Live From The Carnival Freedom: Crossing the Atlantic for a New Whale Tail

[jam19872016]

Got our get off our ship paperwork. We were assigned a 930 disembarking time but I'm going to check and see how late they can accommodate us since we are just going down the pier to board freedom. 

 

[jam19872016]

Turns out 930 is the latest time. I saw people with luggage still sitting at 11 on Monday and boarding new passengers hadn't started but I guess since they want me off by 930 I will plan to do so unless there is a line still.

 

[jam19872016]

The pool still hasn't reopened. 

 

[jam19872016]

2 minutes ago, fyree39 said:

Though I've really loved the Cunard photos, I'm excited for you to be back on a Carnival ship. 🙂

I've loved my time on here but I am also excited to be coming home to Carnival 😀😃

[Blackjackboss]

2 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

I'm taking inventory of what's left. I think at this point I can hold off until I'm back on Carnival. I am happy now that I over packed.

 

Less happy when I'm lugging it around 😀

80 euros for 40 pieces of Laundry. I thought we got it free but no we don’t. I only packed for 7 or 8 days because I thought we would have free laundry lol. Spending more on laundry than in the casino

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, Blackjackboss said:

80 euros for 40 pieces of Laundry. I thought we got it free but no we don’t. I only packed for 7 or 8 days because I thought we would have free laundry lol. Spending more on laundry than in the casino

I don't believe that last line for a minute 🤣 .

[Blackjackboss]

3 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

I don't believe that last line for a minute 🤣 .

Just found out Gibraltar is canceled for American Visa holders. I’m soooooo disappointed. Lost it then got it again now canceled???? Other nationalities can still go. I looked at Gibraltar government website and it says US allowed and don’t even need visa. Cruise excursion desk says the government website isn’t updated??? Do you know why?? Enquiring minds want to know. Find out for me please. They wouldn’t give us any reason and I can’t find anything on line. We were notified 1 day before the excursion and now everything is sold out except for one tour. Guess that’s what we are going to do but I’m very sad.

[Blackjackboss]

Just now, Blackjackboss said:

Just found out Gibraltar is canceled for American Visa holders. I’m soooooo disappointed. Lost it then got it again now canceled???? Other nationalities can still go. I looked at Gibraltar government website and it says US allowed and don’t even need visa. Cruise excursion desk says the government website isn’t updated??? Do you know why?? Enquiring minds want to know. Find out for me please. They wouldn’t give us any reason and I can’t find anything on line. We were notified 1 day before the excursion and now everything is sold out except for one tour. Guess that’s what we are going to do but I’m very sad.

Not visa I mean passport 

[jam19872016]

35 minutes ago, Blackjackboss said:

Just found out Gibraltar is canceled for American Visa holders. I’m soooooo disappointed. Lost it then got it again now canceled???? Other nationalities can still go. I looked at Gibraltar government website and it says US allowed and don’t even need visa. Cruise excursion desk says the government website isn’t updated??? Do you know why?? Enquiring minds want to know. Find out for me please. They wouldn’t give us any reason and I can’t find anything on line. We were notified 1 day before the excursion and now everything is sold out except for one tour. Guess that’s what we are going to do but I’m very sad.

I don't see that information on any travel related site anywhere. I am skeptical that the strongest passport in the world would be singled out and denied entry to a country and it not be major news.

[Petersonfcu]

42 minutes ago, Blackjackboss said:

Just found out Gibraltar is canceled for American Visa holders. I’m soooooo disappointed. Lost it then got it again now canceled???? Other nationalities can still go. I looked at Gibraltar government website and it says US allowed and don’t even need visa. Cruise excursion desk says the government website isn’t updated??? Do you know why?? Enquiring minds want to know. Find out for me please. They wouldn’t give us any reason and I can’t find anything on line. We were notified 1 day before the excursion and now everything is sold out except for one tour. Guess that’s what we are going to do but I’m very sad.

This is very very wierd.   There is a lot of angst against America right now in the Arab world, but Gibraltar is very, very English.  Please keep us informed about the apparent denial of entry for American passport holders.

[Pear Carr]

Sounds very suspect to me - why can you go ashore on a cruise excursion but not independently? As far as I can see all passport holders are eligible to disembark 

 

‘U.S. citizens do not require a Tourist Visa to enter Gibraltar. However, a U.S. passport is required: Your U.S. passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date you plan to depart Gibraltar.’

[Host Hattie]

When are you due in Gibraltar?

[Blackjackboss]

I’m due in Gibraltar tomorrow. Everything I read says the same thing. I can’t find any information saying otherwise. It sounds VERY strange to me. I can see if maybe whole excursion was canceled but other nationality passports are still going. They said policy was updated July 2023. If that’s the case why could I book it and why hasn’t website been updated? Also why was I informed the day before??? Many people on board having the  same issue of course

[Host Hattie]

Is this for an excursion from Gibraltar into Spain ? Or the other way round?

If you're still on an MSC ship you might be better asking on their board.

[exlondoner]

2 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

Is this for an excursion from Gibraltar into Spain ? Or the other way round?

If you're still on an MSC ship you might be better asking on their board.

It looks as if it may be something to do with Spain. US citizens seem to be having problems crossing that border. Where was you previous port? Next one?

[Dermotsgirl]

4 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

Is this for an excursion from Gibraltar into Spain ? 

Looks like it to me -  it's only available to people with Schengen area passports, which also excludes the UK.

 

Not sure why this precludes US passport holders just getting off the ship in Gibraltar though 

Edited October 21, 2023 by Dermotsgirl

[Host Hattie]

2 minutes ago, Dermotsgirl said:

Looks like it to me -  it's only available to people with Schengen area passports, which also excludes the UK.

 

I'm wondering if there's a misunderstanding somewhere along the line - that the tour is not available to 

I think it's the other way round, MSC Divina is due in Malaga tomorrow so the excursion would be from Spain to Gibraltar. 

And not available for UK passport holders either. 

Hope you can find another option in Malaga @Blackjackboss.

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, Host Hattie said:

I think it's the other way round, MSC Divina is due in Malaga tomorrow so the excursion would be from Spain to Gibraltar. 

 

Right. And I think it is just a case of bad customer service from MSC to allow her to book this and not inform her of a self imposed policy change since July. There is no such official restriction that I can find.

[Dermotsgirl]

1 minute ago, Host Hattie said:

I think it's the other way round, MSC Divina is due in Malaga tomorrow so the excursion would be from Spain to Gibraltar. 

 

Ah, that explains it then.

 

Only people with a Schengen area passport can go through the border from Spain to Gibraltar for this tour.

 

So the Americans aren't being singled out - it applies to all non Schengen passport holders, including the UK, Canada etc 

[Blackjackboss]

3 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

I think it's the other way round, MSC Divina is due in Malaga tomorrow so the excursion would be from Spain to Gibraltar. 

And not available for UK passport holders either. 

Hope you can find another option in Malaga @Blackjackboss.

Yes that is correct. Sorry didn’t mention that part. Malaga to Gibraltar booked through MSC. 

[Host Hattie]

Just now, Blackjackboss said:

Yes that is correct. Sorry didn’t mention that part. Malaga to Gibraltar booked through MSC. 

No problem,  we figured it out in the end. Was there no mention of the restriction when you booked? 

[Host Hattie]

7 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Right. And I think it is just a case of bad customer service from MSC to allow her to book this and not inform her of a self imposed policy change since July. There is no such official restriction that I can find.

It's probably to speed up the border crossings for the excursion. 

I wonder if there's a non-Schengen version or the border crossings make it not worth doing. 

[jam19872016]

6 minutes ago, Dermotsgirl said:

Ah, that explains it then.

 

Only people with a Schengen area passport can go through the border from Spain to Gibraltar for this tour.

 

So the Americans aren't being singled out - it applies to all non Schengen passport holders, including the UK, Canada etc 

So if I understand correctly, the restriction is only for those wishing to enter Gibraltar through Spain? And so would this restriction apply to those wishing to cross independently? It wasn't something I planned on this trip, but I was interested in visiting Gibraltar at some point on a return trip.

[Dermotsgirl]

47 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Right. And I think it is just a case of bad customer service from MSC to allow her to book this and not inform her of a self imposed policy change since July. There is no such official restriction that I can find.

It’s more likely to be to do with Spanish border control, rather than MSC policy.  Spain have a  certain reputation for not making the Spain /Gib border crossing easy.
But yes, bad customer service to allow people to book who don’t fit the criteria for the tour 

[jam19872016]

Pool's open.