Mediterranean_Honeymooner

Hi all!  We will be arriving in Vancouver the evening before our cruise.  So we have that evening and the next morning (until we board at 11:30) to explore Vancouver.  What would you recommend in such a short time?  I looked at the hop on, hop off bus tour, but since we will still be on “winter time” the buses only run every hour, which I’m afraid might make it difficult to actually do much “hopping on and off” before we board.

Follow up:  I finally got in touch with shore excursions and despite that fact that is available for me to purchase on my embarkation day, the excursion is actually supposed to be for disembarking guests from the previous cruise. 😢. Oh well.  

15 hours ago, Kevin308 said:

You know with anytime dining all you have to do is request the same wait staff and they will give you the same wait staff each night.

I had read that, but I have never done it because I didn’t want to seem like a “difficult guest”.

7 hours ago, JaniceB said:

I enjoy anytime when I have a port intensive itinerary, otherwise fixed time.  

This.  I really like having the same wait staff and table mates each night.  (And not having to wait to be sat.). But if we are doing a port intensive cruise (like our next one to Alaska), I choose anytime dining so that if we get in late from excursions we still have the option to eat in the dining room.

What a fun thread!

La Tagliata is one of mine as well - amazing views.

Le Pacha - eating on the Nile River

Got food from a bakery and ate in Tuileries Garden

Sitting outside at a little restaurant overlooking the Trevi Fountain in Rome

1 hour ago, Florida Paesano said:

We have booked a couple of guaranteed balconies and once got a "regular" (unobstructed balcony) balcony stateroom directly underneath a band performance area on the Lido deck and once got an aft extended balcony. The location underneath the band performance area was noisy and every note, every bass beat and every word of every song being played was clearly audible in the room. I knew that was a possibility opting for the guarantee rate but each time that was all that was available when we booked the cruises.  If the cost to choose your room is $60 total (not per person), I'd have to give some thought to choosing the stateroom. 

 Florida, would you choose even if all the choices were obstructed?

We are booked in a guaranteed balcony on the Legend and curious what others got.  I’m aware it could be obstructed, but is there anyone who got a regular (unobstructed) balcony?  Right now, if I pay $60 I can pick my room.  But that’s just choosing between different obstructed balconies.  There are no regular rooms to pick from without a steep increase in price.  It might be worth the $60 to pick the least obstructed, but if there’s a chance I might get an unobstructed with my “guarantee”, then I will just leave it alone.

We are booked in a guaranteed balcony on the Legend and curious what others got.  I’m aware it could be obstructed, but is there anyone who got a regular (unobstructed) balcony?  Right now, if I pay $60 I can pick my room.  But that’s just choosing between different obstructed balconies.  It might be worth it to pick the least obstructed, but if there’s a chance I might get an unobstructed with my “guarantee”, then I will just leave it alone.

7 hours ago, Tiger0613 said:

This tour might only be for people that have already booked airport transfers. 

 

I looked at the general excursions page for Vancouver.  There is another tour offered, Scenic Grouse Mountain, that is also available as a standalone and as a combo with airport transfers.  The description of the standalone version says that it is only for people that have already booked airport transfers. 

 

The standalone version of your tour has the same picture as the combo version.  The two versions of Scenic Grouse Mountain also share a picture.  The difference in price between the standalone and combo for both tours appears to be the same.  The general excursions page for Vancouver only shows both tours as being for debarkation day.  Your cruise must be an exception.

Thank you.  I will try to call today and see if I can get someone at Carnival who actually knows what’s going on.

1 hour ago, Garth2 said:

You should pick up the phone and call Carnival before you book the excursion.

I can try that, but I’ve already asked my PVP, who had no idea. Then I called and spoke to someone else who also had no idea. So I only want to call if I think I can actually speak to someone who knows.

1 hour ago, serene56 said:

usually cruise lines excursions on the day you leave are for people with later flights-- it should include transportation to the airport.   (does it say that on the excursion notes?     you put everything on the bus   the bus transport it to the airport.    

 

or is this an excursion before the cruise?   Never heard of that before

49 minutes ago, coevan said:

only time I have seen same day pre cruise excursions in San Juan, when they depart at 10pm

1 hour ago, riffatsea said:

I have never heard of taking an excursion at the port before your cruise??

I don't think it is possible .

  Included screenshot above.  Maybe it will provide some clarity?

I took a screenshot of the excursion in question.  You can see that it is listed as being on 4/29 which is embarkation day. This is my 5th cruise and I don’t know that I have ever seen an embarkation day excursion (just transfers).  I am really interested in doing this one IF I can figure out how it works.

Please help me to understand.  I am looking at an excursion for our embarkation port (Vancouver).  It is a 2 hr excursion starting at 9.  So we would be responsible for getting transportation to the cruise terminal and the excursion would leave from there, is that correct? And after we arrive (at 9), do we check in then or when we get back at 11?  What happens to our luggage? Does the checked luggage get checked that early? And what about carryons? Do we have to keep our carryons with wine and soda with us or is there somewhere to leave all that?  And where exactly do you check in for the excursion?  Is that somewhere inside or outside the terminal?  Sorry for all the questions, but my PVP has vanished and I didn’t know who else to ask. TIA!

On 3/25/2014 at 11:17 AM, pbsteve said:

Have them book one category UP. Ie if you have an oceanview, book a balcony or better oceanview. It'll give incentive. If someone offered to swap an oceanview for my interior, I'd jump at it. Free upgrade.

 

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This is what I was going to recommend. If you really want to be together, book then a category higher.  I would definitely switch if someone was wanting to trade my oceanview for a balcony!

I agree with what PP said.  When we used FTTF in August, we had a separate check in line.  We went right at opening, and had maybe one or two groups ahead of us in line.  Wait was less than 5 minutes.  Then check in took only a few minutes.  We were ushered over for a photo and then straight on to the ship.  First stop was our room. The doors were closed to go to the hallway, but we just opened them and found our room steward and our room was indeed ready (it was not even 12 at this point).  We unpacked our carry ons, then had lunch, then let the kids get a nap before muster.  I will say, I thought FTTF was supposed to get express luggage.  And maybe we got ours sooner than others, but it still took a very long time.  So be prepared for that.

Just now, BoDidly said:

Sure you can , just request to change with your new PVP

Do I pick my own or would I have to be assigned a new one?  Do you know one that’s good?

When I booked my first Carnival Cruise, I was assigned a PVP.  When I booked my second, it was a spur of the moment decision and I didn’t even think of going through him (9 years later).  But when we booked our third, I made sure to look up his info as I didn’t want him to miss out on a commission.  But so far, it’s been a very unpleasant experience. He was very quick to respond by phone or email until I booked the cruise.  Now nothing.  I emailed him a couple questions over Christmas break, but told him just to get back to me when he was back in the office.  The date he was supposed to return came and went. I thought maybe my questions got lost in holiday spam, so I resent them a few days after he told me he would be back in the office.  He emailed me 2 days later, but didn’t have the answers.  He specifically said he would “let me know in a few days”.  That was the last I heard from him.  It was January 5th.  I sent a casual email on 1/16 to see if he had heard anything....no response.  Thought maybe email wasn’t working, so I left a voicemail about a week later...still no response.  Final payment day was today...thought maybe I’d get a reminder or something from him...nope.  I’ve given up and have just started trying to find my answers here, but I’m just really frustrated.  I don’t think I’ve been very needy or demanding.  I’ve literally asked him maybe 3 questions.  Am I being unreasonable to want a better PVP?  And is it possible to change?

I checked in today for my guaranteed balcony.  My room still says TBA, but when I was filling out my check in, I noticed my luggage tags say starboard side, aft.  Does anyone know if this is accurate and if I can actually expect my room to be starboard side, aft, or is this inaccurate?  Thanks!

Mine said a $200 statement credit.  Any idea how long it will take to appear on the account?

When we cruised to Egypt, the itinerary had a port one day in Port Said and the next day in Alexandria. We wanted to do an overnight in Cairo instead, so we intentionally missed the ship in Port Said.  However we did this with a large group and notified the ship ahead of time that we would not be rejoining them until Alexandria.  It was not a problem.

I’m really sorry that this happened to you.  I would be devastated if I didn’t have any high quality photos of my wedding. 

Thank you for all your help!

22 minutes ago, Tiger0613 said:

12:00am ET

 

I start refreshing the page starting a minute before midnight ET.  I am not willing to take the chance that the first time slot will be taken early.

6 minutes ago, jsglow said:

Midnight eastern.

Is it midnight eastern regardless of which time zone the embarkation is in? 

Really hoping to get early boarding time for next cruise.  I was told that the earlier you complete check in, the more likely you are to be able to get an early time.  I know my check in date is 1/29, but what time on 1/29 can I check in? Midnight? 6 am?  What time zone?  And is it a free for all that all the early spots go in the first few minutes or should I be able to get one anytime that day?

Following....I haven’t seen one for my sailing in April.  I don’t know if I missed it or if it’s not being offered.