isladonna

Got the email from Carnival today with options to cancel and if you go you get obc.  Our 5 day cruise, tomorrow, $150 OBC! Awesome!!  

Going to be fun wiping down every slot machine😮 I play on!  Maybe I'll stay at one longer than I normally would.  This will be interesting, starting Saturday!  Can't wait though1

has anyone done a snorkeling excursion here?  Any recommendations or thoughts?

2 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

That is check in time, not boarding time

Our appt time is 12-12:30 our zone is A06.  What do you mean? I don't understand the comment.

We are same boarding time and we are A06  Guess we'll be behind you, haha!  Good to know though.

great info to know everyone, thank you!  I'm pretty sure our last cruise we paid the same price for all 3 of us.  I think the "special" we got it cheaper was a friends and/or family discount.  

A couple of years ago we got a special where a third person in your cabin paid 1/2 price.  Was great since we took our son along.  I have not seen this offer come up again, at all, unless I missed it, which is possible. 

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has noticed this offer recently or at all?  

Wish I could find out if that would ever be offered again.  Guess there is no way of knowing though.

Ok, thanks, just pondering out loud..lol

27 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

This.

 

Guest services can print a letter that will have the information on when and where to meet on the last morning for early flights.  It's often near the FTTF group.  I always show up 1/2 before the time on the letter because if the ship is ready early, they will let you off early. 

It will also help if you use carry on luggage only, have pre check, and take a cab or uber/lyft to the airport.

Thank you!

thanks everyone, good to know info!! 

By the way Carnival was booking the exact same flight for us, leaving at that time, 10am.  I just ended up booking it myself.

Here's hoping there will be no issues!!

We are also doing carry on only, for the first time, to avoid checking a bag! 

Yes leaving from Fort Lauderdale. 

We have a 10am flight out of fort lauderdale.  we are doing self assist.  How do we insure we get off the ship asap?  Just get in a line to debark or what?

Can or do you tell someone you need to get off asap so there won't be a issue getting off early?

Thanks!

17 hours ago, SmoothFlying said:

Well, I'd say you ought to be a big time odds bet taker in Lost Wages.😁 Weather between Indy and Fl usuall has to pass through the southeast (either Alabama/Georgia). Our weather here in March (early spring) can ranger almost daily from BEAUTIFUL bright warm to horrible, DARK thunderstorms, filled w rain/possible tornadoes to 3-4 inches of snow covering a film of sleet (black ice). Back fifteen years ago, before I retired from Delta Airlines as a baggage agent I actually saw ALL three happen in March on the SAME day !!🙄 I thought to my self, 'What's next ?! Plagues of locust ??'. We (the airport) were closed for 4 days with flights bound for ATL or points south diverted to other cities east or west of us. But driving to Fl either through Georgia or Alabama was almost impossible (weather-wise) and even in good weather it's close to a parking lot at 5 p.m.rush hour ! Just saying, you never know ! Always expect the unexpected, that way you won't be surprise

 

Whew!  Maybe the fact that it's early March (7th) will lessen our odds of that scenario.  You do always take that small chance flying in day of, but, still I feel comfortable we'll be ok.  Still better than chancing the middle of winter, I think.

our flight leaves 5am, indy to ft. lauderdale, arrive FLL 10am. change planes in orlando. i feel comfortable with that.  we have flown to jacksonville same day also.  It's also in March.  If it was the dead of winter I might think twice.  and yes, counting on all going as planned lol...i know stuff can go wrong but chances are we'll be ok.  

7 minutes ago, pe4all said:

Nope - doesn't work that way.  No cash comes out of the machine, and no "slips of paper" that you can take and cash at a redemption machine (none on the ships) or cashier's booth.  Again, after making an account and playing they can take their card to the cashier's window in casino and cash out their account.

thanks!!

1 hour ago, RWolver672 said:

 

Here is what you have to do.  At a machine that you want to play, put your S&S card in the slot.  Make sure you do this first.  I'll explain that later.  Then set up a casino account.  This will be completely different than your regular S&S account.  

 

If I remember correctly, it will ask you to enter your birth date, then set up a four digit PIN.  Put your money in the slot and start playing.  When you want to leave that machine, cash out and it will put what's left of your money into the casino account.

 

Now go to another machine if you wish and put your card in the slot.  Enter your PIN and it will ask how much you want to transfer to that machine.  Enter the amount and start playing.

 

At any time, you can go to the casino cage and cash out.  They will take your card and swipe it.  Then you enter your PIN on a keypad.  They will hand you your cash and a slip with the amount of cash they have given you.

 

If you run out of cash while playing, all you have to do is add more cash if you want to stay on that machine.  Hope this explains it for you.  Good Luck!

 

Explanation of why put your card in first...My wife sat down at a machine and put a $100  bill into the machine.  She then realized that there was already a card in the machine.  She pulled it out and put her card in.  She went to transfer money to the machine and it said that the balance was "0".  When she pulled the other person's card out, it transferred her money to that card.  She explained to one of the workers what had happened.  They did some tracking and found the guy.  He had to go to the casino cage and cashout and hand her the money.  We were very lucky that they believed her and tracked the guy down.

 

 

 

 

What if you don't want a casino account.  I have friends that barely gamble but will play for free drinks.  you can't just cash out and get your remaining cash back without using your card?

thank you

5 hours ago, Joebucks said:

Next month, I will be on the Sunrise, and you can bet I will be trying one of those. The All-American sounds great, but damn does that sound like a heavy meal. Obviously, I've had a Guy's burger before, and I've also had an egg on my burger. Although, I am curious about the maple donkey sauce and a hash brown sounds interesting too. So who has had one? Would you do it again?

we will be on March 7!!  Looking to try this....maybe :)

9 hours ago, ilovetotravel1977 said:

Sorry to hijack this thread, but can you pay a price just to use the computer to do online check-in from the ship? Or do you need to purchase a full Internet package?

I think that was my original question haha!  flying southwest and i just bought the early bird for our return trip only, so i didn't have to worry about it.  although i'm not that happy about paying extra $50, but guess it will be worth it. 

We have to hurry too, our flight leaves at 10:15 am from FLL, but at least I'll be checked in, just hope we make it LOL..unless something goes wrong, we will make it.

17 hours ago, Mrs.C05 said:

I am actually going on Sunrise next week and just booked the Steakhouse Restaurant for Valentine's Day evening. Surprised I was able to book something with a week out, but thankful I could. I'll let you know how it is. I do know that you can order an upcharge steak in the MDR but like another has said, I'd rather pay for an actual restaurant.

Yes please let us know.  I have it booked it for March 9 on the sunrise.  It was pretty awesome on our Dream cruise last year. We enjoyed it so much we booked it on the Sunrise.

1 hour ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

If you get chips charged to your room (essentially credit card) at the table there is a 3% fee ($100 in chips is billed at $103 to sign and sail). You can stick your sign and sail into a slot machine and load up money (also charged to that same card with no fee), pull card out, and then get chips. This avoids the 3% fee. Seems they don't like this and/or cashing out balances with little/no play since it essentially gives you fee free cash charged to your card. Not sure it's the same if you have a gift card and/or cruise cash or something. I imagine it's not policed as closely. You can use cash at tables and/or cash out your bank for chips at the cage to use at tables. Either is fine.  

thank you!

1 hour ago, Junglecat01 said:

Hi were can you buy %10 off gift certificate? Thanks 

i got mine through my Citibank card.  Citi Easy Deals. I think you have to have points on your card though.

I'm annoyed because it says they will email you confirmations and they don't.  Same with fun shops, i purchased birday decor and no email or confirmation and not showing on account.  i booked 4 for steakhouse and no confirmation.

7 hours ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

They will block it if you use your card to load up funds via a slot machine and then cash them into chips for the tables thus avoiding the 3% fee. Ask me how I know 🙂 lol. 

 

They will release the EFT hold if you go to the cage. You could theoretically load  a large amount charged to your sign and sail and then cash into chips. They won't like it but they will unlock your account. It's just a way they use to say "hi, we're out here". Really just depends on how much you are doing it but you can do anything once (really big) and there isn't much they can do.  

What is the 3% fee?  I don't think I've been aware of this.  My hubby plays tables at times.  Are you saying if you use your card to buy chips at a table, there is a 3% fee?  So you should just bring and use cash and/or cash out at a machine, get cash, use cash at tables, right?  

3 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

I disagree, to a certain degree. I think they know people do it, but are willing to overlook it happening. That is, until they see this method being abused. There are already people who buy the 10% off gift cards, then use this method to cash out the full amount. Too much of that and Carnival's surely liable to "plug the leak." Their non-refundable OBC isn't intended to leave the ship in cash form. Unused gift card funds are meant to be refunded as another gift card, to be used on a future cruise or forfeited by the customer. Carnival doesn't want too much of these types of funds walking off the ship as cash. If it happens too much, they're more likely to put an end to this. I'm willing to bet that the overall percentage of Carnival cruisers who know about this casino trick is quite small, but the more people that learn about it, the better the chances it could be abused. That's why everyone I've ever seen share this method always encourages others to take a couple spins on the machine to give the impression that you're playing. No one wants this "loophole" to be closed because some people abused the process.

The purpose that I MIGHT need to do it is if I buy the gift card and end up not spending it all.  The option to get the money back, that I spent for the gift card, seems reasonable to me.  I don't want another gift card that I may never use.  I don't see how that is abusing, seems logical to me.  

Does it matter how you fund your account, gift card or cash, to be able to cash out any remaining money in the casino? 

,

Do you have to transfer it to your casino account, then cash out?  Thinking of buying more 10% off gift certificates, but want to make sure I can get it back, if not used.

Was trying to explain to our friends, who want to do the same and wanted to make sure I'm right.

Thanks!

Going on Sunrise, 5 day cruise, March 7.  Does anyone know what day elegant night will be?  Thinking of making steakhouse reservations, but don't want to make them on elegant night.

i read 2nd or 3rd night, but I kinda need to know for sure to plan a birthday surprise dinner. Thanks!

1 hour ago, bakersdozen12 said:

You must have missed my post. I was the first person to post on that thread, and I did answer the question about whether or not you can access the Southwest website with the Social Media plan. 
 

Here’s the thread, for reference, if you would like to take another look:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2730327-boarding-pass-for-flight/

i still don't understand why she locked it though.  There are lots of posts where the question has been answered ALOT lol..I see no other posts locked.  guess she just don't like me. haha!