Customs to make sure you have all your i's dotted and t's crossed.

Folks who book directly online (or over the phone) are talking to operators who are simply "taking an order".

They should only be used by people who know what they are doing.

Update: I called the toll free number and it is a new travel agency. I have to listen to a spiel about their agency for 90 minutes. I get a $100 gift card for local eats. Choice of royal caribbean or carnival, 8 day cruise. I've wasted more than 90 minutes in my lifetime so I think I will go. I'll post another update after my meeting next tuesday.

 

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I was about to type that it sounded like the new Vacation Travel Ageny/ Time Share company that used to run Carnival Vacation Club.

I heard they recently transitioned into a travel agency.

Probably still owned by ICE though...just remember, they were not well received in the past.

The clientele that Mobile seemed to draw would have to break some very bad habits in order for any cruise line to come and stay.

1. Filling the ship means little when it is done at discounted prices.

2. Once onboard, the passengers must spend money...which was not happening. The MARS on those ships were way below par.

3. (and I know this is a touchy subject) but you can not have large percentages that remove their tips. And sadly, while the Destiny was the ship that had this happen the most. Mobile was the Port that had this happen the most. Wait Staff and Cabin Stewards hated to hear they were headed to either.

We cruised out of Mobile 5 times. (and would again if it were available)

However, the least little glitch caused traffic to be a pain. (the trains made it worse)

IF I were a Mobile resident...I would vote for a new bridge over a cruise port too.

However, IF we could ever get anyone in Washington, DC to listen (I know, a hopeless case) and get the Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 revoked....

Mobile would have their choice of cruise lines.

As for the 2 million....Mobile literally threw away that much over the 7 years that Carnival was there by allowing people to park for FREE on those spots by the bridge.

That is just the beginning of the mismanagement by ex Mayor Jones.

I cannot believe that I waited this long. We are cruising March 6th and it seems Tours Plaza is booked for the day. Can anyone recommend another driver/company other then Tours Plaza????? :(

I just talked with a friend who just booked with them and they do have availability for that day....

I would check with them again !!!

Make sure you checked with the correct folks....

http://www.toursplaza.com/

John just posed a possible compromise that would have Steel Drums at Embarkation or at ports that would not require bed space on the ship since it would only be when the ship is docked and the bands come onboard.

And it seems to be getting rave reviews....

He will send it to the beards...

I agree that the upsell is there and should not be......

Just keep in mind because he is scheduled doesn't necessarily mean he will be onboard. The beards can move him for a few weeks for something unforeseen.

VERY good point.....

John's schedule is never in stone and personally I would never book a cruise just to sail with him because, there are no guarantees.

Just a "heads up". If you use a hairdryer, bring your own. You need to ask your room steward for a blow dryer as they are shared between cabins!!!!!

 

Also My Time Dining is like NCL's. Two hours for a meal to be served in the dining room!!

Sorry you did not realize they do not have hair dryers on this ship.

Personally I always use my own because even the ships that have them in the drawer....I find them to be a pain.

The dining time will vary depending on when you go. IF you go at a peak period, common sense will dictate that the wait time will be longer.

2 hours is to long for me...I would rather eat on Lido.

Every time John Heald surveys his group, most respond they want it back. And does nothing. And then the same question is asked a couple of months later. And people respond they want it back. And does nothing.

 

Repeat.

The last surveys I have seen on John's page were against it....because it is to limiting.

Personally I can not stand them after about 5 minutes ....

OK is Tours Plaza or Gerry there once we get off the ship in Cozume, or do you have to book them ahead of time? If they are there for us to ask if they would take us on a tour, do you have an idea what they charge per hour?

You will need to book them ahead of time.

Cost of the tour on a Car for up to 4 persons is usd$107.00 for the first 3 hours tour + usd$25.00 for each additional hour.

Cost of the tour on a Van for up to 9 persons is usd$195.00 for the first 3 hours tour + usd$40.00 for each additional hour, these prices are per vehicle not per person.

Beverages, lunch, park admissions, etc. are not included in the prices and are your responsibility.

We need you to fill up the online reservation format, and then we will e-mail an invoice request and with-in two clicks you can send us usd$62.00 for the Car and usd$100.00 for the Van as a deposit online with paypal funds or credit card, upon receiving the deposit we will send you back your confirmation & deposit receipt with instructions on where to meet your driver, please print it out and bring it with you.

VERY IMPORTANT :

If you are arriving via cruise ship and are unable to dock in Cozumel at all, deposit will be refunded.

Not all private tours will refund if the ship does not dock...so this is very very important that they will !!

See the link that LRENE posted earlier!

Enjoy!!

Great review...

sorry you did not get to do the cave tubing...but at least the ATV reminded you of your "southern friends" ( us ) who love the mud!!

:)

I am wondering if some folks are getting the FTTF included in their cruise price???

IF that is the case, then technically they are not getting Platinum status...they are getting the FTTF perks which are listed on Carnival's web page.

There has been NO recent change in the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) which governs transportation of passengers to US ports by ship. Simply put, no non-US flagged ship (Carnival does not have any US flagged ships) may transport passengers between two different US ports without a stop at a distant foreign port.

 

This would not apply to you as you should have been on a close loop cruise (a cruise that begins and ends at the same port). However, you did not board the ship in Jacksonville.

 

There is NO restriction on the transport of passengers from any foreign port to any US port. So, if you board the ship in the Bahamas the ship can legally transport you back to Jacksonville.

 

Here is a link to the PVSA courtesy of the Customs & Border Protection (CBP) ... http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/legal/informed_compliance_pubs/pvsa_icp.ctt/pvsa_icp.pdf

Since it is CBP's job to enforce the PVSA, the CBP is an authority on the PVSA.

 

In short, there is NO law against Carnival transporting a passenger from the Bahamas to Jacksonville.

I wanted to add that there may not be any US law that prohibited it...but when you are dealing with the Bahamas....well, let's just say they run the show how they want to and no other laws matter.

AND hopefully one day we can get a federal representative to stop all the power grabbing long enough to revoke the PVSA of 1886 (yes 1886) so that common sense can prevail.

All the information you need is on the website: http://www.toursplaza.com/eng/hiring-driver.cfm

There is a minimum hire period of 3 hours and price is per vehicle. There is a station wagon or van depending on how many in your party.

What I love about using them is that you decide how you want to spend your time.

I would recommend the EAST side....it is beautiful over there and sadly far to many folks who come to Cozumel never get to see it.

There is nothing I can predict that would cause us to leave Carnival, because we are not there simply because of Carnival.

We are there because that is where our son is comfortable.

I look forward to cruising Oceania, Princess and maybe even NCL when he gives the ok.

As most folks know, change is not something individuals with Autism handle well.