wikoffclan

On 1/27/2022 at 1:32 PM, twangster said:

 

Since I’m here a Kūmmelweck for lunch.   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not to be confused with "beef on 'weck". I'll be on Odyssey 4/17. Looking forward to finding out if it's true Buffalo Beef on Kimmelweck. It's all in the salted, caraway seeded bun... and the thin sliced beef and drippings. YUM! Can't wait. Thank you for the heads up Twangster.

And Darn...Now the secret is out!

6 hours ago, pe4all said:

Every L cabin we have had has had no sofa.  The hallway that leads into the cabin is a bit longer than a regular balcony cabin leaving me to believe the cabins are a bit smaller as they must add the square footage of the hallway into the cabin measurement.  However, having that great balcony surely makes up for not having a sofa imho.

Totally agree!

We stayed in #7454 on the Breeze in August. Loved it and didn't pay any extra. It was a Great cabin, and the location was convenient to the MDR and the Lido buffet. A bit of a walk to the theater and the Serenity Deck. But with the big balcony and lounge chair, we didn't need the Serenity deck. We didn't notice any noise from the adjacent crew staircase. Highly recommend.

15 hours ago, TrinaLC said:

I suggest you reframe the issue with them. Just make it a polite demand that they post a missing sailing. Keep at it until they do.  Do not mention status at all and if they keep bringing it up make it clear your request has nothing to do with status you just want them to correct their error of not posting your trip  
 

Then when you get that posted the rest should resolve either automatically or with follow up. 

Good advice. Thank you! I'll do that.

23 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

See posts #2 and #3.  There's a difference between accepting an email upsell (OP's situation) and calling in to "upgrade" and in the process changing to a different offer code that doesn't have the same benefits as the offer code you originally booked at (your situation).

 

The Customer Service lady might have seemed fabulous but should have been clear that you'd lose the casino cash and DOU from your original booking.

 

 

Agree there's a difference between an upsell and a request to upgrade. Was just pointing out that it pays to ask questions. I didn't lose the (Platinum) cruise cash but apparently lost the DOU. But the Casino lady fixed that to some degree. Agree the Customer Service lady should have told me she was changing the rate code and so changing the perks. But I ended up with $200 of OBC for $159 for an upgrade from an Inside to a balcony (in times of Covid). Can't complain. Just advising to ask the right questions. Lesson learned.

10 hours ago, famof4togo said:

I am assuming there will be cut up limes at the Blue Iguana location for you to grab from the salsa bar or that any bar will give you a few.

I noticed a full glass container of fresh limes at the Blue Iguana condiments station free for the taking.

With all of the Agricultural restrictions, I wouldn't carry them on the ship. And they'd confiscate your jackknife you'd need to cut them 😁

4 hours ago, ski_mom said:

We are currently booked in a lido interior with the cheers package promo (so our current rate included the cheers package).  I was emailed an upgrade offer for a deck 6 balcony for $262.  I'm tempted to take it as we've never had a balcony before, but won't even consider it if it would mess up our cheers package code.

 

I've emailed our PVP, but thought I might get a quicker answer here.  I know the offers can sell out.

 

Thanks!

 

It might make sense to ask the question before you accept the upgrade. Though your situation and mine might be slightly different, I'd still ask the question

I had a Drinks on Us in the Casino rate for an Interior that was VERY cheap. With all that's going on with Covid, I figured a call to see if we could get a Balcony was worth the time. The Customer Service lady was Fabulous and got us a Balcony for $159 more plus $200 of OBC. When I went to the Casino to get the $25 free play and the Drink card, the casino host told me I was not on her list for the Drinks on Us promotion. She ended up comping me 15 drinks which was plenty for me. Afterwards I realized that the "upgrade" which included OBC nullified the Drinks On Us code. We ended up coming out on top, but it was a lesson learned. Ask the question

6 hours ago, phissy said:

No,  meant they now allow credit to VC for cruises less than 5 days.

Before pandemic, I think I remember that MSC stated that cruises had to be longer than 5 days to credit and extend VC status.

This summer, MSC had to do their test sailings of 3 and 4 day before being allowed to go back to 7 day cruises. I think that is when they changed language to include the shorter sailings as qualifying for status.

Could be wrong, but, bottom line , all sailings add points to VC accounts.

Thank you for clarifying.

On my Voyagers Club account page my points balance still stands at what it's been since my frst cruise when I first status matched in 2019 and still has an expiration date of 12/31/2022. I sailed in 9/2021 and those points were never added and the expiration date was not reset. Still waiting for a response to my latest email.

7 hours ago, phissy said:

My understanding is the MSC does now credit cruises less than 5 days cruises to VC.

See dedicated page for VC on MSC site.

Did you mean does NOT credit for cruises of less than 5 days?

The MSC Voyagers Club General Conditions states:

MSC Voyagers Club Membership is subject to a minimum of one cruise every 3 years. If the last cruise disembarkation date is over 3 years (36 months) or no cruise has been completed in 3 years after the enrollment date, membership to the MSC Voyagers Club program will expire.

And awards points for --- Fantastica Experience: • for cruises consisting of less than 5 nights or 6 days: 400 points are awarded.

There's no limitation stated on cruise length affecting MSC Club Membership status. I'll let you know what they come back with this time.

I'm still looking for a way to talk to a person.

1 hour ago, FrostyJoe said:

I guess they don’t want your loyalty. That’s some BS….especially with the missing credit 

Agree! Wish I could find a way to talk to a person

I had status match to Gold with MSC and first cruised in May of 2019. In order to maintain status I did a 3 day cruise 9/30/21. That cruise was never credited in my Voyagers Club points status. When I got an email last week from MSC Voyagers Club that my status would end 12/31/22, I called Customer Service and was told to send an email to Voyagers Club. I emailed and asked them to please get that September cruise posted, update my status and extend my expiration date. They said No. Thank you for contacting MSC voyagers club.  unfortunately, we are unable to extend the expiration date on your account currently. should we decide later we will advise you further.

I emailed them back but am unsure what more I can do. Looking for suggestions. Apparently there's no way to actually talk to a person. Any help appreciated.

8 hours ago, htkodiak said:

Sitting here at home in New England and wishing I was on my next cruise ,March can't come soon enough.Lido deck lounging instead of shoveling .Drink of the Day instead of fueling up on coffee before I go out again to brave the elements.Happy cruising to those that are so blessed today.

Had some of our worst snowstorms in March in upstate New York. March 1993 comes to mind. Don't miss shoveling out the car to get to work! Retire someplace warm as soon as possible and get cruisin'!! 

19 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

4 day cruises typically skew younger.  7 days are a mix and 10+ day cruises skew older.

I'm thinking 90% plus vaccinated, everyone tested negative in the past 2 days, most mask wearing in public spaces... I'm safer than I am in my local Walmart. I'm Good!!

On 1/27/2022 at 10:06 AM, nascartim said:

I'll be on the Elation on Monday, I check my booking daily, nothing. I even called about a week ago after hearing a lot of people getting upgrades, they said nothing was available. I think I'm being punished b/c I got a good casino offer, $500 obc. I've also not gotten any of the great offers I hear a lot of people getting. I've decided not to book any future cruises to see if I get offered any great deals. I have some friends that don't gamble as much as I do and they've gotten multiple offers of $25 rooms. I'm still trying to figure it out.

Be careful of those "great deals" to upgrade. We had a casino fare of $25 each for an inside with "free drinks in the casino". When I called about upgrading to a balcony if possible because of Covid, the Customer service lady (was amazing!) was able to get us a balcony for $159 more with $200 of OBC!! Great deal!

What I didn't realize was that nullified my "free drinks in the Casino" offer. The Casino host worked it out that I could still get the "free drinks", but limited that to 15 drinks. Turned out to be not a problem for us. We kept the $200 OBC and probably didn't get close to the 15 drink limit. Just something to be aware of when you make a change to your original deal.... there could be consequences you're not aware of.

BTW --- we were told 1600 passengers on Valor  - about 50-60%

On 1/28/2022 at 6:41 AM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

I'd like to think that this would give the overworked cabin stewards a slight break. They (along with dining room staff) have been stretched thinner and thinner over the years (more cabins/tables).

 

Tom

On Valor Jan.  6 -10 our Cabin Steward told us he has 37(!) cabins. MUCH more than they had in the past. We happily agreed to one cleaning a day and tipped extra as usual. Our only request was ice in the bucket and Arik came through for us every day. Smiles and a cheerful attitude every time we met. Great crew Great service. Would go back again in a heartbeat.... in fact I am on March 3rd!!

Maybe it's all in your perspective  🤣

On 1/26/2022 at 11:40 AM, firefly333 said:

Agree. Not saying there arent fun loving, but a blogger mentioned he was 42 or whatever and felt like one of the younger folks on his carnival cruise. Due to the exemptions families with kids moved over to rcl or didnt cruise as much on carnival. The age range has definitely skewed higher. 

 

I have to disagree with this slightly --- and it may depend on your cruise port. But our experience out of New Orleans on January 6th 4 day to Cozumel --- We commented on how few walkers, wheelchairs and white beards we saw on this cruise. Mostly "younger" cruisers but not too many kids. Estimating 30's to 50's .We're 60 +

On 1/12/2022 at 10:52 AM, Brkintx said:

 

Outside of CC, I describe them as "Prepaid" cruises...  And when friends who travel ask how to get such offers, I tell them to begin by simply taking what they spend on the cruise and donate it to the casino over several hours / days... and see where that lands them... 😉

Despite playing blackjack fairly regularly (and losing mildly) for probably 5 or 6 cruises, I didn't get casino offers until i started playing the slots. I now get $0 - $25 p/p cruise offers with free drinks in the casino. I do as Brkintx suggests and plan on about what the cruise would have cost and plug that into the slot machine. I usually come out close to even (over the past 3 cruises) but if I lose a bit, at least I got to cruise--- someone cooked and cleaned for me and I got a few "free" drinks. I like the "Pre-paid cruise" analog --- So true!

We sailed Valor out of NO Jan 6-10 four day cruise. Check in time of 10:30 - 11, boarding group B-1. The first check in for confirming boarding passes and Covid tests was fairly quick. Then through the bag check and body scan. Did not see or hear of any Platinum separate line but my husband's cane got us steered to a shorter check in line. The line to board moved steadily and we were on board from car to ship in about 40 minutes.

This cruise was also at about 50%. We were told by several crew members that there were 1600 passengers on board. The surprising thing was that our Cabin steward had 37 (!) cabins to service.

25 minutes ago, Momma1980 said:

I wouldn’t want to give up early disembark or priority embark.

In my most recent (3 cruises since August) experience, Priority Embark and Early disembark are nonexistent for Platinum and above. There's no Priority embarkation for anyone other than possibly suites and disabled. Early disembarkation is for folks who are carrying off their own luggage. No Priority that I could see.

I would give up my umpteenth lanyard, pin and the latest goodie - a photo "album" (!) for some of the perks we used to have - amenities in the cabin, Welcome back party on ALL cruises for All returnees, Thanks for joining us party on the last day of the cruise, the Future Cruise Desk, edible Eggs Benedict on the buffet, twice daily room cleaning, a Cabin Steward who had fewer that 37 (!!!) cabins to service, I could go on 🤣

But for the price I pay for someone to cook, clean and do the dishes while I can laze the day away and read a book or 3, I'll happily continue to sail Carnival.

5 hours ago, lennythenose said:

I am needing to get either amoxicillin or keflex but do not have a prescription with me. Can I get it at the pharmacy at the pier without a prescription?

Just got off Valor on 1/10/22. Both Cipro (didn't have the bigger bottle of Keflex) and Amoxicillin available at the pharmacy at the pier without prescription. A bit cheaper at one of the pharmacies off pier (beyond the taxi stands) but didn't make the trek this time. BTW - Progreso pharmacies at the port dd not have any antibiotics. At least they didn't during our last cruise in November '21.

1 hour ago, ajk911pd said:

Has anyone who booked under the P5Y rate — the cruise from $25 per person offer - received an upgrade offer?

Wondering if this offer is upgrade-exempt since it’s such a reduced rate.

We are booked on the 02/24/22 Elation, Main deck, with an interior room…hoping for a balcony upgrade offer if possible.

We booked a Really cheap casino rate (about $25 each) for our January 6th cruise on Valor out of NO. With all that's developing I figured it was worth a call today to see if I could snag an upgrade to a balcony. (I'd rather be quarantined, if necessary, on a balcony than in an Interior). I called the Customer Service number. Angie was a Dream. She searched and searched and finally found, though we weren't on the list for the Upgrade Fairy, she was able to move us to a Balcony for $159.52 with a Casino offer that include $200 of OBC. SCORE!!! Though Angie isn't a PVP, she is the BEST Customer Service Rep EVER!!

On 11/1/2021 at 9:50 AM, Native Floridian 26 said:

Did you miss any ports or was there a change in itinerary?  Perhaps they settled up on actual port charges due.

It was just a 3 day out of Port Canaveral. Stopped at Nassau and Ocean Cay. No changes to the itinerary. Maybe a reward for suffering through the mess at Nassau? Streets, sidewalks, pier and buildings under construction; climbed the Queen's Staircase only to find the fort was closed; the Straw Market was closed. On a bright note --- the "run the gauntlet market" at the pier is gone as are those poor horses and their buggies.