GatorGirl57

Yes, there were two formal nights on the ones I have been on (once on Dream and once on Legend). One of the formal nights was New Year's, and people were dressed nicer than normal on average. Sparkly dresses and more suits, etc.

Hmm...I wonder about this as well. At dinner, they only put 4-6 pieces on our table and my DH really likes the bread so we eat all/most of it. Never found anything odd. However, at the Sea Day brunch, we once got a basket with 12 pieces in it, for two people! We left like 8 on the table - that seems very wasteful, but obviously I don't want them reused...I don't really understand the practice. Although, maybe it is cheaper to throw away some bread than it is to pay some poor soul to walk around and hand it out.

I spend a lot of time eating and then sleeping on my balcony or in my stateroom, depending on the room I have. Love the steakhouse demonstration, which is always on a sea day. Did the Behind the Fun tour once, which I loved. Hang out in the hot tubs, and sometimes go to yoga, a free class, or use the machines, since all I am doing the rest of the time is eating and sleeping ;). I go to places that have free alcohol, like the champagne art auction and the past guest party (wasn't on a sea day my last cruise though). I also bring a book and will read at least half and up to a whole book. Good luck, I rarely/never do trivia.

Is an aft cabin somethig one would want for Alaska?

 

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I have been told by multiple people on the forum and on various cruises that aft balconies are the best for Alaska. It is the only way to get a panoramic view of the scenery from your stateroom.

I am not sure why people keep claiming Princess and HAL have similar rates in Alaska to Carnival. I booked a 7 day HAL cruise and then when Carnival released their rates, I saved $800 and gained a day of cruising, plus went from a regular balcony to an aft - still the same time frame. Carnival was much cheaper. And the day I gained was to Tracy Arm, which is nice. This is the first cruise of the season, so it also goes to Glacier Bay.

REALLY!!!! by one freaking minute... I gotta stop double checking for spelling and punctuation

Haha, great minds think alike? lol

Something to keep in mind is the people who book guarantee cabins. Their room looks "empty" up until a week or less before sailing. If there are 150 empty rooms, but 100 people who are not yet assigned for guarantee, then there are really only 50 empty rooms. People on cruise critic tend to not do guarantees, but much of the general public does because they are cheaper. They don't realize they could be under the club or whatever.

Just two weeks ago I went with Captain Marvin's on my own but was on a Carnival cruise. That should not be a problem with them - I would try again.

Sean,

I think you have a lot of things to weigh. What time does the non-Carnival excursion want you off the boat? By noon, it is nearly always very easy to get a tender. Normally it is just difficult to be on the first few. What is the difference in cost to take a Carnival excursion? What is the difference in quality (based on trip advisor reviews?) Is FTTF still available, are you willing to check every day for it if not, and would the $50 be worth it for you?

When I got to the tender ticket place an hour early, I was the second person there. What it is worth to you to not have to wait in line? If you get to the tender ticket place early, you will likely get on a early tender and not have a problem.

Hope this thought process helps!

An update on my experience for future readers:

-We got to the place the tender tickets were being given out of Belize one hour early. We were the second ones there (didn't need to be early at all, but we were already up, and it was nice to wait in the lounge chairs on Lido). 15 minutes early would have been sufficient. We went out on the first tender.

-Grand Cayman - they did not even do tender tickets - we went downstairs about 20 minutes after the tendering started, and we were on the next tender after we arrived (maybe five minutes until we were on a boat). On the Legend, the larger tenders can only dock in the forward of the ship, not mid ship, so the mid ship line is way longer.

I really enjoyed both excursions, and I would recommend them.

Hope this helps someone!

They are probably just calling to let you know they are your PVP and to see if you want to book again. I wouldn't worry too much about it, and just call.

Well...just tried to buy FTTF and it either sold out since I posted, or I was wrong that is was available in the first place. Looks like we will have to wait in the tender lines. Any tips?

Hi all,

We have non-Carnival excursions in Belize and Grand Cayman.

With Belize, we are booked with .biz for cave tubing (Vitalino) and it says to get off the boat asap (boat docks at 9am). How early should we get to the tender ticket location? And the location to get the tickets will be in the Fun Times, correct?

In Grand Cayman, we are with Capt. Marvin's for stingrays and our boat docks at 10am ship time, and we are supposed to be with Capt. Marvin at 11:45 am ship time. Do we have plenty of time (1hr 45 min)? Should we queue early?

FTTF is available for my sailing right now, but I would prefer to keep the $50 if I just have to wait a few minutes and put in only a little effort.

I normally cruise with just my DH and I and we get YTD so we can be flexible with when we eat and always get a two person table. I have cruised three times with family, and then we always do traditional dining. It will be very frustrating to get everyone together for dinner without it and then a long wait. Think of going to Olive Garden with two people or with 10 people - causes a different wait.

$20 more a day in on board spending is chump change. He can get $40 but he needs to spend $10 enriching the experience. Here are my suggestions:

 

1) Improve MDR service by adding back staff and improving food.

 

2) Get rid of American Table/Feast. Emphasize the fine dining experience while encouraging casual passenger attire and attitudes.

 

3) Bring back Sommeliers who can discus wine knowledgably and explain the benefits of proper wine pairings.

 

4) Leverage the main theater. It's 25% of the public space volume but is used for 10% of on board activities and generates little if any revenue

 

A) Improve the main theater entertainment. Give longer, more elaborate shows. Passengers will attend and stay longer and order more drinks.

B) Support this by Offeing a bar menu in the main theater with reasonably priced appetizer and snack items

C) Offer a dinner show in the main theater at an upcharge

 

And that's just off the top of my head.

You have some interesting points - but have you ever been to a bingo game? Quite a bit of money generated there in the main lounge.

Have you checked to see if a six year old can do Chef's Table? I was about to suggest a Behind the Fun tour instead, since you get to do a galley tour there too - but it is 13 or older.

Question: After reading this thread a while back, I applied and got a Carnival Master Card. I have been doing my shopping through the links in the site to get the point boosts. I notice that the points for the purchases themselves are there, but not the 8x or 4x the amounts that are stated on the site. Are those applied once a month? Or do I need to look in to it further as to why they aren't there?

They are applied at the end of the promotional period. For example, I think there is something running right now where you get double points on dining. If you read the fine print, it will say that after the end of the promo period (I think June 15?) it is another 4-6 weeks before you get your double points. They do not apply right away.

The laundry room has the ability to steam things. I believe you can pay for it.

Until the final payment date, I have been told that HAL will either reduce the bill you have to pay on the final payment date, give OBC, or give upgrades. They don't have anything like early saver.

I very much agree with the above poster. I just booked Alaska for 2015 and went with Holland America - they have some amazing rates for inside rooms too. Maybe some of the family can get an inside? That will help tremendously with cost. Carnival has not yet posted for 2015, but everyone else has.

I love having a balcony but very rarely get one unless I find a really good deal. I cannot justify the difference in price and what each hour on the balcony costs me.. I admit, I'm a cheapo !! If you spend and average of. 2 hrs daily on your balcony that costs $630 more it is costing you $45 an hour. 3 hrs daily $30 an hour. I can sit out on a quiet public deck for free. Only you know how much that balcony is worth to you . Have a great cruise !

This lady has a good point...for that price you might want to think about downgrading!

Ideal times may be full, but you will likely get a discount if you book on the ship. In the unlikely event all the times are full, you will not be able to get one. Just have to decide if it is worth the risk to you.

I don't need it, I was just a bit dismayed to think that someone would have to buy fttf for a disabled passenger to minimize standing in line.

 

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As long as you arrive when regular boarding starts, not priority boarding, you will not wait in line as a handicapped passenger.

I also had 2288 a few months ago and loved it! No noise or problems.

Disabled passengers will be assisted when they arrive if regular boarding has already started, especially if you ask. They will take them with 1-2 other people through all of the lines. The differences with FTTF is it is part of priority boarding with diamond and platinum guests. They will board early and before disabled passengers, unless the disabled passenger also gets FTTF.