sparks1093

If a cruise line routinely does those things then why continue to sail with them? Vote with your dollars and cruise with another line.

It would be nice to see that applied to the entire travel industry, but after the first time exploring any trip it quickly becomes apparent that what is advertised is often far from what one pays. Some we were looking at a trip to Ireland with some friends through a website and the price was very attractive, until you got to the bottom line when it more than doubled. I doubt there are many people that look at the advertised price and book blindly from it without doing any research.

Right and I'm glad they have it. Didn't have the time to dig for it.

As Cheng pointed out it has been around but not every cruise line has adopted it. I did not find it posted on Oceania's or Seabourn's front page.

You mean something along these lines: The Members of the Cruise Lines International Association are dedicated to the comfort and care of all passengers on oceangoing cruises throughout the world. To fulfill this commitment, our Members have agreed to adopt the following set of passenger rights: The right to disembark a docked ship if essential provisions such as food, water, restroom facilities and access to medical care cannot adequately be provided onboard, subject only to the Master’s concern for passenger safety and security and customs and immigration requirements of the port. The right to a full refund for a trip that is canceled due to mechanical failures, or a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to those failures. The right to have available on board ships operating beyond rivers or coastal waters full-time, professional emergency medical attention, as needed until shore side medical care becomes available. The right to timely information updates as to any adjustments in the itinerary of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency, as well as timely updates of the status of efforts to address mechanical failures. The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures. The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure. The right to transportation to the ship’s scheduled port of disembarkation or the passenger’s home city in the event a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures. The right to lodging if disembarkation and an overnight stay in an unscheduled port are required when a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures. The right to have included on each cruise line’s website a toll-free phone line that can be used for questions or information concerning any aspect of shipboard operations. The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each line’s website. The pasting removed the number lines but it is still readable so I won't take the time to add them back in. A couple of your items aren't on here, so maybe it's just a matter of having passengers contact the CLIA asking for this Bill of Rights to be modified.

We did this in San Juan and it worked out great. When the excursion was over they dropped us off at the airport and our luggage was there waiting for us. We are doing the same thing for our cruise from Port Canaveral in April (similar scenario to yours, the flight doesn't leave until almost 6 so the excursion helps to fill the time).

It takes a few days for things to catch up.

Before COVID they very well may have absorbed the cost, as I understand it many cruise companies did just that. But given the amount of debt that the cruise lines amassed during their shut down it doesn't really surprise me that they are changing past practice. No doubt one of the reasons they have it outlined in the contract.

To be fair the other drinks need to be factored in only if the passenger in question drinks them. I rarely drink soda, so I don't include that in my calculations.

Yes, I've watched society deteriorate my entire life. Yesterday someone drove their vehicle through the front door of the funeral home. Crazy times. As for the story at hand, the Bahamas have been unsafe for quite some time and tourists have been told to be on the alert while there.

True, but getting someone to represent you becomes that much harder if the contract clearly covers things. Unless you are willing to pony up the legal fees and expenses up front, which will probably exceed any settlement offered.

No, it doesn't, but it was brought up in post #11.

They probably wouldn't step in any of those cities, either. Heck, we're in the middle of a crime wave here in our little village of 1700 people.

Given this language in the cruise contract, I doubt it: (a) In consideration for the fare paid, it is agreed that Carnival shall not be held vicariously liable for the intentional or negligent acts of any persons not employed by Carnival nor for any intentional or negligent acts of Carnival’s employees committed while off duty or outside the course and scope of their employment. Passenger assumes the risk of injury, death, illness or other loss and Carnival is not responsible for the negligence or wrongdoing of any independent contractors or sub-contractors.

Yes, you will be reported missing and yes, the authorities will be on the look out for you. At the very least when you return to the US you will likely be sent to secondary inspection since according to CBP's records you are on a cruise and now here you are, arriving by air. They'll be making extra sure that it is you, as well, and not someone who is taking your place. Since the entry requirements for a country are often different for cruise ship passengers then they are for those arriving by plane that might be an issue, too. Certainly nothing that I have on my bucket list.

This is the best reason for not planning something like this and other stories in the thread reinforce it. No port is guaranteed.

I wasn't being critical of you or your post, I was using it as a springboard to post thoughts for other people to consider, since there are other people reading this thread who haven't made up their minds. A lot of people will look at the "6 alcoholic drinks per day" and say "well, I don't drink that much so it's not worth it", without looking at everything else. I mean, it doesn't matter a wit to me whether or not they consider everything because it isn't my money, but we do try to be helpful here (at least sometimes🙂). At the end of the day we all have to make this determination for ourselves based on our own patterns.

One of the fallacies about Cheers is that you only break even by drinking only alcoholic drinks. Generally 6 mixed drinks on average will be the break even point but one isn't limited to only mixed drinks with Cheers. And I stress average because as you point out there are port days to consider (and also taking into account time spent on any of the private islands, since Cheers doesn't work there). We could do without Cheers, for sure, but we are on vacation and we don't like to limit ourselves or feel like we're scrimping. I have gone cruises without having any specialty coffees, but being able to order them when I want to makes the trip that much better. I could go an entire cruise just sipping on beer, but being able to order any number of cocktails when I want a change, again, just makes the trip that much better.

Usually you will need a photo ID and your cabin card to show to re-enter the port area. Depending on what we are doing I will bring a small amount of cash, if there is an opportunity to shop I'll add a bit more cash and a credit card. We normally remember sun screen and water. Beach days require a pool towel for each of us. We recently bought a backpack to make lugging everything easier. Camera and at least one cell phone (DW hate's to be without hers in any event). We have a couple of disposable ponchos as well. (Like a lot of people we leave passports in the safe and bring our DL's but different strokes for different folks on this one, many will bring their passports with them.)

If your documentation is sufficient to board then it will be sufficient to go ashore. There are some excursions that do require more than a birth certificate but those are usually ones that require one to cross a border (such as the railroad excursion in Alaska), but I don't think there are any such on your itinerary. Since this might get moved I will also add that some cruise lines require a passport for all passengers, but Carnival is not one of those lines (and some lines require a child traveling with only one parent to have a passport).

I've heard it from numerous insiders. It needn't be strictly about performance in any case. A manager in a service oriented business wants to know why a customer removed tips so he or she goes to the person that dealt with them for info.

Sometimes but I don't think it's the norm.

Not really the same. Still, far from being a volunteer.

The list itself is not shared, but if a passenger in the crew member's area removes tips their supervisor is informed and the crew member is then questioned about it.

Yes, but they are working for money, they aren't volunteering. The expectation is that the customer will tip them for their services.