mkkao924

We will cruise Celebrity for the first time in 2024, and got some newbie questions on various cruise packages: 1. For the photo packages, all I see in cruise planner are studio sessions. By browsing through the forum, looks like from time to time Celebrity offers $50 package for the ad hoc pictures taken around the ship. Is that still going on that I should pay attention in my cruise planner once a while? 2. For the WiFi package, I only see premium package right now, is the basic package not offered in cruise planner? 3. For excursions offered by Celebrity, are they refundable (up to a few days before embarkation), or they are non-refundable? In other way, for the excursion that I like, but not 100% certain, can I book now to secure the spots, but have a chance to back out? 4. For dining (not package), looks like it's non-refundable. It also has some small percentage off, like 7% ~ 8%. Do these percentage change from time to time, i.e. should I wait and observe to book when they have a sale, or it doesn't change at all? 5. Lastly, with Black Friday and holiday season on the horizon, does Celebrity have some kind of holiday sale on the items in the cruise planner? Any help is really appreciated!

I am looking at booking Alaska cruise with Solstice (so I can't get to the excursion info page yet). Wondering how much it is for the Hubbard Glacier excursion? Is there age limit on that?

Tried to search in the forum but nothing shows up. Looks like it's in the downtown and not too far away from cruise terminal. I understand it's not walking distance but it doesn't look too far either. Since the price is much lower compared to surrounding hotels, I am wondering if anyone stayed before and what's your opinion?

In addition to Glacier Wind, do you have other recommended whale watching operator? We are group of 10, but with one toddler (2) and one young boy (7). Glacier Wind tour has age limit of 9 yr old. If whale watching is just not possible, is there recommended private tour (land or sea) that you recommend given our party size?

For our past cruise on Panorama, I was able to truly test out the WiFi capability against Zoom, and I was happy. I upgraded the WiFi from Value to Premium for $14, so basically $2 a day. I was able to join three separate Zoom meeting for a total 4 hours (1hr, 1.5hr, 1.5hr) with full audio and video on, and there was not once the connection drops and degraded (that I noticed), which is really nice. The first meeting was on sea day 10AM to 11AM. The second meeting was on sea day 6:30 PM to 8 PM. The third meeting was on port day 4 PM to 5:30 PM (cruise depart at 5:30 PM) However, I do notice that some website loads lower than the other, and the one website that constantly gives me trouble is Cruise Critic forums (go figure). Another suggestion is for the value plan to add support LINE (a popular message app used in east Asia like Korea, Japan, Taiwan). My cousin had the value plan and it didn't work for her. She just used iMessages and Facebook Messenger instead, but it would be nice if Carnival can support this app.

Please let us know when the ship allows for embarkation as well as sail away. This will help people prepared if this happens again in the future.

Plus sky ride, rope course, and water slide all closed after we left Cabo and entire sea day yesterday. Even in buffet area, we didn’t want to sit close to the door since it was too windy.

On Panorama now. According to the flyer we received, the express disembarkation will start at noon, and the normal disembarkation is from 12:15 to 1:45 pm.

We will visit Mazatlan by Carnival panorama, and I am wondering if the cruise terminal has “reliable and fast” WiFi (think of getting a concert ticket or check in Southwest flight)? Or should I just use cell phone data or even ship WiFi?

I am wondering when will stateroom be ready on Panorama? We always board around noon, so we always check in luggage and don’t worry about them. This time we are traveling with my cousin (first cruise) and their board time is 2pm. If they don’t have a lot of luggage, should they just haul the luggage to board and go to their stateroom directly?

Is it $10 for the entire cruise? That’s like $2 a day which is very good IMO. Then I think I will go this route then.

I am wondering how does Carnival WiFi upgrade works. We have the mid-tier right now (before the price increase, twice), and I plan to upgrade to the top tier. Since I got it pre-price increase, it does not make sense for me to cancel and re-buy now. I am wondering what's the upgrade price will be once we get on board. Is it simply the difference between the going rate onboard and my paid price, or there is a fix fee upgrade fee?

I am wondering what cabin number you had initially? We will soon be on her in family harbor suite, and hopefully the issue will be resolved by then.

I am in the exact same situation, and the worst part is I am cruising late March, which is in between when US and Mexico switch daylight saving. I just move our (self) excursion time to noon so I know there is no chance for us to mess up... There are SO MANY different versions of stories, and that scares me.

Thank you! I noticed the Chase one in my account but didn't realize BOA has similar offer. Planning to use both!

Wait, so loose cans ARE allowed? If so, can I bring 4 coke, 4 sprite, and 4 Mountain Dew as one 12-pack allowance? I like variety! 😀

When did you try it? I did it once March 2022 for Radiance at Long Beach and the agent helped me at check-in booth.

I just re-read the email again. For the gratuity, the effective date is April 1st. If my sail date is March, then it’s still the current rate even if I don’t prepay it, correct? I have quite a bit of OBC for our upcoming cruise, and therefore I don’t want to prepay things now.

Didn’t they just raise the WiFi price not too long ago? I remember prepaying the WiFi before their last price increase. Now my cruise hasn’t sailed yet, and they raise the price again, geez.

I will be on Panorama, and due to a scheduling issue, I need to attend a Zoom meeting while onboard. I already purchased a mid-level internet package (before price increase and before I knew I need to attend this meeting), which I know it’s not good enough for Zoom, but I also heard that even the top tier does not guarantee good connection. I am wondering if there is a place, like Internet cafe, that I can have reliable connection, even if I have to pay extra? Also, that day we will dock at Mazatlan, departing at 4pm. My meeting starts at 4pm, and last 1.5 hr. What are the chances that I can use cell phone internet for the meeting? Thanks in advance!

Thank you! We were at Medano beach yesterday, and I guess the ship we saw yesterday was Miracle then. In the morning there were few boat there, but we started to see sales showing up around 11am. I am guess they were mostly at marina serving cruise passengers in the morning, and when cruisers completed their excursion, they tried to get the next round of business at the beach.

I think most people will start the water taxi at Marina. I am wondering has anyone tried to start the water taxi at Medano beach? Is the rate also similar compared to starting at Marina? What’s the current rate right now? My plan is to start the trip at Medano beach, go to arch and lover’s / divorce beach, then go back to Medano beach. Can this be done?

Let's put this way, if the crew members give out towel BEFORE you walk on the gangway, everybody would be happy. passengers won't get wet, and it's still the same amount of towels they have to wash anyway.

While many people are trying to reduce plastic usage, this is a fantastic (NOT) way to pollute the ocean. I don't believe they are bio-degradable?

Not that Carnival gift card is not available on AllState site, and I am not eligible for AARP yet, what are other routes of getting discounted Carnival gift card?