cruiser_family

Remember that your version of a great cruise may be completely different than theirs. :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Indeed ....

We cruised on the Pride for Thanksgiving last year with several family members who were on their 1st cruise. There were so many things that those of us who had cruised before were unhappy about and they couldn't have cared less.

We found that the bottom line was we went as a family (extended - lots of cousins of varying ages) and the most important thing to everyone was being together.

Our last Thanksgiving cruise was aboard the Destiny and they served carved turkey breast in the lido. The turkey in the MDR was horrid!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

We cruised last Thanksgiving. The MDR dinner was nothing special. The turkey ... according to members of our party, was terrible. I wish that we had thought to try the lido.

Flight gets in at 9:00am ....

What transportation would you take from airport to Port of Tampa (really would like to stop for soda/water) before we get there. We purchased FTTF so "getting in line" is not an issue.

We were on the Pride for Thanksgiving 2013 in a balcony cabin and had a mini-frig.

Thanks for the preview of the ship .... That just adds to the excitement. :)

How are you getting to the port? Plenty of walgreens, family dollar and a walmart grocery on the way.

 

Sent from my LGMS323 using Forums mobile app

We hadn't decided, but it seems that taxi might be the best bet. I figure that we could get the cab to stop at one of the stores that you mentioned on the way.

Heading out on the paradise Nov 20, girls getaway. I haven't been on Carnival in 9 years, counting the days!!!

 

Sent from my LGMS323 using Forums mobile app

We're going out on November 15th and return the day that you you leave. :)

Elegant night is usually held on the first day at sea. I know it was when I was on a 4 night cruise on the Paradise in July.

 

I assume your cruise goes to Cozumel and Grand Cayman. Since Grand Cayman is a tendering port, FTTF may be worth it if still available.

 

The Paradise has not yet gone through the Funship 2.0 upgrades (at least in July). My only problem with the ship was that it only has one pool. I loved the Promenade deck though!

Thanks for the response. Yes, we are going to Cozumel & Grand Cayman. I'll check on FTTF.

We just booked a November cruise on the Paradise. We've only been on the Holiday & Pride. What is your favorite thing about Paradise?

• Are there any upgrades?
  
• We're on a 5 day cruise - is there an Elegant Night?
  
• Is it worth it to get FTTF?
  
• Flying in day of cruise ... is there any place close to the Port of Tampa to get water and soda?
  

Thanks in advance for your help.

A suite only gets you priority embark/debark. fTTF will still be needed if you want immediate access to your cabin.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks. I'm not sure that I would need FTTF. It's too early to really tell (cruise is over a year away) whether we would arrive at a time that will matter. Looking at current flight schedules, the best that we can hope for is arriving in San Juan at 1:30pm. I was going to wait until closer to the cruise to pose the question ... but does it even make sense to consider FTTF given the later arrival?

We've "gotten used to" ocean Suites (such as #7325 the aqua colored class on ship map) - if that is what you have, it will also entitle you to VIP privileges.

If that is your room class, no need for FTTF, immediate access to cabin.

Thanks for the info. It 's on the Lido Deck (9205). It says Junior Suite. I'm hoping that we will get the VIP privileges.

 

Before I was a TA, I used PVP's with Carnival. They truly are the luck of the draw. I was never lucky enough to have one that would contact me with sales or price drops. I have heard that they exist, though.

 

TA's are luck of the draw as well. I got stuck with one associated with a family cruise last year. I personally had stopped using one (20+) years ago. The one that arranged our family cruise provided little service. And the biggest problem was making changes. Her standard response was "I'll check," And then she never got back to us.

I'm sure that there are great TA's out there just like there are great PVP's. I happen to be working with a great PVP. In the Valor/Liberty swap, my PVP got me something that everyone said was impossible.

I think it comes down to personal choice. Happy sailing ....

Here is a post I found, but it is on the valor

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1365525

This a video of 9206 taken in 2011

Hope it helps

Thanks a bunch!!!

do not have pictures but i can tell you that the two rooms listed are on different sides of the ship.

Yep, we can live with that. We were originally booked on a different ship with a similar set of rooms. We were just trying to see if anyone had actual photos.

Our cruise is a long way off. Maybe between now and then, someone will book these rooms and take pictures. :)

Does anyone have actual photos of the Jr. Suites (9205 or 9206) on the Liberty? I have these suites booked and all I seem to find are the Carnival stock photos.

Thanks in advance ....

I think it depends on who you talk to at Carnival. I had a similar problem and I talked to my PVP. I told him who I traveled with and a guestimate of when the cruise took place. I also knew the name of the ship. In a few minutes, he had gathered what was needed and got the past guest account created.

Carnival no longer provides priority debark with a suite. Do a mock booking and look under suite for description of the perks provided. Priority embark is listed priority debark is not and I've been on 2 cruises since March and didn't get priority debark on either. Got priority embark on both. I'm sure they haven't updated all their web site pages yet but in fact do not provide priority debark without Platinum status or FTTF.

I found this one Carnival's site today: (http://www.carnival.com/core/faq.aspx?icid=CC_Footer_88)

Priority Debarkation

In addition, Platinum and Diamond guests and those traveling in deluxe suite accommodations will receive a debarkation letter offering a choice of how they would prefer to disembark the ship. They will be given the option of Self Assist (where offered) or Priority Debarkation; for Priority Debarkation, the guest will receive special luggage tags which will entitle them to debark.

If you have luck with that, let me know. We will keep the 8d but wanted the 6k so much. I'd we could get a suite, that would be great. It's funny because we had one of the 6ks and my parents had the other. They haven't heard sweat about the change from carnival. If it wasn't for me, they wouldn't know. They got the 8d as we'll according to the website but never any emails.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I know it has been several days, BUT .... I was somewhat successful. Please note, it was not easy. What Carnival considers an upgrade for the loss of a 6K Scenic Ocean View is not what I consider an upgrade.

We reached a compromise. I now have 2 Jr. Suites booked in place of my Scenic Ocean Views. It did cost me. BUT, it "cost" Carnival too. Keep pushing. I'm very happy now. :D :D

To each his own.

The thing that I liked most about my 1st cruise (1988) was dressing up for dinner. While I don't necessarily dress up each night, I do change for dinner. That said, what I wear has nothing has nothing to do with anyone except the folks I am cruising with.

For those that are comfortable in shorts, do your thing!!! For those that like the dress up thing, put on your glad rags and enjoy.

Holiday - 1988 :D

My vote is for a PVP (provided you get a good one). Last year I cruised with a group that used a TA. I wanted to make changes with cabins (trying to keep my family close together) and I called Carnival directly. Unfortunately, I was told that I had to go through my TA. I talked to the TA (who was less than helpful) who said that it wasn't possible. When I checked with Carnival, they confirmed that cabins were available, but the switches needed to be requested by the TA.

I'm using a PVP for my next cruise and so far am satisfied.

I asked my PVP about purchasing Cruise Cash in advance specifically to use for Cheers! and he said that I could do that. I don't know about being able to withdraw funds for use at the various ports of call.

OK I understand that this whole switch may not mean a lot to a lot of people, but does mean a lot to me. I work VERY hard to be able to cruise at all. I diligently scanned Carnival's website to find when the sailing we wanted opened up to get one of the coveted 6K's. I booked it the day it opened and have been looking forward to it ever since. Now I discover that it is not going to happen and so yes I am upset.

 

Did I start yelling at the Carnival reps over the phone, absolutely, not my style and not their fault. They tell me however after two calls that I will get a "comparable" oceanview. That is not acceptable, since one does not exist. I know they will probably come through with something better, but in the meantime it is stressing me out. Sorry if some of you don't care.

I guess it's hard for people to understand. I booked the Valor 15 months early to get the 2 6Ks for my sailing. I too called Carnival. I didn't yell or scream. My PVP is working hard to get me something that is comparable. I am now booked in a balcony. Many people will view the balcony as an upgrade. But when you deliberately book the 6Ks because of their size, this is a disappointment.

So, if that puts me in the class of whiners, I'm ok with that. Will I survive without it, of course? The important thing is that I will cruise with family and friends. I honestly could care less about the 2.0 upgrades, but will take them along with my small room if left with no other choice. I do understand the disappointment of people who were originally booked on the Liberty. They wanted the upgrades and paid for them. With no real compensation, I think that I'd be upset too.

For those of you who are not affected by this, keep in mind that this is less than 36 hours old. People need time to process this change. Some people will get past it sooner than others.

The Valor does have the 6K Scenic Ocean view. I just booked it for May since I saw the change in ships out of Orlando. Good luck.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

Maybe I was unclear ....

I know that the Valor has 6Ks. That is where I was booked. The Liberty does not. That is where I have been moved to. Carnival thinks that moving me to a balcony room is an "upgrade" - but I booked the 6Ks for their size. So, today I will attempt to get something at comparable size.

So I just got the email saying that my Sept. 2015 Southern Caribbean cruise on the Valor has now changed to the Liberty. Now, I wouldn't be angry normally, as this ship has the 2.0 upgrades, but I had specifically chosen a 6K on the valor! Looking at the Liberty deck plan, it appears it does not have that, can anyone confirm or deny that? And if I do stay with the same cruise, what will they put me in? They have to give me the next class up, right? That would make it a balcony. Not sure I would like that the same though..

I have the same situation. Liberty does not have 6K. I wanted the larger cabin. As I explained to my PVP when I booked both of the 6K cabins, I wanted a bigger room not a balcony. AUGH!!!!