Mic101680

You're talking about two different classes of ships.

What kinds of activities do you like to do? Where are you likely to spend most of your time? How important is the variety of dining options to you? Assuming the itineraries are very similar, what's the difference in price (if that's important to you)?

Just a few things to think about and then compare the ships that way to choose 🙂

I've never been on a Carnival ship where magnets actually stuck to the doors. (The cabin ceilings, yes.) The last time we decorated our door, we used painter's tape, which leaves no residue, if very lightweight, and easy to remove.

Most of the decor I've seen have been things like photos, paper banners, and things you can find at a party supply store. We once covered our door in wrapping paper and hung photo props on the door handle with a note inviting people to have fun with it. We saw quite a few people stopping to take pictures lol

If you have a choice, I would recommend trying to find some recent Fun Times schedules and choose a night with evening activities you won't mind missing since the Chef's Table takes about 3 hours. Also think about port days - what time would you need to be back on the ship? What kind of excursions do you have planned (if any?) You may not want to have a long drawn out dinner after being in the sun on the beach all day. (But then again, you might be fine with that, but either way, something to think about).

They did have it on Paradise last month, but I don't remember the cost. You had to ask for the bag from your room steward. It was easier (and cheaper) for me to take some time to do my own laundry in the self service machines.

Earliest port arrival times I've ever seen is between 1000-1100, depending on the port. Earliest actual boarding time depends on customs/immigration and when Carnival is ready to start receiving new guests onboard, but they usually start boarding by 1100 (if not sooner). If they're not ready for boarding yet and you've already gone through security screening and everything at the port, they'll have you wait in a specified area until they're ready.

It's going to depend a lot on that ship, what kind of crowd you have on board, etc.  There are usually plenty of spots at 8am, but closer to 9 when people start waking up and wandering about for coffee and breakfast after late nights, it could be tougher to get an ideal spot. People do come and go throughout the day, and like others have said, you can always keep an eye on a 'saved' spot that's been left unoccupied too long.

I usually choose my cruises based on the itinerary, and based on what you've said, if I was in your shoes, I'd go with the second one. I'm always going to choose the trip with more stops I've never been to, unless there is something that is absolutely at the top of my bucket list!

7 hours ago, csoud68 said:

Different than the bimini beach club that virgin owns? I  see conflicting videos showing the same place for both and others with different amenities..

 

I also read where virgin accepts guests from other cruise ships to use bimini beach club if a virgin ship isn't in port the particular day another cruiseline is docked.

 

From what I can see of the virgin owned beach club I would rather go there if possible..it's very nice.

 

And carnival has an official excursion to resorts world but I'm wondering if that is actually bimini beach club.

From what I've been told by a coworker who has cruised both Virgin and Carnival, it's the same beach club.

When we were there last month, we bought the $39.99 pass, which gets you access to both the beach club and the pools at the hotel. There are pools at the beach club - one is adults only and one is a family pool. We spent the first part of the morning at the adults only rooftop pool at the hotel and found that nobody was up there for hours, and the few who did wander up there were quiet. You can buy lunch at the hotel cheaper than the price difference for the same package Carnival offers that includes lunch, but we just ate a really good breakfast and brought granola bars to snack on until we got back onboard for a late lunch.

You can order as many apps (and desserts) as you'd like and there is no charge for the first 2 entrees ($5 each after that). It will depend on the serving team on whether they are served all at once or one at a time, but my experience so far has been one at a time unless we specifically asked differently.

Nope, but you can order a cake or other treats to have delivered to your room. A friend of mine had her birthday while on the Ecstasy in October, and we ordered her a small box of cookies and the room decorations package. She said the cookies were way better than what was on the buffet and the decor was a fun surprise but "meh".

2 hours ago, tmarquez said:

Please check with someone at Carnival and US Customs. 

 

I had an odd situation happen returning from a cruise with my 2yo.  Customs reviewed her birth certificate and also attempted to question her asking if we were her parents (she was a super extroverted talker but the way they aggressively questioned her all she would do is hide her head).  I don't want to imagine what could have happened if her stats didn't match the birth certificate.  

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

I could be reaching here. However, I could absolutely see someone have a concern that you are traveling internationally with a young child with paperwork that does not match. I wouldn't wing it based on a few internet people thinking it's ridiculous that check in agents would care if identification matches.

This 100%. The fact that you have documentation proving you requested to have her birth certificate corrected, and her medical records listing the correct gender may help, but I wouldn't risk it until I got answers directly from Carnival and/or U.S. Customs. IF something were to happen and you got stranded in port, or had to be medically evacuated back home, or something else, there is a chance that the documents not matching could be an issue, or at least a major headache. 

I got a phone call in my cabin and was able to set up the preferred day we wanted when on the Paradise last month. We had 3 nights to choose from, and probably only because we were one of the first they got in touch with, but I'm guessing had they not happened to get in touch with us when they did, we may have been assigned a random night wherever they could fit us in.

Personally I would go with Carnival's policy on this and look for a smaller scooter, another option (if there is one), or an accessible cabin.

I know you said you booked your particular cabin for certain reasons, and I can respect that, but with your personal circumstances changing, you may have to compromise with yourself on this one. Otherwise, you risk beginning your cruise on a bad note, or ruining your entire trip.

You can use the chat with anyone on the ship who has it activated on their phone.

Unless it's changed since last month, it's $5 per person charge for the chat feature and does not require a wifi package to work. Depending on the wifi on that ship, it can be hit or miss with how well it works. I've been on cruises where it works perfect the whole time, and others where it significantly lags with delivering messages or won't deliver them at all - particularly toward the end of the cruise. 

24 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

 

You don't get a status match but you if do get on the casino marketing list (if opted in) and you will get targeted casino offers especially now they are teaming up with MGM

Well aware of this, and this was not the case when I first started receiving the free room offers. They were simply free room with OBC. No free drinks, nothing in the terms, descriptions, or offer codes indicating they were from the casino. I've also never been to an MGM casino on land.

I do get the casino offers from time to time now that I have actually spent money in the casino onboard, and those offers have been nowhere near as good as the free room offers.

5 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

As of today, 2 of the holds disappeared and 2 are still there.  

It could be there a few more days, depending on when exactly they were placed. I noticed on my last cruise, there seemed to be holds placed on my card after certain dollar amounts were met, meaning multiple holds throughout the cruise. Unless there were amounts charged to your S&S account after you paid it onboard, all of the holds will fall off, usually within 5 business days, and nothing will be pushed through as a settled charge. Note also that the holds may not fall off until after nightly processing for your card on the last business day the hold is good for.

1 minute ago, mz-s said:

wow enjoy it! Especially living in Florida. If I lived in Florida and got those offers they’d have to kick me off the ship! 🤣

I've taken advantage of every one I can. Unless it's out of a port I have to drive more than 3-4 hours to (in while case I would stay a night or two close to port), it literally costs more to stay home 😂

1 minute ago, mz-s said:

 

Did you do a status match with land-based casinos to get these offers? I have never heard of people getting free rooms just out of the goodness of Carnival's heart.

Nope. A group of friends of mine who I usually cruise with spend way more money onboard, and most usually spend quite a bit in the casino and they haven't been getting the same offers I have. And until very recently, they have had more days at sea than I have. I'm certainly not complaining, but it's baffled us for awhile now!

22 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Those are casino offers and yes. pretty common.

Not necessarily. I was getting them even before I ever spent a penny in the casino. Mine are often paired with enough OBC equal to most, if not all of the port fees/taxes.

Way too early! I have a cruise booked on Vista in Nov/Dec and there aren't any spa appointments showing and aren't any shore excursions showing yet, except for in one port.

I would carry your vax card (if you have one) just in case since some ports may require it, but I was just on Paradise last month and they only needed my boarding pass and passport. They did ask if we were vaxxed, but didn't ask for any documentation for it.

Most of the time it's between 1-1:30 (they usually post 1:30 on the hallway doors), but I've had rooms ready as early as noon on some cruises.

No, but I would recommend showing up about 20-30 minutes early to get a better choice of seats, especially if you have a larger group. A lot of the older ships at least have all kinds of columns and odd seating arrangements that can block your view.

On 1/30/2023 at 2:54 PM, barriechris said:

I know what the website says but what do people actually wear and what is acceptable?   Are nice shorts and collared shirts acceptable or only pants.   And shoes for men can they be sandals (not flip flops) or only shoes?  Just trying to understand what is actually worn and acceptable.  

The attire you mention here would be acceptable, even on elegant nights, and you would be dressed nicer than most other cruisers.. The exception would be some of the specialty dining venues, which tend to be a little more strict with their dress code,  you may want to pack slacks and shoes if you plan on dining in some of them.

Odd - I've never once been seated at a group table when I haven't asked for it. Is it busier when you typically check in? They might just be trying to seat everyone as quickly as possible, which still isn't a good excuse, but might explain your situation.