gtalum

I'd consider buying the proctored home test and doing it via your mobile phone that morning at port.

3 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

You bought the BINAX online?  I was checking and they were sold out.  Hopefully that won't be the case in January....

You can get them here.  They are all September 21 expiry extended to December 21, though.

Fair enough.  I'm going by the policy on carnival.com.

• Prohibited Items
• Wine or champagne beyond the allowable limit of one 750 ml bottle per adult (21 years of age or older)

Yes, you can each bring one 750 ml bottle.  No, you can't "share" a 1500 ml bottle.  It has to be one smaller bottle per person 21+.

20 minutes ago, Earthworm Jim said:

I don't know the full answer, but Carnival's Return to Service FAQs does say this:

 

"Acceptable proof of PCR/antigen COVID-19 testing includes laboratory test record, digital certificate and healthcare record."

 

https://www.carnival.com/Legal/covid-19-legal-notices/return-to-service-faqs

 

The mention of a "digital certificate" implies to me that some sort of digital confirmation is acceptable. Whether an email showing your test result counts as a "digital certificate", I have no idea. But I'd like to know too.

I think it requires a QR code that they can verify.

Here's the relevant page at Carnival:

https://www.carnival.com/Legal/covid-19-legal-notices/covid-19-guest-protocols?icid=advisory_cruisehealth_072821

They d accept digital proof with QR code, but they're not really clear about what exactly qualifies.

nvm

13 hours ago, gigem_aggies said:

We did too, but didn't get it until today (about 45 days later and 35 days til sailing).

I don't know why ours showed up so quickly.  I had been worried it would come a week before the cruise or not at all.

Keep in mind in the Caribbean it almost always shows a good rain chance in the forecast.  No big deal.

The FDA has allowed the manufacturer to extend expiry dates by three months, so all the ones showing September 21 are still good until December 21.

I think the key is to be flexible and go with the flow.  It will be different from any other cruise we've taken with kids, but the important thing is the family time.

We're going Thanksgiving week with our 8 year old boy.  We recognize it will be a very different experience but I think there will be plenty to do on Mardi Gras.

He and I will stay aboard in ports since he isn't vaccinated and I'm not super mobile.  My wife and daughter (15 and vaccinated)  will be free to explore.

I think we all need to remember too that the crews are getting back into the groove.  They hadn't worked for 18 months-ish.

I applied for our 7 year old the day the email came with the protocols and the link to the form, and the exemption approval email showed up the next day.  For some reason I got that approval email every day for like 10 days, but we got it.

John Heald addressed this specifically today or yesterday.  Third shot is irrelevant.  You just need your second shot more than 14 days before sailing.

4 minutes ago, mommysoncruiser said:

I'm not sure what video you are referencing. I am speaking from firsthand experience from less that's a week ago (approx 4 days ago). They may have had a bad experience and hated it but I was only speaking from MY personal real life experience.

 

**Do you have a link or something so I can see what video you are referencing?

Do a google search for Playa Bachata Bubble Tour and you'll see some YouTube videos.  Honestly it doesn't look bad.  The food looks not great but the beach looks nice and the drinks are free flowing.

We requested an exemption for our 7 year old on the Thanksgiving week Mardi gras cruise as soon as the form became available.  We were granted the exemption within days.

There are huge signs that will tell you where to go.  Don't worry about it.

4 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Take this up with your credit card company (assuming it was put on a charge card).

 

And please do not let the Carnival cheerleaders get you down. They are the only ones who would even think to defend poor customer service that tells you only to call, but the calls are unanswered.

 

 

OP should probably consult the credit card company, but I wouldn't be too optimistic about a successful chargeback because of the forms he said his wife signed.

Another angle is to see what's covered by any travel insurance OP has.  I'm not confident there, either, though.

At any rate it seems unreasonable to me for Carnival to not offer a Future Cruise Credit for this misunderstanding.  I can understand not offering a refund, but an FCC would make sense.

A lack of USB ports is a nightmare?  You might want to adjust priorities.

Carnival.com, every time.  It may be cheaper to book through an independent agent but IMHO it's not worth the hassles.

8 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

 

The Magic got a new paint job?

The whole fleet is eventually getting new paint jobs with that blue wave at the bow.

Chemo and cancer drive home the fact that You Only live Once, for me.  You have to get out and do the things you love, or else what's the point?

Low fares and good product.  it's as simple as that.

Just now, BlerkOne said:

I don't know that they have to follow CDC guidelines, but they follow them for safety.

I'm fairly certain the CDC has the authority to shut them down again if they don't follow the protocols.

I'm willing to accept if I am wrong on that.