wemjam

I always use a credit card when I set up my sail and sign account. Very often though I have Carnival Gift cards I got a 10% off to use and/or left over cash I haven't spent by the end and like to use those to reduce/eliminate my balance before I get off so I don't have to pay a CC bill when I get home.

I am a Diamond member (and not one that acts all entitled, most times I play it down like if someone noticed the color on my card I just blow it off like it is no big deal) and see nothing wrong with Carnival making some extra cash by selling faster to the fun. Family members of mine have bought it when they cruised with us at my suggestion. I do however feel that those that have earned the privilege's through loyalty should be prioritized over those that spent a small amount to buy it. Not an elitist attitude, as someone in a service industry I just feel loyalty should be rewarded if a company wants to excel in customer service. Example, they still prioritize boarding by allowing Suites/Diamond/Platinum to board first then FTTF. Same thing at debarkation. Most other benefits are similar and do not bother me. The one thing it annoys me is guest services though. FTTF uses the same line as Diamond and Platinum. I can't count the number of times that I have had to stand in a huge line the last night at guest services because (and I mean this literally), 10 people in front of me that were in like 3 cabins together are hassling the Guest Services Agent about: "WHAT IS THIS CHARGE? you ripping me off? (That is gratuities sir), I didn't buy that drink listed on my bill (while they have 40 other drink charges on there), Stupid petty complaints left and right and "you should take something off my bill," you get the picture. I am there to simply give them some cash on my account and settle up and walk away in 5 minutes and I ended up standing their 45 minutes to an hour. So it does dilute things and takes away from advantages of a program that has been earned. To your point, you are correct, I enjoyed every cruise all the way to get there and got what I paid for. But I also continued to cruise with Carnival and spend (I would rough estimate) over $100,000 to earn those privilege's. That's why knowing someone spent $100 to get the same thing when standing there with that hot mess in front of me is annoying.

Ok, I think we are getting 2 things confused. The vaccine attestation you get quite a while before you cruise. This is a simple questionnaire for all parties in your cabin asking if the are vaccinated or not basically. However, cruises way out - like next year, it does not show up yet (I have some booked this year, next year, and 1 the year after). This year I think is as far as they are going out right now. The Health Assessment becomes available a couple days before you cruise for every person in your cabin. This is a more detailed questionnaire asking if you have experienced any symptoms, been around anyone with Covid, etc. You should receive an email reminder to do this within a couple days of your cruise, but check yourself in your cruise planner to be sure it is done even if you don't get the email. One other note is my last two cruises I was checking myself and the Health Assessment was not showing up, and then I got the email to do it and it still wasn't there. I called Carnival technical services and they helped me get it fixed so it would show up both times. So if it isn't there you can contact them to fix it (wait till like 48hrs before sailing and if still not there call). Worst case you CAN complete this at the terminal - but that is a pain with everything else happening.

I know that is part of the deal too. Like I said we don't drink wine, so I never paid attention. But I think the full offer is free bottle or a certain percentage off another better bottle, not sure of the %

I was speaking under "normal" circumstances (not Covid). I believe part of the Fly2fun guarantee is they would fly you to "meet" the ship if you missed boarding.

One other note. If you contact quest services while on board and advise them that the airline has changed your flight and you have a super early flight they "should" allow you to be in the first group of people that get off (like with Diamonds, etc.). I have seen this happen several times before.

Following...... Maybe an offset for single occupancy? I haven't heard this before. Usually you just lose the cruise fare and are refunded port fees, taxes, any pre-purchases like cheers etc.

The benefits are: 1. You can book your flight with your cruise and have the same time frame to pay everything off. You are not out of pocket for your flight in one big chunk right away. 2. You sometimes can get a better deal with Carnival then going direct (for same exact flight on same exact carrier) 3. Carnival includes a small insurance policy that includes things like lost baggage, and etc. 4. Carnival is "responsible" for making sure you get there. So if your flights are delayed, cancelled, etc. they work to still get you to the ship. Now you may not like the flights they put you on, but they still get you there. Booking yourself the airline could care less if you make your cruise or not. Drawbacks: 1. You have no control in situations like this and can not try to work it out directly with the airline yourself instead of going through a 3rd party which just complicates it 2. I did this a couple times and booked months out - and (it may have changed now, but then) I didn't get my seat assignment, and could not pick my seats until much closer to the cruise because your reservation was confirm with Carnival/Airline but essentially they just bought "space on the flight" and they don't get actual seat and such until much closer to departure. I like to pick my seats and know where I am sitting up front! I will refuse to book a flight if only crappy seats are left 3. You have to book flights before/after their recommend arrival and departure times. So if you want a flight at 12noon home, but their recommend time for that port is 12:30, they will not put you on the 12noon flight that may be available, you have to take a later flight (could be several hours later)

Awesome!!! Have fun, you will love the balcony and sounds like a great price! We have received upgrades a couple times in our 46 cruises, but it is certainly like seeing a unicorn when you do! 🦄

Sunrise in March, and Conquest in May and June, and Sunrise again in July and not once. Lost count it was last 4 times not 3. I am hoping maybe the Horizon September? Maybe Bigger Ships still carry it since there is better revenue on those (I would most certainly assume) so they can still afford it.

46 Carnival Cruises and Sept will be 1st Cheers package! Only because I got the special deal with my booking and it was literally less than $200 more total for 2 of us... and hubby's bottomless bubbles costs 1/3 of that much difference. Then add in the occasional drink I do get, and the milkshakes and coffees and it was totally worth it. I simply could not in a million years drink that much to cover normal prices. I would spend the entire cruise passed out on the floor. Have younger brother and girlfriend and mom and dad coming this time, and figure we will be "partying" a bit more with the younger group so figured a few more drinks and they will be free to me. Especially when one drink is $15 now, and one milkshake was like $7 almost! OMG!

Not sure if it is in writing somewhere on Carnival site (I don't think so), but I know used to be when you got on they would have a dressed waiter with a table showing all the meat and hocking the Steakhouse to try to get you to make a reservation, and they would tell you free bottle of wine. Haven't seen them pushing it anymore with that set up, because it is so popular that they are usually sold out practically before anyone boards the ship. As I stated previously our waiter never said a word to us, but I heard another waiting telling all their tables when they first introduced themselves and asking white or red. So if you go the 1st night and want the wine, if they don't ask you right away, bring it to their attention what you want.

EVERYTHING is up. A drink that used to cost me $10 is not $15. Just in the last 4 months I have seen $1-$2 increase per drink on some things I order.

From Carnival's site. Spells out what changes can be made and when. Unfortunately, Carnival isn't going to bite the bullet when an airline makes a change. They are doing this as a selling feature for customers to make it easier to book cruises (and to sell cruises for sure). DETAILS Sail smoothly through flight planning! With Carnival’s Fly2Fun Air + Cruise Packages you’ll find flights from all major airlines. Our prices are competitive and you can easily book them through Carnival. These flights depart from major airports across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America and Europe, so wherever you’re coming from, you’ll get you to your vacation relaxed and ready for some fun! CHOOSE FROM TWO FLY2FUN OPTIONS: FLEXIBLE FARES MAKE IT THE EASIEST Includes Fly2Fun Travel Protection. Air payment isn’t required until your final cruise payment. Book at least 4 days before your cruise begins (or, at most, 321 days). You can change your flights without any penalties or service fees, prior to 60 days before cruise departure. (Depending on the flight you select, ticket costs may change.) Flight changes within 60 days of sailing are subject to a $200 per-person service fee. Additional air costs may apply. Name changes are not permitted. RESTRICTED FARES GET YOU THE BEST PRICE Includes Fly2Fun Travel Protection. Full payment is required at time of flight confirmation. Book at least 4 days before your cruise begins (or, at most, 321 days). All flight purchases and charges are non-refundable. Changes to flight schedules are subject to carrier availability, fare restrictions and change fees. Name changes are not permitted. Air payment is required within 2 hours of flight confirmation. To avoid air cancelation go to Booking Details and View Balance Details to complete payment.

Some services do offer cheaper prices the first day, which you can book online before to assure they don't sell out. I always do a pedi the afternoon of the 1st day and it is like $48 instead of $60something, plus my piggies are cute for the entire cruise that way. I have also seen on my booking before cruising that if I bundle 3 items, I can save up to 30%. I think you get like $10 off the 1st one, 20% off the 2nd, and 30% off the 3rd one when you buy 3, but I don't ever do that many. I have also seen spa "specials" announced, and on flyers during different times on cruises. Usually, I think it is when they are filling up time slots and are slow only thought, it isn't going to be the prime slots most people want. Also as mentioned above, if you go to some of the onboard spa "events" they offer for free, they will have offers for discounted items for those in attendance only and you have to book it before you leave the event.

I do 2 TSA approved clear zipper top travel bags with 3 oz less size for each product and can do the 8-10 easy for hubby and I. And I have a LOT of products. I have long hair so 2 shampoo, 2 conditioner, shaving cream, toothpaste, mouthwash, contact solution, sunscreen, multiple hair products, aloe (in case I burn), bottle of nail polish, liquid make up products, alcohol spray for cleaning surfaces myself, fabric refresher/wrinkle releaser, and a few other things I am sure I forgot. It's amazing how much you can get in there if you are good at Jenga or Tetris!

I get emails about my offers, and also in your "my offers" section in your profile

Trust me when I say, you can't necessarily blame Carnival. It likely is the airlines, they are in total chaos right now and it is all over the news how they are cancelling flights and leaving people stranded. We have cruised 3 time since March and 2 out of these 3 trips (from Michigan to Florida) were changed on us. One was cancelled by Delta completely the morning we were debarking (within like 5 hours of our flight) and they rebooked us on a flight home the next day. This did not work for us as we had to be back to work. I called the airlines and told them to book me home out of Fort Lauderdale if Miami had nothing till the next day, which they did. Explained I had to be home. Flight wasn't as great (had layover instead of direct), but at least I got home. It is happening all the time! PS: also one of the reasons we like cruising out of Miami more options in and out for airfare for pricing on the front end, and potential problems on the back end.

This is correct. It is exactly what I do all the time. I wake up and get the time slot I want and go back to bed and do all the rest later.

Just got off Sunrise and played myself. I won $30 casino credit in the 1st game they played... along with about 60 others in the audience. There was also over 100 people in the audience that won the bingo package worth $25. Finally, 1 person won the free 5 day cruise for 2. So, while it might be rigged, I have firsthand knowledge that people have won a "big" prize.

Just off Sunrise and no more Art at the Table. Was there earlier this year when we booked. I think the menu has changed sometime between May and July.... We used to always get that.

Actually, it is in response to a new issue posted 14 hrs ago. They obviously did a search and found the old thread, but updated it with their new concerns on this issue that are relevant to now.

All the more reason to always make sure you have a couple pairs of clean skivvies and at least one extra pair of pants and 2 shirts at minimum in your shoulder bag/carry on that never leads your side. Even with tight bag restrictions on size/weight on international flights I can at least get this in a small bag just in case. Normally we try to pack only carry on for our domestic flights and cruises for this very reason. I can pack for a 6-7 day cruise in 2 legit carry on size suite cases and two small shoulders bags for hubby and I lol! 🤪

All 3 ships I have been on we started boarding around 11am this year. Be advised though all sailings the rooms are not ready until 1:30pm. This has been across the board for us. While you can board, they are still cleaning rooms and don't want you to go to your room until 1:30pm. Diamond and Platinum can go to their room and drop luggage and leave if they want, but they request you not to go to your room otherwise to stay until they make the announcement they are ready. It just makes it harder for the Stewards to get their jobs done.

I always do a mock booking and get some idea of how many open rooms there are right before we sail. This is kind of a good indicator. Best indicator though is when you sail and on what ship/length of trip. Things are pretty much back to normal now from what I have seen and most ships seem to be pretty full. Our very first one this year in April seemed a little light, but May and July have been packed as usual.