wemjam

Sometimes it is an added expense they can't/don't want to occur. Say, you only plan on one cruise and don't leave the country otherwise, then a couple extra hundred bucks can be expensive for a one time use. Other times they haven't given themselves enough time and can't get one fast enough. While it is kind of an easy process, with delays of 3 months or more in receiving it you certainly have to plan WAY in advance.

NO, you have to carry it on On embarkation day, a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, energy drinks, juice, and milk), packaged in cans or cartons, may be brought on board and must be in the guest's carry-on luggage. A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 375-ml each or less, per person.

They hold them specifically because they can accommodate more people the converse side of that is anyone that had children sailing with them, or more than 2 adults would be complaining if these rooms that held the correct number of people were all sold out because they released them all to couples. I will say if you have a PVP, SOMETIMES they can get a cabin released for 2. It mostly depends I think how close to sailing it is, this far out maybe/maybe not. I have had luck with my PVP doing this. As Staceyglow said, if they don't sell... a while down the road they will release them for general sale.

Just a comment. If they are not traveling with a passport to begin with. It might be beneficial to have a certified copy of their birth certificate with them just in case of an emergency in a foreign port. At lease they would have their photo ID and another official document with them to help.

You should know now if you have to tender or not. If you tell us your ports we can tell you. It is not a case of sometimes they do/sometimes they don't. There are set ports you have to tender too. If this is the main/only reason for your to buy it, then if you don't have a tender port it likely may not be of value for you 😁

Correct, we boarded Sunrise in January out of Terminal F. The other Terminal that Boards the other ships they do not use the Diamond/Platinum lounge anymore.

Main door are always closed. If you are are in the group that is allowed to drop their bags, you need to open them and go in. This does not apply to every one, ONLY the ones with the level/room type to do so.

Some people choose not to check bags. We can pack for an entire week in two legit airplane carry on size suite cases. So it isn't a case of bringing too much. We like to drop our bags so we don't have to lug them around the ship with us. Since it is an option for us we take advantage of it. It is not an obsession but a practicality. We keep a shoulder bag with us. I have been on far too many cruises with luggage missing (and my mothers went missing once, but luckily was found around 10pm the first night). I choose not to take a chance.

A lot of people don't realize it, but there is actually a FREE bus that does a circuit around Key West. You can down load the app and see an actual real time map of the buses and where they are. Also where the stops are. We use it ALL the time while there. Saves a crap ton of walking and doesn't cost a dime.

Just another example of Carnival's inconsistency in following their own protocol. 😁 The only thing we can be sure of is they will consistently be inconsistent.

Not always. Last cruise I was on the called Diamond before Suite... just saying. I was quite shocked myself. Someone else commented on one of the recent threads same thing for them.

Yep in the payment screen section, you have to fill it in, even with a gift card. If you don't it won't let you hit the "complete" transaction button.

No more lounge for Diamond/Platinum. They have an "area" sectioned off sometimes, but not always. I have had it both ways in the last few sailings. Also used to be Weddings/Suites/Diamond/Platinum/FTTF Weddings I assume still go first, but others and myself have seen where they are letting Diamond go before Suites. You don't specifically say if you are any of these categories above? Because you asked do weddings go first, I am guessing you are in a wedding party. If so, then they will come get your party specifically and take the whole party on first. If not then, it is as I mentioned above, and then from there general boarding is zones.

Ya, which is kind of odd. They did it this way with us too on the last sailing out of MIA. I was always used to Weddings / Suites / Diamonds / Platinum / FTTF / General I was shocked when Diamonds got called first and we got to be the first 2 people on the ship. There were no wedding parties I saw on our sailing. That has never happened before 🤣

To each their own. Several items on your list I do buy now and then, others no. That's the beauty of it, it is YOUR vacation enjoy it the way that makes you happy. Keep in mind though, just because you find something a waste of money does not mean others don't enjoy it. Broad statements like they should just get rid of Suites is narrow minded. Just because you don't feel they are worth it, does not mean others don't enjoy the little extra luxury (and this is coming from someone that doesn't get suites either - only done it 2 times in 50 cruises). No one way is right or wrong. None of the items on this list are bad or good. They are options the cruise line offers to make money. And obviously different people do enjoy each of them and are willing to pay for it or they would not keep offering them.

I would book the "second" best room you can find now, and then watch it until sailing. Pick a room that is at least 1 category lower or equal to the room you want (example 8A), then watch it like a hawk and if they open up upgrade or change rooms. If it is the same exact category there is no cost for changing room so that would be the best option. If not, then just pay the difference for the upgrade when the room opens up. Make sure you are not booking an initial room that is a higher category, they let you upgrade but they don't let you downgrade. We do this quite frequently, may book a room months out like an OV and then just a couple months from sailing I will upgrade to a balcony.

Yep, that's because then you are forced to buy theirs 🤣 Let's be honest though, most of the rest of them not so much. Otherwise there would be a lot less craziness that goes on.

Love HMC if you just want a gorgeous beach and a day of relaxing. Key West is a nice place with quite a few things to do just walking around. Nassau, been there a TON and often do not even get off the ship. We usually decide by how many ships are in port. If more than 2 or 3 forget it. There is a nice shopping street, the straw market, you can walk to Junkanoo beach (which is just OK in my opinion) and there is always Atlantis (just take a taxi). Freeport is meh. Grand Truck is nice with a swimming pool and Margaritaville and then the shopping Plaza. St Thomas is beautiful too. San Juan is nice if you want to see the Forts etc, but it is not a beach destination. Sorry, Jamaica is kind of out for us. We go there about once every 7-10 years lol.

Ya it said under the check box it was going to print all the items (invoice, things to know, etc), and then only printed the legal ease. When I went back it said only "things to know" under the same check box.... so messed up. Hope they moved your zone up, not back that would kind of peeve me off.

Could totally be. When Covid hit I was managing 3 rooms for our self and family. Had to go through several iterations of booking and cancelling stuff. Because of how the gift cards were used (I had my name and address on all of the payments we used them for) all the monies actually came back to me (for all 3 rooms). So I then squared up with my family members as needed. When you buy anything (excursions, fun shop, spa, etc) it asks for the name, address and phone number of the person paying even when using a gift card. So if a TA is doing it, that could be the major hiccup, also might be tied to the fact somehow that when you use a TA they basically "own" your booking.

The only correct answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on a lot of factors. If they get a late start on rooms for some reason then maybe not. If they got a good jump on them, then maybe yes. Also depends on when you get there... if you get there later than more then likely but if you are in the first boarding group then maybe not. Just all depends.

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

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I agree, depending on the age of the minors they may not be allowed to occupy the room themselves. As far as the other two issues, the rate and cheers, I wouldn't chance if it was me. Just go down and get a couple extra cards to use as room keys. PS: I am usually a huge cheerleader for not doing the extra keys and just swapping rooms and getting new sail and sign cards, but in the case, I wouldn't want to rock the boat. Oh, just made a pun and didn't mean too. 😁 PS: It kind of makes sense for another reason. You will have a key to access their room at any time. If you swapped and rekeyed you couldn't do that, your (the adults) keys wouldn't work in the kids door. And I assume they are old enough to know to knock on the adults door before they would dare to just use a key and walk in.

Just remember, the doors are wide open to the room (and please don't close it) because they are still cleaning. So anything you drop in your room is "unsecured"