sarmat1

Thanks so much Stick93 for the description and Essiesmom for the picture. That setup is perfect. We won't use the ladders so that's not a problem. This configuration is more elongated than the symmetrical square-like cabin we're used to. I think I like this way better since the king is basically in the corner of the room and the L-shaped uppers are as well. The kids can easily trampoline up to the uppers. Just have to figure out where we'll put our fan.

I still can't figure out why Carnival is specifically disclaiming this type of setup for these cabins. :confused:

I have NO idea. I thought it was odd.

 

https://help.carnival.com.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/70

That's because you're on the Carnival Australia site (note the carnival.com.au at the end). They're referring to the Spirit and the Legend for Australian cruises.

Carnival tested out packages on various ships in the past. I know we were offered something on Valor a few years back. If I remember correctly, it was very expensive. I'm guessing the test didn't work so well for them if they're not offering anymore.

We routinely cruise with 5 people. For those cruises when we are all in one cabin, this disclaimer is often found on the room we end up in. We've never an issue, nor has anyone even questioned, setting up with a king configuration. The only issue is that one of the ladders won't fit in their intended slots, but the kids are easily able to crawl across from the upper next to it, or you can use the ladder in a "non-intended" location, which means it just doesn't have the little slots the ladder locks into. Unless you have very small children, I wouldn't let this affect my cabin choice. Have a great cruise!

The interesting thing is I've never seen the disclaimer for any cruises that we've booked or mock booked. This is the first. If the problem as you and others have stated is the ladder, which is what I thought as well, then I wouldn't expect Carnival to state that the "beds do not convert" which would imply that it physically can't be done. We don't use the ladders as the kids just use the king to trampoline up to the uppers. We also have the steward keep the uppers open all the time to give the kids their own space whenever we happen to be in the cabin.

So if the problem is the ladders, then's it's a non-issue as we'll just ask the steward to put the bottom twins together since we don't use the ladders.

But I'm still interested to hear from anybody who might know - Is there some bizarre design element in the Sunshine quad interiors that makes it physically impossible to put the bottom twins together when you're using the uppers? :confused:

I'm looking to book the Sunshine and am seeing this disclaimer for all interior quads:

Note: Twin beds do not convert to king when both upper pullmans in use.

We've been on 5 other ships and have always used the two uppers and had the twins pushed into a king. In fact I can't imagine why this wouldn't be possible. But I do know that the Sunshine used to be the Destiny and some things might be different.

But really - can you NOT have a king on the Sunshine if you're using the two uppers?

So many crew members miss their children back home so your daughter will get spoiled silly.

 

This is very true and holds true for older kids as well. Every crew member that we've encountered on each of our cruises has treated our kids like royalty.

Yes. The last time we bought two, shipping was $1.18.

No shipping charge for the $500 physical cards, at least not for the one I ordered this past week.

I get the same results. Only physical cards are available right now. Couldn't tell you when they'll get more eCards. Typically it takes about a week for the physical cards to arrive in the mail, give or take a day or two. Last time we ordered a couple, we ordered on a Wednesday and got them the following Monday. I can say you should be ok, but you never know. I'd be more tempted to wait until the eCards came back before pushing my luck with mailing physical cards.

Updated data point - the $500 physical card I ordered yesterday afternoon shows as "shipped" as of this afternoon. So I should be OK.

Does anyone know if the $500 cards come via UPS and do they need a signature?

My husband and I and 3 girls are cruising Fantasy in October. We have 2 rooms next to each other. I want to buy Cheers for my husband only. On the booking, I put him and myself in separate rooms so that I will be able to just buy it for him. My question is, when I get on the ship, can I go to guest services and switch myself to his room? Or will they then make me buy Cheers also? I am just wondering if this is a good work around and if anyone has done this successfully?

Yes, perfectly fine. Carnival doesn't care where people sleep.

We're just a little unsure if there will even be a Camp Carnival program that night while docked overnight in Havana, or even a Night Owls program that night, and then even more unsure if a child (with prior notification to the Camp Carnival staff earlier in the day) will automatically convert from Camp Carnival to Night Owls without us being there at 10pm when Night Owls begins.

I can't speak specifically to Havana, but assuming that cruise operates the way all others do for Camp Carnival, there is Night Owls every night. Certain nights are designated as a "party", but I have always seen Night Owls in some capacity from 10pm to 1am. Carnival will likely happily take your money for those three hours. :)

I have the offer on my Platinum Business Card today. I added the offer, but don't want to make a payment on the cruise yet. It isn't supposed to expire until December. That shouldn't be a problem, correct? The offer stays on my account??

Yes. It will stay there until you use it or it expires.

Whenever a thread like this comes up, my answer is always the same - Zero. Four cruises so far with number five coming up in a week and they haven't spent a dime. As to milkshakes, my kids (DD12 and DS9) would say that they have unlimited ice cream on Lido whenever they want it so there's no reason for milkshakes. They would find the arcade useless since they have their tablets with them in the cabin and play computer games on their computer when they're home anyway. Soda - we bring on a 12 pack for each. And so on . . . .

My kids simply appreciate the fact that they get to go on a cruise each summer. They're perfectly happy sticking with everything that's already included.

But, of course, to each his own. :)

There are some right now. If you go to gift cards, then travel it will give you option of instant delivery for the 500.00.

The 100 you can find under ecards... use search type in "carnival".

I realize that they appear to be there, but when you click in, only "mail" is offered for both for delivery. Unless of course I'm crazy and it's just me. I've gotten the ecards before, but right now that option doesn't appear to exist for either once you click in to try and buy them. I'm leaving end of next week and need more. Looks like I'll need to get in a physical order and keep my fingers crossed unless the ecard option is put back.

No ecards are available right now ($100 or $500). I've never seen that before where we couldn't get ecards. Does anyone know how long physical cards will take to come?

Been to GT a couple of years ago with one ship in port and a later arrival. There were no issues with tons of people. Now we'll be on the Splendor in two weeks arriving at 7am and the Sensation will be right there with us with the same arrival time.

With 5,000 passengers there at once, I know Margaritaville will be crowded at the pool and beach. But when will this crowding typically occur? Shortly after we dock at 7am? Or does it take some time for the masses to get around to leaving the ship? I'm just trying to figure out if we need to be rushing off the ship at 7am or if we can eat breakfast and get off at 8am or later and still have decent pool/beach seating options? Yes I know we could venture up the beach towards Jacks or anywhere else and have less crowds, but what typically happens in the Margaritaville areas with two ships arriving at 7am?

I gather that FTTF sells out. It is currently offered on our cruise. Should I grab it now while it is available? If I reserve it now, and then change my mind, can I cancel it later? (We are travelling with a family group, five cabins so far, and not sure if they will want to pay for this)

Yes, FTTF is fully refundable so there is no risk to getting it now and cancelling it before your cruise.

Yes, we walked from port. You take a right out of port and follow the walkway along the waterfront and will see signs. It was a quick walk maybe 5 min. I wasn't Paying attention, but it is very close and can see the hotel from the ship.

Thanks - that's perfect. For reservations, did you just use the email listed in your prior post? You said you talked to Dwayne. Does he have a direct line or email?

Just got back from our cruise this past weekend. The Renaissance hotel was great. The place was Quiet and we practically had the all beach to ourselves. It was 20 per adult and 10 per child with no lunch box. Gave you towels and there were plenty of chairs and shade. I am going to try and post a picture.

Did you walk there from the ship and if so, about how far/how long? We're only in port in the PM so we're looking for something close and easy.

I'm glad I found this post. Quick question about the Dr. Suess breakfast......is it good for adults? There are 6 adults going on our cruise in December with no kids. Did you see a lot of adults with no kids? Lol

Sure it's good for adults. While the majority of tables will certainly have kids at them, I doubt you'll feel out of place. We've done this breakfast twice (although we do have kids) and all of us have really liked it. Bring your camera and have the handlers take pictures of all of you with each character.

Silly question, but just looking for data points:

Can I use an e-card on board (i.e. apply at either guest services or kiosk)? I have applied physical gift cards while on board before without issue, so I'm guessing that this would be no different, but I wanted to see if anyone has actually done this?

I'm "old school", so I'm used to physical cards, I had no issue using e-gift cards online, but I'm fully paid and now want to use them to add to S&S when I go onboard in a few weeks.

No problem, right? :)

As others have said, it's completely subjective as to worth. For us, we get FTTF every cruise and it's always worth it (sometimes for very different reasons). On our cruise from Port Canaveral a couple of years back (before staggered boarding), there was a terminal issue that caused massive delays and a huge backup outside of the terminal to get in. When we arrived, they had just reopened the terminal, but there were hundreds in line waiting to get in. With our FTTF, we just walked past everyone into the priority entrance and into the terminal. My kids said "we get to cut the line in front of all of these people?" and I said "Yup". Then they said "But they were all here before us" and I said "it doesn't matter - FTTF puts us in front of all of them". 95 degree Florida heat with high humidity and I can only imagine how long some of those people had to stand in that outside. We were right in to the air conditioned terminal and since boarding started shortly afterward, we essentially walked right on to the ship after our check-in. FTTF was 50 bucks then. Worth it? You bet it was and that was before the cruise even started.

Basically, FTTF is Carnival's way of letting you buy priority status. This is likely why the Plats/Diamonds seem to dislike it (but I have no idea why this would matter to them). FTTF costs more now, but in the end, is buying priority status worth it to you? Only you can decide. But it's definitely worth it to us and we have it again for our cruise next month.

Wasn't aware of the change. Can someone give a brief synopsis? Before, I used to go to the Future Cruise desk, book a past guest rate and get $100. From what I can tell, now the incentive is $50 for all length cruises and you have to book ES? What is this 2 week window? I can book after the fact for two weeks - how do you actually do that?

We always put the four of us in one cabin and will be doing it again for cruise #5 in a few weeks. 185 sq feet is actually plenty of space. Some of the things we've learned and now do:

1. Each person gets one shelf in the closet. The shelves are actually quite deep and tall and it's easy to put two rows of clothes/things on each (as well as piling fairly high). I'm always amazed that each of us can unpack almost an entire suitcase onto a shelf.

2. We use the other two storage closets for shoes, pool/ocean stuff as well as hanging elegant night items.

3. Over the door storage (I got at Dollar Tree years ago and we still use it) that we hang over the bathroom door facing out into

the cabin. This is where all of the personal accessories go (i.e. hair brushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc). This way none of this stuff gets lost and it doesn't clutter up the bathroom either.

4. All suitcases go under the bed (yes 4 of them fit easily) so they're now out of the way (you can also store rarely needed items in the suitcases under the bed).

5. Remove the ladders and lay them against the side walls of the cabin. Those ladders just get in the way and besides my kids find it far more entertaining to jump up onto the upper bunks not to mention I now don't hit my head/stub my toes on the ladders.

6. Put the bottom two beds together (this is what allows us to get rid of the ladders so getting up and down to/from the top bunks is now done via the "trampoline" effect of the bottom bed

7. Have the steward leave the uppers open the entire day. This way our kids have their own personal spaces of their own and don't use any square footage whatsoever. Whether it's resting, reading, playing, waiting for the shower after a beach day, they're happy and we have a ton more main floor space.

In my case the Spa card was good 2 days after my birthday while the Photo card was good until the end of the cruise. Didn't understand that but that is what it was.

Yup. The spa card we got on Day 3 was only good for 2 days, both of which were port days so it didn't get used. The wine card we got was good for the rest of the cruise. I suspect the spa card is intentionally dated that way to minimize usage while still generating goodwill for giving it out.

It can vary and seems to almost be random. We have listed our anniversary four times on four different ships. The results:

1. Ecstasy - Sing in MDR

2. Paradise - Sing in MDR, candle in cake

3. Valor - Nothing

4. Breeze - $25 wine card (used for free bottle in MDR) and $50 spa card (not used because it was only good on port days and expired before the end of the cruise)

We were really pleased with the gift on the Breeze and told Carnival so in the post cruise survey.

I really don't expect Carnival to do anything for us, but since the booking asks for celebrations, I list it. If they do something, great. If not, I certainly don't hold it against them.