Donh44

Will my wife and I be able to make a 11:45AM flight at MCO coming from Port Canaveral?

I am a Florida resident and, just recently, on TV, they have said that the security lines are some of the longest and timeliest in the country. Word to the wise. You decide. All you need is a late arrival at Port Canaveral or some traffic problems and you will pay for it.

Hey all, wanted to get a few opinions and see if I'm playing with lit matches in the fireworks factory. We are on the Sunshine December 3-10, and the return flight that we're looking at leaves at 11:05 a.m.

 

I'm of the opinion that even being some of the first off the ship, we'll be cutting it close, but most of my group thinks otherwise. Would love to hear others opinions on this before making a decision.

 

Thanks,

Mimgan

IMO, that is cutting it way too close. Ship docks at 7 am. Luggage has to be unloaded, ship needs to clear customs. You probably won't even start debarking until, at least, 8 am. You need to claim your luggage and then clear Customs as well. Additionally, the airline wants you at the airport at least 2 hrs prior to departure. Allow for traffic. It is at least a 45 minute drive from the port to the airport. I, personally, would not put myself through that stress, especially after having a nice cruise.

4000 posts since 2000 and you are now asking what gratuities are. Okay, I'll bite, what's the punch line?

Give the guy a break. He just may not know what the word gratuity means.

What are gratuities? :eek:

Gratuities are tips for the Room Stewards, waiters/waitresses, etc. Prepaying them at the time of booking makes it easier to tip and not have to worry about it on the last day. I always prepay the gratuities and then tip extra accordingly especially if the service is good (which it usually is). The crew members get a small salary and depend on the tips of the passengers. Hope this helps.

So a quick background, my husband and I are going on a cruise April 2017 with a lot of his former military friends. It's a reunion for them.

Most of them are new cruisers so I thought I would make a goodie bag. We are also their travel agents.

Here is what I have so far, any other suggestions? I'm trying to put everything inside of the tumbler cups. Thanks in advanced!

A tumbler cup.

A lanyard.

Ship map.

A Highlighter. Comes in very handy when marking off things that you want to do.

Is it worth paying for? Going on a 5 day cruise and I believe only 1 port is tendered. Is it worth the extra cost? We are sailing out of Miami. I think the earliest available boarding time as of now (for the staggered) is 10:30am.

 

Any input is appreciated!

 

Thanks!

I had major surgery on my back and still have back problems. I never minded waiting in the lines before but I now get FTTF always. It allows one to bypass the general checkin. Faster service. On board earlier. Cabin is ready. This is worth every penny to me. Everyone is different. I will always purchase it. It is a treat to me. Others may not agree. But, to each his own.

Your problem lies with a refund likely destined for a credit card you no longer have or the mixture of paying for excursions with multiple forms of payment.

 

Such machinations are horrendous to unravel. As another suggested, try your credit card company to inquire of refund activities were attempted under your old credit card number.

 

If not, you're unfortunately faced with the vicious cycle of payment adjustment customer service. Brace yourself and hopefully you have access to a speakerphone.

Contact the CC company to which the refund probably was made to. They will probably send you a refund or credit your current card. If Carnival said that the refund was made, then the problems lies with the CC company.

When I book airfare, the price I pay at the time of booking remains the price I have paid by the time I fly. If there is a fare drop, I can't call my airline and ask for credit.

 

With Carnival, I spend a lot of time researching fares, watching for price drops, filling out forms and phoning for credit. As I usually book cruises 9 months to a year out, and have 3 or 4 booked at a time, this means I spend quite a lot of time checking prices.

 

My question is would you be happier if Carnival adopted the airlines' policy of the price you book is the price you pay?

 

I certainly enjoy getting credit for fare drops, but I might also gain several weeks of my life back a year if I didn't have to check fares so often.

 

Yea or Nay?

Since you have 3-4 cruises booked at a time, then it will take some time to check them all out. I have 1 cruise, usually, and I have Fareviewer bookmarked whereby, all I have to do is click it and the template comes right up for me to check it out. Not a problem. Just takes a few seconds and I check every day.

can anyone recommend a good hotel in Jacksonville that offers a park and stay with shuttle to and from the port?

I stayed at the Microtel Airport on two occasions. I left my car for the duration of the cruise and they arranged a shuttle service to and from the Jaxport. Had no problems and everything went smoothly. Hotel had a Continental breakfast as well and saved me from having to go out to eat somewhere. I highly recommend it.

Hey guys, I tried searching and fig easier to just ask so sorry if it's been covered. I just booked Vista and it was pricey compared to my usually bookings. I booked early saver and my question is.... Do I check once a day or a few times a day? And what is easiest way to go about it? I do have a PVP so if I find a lower rate then do I just let her know??? Sorry to be so clueless but I usually book interline. Thanks a bunch!!

 

 

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I have Fareviewer on my Favorites list and check every day. I just booked a cruise back on July 2 and have gotten a price drop already. I have always booked ES and have pretty much always gotten price drops. If trip is not completely paid for they will apply it to the balance. If paid for they will give you the difference in OBC. I have gotten it both ways.

Has anyone's PVP ever sent them a "Thank You"of some sort for having several of your friends book with them? I know TA's do this.

I expect nothing more from my PVP than good service and that is what I get from him. He calls periodically and lets me know of sales and promotions but does not pressure me, which I appreciate. I had to call him once and it was a Sunday morning. He was not at work but the call transferred to his personal cell phone and he actually called me back immediately and he was in church at the time. Can't beat that for wanting to service his client. Great personality and ALWAYS ready to help whenever he can. I don't want any special gifts other than that kind of service. I now consider him a friend as I have used him for quite a few cruises. Wish I could tell you who he is.

I'm wondering the same thing. I have FTTF for the 1st time in Jan.2017. I was hoping I could go earlier. I never selected a check in time but after I purchased FTTF my docs show 12:30 pm? If that's the time I have to check in, then it kind of defeats part of the reason I purchased it in the first place.

If you have FTTF, then you can enter the terminal whenever you want. The reason for requesting you to select a time is just so the terminal employees have an idea of how many are expected in the terminal at any given time. FTTF, Diamond & Platinum can enter the terminal whenever they get there regardless of whatever time they selected when asked.

Unless they have changed policy you don't BOTH have to buy it. I was on the carnival paradise in May and my husband purchased the soda package but I did not. I think if you buy the alcohol package you both have to buy it.....but not the soda only package. Hope that helps :)

 

 

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You are correct. For soda purchase, it is individual. They will put a sticker on your S & S card for those who have purchased. For the alcohol purchase, everyone in the cabin must purchase it.

I used ES price protection two days ago to take advantage of the OBC offer going on this week. I noticed today that the sale was still going on, but the cost of the fare had gone down $10 pp. I know it's not much, but every bit counts, right?

 

So, that brings up the question as to whether or not there is a limit to the number of times you can use this to get a better deal. I can't find anything written about it, but I thought maybe someone here had some practical knowledge of it. TIA.

On past cruises, I have had multiple reduction in price due to ES. I either got a reduction of the balance of payment or OBC if the cruise was paid off.

Nice. Please tell me I'm not the only person who checks out the website every day.

I check it every day as well.

Pssst!

 

Have you seen the new Carnival/Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle button on this forum? Look to your right. Yes...the right. See the button under the first ad? Click Join the Party, well..to join the party! (It will take you to the Party Registration Page!)

 

Enjoy!

 

Laura

For the life of me, I do not see a button on the right.

It's for Jan 2017 and on

Jan 2017 thru April

For an inside the side will not matter.

The side does matter. There are inside cabins on both sides of the ship.

LOL!!. Ok thanks for the information . So is the Room Service free or i there a charge for this. I'm just trying to figure what I need to do if I get hungry later since my dinner time is 6:30pm. I know when I drink I tend to get hungry after a while. What are my options?

Room Service is pretty much free. However, they have added a few items, such as wings, for which you are charged.

i just completed my last minute booking sailing on 11/22/14 on sunshine so...

3 days "left"!

197

He's not Carnival bashing. He just has some real concerns about the size of the ship and all the negative things we've read about the Ecstasy and that's what he's basing his feelings on.

My very first Carnival cruise was on the Ecstasy. And that was about a year after their major fire on board, in the laundry facilities, off the coast of Miami. Nice ship and a memorable one since it was the first Carnival cruise. A cruise is what you make of it. Me, I am a very laid back person and leave the worldly problems back on shore and just enjoy. Have a great cruise.

First off, no, we do not get insurance. My husband says no, so no. I don't even try anymore.

 

I know ships can & will change ports & destinations due to weather. That is not a problem. I cruise for the experience, not the ports. My concern, question, is what if a hurricane/TS is due to hit an embarkation port on the day a cruise is to leave/ arrive. I know with SS Sandy, ships left early to avoid the storm. Did people got refunds or compensation if they cannot get to the port earlier?

 

I have 5 cruises booked & paid for between now & November. If I have a day or 2 notice, I can get there earlier, but I was just wondering what SOP would be.

One only has to experience once an emergency to know that travel insurance is very important. You are rolling the dice. An emergency evacuation off of a ship or from a foreign island or country can be thousands of dollars. For the amount that you are paying for those cruises, what is a few more dollars? Your DH is not thinking straight for himself or his family. Just saying.

I don't think that's your cabin steward's call. Everyone is expected to be at Muster Drill for BOTH legs of their B2B.

NO exceptions to the Muster Drill. Everyone has to go. That is sometimes why the drill takes so long as they have to make sure everyone is there and they do do a head count.

I asked this on the RC board as it originally came up there, but I was curious to expand the scope and see what those on the CCL board would say.

 

In another thread, someone made the suggestion of asking a guest to switch cabins. This elicited a wide variety of responses and got me thinking about the topic. While I would feel awkward being asked, I wouldn't be offended, but what would the circumstances have to be to get me to switch the cabin?

 

If I did not have a connecting cabin or nearby kids to contend with, if the switch could be made quickly / painlessly (under 20 minutes at GS), if it did not screwup my Seapass account, orders, room deliveries for the week (and I have doubts on that), if the switched location was comparable (not under or over any lounges, not next to housekeeping closets) etc., and if there was financial incentive to do so offered by the person wanting to switch (I always study deck plans and hand pick my own cabins and pay a premium to do so). Not sure what would happen with luggage if it wasn't yet delivered, or if it was I wouldn't want to drag it across the ship. And usually as soon as we get our luggage we fully unpack.

 

But, yes, there are circumstances I'd consider doing the switch. Or maybe it is better to say "criteria"? I doubt I'd switch under any circumstance for a downgrade in cabin category however.

 

What's your opinions on this? Interested to hear other perspectives.

Don't know that I would switch under ANY circumstance. It would also involve getting new S & S cards as well. I would not want that headache of complicated charges on the card, etc. I can see all sorts of problems.

Do you have a pic of the elegant night menu without the lobster? I have searched but can't find one. I read the press release about what was supposed to be on the menu, just haven't seen it verified.

 

Was escargot on the menu?

 

What was Bahamas weather like?

 

We leave Thursday on Fascination. Never taken a January cruise before!

I am going to be on the Fascination Thursday as well. Hoping it warms up a bit.