Kayloves

Ugh.., sorry OP you weren't prepared. classic1 - I don't know much about other ports, but My experience aligns with the OP. For LB, take a book, snacks, wear walking shoes. My embarkation, and that of friends I've transported to the port have been around 90 mins. Not sure if arriving early/later helps. We just plan for a 2 hr wait n shrug it off. I figure the ship won't leave without us. [emoji6]. I've done the wait for my cruises, and transported others who experience the same....the lack of staffing is a common excuse. Never tried FTTF Tho. OP, hope things got better for you.

Great review. I really enjoyed the pics and writing!

Lovely review. Thank you.

Wrigley, yes I have enjoyed your cruise reviews. My condolences to you and your family. Sad. And I'm pleased to see that you can find the beauty (heaven) in his passing.

We were on this cruise as a group of 8 - 4 connecting cabins. My husband and I got chartered off just hours before they set sail with the remainder of the family who was celebrating my husbands parents 50th wedding anniversary. Here are my thoughts:

 

1. I recognize that it could have been much worse.

 

2. I am grateful for the way carnival has worked hard to compensate and retain customers.

 

3. The crew was great.

 

4. BUT.....our cabins were booked together- connected to the same dinning table. They should have kept our group together.

 

5. There were problems at every turn no matter how hard we tried to stay positive. Our charter flight left 2 hours late. (They could have told us about the possibility of sailing before we left- it was that close.)

 

our baggage was two hours later to the plane than we were- another opportunity to at least give us a choice.

 

They sent us to the Marriot where they had failed to actually provide payment for the rooms we were promised.

 

 

And before the fire....

I requested chefs table any night but the 10th. There were three nights to chose from and we were put on the one night I asked them not to.

 

My FIL was promised that we could open all 4 of the balconies- he had been talking about it for MONTHS- it was the highlight of what he wanted for the trip. They placed us in an area where only two could be opened. Had we been a few cabins down- it would have worked.

 

I have tried so hard to be thankful and remain positive but the whole entire ordeal was not the sunshine and beaches it has been portrayed as. It was constantly being shuffled around and never knowing what the next few hour would bring- we had no control over a vacation that was a once in a lifetime celebration (50th wedding anniversary) I am so mentally and emotionally drained.

Sorry to hear. Yes, not pleasant. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Those of us on Cruise Critic are probably the unpaid travel arrangers for their family and friends. I know my spouse tells me to just let her know the dates and what kind of clothes to pack, and I'm in charge of everything else.

 

 

 

For a moment, imagine your great aunt Zelda, for whom you set up this cruise on Liberty. Let's say aunt Zelda is cruising with a companion who is equally information-free. Now their cruise is being changed - a lot - and they literally don't know what to do with themselves.

 

 

 

If it were you or I, we would already know a bunch of things that we thought about doing in San Juan, but couldn't schedule time for, so we might be saying to ourselves that we might finally get on the bio-luminescence kayak tour, or we might have time to tour the jungle, or see an interesting museum in San Juan. Aunt Zelda did not consider a bunch of alternatives, and is now at loose ends about what in heavens they will do to amuse themselves for the rest of the cruise.

 

 

 

Some of the people in line at Guest Relations are somebody's aunt Zelda, and it will take some time for them to adjust to the new reality.

 

 

 

I know lots of us with more knowledge and experience are in a better position to roll with the changes, but i'm guessing that not everyone in line is a jerk. Some are just befuddled cruisers, feeling lost and needing both information and reassurance.

Exactly.

pauleydm, I have no idea what you do for a living, but this has been one of the best jobs of reporting live about an incident I have read is several years. No speculation, no if on the one hand this, if on the other hand that. You reported what you knew. You were concise and chose words to tell exactly what you knew and did not elaborate on that.

 

 

 

I congratulate you for doing such a fine job. In my opinion Carnival needs to offer you a good job in PR.

 

 

 

Doc

Agreed! Thanks Pauley

My husband has a zippered pocket in his swim wear and I usually wear one of those waterproof ID holders around my neck with a couple of bucks, driver's license, sign & sail card and a credit card...none of which will get damaged even if the case doesn't work and they get wet.

 

Here'a a link to the case, if it helps http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DKNB6UC/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687642&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00LGBJ09E&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0S0446C5X2A8PXXDEKTD

Thanks sharp!

Fun review. Thanks for sharing! Nachi cocum looks awesome!

Thank you! Fun n awesome review. And re: the pics, the review actually flowed smoother for me having pics at the end. Reading from my iPad it sometimes takes awhile for pics to download and I wish I could skip ahead to the narrative!

Cute. Thanks for sharing. That horseback riding excursion looks sooo fun!

Awesome!

Lovely! Thank you. Can't wait to do Alaska.

Thank you for sharing your cruise.

Awesome. Thanks for doing this. I'm so interested in the Breeze. I'm in SoCal too!

Thanks Joker! We were on this cruise with u n ur fam. Nice ship. Ur review brings back fond memories!

Awww. Ditto. Luv gapearl's reviews!

I am Andrea- Mom to 2 boys, Wife to a US Marine. My everyday job I do Sales for Workers Comp. But I suffer from a case of OCVP (Obsessive Compulsive Vacation Planning)

OMG. Me too! Ok so excited to read.

Wow. Hands down I would choose the Breeze over any ship. Please know, I haven't sailed on any of the 3 you're mentioning. However, Sunshine scares me with the crowd flow. Conquest doesn't have a serenity, and is the oldest of the 3. Do u care about that? I really want to try to get on the breeze in 2015. An eastern or southern itinerary preferably. Good luck! A fun dilemma.

Awesome review. Thanks!

According to John Heald, Seuss at Sea will be added to Miracle in "late May" - I sure hope it's in time for those Memorial week cruisers. I'm thankful we will be cruising in November - after it's added, otherwise my 4-year-old would be devastated.

So disappointing.

Thx so much cdamion. We board her this coming Saturday. Bummer that the programs are not all ready yet. [emoji20]

Wow. I was initially hoping this was some joke or satire..... But no. That is so not a relaxing vacation. Sounds more like torture. Glad u guys made it back safely. I have nothing to add re: culpability cuz I really don't know all the intricacies... But Yikes! Horrible. Sorry for your loss of luggage, but especially loss of a planned, relaxing, pleasant vacation!

Don't be shocked. This is Cruise Critic after all. Unfortunately what you will get on here is people attempting to protect "their" cruise line at all costs, and in the process do everything possible to discredit you. They will pick apart your story, practically call you a liar, boast of how unprofessional your letter is, accuse you of stirring the pot because you only have one post, etc. etc. Frankly I'm surprised you even came back to explain yourself. Why bother? Honestly it's not worth it and you certainly don't need the buy-in or acceptance of anonymous strangers on a message board. I assume you made your original post so others can hopefully learn from your experience.

 

 

 

I can empathize with you, and whether or not I like your letter or think you received too much or too little compensation is completely irreverent. Only you went through what you did and only you know the complete facts of your situation. Everyone else commenting is pure speculation.

 

 

 

I do hope your final outcome will be satisfactory. Bed bugs are not something to mess with and yes they can absolutely spoil an entire vacation. Anyone who has actually dealt with them knows this to be true. Good luck!

Very nice response Eroller.

OP, sorry to hear of your challenges while on vacation. Sounds really unpleasant. Hope your next vaca is more peaceful.

Thx goober. Very helpful!