Schoifmom

I am just off the Splendor and they had the straight cut fries (crinkle cut elsewhere on the ship), but I agree that they didn't taste the same as they used to. They are a thicker cut.

The person who posted that actually told Carnival that their other person was cancelling. So, they put through a cancellation. That's what she interpreted to be a "no-show fee." OP, just don't say anything or when asked, you don't know when they are coming.

For us, also, the CD is basically a non-factor. Having said that, we notice if they are really bad or annoying or absolutely fantastic. Chris Williams (the Flying Scotsman) really made one cruise great for us and we have had a couple who we wondered how they ever got their position. In general, though, we just simply don't notice.

I believe that most of your questions can be answered by a quick call to the rental companies. Find out exactly which models are being offered (normally they are some model of Pride scooter). In my experience, the arm rests raise, but I don't believe that the seats swivel. @Essiesmomis spot on in her suggestion to go and try them out at a local store. I can only answer for the Carnival berth at Port Canaveral (and they only use Scootaround), but DH was able to pick up and return his scooter at the port entrance. You could verify this, as well, with a quick phone call. Even if they are delivered to your stateroom, all cruise lines offer some type of wheelchair service for embarkation.

Well, to be technical about it, all dining options are open except the MDR. If you wish to avoid the buffet, you could get Pizza, Guys, Blue Iguana, Deli and whatever else is on the Lido that is not buffet.

There are two basic types of holds that can be placed on a credit card (1) an authorization hold, which is commonly referred to as a "hold." This ties up a specified amount of credit in anticipation of a final charge being placed against the credit limit. (2) an administrative hold, which is commonly referred to as a "freeze" and can only be placed by the credit card agency. A reasonable person would understand that that in the context of a cruise and the application of a hold against a credit card, that the first type of hold is being discussed.

Evidence? Carnival's website clearly states that they place a hold on your card. Are you confusing a hold (like every hotel and restaurant places) and a freeze (which means that you cannot use your card at all)?

1. There is no require to fund your S&S card at all, and certainly no requirement to use a credit card to do so. You can simply select "cash account" when doing your online check-in. 2. That is simply not how holds work. A hold simply "pre-charges" the credit card, thus reducing the amount of credit line available. 3. They do put an initial hold on a credit card of the amounts listed below. Once your charges reach that amount, they then put additional holds on the card. That is why using a debit card is a bad idea, because you are tying up twice the amount of cash necessary.

You do NOT need to do this.

It is absolutely NOT necessary to put a card on your account. When they ask at the port, simply tell them that you have sufficient OBC for your needs. I've done it before. Just keep an eye on your account and if you feel like you need to add to your account, then you can go add your credit card information at the kiosk.

$190. It's on their website.

If time is a factor, you can purchase OTC tests or use the free government onces and use On-Point to proctor them.

No, but you can use it to purchase gift cards at Cherry on Top and once you return you can use then to book your returning guest offer.

You can remove your prepaid grats (they will be refunded) and use OBC to pay your grats. Casino!! Specialty dining. Personally, I wouldn't even use the OBC in the spa (I really don't like their upsell tactics). Alcohol and other items in the Fun Shops on board. Tip big 🙂

It's the same as not being able to go to fixed time dining if you are assigned YTD. 😉

No. You cannot go to YTD if you have been assigned to fixed time dining. The Lido is the place to go in this case.

I really think that the wrap-up to this is that everyone has a preference based on personal reasons and experience. I like that Carnival offers different experiences that work for everyone.

So, what I hear you saying is that you could have been seated with the same waitstaff, but choose to be seated immediately rather than waiting. That's fair, but it's not exactly the same as saying that you can't have the same waitstaff. It's the same in a land restaurant. You can request a specific section, but if it's full, you would have to wait. In our last two cruises (post-restart,) we have never had to request to be seated in the same section, it has happened automatically. In fact, we were seated at the exact same table for one entire cruise. It is likely built into the system that way.

Yes, anytime today. It is measured in days, not hours. You're good to go.

If you are not yet eligible for a booster, you are considered up to date and can test today!

We love YTD. As far as we are concered, there is no down side. We go to dinner when we want. Normally that is about the same time every evening, but we don't have to stress if we want to go earlier or later for whatever reason (to catch a specific show or our excursion runs long, etc.). As long as there is a table available in the section that we like, we have the same wait staff every evening. If we don't like our wait staff, we simply request a different section the next evening. We always catch "showtime" in the MDR at least a couple of times throughout the cruise (yes, they do it in YTD, too). We also see many of the same people every evening and get to chit-chat without sharing a table and having "forced" conversation throughout the entire meal (we like our time together). We have never experienced long wait times, but with the HUB app check-in, if it is long, we can grab a drink and wait in the bar instead of congregating outside of the MDR like vultures waiting for road-kill. YTD is just as mindful of learning our likes/dislikes and accomodating our dietary restrictions.

You used to be able to take a certain number of "guests" with you using your priority tender benefit. I don't know if that has been eliminated with the restart or not.

In my experience, Carnival really doesn't care how much you carry on. ADA would be on your side if there was a strict allowance, much as with the airlines. You will have no issues.

So, since you are ambulatory and wheelchairs fold, the door size is not a particular issue for you. Depending on the class of cabin you have, space may be an issue. The wheelchair cannot be stored in the hallway. I would recommend going to a grocery store or big box store and trying out a scooter. You may find that the independence is worth the additional anxiety of dealing with the elevators. On Carnival, there are plenty of areas where wheelchairs and scooters can be parked just inside of the MDR and theaters. I cannot imagine that RC would be any different. We have never had an issue with anyone bothering DH's scooter.

That's interesting. I pulled it directly from the website just today ... I must say, though, Carnival does a poor job of making sure that everything on their website is correct.