Rod in Az

Hello, I am hoping somebody can help me with a question I have. I booked on board my last cruise with Past Guest rate (4 day cruise with $50 OBC). I had every intention to change this booking to a different one as well as change the rate to early saver. I just got off the phone with carnival as I have a 7 day booking in mind for Aug 2017. After I had her go to her supervisor regarding the additional OBC question (she said no at first), I was told that if I switched to early saver I would lose the OBC because I was changing the rate. Has anybody booked on board as past guest, changed the length of the cruise and the rate to early saver with no issues? Thanks for your help!

Was the $50 OBC that the CSR said you would lose from booking on board, or was it attached to the Past Guest Rate.

I read your original post to say that you booked a "Past Guest Rate" for a "4 day cruise with $50 OBC". If the Past Guest Rate you originally booked had an additional $50 OBC, changing to Early Saver (unless it comes with OBC) will negate that OBC.

You should without question keep your OBC for booking while on board, but changing rates would change any OBC attached to the original rate unless the new rate comes with the same OBC.

Thank you for taking time on your vacation to post this.

Safe travels home!!!

I have my first Carnival cruise coming up in 89 days, and was wondering what the bar prices were? Are they comparable to RCCL prices? My wife does not drink, and I'm not a big drinker, so the CHEER package is out, but I am looking at purchasing the bar credit for my sign and sail, just not sure how much. I usually have 1 or 2 drinks a day, and a coffee in the morning.

 

Also, my wife is big into pictures, so was wondering the prices on the pictures, so I can purchase some picture credit ahead of time. Any info would be appreciated!!

 

Thank you!

Greg

Greg,

Go take a look at firemanbobswife's current thread from the Glory. She is posting many of the bar, photo, and other menus and price sheets while she is on the Glory.

You can find it here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2414173

So your saying this was done through "Cruise Critic" itself? I have never heard of anything that CC did on any of the ships (26 years) that I had cruised on. How do we find out if CC is going to be doing something on the ship we will be on?

This sounds like something I'd like to try in the future. How do you find out about them?

Follow this CC link:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/rollcall/cruiselinel2.cfm?cruiselineid=8

Hi - Since we're allowed to bring a bottle of wine per person as a carry-on, does that also get scanned and flagged?

After your carry on gets scanned, you will be directed to a table to show it to the person inspecting carry on beverages.

Depending on their level of interest, they may just look at the bottle and send you on. I have had them just look at the bottle in the bag and wave me on, and I have had them take the foil off and inspect the cork.

I think it all depends on how busy they are, but I could be wrong.

It's just like PP but on the other side where it was normally empty.

 

Great, Thanks!!!

Sushi is opposite of Pizza Pirate

 

Is it a walk up venue like the Pizza Pirate, or something bigger?

Do you mind if I ask how much it costs for delivery ?

It is $0.59 per card, regardless of the amount ordered.

If you order 1 $500 card it is $0.59. If you order 5 $100 cards it is $2.95.

Just a little clarification, I bought the cards via AARP last week, and they were shipped UPS, not mailed, Signature was required at delivery.

$500 cards require a signature. $100 cards are sent U.S Mail, no signature.

At least every time I have ordered them.

Ok, weird question coming but I'm wondering if there's a way to know which way our bed faces? My husband likes to have the bed facing forward - the same way that the ship is moving so that our feet are facing the front of the ship. This is not in any way a big deal but just one of those little things I was wondering about. I've never really seen anything that would help me determine this and my PVP has no idea either.

 

Thanks!

We're on the Magic, room #12016! Thanks everyone!

The bed in cabin 12016 has the head against the forward wall of the cabin, and the foot of the bed facing the aft of the ship.

Cabins 12016 and 12014 have connecting balconies (not connecting rooms, but balconies), and the head of the bed in rooms that have connecting balconies are against the wall they have in common. This facilitates leaving the balcony partition open since it will partially cover a window and not a door.

While not the same ship, as a group our family stayed in rooms 12006, 12010, 12014 and 12016 on the Breeze and that is the way 12016 was set up.

Have a great cruise!

I can't find these good deals on AARP!

 

Sent from my VK815 using Forums mobile app

Plane2Port did a great tutorial on her website. Use this link and you should get all the information you need:

http://www.plane2port.com/10-off-carnival-gift-cards-on-aarp-org/

Good Luck!

Will do. I haven't gotten an invitation yet which leads me to believe they are waiting until the last day or 2 which I think is stupid.

I agree with you. All of the Fun Times I have seen it was on day 5 late in the afternoon, which I think defeats the purpose of a M&M.

Thanks for your response.

Enjoy your cruise.

We are doing the same itinerary the end of November. If the opportunity avails itself could you let us know when the Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle is held (or at least scheduled for)?

Thanks!

How long does it take for them to come in? We are leaving 11/18. Will I get them in time?

I have received them in as few as 4 business days, with the longest time from order to receipt being 8 days.

The average for me, having ordered around 80 of them, is 7 (calendar) days.

I think you will be fine.

If this is your first order, watch for an e-mail or telephone call to confirm your order. I have only had them confirm the order once, and that was my first order.

If you ordered the $500 cards, they will come delivered with a signature required. They have a new policy that they have to be delivered to the billing address on the credit card that was used to order them (I use to send them to DW's office). I use the UPS My Choice app (iPhone) to track the delivery, and rarely have to deal with missing them.

Can you use them for onboard credit if you went though a TA? If so, how?

They can be used toward credit on your S&S account once on board whether you book with a TA or directly with Carnival. In that sense they become "onboard credit", but you cannot use them to fund your account before checking in at the port.

They can be used prior to checking in to pay for the cruise or excursions, but not purchases from the Fun Shops (Bon Voyage).

When you check in (at some ports, but not all) you can put the amount on your account with the agent at check in. If that option is not available you can add the amount to your account on board at the self-serve kiosks or guest services.

Both $500 and $100 cards are on the site now.

My experience has been that the OBC for booking on board stays with you when you price match, but you sometimes have to remind them of the source of that OBC. It is permanent.

 

If you originally take advantage of a booking rate that includes a promotional OBC, NOT booking on board, and later price match to a lower rate that does not offer OBC, the drop in the new rate has to be more than the OBC you already have, because you will lose it.

 

As far as I know, shareholder's OBC and booking on board OBC are the only ones you will retain when you price match to a lower rate.

 

Oh how I hope someone will correct this belief if it is wrong.

That has been my experience exactly with both types of OBC. As you pointed out, sometimes you have to remind the Customer Service Representative.

We currently have a great PVP who books what we ask, keeps me from changing things when it would cause us to lose a benefit or credit, and doesn't call unless I ask him to. Having a relationship with a good PVP is really worth it.

I haven't been here in almost a year so I hope I remember how to post!!

 

We just book cabin 7443 on the Splendor. It's on of the aft-area cabins with the odd shape in the aft corner. We know from our PVP that there is a crew-only stairway behind the cabin, which he assures us we'll never hear. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience in either 7443 or any of the other similar cabins they could share? I've seen photos on the site that people post their cabin pics to and I like how the bed faces the window.

Thanks!!

That cabin, on any of the ships that have it is our "go-to" cabin. While you don't get a couch, we think the bigger balcony more than makes up for it. We also like that the bed faces the window and balcony door.

I was apprehensive about the stairwell as you are, but we have stayed in this cabin on the Freedom, the Magic and the Dream, and never heard a sound from the stairwell.

Thank you this was very helpful.

You Bet!

I read somewhere, that you did not pay gratuities for children under 1 year old. If this is incorrect please don't hesitate to correct me.

 

I contacted my TA, to find out the total gratuities for my two cabins. He told me it was $12.95 per person. When I questioned whether or not I had to pay for the 10 month old, he told me that the computer automatically charges for all 8 people, and then I would have to call to request adjustment for my ten-month-old.

 

Has anyone had this experience? I'm wondering if it would just be easier if I wait until I board to pay the gratuities, thinking that they will only charge me for the 7 that I'm supposed to pay for.

 

Will they allow me to pay them on the very 1st day?

 

I don't want to pay out money up front, to attempt to get it refunded back to me later.

Here is the answer to the "age" portion of your question according to the Carnival FAQ's:

There are two ways of extending gratuities to the shipboard staff:

Automatic Gratuities on Shipboard Account

For our guest's convenience, we automatically add the recommended gratuities to the guest's Sail & Sign account toward the end of the cruise.

• Guests less than two years of age are not required to extend gratuities.
  
• For cruises that begin in Barbados, all gratuities are pre-paid and automatically added during the booking process.
  
• Should a guest not be satisfied with the service they receive, they can contact the Guest Services desk while onboard. This will allow us to address their concerns in a timely and appropriate fashion. At the discretion of the guest, they may adjust the gratuities at any time while onboard. Gratuities will be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship.
  

Prepaid Gratuities

• Gratuities are pre-arranged and can be added at the time of booking or anytime up to the sail date. If already booked, guests can contact their Travel Professional to add prepaid gratuities; if booked directly with Carnival, contact us at 800 764-7419.
  
• All guests on each booking must prepay the gratuities with the exception of children less than two years of age.
  
• For cruises that begin in Barbados, all gratuities are pre-paid and automatically added during the booking process.
  
• The dollar amount for gratuities will appear in the 'Miscellaneous Charge' field on the confirmation. E-Documents will indicate if gratuities have been prepaid.
  
• Should a guest not be satisfied with the service they receive, they can contact the Guest Services desk while onboard. This will allow us to address their concerns in a timely and appropriate fashion. At the discretion of the guest, they may adjust the gratuities at any time while onboard. Gratuities will be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship.
  

Since you are booking through a TA, I'm not sure how you deal with this, as we book directly with our Carnival PVP who handles all of our pre-paid gratuities for us.

Good Luck!!

She does have her account set using a CC. Wanted to go to the concierge desk when it wasn't busy.

Then she is set. If she can't add them at check-in (some ports can, some can't) she can do it at her leisure at the self-serve kiosk (although sometimes I have not been able to get it to accept them) or at Guest Services when she finds it isn't busy.

i already have the rooms booked, when on the Splendor a few years ago the balcony dividers folded, so one room couldn't join the other two without blocking a door, so wasn't permitted.

 

I've never been on the Magic, was hoping the doors slid in a way to let 3 rooms connect.

 

If anyone knows that would be great.

The balcony dividers on the Magic fold against (and are secured to) the outer wall of the cabin, and the stateroom doors swing out on to the balcony. Checking the stateroom configurations on the Magic, I don't see any standard balcony rooms where three balconies could be connected by opening and securing the dividers.

There are some Ocean Suites and Grand Suites that are configured where three balconies could be connected, but no standard balcony staterooms.

I don't do Facebook so I can't get into the Piano Barbarian site. I can see enough to see that the schedule has been updated in the last few days but can't go any further. Could someone please tell me if it shows who the piano player will be on the Dream Nov. 27-Dec.4? I would really appreciate it and if you're on my sailing I'll buy you a drink!

Here is what is on the list:

Dream: Gilbert Arquero 11/27/2016 - 1/29/2017

I'll have to get that drink on another cruise....

Ok I did a search but couldn't find my answer. At the Casino on The Liberty can you use cash or do you use your Sign & Sail Card? :confused:

 

Also, the Arcade for the kids can they use cash or will they charge to the room?

 

This is our first cruise so want to make sure we have enough money for everything we want to do.

In the casino you can use cash to gamble at the slots and table games.

You have to use your S&S card to "cash out" while playing slots. You set up a casino account on your S&S card, and can access funds from your on-board account, or you can put cash in to the machines themselves if you don't want to use your on-board account. Your play is recorded for future perks (Drinks on Us, Casino Bounce Back Offers, or Premier Casino Cruise offers). Either way, when you are done at the slot (assuming there is still money on the machine) you have to cash out to your casino account on your S&S card. The money transferred to your S&S card casino account can be loaded on to the next machine you choose to play, or cashed out at the casino cage.

At the table you can "buy-in" to any of the table games with cash (or charge it to your account with a fee being charged for the money taken from your on-board account), and will be given the appropriate "chips" to play with. When you present cash (or charge your account), the dealer (through the pit boss) will ask for your card so they can record your "buy-in". I have never been asked for my S&S card when using casino chips to play at a table game.

In short, yes you can use cash, but in the case of slot machines in order to cash out you will use your S&S card. Cash for table games works much like a land based casino, you buy in, and the chips you have left can be cashed out at the cage, or used to gamble at other table games

Sorry, I've never been in the arcade.

Im curious how can you price match an excursion? Can you call and ask them to match it?

Take a look at this page:

https://help.goccl.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1330/~/shore-excursion-best-price-guarantee

It will give you all the specifics.