TaDaaa!

We tend to bounce between Carnival and NCL. We're not so much "loyal" to a cruise line in so much that cruising isn't cheap. If we're going to shell out $2-3k for the cruise and another $1-2k on flights and hotels, we tend to do with a known good rather than trying something else.

Just as a different line of thought, what if what you originally started with was the worst based on what you want? Without trying someone else you'll never know there was something better out there.

Isn't Elation out of Jacksonville supposed to have staggered check-in?

 

I bought this cruise back in Dec/Jan. Sailing is in Nov 2016.

 

I STILL cannot choose a check-in time. I've called Carnival & they supposedly fixed it.

 

That was 3 days ago & when I log in, it still doesn't even allow me to choose anything.

 

Am I missing something?

Where do you even see the staggered check in time located on the website?

Yep. Happens with TSA pre-check at the airports a lot. But, I highly doubt Carnival would make that change. I wish they would just process priority diamonds & plats through a separate entrance.

And FTTF. ;)

Food can't be any worse than what Carnival puts out. All lines have their snobs that have never cruised another line.

Food on Carnival easily beats NCL and matches RCCL.

I am a relatively novice cruiser, with only seven Caribbean cruises experienced.

 

I will never reach diamond, platinum, or any level....

because I find no compelling reason, to stay loyal to only one cruise line. Granted, there are "perks", for attaining such levels. However, I have the curiosity to at least, "experience", multiple cruise lines-at least once. How can one possibly "know what's out there", if don't have a sense of adventure?

 

First cruise was on Celebrity; too formal, "stuffy for my liking". Next five cruises on RCCL; which I prefer. And one cruise on Carnival.

 

Our next cruise is Carnival Magic; family group of 10, some never cruised before.

 

So, I remain flexible when selecting which cruise line.

 

*** I am not questioning the mentality, of those devoted, loyal cruisers to one cruise line. I am sure there are some who love Carnival's product, to such an extent, that they have no desire to experience anything else. That is absolutely fine; their choice.

 

But I am not at that point, to exclusively book one line.

If RCCL offers me a better military discount, for example, it would tilt my selection, in their favor.

 

I thought it would be interesting, to hear WHY some loyal veteran cruisers, remain that way? I'm not challenging them in any way.

I feel the exact same way. I actually will make Platinum on Carnival some day but I have sailed 5 different cruise lines because price is my number one objective, not perks.

This is my first time writing on a forum so I hope I don't get slammed but here it goes.

 

I've been on nine cruises with carnival and have never tried any other cruise line. I've always enjoyed what they have to offer and for the price. I wouldn't say money isn't an object but I do make significantly more money now than I did when I first started cruising so I can afford what some might call "better".

 

I guess my question is am I suffering from if it ain't broke don't fix it because I'm terrified of trying something new and it not being that good and I get mad that I ever tried it. Now here's where I get a little crazy. I will probably be more upset with myself if I love the new cruise line because I will think "you idiot why didn't you do this sooner".

 

I hate being indecisive but i can't be the only one that is a little gun shy when it comes to trying new things. Help me out if you have felt the way I feel and found a way out of it.

Sorry, can't help you out. Never been afraid to try new things so I've sailed on 6 different lines and enjoyed all of them.

I've already left cruising when the cruise lines took away outside smoking. Yes, my balcony is outside. Oh well.

You can still smoke on the balcony on HAL.

First of all, if a girl wearing a skimpy bathing suit complains that guys are leering at her what would be done about it? Probably nothing. Same with smokers getting funny looks. If no one is saying or doing anything to you directly, there's really nothing anyone can do about it.

Never said anyone could do anything about someone's rudeness. Doesn't change the fact it's still rude.

I can't even comment on the other countries thing because I still don't get what it has to do with this conversation.

And you never will if you can't understand people other than US citizens sail from US ports.

I will start out saying that I am a Travel Agent and no one is correct or incorrect here.

 

I was talking to our support line about this a few months ago. I had a client who was Platinum and needed to have early dining for health reasons, but were waitlisted. I was talking to them and asked that since they are platinum should they not get their choice since I doubt there will be a dining room full of diamonds and platinum cruisers and they said that it is up to the Matre D to determine who gets what dining time when they are waitlisted. I then called Special Needs and explained the situation and they put a note on the reservation saying it was needed for health reasons and that hopefully it will help put them to the front of the line.

 

All that being said, the assignments are not made until 3-4 days before sailing so there is still hope. I would say chances are fairly good that you will get the ATD, I have never seen anyone not get their requested dining time unless it is one that is booked very last minute.

Don't understand how someone can claim health reasons for having to have a specific dining time when there are so many other choices available at all hours of the day.

After some concerns with the Zeka virus, we held off on the down payment for 3 days after the deadline.....

 

....Very frustrated.

You created your own frustration. Don't see why Carnival should jump through hoops for you. :confused:

I do a lot of timesharing in between cruises.

I was referring to what you said about people being rude and coughing. If they're in a smoking section, they shouldn't be bothered by what people who walk through the section do. I know I often cough, make faces or hold my breath if I have to walk through a smoking section. I can't help it, I'm super sensitive to smoke. Even if no one is smoking at that moment, the lingering smell makes me cough.

If you are super sensitive to smoke, how about you don't walk through a smoking area. And please don't say you have to. There is always a different way to get from one non-smoking part of the ship to another non-smoking part of the ship without walking through a smoking area and pretending to have an asthma attack.

Smokers will justify their position. It's a documented, scientific fact that second hand smoking is quite harmful. Smokers are either ignorant of this fact, downplay the significance of it, or too selfish to care about the harm it causes others. I'm as anti-smoking as it gets. To be fair, I'm a former smoker - 2 to 3 packs a day, so smokers can't hold a lighter to any argument with me.

There is a big difference between people sitting in an enclosed room with little air flow and sitting outside in at least a 20 mph breeze. Worlds apart.

They didn't seem very interested and if they did contact the people it did nothing to stop them..... As I said no one smokes on balconies on Celebrity and the casino is also smoke free. I won't gamble on Carnival because of this along with a bunch of other people. We'll see how it works out in April.

Since they are not very interested in smugglers or chair hogs breaking the rules why should it be any different for smokers?

I wasn't trying to be mean. Sorry if it came across that way. I'm only saying that if you are a smoker, and in a designated smoking area, you shouldn't be concerned about how non smokers look at you. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, maybe it's time to quit.

 

Also, what do other countries have to do with it? We're talking about cruises out of America, doesn't really matter how other countries feel about smoking...

That's like saying if you're a girl in a skimpy outfit you shouldn't complain if guy's are leering at you. :rolleyes:

And you've never seen a foreigner on a ship sailing out of the States, have you? Or a US person sailing out of a foreign country?

How about just being respectful to everyone.

So where are the new Guy's and Blue Iguana located on the Fantasy?

I think the Jade is due for a dry dock and will need the mandatory one around that time frame even if they decided to scrap the major refurb that Gem received. Some sailing will be cancelled as a result. I'm just crossing fingers it's not mine again. Perhaps they are rescheduling after the ta.

I hope not. I'm on the second sailing after the TA. :eek:

it won't let me change dining since I'm with a group I tried!

Is it an actually group booking or do yo just have linked reservations? If it's just the reservations are linked you can have your TA unlink your reservation.

That being said, the buffet on the Liberty is absolutely wonderful.

Well, your parents need to get a thicker skin. It's not just on cruise ships, there is disdain for smokers everywhere. Smoking used to be cool. Now we know better.

What a knee jerk reaction. :mad:

BTW, there are plenty of countries where smoking is still fully accepted and not looked down upon. Or is it that you just think everything should revolve around how things are done in the US?

Hmm, we are booked on the Jade 11/13/16. I wonder where we will be headed?

We're on the Jade a week after you. Hopefully one of us will make it to Harvest Caye. :confused:

Tampa a/p to Port Canaveral is way more than 8 miles apart. :D

Oops, assumed sailing out of Tampa. Missed the PC part. :o

Having sailed twice with Royal in the past two years, we have not seen the lack of staff issues. I'm not saying that there aren't issues, they just aren't as important to us. And honestly I find the clientele on Royal a few grades above carnival. Yes, there are still some who I would not care to associate with, but I find them fewer in numbers. No line is going to be perfect, and I realize that.

You should be looking in the mirror as you type this. :rolleyes:

Came off the Independence of the Seas two months ago and saw the exact same type of people that I've seen on every Carnival ship.

New paint, new carpet. Guys burgers and blue iguana. Ship looks great!

The Fantasy got a Guy's and Blue Iguana? Awesome!! :)

Cruiserfanatic, Sounds like you are defending Carnival. Stuff happens, but this was very poorly handled from customer service perspective. Passengers have not been compensated for the downgraded itinerary or their additional expenses.

Passengers do not have to be compensated for a change in itinerary.

I look for the ports I want, the type ship I want, and the cost. Then I see who is the cheapest. I am loyal to my wallet, not a cruise line (which is why I have sailed 5 cruise lines so far). So almost anything will make me sail someone other than Carnival (though usually Carnival is the cruise line that fits the bill hence more sailings on Carnival than anyone else).