dorchrislen

When we fly in for our cruises, we go to a convenience store or gas station the morning before the cruise and purchase our soda and wine. In our checked luggage for the flight before, we fill our carryon suitcase up with stuff we need for the night before the cruise at the hotel, and nest that suitcase in to the larger size for the flight. When we get to the hotel, we pull out the nested suitcase and use the suitcase it was in to walk to the store, purchase the soda and wine, stick it into the roller suitcase, and walk back to the hotel before getting picked up and transported to the port. Then when we get to our cabin, we remove the 12-packs, punch off the end perforation so the cans come out of one end, and stick the carton on the top shelf of the closet (the thin shelf) so they're out of the way and have easy access to stick a few in the fridge at a time. There's 3 of us, and the 3 12 packs fit side by side lengthwise into that shelf perfectly. Then we use the empty suitcase for souveniers or dirty laundry. Hope this makes sense to all other potential type As out there!

She can always go to the Casino and charge funds to her room on a slot machine. Then go cash out and she'll have the cash.

Great tip!

I certainly agree that there are differences.

I stay with Carnival because I can afford it and I'm afraid if I go to another line I will see what I'm missing and have to spend more to go with them in the future.

We cruise Carnival generally on price, but also wanting a laid back cruise that has fun activities.

This ^ too.

We are platinum now, so that also solidifies the decision not to stray (to get free FTTF, a couple drinks, extra water, and laundry done.)

Can't you just buy " cruise cash" and not Bar cruise cash?

 

That way at least you can cash out balance of cruise cash.

The T&C for cruise cash says you forteit what you don't use, but at least it wouldn't be restricted to bar purchases.

I know that some people say you shouldn't get the Cash Bar because if you don't use it on drinks or specialty coffee, you lose it. I have no fear that we will make sure we use it, but even if we don't, I never break even on CHEERS either.

 

So, for us, at least for this cruise, we will try the Cash Bar. I will be interested to see how I like it.

I'm just wondering why you wouldn't just purchase the cruise cash instead of cash bar, that way you could use it on whatever and not feel like you have to drink the credit.

actually it's a very valid question. Since someone was offended about the question, I went to google to try to find the dine in schedule and spent 20 minutes looking with no luck. I googled it and also tried John Heald's blog....nope. So I guess I'm also a dummy and don't know where to find this info. Can someone please post a link? Thanks!

dorchrislen- I have no advice for you, just wanted you to know I've marked Mar 5 on my calendar and will say a prayer for your mom that day!

 

Think good thoughts and enjoy your cruise on the 24th!!

Wow, there are some big, beautiful hearts on this board. Thank you!

Its great that they are already thinking in that direction. Its really been a miracle. So many people who were inoperable before are having wonderful outcomes. What city is your mom in ?

 

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She lives with me and we are in Las Vegas, not known for great medicine unfortunately.

This thread reads like a Abbott & Costello skit......Who's on First? Daughter's on second and Mom's not going on the cruise playing third........Go enjoy the cruise, by the time you leave you'll know your mother is fine and if not your sister can watch her till you return. You'll have to take shifts if she is sick anyway.....My sister and I care for my 93 year old dad; I'm

familiar with the drill!

I know right? Great advice from you all!

Ask your moms doctor for more detailed information about her risk. If they are concerned about her hearts ability to keep blood moving adequately during the repairs then she may be best served with a PCI " protected cardiac intervention". My hubby has a long history working in cardiology (cath lab, echo, OR) and now teaches physicians how to use a tiny temporary heart pump called Impella that unloads the heart during the interventions and is removed afterward. It really is remarkable and has allowed many, otherwise high risk patients to endure the required repairs safely .

 

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Thanks! Yes, they said they would possibly use the impala process and are considering PCI. I’m learning a lot so fast!

I really enjoyed your review. I remember how crowded Punchliner and lido were. We could find not one chair on a sea day anywhere from lido back to and around waterworkds. Crazy!

We are going again in March and I am just planning on taking my patience and good attitude. It also helps that we have a balcony for this one so I can just grab a drink and head to my own ocean view chair!

Here's a ? for the OP who had port day breakfast on Sunshine:

For any day where the port arrival is early PM, do they serve breakfast or brunch (i.e. is it considered a port day or a sea day)? I'm asking because the menu looks interesting, but I'd only do it on a port day where we dock later, and we don't get in to Aruba until 1pm.

I hope this doesn't come off as unfeeling

No it didn't, and I do understand where you are coming from. I am a worrier by nature, and I believe I'm transferring my frustration at not being able to control the situation and fear of losing her all into this concern; plus I feel a bit of guilt at even worrying about my vacation with her going through so much. But life also comes with loss, and I'm preparing.

So sorry you lost your mom so young.

Thanks all. She really needs a triple bypass but it’s too risky. She’s 82 and they don’t think she would survive the surgery. So the stent on the LED is just a mitigating procedure. The other right side needs a few stents but they can’t do them because they’re too risky. So she’s on isosorbide for the neck and chest pains and taking it day by day. I wish it were as simple as just needing a single stent. Thank you for all the information and concern. I really appreciate it.

Did you ask the agent what policies would cover pre-existing for a cruise on which final payment has not yet been made? I know there is an Allianz policy out there that covers pre-existing as long as it's purchased prior to final payment, and on the day of purchase, all travelers are fit to travel.

yes, he said there was no coverage for my circumstances as I described them here and to him. I’ll check into the other insurance company mentioned above

Is it possible that the credit card you used has travel insurance included? I was using a card for years to book cruises and paying for insurance through insuremytrip and realized about 1 1/2 years ago that the card automatically insured our trip. It might be worth checking out.

I don’t think this would work for me because I used my BofA credit card to purchase AARP carnival gift cards and then used those to pay. But I will check it out anyways. Thanks for the tip.

One more thing: so I guess the lesson learned for everyone is if you don’t want to take the risk make sure and purchase the insurance at the same time as you make the first payment on the cruise, in other words when you book it because then you are making the down payment. Hope others learn from my mistakes.

OP again, unfortunately I can’t buy for the July cruise either since it’s been over 21 days since my first payment on it. I probably could get it through carnival though and I will check that out.

OP here, I went to insure my trip.com and chatted. Unfortunately, there is no coverage for my circumstances (any complications from mom”s surgery). So now I will just pray and hope for the best. Thank you everyone.

I do have another cruise for July which I still owe $130 on. I will go in and buy the insurance today.

Thanks everyone! This is all so confusing. My mom is not traveling. My sister can stay with her if needed.

I just was thinking I needed to ensure for cancellation in case things got really bad. I guess we’ll just consider it a lesson learned if we lose the three grand because we have to cancel at the last minute. It doesn’t sound like adding insurance now would help.

I did talk to Carnival’s Insurance company and he said that I could buy the insurance up to 14 days prior and if I had to cancel because my mom had a complication or didn’t make it that I would just need to provide a doctors statement to that effect and they would reimburse me for the fare. But I don’t feel very confident after reading all these responses.

My mom is the one with the heart issue, she is not going on the cruise. It’s myself my husband and my son. She is having a stent put in on March 5. Our cruise is March 24. We booked the cruise over a year before and it’s been paid for a while. I’m hoping everything will be fine, but wondering if I should buy the insurance just in case she has a turn for the worse or something else. Then I would have to cancel using the clause that my immediate family has a Health Issue or worse. So it’s not something pre-existing for me but for an immediate family member. And I’m still not sure it would cause us to miss our trip. Hopefully not.

Hi All, my mom has a heart condition and surgery about 3 weeks before our cruise on March 24th. I haven't purchased insurance yet, but know I need to. My questions are:

1) if I don't purchase the insurance and need to postpone due to her health, can I move any of the cruise cost to a new booking, or do I lose full cruise fare for the 3 of us (me, spouse, and son)?

2) I've already paid for the cruise, so I can't get the "cancel for anything option" now, but can I buy the insurance and still claim for the full fare if her health goes (or God forbid worse) and I already knew when I purchased insurance that her health was at risk?

Thanks so much.

- a couple of the 2 in 1 laundry sheets (detergent and fabric softener) and a roll of quarters (in an old M&M canister)

- aloe vera after sun gel

- pop up baskets for desk

- a schedule of who wears what when so we can pack a minimum and keep it straight, do laundry half way in, and re-wear the outfits the second half

- 2 pairs watershoes each

- condoms

- plastic grocery bags to pack wet stuff for return trip

- sponge pieces with dishwashing liquid in them to wash tervis tumbler and glasses in cabin

- Bonine

I got an email upsell offer today for Legend in July. $44 total to go from 7th balcony to 8th extended balcony. But I didn't take it because we'd move from a cabin with another cabin above and below toward the back, which I selected, to one under the Lido bar and deck (noisy) up toward the front.

interesting, though, that the March cruise documents all indicate platinum. It is a eight day and I will turn platinum on the seventh. The other is seven days.