jslev9

The Mrs. and I have a pretty varied eating schedule so it isn't uncommon to have early or late dinners, just depending on what we're doing that day. That said, we're being a bit indecisive as we think about making dinner reservations for our first VV sailing. Is there any noticeable difference/recommendation between eating early and seeing the second showing of a performance or seeing the first showing and then doing a late dinner?

My wife is sailing with a four-cabin bachelorette party on the Gem in mid-February and I've been roped in as the unofficial travel agent. The bride-to-be *really* wants to do Teppanyaki one night so I know I'll need to book it as soon as reservations open on 10/19 but I can't figure out what time they open. Is it midnight EDT?

Thanks in advance!

47 minutes ago, MisterMatthew said:

ZGSC..

 

Thank you for your post... I am going to be on the same ship for the May 20 sailing.  I can't wait!

 

May I ask, did you have an assigned boarding "time"?  Just wondering.  By the way, your cabin looks especially nice!  I'm "inside", but have done the inside before.

 

Love the EXACT same burger at Dive In.  Yum!  Is the orange smoothie a drink available there?  Or, from a bar, etc... Alcohol?

 

Thanks again for the post.

 

---misterMatthew

12 minutes ago, Nola26 said:

Not the OP but I'll be on the same sailing as you, we have completed online check-in and have our boarding passes that show time and group assignment. They are located under the Check-In option "Docs" tab. I also have our boarding passes via the app. Boarding Pass is shown as soon as I open the app, just tap to see them. Boarding Pass and group are shown at the top of the pass. In the app they may also be in your Wallet under the Account tab.

I'll also be on the same sailing. Got an email from HAL ~ a week ago that our check-in time had been assigned and our boarding passes were ready. Got another email a couple days ago that our boarding time had changed (moved one group/20 minutes later) so be sure to remember that it can change up until the day of embarkation!

Thanks, everyone! We opted to each make a reservation our our cruise reservation for the same time and we'll go to PG once we board on embarkation day to ensure we can get sat at the same table.

My wife and I are sailing with my in-laws on the Eurodam later this month. We're booked in two cabins and all four of us have HIA. We're looking do redeem our free speciality dining portion of HIA together at Pinnacle Grill but can't figure out the best way to make the reservation in advance of embarkation. Should we each make a reservation on our own cruise reservation and then go to Pinnacle as soon as we embark and ask to sit together? Or should I book a table for four on my cruise reservation and then figure out the refund after the fact (since it the website requires payment in advance for those who aren't redeeming a HIA entitlement)?

On 4/14/2023 at 10:23 AM, Djptcp said:

I have always received an email from HAL anywhere from a week to 10 days before the cruise. If I'm not happy with the cabin assignment location I call the HAL Inventory Dept. to see if there is something better and if there is a cheap upgrade available. Works for us.

Care to share the number to the inventory department?

12 hours ago, victory2020 said:

How much in advance did you book appointment? I was planning on trying proctored but if it doesn't work to then make appointment. How long did it take for results?

11 hours ago, nwcruiselover said:

That was my plan also, but the internet on the ship was poor and spotty, with 2 full days of no internet.  I didn’t want to count on being able to proctor, so I made my appointment about a week ahead of our debarkation day.  The test result came back in less than 20 minutes.  I’m glad I did it that way.  If you wait till the day before to make your appointment, it’s possible there won’t be any time spots that fit with your flight schedule.  In that case you would have to join the long line of people without appointments.  To me the 30 euros I paid to book the test was peace of mind.

@victory2020 - availability will depend on if you're flying out the same day that your cruise returns to Barcelona (when there will be a mass of people all trying to get tested at the same time) or if you're at an off-peak time. For example, my wife and I are on the Carnival Pride's May 19th sailing that returns to Barcelona on May 29th. We booked an airport test a couple weeks ago (when Carnival said it would cost $100 to test at the port). Looking at the availability now, there are zero appointments available on May 29th between 8am - 11am (when most people flying out the same day would need to be tested).

You can look at availability at: https://flycovidtestcenter.com/en/book-appointment/

10 hours ago, kwokpot said:

Why would they do that? They only have one old ship that sails in Europe. Royal and Celebrity have multiple ships sailing in Europe and they don't have their own cruise terminal in Barcelona.

Carnival Corp. built the new terminal so it's open to all eight of Carnival's lines that sail to Barcelona (especially important since six of Carnival's lines used Barcelona as a home port for some or all of the year when the new terminal opened in 2018). This is actually Carnival Corp.'s second terminal they own in Barcelona.

Source: https://www.ship-technology.com/news/carnival-opens-cruise-terminal-port-barcelona-spain/

Airbnb Experiences looks like it has a bunch of options, most are highly recommended. Here are the first five I found:

• https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/804024
• https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/934834
• https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/141985
• https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/52965
• https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/123725 

2 hours ago, cruising with the family said:

We are on the 10-night Carnival Pride sailing from Barcelona and got a call to upgrade to the Vista wrap-around balcony suite.  The upgrade is an additional 2/3rds (66%) of what we paid for the balcony room.  Just wondering if it is worth pursuing.  How much extra would you pay for this upgrade?  I've never stayed in a suite!

I think we're on your sailing, got the call, and debated the same thing. We ended up deciding against it because of how port heavy the sailing is -- yes, there are three days at sea but there are seven days that are *full* days in port. We felt like we'll be doing so much sightseeing that we'll be exhausted when we get back on board so we couldn't justify the pricy upgrade. If this was a Caribbean cruise, though, I think it'd be a different story.

I booked a one-way ticket (used frequent flyer miles to fly to Barcelona and Fly2Fun on the return back to the USA). I booked it online without any issues.

Thanks, @SoccerMom#3 and @erby2283! I bought tickets as soon as they went on sale this AM -- can't wait to see it a month from now!

For those of you who did the "Best of Rome & The Vatican" tour, did you do the optional Colosseum add-on? Part of me really wants to see the inside of the Colosseum but the other part knows it'll be a huge chunk of time to get through the security and entry lines, taking time away from other things we could be visiting.

2 hours ago, victory2020 said:

I just booked the May 19 cruise & my PVP told me I can take the test 3 days prior if you are vaxxed & boosterd. I am planning on taking it the 17th before I fly out that evening

Princess's European protocol page (last updated April 5, 2022) says:

Based on current European Union Healthy Gateways (EUHG) guidelines, to board the ship all guests age five and above will require a medically observed, negative viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) result taken within one day of embarkation. These protocols are subject to change and we’ll communicate any updates as they become available.

I'd trust that verbiage over what my PVP tells me. The 3-day rule is valid for U.S.A. sailings but I'd wager that most PVPs don't work with European sailings very often.

16 hours ago, nwcruiselover said:

I’m on the Pride TA to Barcelona April 24th.  We have been told that boosters are required to board.  Other than that, no information about any testing being done onboard this 14 day cruise, and nothing about testing before debarkation in Barcelona.  Carnival said they plan to get this information to us, but nothing so far and we sail in 11 days.

Carnival's COVID FAQ page says the following sailings will require boosters:

• Carnival Spirit 16-day Carnival Journeys – April 17, 2022
• Carnival Pride Transatlantic – April 24, 2022
• Carnival Pride Barcelona departures – May 8, May 19 and May 29, 2022
• Carnival Splendor 23-day Carnival Journey (Transpacific) – September 6, 2022

https://www.carnival.com/Legal/covid-19-legal-notices/covid-19-guest-protocols?icid=advisory_cruisehealth_040122

I'm on the May 19th sailing out of Barcelona and haven't seen anything official from Carnival. My wife and I have our boosters so we know that won't be an issue -- our biggest unknown is surrounding the pre-embarkation testing. For now, we're just planning on bringing eMed kits and doing self-tests from our AirBNB the day before we embark.

I agree, though, that having to try and piece together plans based on what Royal and NCL (which we're following, too) is pretty ridiculous. 

5 hours ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Not sure how it works in your area or country but here in the uk you cant keep on getting a booster every 6 months. We dont pay for it and the UK is not allowing people to buy their own. 

5 hours ago, kwokpot said:

I'm on a b2b2b on Carnival in Europe starting in Barcelona in May and ending in Dover in June. I don't think Spain has an expiration on when your booster shot expires. The expiration date is regarding the timeframe for the intial vaccine. 

5 hours ago, xxHadleyxx said:

Correct as of now.  Here is what the Spanish governemnt site says:

 

"has been vaccinated against COVID-19, with a complete schedule or booster dose. In the case of a complete vaccination schedule, you should check the validity periods: from 1 February 2022, this certificate will be valid from 14 days after the administration of the last dose of the complete vaccination schedule and will be valid up to 270 days from the administration of this last dose. Thereafter, in order to be valid, the vaccination certificate must reflect the administration of a booster dose. These certificates will be considered valid from the day the booster dose is administered." 

 

https://www.spth.gob.es/

Ah, I misread -- thanks for correcting me! @FamilyCruiserUK - I'm actually eligible for a second booster because I fall into the immunocompromised category. I don't know what I'd do if the rule was the way I originally read it and the U.S. government said I wasn't eligible for another dose.

At a minimum, I'd say everyone needs to plan on having their most recent booster no more than 270 days from when you (re)enter Spain, based on the government's latest regulations that were published earlier this month. For example, I'm on a Carnival sailing that starts/ends at Barcelona and I just got (another) booster since it would have been 276 days since receiving my booster (third shot) when we reenter Spain at the end of the sailing.

My wife and I are sailing on the Carnival Pride's May 19, 2022 sailing and will be in Corfu on Monday, May 23 (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM). We're hemming and hawing about what to do and think we've settled on a plan but would love some feedback on it! As of now, we're thinking of doing a morning tour at the Governor's Olive Mill and then self-touring the Old Fortress / Corfu Town. Realizing this isn't a port we know much about, does this sound like a reasonable day in Corfu or is there something else we should be considering? 

Thanks, all! We'll be sure to visit the Alchemy Bar. And we already have Steakhouse reservations for NYE!

We're getting ready to board the Freedom in a couple days and bought Cheers! since we'll be celebrating a couple different things on board (honeymoon and NYE!). Does anyone have suggestions of drinks we should be sure to try that are good uses of Cheers -- expensive liquors (especially whiskeys and bourbons), drinks over $15, etc?

I have no doubts we'll get our fair share of use out of the package regardless of what we drink. But it'd be fun to drink things we normally wouldn't get at home!

I'm sailing on the 12/26 Freedom and had an upgrade offer in my cruise manager when I woke up this morning: we were originally in an inside room (which was free with a casino offer) and upgraded to a balcony for $320 (which we accepted without any hesitation!).

On 2/6/2020 at 10:38 AM, Teibban said:

Hi everyone,

 

We are looking at doing the Damajagua Falls and Monkeyland tour with Carnival. I have a few questions about the falls:

 

1- We have someone a little bit afraid of jumping. Do you have to jump at all the falls of you can take a ladder at each of them if the person does not feel like jumping? I read somewhere that the first one jump is mandatory.

2- how deep is the water. You have life jacket but just wondering as we would have a 8yrs old kid with us.

 

Thanks

Hi @Teibban -- did you end up taking the Damajagua Falls and Monkeyland excursion? My wife and I are debating booking it and would love to hear from someone who actually went on the tour!

27 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

The Amsterdam?

 

Roy

My brain worked faster than my fingers. I meant the Nieuw Amsterdam. Sorry!

1 hour ago, rafinmd said:

Thank you for the Monday Daily, Rich.  3 great days, I try for ice cream every day, and especially enjoy the Baltimore Symphony's violins.  Thought provoking Bankhead quote.  I'll pass on the shrimp.  Been to Halong Bay once on the Zaandam which is probably my favorite remaining BHB.

 

Today’s care list:

Strength for Jacqui and healing for Jose
Himself with Covid
 Midwest tornado area
Welfare of furloughed crews
Seasick Sailor’s friend Walker wthdrawing from cancer treatments
Eruptions in Las Palmas and Indonesia
kakalina with spreading lung cancer in hospice
From the rotation:
Grapau27 awaiting MOHS surgery 24 Decenber with pre-test 21 Decenber
SrLouisCruiser awaiting MOSE 2/21
summer slope BCC surgery in February
positive biopsy for Mtn2Sea

 

Celebrations and Shoutouts:

5 BHB with passengers
Front Line Health Care Workers
Welcome home Cruisin Terri, StLouisCruisers  Quartzite Cruiser and Heartgrome
Noordam coming to Everglades Wednesday
Quartize Cruiser and Heartgrove (Koningsdam to 12/12),_Lindaler (2 Jan) and Seasick Sailor(Rotterdam to 1/16) , MissG (Nieuw Statendam to 1/9),  NCTribeFan and JAM37 (NA to 12/23), Sea Viewer (Allure OTS until 12/19) and Crazy for Cats (NCL Dawn to 12/19)
Kazu helping her stepson on his mother’s death arrangements
highland cruiser in Vallarta
Cruising along with family in California until Thursday
booster for Pauline
Koningsdan Staff Captain Sabine - officially onboard & introduced. - Our first female staff captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it)

Roy

 

   

Can I suggest something to add to the celebration list? The Amsterdam will be in Grand Turk today, meaning she is the first ship to dock in Grand Turk since the port closed last year due to COVID!