JimmyTheSaint

Our check-in opens in a couple of days time and it's our first time cruising as Platinum but we have a travelling companion who's Gold and her check-in starts two days later. I booked both cabins and I'm the person listed as Managing the guests. If we book a check-in time we're assuming that we wouldn't be able to get the same slot two days later when the rest of check-in begins booking. When we arrive at the cruise terminal will they allow the three of us to check in and board together or are they strict about sticking to the time booked. If they're strict about it we'll just wait for booking the check-in and not do it on the earlier date for Platinum. Thanks.

We've been to Lanzarote a few times for holidays and went to Papagayo beach once. It wasn't worth the journey, just a small cove shaped beach in the middle of nowhere. I recommend you have a look on Google maps at where it is and what's around it (very little) and then decide if it's worth your time.

Carnival platinum here and the answer is no, however being in the VIFP loyalty programme at any level can have savings on some sailings. I have looked at cruises on the Carnival website without logging in to get a price and there are savings for the same cruise when I log in with my VIFP number. This also applied when we were Red and Gold on the loyalty programme. It doesn't work for all cruises, I'm considering the Transpacific on Panorama next year and the price is the same if I log in and when I look at it without logging in.

Make sure that the gratuities are now part of the new final price (port charges, taxes, etc). Carnival already do this in Australia and with some of the Carnival Corporation brands in Europe. Some other cruise companies do this in Europe with their pricing, it makes it so much easier when comparing prices between different companies. It's probably more to do with the cultural attitudes towards tipping and pricing in different parts of the world so I wouldn't expect a change in how Carnival price their cruises in their home market.

As a cruise stop you have limited time so hiking isn't an option. Take an Uber from the port to Belem, it'll cost less than €10 and enjoy the sites of Belem, don't forget the monastery across the street. After Belem take an Uber to the Castelo de Sao Jorge, similar cost again, to enjoy the view across Lisbon and the historic castle. You'll enjoy the walk downhill towards the sights in the city centre and onwards towards your ship.

We have to apply for ESTA to visit the USA and we've had to print copies of the authorised ESTA for the cruise company when doing Transatlantic cruises. We get an email notification from the cruise company that it's a requirement and it's always asked for when documents are checked at embarkation.

We are platinum on Carnival and one and done with MSC so you know who we favour. MSC was the best designed cruise ship we've ever sailed on, truly special, fabulous fixtures and fittings, really lovely stateroom. That's where the good news about MSC starts and finishes. Everything else was spectacularly hopeless. Entertainment, food, customer service and the overall atmosphere on board were dreadful. I could go on and give many details and examples of why I've written the previous sentence but I'd be here for a few hours that I can't spare. We will never ever consider sailing on MSC in the future, not at any price.

I'm not sure if this counts as side to side but at the end of the Transatlantic cruise on Pride that finished in Tampa we boarded Mardi Gras on the same day for a seven night Caribbean cruise out of Port Canaveral. We booked an Uber to take us across Florida as it was the cheapest and most convenient option. You won't find B2B cruises on a website, we booked the Transatlantic cruise through Carnival's website, you can find them in the Sail To box, and then the rest of the planning and booking fell into place very easily. We knew the date of the sailing so looked for the previous one and what date we'd arrive in Florida so looked for a sailing on that date. Sometimes it's easier to find a cruise using a cruise comparison website with multiple search options such as search a specific date and then find it and book it on Carnivals' website.

Pride is a great ship, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles or dining options of the newer ships but there's a nice flow to the layout of the ship. I'd like to go back on board now that she's been updated following the recent drydock. The B2B we did and that most people refer to have the first cruise finish on the same day that the second cruise starts. We didn't have to disembark the ship in Lisbon, we had a leisurely breakfast and then proceeded to the theatre to get our new sail and sign cards for the second cruise. After that we were free to spend the day in Lisbon. We live in Europe so the flight to Rome isn't very long for us.

There's a few things in common about the latest fight on board video with a couple of similar incidents last year. They all have in common the time ( very early am hours ) the location ( nightclub) participants ( group travel) same home dock ( New York) and the same ethnicity involved. I'm not trying to provoke anyone or anything I'm just pointing out the common elements of the recent fights on board.

We sailed on Pride last year to Norway from Dover and we brought alcohol on board with no issues. We bought it in a supermarket in Dover and carried it on as hand luggage. We didn't buy any in Norway as we didn't need to and it's incredibly expensive in Norway.

We did our first B2B last October on Carnival Pride. We booked the Transatlantic sailing from Lisbon to Tampa and as it was such a good deal we had a look at the cruise before it, Rome to Lisbon, and as the price of it was a good deal we booked it also. We booked the cruises separately but then contacted customer services to link them as B2B. The process on board Pride was very easy and well handled by the crew, I think there were about 500 passengers doing B2B. We had to move cabins which was very straightforward, we moved next door. It was a great trip and I wouldn't hesitate to do another B2B.

A few suggestions for Belfast. The most obvious one and the most famous is The Crown https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/scotlandandnorthernireland/thecrownliquorsaloonbelfast?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb#/ A good one for lunch and a pint is The Kitchen Bar https://www.thekitchenbar.com/ And one connected to the most famous ship of all time https://www.titanichotelbelfast.com/fine-dining-belfast/harland-bar?_gl=1*1cjchjh*_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjw-vmkBhBMEiwAlrMeF7cWTFS0bJDrebVJbv9K1HGh08SKXjmhn2Alkv6SigO4oVyf_SI6xhoCIXkQAvD_BwE

I've read many times that Barcelona is notorious for pickpockets especially at Las Ramblas. I've visited Barcelona many times, walked Las Ramblas every time and never been the victim of theft. Maybe I'm cautious, lucky or possibly both. I always keep my wallet in a pocket that zips closed, the Mrs always keeps her handbag zipped closed. Crime happens in all major cities across the world, reduce your risk of being targeted by taking sensible precautions and go and enjoy Barcelona, one of the greatest cities in Europe.

Carnival have cruises to the Greek isles in Sept & Oct of this year and 2024, nothing announced for 2025 yet. The cruises are from Rome ( Civitavecchia ) with port calls in Mykonos, Ephesus, Santorini, Athens, Katakolon, Messina (Siciliy), Capri. Late Sept or early October is probably the best time to go as it's not peak season so less busy and the temperature is not scorching hot.

I agree with Fred about the layout of the roads in Lisbon, they really are terrible, tiny slipways on and off the motorways and major highways connecting without a filter lane onto the feeder roads. Definitley need your wits about you. Lisbon is somewhere that a car isn't necessary as the public transport network is excellent and will get you to all the main tourist sites. I've driven to Sintra and it's easy, huge car park in the centre of town no more than 2 minutes walk from the train station where all the tour buses and taxis are waiting for the tourists. I wouldn't drive in Sintra as it's a one way system up the hill to the palaces, best to leave it to public transport.

We paid cash, the fee in 2022 was £8 on embarkation day and £10 when disembarking because it was a weekend.

I don't know of tour companies but I've been up Mount Teide a couple of times when having holidays in Tenerife. The same thing happens every time so be prepared. The summit is about 12000 feet above sea level so is much colder than the coastal towns where most of the holiday makers who visit Teide are coming from. There are always people who turn up to the cable car in shorts and t-shirts and nothing else, totally oblivious to the temperature difference. Don't be one of those.

I recommend you book a tour with https://www.valuecabs.co.uk/taxi-tours/ They have a tour to the Giant's Causeway and the Rope Bridge, it may be worth contacting them to see if they could tailor it so you get the other locations you're interested in.

We just carry on, there's no need to try and hide it in the suitcases. Very different attitude in Europe to carrying on alcohol.

Just a little tip about the alcohol. It's very expensive in Norway so buy it all in Dover before you board. We took a taxi from the train station to a very well stocked local supermarket to purchase ours for the cruise. The taxis in Dover are regulated to a set fee from the train station to the cruise port so the driver charged us an extra £5 for the detour, well worth it.

If you're a coffee drinker you'll be disappointed with the horrible brown liquid Carnival serve, absolutely vile. It doesn't matter if you get it for free in the buffet or pay extra at Java Blue it's horrible. First thing on our packing list for every holiday regardless of destination will always be teabags. Every cruise we'll have Americans ask us for teabags when they see us making our tea. Great way to meet people and make new friends.

We had Kyndall on our Mardi Gras cruise last November and she was amazing. Full of energy, very visible throughout the ship, a great CD. It's only when you've had a really great CD that you appreciate that they do add something to your cruise.

I'm a fellow Brit who's now at Platinum on the Carnival loyalty programme and looking forward to our Carnival cruises this October and October 2024. Just my opinion but your nationality is irrelevant, the most important aspect is what type of cruiser you are. If your cruise history is on the more formal, sedate type cruise lines like Cunard, HAL or Princess then the chances are you won't enjoy Carnival. However if you've previously cruised the likes of RCI, NCL or P&O then your much more likely to enjoy a Carnival cruise. Carnival are the Fun ships, very informal, lively, we love 'em. By the way whoever suggested bringing your own teabags was bang on, we always bring our own. The tea is horrible and the coffee is just as bad.

A local cab company offer tours and can be booked in advance, have a look at Value Cabs https://www.valuecabs.co.uk/taxi-tours/