cruise_gal21

2 hours ago, x lindsay x said:

Onboard the MG the restaurants included for kids in FH rooms are the ones that have an upfront surcharge - Rudi's Seagrill, the Steakhouse, Teppanyaki. The a la carte upcharge places are not included, Emeril's Bistro, Bonsai Sushi, and Seafood Shack. Cucina, Chi-bang and Guy's Pig and Anchor are complimentary to everyone on the ship. 

 

I know others in FH rooms have struggled with this in the past because the current online booking system does not recognize your FH status when pre-booking dining that you pre-pay for such as Teppanyaki. They've been told they need to book onboard to receive the complimentary child reservation which is a real crap shoot for Teppanyaki since it is usually completely sold out. Honestly I would book now and try to sort it out on the ship if you really want to partake in this experience. 

 

I took my 4 year old and there was no kids menu for her, she ate what everyone else ate. She didn't eat $35 worth of food but really enjoyed the experience. 

Thank you so much for your reply! This is what I will do then! 

My family is booked on Mardi Gras next year in a Family Harbor room. Hoping y’all can help answer a couple questions…

1. Specialty dining is free in “most” restaurants for kids, which are included?

2. Of those not included, do I have to pay for my 2 year old and reserve a seat for her if she’s eating off our plates and using a high chair? 

3. If I do have to pay full price upfront and get a refund after dinner, how does this work if I use OBC? 
 

I’m mostly confused about Bonsai Teppanyaki, as I’ve not been able to find any kids menus, and when I try to reserve they’re charging me full adult price. My 2 year old is not going to eat $35 worth of food. 
 

Thanks for any info!

Never been on a ship with this before. Is it basically Hibachi? Thanks 

16 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

May is our month for Vista. Ecstasy is April or bust 

We're April 2nd! Only 10 days!!

5 hours ago, Abr155 said:

I am all about cruise lines getting back on their feet - it's great news! That said, if they are sailing at capacity +, it's time to bring everything back to "normal."  I recognize it will be a new normal, but, let's bring back Seuss at Sea for the kids - you're letting them sail, you're charging normal rate minus a few promotions on select sailings, so, provide what used to be included!  Let's get the kids club back open for even those under 5 - there are increased precautions for unvaccinated kiddos, so it should be safe assuming those precautions are working!

 

We don't sail until October - I'm hoping it'll be close to pre-Covid times. *fingers crossed*  While we booked assuming everything will still be limited and restrictive, one can hope for change!

Preach it!! My sentiments exactly! Agree 100%

On 3/20/2022 at 11:02 PM, Kansaslunchlady said:

Carnival excursion-it was 30$ each in August, booked it for 40$ each for May, and now it sits at 45$ each. Includes transportation 

The excursion now includes snorkeling and a free tequila tasting. That's the reason for upcharge.

7 hours ago, teknoge3k said:

The only time you can get lunch in the main dining room, is sea day brunch. It's not a lunch venue.

 

The MDR is open every morning for breakfast (except embarkation morning), and dinner every night. 

Thanks! I was wondering if they were open for breakfast daily.

Glad to read a review of this cruise that sounds like an enjoyable time! FB complaints are rampant and somewhat unnerving.

We’re sailing on Carnival in April and due to having very small children we’re doing a beach day. The one that looks the best for us is “Beach Escape: Islands Beach Club and Pool”. Has anyone done this excursion before? Your thoughts please. Thanks!

Does anyone have any experience with cribs in the staterooms? My PVP said it would be a Pack n Play. That seems a little large for these tiny rooms. Any pics are appreciated.

Not sure about cost, but I do know that travel insurance is generally not available for coverage if it’s not booked within 30 calendar days of putting your deposit down. Most travel insurance will include med evacuation within it. I’m a USAA member and always purchase my travel insurance through they’re third party Travel Insured International. I have had to use them before, when we had a cruise booked and I had to cancel due to pregnancy, and they refunded us 100%. 

How do you know when and where Happy Hour is? Is it something you have to just happen upon? Or is it advertised?

I’m just happy that our cruise no longer hinges on if my 1yo get that exemption now. We can finally tell our 12yo we’re going on a cruise!! 😄

You have no idea how excited this makes me!!!! I’ve been waiting for my April exemption for my 1yo, and we haven’t told our 12yo we’re cruising in 5 weeks because we hadn’t gotten it! This is awesome!! 😄

So does this actually mean that I don’t need that exemption I submitted for my 1yo daughter now? No more waiting on pins and needles wondering if we’re going to cruise in 5 weeks? I can finally tell my oldest kiddo that we’re going on a cruise without fear that we will be denied due to no exemption? Just double checking I’ve read this correctly. TIA!

We will be sailing on Carnival Ecstasy in April if we get my 1yo’s vaccine exemption. We got 2 interior cabins with connecting doors on the inside (this was cheaper than putting all family members in one cabin). Essentially our oldest kiddo will have a cabin to herself, but I prefer to leave the doors on the inside that connect to each room open. Do these doors have something that help hold them open and keep them from closing? If I remember correctly the bathroom door has a magnet or something that does this. Do the connecting doors have the same thing? If not what would be recommended to bring onboard to help accomplish this? TIA!

38 minutes ago, 2Shoes2Go said:

Assigned the same cabins for our three cruises. Plus, OBC carried over. 🎉

Same cabins here too! Sad to say I didn’t have any OBC, but with the deal I got I’m not complaining 😂

Just a heads up Mobile Cruisers, I finally got my confirmation that my booking was moved from Sensation to Ecstasy. When I logged back into Carnival’s website I had to re-submit the Health Assessment for my family. I did not have to re-submit for my 1yo vaccine exemption, that did carryover. So go check that “To-Do List” 😁

1 hour ago, Mycron said:

 

You are 100% correct. I just logged in and checked. This morning it wasn't there, but this afternoon it is! Thank you for asking your PVP (they sound very helpful and I'm going to have to use them in the future). If you happen to be on the March 5th now-Ecstasy cruise, I'll buy y'all a drink! 🙂

So you’re on the first sailing out of Mobile! That’s awesome! I hope you have a great cruise, and thanks for the gesture ☺️ We’ll be on the April 2nd cruise for my daughter’s spring break.

I also got my confirmation this afternoon and was able to log back in. I did notice however, that I had to re-submit my family’s vaccine attestations. I tried re-submitting my 1yo exemption again, afraid that I needed to, even though I was told that it would carryover as well, and it told me I had already submitted it. But I’m hoping this means that I can finally book some shore excursions now 😄

2 minutes ago, dallasdan said:

I wouldn't book a cruise yet either, however, I am curious why everyone thinks the vaccine requirement will last all year.  If the cases keep dropping, I see the CDC saying we are endemic.  Wouldn't this eliminate all mandates?

That’s a very good question, but likely won’t be addressed any time soon. Carnival has sent out a statement regarding vaccination status and has said that until the foreseeable future they are running fully vaccinated cruises until the end of 2022. I’m assuming that once a vaccine is approved for 6+ months then there will be no vaccine exemptions.

3 hours ago, Mycron said:

 

That's what the lady I spoke with said, but at this point who knows. I've been watching the Carnival site, and there's nothing for Mobile until October '23. I'm hoping it'll change soon to reflect the Ecstasy's sailings, but I feel at this point it's a coin-toss if they get it working. The site still tells me it's 22 days until the cruise, but there's no booking information and it can't find my booking number/name combination when I enter it. Maybe I'll try the PVP route and see if they give me different/new info.

So I spoke with my PVP again after your reply, and confirmed, no sailings were canceled. They are all being moved to the Ecstasy. They had to block off all those dates and close the bookings in order to do so. So you should be good to go. They should have everything finished by the 15th is what he told me. So try again then.

On 2/4/2022 at 6:48 PM, Tjcalley said:

Just came on here looking for this info. Doesn’t seem like a guarantee to be approved. How old is your little one ? I read you have to pay an extra $150 and also have the insurance and you can get off the ship unless on an excursion? I wonder if that counts for an infant. Our cruise is in May!

She’s only 1yo, so no testing or insurance needed for her. And yes, we’ll have to do the bubble tours. 

12 minutes ago, geochick73 said:

Here is the body of the email I received on Feb 3rd.  I was booked on the Sensation for June 25-30, 2022.  I highlighted the pertinent parts.

 

Dear Carnival Guest,

As a follow up to our communication earlier in the week, Carnival Ecstasy will be repositioning to Mobile, AL to assume our 4- and 5- day itineraries for the cruises referenced above, including your cruise.

Carnival Ecstasy is a sister ship to Carnival Sensation and has similar amenities and features.  Her crew is eager to welcome you on board and make you part of the excitement from being among the first group of guests to return the ship to service.  In addition, we know you will enjoy our spacious and comfortable staterooms, the warm and friendly service from our crew, and the great variety of entertainment and activities we have planned for you.

In order to transfer your reservation, we must close access to your booking.  Once the transfer is completed, you will receive a confirmation with your new ship and stateroom assignment.  You will be assigned a comparable stateroom to what you are currently holding. 

Here’s what you need to know about the ship transfer process: 

 

• Our team will be working on moving all the reservations until February 15 so there is no need to call us.  (We appreciate your understanding as reservations cannot be accessed by anyone outside of our technical team during this period.) 
• Any onboard credit currently on your reservation will be automatically transferred to your new booking.  
• All pre-purchased items such as Fly2Fun air, shore excursions, Carnival Vacation Protection, gratuities, beverage and Wi-Fi packages, and Fun Shop items will automatically transfer to Carnival Ecstasy. 
• Approved and pending vaccine exemptions will follow the booking to the new ship.  If you have a pending exemption request, the transfer of your booking is not a confirmation of your request.

Thank you for your understanding.  We look forward to welcoming you aboard and are committed to providing you with a fun and memorable vacation.

Thank you so much for this!! This has put my mind to ease. I was sure my PVP would not have steered me wrong, but it’s nice to see something in writing, even if it’s not my actual sailing. Funny thing is I booked my cruise on February 4th, the day after this email was sent out 😅

8 minutes ago, geochick73 said:

Same for me.   I checked my last email from Carnival and it said they were switching everything over to the Ecstasy and that it should be completed by Feb 15th...and that bookings wouldn't be available on the app or website until the switch was made.

Thank goodness! I’m having a small panic attack because I read on another thread that they spoke with Carnival today because they were missing their booking too and Carnival told them that the whole ship was canceled!! That they’ll have to call back after the 12th to rebook!! 
 

That is not the info I was told on Monday when I spoke with my PVP. I was told they’d be moved, not canceled. I haven’t received a single email from Carnival on the whole subject.

7 hours ago, Mycron said:

I'm in a very similar boat (no pun intended). I booked the Sensation on Monday, then go on Tuesday and see that it's gone! I called Carnival Customer Service and after TWO HOURS on hold I finally talked to someone who said the cruise I was on was mass-cancelled and that I would have to call back on the 12th to talk to someone else about getting rebooked!! I asked if they could auto-book me for the Ecstasy and they told me no because some people may prefer a refund so it's easier to have me call back. 

 

Their customer service is abysmal...

Wait a minute, they told you that it was canceled??? Not moved, but canceled? I got and spoke with a PVP just yesterday that told me the booking was going to be moved, not canceled. And today I go on Carnival and my bookings have disappeared! I thought they were just trying to switch things around in the system and didn’t want people booking excursions, fun shop, spa, etc. while they did it.