TerReuv

Thanks all. This is the first time doing it and just wanted to get experiences. 

Just wondering what other's experiences are with using Barclay points to get Carnival gift cards vs. OBC.  I am trying to decide which would be the best option.  It's only $250, so not worried about what happens if I don't use all of it.  If I get the gift card, then I will have to add it to the account once we board the ship.  If I get the OBC, it should be there the first day if that is the day I select, correct?  Has anyone had an issue with choosing OBC and it not showing up on their account?  That is my biggest concern.

Thanks!

On 7/12/2024 at 1:06 PM, Top_of_the_Cube said:

 

Thanks for that info.  I agree, it is worth asking.  In 2021, I was not able to apply gift cards to my account in the terminal.  Of course, that was after the restart and maybe it was a temporary thing.  A few years prior I seem to recall the same situation, but couldn't swear to it.

 

For my personal situation, I like to arrive at the pier late enough that I walk straight onto the ship.  I would rather not have the extra delay in boarding.  Might not be a big deal to some, but so be it.

 

I am curious, @TerReuv, was your experience at the Port of Galveston?

I've actually never sailed from Galveston.  I've sailed from New Orleans, Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Ft. Lauderdale & Miami.  I was able to apply cards during check-in at the port at New Orleans, Jacksonville & Ft. Lauderdale. The last two we've taken since the restart, we didn't use gift cards as we had a lot of OBC. It sure was convenient. 

On 7/9/2024 at 1:33 PM, Top_of_the_Cube said:

 

As usual, your recommendation is valid, but my goal would be to have the ability to buy drinks (or make other purchases) as soon as I get on board and put off having to visit the kiosk or Guest Services desk until a later time.  If I don't want to put a credit card on file, and any On Board Credit that I might have won't cover my first day, I think Cruise Cash (General) is a solid plan.  Especially when I can purchase Cruise Cash with a discounted Gift Card.

 

If we had the ability to apply Gift Cards directly to our account prior to boarding, I would be singing a different tune.

 

I hope all these various views are helpful to the OP and others who are weighing their account funding options.

When you check in at the port, you can usually add the gift cards.  The last time I used them (granted it was 2-3 years ago), I was able to have the cards applied to my S&S card at the port when checking in.  At least worth asking.

23 hours ago, wrcjr98 said:

 

Thinking back, I think you're right?  I think it was maybe the crowd?  Because basically, the ships are the same.  The crew even seemed different.  The passengers were in much better spirits this past May.  Even my husband mentioned that - that everyone in May seemed in such a good mood, and he never notices anything like that!  But - we just booked the Celebration for next March, when my grandaughter is on Spring Break, so now, I may change my mind about the Celebration!  HA!!  When we do the Family Cruises, they are Mult-Generational, and we go when all the kids are out of school - so - I may be suggesting to not cruise when school is out like you mentioned if this one is crazy too!  I never thought about it that way before!  

My husband and I usually cruise in October (less children). This year we're sailing with my son & his family, so we are cruising a week after Labor Day.  The grands are only 2 & 4 now & the oldest will miss a week of pre-K, if we want to sail together after this time we will need to adjust our schedule for their school.  My thought is to work with the fall breaks as they are not as consistant across the country as summer breaks & spring breaks are.  Hoping that will work to our advantage. I will say I am a bit hesitant, but making memories with the grands is worth it.

I'd take it, we love balconies on the Lido deck.  But, be forewarned, once you have had a balcony on the Lido, you will always want one!

On 6/17/2024 at 7:15 AM, cruiserNC said:

From what I have seen from recent utube Mardi Gras videos, if you arrive on parking deck 3 before 10:00am, it is blocked, and you are asked to wait on the ground level. I would guess you could stay in your vehicle until that time or speak with the person managing the blocked area. 

That's a good idea.  We can do that for sure. I have watched several, but can only find a couple that are less than 6 months old.  I know things can change in that amount of time. We've only cruised out of Canaveral a couple of times, and never on the Mardi Gras.  When we last cruised out of there it was on the Magic and just the two of us.  We literally parked where we got out of the car & the crosswalk was right there to the terminal. This time with my son & his family (2 & 4 yr old) and my DIL's grandmother I feel that I need to be even more prepared. In case you couldn't figure it out, I am the planner.  🙂

On 6/15/2024 at 9:23 PM, cruisinqt said:

We’ve been on the Celebration twice, the Mardi Gras twice, and the Jubilee once. And I can say for absolute certain that Cucina Del Capitano is NOT open for lunch on embarkation day on the Excel class. If it was open it would be my first choice for lunch. The reason it’s not open is because it’s being used for muster drills on that first day. So is Chibang, it’s closed for the same reason. Cucina has the free lunches all week long too, just not on embarkation day. 

Thanks.  That at least makes sense.  It's always such a nice option on Embark and leaving the crazies on the lido deck.  LOL  We will definitely go for lunch during the week & the make your own bowls at Chibang sound like the Mongolian Wok.  

I've heard several different answers about this.  Can anyone confirm who (if anyone) can use the bridge on level 3 of the parking deck for Mardi Gras?  Our group has 2 cabins that have FTTF & someone using a walker that will have wheelchair assistance to get on the ship (pre-arranged).  Don't want to choose the wrong level to make it easier on our one with the walker.  

Thanks!

This is crazy.  On the ships that have it, we have always had lunch at the Captain's Pasta Bar (Cucina) on embark as it is so much quieter and nice to be served. I asked the question about Cucina being open for lunch on Mardi Gras and got so many different answers.  Some said it was open, some said only on sea days and some said not at all for lunch.  No idea what is right at this point.

6 hours ago, Knights on the Beach said:

Diamond, suites, Platinum and Faster to the Fun have priority. It will be shown on your boarding pass and luggage tags if you have priority.

Does that include handicap?  Two of our cabins have FTTF, but we didn't get it for the handicap one since they get on before FTTF. 

On 6/12/2024 at 2:24 PM, Knights on the Beach said:

 

Yes, I agree with this. Some of these replies make me wonder if they're even talking about the Mardi Gras garage at terminal 3??

That was what I was wondering.  I saw a video showing people driving in and them taking the luggage inside the parking garage before you park.  

10 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Apparently knowing someone's booking number and last name means you can cancel their cruise.  

 

I believe I read she posted all her details online, is that correct?  I can't imagine why anyone would post their booking number online.  I don't even post we are going on a cruise until after we return. 

20 hours ago, tytanbri said:

I do this every cruise. We cruise typically with three rooms. Each room books on their own and then our PVP links them. Once they are linked, I add the other two cruises to my cruise manager. You just need their booking number to do this. On check in day, I check in all three rooms at the same time. I have never had to log in to their accounts. They will go in after they are checked in to complete the remainder of their information (passports/credit card info). We can each print out our own boarding passes or they can be printed out by one person. 

 

Hope this helps!

Thank you!  That was my thought since I could actually pay on their account if I wanted to.  I can see all their details in my cruise mananger page. Glad to hear others have been able to do this.

17 minutes ago, finoky said:

The people I did it for do not have accounts. The reservations were linked. I could see everything from my login. I did it all for them. There would be no other way possible they could do this on their own. They are not capable. 

Mine can do it, justr trying to make it easier. We are listed as Cruise Companions, but our PVP actually linked the reservations.  I'm hoping that makes a difference.  It just seemed that if I could see their actual account balances and pay on their cruise if I wanted to, then I should be able to check them in.  

Thanks for both answers.  Hope to hear from a few others to see if there is a trend.  I figured it would be easier for me to do everyone, and only one person would have to be up to do it.

18 minutes ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

 

Just having them linked won't allow you to do their check-in.  You will have to log in with their account information and password.

I could make a payment on their account if I wanted to. But, I can't do their check-in?  I thought if I could make payments, I could do their check-in.  Thanks for the info.

We are cruising with my son & his family & my DIL's grandma.  We are all linked together and I can see their booking information.  I am assuming that since I can see their information (billing, etc), I will be able to do the online check-in for all three bookings.  Is that correct?  Do I have to choose my own port check-in time first and save, then do theirs or can I do all three at the same time and then save.  I hope that makes sense.  Just trying to figure out how to do all three so we have the same port check-in time.  Then they can go in the next day and complete all the remaining info & sign the kids up for camp, etc.  Do I have it right?  Any tips from those who have done this?

Thanks for any help!

18 hours ago, PinaCarada said:

Here's the info from the Carnival site about the hours and about kids dinner. We have cruised 5 times this past year with our kids (4 and 6 years old) and have found this info to be true on all of the cruises.

 

Thanks. I saw that, but it didn't say if they took the kids back after dinner.  I appreciate you actually answering my question.  We were trying to eat an earlier dinner so we could either see a show or do something with them.  Plus, the later times were taken already when I went to book.

1 minute ago, bg2310 said:

If you want to avoid crowds on Lido deck for embark day, I recommend the BBQ stall outside from Guy's Pig & Anchor on deck 8.

 

I went there on the Celebration (same class) embark day after boarding and there was very few people once outside on the deck at it, no line at all. It was pretty decent and had a variety of meats and options.

 

They are open for lunch including the day you embark.

Thanks.  Forgot about the lunch area for P & A.  

31 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Sorry I can't remember, but Mardi Gras offers lots of new lunch alternatives the pre-Excel ships didn't, in case you want to try - I'll name a few but I'm sure others can add some I'm not thinking of... Shaq's Chicken, Shawarma, etc.  Here's a link to a previous similar thread, and it incudes the Fun Times lunch offerings...

 

 

Thanks.  We were just hoping to avoid the Lido deck on embark day for lunch.  First time that our son & his family will be joining us, which includes the grandkids almost 3 & 4.  Just figured it would be a bit less overwhelming when we first get on to have lunch in a quieter area. 

Appreciate the link.  It's a big help.

We're sailing on the Mardi Gras for the first time and we love going to the Captain's Pasta Bar on embark day as it usually not crowded like the Lido deck is.  Can anyone who's been on Mardi Gras confirm if the Pasta Bar is in Cucina for lunch?

Thanks!

This will be our first time cruising with our son & his family.  There are 2 little ones (almost 3 & 4 1/2 by cruise).  The adults wanted to do the steakhouse without the kids.  How does it work with the kids clubs and them having dinner with the group? I understand they have a section of the lido blocked off for them, but can they be in the club and be taken to dinner then back to the club, or do we drop off in the lido? Do we have to make them a reservation? We would like to book the steakhouse ahead of time, but just are not sure about the times.  We're going to be on the Mardi Gras.

Any information would be appreciated.  We've been on several cruises & a few with my parents, but this is the first time with little ones.  Thanks in advance!

Two lunch quesrtions. Is Cucina open for the free Pasta Bar for lunch on Maradi Gras? And is there a free stir fry lunch anywhere like the Mongolian Wok or the lunch at JiJi's?

Thanks!

On 11/17/2023 at 9:29 AM, rainbowflag said:

Seriously though, I do think Carnival asks the crew to do too much at times. Telling an oiler in the engine room after their shift they have to parade around on stage in the main lounge in front of guests, for example. 

Do you know that Carnival makes them do that or is that possibly something that is an option for them? Maybe they ask for volunteers from the crew who want to participate?