NOT Fascinated!

[Donh44]

Was this during the muster drill that they wouldn't let you use the stairs? This is really disappointing to hear. I don't blame you for being upset.

 

The main purpose of a Muster Drill is to tell you what you need to know in case of an emergency. If it were an emergency, NO one can use the elevators as they would be too crowded and too slow getting down. If they let people use the elevators for the MUSTER drill, it defeats the purpose. Also, it would make the MUSTER drill longer than it already is.

[Cruisegirl6]

cltcruiser glad the noise was faint for you...it appears the higher up you are the louder it was....it came from above us and we were on the Empress Deck. I don't buy this is a normal occurrence, been on aft cabins a number of times and on this very same ship and class of ship and never heard any noise.

Edited December 22, 2015 by lyndamr

[cruiseonthebrain]

Yes, it was during muster drill, I was told I had to use the stairs when I asked about an elevator.

About time I finally made it up, I got there and in one second it was over had to go right back down ugh.

 

Thank you OP I really appreciate all of your info. I can't help but be disappointed for you. I have never heard of a special needs muster area and I am a little concerned about these issues for our upcoming cruises. Hopefully yours will be better in the future and thank you again for helping some of us learn from your experience.

 

P.S. I hate ear plugs!

[crusinpsychRN]

There are only 5 stools at the casino bar where you can sit and smoke. The problem is when they have bands playing right there people gather right there and they put out ashtrays on the bar against the wall. Another issue there is no indoor smoking area except the night club at night only. Not many options for smokers.

[hotsauce126]

I do not think getting luggage early is a benefit of FTTF. Just that your stateroom is ready.

 

I just had it on my cruise last week and my luggage came normally and I did not see in the paperwork that it was supposed to be early or anything like that.

 

It is a benefit of FTTF but it doesn't mean it will be there by the time you get to your room. On the cruises that I didn't have FTTF I didn't get my luggage until after dinner, but on the one I had FTTF I got it about 2 hours after boarding.

[crusinpsychRN]

Did you make sure the porter put the FTTF tag on your luggage? The one time I didn't watch he didn't put one on so I always do now and it works.

[CARNIVALCRUISE3]

Since you asked:

 

1- Lifeboat drill took 1 hour 18 minutes total time

2- I am disabled, live with chronic muscle and joint pain, when they said I had to climb steps I asked if I can take an elevator up and the woman put both her hands up and shrugged her shoulders and said "oh well", you have no choice

3- We had two cabins, we could not sleep at all for two and a half nights...there was this bad constant noise that sounded like a ships horn from a distance, it constantly went on every two seconds day and night, no sleep! We reported it and a ticket was made, a few staff and maintenance came to listen and did hear it, it was also heard in the hallway, also our cabin steward heard it, nobody knew what it was and where it was coming from but constantly kept getting phone calls and letters to call guest services when we heard it, didn't want to get up all hours in the night to get dressed for them to come into our cabin...after two nights of this noise and not being able to nap due to the noise continued during the daytime (night we heard it louder as it was more quite on the ship), when we docked the third day in Nassau we took the opportunity to sleep all afternoon since the noise was gone while docked. This noise got quieter but still hearing it the last two nights.

4- I have to be gluten free, this ship was HORRIBLE for me. I called special needs four weeks before our cruise and they assured me that because we had my time dining they take our cabin number when we enter the dining room which they did, and was told they will provide me with information what I am able to eat, this NEVER happened. I also mentioned the first night to the waiter about my needing to be gluten free...needless to say, his server asked us about dessert I asked what was gluten free he said the orange cake, after eating 5-6 bites I knew it was too good to be gluten free, I asked the waiter he took it away from me but the next day I became ill in more ways than one. Late at night we were hungry I asked the gill server whether the burgers were gluten free two said yes, ate the burger and again next day totally sick again! There was really nothing gluten free on the lunch buffet other than the salad bar with oil and vinegar and the meat carving, unfortunately the last two days the meat carving was leg of lamb which I hate and do not eat, there was only salad for me. I am able to eat potato and rice there was none....

5- We had FTTF, our luggage was always brought to our cabin before we got on but the luggage was not there....needless to say we checked twice the next hour or so still no luggage, at 1:35 we noticed many people (without FTTF) had their luggage outside their doors we still didn't, called up guest services, finally got it later on.

6- Totally disappointed with the Christmas decorations they were nice mostly around the lobby and outside the restaurant was a 5 ft tree....the decorations were not lit and could barely be seen at night with the dim lights, the trees were small, certainly disappointing, nothing compared to the beautiful christmas decor RC has on their ships.

 

The staff ALL were friendly, in fact, we knew many of them and they always addressed us by our first names and all were very friendly, they truly made the cruise nice...also we had the best cabin steward too.

 

Food thankfully we could up charge our meal to having lobster, steak and turf (lobster) or 14 oz. filet mignon, its a good thing because there was hardly anything I can eat being both gluten and dairy free. I had no dessert once...we asked for the same waiter had him 3 nights he always promised me a gluten free dessert but only offered me sherbet which of course I refused its not a good dessert why bother?

 

Any cruise is a good cruise, but this was our most disappointing cruise ever!

 

I'm so sorry about these inconveniences that you experienced. My mom has a bad back, and they always allow her and others to sit in a lounge. Please ask the crew next time.

[Cruisegirl6]

Yes, we had two FTTF tags on each piece of luggage and the porter said the luggage be right there when we get to our room and we gave him a decent tip too.

 

Yes, next time I will ask if there is a place I can sit, but hoping next April on my next cruise I feel better, thinking positive here lol..

[Spaniel Lover]

Regarding the "fog horn" noise that you heard...

 

I wonder if it might have been in the plumbing. We stayed at a hotel one time where there was an odd "fog horn" type of noise coming from the bathroom area. I Googled it, and there was some information about bad sink valves that can cause a fog horn type of noise in the plumbing. Sure enough, when I went and fiddled with the water valves at the bathroom sink, I could get the fog horn noise to start or stop. (Valve open, water running, no fog horn noise.) So, I called the front desk, they sent a maintenance guy up to our room who replaced a valve at the sink, and the problem went away for the duration of our stay.

 

So, since no one else has offered a better theory... I am going to propose that the source of the fog horn noise that you heard on the ship was plumbing-related... possibly due to a bad valve somewhere in your vacinity. (Not necessarily in YOUR cabin.)

[Cruisegirl6]

The noise came from above our empress deck, the Atlantic deck had no cabins or bathrooms, and in our bathroom it was less noise.

[momof3cruisers]

The main purpose of a Muster Drill is to tell you what you need to know in case of an emergency. If it were an emergency, NO one can use the elevators as they would be too crowded and too slow getting down. If they let people use the elevators for the MUSTER drill, it defeats the purpose. Also, it would make the MUSTER drill longer than it already is.

 

Except that when you alert them of a special need or disabilities, they make note of that and in an actual emergency, they will have someone to assist you. What do you think people confined to a wheelchair do? Just hop up and take the stairs? I have differing health depending on the day/week, etc. I have noticed that when I have my cane, I am generally offerred the use of the elevator. However, I have solved this by attending the special needs muster whenever possible.

[Cruisegirl6]

There are people in wheelchairs that cannot stand up and walk neverless climb stairs, so they do need elevators obviously.

[E&B]

It's very important to let them know about special needs. I would imagine a crisis would be handled similar to one on land. I do know that the evacuation procedures in my building require special wardens assigned to assist those with special needs. If you don't make them aware of your needs, there would be no note of them and no one assigned to assist you in a true emergency. While you may be trying to do the best you can, you're really putting yourself, and most likely others, in danger by not letting the crew know you may be needing extra help.

[Cruisegirl6]

E&B True. I did contact special needs four weeks prior to my cruise, it didn't help me but maybe just one of those things that rarely happen but did happen to me who knows? Next time, i mention it again while checking in.