w&k

Awesome!  Thank you so much!  😄

Hi folks-

Doing a B2B in a couple weeks, and we are planning to bring 4 bottles of wine for the 2 of us. 

According to the FAQ this is fine, but they are supposed to collect the 2nd cruise bottles, and bring them to us.  Does anyone know who/where collects them?  Or are we supposed to go somewhere to turn them in? 

Thanks so much for your help!

Alcohol and Beverage Policy
Guests sailing with us on back to back cruises are entitled to bring on board the same quantity as stated in this policy, per cruise. The additional quantities will be stored for safekeeping at the start of the first cruise and will be given to the guest as each following cruise begins. 

https://help.goccl.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2633

Do they do the whipped sugar?  Had a friend at work that did it every morning for a group of us.  I never did get the trick of it.  😄

I bought CCL (and RCL) stock years ago when it was fairly high, and have had far more back in OBC than I paid for it. Bought it again when the market was way down just for kicks. And if I ever need to harvest a tax loss, could sell the original buy. In the good old days, was able to get OBC on any cruise, all lines. My experience "recently" is that CCL is not giving shareholder OBC on casino deals that are 'balanced' by either OBC or freeplay. but it's always worth asking.  😄

Thanks for the info folks - will try stopping by, and if that fails, will use the app. 

I have had more issues with strollers left in the halls.  Some of them were larger than some cars I have owned.  Hubby was in wheelchair for several of our trips, and we would have to check the halls in the direction we wanted to go and reroute if there were scooters, strollers, or housekeeping carts.  Hubby could walk a little bit, so he would go in on his feet, and I would collapse the wheelchair, and bring it in with me.  Our preferred parking place for the wheelchair was in front of the couch with the footrests off.  On the Magic, we lucked out, and there was a cut-in at the entrance to our cabin.  When we were just going to be in there for a few minutes, I could collapse the wheelchair right in front of our door, and the cut-in was large enough that there was still a couple inches clearance before the start of the hallway.  Wishing you all happy travels!

I have plans to get a group of YTD folks together for a 1st night happy hour and dinner.  In the past, I have been able to pre-book a time and table size by calling or visiting the dining room.  Has anyone done this recently?  Or is there an option in the app to request a table size and time, or is it just request, wait, and hope?

Thanks so much for your help!

If you wish to use anything but the ship's TP, the cabin stewards have paper bags for disposal of "sanitary" items.  If they're not already in your cabin, or you need more, just ask your cabin steward for "lady bags".  Just fold over the top of the bag a couple of times once you have placed your used item(s) in there, and leave in the bathroom trash can.  

My favorite mocktail is cranberry juice and tonic water with a lime, and it's available with your bubbles package. 😄

I'm not an "appy" person, and didn't have a small child handy to perform the task. I emailed StockPerks, and their representative was able to register the OBC for me. 

The OBC is showing in the Booking and Order details in my Carnival account.  This is a great step forward, as the old e-mail method never showed up for me on the booking, and more than once I have had to go to guest services with the email printout.

The StockPerks rep said in their email that they were working on a computer version for their website.  I am hopeful that they actually will do this for dinosaurs like me that still use desktops.  😄 

Following on... same situation, but with insurance.  If passenger #1 has casino rate, but cannot cruise due to medical covered by Carnival insurance, can passenger #2 still go without a rate penalty?  

On 5/4/2022 at 8:10 PM, love2rvcamp said:

When you said "Note:  Boarding was on Deck 7 at the Atrium, which meant it was a VERY long walk up the ramp from ground level."

 

Wanted to ask, I am cruising end of May with my 78 year old mother who has some mobility challenges.  She can walk, uses a walker some time but gets out of breath very easily.  I have been considering requesting a wheelchair but she is adamant that she will be able to walk onto the ship.  Your thoughts?

love2rvcamp, your mom will ABSOLUTELY NOT be able to get up that ramp.  Contact special services for wheelchair assistance.  Trust me on this one. Been there, done that.

Hi folks-

Just found out that hubby will have to have foot surgery, and we will not be able to take our planned cruise in April.

I am wondering about the non-refundable deposit.  I'm quite happy for Carnival to keep it, but was just wondering if we could swap the value to another cruise as we are outside of final pay.

Wendy

I used to do AARP, but switched from Geico to Allstate last year for car insurance, and was tickled to find out about Allstate rewards.  The "rat boxes" in my cars are generating all kinds of points for me along with the emails.

Another possibility is that AAA members here in Florida can get 5% discount for gift cards purchased in a AAA branch.

Keep the ideas coming!

Wendy

Hi KristiK -

I have successfully brought my little USB fan in both my carry-on and in checked luggage.  Went to the USB after I had a couple regular fans taken.

I have brought in my USB fan in various ships in Tampa, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville, and Miami.

Hope this helps!

Wendy

last trip in May, got lanyards (yuk).  Bring back the Tervis Tumblers!

Hands down, our favorite is the Tervis Tumbler, followed by the packing cubes.  We really like our blankets, but don't need more than the 2 we have.

Tie for worst... the lanyards we just got, and the tiny bags. 

Bring back the tumblers!!!!

Wendy

Successfully sent through two orders of $100 cards tonight, 3 in each.  Hopefully, they won't combine the orders and require a signature...

Wendy

For the last few cruises, liquor has not been delivered. We have had to pick it up the last morning before debarking.

Hubby got in line early and waited a couple of times. Now, he takes my recommendation and shows up at least a half hour into the pickup time, so no waiting.

Wendy

A couple of years ago, my hubby ended up in the ER on the evening after Thanksgiving (black Friday), and was not able to go on our cruise that left on the following Monday because he needed follow-up treatment.

I tried getting in touch with RCCL and the insurance company, and could not get anyone on the phone that knew ANYTHING about what I was supposed to do.

When I got to check-in, I told the reservation agent. She got a couple of the other agents and a supervisor, and none of them knew what to do. Once onboard, the purser's desk didn't know what to do either, but took down all the information and a copy of the ER report.

The port charges and taxes were refunded on my onboard account, and I was eventually refunded for his fare by our cruise insurance (outside company through our TA, not RCCL insurance).

I did feel guilty about calling him with the noise from the pool deck party in the background after he got home from having his badly infected toenail removed.

Note: after several friends consoled me with copious amounts of beverages that first, I decided to unpack about 3am. I couldn't find anything... but I really enjoyed having the cabin to myself. :)

Hi folks-

It's been awhile since we've been on Royal, and I can't find the answer on their website.

Is there a fee for getting play money on your SeaPass at a slot machine?

Same question for chips - is there a fee for purchasing on SeaPass?

We're going on the Oasis next week, if the ship makes a difference.

Thanks so much for your help!

Wendy

I have lost several small fans on Carnival... so now I bring a USB fan. Some of the newer cabins have USB ports right at the head of the bed, which is perfect.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/O2COOL-5-Portable-USB-or-Electric-Fan-Black-Gray/698073462

And my clock with two plugs and a USB is a backup. It's a little bit larger than I would like, but the glow of the clock is enough so that we can get around the room.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sharp-Alarm-Clock-with-Power-Outlets-and-USB-Charge-Port/24225430

Wendy

Another vote for passports and online check-in. I get frustrated in line behind groups that have bits of paper flying everywhere instead of a nicely folded boarding pass in your passport.

If you are using birth certificate and driver's license, the names must match.

If not, you will need to bring the documentation of change (marriage license, etc.). IF you get asked for it and cannot present it, you may not be allowed to board.

While you're digging out that information, might as well get that passport, and you won't have to deal with it again. :D

Wendy

Hubby and I did a spring break cruise on his break from nursing school quite awhile ago... it was so long ago we were on the Norway. He was certainly the oldest breaker on the ship - 40 or so. Most of the ship was taken up by a fraternity and sorority, and a few bewildered Floridians. Surprise... the frat boys were well-behaved. The sorority girls were not. Evidently, the girls packed in their purses and forgot all their undergarments. ;p

That didn't put us off spring break.

BUT... a few years ago, we decided to do a B2B 3/4 day to the Bahamas with some Canadian friends that had never been to the Bahamas. How bad could it be?

It turned out that these were the two spring break cruises that changed the policies for all cruise lines (on RCCL). The 3-day weekend cruise had about 750 spring breakers, and it was a madhouse. There was no way we were getting in either the pool or hot tubs (skank stew).

On turnaround day, we breathed a sigh of relief, and finally had a soak in the freshly sanitized hot tub.

Then... the pool deck started to fill with breakers, and they kept coming. We were forced off the pool deck to hide in the Viking Crown by noon. The officers and security barricaded themselves inside a bulwark of chairs on the pool deck. That cruise was 1800 spring breakers. Checked that off the bucket list.

That being said, we're going on the Oasis the end of this month, and am not looking forward to all the kids. But at least it shouldn't be a complete mess.

I love going out of Jacksonville, and love the Elation. That being said... I would wait another month if you can.

Wendy

Thanks! I got my AARP ones the day before our last minute cruise... but was wondering if I should have gotten the e-gift cards. Next time, I'll do it.

Wendy