ScottsSweetie

Two times ago when I cruised on Carnival I did see enforcement on dress code issues.

On the Panorama in September, not so much. There was a guy who I saw coming out after dinner wearing a self-made tank-top (sleeves had been cut off). 

22 minutes ago, Caribbean Drifters said:

there is a crew member that uploads 4-5 youtube videos a week who is on Panorama. He is very connected to 'The Real World' I dont know how that kind of info doesn't get spread around all the crew.

Yes, I've seen Cary's videos. He has also mentioned that someone higher up in Carnival is watching his videos, so I'm not surprised that he wouldn't mention a propulsion problem (if he even knows about it). Like I said, there are seemingly no issues while cruising on the sea, but the reason the ports were reversed in the first place was due to this issue, and the ports are still reversed. Also, return to port time has been scheduled for 9:00am most debark days - and we all know that 7:00am is more normal.

Yeah, the short day in Cabo does suck. I'm not surprised that the crew doesn't know about it since the only manifestation of it is the short port day - no issues noticed at all while cruising.

3 hours ago, Lil2Angelic said:

Our cell phones go in the cabin safe when we board. We love to disconnect and decompress when we cruise. 

I can appreciate that people are resistant to change, or they don't want to carry their phone around the ship, but I am confused by seeing this comment over and over when people do not want to use the HUB app. I fail to understand how simply using the HUB app is not allowing one to disconnect and decompress.

I see several people talking about masking indoors, but masking indoors is not mandatory 100% of the time. It makes me laugh every time JH posts his "walkies" and people start freaking out about people not wearing masks while walking about the ship.

Masks are NOT required, per the rules posted in the room, while walking around the ship or in any area specifically not designated as being mandatory (and those locations are clearly noted on the rules). Masks are not required while walking about the ship indoors through any hallways or common areas. On the Panorama, while playing trivia, the host noted that Ocean Plaza is not a mask mandated area - but if there was a tie breaker and someone had to approach the stage then a mask would be required. Additionally, when music was held in that area in the evenings, masks only required on the dance floor - not while sitting at your table listening.

57 minutes ago, nwcruiselover said:

Bacon was every other day in the lido buffet but available at the MDR every day, in late August on the Miracle.

Also was never a bacon shortage for the Pig Patty option at Guy's Burgers!

2 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

They had none of this available when I cruised last month - how is it?

23 minutes ago, kitsbks said:

I am happy that your cruise want so good. 

Please tell me if you got a new FUN TIME every day or did you use your phone.

I am asking because we do not take our phones.

You'll have to seek out the fun times - they are not put in your room. I think I saw them at Java Blue last month. If you have ATD they are pretty adamant that you check-in on your phones.

22 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

Never mind apparently they have the band playing an 80’s show in there at 9:30.  I didn’t know that’s what rub duck was.

We spent a lot of time watching them last month. Very eclectic playsets and quite good!

1 hour ago, vicky3vicky said:

Do you have to pay a fee to be in the audience for this game?

 

No fee to be in audience - only to buy a card to play.

5 hours ago, Psych0St@r22 said:

. . . Generally if it is a computer program I know there are ways to cheat the system. I also noticed that Bingo is done via computer now, does anyone know if the bingo cards have an identifying number on each one? Bingo is not as much of a big deal as someone is guaranteed to win (except for the get Bingo in X number of Balls, i.e. Jackpot).

They must, because I believe that when someone calls Bingo they ask for a number from your card to verify.

But is any of this really news? I mean, the house will win here just like in the casino.

1 hour ago, lpisarski said:

Just hoping to help others not go through what I did. 
 

We are leaving on a cruise on Saturday, as the rules state, we had to order two COVID 19 test kits prior to traveling to where we are embarking from. We brought the tests with us and my BF logged on his computer and completed the process with someone virtually. Everything went perfectly.We logged off the website that my BF was doing his test on. I signed with my credentials on the website and thought it was fine. I was told I was logged in under my boyfriend’s  account. 
 

Lesson number 1: If you are using the same computer, the first person has to add the rest of the family members under his actual account. The person doing the virtual testing process, will then verify with the owner of the account to ensure others are supposed to be on it. You will be able to then finish the rest of the family members testing. 
 

Unless:)….. 😂

 

When you are told to take the testing material out of it’s packaging while the virtual assistant watches on the webcam, be extra careful. There’s a card that actually is part of the test plus the long swab. Don’t be like me: Unknowingly, I touched the left part of the test card with a window are on it. I was told I contaminated the kit and couldn’t take the test. We were told to go get a home COVID test kit at Walgreens and another we did.
 

We log back in and talk to the virtual assistant again, and was then told the COVID kit I bought was not acceptable to use. It was the same brand as the one we got through a link on Carnival.com.

I called someone at Carnival and was told I was out of luck since she insisted that I would have to be mailed a test kit. I reiterated that we were staying at a hotel in a port. Then I was told I could get a Rapid Test at a local clinic. $95. I was finally able to do it and obtain proof of a negative test. (I’ve actually had all 3 shots) 😀

I just don’t want anyone to have to go through what I went through. Just be careful while opening the test kits that you are sent. I’m not mad. Stuff happens 

 

Happy Cruising 

 

 

 

 

So if we were to each do the test on our own computer then this would not be an issue?

1 hour ago, GTO-Girl said:

 

. . . We have a cruise booked next month on the Mardi Gras and I am a bit nervous about the buffet serving and having to wear a masks in all areas of the ship inside, including shows.  Seems to be unless we go outside we will be have to be masked….😢

The Carnival policy does not mandate masks indoors at all times. It is recommended that people wear the mask indoors. It is mandated in elevators, in certain lounges (piano bar, comedy club and show lounge come to mind) and while walking to and from your dining room table. We did not wear our masks when moving about the ship. Masks were not required while in Ocean Plaza playing trivia or in the atrium listening to live music. This was on Panorama, but I have seen the policy posted on several threads here and it is the same exact policy on each ship.

On 10/15/2021 at 2:03 PM, bdever said:

Good idea, in hindsight I should asked them to only serve me side portions of the main courses since all of the main course portions were enough to feed 2 people.

That was not our experience at all - we thought that the serving sizes had been drastically reduced. On the positive side, DH and I both got off the ship a few pounds lighter.

On 10/10/2021 at 5:51 AM, Colorado Beach Bum said:

The rules are not masks everywhere indoors. Maybe on the dance floor but there are many indoor areas that are not required. 

EXACTLY. For instance, on the Panorama we played lots of trivia at Ocean Plaza (I think that's what that area is called) near the coffee bar. No masks required while playing trivia. Masks required if a tie-breaker and one is called to the dance floor area near the host. No masks required while walking around the ship. 

In the evening this place is used as a music venue. There was NO sign at the beginning of the cruise, then halfway through the cruise a sign appeared noting that masks are mandatory on the dance floor. Most dancers did NOT wear a mask and no one appeared to attempt enforcement. There were never enough dancers at one time that social distancing was not doable.

I would definitely change that. I debarked on 9/11 and our all clear and last call was right before 10:00am, but it seems that we were an anomaly and the only cruise since restart to have such a timely debark. The cruise that came in on 9/4 (my embark day) was late in debarking, and the cruise sailing on 9/11 was not scheduled to dock until 9:00am, and it takes a while to get clearance to start debark after docking. I would definitely change that flight!

16 hours ago, BoozinCroozin said:

There is a little contract requirement in the paperwork that if you lie on the questionnaire. I would assume the cruise lines can send a manifest to DHHS for review before every sailing. DHHS cannot reveal medical information but they 100% can share data that a passenger on the manifest has tested positive in the last XX days. Since your daughter had a positive test, that information is contained with DHHS. Believe me, I was called every day that I had covid to answer questions. I was even told if I don't answer that someone would come to the home to ask the questions and verify I am quarantining. I had 5 missed calls from DHHS one day, I called back and explained I was sleeping. They said I was scheduled for a visit that afternoon if I hadn't called back. It is possible that practice was the approach. I had covid back in October, so kind of early in it all.

I'm confused by this - you had someone call you every single day that you had covid to answer questions? When I had covid, CVS called me on the way home from my test and said call a doctor if you get bad symptoms, quarantine for 10 days and good luck. No one ever contacted me again.

Also, if your contact number was cell only then how would they know where you were when answering the phone - you wouldn't have to be home. I have honestly never heard of anyone who had follow-up like this.

33 minutes ago, K_e_short said:

 

I thought there were no exemptions allowed for Alaskan cruises, so therefore everyone HAD to be over 12 (able to be vaccinated).

 

The list posted above does not include Seattle.

 

I can't find the link on Carnival but I'm sure someone else can verify.

 

That was my understanding also - 100% vaccinated, no exemptions for Alaska cruises.

If you are this worried then cruising may not be the right vacation choice for you at this time. I can't imagine you would be very relaxed on the ship with these worries in the back of your mind.

Try and make your reservations as soon as you can. I looked at booking something during a port day and noticed that the closer you get to sailing day the more expensive the appointments get. Something that might start off at $100 the first day you see it offered can be up to $130 the next time you look!

18 minutes ago, Jeafl said:

Great review!  I always like when reviews tell the good and the bad because I've never had a totally perfect or completely horrible cruise.  It's usually somewhere in the middle.

 

Did you happen to notice if they had the cake station in the Lido?  If so, were there any other desserts to choose from?  My husband hates cake and he will be pretty disappointed if there is nothing else.

We did not eat at the buffet during lunch or dinner. We did go in to get gelato and order from the deli once and on those days I did not see or seek out the desserts. However - I did go into the buffet specifically on the last day to get something chocolate from the chocolate buffet always held on the last full day. It was pitiful. Unfortunately for your husband, I saw only 6 or 7 cakes. No puddings, no mousses, no pies, no marshmallows or fruits with chocolate. It was so disappointing. My hubby got the peanut butter chocolate cake - horrible. We couldn't finish the slice between the two of us. I got the chocolate bourbon pecan cake. It was quite yummy despite the absence of any actual pecans.

4 hours ago, Computer Nerd said:

That is in the casino, not the casino bar. In other words, you are not allowed to sit at a slot machine or other location in the gaming area and smoke without playing. Of course, I can simply pretend to play in the 5 minutes it takes for me to smoke a cigarette anyway so if the casino bar truly has gone no smoking, then that's what I will do. Or find some deck location to discreetly light up if pressed to do so.

You'll have to be a very good actor indeed to "pretend to play" during refueling on embark day, while the casino is CLOSED. 😏  And I sincerely hope that anyone who sees you lighting up during refueling reports you immediately, as that poses a hazard to the entire ship.

14 hours ago, pinto18 said:

Can you give me the updated itinerary and times? We are going Oct 16 but I feel like it will still have the modified itinerary so want to figure port days out

I did not keep my info, so I'm doing this from memory and may be a little off. If your schedule is reversed like ours was, then you will have 2 sea days - PV - Mazatlan - Cabo - 1 sea day.

Puerto Vallarta - arrival around 9:00am - departure 8:30pm/9:00pm. I know that we were still docked when we went to dinner at 8:15 and it was sometime after that when sailaway started.

Mazatlan - I think we arrived around 8:00am/8:30am - we had to report to excursion meeting place at 9:15 and the all clear for debark was given between that time and 9:45. Back on board time was around 4:30 or 5:00.

Cabo San Lucas arrival was around 6:30am and I believe back on board time was 1:00pm. If your schedule is reversed as ours was then this is also your 2nd elegant night.

The only real downside to the port order changing is that your visit to Cabo starts really early and back on board time is 1:00pm. We experienced no problems due to the announced propulsion issue. As noted above on post #2, we did seem to be moving pretty well.

6 minutes ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

So I guess we found the answer to your earlier question about why anybody would eat at the buffet when there is Guys, Blue Iquana, etc to eat.

 

Because they wouldn't be open when I like to eat. We don't eat in the dining room too many nights on our cruises as it just takes too long and don't like to eat that early.

 

I'm wondering how much Royal and Princess' buffets have gone downhill?

 

At the prices they are charging all cruiselines must be cutting back where ever possible.

You really eat dinner after 8:45pm? I don't believe the buffet is open after that time, either.