wemjam

I remember when in London, there was a little gate (think of a subway kind of), that you had to drop coins in the correct amount and it would open to let you in (English Coinage, not USA) Haven't been in Norway

We have been on a couple cruises now we had to turn around. One was a capsized boat we had to go back and check, the other was last Fall. Like 6 guys in a tiny boat. We watched the whole thing. They refused rescue and just asked for food and water which was given, and an emergency radio. We were still on the balcony and had pulled away and my husband looked at me and said, "well they didn't want to come onboard, but don't think for a second the captain isn't alerting the coast guard or authorities - they'll be coming aboard someone's boat very shortly" 😁

My husband told me about this yesterday. I agree it would be great if Carnival was a little more hard nose on other onboard offenses that disrupt things for all guests. I would LOVE to see that too. In this case though their backside is on the line with regulatory rules, so they have to act.

Amen! Same thing we say. Don't get me wrong. Both our boys are grown and doing alright and we have helped them when they needed it (as well as all our other family), but Lord knows no one handed me a darn thing. I have worked my #@!#@$ off to get everything I have starting with my first job at 12. We are not wealthy by any means but we don't struggle (by our own doing), but a splurge in life here and there is what keeps you going when you work hard for a living (like cruising and other vacations). Everyone's priorities are different. While some consider $200 for a cabana too much to spend.. they likely might spend it other ways that some would think is frivolous. I think it is crazy to sit in the casino and drop hundreds of dollars at a table or a machine, but plenty of people spend thousands that way. ALL of what we are talking about is a luxury (cruising, excursions, dinning out).... and because we are all here talking about just shows that each of us is blessed to be able to enjoy some fruits of our labor in life. 😍

Piggy backing here - but relates to many comments on this above. Carnival can not issue any refund back to any gift card (balance remaining or not). If you use a gift card the money is gone off that card. They always RE-issue a new gift card for any moneys owed. In the past it was always new Carnival Card mailed to you (usually FEDEX). I do know that they have also started issuing e-gift cards back to customers more recently too (probably to save on the FEDEX shipping). So on this account, two suggestions I have are. Is it possible they issued a refund via e-gift card and you missed it (spam or deleted it and didn't catch it)? Is it possible they did FEDEX you gift card and it got lost? (I know our FEDEX drivers in the last year or so can't find our address to save their lives they always end up one or two houses off). Side note, I am signed up with FEDEX so anytime a package is inbound FEDEX notifies me directly. So I know when it is coming, have the tracking, and the day it is supposed to deliver if it isn't there and it shows delivered I start checking the neighbors houses.

This. I have cancelled and changed more cruise stuff than you can shake a stick at (cruises, gift shop, dinning, excursions, etc.). I have always received my refunds. Now, I will say there were long delays during Covid and it took weeks, but otherwise it is usually within 2 weeks or so if I paid with a gift card I'd get a new on in the mail. Credit Card refund maybe an extra week or so. I will say, sometimes it requires some of our time if there is a mishap (after all there are actual people processing these things, and with humans comes human error). I have sat on the phone for hours (literally) before to resolve issues with company's because I am just that type of person. I will fight with someone over 5 cents because I am a "it's the principle of the matter" kind of person. Don't get me wrong, I am aggravated and frustrated the whole time, but I am not going to let them win and keep my money 😆

Exactly 😃 On HMC trips this is our one splurge on the cruise. We don't gamble, we might eat in a specialty restaurant occasionally, and we don't usually spend a lot of money on board for anything else. So at $300 it wasn't too bad, at $450 it was getting a little more painful, but at $699 I think we are done. It does make for such a NICE day on HMC to have the private space with the snacks/drinks, loungers, table to eat at, a bit of cool from AC, our own shower along with snorkel gear and floats. We have done the Ocean Cabana's in AC and also the Cabana around the Pool in GT, but both these ports also have other things to do there where we don't feel the need to have it such as pools, activities, shopping, etc. HMC is the place to kick back and relax and a cabana is SO very nice for that kind of day.

If I am reading your post correctly, I think what you are saying is that once you ate in the Steakhouse you couldn't select MDR on hub app anymore? So, you can still go and eat in MDR, you just have to physically go down and check in. Their hub app system is not designed to allow you to dine twice for same meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) We found this out on Sea Day brunch one time. We used the hub app to eat in MDR for Sea Day breakfast and wanted to go back at lunch time too. When we tried to use the hub app to check in for lunch it wouldn't let us, so we went down and asked. They just checked us in there, told us about the 1 and done.

Thanks... I see I am not the only one that feels the same way. I guess it will remain to be seen.... will they sell or won't they. I know at this price point I am out! Got my two for this year at the old price and that's it for me. 😆

Ok, so there have been many discussions about the price increases, reduction in service etc. I have pretty much gone with the flow and understand the cost of everything is increasing and service over time is ever evolving. In 20+ years of cruising there are going to be changes, right? Things will come and things will go. So we have two cruises (May and Aug) going to HMC. We always get a cabana while there, and I had already pre-purchased ours. I saw the price had increased to $449 (ouch!) when I booked. I remember back in the day it was about $300, then $350... and now $450. I chalked it up to the price you pay in this day and age. I just happened to be looking at excursions for the May cruise again and OMG - the same cabana is now $699! Seriously? I though, OK some kind of fluke and went and looked at the August one and same thing - $699 now. I am SO glad I booked mine at $449 now. This is the single decker 4 person ones. The double decker house ones are now $999. I just told hubby this may be the last year in a Cabana on HMC. 😞 Does anyone know what gives... that is literally over a 50% mark-up all of a sudden! Is anyone seeing any other HUGE mark ups like this on anything else? Excursions, Dinning Options, Pre-Purchase things through gift shop? I have seen things (internet, gratuities, etc.) go up 10-20%... but over 50% that seems really excessive.

You would want to call them and advise you want to change to the new rate of RU2 that includes cheers - as stated already you would have to up your deposit to the full $500 with them.

As mentioned, no more flat rate in MIA (just there 2 weeks ago). We have taken ubers from the MIA port and had no issue calling it. We just stepped outside and ordered like normal and added a note about where we were standing and what we looked like.

Correct, if no one in the room actually checks in, the reservation (and room) will be cancelled. They will not leave it open with no one in it, even though you paid for it. You will be refunded the things mentioned above.

Unfortunately, not all bars serve all drinks. On more than one occasion I have been told "we can't make that." And it varies from ship to ship. I always would get a tiramisu in the comedy lounge, then on one sailing I was told I would have to go to the Alchemy bar to get it. Same thing with other drinks too. Can get it one or two places, but not at a difference bar on the same ship. Also, just a side note. If you order a drink somewhere and REALLY like it. Go back to that bar for it, because in my experience if you order it at a different bar it can taste completely different and no where near as good.

1. Didn't receive any offers for years, then in the last 5 or so received a few. 2. There is no secret recipe. I will say I feel that the lower category room we have booked the more likely we were to receive offers. 3. A couple times for me it has been, and I have taken it. Other times not so much. Might save a few bucks, but nothing spectacular, and often for a room I may not want. 4. My offers have always come several months out from sailing. Never a phone call, always via email, and I have "seen" an offer once when I logged into my account that I never received any notification on.

Just got off Sunrise and they had Starry... will say I quite liked it better than the Sierra Mist.

Tiramisu is really good Also, tried something new recently, but can't remember the name... someone may be able to help It was like Chocolate mocha overboard or something like that. It was like drinking a chocolate milk shake... yummo!

Usually we try to stay away from the back of the ship on any deck. You very often you will get vibration all the way to the top decks (and again it depends on the ship but most I have been on felt it) . I have sat in the dining room up on high decks on the back of the ship and watched my water glass vibrate across the table. Under the show lounge you will hear some noise. We usually always go high (9-10-11), but did a "down and dirty" cruise last month last minute and got a room on deck 3 under the show lounge. It wasn't really bad, but while the show was going on if I was laying in bed I could slightly "feel" the bass, I wear ear plugs so couldn't hear it, but could feel it and hear it in my head if that makes any sense. Not terrible, but it was there. I will say we really liked the room though overall and I would book it again. It was an inside room with walkway view. We were looking at the outside deck that runs the length of the deck on deck 3. Room was very quiet, placement for accessing stuff was nice (especially getting on and off the ship). And having the window for an inside price was great, and the room had a couch too, which insides do not normally.

Usually the way it works is once you book under a specific rate code, you are always that rate. You can get price adjustments though depending on what code you booked under. Example: You book under early saver, but later see that a special promotion you quality for has the room cheaper. You can call or submit the form and they will "price match" that new promotional offer (including OBC, etc.). However, your rate code does not change to that new one - you are still early saver. Even if you do this 5 times before you sail. The only way to truly be under a new rate code is to cancel and rebook. You will be assessed whatever cancellation penalty there is associated with though. Yes, good PVP's can sometimes get that waived, but they have become far more strict on enforcing it (personal experience talking 🙂).

Actually there is an art gallery area, was just there. It is behind the elevators on deck 2. It is a smaller area, but they do their business transactions there and there is art work set up on the walls to view. It is very similar to a lot of the ships I have been on. Amy was the lead auction person when we just sailed (not sure how soon you sail). As always, the auctions will be held elsewhere on the ship. They held them in 2 different locations just a couple weeks ago depending on the day, so you will need to watch the hub app for location.

Hum? that is odd. Haven't had that issue before, but have had the opposite. Seen where the tip was more than what hubby wrote in on a few cruises. I blame him though, his writing is terrible lol!

I miss the old chocolate cake you could get delivered as a special treat for the room. It was a moist chocolate cake with chocolate filling and a chocolate ganache outside. Soooo yummy! The new one isn't as good.

Just to clarify. The suite could be ready when you board, but not always. My experience is they may still be finishing up getting the room ready if you are in the very first group to board. You can go and drop any carry on luggage in your room closet, but if the room is not completely ready I wouldn't hang around in their way while the do finish (just makes it harder for them). Rule of thumb - if your room keys are ready at your door - the room is done. If not drop your stuff and leave and let them do their work. 😄

Just got off Sunrise 2 weeks ago and we specifically asked for it to go. The brought both desserts with the covers on it and extra silverware for us to take it away no issues. I will say though the cheesecake is NOT the big yummy piece it used to be pre-Covid. It is smaller now and is completely different (has been this way over the last year we have been sailing at least). NOT like the gelatinous stuff you see some times on the lido, but also no where near as good as it used to be. I must say I still think (in most cases, some ships have been a let down), the best piece of cheesecake can be found in the coffee shop for a small fee.

Very good, I order Medium. Cooked perfectly. That is always my go to and never been disappointed. I ordered Wagu once and Ribeye was better. Hubby gets Filet and it is usually pretty decent, but he has had better.