Booked connecting rooms now not available

[Nannersmom]

Just make sure for every cabin booked it has a seperate confirmation number from Carnival.not just a seperate invoice! Also groups get special perks but the group has to have a minimum of 8 cabins. If you elect to use a TA, just make sure all the paperwork given is double checked for errors!. Carnival does it own group sales, so you may want to deal with them direct

The planning part can be time consuming. Not only was I working with the TA, but I also researched the hotel the group will be staying at in Galveston, parking during the cruies, arranging for flights and car rentals and excursions. What added to that "fun" is I am the only one of my group in NC, everyone else is in either Chicago or San Diego! And basically the "computer advanced" people are me(not really that advanced) and my daughter (her husband is an IT specialist) in San Diego, so most of our stuff with everyone else has been done by phone! Email or even a chat program is great to have.

We decided as a group to just have a pizza party at the hotel the night before we cruise. The hotel has an indoor pool the kids can play in and the adults can just catch up with each other. Some of them I have not seen in 2 years!

Another note: the TA I dealt with ONLY had to do the cruise details..and those as we all can tell had problems :(

[firefly333]

Im at Quality Inn and Suites later this month, and hear they have a indoor pool?? But Im guessing you will be at another hotel. Are there that many with indoor pools in Galveston? Pizza sounds good times to me. Have lots of fun when you all finally make it to Galveston, and dont let the little stuff upset you.

[Nannersmom]

Im at Quality Inn and Suites later this month, and hear they have a indoor pool?? But Im guessing you will be at another hotel. Are there that many with indoor pools in Galveston? Pizza sounds good times to me. Have lots of fun when you all finally make it to Galveston, and dont let the little stuff upset you.

We are staying at the Quality Inn :)...when do you cruise?

[tbrown]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn on seawall drive it was awesome all rooms had balconies and you could sit on it and watch the ocean. LOVED IT was able to keep car there during the trip as well.

[firefly333]

We are staying at the Quality Inn :)...when do you cruise?

 

I didnt think there could be that many hotels with inside pools :D

 

Im going on Ecstasy Jan 23rd next time. I love the Ecstasy.

[firefly333]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn on seawall drive it was awesome all rooms had balconies and you could sit on it and watch the ocean. LOVED IT was able to keep car there during the trip as well.

 

I hear we will have a balcony too, looking either up or down the ocean. I was told ask for east side balcony. Higher floors can see the port and the ship when it comes in from the balcony.

[Nannersmom]

I didnt think there could be that many hotels with inside pools :D

 

Im going on Ecstasy Jan 23rd next time. I love the Ecstasy.

We sail on Feb 1st. So you go ahead of us. Otherwise I was going to tell you to come join the pizza party.

[Nannersmom]

We have not been on the Ecstasy but have been on two of the "sister ships"...Sensation and Inspiration

[firefly333]

We sail on Feb 1st. So you go ahead of us. Otherwise I was going to tell you to come join the pizza party.

 

lol well darn, :D

 

I love Ecstasy, the current CD is so talented and always get great service. Have had issues on Conquest, but Ecstasy so far is always picture perfect, no problems. The CD plays violin and fiddle and must be a professional musician. I loved him.

[sjn911]

Hello everyone...Nannersmom...thanks so for the summary. I just love the little chat... too remote here "sometimes" after living away. Firefly333 and Tbrown...nice to get hotel info when I try something out of Galveston. More and more Texans enjoying part time here now. Now I do not mean to leave any out here...thanks for this thread and all the learnings...happy cruising.

Oh Nannersmom, that first night plan is a winner. Oldest nephew graduated from small private school in this state and played football to get through. This past Mother's Day we stayed in a Hotel/Motel like this with a indoor waterpark attached. The graduation,

the lovely free very nice hot breakfast for Mother's day, the family and kids satisfied on all angles, and the graduation..a perfect weekend. Have a WONDERFUL time. Again thanks for the summary. sjn911

[firefly333]

The price for quality inn and suites beachfront is also really great thru the end of January, even better looks like on Nannersmom's date. Never saw such great rates. You can walk across the road to the beach, and Trip Advisor has them as #5 ranked, so cant be too bad, so I booked it too.

 

For Ecstasy it doesnt really matter if the hotel has free cruise parking or not, if it doesnt also have a free shuttle or next to the port like Harbor House. If I have to pay for a taxi both ways, its only $30 for EZCruise parking, or about $15 with tips to take a taxi each way, so I figure you dont save with free cruise parking on Ecstasy. .. At least with only two of us. (Harbor House was only $80 for my date, and there are tons of bargains right now thru the end of January). Very good rates right now. Thats why we decided to go down the night before and get a hotel, even though we usually go down the morning of the cruise. Cant beat the rates right now. (lots in the $39.95 to $49.99 range which is unusual for Galveston).

[sjn911]

Thanks...air often is the rub...but will do Galveston at least once for sure...I have enjoyed San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin on different short trips. Looking forward to coastal Texas places. sjn911.

[Chacooe]

I agree that it's time to adjust to the situation and start enjoying the cruise.

 

Only of academic interest - I'm still not understanding why Carnival apparently took responsibility for the situation but the TA is apparently the one paying to (somewhat) rectify it.

 

ken

 

I don't think that the TA even set up a conference call with Carnival but with some in her own office. That happened to my brother, he had some serious problems with his TA and demanded a conference call with Carnival and come to find out that call never happened, the TA just had another one of her employees say they worked for Carnival. How he found out about the improper conference call was (since he writes notes on every call, especially who he talks to) he called the TA's office asking to talk with his TA and got the person who was suppose to be a Carnival employee instead. There is just something fishy about what this TA is doing, I just don't believe that they did a conference call and how would she know if they were actually connected to Carnival or not.

 

Maybe someone can correct me on this, but I thought is was against Carnival rules for kids to stay in cabins by themselves unless it was a cabin with a door in the middle. Can someone clarify that for me. I know I would never allow my kids to be in a room by themselves on a cruise ship.

[beckymomof2]

Post #36: "Okay, had the conference call. Carnival did say they messed up, but the best they can do is upgrade them to side by side cabins."

 

Sounds like Carnival took the blame, but also sounds from this that Carnival upgraded them????

 

ken

 

Sometimes an "upgrade" isn't really an upgrade. You can purchase an interior cabin on one floor and be "upgraded" to an interior cabin on another floor. Upgrading the passengers might not have been offering much. You all might think I'm crazy, but at this point, I would write a letter to Carnival Headquarters and print out his chat... If I were any part of customer service, I would see this was important. When someone buys a cruise they aren't just putting money down for a room. They have expectations that make the customer satisfied. If you don't get what you expect (which is different for each customer) then you don't feel like you got what you paid for. For me it might be good food, shows, a good stewart, etc. For this person it is obviously a connecting room. I don't blame them for wanting what they intially thought they were paying for. One another note, if you try everything you can and there are no other options, I would just try to have fun.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I don't think that the TA even set up a conference call with Carnival but with some in her own office. That happened to my brother, he had some serious problems with his TA and demanded a conference call with Carnival and come to find out that call never happened, the TA just had another one of her employees say they worked for Carnival. How he found out about the improper conference call was (since he writes notes on every call, especially who he talks to) he called the TA's office asking to talk with his TA and got the person who was suppose to be a Carnival employee instead. There is just something fishy about what this TA is doing, I just don't believe that they did a conference call and how would she know if they were actually connected to Carnival or not.

 

Maybe someone can correct me on this, but I thought is was against Carnival rules for kids to stay in cabins by themselves unless it was a cabin with a door in the middle. Can someone clarify that for me. I know I would never allow my kids to be in a room by themselves on a cruise ship.

 

as long as they are next door or directly across the hall it is ok with CCL.

 

Bill

[sjn911]

Dear last 2 posts good points...can't sleep..so popped back. The whole situation would as they say "fry my bacon." sjn911

 

Also, tough for me to imagine any of my neices and nephews under 18-21 depending on sex and maturity alone in cabin that is not connected...the calling and checking is good and all but there just is an element of risk...crazies everywhere to a degree. I have impression OP has plans to switch things around to avoid any risky issues.

 

My nephew went to Cabo with fairly level headed buddies at one of their parents time share...he is bright and has navigated a tough road very well. When 23, watching pretty carefully somehow bartender slipped that date drug in his drink...he became aware and his buddies got him back to fancy condo and stood guard while he slept it off.

This young man is one awesome tough "dude" and handsome as they come...also a philosopher, author, teaching himself the literature he missed...tough stuff. Cowboy as well...a real one..and yet trouble hit. Caution with anyone "alone" or "with" important.

sjn911

[cruisinchick71]

Okay, had the conference call. Carnival did say they messed up, but the best they can do is upgrade them to side by side cabins. They are going in the Empress deck. The kids are 13 - 10 and 9. Thoughts from past cruisers that allowed their kids to sleep in their own cabins please? Fully understand that you guys don't know these kids so that make it tougher. Just what would you do if it was your kids?

Thanks for the support. Still frustated over this. Not letting the TA off the hook. She is required to call Carnival everyday until we cruise to see if they can get connecting cabins.

 

My last cruise, my boys ages 16 & 14 stayed in the cabin next to us with no problems. I just layed ground rules and made sure they were in the cabin at the time they were suppose to be. Worked out great!

[dc-snoopy]

In 2007 when we were on the Destiny, my two nieces (who were 14 and 16 at the time) and a friend (also 14) were in one cabin a few doors down from my brother's cabin (their dad). He was able to have the purser's desk make him an extra key for their room and he would go down and check on them. They knew that he could come by and he would knock and wait a minute or two to come in and it worked out fine. He still had access to the room even if it wasn't a connecting room.

 

If worse comes to worst and they have no luck fixing this, this may at least offer the parents some peace of mind this way.

[sjn911]

In 2007 when we were on the Destiny, my two nieces (who were 14 and 16 at the time) and a friend (also 14) were in one cabin a few doors down from my brother's cabin (their dad). He was able to have the purser's desk make him an extra key for their room and he would go down and check on them. They knew that he could come by and he would knock and wait a minute or two to come in and it worked out fine. He still had access to the room even if it wasn't a connecting room.

 

If worse comes to worst and they have no luck fixing this, this may at least offer the parents some peace of mind this way.

 

Helpful idea for our family cruise if snags hit or we do it last minute for savings...we can drive to Seattle in a day from where we gather in the summer in Montana.

 

I have a great fondness for Snoopy. My favorite christmas ornament is a little ceramic one where he is lying down on the package in slumber...ears

drooping down the sides...Happy New Year. sjn911.

[Chacooe]

as long as they are next door or directly across the hall it is ok with CCL.

 

Bill

 

Thank you for answering my question. I still would not feel comfortable having a child of mine either across the hallway or even a few doors down, there are still weird people that cruise to. I would sooner pay the difference and get a suite or something that all of us could be in the same room.

[dc-snoopy]

I have a great fondness for Snoopy. My favorite christmas ornament is a little ceramic one where he is lying down on the package in slumber...ears

drooping down the sides...Happy New Year. sjn911.

 

My wife and I perform in musical theater. One of my favorite roles that I've ever had was Snoopy in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" which I had performed in just before joining CC. Since I perform regularly in one theater, Even five years later, I still have patrons that tell me how much they loved that show and that they still think of me as Snoopy. :)

 

And my wife has gotten us and me several Snoopy mementos including several ornaments for our Christmas tree, a few stuffed Snoopies and I have t-shirts and sweatshirts.

[Chacooe]

My wife and I perform in musical theater. One of my favorite roles that I've ever had was Snoopy in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" which I had performed in just before joining CC. Since I perform regularly in one theater, Even five years later, I still have patrons that tell me how much they loved that show and that they still think of me as Snoopy. :)

 

And my wife has gotten us and me several Snoopy mementos including several ornaments for our Christmas tree, a few stuffed Snoopies and I have t-shirts and sweatshirts.

 

Snoopy was my favorite of the Peanuts Cartoons and the little bird came in second. I have a lot of Snoopy items that date back to when they first started to merchandise the Peanut Cartoons. My favorite piece is of Snoopy as the Red Baron and the dog house actually moves. It is so cool.

[firefly333]

as long as they are next door or directly across the hall it is ok with CCL.

 

Bill

 

Just as a FYI, not that I care, but this was posted in Nov as the new policy.

 

Here is the ammended policy, not a big deal since people do it anyway but makes it easier to book:

 

Carnival has changed their minor age policy to allow for more flexibility when everyone is traveling on the same sailing.

 

Passenger Age

Policy Details

18- 20 years of age

Can book a cabin anywhere on the ship as long as the parents, grandparents or legal guardians are on same sailing. Everyone in that minor age cabin needs to be 18-20 years of age.

13 – 17 years of age

Can have their own cabin as long as it is located within 3 staterooms (this is the maximum number of staterooms allowed) from their parents, grandparents or legal guardian.

12 years and under

Must be booked in parents’ cabin, no exceptions.

Note:

It is mandatory that all minor age bookings be cross referenced with the parents’, grandparents’ or legal guardian’s booking.

Carnival will document all bookings on their side as well.

 

At least this is what has been posted as the new Carnival policy ... the under age 13 doesnt sound right to me.

[dc-snoopy]

Yes, when we last cruised, my brother booked himself with one of his girls and her friend (both 14 yo) in one cabin. He booked his girlfriend and his other daughter (16 yo) in a second cabin. When they got there, they just switched cabins so that he and his girlfriend were in the one cabin and the girls were in the other cabin. No one cared and everything worked out fine.

 

And as I said, my brother had the purser's desk make an extra key for the girls' room and he was able to keep tabs on them without a connecting door.

[firefly333]

Yes, when we last cruised, my brother booked himself with one of his girls and her friend (both 14 yo) in one cabin. He booked his girlfriend and his other daughter (16 yo) in a second cabin. When they got there, they just switched cabins so that he and his girlfriend were in the one cabin and the girls were in the other cabin. No one cared and everything worked out fine.

 

And as I said, my brother had the purser's desk make an extra key for the girls' room and he was able to keep tabs on them without a connecting door.

 

Age 14 and age 16 can be in their own cabin... its the younger ones that I was questioning the policy on, because Iv always heard they can be next door or directly across the hall too.

 

I think this was the update on the policy, but two policys were posted.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1089484&highlight=