Sweet Dutch Girl

Yes, definitely an upgrade.

My only hesitation would be if the aft balcony is uncovered. Depending on where you travel it could be hot out there pretty much the whole time.

Yes, Carnival will move you if you underbook a room...but they cannot downgrade you during the move and if you have 3 peeps they need to find you a room in your category or above that will accommodate you.

And, just my very personal opinion, I believe Carnival does treat their early bookers fairly. The ONLY rooms I would think they would constantly switch would be if someone booked an accessible room with no need to do so. My 2 cents.

Hi Becky :)

 

You listed stateroom 9402 twice, but I'll drop some 9402 info that may be helpful.

 

The (balcony partition) for cabin 9402 opens to cabin 9400.

 

And yes, 9402 is a connecting cabin; however it connects to cabin 9404.

 

Carnival Magic Deck 9 info located at:

https://www.goccl.com/~/media/Files/Irman/bookccl/the_fleet/MC_VistaDeck.htm

 

Have a terrific day!

 

 

:)

 

I think this is a great example that "connecting rooms" aren't always connecting both inside and outside. And unless someone is fortunate to find another poster who has actually stayed or has some knowledge of the rooms don't assume anything.... the kid at the call center won't have a clue.

I am not a travel agent nor do I play one on TV...But, for many people they are useful and valuable. Surprising as it may seem there are millions of folks who are not tech savy, still use antiquated phones, and wouldn't even know what on-line booking even means. Luckily many of us on these forums have the ability to view and understand web sites and can easily understand the system, can see a deck plan and instantaneously understand what all the jargons and symbols mean. But, just like me and a car, many can't see beyond the ignition key and the inlet for the gasoline. Or, like me, they just enjoy the convenience of saying where, when, and how coupled with a budget and they let someone else work out the details.

I make mistakes when I computer...my husband never ever realizes that web sites are notorious for filling in and you need to opt out rather than opt in.

The OPs TA made a mistake....now the OP needs to figure out what she is prepared to "live with" concerning that mistake. If things can't be "righted for the cruise" what compensation is she willing to accept. And, bottom line, will the mistake prone TA ever get her business again.

My family does an annual cruise that I was in charge of booking. My sister and her husband have 5 young children. They need 3 and 4 person cabins side by side. The cruise we were looking at booking had two 4 person cabins side by side, but not 3 and 4 person cabins. I was told if we wanted to book the two 4 person cabins for only 7 people, we would have to pay for 8 people.

I never, ever knew that...good to know.

My life without a passport wasn't that difficult, I don't care about my home address being on my ID (and have never had to prove ID for foreign purchases in the first place), and my drivers license is easily replaced (and less expensive to replace).

Well good for you, I'm glad you're traveling has been so easy and uncomplicated. Some of us haven't been quite so fortunate, and many of us do like to travel outside of the confines of US ports and cruise ships. What works for one isn't necessarily the right approach for many. There are many Carnival cruises where a passport is required so I try not to limit myself to the few that don't require one.

I guess I should have posted my question clearer. I am aware of where mco is located and how the ship must clear customs, etc. I was just curious how disembarkation is handled. Do you get any say in your assigned time? Is it by decks? Cabin categories? Status? Do you HAVE to do self-assist to get a fairly early time? Each cruise line seems to handle things a little differently and I am just trying to get a feel for Carnival's procedure.

 

Any advice is appreciated.

Self assist goes first, usually by floors and having never done it I can't relate how long it takes...but I will say that as a people watcher I find it highly amusing and a great retrospective on how many current cruisers are high on the roles of the ME generation. Priority passengers who have "requested" (and I do believe you have to request it the day before debarkation) are next. Hopefully their luggage is stacked fairly close to the customs lines and easily visible....Zone 1 will find the luggage room stacked to the gills and will still be waiting in line behind the self assist. Beyond that zones are allocated by floors and that is usually bottom up and top down. Traveling on a mid cabin floor usually means I get a fairly high number.

Not part of your question but something I recommend to ALL of my cruising Buddies....Just wait until they make you get off the ship. We always stack our stuff at an out of the way seating area on the Lido deck and proceed to have a very leisurely breakfast...many food items and the drinks remain open and don't close between cruises. Once we are "forced" to leave our luggage is sitting waiting for us in isolated splendor, we zip through customs, and we find a nice obscure spot to meet up with our driver or cab.

Hope some of this helps.

Simple answer..

You DO NOT need a passport if you are embarking and debarking at the same US port.

You do need proof of identity which varies upon how old you are, country of birth, etc. It is best to review your cruise documents to see exactly what you will need because you will get a gazillion different and often wrong answers on these boards.

Now, I too, will hijack the thread and will recommend for the approximately $200 bucks it will cost that travelers get a passport. It makes life easier at airports, cruise terminals, foreign car rentals etc. It also doesn't indicate your home address so it is a more secure form of ID when used to prove identity for foreign purchases. Lastly it is easily replaced if lost or stolen...especially if the loss occurs while on foreign soil. And once issued a passport you are in the US database as a confirmed citizen. And I will get off my soapbox now.

70degrees is considered the ultimate temperature...neither too hot or too cold and the reason San Diego is thought to have the perfect climate. Where I'm from 50 degrees is the point where coats are taken off, shorts and flip flops abound, and people laze in the sun.

The sea temperature in Nassau would probably be the same as the air temperature. Just remember if it is 68 degrees and cloudy that is when you can get your very best sunburns...and I speak from experience.

A question....since doors are required by ADA to provide a clear access of 34" are stateroom doors to accessible rooms that wide. Normal cruise doors are only 26" wide. Never bothered to look.

Some things we do for special occasions. We bring along some fun and colorful bags of candy (or buy them in the sweet shop) and spread them on the table like confetti...and then invite the servers to have some too. We also bring along some string and balloon and have fun blowing them up and tying them to the chairs. A fun homemade mortar board for the girls to wear (yeh, embarrass the heck out of them) with a graduation certificate created on our computers nicely tied up with a fancy ribbon and wrapped around a few twenties for them to spend on shore would be a nice touch. And the special cakes are great. Carnival will give you all the details of how to get it to the table. Have fun.

Belize is not my favorite stop but if you scuba dive it is probably one of the best. Cozumel, being on every western itinerary can be crowded but I am amazed that 15,000 tourists can so easily be accommodated. Roatan is my land vacation destination. It is SUPER, especially the eastern end of the Island.

I've never had trouble finding a seat at any Carnival buffet...though the ones closest to the "food" stations have a habit of filling up rapidly. The farther you travel from the main food areas the more seats tend to open up. And, like on The Magic, the farther you travel from the main service areas the more food stations you'll find...clear out onto the Lido deck.

We always find the time early on...like before dinner on the first night to tour the Buffet area while it is slow. We walk all the way around...its surprising how many times you talk to folks that never realized there were two serving sections that offered the same things. No wonder there are lines.

I am disabled, but you would not be able to tell by looking at me, Unless you happen to see my scars, but even then you probably would not know. I try to take the stairs whenever possible, but sometimes my medical issues get the best of me. Just because someone looks able bodied, doesn't mean they are. You can't judge a book by it's cover.

Oh my...I'm sorry if I struck a nerve with some of you. I'm really not "judging" and I know there are silent disabilities (my dubious heart being one of them). But there are a lot of folks with no issues who clog up the elevators when they only have to go up or down a single flight of stairs. And lots of parents "allow" their kids to think that elevators are a special toy for them to ride. We always threaten the teenagers we travel with the unthinkable if they even consider an elevator ride....though the glass ones in the atrium are not part of the ban since they can be a nice experience.

Please do go on. Only this time please give me some ideas for 6 and 9 year old boys. :D

Tee shirts with a fun family picture on the front, inexpensive hand held non-electronic games (my great nephews loved trying to be the first to get all the balls in the slots), a Carnival baseball cap, cool looking surfer shorts, a snorkel for beach days and fun in the pool, plastic playing cards and a lesson in solitude and free cell for quiet times, again the camera (you can buy a cheap digital one for 20 bucks if they are old enough), a fun thermos cup so they can carry around their drinks without chance of spilling, a hackey sack....hope these are helpful.

But you can't always tell if someone is 'able-bodied' or not. Disabilities are not always apparent.

The people who I'm talking about know who they are...And you can't tell me the guy I just saw on the water slides with his teenage kids have hidden disabilities that force them to take the elevator back down to their rooms.

Why don't you do a non-food Easter basket. Instead of a wicker basket get her a special back-pack, put in a few stuffed animals, a coloring book with crayons or wash off markers, some soft cover books with stories you can read together at bedtime, a fancy new bathing suit and some girly, girly flip flops or beach shoes. A cute hat, hair accessories, a cheap disposable camera so she can take family pictures. Lastly fill a few plastic eggs with dollar bills that she can spend choosing souvenirs. Oh, I could go on and on.

Thanks for the info. I couldn't imagine it not being accessible but the Cruise Critic ship review said that specifically in their review. I can't help but wonder what they mean.

 

Pro: Free dining options and age-appropriate activities, including Seuss-themed events

Con: Layout forces passengers to climb stairs to access other main areas of the ship on the same deck

I've been on many a ship where you couldn't walk from one end to the other on a certain floor without facing stairs especially on some old promenade decks. But as others have said you can get to all areas of the ship but it may mean taking multiple different elevator rides, especially if you don't want to face some congested areas. Also, because of the air pressure differences between the inside and outside air and the need to keep outside water out doors to the exterior can be heavy and cumbersome and I can't remember all of them having automatic closers.

And now for one of my pet peeves...I wish that able bodied adults and children would be considerate and use the stairs so that those less ambulatory folks didn't have to fight for space on elevators that are their only means of getting up or down a cruise ship. OK..back to your regular scheduled program.

I don't mind "complaining or criticism" posts....we all complain about something to our spouses and our friends. And when I do it most of them come back at me with "sometimes you are so hard to please" or the infuriating "well maybe if you weren't such a know it all".

Not everyone reacts to situations the same way...and cruising is no different. Things that bother the heck out of me roll like water off a duck's back to even my closest family members. So, do I stop complaining...absolutely not. But I do try and "see" how trivial others will think my complaints are...and isn't that what these boards are all about.

I think it is a good thing when complaining that you are forced to defend those complaints...and without input from others challenging you it is very easy to continue to always react the same way in any given situation. NOTHING is always perfect and people are always telling me that the only person who looses when I expect perfection is me so I applaud those who know that life isn't black or white but multiple shades of gray...something that is essential to be constantly reminded about.

Sounds like we all revolt and have CCL change their pathetic cruise contract. I personally think it's awful and piss poor customer service.

No one is forced to go on a cruise...free will and all that. If someone doesn't like a cruiseline's "contract" they don't have to vacation with them. CCL has given passengers the choice, just like airline's have, of keeping their luggage with them and carrying it on and off...but then peeps think they need to pack their entire wardrobe and bring onboard all their latest electronic gadgets and fill their suitcase with stuff that really isn't necessary. I can easily pack for a 10 day trip and only fill an approved carryon size suitcase. Who cares if I wear the same thing twice and one of the reasons I no longer worry about dressing elegantly on formal night. Heh, many of us traveled Europe in our younger days with nothing but a back-pack for six weeks and we survived very nicely.

I think the best thing to remember on early saver is that OBCs are given when you have an apple and they offer an apple for a lower price. If you have an apple and they offer an orange then no go. If you really want the orange you can pay the 50 buck change fee and then, in the future you have to match an orange to an orange.

Things that I should have complained about...(as facetious and with as much exaggeration as I can muster).

1. My stateroom was in the wrong configuration when I boarded...I definitely told them twin beds, my husband and I would rather sleep, thank You.

2. Sailed from San Juan and made sure the cruise line was aware that we wanted to be seated at dinner with English speakers...not only was our table only Spanish speaking it was part of a group of some 60 San Juanians cruising together.

3. After getting to the pier at 9am (didn't want to miss that free lunch) we discovered no ship....what do you mean the fog held it up. And the worst was the pier had no means of feeding us or providing liquid refreshment.

4. I lost 20 bucks at the penny slots without a single payout....tightest machines ever, the Cruise Line is only out to get my money.

5. Really, they expect me to drink that brand of soda and they don't have my elusive brand of tequila or my favorite california wine...what kind of operation is this.

6. There wasn't a single book worth reading in the Library...what do they expect, that I should actually buy my own and bring it onboard.

7. The trivia contest was fixed...they didn't ask a single question that I knew the answer to.

8. I bought 10 bingo cards and not one won...what a rip off.

9. They didn't pick us for the Newlywed game. They wanted someone energetic, not shy, and reasonably funny...stupid requirements and I waited all year to be selected.

10. The piano player didn't know a single song I requested..I thought all pianists were classically trained.

Just a few of many.....

We took our Mom on a cruise, someone deathly afraid of water, who spent 15 days of a Transatlantic voyage, way back when, in her cabin with a barf bag at hand. Long story short...she never once complained about any motion sickness on the cruise even on high swell days, ate heartily, and even sat on the balcony watching the sea swim past. In today's world cruise ships are designed and built to withstand the sea's rolls. Just watch your water glass when dining. Bet the water is nice and still even in the most inclement weather.

Of course sea-sickness is real but I've never traveled with anyone who has suffered from it on all my cruises.

QUESTION: We have two cabins, but only our minor children, in the second cabin. Do we still need to book FTTF for their cabin also?

 

ANSWER: Yes, all cabins regardless of occupants will require a FTTF ticket to be able to receive the benefits.

Common sense dictates that no cruiseline would allow minor children to board without their parents. Since the parent's check in with the children and are responsible for them Carnival will not deny them the use of their purchased FTTF. And I'd stake my first born on that one.

After reading ALL the negatives about Carnival on these boards I'm sometimes amazed that ANY of us would still book Carnival. Guess I'm glad I take things posted on this forum with a proverbial Grain of Salt. How do you react to all the negativity?