KevInPitt

I am looking at booking a cruise for Feb 2018 and I am a little hesitant to book an early saver fare that fare out with the fare rules about changing names or cancelling, but I do like the price protection.

 

Am I missing something here, but couldn't I book the standard fare and if the price drops just cancel my current cruise and rebook under the new price? Of course that is provided the price drop is before final payment.

You aren't missing anything. Book standard fare if name changes or cancellation is a concern. You can always change your mind without penalty prior to the final payment date.

So, let's see.... people complain when they don't get notification and people complain when they do.

Of course, we have someone to blame regardless and a forum to express the displeasure.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I'm surprised they make any effort at all.

This, of course, will be fodder for the vultures to pick apart. Have at it!

And from what I've read on another posting, Carnival is not notifying future passengers booked on cruises leaving from those ports. If they show up and are not in the right time slot, they will be sitting and waiting for a long time.

You may have read that but I received an email notification of the change.

Perhaps some people are getting them and others aren't - judge by the comments here. One other said they did and another said they did not.

So you cannot say Carnival is not notifying future passengers booked on cruises leaving from those ports. You might be able to say they aren't notifying all future passengers but they notified me.

Hi everyone

 

 

What I am getting at is that this isn't rocket science. I don't even think Carnival should make a special effort, but what they are doing is irritating and rude.

 

This is something they agreed to do. Not a lot of thought has to be taken to understand that a meet and greet of strangers should be held early in the cruise. The last port day (when they are still in port) just makes no sense, imagine, someone had to make that decision!! :confused:

 

It would take no significant effort for Carnival to say something like...We will make a venue available the first sea day (for example) at 11 a.m., every cruise, same thing. The location will be found in the Fun Times on the first night. Because we can't determine staff availability we can't ensure that there would be any officers or CD staff attending. We will make an effort to have bar staff on hand to take your drink orders. Please enjoy yourselves. Very easy, minimal commitment. That is why, I ask what is the problem?

 

Anyone who has been part of the meet and greets that were organized from our roll calls will agree that very often a number of people will say they will attend and don't. I have gone when nobody showed up. We understand this may happen. When people do show up we very often have a good time. The situation as it is now somewhat precludes us from organizing our own get together, just because Carnival has said they would organize it. So from my perspective when they say they will do something and don't, they are just being rude.

As I have also previously said, because Carnival's arrangement was made with Cruise Critic, I feel that they (the moderators) need to approach Carnival and sort things out. Other cc members who have reached out to Carnival or their reps. have gotten no response. Otherwise what is the purpose of the sticky, we might as well go back to the way we did it before. (or is that what Carnival is trying to avoid?)

 

I just don't understand

thanks for listening

Is it any less rude of the very common practice of guests signing up for, and then not showing, any form of organized Meet & Mingle?

I'm not giving a pass for the fall-down of espousing to sponsor Meet & Mingles, but when there is a high frequency of poor turnout on the guest's part you have to minimally appreciate the apathy.

The most successful events I have attended were those where the guests ponied up some cash to participate. Otherwise, attendance has been dismal.

I'll reserve full judgment until after my first Carnival-sponsored event to see if things happen differently. I'm hopeful - but not confident.

Here is a spreadsheet maintained by Carnival that may be equally useful.

Copy of FunShipFeature.xls

If the Carnival excursion is the one run by Fury Water Adventures, in very small fine print on their website it says "* Jet Ski can accommodate up to three riders—not to exceed 460lbs (208KG)"

Weight limits are an important consideration for guests and it is quite the shortfall to not disclose it more prominently. Even the tour operator fails to do so in a significant manner.

I am not sure if this number is still valid, but old info reports the direct line to the shore excursion department is 800-819-3902 ext. 72599.

Email is, unfortunately, the "wave of the future" as a way to manage the volume of incoming inquiries to what is essentially a customer service issue.

Here's hoping you can get your issues/questions addressed!

Try this:

https://www.goccl.com/en/Resource%20Center/~/media/GOCCL/Files/ResourceCenter/Programs/FunShipFeature.xls

Our first time on the Pride with FTTF, we arrived at 10:30a with the thrill of being "priority" and in the first group to board. Check in went relatively quickly, but then we sat until 12:30 before being able to board.

The second time on the Pride with FTTF, we arrived at 1:00p. We breezed through the security lines, walked right up to the priority check in desk and then right onto the ship in under 10 minutes total (bypassing the general check-in line that had some people in it but not a huge amount).

Some may see this as not taking full advantage of FTTF as rooms are pretty much ready for everyone around 1:00p. However, the benefit to us is being able to (wait for it)... not wait.

I vowed never to get to the port earlier than 1:00p in the future. Sitting and waiting to be one of the first on board is a real mood killer (to us).

Love the Pride. Was on her 14 days in March on a journey and going again in September to Bermuda. The only thing I can find negative is that there are no lounge chairs on the Promenade deck. Anybody know why? While Serenity is nice, lounge chairs are in the sun and sitting under the roof you can't enjoy watching the water. I want to see the sea. We may bring our quad chairs for this reason in September.

 

Evie

Evie,

Do you mean the Atlantic Deck (Deck 3)? Can't picture where lounge chairs with a sea view would go on the Promenade Deck (Deck 2). :)

The Atlantic Dec (Deck 3) doesn't have lounge chairs because it is intended to be a "walking deck" as well as accessibility to the life boats which hang right above for most of the deck. Deck three is where the muster stations are and I think that might have something to do with it. Just my thoughts - I could be completely wacko. :D

See you in September and we can discuss it. Maybe I can help you drag a couple loungers down from the Lido. :D:D

Been on her twice (and her sister the Miracle once). Have two more booked for her - both to Bermuda in 2016 and again in 2017.

I certainly find her just right for my cruising requirements. I haven't been disappointed yet.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. We will be visiting Bermuda for the first time via the Pride later this year and are excited about the experience!

My DW and I are on medication that can NOT be mixed with alcohol. Do you still think the experience is still worth it without the wine? We have cruised a fair amount and the chef's table is something we have never tried. It just seems like a lot of money especially when you get a pretty nice dinner in the MDR for free.

 

Wiz

 

 

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Absolutely. I don't drink wine at all and my spouse only on very rare special occasions (and even then, only one glass). We both thoroughly enjoyed the experience and didn't feel slighted in the least for not partaking in the offered wine.

I am sure the wine, paired with the dishes, complimented each other but we found the meal to be superb (and well worth the price) without it.

Define "recent". I have a set from my trip in late 2014. If those would work, provide an email address and I'd be happy to send them.

Carnival is the "Fun Ships" and family friendly. Kids should be welcome in any restaurant on board. The little people are what turn a couple into a family. Perhaps some of you have outgrown the Carnival experience and it's time for you to move on to some of the other "mature" lines that don't present themselves as a family experience.

Absolutely. Welcome those kiddos into the bars, casino, disco, Serenity and adult-themed comedy shows as well. They are, after all, part of the family experience that Carnival holds as it's "Fun Ship" theme.

The NCCF (otherwise called Port Charges by Travel Agents) on all of NCL's 7 nt. Caribbean sailings increased to $200 per person a few months ago

 

 

Looks to me the TA is double dipping.

 

Cruise fare $999* GOV'T TAXES, FEES & PORT EXPENSES $130.61

 

When I have seen a breakdown the NCCF would have been part of the $999

 

 

Looks to me they have added it again.

 

 

* the fish has the price change

$ 1,249 2016‑04‑07 2016‑04‑19

$ 1,199 2016‑04‑20 2016‑05‑23

$ 999 2016‑05‑24 2016‑05‑28

So if the OP booked on 5/23, the price was 1199 which is what OP was billed.

The price change to 999 was on 5/24, the day after OP booked.

Why should they care? 15 drinks and the program is done for the day. I do not understand why they care if two people drink 7 and a half drinks or 15 people each have one. If it was unlimited drinks that would be different. And do you think that people have not passed on a drink to a friend in a different cabin? And plenty of people get around the restriction by the way they book names in multiple cabins.

 

A lot of people do not buy the program because their cabin mate doesn't drink or is pregnant, etc. Carnival is losing a sale there. I don't see the benefit to them to have this restriction in place. I just can't follow their logic.

It's their monkey and their circus. They see the benefit to the restriction so following their logic is irrelevant.

Right it is MX so no promos of any kind. I got some answers.

 

Apparently even though the price changed on 5/23 to 999 at the time I booked during the day it was still 1199, so the TA shows the $200 of port charges "separately" so i paid 1199 + taxes even though the price changed the same day :( Being it was final payment nothing I can do about it now.

So it would appear you were screwed... .by your TA.

Ask your TA to provide a better explanation for the extra $200pp. "RCCL PORT CHARGES" is vague and misleading considering the $131pp already covers GOV'T TAXES, FEES & PORT EXPENSES.

I am booking an elevator on the Pride as well, may I ask what cabin you had?

There is a sideways one, I was curious about.

The only cabins that truly "wrap" an elevator on the Pride are the 9A/9B cabins. The sideways cabins are near, but not adjacent to, the elevators.

I've been in 7299 and 8237. No elevator noise and only minimal traffic noise being at the beginning/end of a hallway to the central elevator area.

1:00pm. You sail right through any existing general boarding lines, check in and walk right on board.

Everyone else would have already packed themselves in from dawn's first light and waited for hours for boarding to begin.

If you truly don't want to wait, this is the way to go. If you want to be on as early as you can, follow others suggestions and arrive at 10:30 to be near the front of the FTTF group which boards after Plats/Diamonds/Weddings.

The world doesn't just consist of the US.

 

There are restaurants in the UK who add a services charge to bills in. No one tips when that happens (unless they don't notice).. And by Law, you can if you wish have that charge removed.

 

 

Similarly services like hairdressers, where customers will add a tip to the credit card bill they pay the cashier.

 

Because its been picked up, every penny of these service charges now has to by law be given to the staff. So yes it's a criminal offence in the UK now to pull this scam.

 

Is this the case in the US? My understanding of US employment (and I will openly admit is not good), is that things are heavily in favour of the employer who can and does bully and terrorise staff with the fear of being fired. Coupled with non existent sick pay and minimal holiday pay, it's not good being an employee. Here, I can be sick for a whole year (6 months full pay and 6 months on half pay) get 6 weeks holiday plus a further 8 days bank holiday. American friends I've spoken with can't believe that someone could get that. It's not out of the ordinary either.

 

Employment laws are a lot to do with this and why staff can't be paid in tips without a proper salary they can survive on.

 

Personally I prefer our system, but fair enough if you disagree.

And the world doesn't just consist of the UK.

Customs and norms differ around the world, even imperfect ones that other cultures find disagreeable.

Your viewpoint of US employment is jaded but not in left field. The UK employment and welfare benefits are as different from the US as their tax structures. They compliment each other.

Calling a service industry which advocates a gratuity as a part of its performance a "scam" is exactly the reason discussions turn sour.

I understand and appreciate the difference of opinion. Alternate viewpoints expressed reasonably always make me contemplative. That's a good thing.

I'm sure this has been posed before, but it's pretty fundamental: if this form of service charge (or gratuity if you prefer) is such a scam to line the pockets of the cruiseline so they can pay the crew "pennies", why does every mass market line utilize the exact same type of daily charge?

Are they all in cahoots and shielded from lawsuits for "wage theft"?

The OP clearly understands that his pre-cruise travel snafu, misunderstanding of sailing/cut-off times and lack of travel documents sufficient to meet the ship "downstream" are his own responsibility.

Barring recompense from insurance (if even possible), it is highly unlikely the "leisure industry" company will bestow the kindness and compassion of a refund given these circumstances when, in situations much more heart-breaking than these, the answer has been "I'm sorry - but no.".

Most fellow cruisers understand the disappointment and feel sorry (including myself) but it's not their pocket from which the revenue comes.

The sharing of the OP's story should give pause to all other travelers to plan with a wide margin of error and carry more than the required travel documentation.

I will add confirmation... one ferry over and one ferry back. Depending on the number of participants, it might be two over and two back. But they both leave at generally the same time.

It's a long haul (roughly 30-40 minutes) and they don't have the staff (or resources) to offer on-demand return service. Add to that it's not a long amount of time on the island as it is... most needed to be asked repeatedly to pack it up and get in line for the return ride.

Although I hope you get some valuable input here, you might also try posting in the Special Interest forum "Disabled Cruise Forum". It's the closest sub-forum I could recommend for your situation.

Here is a related thread that may be helpful reading:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1982207&highlight=chemo

Most recommend getting detailed guidance from your oncologist.

Although I cannot provide more direct advice, warmest wishes for a pleasurable cruise and as comfortable management of your husband's condition as possible.