dallasdan

When you submitted the early saver form, you are now locked into the new terms of the lower price.  So, if you have only paid $400 total, you will need to pay the full deposit amount.  I always wait till have the full deposits paid before I submit early saver forms for that reason.

All this means is everyone is going to get people to get hopped up on Tylenol or Advil before boarding.   

They are not advising against any other form of travel or congregation.  They didn't quarantine the entire conference that Trump was at last week.  Nor, do they check temperatures at airports.  Airports and public transportation are more of a threat than the cruise industry.  Each person has to make their own decision.  As for me and my wife, we are sailing on April 25 Panorama with no plans to cancel.

We are on the Panorama sailing April 25.  We are still planning on going.  There are 19 in our group and so far no one has cancelled.

Greg, thank you for the greatest review/thread I have ever read.  I felt like I was on the ship with you on Saturday waiting on news.  I am on the Panorama April 25th.  No plans to cancel.  I have several places to try out on the ship thanks to you.

by the way it is 70 degrees here in Dallas today when you land.

We did the Havana area on Vista last year.  It was great.  We also had a person in the pool with his own speaker playing music.  We complained and he was asked to turn it off.  This person wasn't happy about it and made a fuss about it, but he turned it off.  Funny thing, is we ended up on an excursion with him and he turned out to be a nice person.  I don't think he knew the rules.  The rest of the cruise he didn't bring his speaker.  As for a class system, I don't think that is what is being created here.  If they did away with the "class system", there wouldn't be specialty restaurants, fees for internet, spa cabins, and all cabins would be priced equally.  That is what Carnival should do is make general admission cabins.  LOL

I like to wear dress shorts and polo shirt on casual nights.  For elegant night I wear dress slacks and dress shirt, not tie or jacket.  I was recently on a Celebrity Cruise and they make you wear pants every night.  I didn't like that.  I know this is a hot topic but I don't understand how what someone else is wearing affects my dinner or enjoyment of the cruise.  

The house doesn't take a 50% rake.  During cash games they take 10-15% but there is no cap on the rake, I don't remember the exact percentage.  During the tournaments they take 50% of the buy in money and apply it towards the once a year mega tournament that you win a seat if you finish 1st or 2nd in the daily tournament.  Buy in is $150 to the tournament.  $750 gets paid out to 1st and 2nd.  

I have only played the Texas Hold em tournament.  The tournament cost $150 per player.  10 players maximum.  Also, you play on a Poker Pro machine. No live dealer.  The casino takes 50 % of the pot to be used towards their once a year tournament.  So, if there are 10 players the most you win is $ 750 and a seat in the big tournament.  I believe 2nd place also gets a seat in the tournament.  

We stayed in a Havana Cabana on the Vista last year.  Didn't hear any music.  The pool area is not crowded at all and there were more than enough lounge chairs.  No need for the chair hogs to claim there territory.  We decided to only book the Havana inside cabin on our upcoming Panorama cruise since we can just walk to the pool area to relax.

I don't think she will have any issues boarding the ship.  The issue may arise at customs when reentering the US.  You get the wrong customs agent.

I have taken my SIL and her daughter on several cruises and customs never asked for any paperwork.  I have also taken my own kids friends in which I had a signed letter from the parents and was never asked for the paperwork.  I understand the OP's issue, in that there are several ex spouses out there that wouldn't sign any paperwork out of spite toward the other parent.  They don't think about the ruined vacation for the kids.  Also, my nieces dad hasn't been apart of her life and she doesn't want anything to do with him.  He would be one of those dads that wouldn't sign the paper.  Not to make this a debate about bad ex parents, but why should he get to decide if his daughter goes on vacation when he doesn't even see her.  

We stayed in a Havana Cabana room last year on the Vista.  This was the most I ever spent on our "balcony/patio" any cruise we have taken.  For those worried about people walking by there is a locked door that can only be opened by Havana guests.  After 7, I didn't notice any issues with guests being rowdy.  Granted we were mostly in the casino and not using the pool area.    

That is what I do.  I bring enough cash with me to fund our trip.  I don't use any credit cards, so when we walk off the ship vacation is totally paid.  Most of time I don't purchase any cruise cash, I just visit a kiosk after sail away and add cash.   

Do not use a Debit card.  They will put multiple holds throughout the cruise on the your card.  These will take 5 to 7 days to drop off from your bank.  Also, if you think midway through the cruise I will just pay my balance with my debit card, it doesn't work that way.  They will place a hold and then charge your card at the end of the cruise.  

You do not have to put down any cash or credit card prior to boarding the ship.  You can add cash or a credit once on board if needed at a kiosk.

My wife and I are platinum with over 14 cruises on Carnival and we are on the April 25 Panorama sailing.  I am spend the same amount of money as a platinum cruiser as I did when I was a Red card Cruiser, mostly in the casino.  I don't cruise Carnival for the perks we receive, although early boarding and room being ready to me is a good enough perk.  We chose Carnival because of the pricing and itineraries. 

Jen, thank you for the review.  We are on the April 25th sailing with 10 of us coming from Texas.  We will try and hold down the load conversations, lol...Before I quit drinking carbonated beverages, I would have been out of mind with trying to drink Diet Pepsi, so I understand your issues.  

I have sailed out of Long Beach and other ports before and I don't remember this being a policy.  Granted I don't smoke so I don't always pay attention.  But we have been on 6 or 7 cruises together and I don't remember her complaining.  Is this a new policy in Long Beach?

Is the no smoking during refueling only apply to the casino.  Will she be able to smoke outside in the designated smoking areas?  

With us staying at Queen Mary next door I am not sure how late she will want to wait outside.  Plus we are platinum and normally board early.  I agree with you about the smoker having to make adjustments.  I am not a smoker and I am glad there designated smoking areas.  But, as the unofficial cruise director of our group, I try and find out everything about a ship, ports, policies, etc.. prior to sailing.  

Wasn't a problem when we sailed on the Vista last year out of Galveston.  I am wondering if this was only an issue on the first couple of cruises.  I can only imagine the uproar from the smokers at guest services.

Normally, she goes to the casino bar and smokes on Embarkation day.  However, I have read on 2 different reviews that it wasn't allowed anywhere on the ship prior to sail away.  

We are sailing on April 25, 2020.  

My BFF's Wife is a heavy smoker.  I have read on a couple of reviews that ship doesn't allow smoking until after she sets sail.  If this is true, this will be a big issue for our group on having to wait several hours to smoke.