buckeyefrank

Thank you for the replies.  That is exactly what I thought but was hoping otherwise.  I'll just do it before we go to bed the first night.

I have a cruise booked with two rooms for September.  We strategically placed my son and I in 1 room since he is the only person under 21 on this trip.  The drink package for myself is fully bought and paid for.  My wife and daughter are booked in the other room do not drink much so I will cash flow their drinks.   I will be switching rooms with my daughter once on the ship.  

My question is this.  Is there a way to switch the rooms prior to embarkation?  The last thing I want to do is have to deal with guest services and the 75 person deep line when I get onboard.  We are not booked ES but I don't know if their system is flagged to prevent this or if the agents at the pier would notice.  Any thoughts?

Thanks.

28 minutes ago, moeferg said:

I am sure this has been asked before, but is the passport card an appropriate form of ID to board the ship?

Assuming you are going on a cruise from the US shores, a passport card is a perfectly acceptable means of documentation.  With that being said, it really provides nothing more than a birth certificate / drivers license would on a cruise.  Unless you are going to be doing border crossings by land, it doesn't make a lot of sense to pay for the passport card just to cruise.  In the event you are stranded in Mexico or an island, the embassy / consulate where you are can assist you in getting home.  You will likely be delayed by a couple of days but you WILL get home.

My understanding is that the flow has changed because the Sunshine has 1000 more passengers than Charleston has handled before.  Here's a link to the updated parking / port information

http://www.scspa.com/wp-content/uploads/embarkation-debarkation-guidelines-carnival-sunshine-2019.pdf

Service is always available when the ship is out to sea; however, it is not the Sprint network you will be on.  You will be on a company's network named "Cellular at Sea."  They will charge you outrageous roaming fees and data fees.  As a general rule, you want to use your phone as little as possible and don't use data at all.  If you need to keep in touch, wifi is the best way, but you may not be able to skype.  The bandwidth and speed is less than desirable in most cases.  Your  best bet is texting or skype on wifi when in port.

On 4/4/2019 at 6:27 PM, ABQrobin said:

 

So I am not allowed to have an opinion?  Thanks.  Haven't seen your awesome posts here on CC in awhile.  

 

My opinion does matter...  and I was telling the OP that it doesn't help that much with priority tendering as most of the tenders are big enough so that people get to the island within 15-20 minutes.  No need to pay extra just to get the same place everyone else is going.  

But that's not what you said.  You said it wasn't worth it.  As other's have mentioned, there are many other perks that come with the FTTF, not just priority tender.  Access to dedicated CS line, priority debarkation which makes leaving much easier and faster for those traveling long distances.  And don't forget priority embarkation as well as early access to the room, which many with toddlers would find useful.

15 hours ago, sshhllcruise said:

Hi,

    This is my 2nd time taking a cruise since long time ago.

I wanted to check in how ppl are getting price and discount booking cruise.

So far, looking thru different travel sale site and all pretty much are same offering as the cruise site.

I haven't call the cruise line directly but i would do soon. 

Just checking in how other folks are booking it.

Looking for 8 ppl on this cruise and heading to Caribbean Western route in July.

Appreciated on pointer and advice on this.

Like others have said, Carnival will not allow TAs to discount the price of their cruises.  You will find the same price at Carnival and all the TAs.  The only thing you can do to save money on a specific cruise is to pay with GCs that are purchased at a discount or obtain some OBC through a TA.

21 hours ago, coevan said:

I could not agree more. You are spending a couple of grand for a vacation, $145 safety net is a very good investment. It's $14.50 a year, and maybe you might lucky enough to travel abroad in the next 10 years. The rules are very specific, a passport card is not allowed for international air travel. 

So if I go to a local gym and sign up for a membership where I'm charged $10 a month.  Assuming I go to the gym once during the year, it's a good investment.  Good grief.  It's not a good investment if it's not used.

A passport card has its benefits and limitations (as does the EDL, BC and Passport book).  A US citizen is always able to travel back to the US and gain entry.  There are even times when a US citizen had no id at all.  Once they are identified, the are allowed admittance into the US.  If you need to fly without a passport book, work with the embassy in the country you're in to expedite travel.  That is what they are there for.  It is an inconvenience, not a life changing traumatic event.

So if you bring wine on board and open the bottle yourself and take said bottle to the dining room, is there a corkage fee?

No there is not. The corkage fee on Carnival only applies if a waiter / bartender opens the bottle.

Just to clarify a couple of points:

As others have said, the drink package is free, but the gratuities (18%) are charged. I am generally OK with it. If I get a coupon for a free dinner, I still tip the server. I see no difference.

The $50 shore excursion credit is a little misleading. You get a $50 credit per cabin for each port. It must be used on a NCL excursion and the credits are not OBC, nor are they combinable. It is a use it or lose it promotion.

With that said, we've been on both NCL and Carnival. In general I feel all the major lines are MUCH more similar than they are different. They each have things they do better and things they do worse but overall I think the experience is pretty similar.

We were in Miami a few years ago. Once we debarked in the parking lot there were taxis all around and one driver motioned and told us to get in. I knew it was a flat fare to get to the airport but I asked him anyway. He told me something like $45. I looked at him and told him it was a flat rate. He started to argue with me and said that's ridiculous so I looked at another driver and asked him. The second driver confirmed $27. There were plenty of people around that heard me call him a scammer.

I tried to edit, but didn't save in time:

 

It isn't the foreign port so much as it is US Customs - you can't return to the US via air without a passport, which is why you need one to leave the US via air, and would need one to get on a plane at that foreign port.

 

That being said, it appears obtaining expedited passports at most foreign ports are easy enough if the situation warrants it. I have never exercised that, though.

A US citizen cannot be prevented from entering the US in any fashion, whether its by land, sea or air. The passport is the vehicle generally used to identify US citizenship easily. For those without a passport, the embassy or other official US govt persons will use whatever is necessary to verify the person's citizenship and allow them to enter the US. There can be a delay, but a US citizen will ALWAYS be allowed into the US.

Disney has soda dispensers as well. They don't have Freestyle but they do have dispensers.

 

I don't get why they don't get dispensers. You would think it would be easier than the cans of soda.

It would be easier but the maintenance / cleaning of those machines is awful. If you don't clean them constantly, they attract all kinds of critters.

Congratulations on getting your passport renewed with same day service. You did the right thing. A passport in hand is the only document you should have when leaving the country. Sure birth certificates are accepted by the cruise line, but government officials do not need to accept them. If you need to leave the ship for any reason, you will need a passport to board a plane home. If you need to identify yourself to foreign authorities, things will go well if you have a passport.

 

Have a great time aboard, you can sleep well knowing you carry the gold standard for international travel.

I agre that passports are 'safest' but Government officials DO have to accept BC for closed loop cruises in the US because it's the law. It's part of the WHTI. Another point is that no documentation is REQUIRED to return to the US if you are a US citizen. Anyone without a passport (or even any type of ID) will be delayed in getting back, but a US citizen is allowed to enter the US at any time and any border. I'm sure families have lost their passports and BC / Drivers License while traveling internationally. Once your identity is established you can board a plane or cross the border. That can be done with DL or even by giving the relevant information and getting confirmation from the state BOV.

Thanks everyone. I was assuming we needed to be close together but just wanted to make sure. My wife and I will be getting the drink package but my daughter will not be. Otherwise I could book myself into the other room and switch later.

Thank you

Hello there. I read in Carnival's FAQ section about this question and think I know what the answer will be, however; I want to run it by some veteran Carnival cruisers. We have cruised 4 times on Carnival but has been a while.

We will be going in September of next year and there will be 5 of us. My wife and I will be in one room. My 22 yo daughter, 17 yo son and his 18 yo friend will be in another room. The way Carnival's policy is written, it seems a little vague to me. I know they can have a separate room but do we need to get cabins within 3 doors of each other since DD will only be 22, not 25?

Thanks very much.

So we are planning a trip next September on the Allure. We have never cruised RCL but we have been on NCL and Carnival so we are experienced cruisers.

I just redeemed some My Rewards points for a 10% discount on any sailing. I sent Club Royale an email with a few questions about the easiest way to book the cruise and they said to call them or have the TA call them. I am kind of a control freak so I would prefer to call Club Royale and have the 10% discount applied. The question I have if I transfer the booking to a TA for benefits, can I keep the discount? I'm assuming I can but just want to make sure.

Thanks

Absolutely the person cancelling, or whomever is handling their reservation, should call AHEAD to cancel their reservation! Since it is past final payment no refund will be given so you should not owe anything else but the port taxes and fees will be credited back, as those are not NCL’s but the destination’s.

 

Waiting until the last day or check in is NOT the way to go! For one thing each cruise is capacity controlled. That one body could potentially mean the difference between someone else wanting to book or not. Waiting until check in will also cause a headache for all involved on the ship, as far as records, steward duties, manifests, whatever...

Absolutely do NOT do this. If there are only two people in the room and one cancels, NCL has the right to keep the cancelled persons cruise fare as well as charge the first person a solo supplement. Not that they will, but they have the right to do it. I have heard instances where Carnival has done tried to do this, not sure about NCL. Better to be safe than sorry.

For me, if there were more than 2 people in the room you almost need to have service 2X daily. I can't imagine being in the room taking showers, dressed, etc with the extra beds hanging down and in the way.

We are considering a cruise out of New York on the GEM in Jan/Feb 2020 . We have sailed out of Baltimore and Banyan but never out of New York and was wondering how hard it is to get to the pier we will be driving from Ohio

THANKS

 

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We came from Ohio in May and cruised the Escape. It is much easier to access from the North. I would HIGHLY recommend staying in Parsippany, NJ. We stayed in the Hyatt House - Parsippany East. We got an unbelievable rate on the weekend. The rooms were clean and very large. There is a restaurant named Annabellas that was very very good. Coming into NY, just go across the GW bridge and come down the hudson parkway. Follow the signs for the cruise terminal. Very easy but don't have drugs... they use a dog.

Can someone tell me what is included and what is not (as far as activities) on the Escape?

 

For example, is the rope course/plank included or is there a fee?

 

I can't seem to find a list. Thanks!!

The ropes course is free (when it is open). All of the slides, pools and hot tubs are free.

Would International Maritime Law supersede Tort Law here?

YES!!!

Everyone is debating the merits of litigation for this cruise based on US Laws. This is NOT a US legal issue. This is a seaworthy ship. The contract that everyone signs (regardless of cruiseline) agress that Maritime law prevails. I am not a lawyer, but I do know that Maritime laws are very complicated.

As a previous poster mentioned, I've heard good things about the Mayan ruins. Progesso is a good launching point for them. I would NOT go to the beach. We took the bus down the pier to the bus station. We got out and walked to the beach and were literally harrassed the entire time by vendors. We purchased some chairs and table from a local restaurant and ordered some food. The food was so / so... edible but can't say it was good. The beach has lots of rocks and you should probably put on water shoes to go in. The beach was not pretty and the water was very murky. Maybe it was just that day.

The biggest problem was the vendors. No exageration, there was not a 2 minute span where we did not have a vendor trying to sell us something. Most of the time a simple "no thank you" works and they don't bother you anymore. We had the same vendors come by no less than 5 times in the time we were there, which was less than 45 minutes total... and we were harrassed on the way to and back from the beach.

If you can do a resort or a tour of some sort, do it. Otherwise stay on the ship.... Do not go to the beach. That was our experience.

Cell towers and cell sites. This message brought to you by the same people who argue over the semantics of formal and elegant. :D

And "Service Charges" vs "tips" haha