Vitality08

My first time cruising solo, I was so nervous I got sick at the airport.

Once I got on board, I realized my fears were unfounded.

You generally meet plenty of people and find a lot to do.

I have now been on a total of 4 solo cruises.

you should set this up as a poll.

This has me wondering if Carnival routinely keeps track of milestones like this for everyone or is it that this couple is so well known the crew on that particular ship wanted to do something to celebrate?

Anyone know?

You won't owe anything else until final payment.

Okay, thanks.

I found what looks like a decent deal on Anthem. The studio balcony as a single is cheaper than an interior as a solo. I'm sure the balcony and room is small but I'm still excited about it.

Will the certificate I purchased serve as my complete deposit on a 9 day cruise?

I paid $100 for the certificate but will I owe more when I actually book?

What I do is a regular search on carnival but the only parameter I put in is 1 passenger. It then brings up cruises from cheapest to most expensive. This works if they are running a sale or not.

Right now when I do it, I get 3 days to Mexico for $149. It's not technically a zero supplement sale but that's cheap regardless.

There were no bar menus on my recent Grandeur cruise but I was told it was part of the enhanced sanitization program we were under.

At least it's low cost in my book.

Inside room is $344 per person.

I'm putting a room on hold while I think about it.

hello fellow jerseyite.. im going on grandeur in like 2 weeks, since you have seemed to research it how far is the train station from the port?

I recently searched for the same info. The Port of Baltimore webpage says it's about 5 miles. A person on my roll call took a taxi from the train station to the port and said it cost her about 20 or less.

cheapest will be $6. They want to encourage people to play on the bonus but you don't have to. Either way, your total for each hand has to be $6.

You are correct ,however as one who has not cruised that much I was just wondering what amounts people tip.

On my recent 10 day, I left an extra 30 for the steward. My regular gratuities were paid along with the cost of the cruise.

On previous cruises I've left as little as 10 for a 4 day and 20 for a 6 and 7 day.

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer. It's whatever your comfortable with.

I also gave my waiter and assistant 20 each but afterward thought maybe the waiter should have gotten more because he did more work. The assistant got drinks, bread, sauces, etc. but the head waiter actually took the orders and brought the food. So, I guess it is what is.

If my recent cruise on the Grandeur is any indication, I would say no. I was sailing solo and was placed at a large table with 4 other married couples. Each couple had been married at least 30 years and all were at least diamond. Three of the couples were elderly and already retired.

It was enjoyable and we all had great conversations but if they were making an effort to seat like individuals I was definitely the odd ball out...although they were all similar, at least on paper.

Well, I'm glad they are doing a deep clean.

I definitely want a sick free cruise.

I've read stories about people who were supposed to receive on board credit but when they got on the ship, there was no record of their OBC. I want to make sure this doesn't happen to me. Because the price of our cruise dropped after we booked it, we have some OBC in the amount of the price drop. When I look at our reservation online it lists this amount as a payment for "other options." It doesn't say "on board credit." Is this normal? I've never had OBC before so I just want to make sure that things go smoothly once we are on the ship.

I redeemed some points from my RC BOA card. I called yesterday to make sure it was showing up on my account.

Which other ship has come down with gastro illness?

Allure

Just received the email.

It doesn't mention noro virus, just says gastro intestinal illness.

It's asking those on deck 2 not to arrive until 4 pm! That seems so late.

Ok, thanks.

I prefer to use my RC BOA since I'll get double points. The billing period closes the day before we debark. I figured it'd be awesome if it's not charged until the day I debark or the next since that would add and extra 30 days before I have to pay without interest (in case I spend a lot o the cruise).

I guess I'll find out for sure very soon. I'm down to 5 days until sail away.

From your experience on Royal Caribbean, are final charges posted the night before we debark, the day we debark, or a few days after?

I know holds may be posted throughout the week but I'm specifically wondering about the final official charge.

thanks

Based on answers I've read on here, I think only if their s&s accounts will be linked to yours.

I've mentioned this on the board before, but Carnival somehow allowed my family to book 4 people in a room that couldn't accomodate 4 people. We booked at the future cruise desk 1 year in advance and spoke with them on the phone many times over that year and no one ever caught the error that there were 4 paid guests assigned to a room that could only sleep 3. We got all the way into the stateroom with our luggage and it was our room steward who noticed the problem when he came to say hi. Guest services was very apologetic, but it was also a fully booked sailing, they were going to "figure it out".

 

Shortly after muster drill we heard from guest services that someone wasn't going to make the boat and we could use their stateroom for the time being until they found out if those people were going to be able to catch up to the cruise. So they ended up moving my sister and I into an oceanview a few floors down from my parents balcony and gave them a couple hundred in OBC for the trouble. The other passengers never caught the ship, so we were fine, but I really wonder what they would have done if those people did catch up at the first port.

From other posts on this board it seems that someone plans to catch up with the ship, they have to let the company know and arrangements must be made. Maybe if those passengers indicated they were planning to catch up the company would have told them no, it's not possible.

When I booked my cruise I got a discount for being a Veteran. They told me to bring proof when I embarked. I was planning on bring my DD214 but I recently learned that my state issues veteran ID cards through the DMV. Basically, I take all my documents to the DMV and they issue a card verifying my veteran status.

Has anyone ever used a similar card issued by their state as their proof of military service? I'm going to call Royal to get a definitive answer but I'm interested in personal experiences.

Also, even though I plan on bringing the DD214 if I find the id card from the state isn't acceptable I was wondering if they really do check for the proof?

The other times I've gotten a military discount is when I was on Carnival, and I just emailed my DD214 within days of the booking and it remains on file. Bringing proof to the port is new to me.

Did call the TA and he tried, I tried. I still think it is wrong to drop the price 49 hrs after the fact. Not good business.

Even though it was 49 hours for you, I'm sure it was 12, 24, 36, etc for someone else. I don't think they raised the price at 49 hours just to spite you...unless you got the very last cabins in that category. Otherwise, I'm sure someone benefited for the price drop under the 48 hour prices guarantee.

I cashed in 10,000 points for $100 in OBC from my RC BOA card.

I have the confirmation page from the rewards site but should the OBC be somewhere on my cruise documents?

If so, where can I find it?

Thanks

I've been on 3 solo cruises and have my fourth coming up.

So far, I've always gotten assigned doing which I consider important as a solo.

I wanted to do a specialty restaurant this cruise but I don't want to pre book because I want to remain flexible in case I meet other interested solo's on board.

During the day, I'm fine to explore on my own but meal time is a good time to meet others. I also eat in the main dining room for breakfast so I can be seated with others. Lunch I grab on my own.

The reviews on Trip Advisor are good. I booked with them for next month. I'll do a review if you'd like. Not sure when you are going.