SoCalKJ

Busted for taking dessert photos...forced to eat a slice: caramel cheesecake! Yuck!

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Exactly the way I like it: EMPTY!

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My short-term attempt at being healthy. This is where it'll end.

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Already have tomorrow's breakfast on the door!

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I'm here! From the time I got outta my truck to the time I got to Guest Services onboard was LITERALLY less than 10 minutes.

Guess who's STILL across the way...?

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I love how my signature says I've sailed already… I'm not even in Long Beach yet!!

Technically… I'm still on the 101 in Camarillo... Going up the grade…

We don't mind, actually. We didn't care for Ketchikan when we were there in 2011 (fishing trip from hell) and I'm actually looking forward to another Sea Day. OBC, future discount and longer time in the remaining ports...? Fine with us. :)

Elegant night/dinner is the day we're in Ensenada.

My signature says I've Sailed already. That's mullarkey. I'm still here. In fact, I'm at work right now. I won't be at the ship for another 12 hours. :(

You do not get both. If you cancel the cruise, you get your money back for all expenses with the proper documention. BUT, you do not get the 25% off a future cruise. That only applies if you do NOT cancel this cruise.

I figured that much. :-)

I was speaking with regard to the benefits offered and NOT canceling.

Besides: If I canceled that cruise, where would they send my onboard credit?? LOL!!

I hope this can be enlarged...

Specifically, on the bottom… The fine print: it says the 25% discount offer is limited to one per booking, is nontransferable, and applied to the cruise fare only AFTER YOU'VE PAID THE DEPOSIT.

What my letter tells me is that I'm going to have a fantastic Alaskan cruise, I'm not going to Ketchikan (which doesn't bother me in the least), we're spending more time in cities that interest us, we're getting 100 bucks between the two of us back on our sign & sail account, and a discount on our next cruise.

Sounds great to me.

...but nowadays, I can get an hour massage for $20 and up around here and I don't feel any high-pressured sales tactics to buy products I'll never use.

I did cave once (or I should say, DH splurged for me) a few years back...they had a massage chair set up near the Lido (I can't remember what ship it was...sorry) where they basically charged a nominal fee for about a 10-minute refresher.

While we're on the subject: I wish they had poolside foot massage therapists. I'd go broke. :D

I was wondering the same thing. I'm going to email my planner.

...and the 25% cruise discount is for cruises sailed before 4/16/16.

(I just looked at the email again.)

We are booked for July and I am pretty upset. The cruise, airfare, hotel, excursions, etc for my family of 4 has been very expensive. It doesn't seem worth it for 2 Alaska ports. The whole idea was to see Alaska. A once in a lifetime trip for us. But now I'm stuck and I am not happy.

They are offering a full refund up to 3 weeks out...and 25% off a future cruise for those who aren't happy about the change.

Hmmm....we didn't care much for Ketchikan last time...this could be advantageous for us........

....I was just moanin' and groanin' about paying wayyy too much for my stateroom...LOL...could be a blessing in disguise to enjoy it a little more than I originally planned.....hmmmm...

Best feeling ever...second only to the actual excitement of stepping foot on the ship upon embarkation! :p

However, somebody please reach through the computer screen and slap me hard in the face the next time I get a brilliant idea to book a flippin' suite on the Miracle. Yes, it's Alaska. Yes, it'll be both our birthdays. Yes, it was a "good early-saver special." Blah, blah, blippety blah. The fact is, though, $4K+ still leaves me a little out of breath...it seemed like a super idea a year ago when I booked, but when I started to feel a little remorseful and having second thoughts (and other unexpected life expenses started popping up to further my doubts), they told me I couldn't change my booking unless I wanted to eat $50/person and change the sailing date. Not possible. That's the only date we were available. :(

Trust me: I'm not complaining; I'm so super grateful and excited, but that bit of expensive insanity has definitely taught me a few things for future cruises. The next time I think I "deserve" something, maybe I need to remember to be humble. Think I'll just stick to regular balcony rooms on longer sailings unless the "upsell fairy" gives us a suite offer too sweet to pass up (as was the case on the Ecstasy in '12). Otherwise, I'm gonna be too broke to really appreciate the experience....LOL!

Anyone else start with big booking dreams and then cool off for one reason or another...? :rolleyes:

I was also "forced" to go on 4 cruises last year and I'm already platinum! I would live on a cruise ship if they'd let me live there for free and not make me work in the kitchen. :D

 

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Oh man! You and me both! I do own a karaoke business and sing with a band so I could apply....but I want to live on a ship...NOT WORK on it!! :-)

Beware : Solo cruising Is addictive ! Enjoy !

Okay, lemme re-phrase that: my DH hopes not! :D

I'm doing my first solo 3-day and I can't wait...to do one alone!! Don't get me wrong: we're ridiculously happy, but we rarely get time off together and I'm still (after 12 years together) kind-of a loner, independent gal. No schedules to follow, no bathroom sharing, king bed to myself...whatever the heck I feel like doing! If I gotta cruise alone, by golly, so be it! :D

Because I was FORCED to go on 4 cruises last year just so I could finally feel special! :D

I always arrive early, too, so check-in has always seemed smooth anyway. The other perks are cool, too.

I did this also with my debit card, and after calling Carnival to let them know of the mistake, I had the funds back in my account on the fourth business day. I'm glad I had all the bills and other stuff paid for the month already.

Yeah...that would suck otherwise. There's no better feeling than making the final payment, but ALL at once just downright hurts!

If you pay your cruise in full at the time of booking, ( 7 nights on Liberty) do you get it all back if you cancel before final payment would have been due :confused:?

Depends on what you booked under: i.e. early saver, past guest, whatever special....

I had a change of heart with my stateroom...but not the actual sailing. They told me I'd get my deposit back less $50/person ($600 from the original $700) but I wouldn't be allowed to rebook the same sailing. :eek:

I've since just accepted my early commitment and am going with the flow.

Call Carnival. Your penalties are really going to depend on how you booked.

1. I now usually shower in the spa. Showers are bigger and they have those nice plush towels...it took me maybe 10 cruises before I figured this out.

 

2. Spend more time on my balconies. At first we didn't spend much time on them, but now we do.

 

3. Stay on board in those ports we've been to 500 times...it's very quiet and you have the whole ship to yourself. If you've seen it all and done it all, just relax on board while everyone else is gone.

I'm going on my 11th Carnival cruise next weekend and have finally REMEMBERED to utilize my option to shower in the SPA! Jeez! I go up there every cruise to sit in the steamroom and use the gym equipment and afterwards I always marvel at the size of the showers...but forget I can use 'em too!! :rolleyes:

I've been to Ensenada about 6 times so other than refilling some prescriptions, I'll definitely be utilizing the empty boat to my advantage! :)

I sent an email to inquire about a spot for DH and I on our July 8 sailing....hopefully there's room!

Thanks for the heads up! We somehow missed this excursion in 2011! :eek:

I'm not sure why they do that, but it's not.....don't worry about it.

 

 

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It's just funny. I know when the balance due is: April 24!! I know, I know Carnival! I know! :rolleyes:

It's in my calendar and they send me URGENT emails all the time..it's like, I know...I know! (I've paid all but $500 of my Alaska total...it's been a real killer!) :o

I'll be on a 3-day next weekend...will definitely be on the lookout.

 

It is a little uncommon. Most cruises I've taken with a then GF. I've been single for a little bit now, mostly enjoying it. I took my mom along on my last cruise, but this one was totally solo and it was very enjoyable as single guy. There were a couple times, I thought "dang, it would be cool to do this with _______," or "I wish I was drinking beer with ______," but it was still a great time. The cool thing is you meet new people/friends on the trip or find new people to hang out with. You may miss some, but you'll also find some great people to do stuff with.

I'm no stranger to solo weekend getaways. I'm a ridiculously happily married 42-year-old gal who just has an entirely different work schedule than my DH and when I've got a weekend off, he doesn't. Rarely do we get to do anything together for longer than a day....of course, we are doing Alaska on the Miracle in July! Next weekend, though, I'll be taking my first SOLO weekend cruise and I'm really looking forward to it! I've done a lot of weekend solo getaways, but a cruise by myself is a first! So excited! :)

I'm enjoying your review. I miss HMC! Jet-skiing is a blast, ain't it? :-)