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We last did a B2B on Mardi Gras last October. "Things" were a little different from what I've read. We did meet at the Brass Magnolia seating area, were led off the ship to have our faces scanned, took maybe 15 minutes to get off and back on. What we've "heard" is that if there is a "larger" group of B2B'ers, that is when you're more likely to go off and back on...could be true, could be it varies from port to port. We were told there were over 200 B2B'ers. Got back on away we went. No mimosas. Back in our cabin there was a bottle of champagne, fruit basket, and coupons to head down to Pixels and have a "B2B photo taken"...just us 2. Also we each had a coupon for one complimentary drink to be used at any bar onboard. 

Overall, pretty good experience, however we didn't get to enjoy the full "empty ship" experience as we had friends boarding the second leg who were celebrating a birthday, so we took the time while the ship was empty to head over to their cabin and do some, decorating and other silly stuff...was all greatly appreciated!!

Just kind of an OBTW...I did not see it mentioned, Celebration does an 8 day ABC cruise out of Miami...we did our 5th Southern Carib/ABC on Celebration last May, and was probably the best for us ABC cruise we've done. Or best cruise was the 16 day transatlantic on the Sunshine some years ago. Alaska would be up there, but on our Alaskan cruise last year the weather had other ideas. Nice cruise, but definitely was "subdued" by the weather. 

7 minutes ago, BossyKat said:

We used this in October while they were testing it out and had a great experience.

 

All you need IS for people to follow instructions!

 

Pick a time and stick to it.

 

DON'T crowd the elevators!  

 

🙂

🤣🤣🤣🤣

2 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Based on many other posts, you have been very lucky if refunds from Carnival were successful.  No one was reporting an issue with purchasing them from AARP.  

Thats pretty much the only source I get them from. Got a few from Allstate until they stopped offering them. 

11 hours ago, bdeluca03 said:

$5 per person for length of cruise for Carnival Messaging App or you can iMessage to another iPhone if connected to wifi at no cost.

Not a guarantee iMessage will work without an internet plan, it's it or miss at best. Our last 5 cruises were on all 3 Excel class ships. While the internet access worked very well, iMessage did not unless using the purchased internet plan. Other ships we've sailed iMessage with an internet plan was spotty at best.

15 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Gift card refunds are always new gift cards issued.  Gift cards are also subject to lost mail and porch pirates when sent UPS/FedEx.  Remaining funds under a certain amount are also not refunded but donated to St. Judes and mistakes happens, refunds aren't processed.  Always better to keep your money close than expect others to do it for you.

Well..again...we've not used plastic gift cards for at least the last dozen or so cruises we've been on, egift cards work well for us. No concern at all with shipping or delivery issues. We use egift to pay our cruise fare, onboard expenses and other items like internet or water we purchase pre-cruise. Same thing...this is what has and continues to work for us. We've saved probably thousands now using them over the years.

Our use of egift cards has worked, and continues to work for us.

16 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Except should you need to cancel, you need to wait for new gift cards (that can go missing in transit) be sent.  

Not sure what that means. I only get egift cards...Have had to cancel. Refunds were fast and easy...usually refunds go back to original card...or a new ecard is emailed. Nothing missing.

1 hour ago, mr. godfredo said:

I recently purchased a discounted Carnival gift card through AARP, my wondering is should I apply it to purchasing cruise cash (online) prior to sailing or redeem it on the ship. Not sure of any pitfalls either way.

We purchase gift cards and use them to pay the cruise fare prior to sailing.  We also purchase them to fund our sign and sail account. We prefer not to mess with cruise cash. Not an issue to add the gift cards to our sign and sail account when checking in at the port,  or when we first board. You can also use them pre cruise to pay for specialty dining, internet, excursions etc.

2 hours ago, PammyMouse said:

Hi Carnival Cruisers,

 

I haven't seen any Venezia reviews lately.  How is the embarkation process in NYC these days?  

 

What I'm particularly curious about are the long lines outside, I will have a nervous tween with me and need to prepare her a bit.  We have priority, but if I understand it, we have to line up for security first and then the priority kicks in when we get into the terminal, correct?

 

Thanks, 

PM

This person did a review of the Venezia last month. I believe if talks about embarkation on the first page or 2. I was also curious as we're on Venezia in May

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2988386-21124-live-super-bowl-sunday-cruise-from-manhattan-to-anitgua-dominica-grenada-st-lucia-st-maarten/

3 hours ago, Daruma said:

 

Thank you. 

 

As someone who has been in Software for 30 years, the fact that it has an option to book when not on board, at least that's how it appears since there are two options; I'm On Board and Enter With Booking Number... one would logically guess that the latter is prior to boarding... is pretty shi&#y UI design 🤦

Actually, the latter, while not very functional, is available prior to boarding, I'm accessing it now, and have accessed on several past cruises. While it may appear all it provides is a countdown to whichever booking is active, there are "hooks" in the app to the Carnival website. You can view booking information, book excursions, specialty dining and other options. Again, not the most streamlined or functional app, it is geared more for once onboard, but info for a booked cruise can be accessed via the Hub App, and ultimately from Carnivals web site.

1 hour ago, ChrisToni said:

Have been on many cruise, but never a transatlantic. Going next month and am wondering how to pack...hot...cold?

Sailing from Barcelona to Port Canaveral.

We've taken 3 TA's from Barcelona. Two went a southernly route porting in Miami and New Orleans, both left in November. One took a more northernly route leaving in October that ported in New York, that one had less pleasant, rougher weather and seas. The other 2 had some of the best weather and calmest seas, we've encountered on any of our many other cruises. We anticipated much worse, and were more than thrilled the seas and weather were so enjoyable! But...certainly can't say how the weather will be sailing in March or April, but thought I'd share what we did experience.

Curious...where was it announced Chibang and Cucina are no longer free of charge? Are we talking about the charge for additional visits after the first one, or something else?

3 minutes ago, weezal said:

those potato chips were good! at the jubilee deli

They were indeed!!

You may be able grab some chips at the Deco Deli. We were on Jubilee a couple of weeks ago and grabbed a few sandwiches at the Beach Buns deli...basically the same as the Deco Deli on Celebration, and they had potato chips. They'll toss a handful of chips on with a sandwich order, but we asked a couple of times for just chips and they gave them to us. Neither my wife or I can remember exactly what they did on Celebration last year.

5 minutes ago, bstel said:

Cruising in 11 days and was online in the planner to buy the 12 pack of water for the room, but couldn't find it.  All i found was a Stay Cool water package that included water bottles and a soft sided cooler, but it was like $54.

Still offered…Categories > In Room Food and Beverages > water

Give this a read on Carnivals very own website

https://www.carnival.com/drink-packages/cheers-package/cheers-SUM?icid=default_mcmcard1_cheers_1222020

8 hours ago, HappySails4U said:

So we also always drive to the cruise ports, however in September 2023 we booked a trip on the Venezia sailing into Canada.  This was our first trip to NYC and I was majorly overwhelmed with the logistics and planning for the cruise.  We opted to fly into LaGuardia on Friday a.m. before the cruise departed on Saturday.  Our flight had no delays and arrived at LaGuardia on time.  We used ride share as transportation to the Comfort Inn Midtown (walkable to the port).  As nervous as I was to fly into LaGuardia, our experience could not have been any easier.  Since we arrived at the Comfort Inn so early, they put our luggage into storage so that we could begin exploring the city.

 

I also want to note that the morning we arrived back at the Manhattan cruise port the ship was early.  Walked across the street and contacted ride share.  We were in line at LGA at 8:30 a.m. and were able to have our flight time moved up.   Based on this experience we would for sure fly into 
LGA again.

How was that Comfort Inn, ok at least for a night or 2? We stayed at a Comfort Inn in Galveston for a cruise on Jubilee a couple of weeks ago...we were umm....not pleased with that one, but may consider this one for our Venezia cruise in Mayl

Very nice review. We're sailing Venezia in May, the info you provided will be very useful as we plan our cruise on Venezia...which will be our diamond cruise!

Question please. Early in your review you mentioned you'd be staying at a hotel about 2 blocks from the cruise port post cruise. Could you share which hotel that was? Searching shows a view that seem close, but I thought I'd inquire which place you stayed at. Thanks.

We just booked this same sailing yesterday, I'm thinking you'll get a good number of replies suggesting not flying in the same day, something I'd agree with also. While we could drive, we'll probably take Amtrak to Penn Station and taxi or ride share to a hotel at least one day before the cruise. Another airport to consider is Newark New Jersey. While I can't say for sure, I've heard it could be a more efficient ride to the cruise port than LaGuardia, but I've no idea.

Here's a review of someone who recently sailed on the Venezia, that along with the East Coast Departures forum could provide some useful info.

17 minutes ago, Iamthesea said:

Will Carnival send a reminder when it is time to check-in.  I will be on another cruise at the time and I don't want to forget to check-in.

Nope, not unless you are logged into your booking, however setting a reminder on a watch, phone, tablet, laptop or computer will accomplish the same thing. Also keep in mind the midnight check-in time is midnight EST, so depending on where you're cruising, you may have to allow for a time zone difference.

16 minutes ago, kabux said:

This is so helpful!  We have 10 on Vista in a couple weeks - will they allow you to make a reservation on the app during the day for a specific time for dinner?  

 

The HUB app doesn't allow for "reservations" until the "opening time" for YTD. Last week we were on Jubilee..and YTD started at 5:30. I think this varies btsy ship. However once it opens, it will give a guesstimated wait time...so you kinda gotta just "wing it'...and base the wait time vs the time you'd like to have dinner. Earlier times seem to have the longest waits, and even longer on play dress up night. Wait times we've found to fairly close...many time less than the estimate. 

On 2/20/2024 at 7:25 PM, IntrepidFromDC said:

Fancy pants night.  I'm going to dice my lobster and put it in the lobster bisque to improve it.  Jeff's lobster chowder-bisque. Probably beef wellington for second entree.  But that's it. They're not getting $5 out of me for a third entree,  no sir.

Which night was this menu offered?

26 minutes ago, Sabalon said:

 

If the Blue Iguana served their breakfast burritos all day I'd have three meals easily picked out 🙂
We like to look at the menu ahead of time to decide if it's worth it.  Last cruise we only ate their a couple of times - I got some bad motion sickness from the Nassau tour and food became less than desirable!   I think we mainly go for the appetizers and the dessert.

LoL!! My wife has a similar infatuation with Blue Iguana also....I like to fit it in to my "food rotation' as well. I do enjoy their Huevos Rancheros...just had a couple this past Saturday debarking the Jubilee. Speaking of Jubilee...we did dine in the MDR for Valentines Day last Wednesday (all the specialty restaurants we're booked!!) ...I we did want to try the beef wellington...which was actually pretty decent!

• We got over the hype of the MDR after our first 2-3 cruises, it's just not that special, and there have been a number of changes over the years that lessens it even more. When Carnival implemented YTD, we never looked back to set time dining.  We just did 5 consecutive cruises on Excel class ships...all with YTD. I think across all 5 cruise, we maybe went to the MDR...a total of 7 times. Having the specialty dining options as part of YTD is a huge plus for us. We're also not opposed to grabbing a couple of slices of pizza and a few beers for dinner. We've also done YTD with groups of varying sizes all without issue. 

27 minutes ago, toocrazy said:

I think I know the answer but want to confirm. We both are good at 69. Our next cruise will be a 7 nighter. Which means will turning platinum. Question is will we be considered platinum from the very beginning of the cruise? TIA

Yep...from day 1. When you check in for that cruise, your boarding docs and luggage tags should say priority or platinum or maybe both. One thing you could also try is checking in 2 days before your checkin date..platinum and diamond folks can do their check in 2 days prior to the "normal" check in date/time for the sailing date, maybe not..not sure about that part.