BobbiSox

There's one in every crowd; more than one, usually, on short Carnival cruises. 

With today's passengers being much heavier than they were years ago, I am curious as to how the lifeboats accommodate the extra weight. Is weight considered the main factor when figuring the capacity? Space would be a factor. The bigger the passenger, the more space would be required. Just wondering how all that works.

I'm heading on Elation in August to these two ports (again) and the only casino resort I know of is the Hilton in Bimini. (It's nice) Is there another casino, or hotel with a casino? TripAdvisor doesn't like to promote casinos, so no luck looking there. 

Hope you have a better experience on your B2B than I had on Rottodam in October. We were seated in an auditorium for almost three hours and ten marched do the terminal  and forced to STAND over another hour while they searched for three stow-aways. We were not offered as much as a drink of water the entire time. AND NO EXPLATATION. When we saw them pass us in the terminal, escorted by security, we realized what had happened. The three were marched through the terminal, and we were allowed back on the ship. I will NEVER do a B2B again. 

The little clothes pins come in handy. They help the clothes dry faster, with the one layer, instead of clothing folded over itself when draped on the line. They are eslily found in most craft stores. 

Keep in mind that your laundry will not be washed by itself; they don't use small home-style machines. Your clothing will be washed with that of other passengers. That's why they use that 'almost impossible to remove' tag on all your pieces. You can wash small items in the bathroom sink, usuing their shampoo, and hanging overnight to dry; there is a clothesline in your shower.  I hand wash whatever I can, especially on a long sail, and send them to be pressed only if they need it. Underwear is easily washed and dried in the cabin. I'm 5-star and I don't pay for the laundry services, but I still do most of my own. 

I do short cruises for the casino. I live in NE Florida, so it's a long drive to Bilox, and a long flight to Las Vegas.  I  do the short cruises so I'm not tempted to spend my life savings in the casino. 4-5 days and nights are enough. Sure there are rowdy kids and drunks to deal with, but I just get our the their way. I love being on the open water. I love being able to afford it several times each year. I go on other lines when I want a more elegant cruise. 

In the old days, passengers had to stand outside on the deck in the blazing hot sun and wait for the last few pasengers to finish their cocktails and stagger to the exisitng line before the crew was allowed t get started.  There was always 'that guy' who talked through the whole thing so no one could hear what the crew was saying. It's more effecient now. Last two, we just showed up at the station, they noted that we were there, and sent us away with no information at all. They told us to watch the video.  Seriously. 

I can usually find something I like in the buffet. The ice cream has come a long way; years ago it was like eating a melted fudsicle. Now it's thick and creamy. I don't do dining room. Hubby will eat anything that doesn't eat him first (and it shows) so he likes everything. 

Carnival (and most of the other lines I have cruised with) doesn't much care about our comfort when the cruise is done and we are getting off the ship. The cruise is over. They are done with us.

1 minute ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

 

But when thousands of people on the cruise also have the same perk because they are platinum or diamond that perk is pretty much useless.   And Carnival then SELLS that same perk with FTTF to the people that are not platinum or diamond making that perk even more useless. 

I sail only two of the small ships, from the ports closest to my home. Liberty and Elation. I only sail off season. I've never had a problem getting right on. I always get there early. I know they used to sell that perk, because I used to buy it before I earn it, lol.

I like the perk that allows me to pass by the thousand people sitting in the terminal waiting to board. I'm allowed go right up to my cabin ahead of all of them. I'm also first out of the terminal doors on disembark. Anything that allows me to skip a line is a great perk. 

I never order room service, so I don't know how that works, but can you order a drink delivered to your room? I know you can take drinks from the bar to your room. 

I played only once. It's great for the passengers who need to prove that they are  smartest person in the room. It's also another way for Carnival Corp to save money on entertainment. A lot of their entertainment consisits of us passengers entertaining each other.

Loreto, I am doing a 42 day on Volendam in 2024, in a lanai. I would be open to a bump-up if they offer a suite in a good location though!

You tube has a short video that shows the lanai and the deck chairs outside. Type in 'Holland America Volendam Lanai Stateroom" and there are a few other videos as well.

I have two cruises booked on Volendam in 2024, both are lanai cabins. 

The Lanai Cabins (on the older ships) have the glass sliding doors that open to the Promenade deck, and the chairs lined up in front of them are for those guests in that Lanai. Two of them are designated per cabin. I have stayed in them many times during my 25 years of cruising on HAL. Unless they have changed the policy, there should be a description somewhere on the HAL site, or YouTube that shows the cabins and the chairs that come with them. 

Just saying, if you book your own excursion and it has trouble getting you back on time, the ship will NOT wait for you. I always spend the few extra dollars it takes to insure that my ship will be waiting for me when and if there is a problem. 

I would be concerned that the bottle could break and seep, even with 'protective' bags being utilized. Any luggage near that mess could also be risk. If I can afford a cruise, I can afford to buy drinks, or I'd stay home. 

I love these cabins! My only complaint is that I have to constantly ask people to get out of my deck chair, which is designated to my cabin. Most people grumble, and some don't want to move. I'm not there to fight with my fellow passengers over a deck chair, but since HAL doesn't make it clear ( like with a big metal sign that reads "Lanai Guests ONLY) I just make the best of it and go sit elsewhere. 

This whole thing sounds crazy. Can you have another party book your cruise and then sign you up as a passenger? Are they all watching for you that closely? Do they have a poster of your face at the ckeck-in counter? Does someone sit in a Carnival office and look up every potencial passenger by name to see if they are banned? They are in business to sell cruises. I don't know how they selected you, out of millions of passengers, to be banned because of a money mix-up. It's doesn't make much sense. 

Your friend may want to know that she will be able to change her table if she doesn't like the one that's assigned. She could stop by the main dining room to check on her table location; the Maitre d' is usually available for a short while during embarkation. She can change it at any time, usually.

Tried to book parking at Jaxport for an upcoming cruise on Eleation. There are numerous sites listed, most of which are scams. I was scammed. Does anyone have the phone number of the actual existing parkiking lot there? There is only one, but you wouldn't know that if you haven't been there. One parking lot, about 50 online sites, 49 are scams.

I'm never too disappointed when the itineraty changes, due to bad weather ahead, or whatever. As long as I'm on a ship, and safe, everything else doesn't matter too much. Seems the ships' crews are always prepared for any kind of emergency.