scmom77

2 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

Was the balance paid on arrival and was that cash, or credit card?

 

It would be normal at AI day pass to pay on arrival and tip in cash at the end but I wondered how it worked at Paradise these days considering all the extra charges for water pass, jet skis, braiding etc. I suppose you pay each of those separately since some are sub-contractors? It makes for a very expensive family beach day. I have heard of people running out of cash not realizing about the extras.

 

I just wondered if they were adding the gratuities on automatically if you paid the balance by credit card? They used to for menu items but now you are only paying half the cost on site. On the other hand the AI fee does in theory includes $10pp entrance fee.  I haven’t heard any discussion about it since AI but I know people used to double tip previously not realizing it was already added. Not sure I have heard of $100 tips unless you have a really big group. 

We paid the balance on credit card. Tipped in cash. Gratuity was not added to the credit card. We did purchase an add-on and they charged that separately on our credit card. They told us what the charges were in US$ and it was exactly that amount when I checked the charge. I thought it ended up being pretty pricey. Total cost was just over $300, including tip, for the four of us. 

Just got off the Seaside- it was all over the place.  We wore sundresses for the ladies and golf shorts/shirts for the men.  It was pretty casual, overall.  I did see one lady wearing a swimsuit and coverup to dinner and was surprised they didn't say anything.  Lots of t-shirts and flip flops though- nobody said anything.  I don't know what ship you are on, but I will say that the staff in the Seaside YC were outstanding.

We were there last week- 2 adults and 2 teens.  Total was $222, half before, half there.  We tipped $50 in cash- we really didn't ask for much and to be honest, our service wasn't that great and probably didn't even deserve the $50.  They make comments about $100 tips but the service definitely does not warrant that, unless you are a big party.  

Now that Carnival ships are returning to US ports, do we have any idea when we can expect to see the Mardi Gras head to FL?

Agree with previous response. You are not sailing 😞

From what I am reading on these boards, it would appear that all refunds from every cruise line are taking forever.  My parents booked on Princess (subsidiary of Carnival) and they are still waiting and were told 60 days as well.

ugh, so annoying.  It lets me log in, but my booking is not there, so I link it.  And then it just says loading...nothing.

Can anybody actually get in?  I am trying to view my current booking but can't get anything to load.  

Thankyou for the great review!  We are cruising seaside YC in August with our children.  I can assure you they will not behave like the ones you encountered as we would have to leave them in a port if they did 🤣🤣  sounds like an amazing week though!

We have eaten at the steakhouse on 3 ships so far, and honestly, the Magic was my least favorite.  Like other posters have said, the tables were too close, service was just ok and I know they don't enforce the dress code, but the family next to us was too much.  Dad was wearing a beach tank top, swim trunks and flip flops. The kids were wild and running around.  Nobody said anything.  Thankfully, they left when our apps arrived.  Food was ok- I also miss the old menu.  We did eat in the cucina twice on the magic and that was fantastic.  Food, service, all of it.  Going on the Breeze next month-booked one night in the steakhouse- fingers crossed.  

The Holiday was the 1st cruise I ever went on.  It was 1986 and I was 8 years old and I remember it being the best vacation ever!!  

We had the exact same situation last year. Booked a cruise for August, school changed the start date, and we had already made a $500 deposit. Carnival kept $200 of it ($50pp) and the remaining $300 was available for credit on a future booking within 24 months. We are scheduled to go in 2 weeks, so we got our $300 towards this booking, but they would not budge on the $200.

suck it up, and make the change. i changed my cruise this week and paid it. I still saved money. it does suck, but you're still saving 1300

I think you misunderstood- the new cruise is $1500 MORE than the one I have booked, so with penalty, I am looking at $1700. If I was considering spending that much more, I was hoping that carnival would waive the $200 as a courtesy.

I am trying to change my early saver booked cruise from one week to the sailing the week before. The actual sailing is ~$1500 more and they won't waive the $50pp fee, which is 4 of us, so $200. Any advice?

Just sent in for a drop today and got confirmation. My question is if you have only put down a deposit, they credit the total due and not the OBC, correct?

We have used passport cards out of Port Canaveral on multiple occasions without any issue.

They do but they are not the same for any cruise I have been on. Your cheapest deals will be when the ship is in port.

 

The massages are nice but no better than one I have had on land, and 2-3x's the price. You might consider a beach massage - as lovely but much more cost effective.

I totally agree with this. I had a massage on the dream- never again. Very expensive and the way they try to hard sell their products at the end is a complete turn off. Plus, I kept telling the girl to please be a little more gentle and I ended up sore for two days after.

Can you still get price drops if all you have done is put down deposit or does the whole cruise need to be paid off? I booked early saver.

Definitely enforce chair hog rules. Just got off the valor- if you weren't out there by 7am every day, forget getting chairs. We were lucky enough to score some loungers 3 decks up from the pool on ONE day of our 8 day cruise. The whole row in front of us was "reserved" with books and towels and in the four hours we spent there, we did not see one person come to those chairs. It is so rude.

Just got off the valor- made reservations about a month in advance and didn't receive the confirmation until the day before we left. Ate there on the Monday night, and decided that Saturday that we would like to eat dinner there again that night. Went to the restaurant at noon and they got us in at 6pm that evening. It was excellent

leaving in 7 days on the Valor!!! Woo hoo!!!

Wow! The Holiday was the first cruise ship I ever went on- I was about 8 or 9 and it was 1986 or so. I thought it was fabulous- one of the best vacation memories I have from my childhood. The servers were so much fun and were great to my brother & I. We went to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Key West.

A lot has changed since then- we were on the Dream last year and getting ready to get on the Valor next month.

my kids would love this! Seen it on the Dream?- we leave Saturday....