cbcruiser

We pretty much researched, read these boards and based on information, comparisons, past experience on different lines we ended up placing a deposit with 3 other couples on the 2024 Viking World Cruise.  We have done Viking River cruises and love, but never an Ocean cruise.  Plan on doing one next year just to confirm our choice.   

Met with several life long couple friends and we all decided to go on a World Cruise  in 2024.  I know its far out, but apparently 2023 Viking and Oceana sold out quickly.  6 Weeks for Viking and I heard 1 day for Oceana.  No segments.  Great information on this thread.  We have just started researching.  Have done Asia and South America with Princess and loved it, but agree by the time you add shore excursions etc. you are up to the premium lines prices besides the crowds etc.  

Thanks for information.  I could not find.  Probably didn't look hard enough.  That is the right way to handle.

We have our first Oceania cruise scheduled for July from San Francisco.  Carnival just cancelled our April Spring break cruise and offered Option A 100% FCC with Additional $600.00 on board credit.  FCC to be used by 12/31/2022 or Option B 100% refund in 90 days.  Shore excursions, prepaid tips, beverage packages, port charges etc. immediate refund no matter which option is chosen.

All Oceania talks about is if client cancels cruise and how great their cancellation policy is.  What happens if they cancel cruise?  I can't seem to get answer from anyone.  Does anyone know?

Side note,  Carnival has canceled all cruises from San Francisco for 2020.  I'm 99% sure we aren't going, but going to make them cancel.

We are on the April 11 sailing. Spring Break.  Had been looking forward to this cruise.   We are also still planning to go.  Group of about 14 family and friends, some over 60, but will be watching events as they unfold.  Know some health care professionals and virus is basically a bad cold.  If you are old and have other issues you should be concerned.  Potential quarantine of 2 weeks is a major problem.  According to CDC 10/1/2019 to 2/29/2020 there has been an estimated 20,000 to 52,000 flu deaths in USA..  Not sure if this really is the black death or reason for such high anxiety unless we are not being told everything.  Virus is here to stay and not going to disappear.

5 hours ago, mzjan said:

When I posted this picture, I didn't do it being ungrateful or disappointed. I have a lanyard with some bling-bling that I really like  but my husband wore this lanyard while we were onboard, he likes it. We certainly don't cruise for the Platinum gifts, so many other perks come with being Platinum that we enjoy that we will continue to cruise with Carnival....like I never want to wait in long embarkation/debarkation lines!!! 😉 People getting upset and throwing Carnival under the bus over a gift they don't like? Really? I cruise because it is a relaxing vacation for me, not for the gifts! Cruise on.....

Was not planning on saying anymore on this subject, but I am disappointed  Not ungrateful.  We have done over 26 cruises with Carnival over 25 years. Always several cabins.  Probably have spent over $100,000.  If carnival is hurting just stop the platinum gifts.  They always gave ok gifts.  It was always fun to be surprised.  The lanyard was cheaper than anyone they sold in their gift shop and to me personally took as a slap to the face.  We do enjoy all the other benefits however.  Having said this, we just booked another Carnival cruise on the Panorama next year.  Also am stockholder which is really a great program for onboard credits on all their lines.  I am sending our lanyards to the President of Carnival Cruise Lines, Christine Duffy and telling her to go ahead and recycle.  They probably need the money. 

We just booked Panorama for next April.  We have cruised out of Long Beach several times using the Parking garage and never had a problem arriving early before 11:00 AM.  Has the situation changed?  Does anyone know when they expect the garage expansion or if its being built as we speak?  Panorama is supposed to arrive this November so you would think work would be going on expansion.

When we got lanyard on magic 2nd day I really thought how nice an additional little item.  Later on in the cruise when comparing notes with other platinum guests, I couldn't believe that this was the gift.  everybody pretty much agreed if this is the way they treat their frequent cruisers, we don't need to go anymore.  Along with poor service with drink servers.  They hook you on bubbles program and then make sure they drag out drink service because they know they already got your money by cutting down server numbers.  Years ago you couldn't get rid of those guys. Just venting.  2nd post on this subject but it really bugged me. Final Post

Just got off magic.  Cheap  lanyards. Service poor. Have been with them since our sons were small and now grand children. Has been slowly going down hill. I think we are done.

Thanks for information. Just booked for next year and was starting to research Pre/Post hotels/transfers and excursions. Any information/recommendations appreciated.

Always wanted to do this cruise. On bucket list. Thanks for information. Hope to hear more reviews, recommendations before we go.

Just got off Miracle. Service is non existent in bars. On deck hardly better. With cheers they make you get your own drinks at bar and are able to cut staff. Also noticed no more mints in stateroom at night.

Jubilee, Nov/1988, Carnival one of the few to allow 5 in a cabin. Took our 3 little boys at that time. All got hooked, We are all Platinum today and they are taking their children, 3rd generation of cruisers.

OFFICIAL CRUISE CRITIC PLATINUM CRUISERS

01 CRUZN BUCKEYE - OHIO

02 Icarrythebags - Ohio

03 CrazyAboutCruising- New York

04 bbiggar-Wisconsin

05 Cotton

06 VoyagerFL - Florida (via Indiana)

07 Tom-n-Cheryl - FLORIDA

08 Nautical but Nice - Missouri

09 Elaine515 - Florida

10 LHP and family - Memphis

11 Ladyspoilt and family - Tennessee

12 Cruiser64-Florida

13 Beach4me - South Carolina

14 YesitDonna - Massachusetts

15 RICHFRET - Florida

16 JBHCW-Jane-North Carolina

17 BARBARA J.W KENTUCKY

18 MrPete - New York

19 Doug910 - Florida

20 GottaLuvCruising - Florida

21 Mich6674 - Florida

22 Luv's Crusin' BJW North Carolina

23 JJudy-Michigan

24 burtonsgigi - Fort Mill, SC

25 Cruisedogs2 - Yorktown, VA

26 OBX_FIN and obx_fintoo - Virginia

27 ahoys-only one ahoy--Kathy from Florida

28 ILuvCarnival - Cleveland, Ohio

29 crusinsusan - PA

30 gator bait - Florida

31 jlcga - Florida

32 dls - California

33 Blueocean and husband - Ohio

34 Ronath - Louisiana

35 Mosel - Florida

35 MILEMRKR63- HARVEY CEDARS, NJ

37 PeterV - London United Kingdom

38 bthorn1108 - Florida (by way of Massachusetts)

39 Mike/Cheryl - Omaha, NE

40 Suzys - New Jersey

41 PSRCPA - Florida

42 Host Graham - Rochester, NY

43 CoCoNut Willie- Texas

44 Grouchpuss - Arizona

45 pam7553 - Illinois

46 molme-Georgia

47 meltla (Tommy) New Orleans, LA

48 bonniemari - Tennessee

49 cruzinsteve - Texas

50 jy148 - New Jersey

51 cld1225-Virginia

52 Carnivalkim-Georgia

53 rburns44-Ohio

54 Karter - Florida

55 Birdiegirl - Minnesota

56 Emtnmare - Minnesota

57 mamawg- Blue Springs, Missouri

58 Diane F and Jerry - California

59 rpsinnj - New Jersey

60 gymbrat33 - Florida

61 bonstersd - California

62 Bea2002- Florida

63 Sandgnat- Geogia

64 Cjm61 - New York

65 Kstrickman - Maryland

66 rwdtgt - Florida

67 Louisiana Joe and Family

68 earlethepearl

69 Litewait ( plus dd 21, & ds 15) San Diego, Ca

70 Quickrate- Florida

71 sk8rpatty - California

72 shortstop95 (jane & luke) delaware

73 SCUBA Mark - Texas

74 dotshub- Larry & Doris - Florida

75 woodi- Oklahoma

76 volman and kipmom - Tennessee

77 Bases5 Florida

78 Lv2camp&cruise- Chris and Kim, Tennessee

79 KenMo & DH - Missouri

80 smarks & DH oldfart - GA.

81 Floatway and Hubby - Friendswood, Texas

82 Luv2cruz44 - Redding, CA

83 Stircrzy - Texas (some of us got left off in an earlier posting)

84 irishgirl - Michigan

85 Candigirl41 - So. CA (2nd try)

86 luv2cruise777l - So Ca.

87 Cruise from NY

88 Joel (Cruzman), LA (Lower Alabama)

89 Amanda, also from Lower Alabama

90 75Vette - Missouri

91 Yogi2929 - San Bernardino County, CA

92 JaguarGirl - Jacksonville, Florida

93 vettebuf - Elaine and Frank and Jon, Sicklerville, NJ

94 airmanship - Arkansas

95 *Luv2Cruise*- New York

96 Flynlo - Oklahoma

97 cruisergirl2002 - Indiana

98. Deaf Dude - New Orlean

99. Dan40&Barb-Florida

100. G'ma-Voorhees NJ

101. JMW / MJW MB SC

102. MelBCroozer - Covington, LA

103 Shawnie - Canada

104. Mikel1733 & Sally - Nebraska

105. DarthGrady- Florida

106. Southbayer - So Calif

107. pmc7704 - Florida

108. MarylandLady - Maryland

109. Smoofdaddy and Mama Linda - Tennessee

110. FunShipFan - New York

111. mek - Ohio

112.S.S. Oceanlover - PA

113. Cbcruiser - San Diego, CA