Hawaiifrank

Either go early, 10-ish, or go late. Eleven to noon I would avoid. I have waited in a line outside the terminal, in the hot sun, waiting to get inside. Once the terminal and waiting areas are full, they have keep people outside until boarding starts and the terminal has room.

 

Some ports handle it better than others. If you specify the port, you will probably get a more specific answer.

 

Sometimes a ship has a need to delay boarding--special cleaning after a noro outbreak, required drills, delayed debarcation, USCG inspection, etc. Once, in Barcelona, they didn't allow us to board until 2 pm. We were kept waiting in the hot, stuffy terminal, with practically no seating, for over 2 hrs. That is not typical, just be aware it can happen.

 

Sometimes you have very little control over when you arrive. If your flight arrives at 6 am, you either wait at the airport or the cruise terminal. If the shuttle from the hotel leaves at 10:30 am, that's when you go. If you drive you leave early enough to allow for traffic or a flat tire, but if everything goes according to plan with no delays, you arrive way early.

 

For a 4 pm departure, 1 pm is the latest I'd plan to arrive and there'd probably be no lines at all. I'd rather shoot for much earlier and arrive before 11 am.

 

Too early and you run into the crowds of people still getting off. Most of that is gone by 10:30 or so.

They usually want you out of your cabin by 8:30 am. The last call to get off the ship in my experience has been between 9:30 and 10:30. If I had a 12:00 flight I would be off the ship by 9:00.

 

This also agrees with my experience.

 

OP should consider possible traffic delays getting to the airport, as well as lines at the airport. Don't forget the Customs line in the terminal is usually backed up as well.

 

I wouldn't stay too long onboard. Eat and get going by 9 am at the latest. By carrying your own luggage, you won't need to wait for your "turn" to get off since self-assist pax are released first. However, I have seen instances where the terminal filled up and the debarcation process was halted for 20 or 30 minutes.

Only quibble, it is NOT four hours from Jacksonville to Port Canaveral. Two hours, two and a half TOPS.

 

Sorry, I was just guessing and assuming the worst case. We've never cruised from Jacksonville, only PC, FLL and MIA. If I was driving from SC, I believe PC is a better option even if it was 4 hours farther. Thanks for the correction.

It tried to add a picture but you'll just have to Google it.

 

Now I'm having trouble editing this post.

I wonder if this has changed? I carry a pocket knife with me almost all the time, exception when I fly. I looked at their restrictions, and found the information below. I actually have a printout that I carry with our cruise documents to show security. About one out of every ten times security will question it when we are boarding (embarkation and ports), but after looking a the printout and measuring, they always leave it with me.

 

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2261/~/restricted-items-list

 

"Knives with blades longer than four (4) inches ( Recreational dive knives are allowed but must be held in the custody of the Guest Services Manager or Chief Security Officer and must be checked out/in by the owner for dive excursions during the cruise.)"

 

I am not sure how they landed on this as a rule, but they do abide by it.

 

We are going on Royal next, they do not have this same exception, so no pocket knife this time.

 

FYI, I am 54 and have not been in a fight since high school. I don't carry it for protection, per say, I do use it probably twice a day for something. Honestly my wife finds need of it more than I do.

 

I think this was on another cruise line, but they took a small folding knife that uses a replaceable utility-knife blade as its blade. These blades are only about 3" total and almost half of that is covered by the part that holds it. They said I'd get it back but they couldn't find it when we disembarked.

 

Recently I visited a courthouse to attend a wedding. I put my keys in the tray to go through the metal detector and he sees my can opener on my keyring. You know, the little folding one that used to come in military food packs. I think they called it a P-38. It has a point and a sharpened edge about one-half inch long.

 

 

He says I can't enter the building with that "blade". I should have asked to see a supervisor, but my kids were with me and she hates to see Dad make a scene. I just tossed it in the trash.

Hello Everyone me and my wife are planning our first time cruise this November on Carnival. I am 33 and she is 26 and were just looking for a relaxing time in the Bahamas. We are located in NC and were wondering if we should sail from the port of Charleston on the Fantasy or take the trip up to FL and sail on the Fascination. We are just looking for the best experience. We know that the temp in SC will be colder like maybe in the 50’s and in FL a lot warmer. Not sure how this will affect the trip as we have never cruised before.

Overall what ship and port would be better?

We want to stay on the upper deck in either ship but as of now the only rooms available in the middle are by elevators and from reading don’t think we want those. Is the front upper ocean view rooms decent?

 

Great choice. A Carnival Caribbean Cruise was our first cruise in 2008. Our next one, this November, will be number 9...and 10 and 11. We are doing three 7 day cruises in a row, a back-to-back-to-back.

 

If you elect to sail from SC: Someone mentioned Half Moon Cay. I've never been there, but it would give you a third port and 2 extra days. You only get the 3rd port on the 7 day. Nov 1 and Nov 28, all the others are 5 day runs to the Bahamas, Nassau and Freeport only.

 

Driving to Florida: Jacksonville has the same problem as SC, no choices the ports are exactly the same as SC, only none go to HMC.

 

Driving to Port Canaveral gets to some much better options: 8 days on the Sunshine takes you to Aruba, Bonaire and Grand Turk. A 7 day on the Valor takes you to the Western Caribbean. A little farther to FLL or MIA and there are several more choices.

 

If you are worried about cool weather, Aruba and Bonaire are where you want to be. Plus Port Canaveral is going to be much warmer than Jacksonville or Charleston. The down side is that it's also an extra 4 hours drive.

 

My choice would be November 13, on the Sunshine for 8 days. An ocean view cabin looks like about $700 pp, but the cabin choices are limited. Don't think too long.

 

If you really want to just try it to "get your feet wet", just do the 5 day from SC for $300 or less pp. It's too short for me, but for a first time cruise it just might leave you wanting more.

 

Oh, and whatever you decide, join the Roll Call, get involved with onboard activities and, above all, have fun.

We are doing this on RCCL for a cruise in Feb 2017 with my brother and his wife. I have read here in the forum that you can just get an extra key for the room. You'll have your S&S card and a second key card that only opens the cabin you're sleeping in.

I think an email requesting a refund is your only hope. Shipping 2 bottles, if even allowed, is going to cost more than they're worth. If they found them leftover after everyone disembarked, they should have made note of who they belonged to. Hmmm, unless your bottles stocked the crew's bar the following week.

Many comforting experiences here.

 

My concerns were not necessarily regarding my son, more so with staff and or fellow cruisers.

 

Thank you again for all the advice.

 

T minus 11 days!

 

It happens, but probably less than on land. I worry more if I send my grand kids to the restroom at Walmart.

 

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Carnival-Cruise-Worker-Charged-With-Molesting-Boy-on-Ship-321993752.html

 

On our March "spring break" cruise the kids were beyond out-of-control on the last night. I watched 22 teenagers pile out of an elevator after finally getting the door to open. They were wedged in too tightly to be able to open the door at first, but they were whooping it up bragging about 22 in an elevator when they got out.

 

A little supervision goes a long way.

If you like your booze straight, they'll be happy to accommodate you. Mixed, straight, neat, or on the rocks, the bartenders will make it any way you want.

 

Yes, you can get shots of any liquor on the shelf, with the possible exception of super premium stuff. I think it's anything up to $10 or $12 in cost, before gratuity. Only one at a time, no doubles.

 

As the other poster said, the top 2 packages include spirits and liquors.

I've been planning the same ploy for our b2b2b after Thanksgiving. I guess I'd better make a friend on the roll call who isn't doing a b2b.

We did our first b2b on the Carnival Spirit in 2009. That was only our 4 or 5th cruise so we were relative novices. We didn't even know about the procedure to be escorted off and back on the ship. Since we wanted to visit Anchorage in a rental car, we left the ship with all the disembarking pax and returned to the ship a few hours before departure.

 

Since then we've had 3 long TA cruises, but never another b2b.

 

Till now. We have a b2b2b in Nov/Dec on Carnival Freedom and another b2b on Oasis OTS in Feb 2016 and another b2b on Carnival Breeze in Nov of '16 and yet another b2b on Harmony OTS in Feb 2017. We love the longer cruises. Seven days is not enough anymore.

I usually use window clings. They work great, peel right off and are cheap to buy. Do not use the gel clings. From personal experience I can tell you that the color bleeds on to the door. I got 90% of it off with lemon, but I'll never do that again.

175 to Oasis

532 to Harmony

 

Too long.

Hahaha!

So we are going to be platinum on our coming cruise in november on allure.

Yes I know this is nothing to most people on this forum.

 

I just looked up the difference between this and what we were.We get a robe!

Lol! And only if they dont run out.Thats about the only difference.Oh and a pin!

Cant forget the pin.I dont think we even board any sooner.I cant remember if there was a specific section for platinum waiting to board in port everglades.Yes I know there are a few other things for being platinum but NONE of them are of any significance.I was hoping for maybe one free drink a day or something but I guess Ill just wear my robe proud everywhere I go on the ship.(if I get one)..

 

The step to D isn't that far away. It seems like we went from Emerald, to Platinum, to Diamond in just a couple of years. Two TA, 15 & 16 night cruises helped move things along. Our first cruise as Diamond will be in Feb. A b2b, but it's still a looong way to D+.

I am sailing on Oasis for the first time in November.

 

I know the internet rates are $15 per day for one user and an additional $7.50 per day for 2 users. Is there a C&A discount that can be applied to this? I am diamond and my kids are platinum traveling in their own room.

 

Does the stand-alone Starbucks on Oasis accept pre-paid Starbucks cards for payment?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Is there just one Diamond member in your cabin? If you are traveling with a spouse or partner who is also Diamond, you each get the one-free-day or equivalent credit ($29, I believe) towards purchase of a package.

 

Unless you all want 24/7 Internet access, you should be able to use your credit for 1 package that you all can share. Just agree on a schedule among your kids and you. Check your mail or sports scores or whatever during your time slot then log out. Next person logs in with same account id and password for their hour then logs out. And so on. One device at a time.

 

I'm anxious to try this method on our b2b in February. Myself, DW, DB and his DW are sailing Oasis for the first time and we are all Diamond in adjacent Boardwalk Balcony cabins. We each have one free day of internet each week.

 

My plan is to stagger the use of our 4 free 24-hour periods to cover the whole week. Other people have reported being able to use a phone and a tablet or pc on the single device account as long as you log out with one device before logging in with the other.

 

We will actually use our 24 hour periods instead of buying a package. You can't combine the credits from 2 Diamond perks for one internet package.

[quote name='BetMax']Thanks for the quick answers. seems like splitting them between everyone's suitcases is the answer.[/QUOTE]

We used to travel with my elderly FIL and he needed Depends and disposable pads for the bed. We would take a large duffel bag and load much of his stuff in that. Since the diapers and pads were so light and bulky the duffel was still easy to lift. We always checked it at the pier and we never had to fly when he was with us.

When it was empty on the way home, we just fold it up and pack the duffel in our suitcase. Or fill it with souvenirs. We also would wrap and securely tie a case or 2 of Ensure for his dietary needs for tube feeding. We checked that at the pier too. Never had any problems.

You didn't say when your cruise was. Since the Breeze is coming to Galveston next May, I hope your cruise is before the move. The state of TEXAS has started charging state tax on liquor and cigarettes, EVEN IF IT IS US DUTY FREE. The tax is $3.75 per liter of booze and $1.50 per pack of smokes. It sorta' takes the fun of buying duty free.

Thanks, we booked through Carnival directly and they are booked in a 1a (one of the ones on the Conquest where it actually has 2 twin beds that can be pushed together), so booking a 3rd person in wouldn't be an option. I'm hoping it works out between them, but if not I don't want her to be stuck in a room with him if she doesn't want to be there. Hopefully Carnival will be able to help her should it come to that.

 

As someone else mentioned, nothing changes between now and final payment date. So you have, as you said, 3 months to decide. Since you booked directly I'd call now and see what Carnival says your options are. She should be able to cancel BF and add someone else at current rates any time up to final payment. The $50 fee to remove the BF and a new $250 deposit would be required for the new person.

Can you actually see your invoice with the price on the Carnival website if you booked through a TA? I was under the impression that the price was blocked. I have never checked on the few cruises I've booked with a TA, but I have read on CC that you can't see the actual price paid.

My family is taking a cruise on the Conquest next year. Everyone is booked early saver, including my sister and her boyfriend. They have been together for over 5 years so everyone considered them to be a safe bet to go and still be together. Well, she texted me last night that she thinks they are breaking up. Of course we are upset about the breakup, but we are also thinking about the upcoming cruise and how to handle that. Is there any way that she could change the name on the booking? She is the primary name on the booking and I know it wouldn't be without fees, but is there any option at all for him to not have to go or would it just be we buy him out on his part, she sails solo and he just "doesn't show up" at the port. We are still about 3 months from final payment right now too, if that matters at all.

 

I had 3 cabins booked on the Carnival Magic in March this year a family cruise. I had placed all 3 deposits on my CC. One of my daughters and her BF canceled. I called Carnival the day before final payment was due, 23 Dec 14.

 

The 2 people that canceled cost me $50 each, taken from the deposit. The remaining balance of $200 was held for my use on a future cruise. My CC on the deposit, my cruise credit. Note, the credit is for a future cruise. You can not use it for someone else on this cruise.

 

If your sister's BF paid his own deposit, he'll have the credit in his name, less the $50 fee. If you, sis or someone else paid the deposit, that person gets the future credit, UNLESS you booked through a TA. With a TA, I've heard that future credit goes to the cancelling pax no matter who actually paid the TA.

 

Your sis can move into another cabin or book someone else in her cabin at current fares, I believe. If you cancel the BF, I think Carnival will ask for the single supplement from sis to sail alone.

 

If you don't cancel the BF and pay his full fare, then he's a no-show, you might get back taxes and port fees. I'm not sure anyone can predict exactly what the result would be on boarding day.

 

Did you book through a travel agent? IMO, you have more flexibility by booking with CCL direct. If you used a TA, Carnival won't talk to you. If you can, call Carnival direct and see what they suggest you do. If using a TA, have them call to find out what your options are.

I have a cruise on Victory, this Saturday. Just got an email from Carnival today. Telling me I have a cruise coming very soon, and they just can't wait to welcome me aboard. OK, that's nice.

Then it says, the fun starts from the moment you step aboard, and an employee shows you to your cabin. WHAT?

 

This will be my 19th cruise with Carnival, and not once has an employee shown me to my cabin, or even told me where it was. Have I been missing something? Is this something new? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

Are you in a suite? When we booked an Owner's Suite on Ecstacy an couple of years ago (the upsell fairy was very persuasive), we were escorted onto the ship and taken to our cabin. That was listed as one of the suite's perks.

 

A good thing too. We'd have never found the cabin without someone taking us. The door was down a short, dark hall where you'd never expect. During the cruise we actually caught a couple of kids making out in our entry way. :eek:

The guest already paid taxes with Bottomless...........

 

They only added on the gratuities, not tax, when I purchased the package in March. Twelve cents state "sales" tax (some states may call it excise tax) was added to each soda receipt until we were out of Texas waters. Cocktails from a package too were taxed at point of sale until exiting Texas waters.

 

Several states do this besides Texas, including Florida and New York according to reports here on the boards. They even charged the tax on my grandson's "no charges authorized" account. The charges were actually applied to my account since I was paying his gratuities too.

Having never cruised before, I was curious whether our 4-night Carnival cruise to Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas this coming November was a decent price.

 

It was sort of a last minute decision, after considering taking a vacation to Las Vegas or San Antonio. We pulled the trigger after seeing a $249/person deal on the Carnival website for an ocean view cabin. We likely would have researched a bit more, but the offer expired on July 31, and it seemed reasonable.

 

What do you think? Poor deal, average deal, or great deal? We purchased approximately 3 months prior to the cruise (~100 days). I've heard the best deals are during so-called "wave week" in January-February, but how much better is the pricing then?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

You got a decent price. Does that include port fees and taxes? You'll also have to allow for the daily automatic gratuities of $12.95 per day per person.

 

I have a 7 day cruise on Carnival Freedom beginning on November 28, just 104 days away. It was $57 pp pd before fees and taxes. I feel I got a great deal. In fact, I booked the next 2 weeks as well for just a bit more per day.

 

The 3 weeks after Thanksgiving and before Christmas are a pretty slow period for cruising. Prices are soft because demand is low. Everyone with kids wants the holiday weeks so the kids don't miss too much school.

 

I suppose the same forces are at work for the January-February period, except the northerners have been freezing for 3 months and need some Caribbean sun, that adds some market potential.

 

A previous post mentioned short cruises as having a reputation for being "party boats". I've never been on a 4-day cruise, but at this time of year you're more likely to have bargain hunters than binge drinkers.

Enjoy the cruise and if you have a good time, ask about the onboard booking bonus for your next cruise.

Not entirely correct. IF you are linked for all three sailings, you will be Platinum upon embarkation of the first cruise.

Seems to me that your husband was not linked at Carnival and the cruises were treated as individual bookings.

I know first hand that linked B2Bs get the perks on day 1 for upgrading to the next VIFP tier.

 

Thanks. I will make sure that all 3 cruises are linked when I make my final payment on # 3. The first 2 were fully paid by my deposit from a cancelled cruise (Breeze repo).