Vitality08

I check my booked cruise rates every day. I do agree that the current rates are sky high....through the roof...incredibly high:eek:. I book way ahead and certainly worked in my favor this time:).

same here. I booked my cruise before the sale and they were offering a C&A discount and a military discount. I made out like a bandit!

OMG I was just on RCCL website :eek:and came here to post the same concerns.:confused: I thought their BOGO prices were about what we always paid..no big deal.. So now I'm looking for February when I'm off from work and the cruise prices for our normal D3 are from $3500 to $4000 for the two of us without air. That is over $1500 more than we have been paying. So I want to use my open booking so I looked at next summer leaving from NJ so we would not have air and the Liberty which is replacing the Explorer is about $6000 for the 9 day.. we used to paid low $3000 and the five day to Bermuda is about $3500. They have gotton WAY out of control. I realize it is early but still.......:mad:

So I went to Celebritys website and their prices are lower than RCCL..since when??? and they have better service. SO I guess we will put on hold our open booking and just book Celebrity when we are on their Summit next week.

Oh well...at least there are other cruise lines and RCCL still may have sales again in the future......

I've never sailed Celebrity but I checked their prices because an acquaintance of mine told me she's sailing on the Summit the same dates I'm sailing on the Jewel. Although I booked my cruise well before the sail, I got a great price but I was so shocked at how much more reasonable Celebrity is now compared to RC. I assumed Celebrity would be priced higher. If I was looking to book today, I'd definitely be booking Celebrity because it's about $500 cheaper. That's the cost of the flight!

I was looking at pricing a future cruise. I just can't believe the prices. I know that the prices were a bit higher during the BOGOHO promotion, but now that the promo is over, the prices are still way out there. A 7 day on the Adventure for $1700 pp. That's just crazy. I was looking at January or February. I know it is high season but we've cruised at that time in the past and haven't had to pay these prices. We are booked on the Independence for next October. Booked at around $900 pp. Now the price is at over $1200 pp and that is hurricane season.

 

Any insight as to why this is happening? Is this what we have to expect in the future? If so, might have to consider land based vacations. Bummer.

There's a conversation about this going on in my roll call for January 2015 on the Jewel. Of course most are already booked but many are in disbelief at the current cost of our cruise. I'm so glad I booked when I did because I got a great price.

Personally, I love electronic blackjack since the buy-ins are low and the banter around the "tables" is pretty fun. Does anyone know if they're on the Glory?

There was one on the Glory back in June 2013.

I'm having the same issue with my 2 cruises.

I booked one on line and one over the phone. I was able to see payment information on both.

Since it's a back to back, I'll called to get switched to a room that was available on both legs and since I did that, I can not make a payment online nor can I see how much I've paid or what I still owe.

I called in to see why and was told the only way to see that info was if I booked online and that I'd have to call in to make all my payments.

I've had more than one cabin on the same cruise on a courtesy hold. I wasn't too particular about the cabin so I'd do a new courtesy hold on the same cruise in the morning before I left for work knowing the other would expire that day.

Isn't the best course of action also dependant on if he had insurance or not? And what reasons are covered by the policy?

Although, if he's saying money isn't an issue then I guess none of that would matter either.

I think it depends on WHICH U.S. port you are sailing from. We did a B2B on the Paradise out of Tampa and they DID NOT make us get off the ship. We just had to go to the customer service desk on board to pick up our new Sail & Sign cards.

 

It was cool but weird being the only ones on the ship for the hour or so between the last passengers off and the first passengers on. We walked around and took photos of the quiet venues, and there was a lot of quick cleaning and sprucing up happening on board.

 

We had the same cabin, so we didn't have to move our things, but our room steward wasn't actually aware that we were staying! We saw him on the morning of our second leg and told him we were staying on board... and he thought we were kidding. Once he realized we were serious, he said that our cabin would be serviced last, and it actually didn't get serviced at all until turn-down that evening. BUT, we did receive a complimentary bottle of champagne and some chocolate covered strawberries as a B2B gift before dinner on the first night of the second leg.

Did you he give a reason for servicing your cabin last/so late? Was it just because it wasn't a priority?

I've been on 3 solo cruises and on all of them I've done early dining. On 2, I was placed at a table that had other solo cruisers but not everyone was traveling solo.

On my very first cruise, I was at a 4 top and another female showed up for dinner. She said her roommate didn't feel well or something. After the first night she never returned so I ended up at a 4 top alone for the rest of the cruise. Lucikly it was just a 3 night. The table next to me included me in their conversations so I didn't feel alone.

Maybe it was a behavioral thing, like a solo traveler, who hangs out in his cabin for a week, keeps the stewards from cleaning the room, and when he gets into a port, gets a cab, knows where he is going, and comes back with what???? that passes through the machines? How can that not be spotted on the xray machines? So is someone on the ship providing the drugs, smuggling them in with bananas in a port, and then getting them to the mule? 11 pounds is a lot of coke, not sure how you get that past security even to get back on the ship.

Based on the news report it says he had one of those things to strap it to his body. When you return to ship you just go through a medical detector. Only bags go through the xray machine. I've never seen anyone get a pat down when returning from port.

Does Carnival do a special for Military and family for Independence day? If I remember correctly we can do multiple cabins at that rate in November. :confused: I have my eyes on a cruise and the rate is usually a great help.

 

 

Thanks for your help !

I don't really recall them having a special sale for Independence Day but lately it seems they are offering military rates for all the cruises I've searched. It's normally equal to the Early Saver rate but doesn't have all the restrictions. Haven't seen them offer OBC for military in a while though.

Although traveling solo can be a red flag, I'm sure that's not the real reason they searched his room. I'm sure his name was flagged for previous suspicious boarder crossings and this trip just added more suspicion and reasons.

Of course they tell the media being solo is the reason because they don't want to say "We have sophisticated data tracking software that monitors...."

I will say, I was once directed to secondary screening at MIA while traveling alone from Costa Rica. I fit the profile of a drug smuggler evidently. I satisfactorily answered all of the questions to the point they didn't even search my bags. The funniest thing tho is I actually work in Law Enforcement at an International Airport.

I know this isn't Carnival but they sent a birthday card to my room for my birthday earlier this year and the only mention of it was the notation made with my original booked.

I sailed RC for my birthday back in 2012 but I don't remember if I got anything or not. The people sitting near me at dinner, had this little "band" come by and play happy birthday for me and another couple bought me a drink. I thought that was so nice because I was traveling solo and they were essentially strangers. I was at a table for 4 and two people never came the whole weekend (server said no one was assigned because the ship wasn't full) and the other person only came the first night.

Thank you so much for all of the advice. I did call Carnival. He was very apologetic but said that the ship is basically sold out so there are no cabins closer together. I even offered to pay for a more expensive cabin if we could get closer but no availability. He said maybe there will be cancellations and to inquire once we get on board. I am fine with the cabins being where they are as long as Carnival is fine with the teens being in one cabin and parents in another even though it was booked differently and the kids are several cabins away. Thanks again for the reassurances.

 

 

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I'm so glad this didn't happen to someone with much younger children. You and hubby would definitely have to sleep apart for the duration of the cruise.

Someone was recently telling me about a trip to Great Wolf Lodge and she said they have these bracelet type devices that allow you to enter your room and charge to your on board account.

How would people feel about that?

Here's an image I found on the internet.

http://www.onpdx.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IMG_0002.jpg

Boy are people making this a lot harder than it is.

I'll assume for the heck of it that the OP does not have an early saver booking and changes are done before final payment due

There is no penalty for cancelling the 4th. The deposit will be returned

There is no fee to change the 4th person in the cabin before final payment

 

The person that said split 3 ways and have 4th be a no show??? WHY?

OP said they booked under a special promotion that allows final payment to be made 30 days prior to sailing. I think that promotion has restrictions similiar to Early Saver...but either way I agree on your other points. I think cancelling the 4th person in a room of 4 is a lot less harder than canceling the 2d person or 3rd person. I don't think there would be an increase for the remaining at all.

It's been my experience that one of two things happen:

1) When it says it ends at 4:30 that's the time they will have you back. Basically, you won't be leaving the beach or snorkel location at 4:30 and then have to travel. All travel time is factored in.

2) The excursions get back earlier than posted because they all seem to give you time to shop in the port area.

I think you'll be fine. But even with a TA, I think you can call carnival and discuss an excursion. Just tell them you haven't booked yet but saw this excursion you think you may like.

Hi I am wondering how we will know what food is safe for a person with food allergies in the Lido Buffet? I am assuming the main dining room will not be a problem as long as we notify the cruise line in advance about the allergies? But the Lido buffet I am wondering how we will know what is safe?

 

Also what about potential accidental exposure in the kids club? (i.e, if we drop our children off at the kids club and another child has been eating peanut butter and may have traces on their hands, clothes, etc, and our children come in contact with it)? Has anyone had any issues or concerns about this?

I think it's best to ask. On my last cruise, I was eating vegetarian. They put labels out but I noticed on one side of the buffet an entre may say vegetarian but on the other side there would be no mention. So basically, I don't think you can just trust the labels. I'm sure they try hard but if it were an allergy issue, I'd want to speak to someone or see an ingrediant list.

We're on an Eastern Caribbean itinerary (St Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk, Nassau)

 

I'm thinking of arranging excursions on my own, and paying cash. I'm assuming most locals prefer cash since they don't lose the 3%. Any pros/cons to cash vs. credit card?

All but one of the private excursions I've booked have you reserve with a credit card and ask that you pay the balance in cash the day of the excursion.

I'm sure they prefer cash.

Wow. I've never heard of a person getting kicked off in another country. I can't imagine the liability Carnival assumes kicking off Americans (most likely) in a foreign country. I can see confining them to the jail or their rooms but that's extreme IMO.

I'm sure the liability is zero. I'd be willing to bet the cruise line will make contact with the US Embassy and advise them of the situation. The families wouldn't be really left to fend for themselves. The embassy would help repatriate them if they were without the means to do it on their own.

But you have to go in person & wait at DMV office!!!

No Thanks!!!

 

Carnival already has my DD214 on file.

Never got military discount on RCCL yet...it has always costs more than other discounts...

I just recently learned that Virginia also issues a Veteran card also. I may get one. Both legs of my B2B next year have a military discount.

I repeat, how can one be charged so fast? Even with murder investigations, a person isn't charged that fast. Brought in for questioning, but without full blown evidence, how can one be charged?

How do you know there isn't evidence? DNA is not the only evidence in a rape case. For all we know he admitted to it which would be enough for a charge. Probable cause is all that's needed for an arrest.

I'm doing a b2b on the Jewel next year. I was originally booked into two different room for each leg but I just called to get moved to a cabin available on both sailings.

While on the phone I asked her to price out how much it would be to add someone on each leg.

The interesting part (imho) is that she said my price is locked in at the rate I booked. So adding someone would not be at the prevailing rate today but at the price I booked UNLESS the current rate is a better deal.

I've seen this discussed before and I think people have said they have seen it go both ways (some able to keep original rate, some having to pay current rate). So, I wanted to share what I was told although the true test will be when we call back to add my friend.

How many points needed for drinks on us on a 3-4 day cruise ?

thanks

I'm not sure but from personal experience, I don't think it's based on points alone.

I spent a lot of time in the casino but hadn't spent much money. I was friendly with the dealers and the pit bosses and was offered a card on the night of the 2d full day of the cruise. All the other regulars also seemed to have one.

I doubt I had enough points by day 2 but I was still given one. They also took my email address down to sign me up for the players club and get offers but I haven't gotten anything.

As per usual... nothing for us Canadians. :(

Nothing for me either. :(

I never win anything so thats nothing new.