HeidiHo

• Rare
• •  96
• May 8, 2023

You can check regularly yourself by doing a mock booking. First put in 4 people just to make sure that the cabin you want hasn't been booked by a party of 4. If it shows available then do a mock booking for 2 people. If that cabin shows up as available then call Carnival ASAP to upgrade to it. It's not at all unusual for Carnival to open up cabins that hold  3 or 4 to smaller parties as the cruise gets closer.

You can also order soda to be delivered to your cabin if you don't want to carry a 12 pack on board.

3 hours ago, jwlane said:

I'd fly in and visit Space Center before the cruise.  Stay in Kemah or Webster---Galveston is stupid expensive.

That's definitely a possibility.

7 hours ago, Booking It said:

We just got off Allure yesterday in Galveston. There was an option for a cruise transfer where they would take you to the Space Center for a few hours and then on to IAH. It sold out very quickly. I would assume that you would need a flight in the very late afternoon or early evening to make that work. I can't remember exactly, but I think it was $120ish per person. The regular shuttle to IAH was $39 per person. They did have a transfer option to Hobby, but I don't know the price. I don't think I ever saw the option to purchase any of this ahead of time. It had to be done onboard through the app.

Thanks for the info. The tour of the Space Center with transfers to IAH is available for pre purchase for 108.99. It's listed with shore excursions. I was just really hoping someone would say that they have seen the excursion offered with transfers to Hobby. Since not all shore excursions have been added for our cruise yet, I was hopeful that maybe that is just one that isn't listed yet and maybe it still will be added. I don't even know yet where everyone is flying in and out of. We have people coming from Chicago, Dubuque, Denver and even some from out of the country. It's my sister planning this cruise for her kids and grandkids so I'll pass this info along to her. I am going on the cruise too but don't know if I'll go to the Space Center or not.

We are sailing on Harmony of the Seas in June of 2024 with a group of about 14 ppl. Some members of our group are interested in seeing the Houston Space Center. My question is, I am only seeing that option post cruise with transfers to George Bush International airport. Does Royal ever offer this with transfers to Houston Hobby?  I was wondering this since it's still early and I know not all shore excursions aren't posted yet so maybe not all post cruise excursions are showing yet? We are trying to plan when we will will fly into Houston and fly home and where to stay but it would help to know this so we know what airport to fly into or maybe we will have to do it on our own if we fly into Hobby. Thanks!

On 6/27/2023 at 8:52 AM, iria64 said:

I think my biggest concern is that I have heard fog can be a problem for Galveston in January which can cause delays getting in to port.  For an early flight any delay will cause a problem.  I may go with United but have to check with the rest of the group.

I was delayed by fog in Galveston for a February cruise. I missed my flight home and it wasn't even that early of a flight (I don't remember what time it was but I know it was a flight that would normally work just fine). Luckily I was on American going to Chicago so I called AA while on the shuttle from the port to the airport and they arranged a later flight for me. I actually almost missed that one too, due to heavy traffic. LOL. Keep in mind also that if you book flights earlier than what the cruise lines recommends, travel insurance might not be helpful either.

When I cruise to the Caribbean I just bring USD. I visit my son who lives in Spain occasionally and then I always go to my Chase branch in advance just for a small amount of Euros and the only reason I do that is I usually take a taxi from the airport and I once was in a cab and his credit card swiper wasn't working so I was glad I had some Euros.

We have a cruise booked on Harmony, June 23, 2024. There are shore excursions showing but is it likely that more will still be released. I have only sailed on Royal once and that was more than 7 years ago so I am not familiar with their procedures. Thanks!

My first cruise was on the Festivale in 1986 also. It was myself and 3 of my girlfriends going, all in the same cabin. I don't remember if we booked an inside or porthole cabin but about 4 days before the cruise we got a call telling us we had been upgraded to a suite with balcony. These were the most expensive cabins on the ship and there were only 10 balconies on the entire ship. We were amazed and all the friends we made on board were jealous of our cabin. The funny thing is, by todays standards, that suite was about the same size that standard balcony cabins are now. The biggest difference was the bathroom was a bit bigger with a full size tub and the balcony was deeper than most standard balconies are now. It spoiled me though. Now I only want balconies.

Passports are being processed again. My daughter sent hers in for renewer on March March 19th or 20th and finally received it July 18th. Too late for the trip to Europe she was supposed to take but no biggie, it was cancelled anyway. 

My daughter sent her passport in for renewal on March 19th or 20th. She finally received it on July 18th so things ARE moving again. She was supposed to need it for a rip to Europe 2 weeks ago but of course that was cancelled. good thing since the passport wouldn't have been back in time anyway. Of course, not that she has it she doesn't need it. LOL. She is very happy though just to know she has it when she needs it again.

I haven't been on the Horizon but I've been on many other ships with the sofas and they were all same and had drawers. Sometimes though there is extra bedding in those drawers. I was in a triple on the Panorama and the bedding for the sofa was in the drawers. I didn't need the drawer space though because I was traveling solo.

1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I wouldn’t be so quick to judge people who take advantage of a lower deposit and jump to the conclusion they can’t afford a cruise in the first place. We always book a balcony when we cruise, but I would never say or assume interior rooms are for people who really can’t afford a cruise. 

Here's another reason people might want to book the reduced deposit. I did that for my cruise this past Feb. I booked it almost 2 years in advance and the lowest rate was Early Saver with a $50 pp deposit. Since with Early Saver, if you pay a full deposit and cancel before final payment, Carnival keeps $50 pp and holds the rest of your deposit as a FCC. What if you never get the chance to use that FCC? I like paying the lower deposit knowing that if for some reason I cancel before final payment, they won't have any of my money to hold as a FCC. FCC's are only good if you actually get to use it and not everyone cruises that frequently.

I started cruising Carnival in the mid 80's so several of my cruises were under the old method. I only just reached platinum on my cruise this past February and I figured out it took took me 10 cruises to get there so exactly the same number as with the old way. That's because I have to fly to ports so I never take short cruises. The shortest cruise I have ever taken was six days. All my other ones were 7 or 8 days.

The Festivale was my first cruise and we had one of the balcony suites. I even remember the cabin number, it was V14 and they ARE the ones that a previous poster circled in red. I sailed with 3 other girls and we had booked a regular quad cabin. I can't remember if it was an inside or a port hole but that was back in the days when the Upgrade Fairy was real and gave upgrades for free. A few days before our cruise, our travel agent called and said we'd been upgraded. The balcony was like the cove balconies on todays ships. They were also the biggest suites on the ship only the funny thing was, it was really only about the size of a standard balcony cabin today. We did have full size tub in the bathroom though. That cruise spoiled me and I always have to have a balcony now.

I can't speak for all travel insurance companies but you may be able to make these changes yourself on line. Go to the insurance company online and find your policy, then look for a modify policy button. Once in there you might be able to make the necessary changes. I have done this with Travelguard and Allianz policies. In fact, I just changed dates on an Allianz policy for the 2nd time. 

I sailed the Panorama the 2nd week of February. I didn't do self assist but because I am platinum was in in group one or two for debarkation. Also, since I was traveling solo I did the Carnival transfer to LAX. Debarkation was very fast and I was on a bus at 9:00. They pulled out just a couple of minutes later and we were at the airport by 9:30. I flew AA and had TSA Pre check so no line at the airport either.

24 minutes ago, bury me at sea said:

If you booked through a TA he/she will do it for you.

And if you booked through different TA's you don't need a pin #. That's a Carnival thing. When we had our dining linked for our Panorama cruise in Feb., I just gave my booking number to my friends and they contacted their TA. I also contacted my TA but when she checked, she saw that the other TA had already done it so she didn't need to do anything.

Have been to both and would be happy to return to either one. I liked HMC better but I haven't been to either one in many years. I know HMC has been built up  A LOT since I was there so maybe I wouldn't like it has much. You can't beat that baby powder soft sand at HMC though.

Luggage tag on Panorama a month ago.

On 2/8/2020 at 11:39 PM, Markmom18 said:

 

I’m curious as to how much the waters are that they can justify the cost of the Cheers Package. Wondering if I should get a Cheers Package now ....

  🛳🛳

   Bobbi 

I just checked my statement from last my Panorama cruise two weeks ago. I ordered a "club soda" on the first day and the charge was $3.21. Of course that would include the added gratuity. I don't know what brand it was but if Bubly is what they have now it was probably an unflavored Bubly.

I got off the Panorama Feb. 15th and this was my experience. I don't know exactly what time they let the first people off but I was zone two and we  were let off the ship at 8:30. I took a Carnival shuttle to LAX. It pulled out at 9:00 and arrived at the airport at 9:30. I was going to terminal 4 (American Airlines) and they stopped at 2 other terminals first so it may have been about 9:40 by the time i got off the bus.

I just got off the Panorama and this was the worst refrigerator/coolerI have ever had. I didn't think it was working at all until I saw there was some condensation build up on the inside but the temp was barely lower than room temperature. Other ships I have been on had better refrigerator/coolers although still not super cold. Luckily I always bring a soft sided cooler and my cabin steward kept it full of ice for me. I just like to chill my sodas and water in the before putting them on ice so the ice doesn't melt so fast. This time that didn't help very much.

On 2/17/2020 at 1:14 AM, Wanna_Cruize said:

Thanks Heidi, good to know. Did you enjoy Panorama? I'm looking for MDR dinner menus, since most of the ones I've seen so far included some holidays, so the pattern may have been different. Trying to see what nights we may want to schedule specialty dining. 

Yes, I did like the Panorama very much. It was nice being on a brand new ship. Our cruise happened to be a bit chilly but you can't control the weather and I was also under the weather a bit and didn't get off the ship in Puerto Vallarta. I ordered room service for breakfast and lunch that day and they were very fast. I felt well enough to go the the dining room for dinner that night. Most breakfasts we did in the dining room too. We did Tepanyaki for dinner one night. It was wonderful. I thought the dining room food was very good as well. I didn't try out the outdoor pools or hot tubs. Too chilly for me but we had spa passes and went there a few times. I thought the hot tub in there was too small though. Only about 4 people could fit in there comfortably.