JWGrayson

Any one know which port it will first sail out of? We have never done an inaungeral cruise but are thinking of doing the Vista.

Carnival is not saying anything about their plans and John Heald indicated it would next year before the Beards would allow him to give info about the Vista.

But, the ship is being contructed at Fincantieri shipyard, near Venice. So, we can only make assumptions about the inaugural cruise. John

I just saw the email and came here to see if it had been post and as I suspected it had been and has gotten a LOT of attention.

The tipping is from $11.50 to $12.00 pp. So, it will cost my wife and me an additional $1.00 per day.

I am please with the smoking changes, but would have liked to see it ship-wide. I know a lot of folks have complained about smoking on the balconies, so I expect that new restriction will be well accepted. John

I usually go thru 4 books on a 7 day cruise.

Often our CC Roll Call group has activities planned. If not, I find a quiet & shady place to read as well. But, I also exercise by going to the gym or walking the decks. I really enjoy talking to others on the ship. Often while I'm reading people stop by and engage me in conversation.

Enjoy your cruise! John

I am wondering if anyone thinks the suite perks should be better for those who shell out the extra cash. For this last cruise we had the Captains Suite and spent $7500 total for the room not including what we spent on board. The only perk besides a great room was first on and off the ship. I mean there are people(interior) that would have to go on 7 cruises to spend what we did. Perks we have had on other lines that I think Carnival could handle include: first night steakhouse free, priority seating at anytime dining(no pagers), something simple as choc. strawberrys and flowers, full breakfast delivered to room(not continental). Don't flame me ,because I think Carnival has the best overall package going. They are making a larger profit on Suite guest because there is no way we are going to eat $7500 in food! Carnival, just throw me a bone:D

Our first cruise was on HAL and we had a 550+ sf suite. I really enjoyed the perks, which were many. A year later we cruised on the Glory and I booked a suite. I had not investigated the Carnival suite perks, except that I knew we got priority boarding. Well, I was shocked when I got on board and found that the perks had ended. It was a nice cabin, but didn't compare to the one on the Zaandam. Since then we have booked much cheaper cabins in order to cruise more. In Dec we have a porthole cabin on the Fascination and are fine with it as we now get the same, or more, perks as those who book suites.

BTW: Carnival considers themselves a VALUE cruise line, not a BUDGET line.

Ruth, We will be on the Fascination Dec 1st. I really enjoyed your review and have put a link to it on my Roll Call Webpage. I think it is a great read for someone who has never visited Nassau and has never been on the Fascination. Thanks, John

You can't go wrong with either of the 3 cruises. We have been on both the Fascination and Freedom, and liked them both very much. Being from Georgia, Jacksonville is a lot closer and MUCH easier to get around. Our last cruise in March, was out of Miami and the road construction had us all mess up. Almost impossible to avoid toll roads going to and in Miami. Pre-cruise hotels and parking tend to be more expensive. You can drive to Jax the day of the cruise, if you like. But, if you want to see South Beach and Coconut Grove as well explore the wonderful diversity of Miami, then Jax can't compete.

We are going on the Fascination Dec 1st, it hits Nassau and Little Stirrup Cay. A nice touch is that Daughtry will do a concert onboard in Nassau. If you have never been to Nassua, it is a really neat place to see. Here are a few links you might find helpful.

My Roll Call Webpage for Dec 1, 14 on the Carnival Fascination

FASCINATION PICTURE REVIEW, extended family, handicap, HALF MOON & ATLANTIS waterpark - not my review and I don't think she is finished, but an excellent review so far.

Have fun, John

Have a great cruise! We love the Breeze, but it has been almost 2 years since we were last on her.

According to the latest 10-K, Vista is scheduled for 4/2016.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=140690&p=irol-reportsother2

Go to 1/29/2014, page 18.

Thanks for the reference Doug! I noticed that the previous year's report had the "new ship" being delivered Feb 2016. So, it now has a name and has moved back 2 months. Let's see when other ships built by Fincantieri have launched in the recent past:

Freedom's maiden voyage was Mar 5, 2007

Splendor entered service Jul 2, 2008

Dream as launched Oct. 24, 2008 (that seems really late in the season)

Magic debuted May 1, 2011 (more in line with doing the Med for the inaugural season)

Breeze entered service Jun 3, 2012

The wording is different for each ship, but that was the way it was documented on wikipedia.

So, with a release date that is almost 2 years out, I would not be surprised to see it slip a few more months. John

I have never hired a taxi in San Juan for anything other than transportation to and from hotels and the airport or downtown.... what I have had good luck with is renting cars and driving.... the roads in Puerto Rico are fine and especially if you get or have a GPS unit (they really do help keep you from getting lost) There are private tour guides in San Juan area. I know when we took a taxi from the airport last time the driver gave us his card and offered to take us places if we wanted to hire him. I am sure they are willing.... just google them and call them and ask prices. Good luck and have a great time.

Thanks for your input! Since I posted this, I've booked one bus tour and 2 private ones, which we will share with another couple.

What I really prefer is someone from the island to tell me all about it. For example, we have walked around OSJ, but learned little, or nothing. So, this trip I've already booked a tour. We are interested in history, culture and scenic nature, rather than a day at the beach. John

Yep -- you can get it refunded if it's in the "refundable" category. The non-refundable is to be used or lost!!

 

Also, John mentioned the minimum. I thought it was $10, but I'll bet he's right about it being $5??? The refund check is delivered to you with your final bill on the last night of the cruise. If it's less than $10 (or whatever that minimum is) it will be donated to the Carnival Charity at that time -- St. Jude's right now. But you may always ask for it, no matter what the amount!

On our last few cruises, they have changed the program and now MAIL the checks. It takes about a week to get them. I guess this gives them the chance to get last minute drink purchases and to verify the type of OBC. John

I was on the Splendor around South America and got an upper respiratory infection. I had trouble sleeping and was coughing a lot. I was concerned about bothering my DW, so I grabbed a blanket, pillow and whatever and headed to the Lido deck. It was about 11:00 PM and a movie was still playing. I propped myself up to minimize the coughing and waited out the movie. After the movie was over I just couldn't get comfortable in the lounge chairs. I wish I had thought about the Serenity Deck. By 12:30 AM, I was back in the room. I use a rolled up bathrobe to make a wedge and finally got to sleep.

I currently have $299 OBC for my Aug Pride sailing. $100 from booking onboard, and $199 from price drops.

 

Are there any restrictions on how this OBC can be used? Can it be used toward gratuities?

Technically the $100 for booking onboard is non-refundable OBC, while the price drop is considered refundable. They don't tend to take the trouble to track it. I try to use ours to pay gratuities and excursions. If there is any refundable OBC left, you will get a check for it, unless it is less than $5.00. John

I got caught trying to smuggle a box of wine in our luggage and all i got was a letter.

Thank God! We have also had a few boxes of wine confiscated. But, the wine in my wife's suitcase went through fine. :confused:

Thanks John. I will read it today. BTW, I am originally from Georgia... Miss those wonderful peaches this time of the year !

Cut up one on my cereal this morning! :D My Mother was in Tucson for a few years, so I have been out there to visit a number of times. Neat area, but really different from the South. John

We are cruising from San Juan 11/1, on the Splendor relocation. I put together a website for the cruise and thought you might find the page on San Juan helpful.

We plan to go in a few days early and I'm excited about exploring Puerto Rico. John

We are headed to San Juan 10/29. We will have 3 days to look around PR before catching our ship on 11/1.

Has anyone ever hired a Taxi Turistico to tour the Island? If so, how much was it per hour and would you recommend that option for seeing places like Arecibo Observatory and El Yunque? Thanks, John

How bright is that channel at night when going to sleep? Does it illuminate the whole room or only a faint light?

It is a faint light, it passes as a night light for when we have to head to the bathroom at night.

BUT, on some ships they get fancy and show travel videos when the sun goes down. They are too bright and bothersome to be left on. John

Anyone have any pictures of the extended balcony?

We were on the Legend for 39 days around Northern Europe, GB and a Northern Route TA. We booked an extended cabin: we were in 7204 the first leg and 7246 for the 2nd and 3rd legs. I love the extended balcony and have one booked for our cruise to Hawaii in Sep 2015.

The extended balcony is 60 sq ft, while the standard balcony is only 35 sq. ft. Here is a pic, just not sure what it will tell you, except that it is not crowded. John

Glad to hear it was a good time. We were on her last November and it was a great experience.

We really like the Splendor as well. Well, not wild about the pink circles. :) We spent 48 days on her last year on the relo from LA to NYC. We are taking her again in Nov. from San Juan to Miami. Really looking forward to that cruise as we have never had pre-cruise time in PR. John

Thank you so much for that enlightening post!

Not a big gambler here. Usually budget $50-100 per day, depending on if a sea day or port day--some days no money. I won $7000 on my first cruise in 2009--have not spent even half of that total in my cruises since winning that. Just offered my 2nd (that I know of) free cruise.

To me "Not a big gambler" is spending $20 a day in the casino. That just shows the difference in people.

My offers have never come in snail mail, email or phone call, so i may have missed some. I have only found them by going on Carnival.com and checking my VIFP number.

You made me realize that I NEVER check my VIFP info Carnival.com, BUT I JUST did. :) Guess I need to do that before I book my next cruise. Thanks, John

It is interesting the twists and turns this thread has made. I guess all of you have heard the saying "No such thing as a free lunch...", then there is "Pay me now, or pay me later..." These may well apply here.

I have never spent a cent in a shipboard casino; thus, I surely don't expect them to send me a free drink voucher, much less a free cruise. But, I suspect that those who do get the free cruise offers from the casino have spent some serious bucks in a casino with some winning, some losing. So, Carnival feels it is worth it to give away a cabin to get them back on a ship.

It would be interesting to know how much you have to gamble to get one of these offers. Or, is it a lottery for anyone who has registered in a casino?

Also, how close to the sailing date do they send out the free offers? Or, are they open invitations for the ship of your choice sent out many months in advance?

Just curious. John

I am booking a cruise tomorrow for me, my hubby and two boys ages 11 and 13 and I am trying to narrow down what section of the boat to stay on. I have never been on the Splendor before. I was interested in a spa package but hear mixed reviews about the rooms on that floor. Not sure I would be able to deal with the lack of privacy on the balcony on this deck. Some also complained of noise from the kids slide. Can you please help me make a decision? :) Thanks!

You really have to weigh the value to you. We were on the Splendor for 48 days, in a SPA cabin on deck 10. We had 28 sea days; thus, we used the facilities a lot. We use the Thalasso pool and VIP area, we never paid for spa services. Being on deck 10, we didn't notice any noise and the balcony was covered.

If you have a port intensive cruise, then you would not get to spend much time in the spa and it might not be worth it. Another thought, since you have 2 kids, you can send them and your hubby to the spa for showering giving you more time in the bathroom. :D John

What difference does it make to you? And who says the credit card won't be paid in full at the end of the month? I personally plan to pay off my cruise with money in the bank and gift cards - just as I paid for the rest of it. Nothing like a kill joy!

 

Congrats OP!! Mine will be paid off in two weeks after booking almost a year in advance. Yayyyy!!!

Interesting response! I wrote what I did as I was really curious how many of us carry cruises on our credit cards. I had been paying mine off monthly, but this year we can't and when I make my final payment on our Nov 1st cruise, it will indeed become credit card debt. So, I plan to wait until the very last minute to "move" the debt from Carnival to our Carnival Master Card.

Sorry if I killed your joy OP, as it was not my intent. John

they get paid the commission on the fare less NCF(noncommissionable fare). They get paid generally after final payment, however if the fare drops and the fare is adjusted they have to pay back any overage. Its charged back to them: its removed from future commissions.

Exactly, they get 16% of the NCF. If the price is adjusted down after final payment, then the commission amount if affected and some funds must be returned. John

Probably those awful covered strawberries. I hate covered strawberries.

I really like strawberries, but there is already ENOUGH to eat on a cruise ship. They usually go wasted, or on my waist. :( John