Cruzlover7

On 8/2/2023 at 6:29 PM, carribbound said:

I am booked on the Magic for Jan 24. I have been on many Carnival Cruises, my first time on the Magic. I am growing increasingly concerned because the reviews I am reading are so poor. I love Carnival. I considered a different cruise line but decided to book this cruise. Many reviews I am reading say how Carnival has really gone down hill. My last cruise with Carnival was in 2021, so not that long ago. Please comfort my worries and tell me these are just a fluke.

I’ll be on the Magic for the third time in 1.5 years. The ship and crew are great. Don’t take everyone’s views to heart. Try to go and enjoy yourself. Your on vacation!

16 hours ago, leen50 said:

I have 7 more Carnival cruises booked. I think I will be able to make a door mat from all of them!

Lol, I have two more this year and one so far booked for next December. I may have to start that doormat too. 

On 8/28/2022 at 2:46 PM, Crismess669 said:

We’re on our second Carnival cruise in December, and I realize my cruising partner and I need a tradition for after we dump our stuff off at our room. We were gonna make it Happy Hour at Red Frog, but Horizon doesn’t have Red Frog (which is ridiculous). 

 

What’s the first thing you always do (aside from dropping stuff off at the room)?

We go straight to bar and get a pina’ colada. Then snap a quick pick with drink in hand and send it to people we work with.  Lol. The we go to muster station and check in.  

On 8/4/2022 at 3:00 PM, leen50 said:

I have 4 Koozies so far. I think I'll glue them side by side & make a Mousepad or cut them in half & make coasters! LOL 😂

Lol, when I got the koozie, I actually thought it was a small mousepad, until it rolled up! 

2 hours ago, kikimom said:

Just got an email about my upcoming Bahama's cruise which said:

 

THE CARNIVAL BEVERAGE POLICY.

To ensure our under-21 guests don’t consume alcohol, we require picture ID and no longer allow guests to bring bottled beverages on board.     Does this mean we can no longer bring a bottle of wine per adult on board?

I asked the same question when I read my email. I did read the policy but, I thought perhaps the web was not updated. With many changes taking place, you never know. Just a misleading ad. The good news is you can bring one bottle per person. Happy Cruising to you. 

1 minute ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

The CVS's in my area stopped doing antigen fast tests for travel and I leave for my Sept. 11 cruise out of Rome on Sept. 9.  For recent cruisers who used Binax, is it working well with the proctors and Carnival accepts the documentation easily?  I know there was a lot of discussion about Binax a while back but I'm looking for the latest greatest because I don't want to wind up testing in Italy and risk being forcibly quarantined for 14 days.  Thanks.

I have used Binax for the last three cruises and had no issue with the proctor, receiving the results or Carnival acceptance.  I’ll be using again next week for my Bermuda Cruise. 

On 8/12/2022 at 7:41 PM, phoneman69 said:

Well i am sure to leave you a couple of beer's

Thanks!!

On 8/11/2022 at 6:37 AM, phoneman69 said:

Makes waiting for Oct of 2023 a long way off. Can't wait to see her on the move

Phoneman69 I have to wait until December 2023. 

Thank you everyone. I’ll bring my bottle with me. The picture ad threw me off.  So many changes these days, it made me wonder.  
Happy Cruising to all. 

I am sailing on the Magic in September and received an email to purchase beverages, sweets, decor etc. I noticed that they state the beverage policy has changed and you can no longer bring bottled beverages on board. See photo. When I search Carnival beverage policy, it still states you can bring one bottle of wine or champagne per person at embarkation day only.  Does anyone know if the website may not have been updated?

I do have the free drinks on us all over ship but, I do like having a bottle of wine in my room.  
 

thank you in advance for your insight. 
 

Following 

4 minutes ago, icft said:

We got an Elite offer today that was a lot less than past offers - no casino cash. Just free balcony and the Elite perks. We have other much better offers.

 

For Elite think a regular Premier cruise. The gifts are a bit better. Then you have free airport shuttle or free transportation from hotel to terminal. Then you have two one liter bottles of alcohol of your choice (from a not extremely small or big list) along with your choice of mixers (pepsi, orange juice and the like) waiting in your room upon arrival. Then you have one free excursion, drinks on us all over the ship (cheers for you and a companion), and social wi-fi. I probably forgot something.

 

Icft, I think you covered the perks well. We liked all the perks, but found the casino to be way too crowded. Hard to get on popular games.  It also seemed the same people were winning all the different Elite casino giveaways.  We have better offers with casino cash and OBC, free drinks everywhere. I’ll stick with them as long as they last. 

21 hours ago, knagl said:

 

I've always just used clear packing tape (like you'd use to seal a box for shipping) over the length of the tag and never had an issue. 🤷‍♂️

I do the same and use zip ties to secure them to luggage.  

20 hours ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

 

Maybe for someone that has something big and round that needs to be dried off at the beach?

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for the laugh.  

12 hours ago, ngrund said:

Wife and I were looking forward to San Juan, but Plan B it is.

 

I do want to go tho the casino at  Baha Mar (get the chip for my collection) and will probably get a day pass for Margaritavile  resort.

 

Now I have another reason to book the upcoming NCL Viva that is supposed to home port in San Juan

We too love San Juan and have the same back up plan like you do for Nassau. 

We fly from Buffalo NY and purchased cheap one way flights on Southwest. Had same day flight for May 7 embarkation day.  We typically do not do same day but, we feel with no snow in May , we would be good.  We were supposed fly out at 6:30 am and got notice yesterday that the flight changed.  Now we do not get into Orlando until 12:15.  The only other earlier flight available is not nonstop and gets in at 1:00.  
I also noticed the prices are almost triple for flights that day.  I guess I need to either switch to one day earlier or find another airline to get us there before noon.  I know if all goes well we would make it to the ship in time, but I am nervous about it. 

3 hours ago, bertha said:

Hi everyone. Copied the below from the Carnival web page titled "Locations where you can smoke." Every ship is listed. (didn't copy all of them).  Notice that on Elation there is no "outdoors" info. Outdoors designated areas are included under every ship except Elation. Could it be that you can't smoke outdoors anywhere on only Elation? Is there no designated outdoor smoking location on Elation? Figured someone who's been onboard recently can say if smoking is allowed on open decks and which ones are designated on Elation?  Thanks!

 

Carnival Ecstasy®
Cigarette smoking (including electronic cigarettes and personal vaporizers) are permitted in the following areas:

• Crystal Palace Casino: Smoking is permitted while playing at designated slot machines and table games during open hours.
• Outdoors: Smoking is permitted in a designated area on Deck 11 (starboard side, midship).
• Note: Cigar and tobacco pipes are only permitted at the above outdoor smoking area.  
• Note: On embarkation and debarkation day, smoking is not allowed outdoors while the ship is refueling. Please consider selecting a later Arrival Appointment to minimize any inconvenience on embarkation day.

Carnival Elation®
Cigarette smoking (including electronic cigarettes and personal vaporizers) are permitted in the following areas:

• Casablanca Casino: Smoking is permitted while playing at designated slot machines and table games during open hours.
• Note: Cigar and tobacco pipes are only permitted at the above outdoor smoking area.  
• Note: On embarkation and debarkation day, smoking is not allowed outdoors while the ship is refueling. Please consider selecting a later Arrival Appointment to minimize any inconvenience on embarkation day.

Carnival Freedom®
Cigarette smoking (including electronic cigarettes and personal vaporizers) are permitted in the following areas:

• Babylon Casino: Smoking is permitted while playing at designated slot machines and table games during open hours.
• Outdoors: Smoking is permitted in designated areas on Deck 3 (starboard side, forward) and Deck 10 (starboard side, midship).
• Note: Cigar and tobacco pipes are only permitted at the outdoor smoking area on Deck 10 (starboard side, midship).
• Note: On embarkation and debarkation day, smoking is not allowed outdoors while the ship is refueling. Please consider selecting a later Arrival Appointment to minimize any inconvenience on embarkation day.

You can smoke outside on the starboard side on deck 11. 

On 1/10/2022 at 7:27 PM, momof3cruisers said:

I’ll have to look for those. I got silicone straws from Amazon that sound exactly the same. I love them! Got them for four of us when we went to Disney a few years ago. Do yours have a carabiner? My boys liked that they could just hook them on to a belt buckle. My daughter is going on a cruise with me in Feb and she doesn’t have one yet. 🙂🙂 

Yes they were on a carabiner. 

I received one for my December 16 sailing. I had to check to see if it was meant for my May sailing but it would have been way too early.  

On 1/4/2022 at 2:54 PM, famof4togo said:

Got it thanks!!  Cute idea but I can see how logistically it can be a mess.....

 

Note to self---bring my own straws....

Definitely bring your own. This candy straws are awful. I bought silicone straws that came with a small cleaning brush in a tiny carry case  at the dollar store. Worked out well for us. 

On 1/3/2022 at 9:06 PM, land64shark said:

I am finding that I am avoiding letting anyone else know that I am cruising on Thursday (and flying to get there). I just don't want any more of their judgement. I don't want to have to defend or explain myself. Anyone else?

I really don’t care what people think. I love cruising and am so happy I sailed in December. I have two more booked for this year.  It’s your like and you should live it however you wish.  Don’t let others dampen your excitement. 

We received cash on the Elation a few weeks ago. 

10 hours ago, mominwestlake said:

We have a cruise scheduled on the Mardi Gras in February.  My husband just texted that I should cancel because of the 48 positive cases on the Royal Caribbean ship.

We are vaccinated and have had the booster.  Is it still safe to cruise?  How can I convince him?  This would be our 3rd cancellation during covid.

We just returned from a four day cruise out of Port Canaveral. Most everyone wore their masks indoors and if not the staff did a great job reminding people.  There were hand sanitizing stations everywhere. You and your DH must remember to wash your hands regularly. Halfway through the cruise we received a letter that there was no more smoking aloud in the casino.  I believe Carnival is doing all they can to be safe.  The staff cleaning all the time.  They did so previously but, even more so now. Cruisers need to do their part too.  I do hope you can get to go. It was so nice to be back on the water.  Good luck 

7 hours ago, wgeddings said:

Is anyone currently on the Elation or going to be on it in the next week or 2?  I would love to know what Playlist shows are offered.

I’ll be on the Elation December 16. I can report back around the 20th. 

This question is for recent experiences only. Has anyone used GoPort package for hotel and shuttle service in Orlando for cruises out of Port Canaveral?