KansasinJune

We have a group going on a future cruise. One of the potential cruisers may not be able to come depending on their schedule and may not know until one or two days before. I understand the cruise fare for 2 people in the cabin will not change but would cheers also be for 2 or if we wait until they know if they cannot go can their name be removed and cheers bought for one before departure or on ship for slighty more.

In school they taught us in history about ships having Hardtack to eat.  Basically a nearly non perishable biscuit that was hard as a rock.   My last cruise a month ago I had the biscuits and just thought they were trying to be historically accurate for some ship food.

We are leaving in a few weeks for a cruise out of Galveston.  I had booked a hotel Thursday in Houston and then 2 days in Galveston.   Rates for hotels have dropped so 3 days in Galveston now is a better deal and I don't have to change hotels.   Only issue with plan is getting from Hobby to Galveston.   Would be looking at needing a 9-10 pm ride , Rideshare, taxi, etc. to Galveston Hotel.  Anyone ever have issues getting transportation out of Hobby after 9pm?   Thanks in advance for responses

We are flying in 3 nights early for cruise out of Galveston.   First night is going to he near Hobby.  Next two nights on Galveston beach.   Rental car prices are dropping so it's going to be within $100 to have rental for 8 days vs rideshare to and from Galveston and within Galveston itself.  Also rental will be parked for 6 days while on cruise so curious of the security of car parked at hotel vs cruise park.    Also looking at rideshare app it has one way car rentals (sixt) that might work but don't want to go to far into app to view details and inadvertently get charged for a mock booking.   We have a late flight after cruise so not urget to get back unless returning the weekly rental. Thanks for any feedback

Thanks for the responses.  I have previously sailed NCL, once during the Superbowl and the ship had the game on and tailgating snacks at  the back pool.  They also streamed games to room tvs.  I believe enough cruisers asked otherwise it would have only been on small screens only at bars.  I know Oct is normal season but my fellow cruisers are all around fans and will watch any and all games they can

I am cruising with 3 rabid football fans in October.   Is there a venue on the Dream that shows games although I know selection will be limited.

We are cruising early October from Galveston.  We have 4 adults in our party and are arriving 2 days before cruise.   I have been doing mock rideshare costs during the times we would be getting to and from Galveston and to and from cruise port to Hobby.   Our Galveston hotel does not offer a shuttle to cruiseport and rideshare for Sundays and approximate time of departure shows "limited availability" to port and similarly on the return day (Saturday) to Hobby.   Does anyone have any experiences on how difficult to get an Uber/Lyft or just take the safe route and take cruise transportation back to airport?

Sorry if this has been asked but I understand from reading carnival website that only vaccinated passengers can go on excursions.   Do excursions also require boosters?

I had a cruise booked for mid Feb thru casino offer.  We were on the fence about going due to infections rising and some ships being denied ports.  I called early Jan to see what options were and it was either fcc or cancelation fees.  I waited a few weeks and finally decided to cancel online losing part of my fare but did get partial refund 2 days later.   That very day I received another "free" casino offer and found a cruise several months out.  I called carnival and asked since I had just canceled could I get my cancelation fees applied to the new cruise.  Took about 30 min on phone and they applied it to new cruise.  Agent was surprised I had received a second offer that was as good as the first.

11 minutes ago, Denise72 said:

Ice cream. Breakfast of champions 😂

Well that would make DH happy but not so much me.  He can spot ice cream a mile away..

Soon to be on my first carnival cruise after being on other cruise lines. We are early risers and usually up before dining /buffets open.  Does Carnival have any 24hr dining options besides room service?

Thanks all for the prompt replies

If I have to change my cruise and get FCC what happens to any prepaid shore excursion costs.  Do those also roll into FCC?

1 hour ago, dbrown84 said:

I discovered a few years ago that you don't actually have to go to the casino and pick up the certificate.  It will be put into your NCL account anyway.  I stopped making special trips to pick up the cert.  If I happen to be going anyway, fine.  If not, I know it will still be in my ncl account

Would you just need to make sure you book within the 1 month window they usually have on the certificate?

I was told that the cruise certificate had a "value" of $500 if booking a cruise not on a predetermined list.   We booked a cruise directly thru CAS last year for early 2022 and was given a discount based on play.   Due to many family members cancelling out of that cruise we decided to change our reservation to a different day/port.   I had a voucher at a Vegas casino but decided against the trip to go pick up.  I just happened to call the weekend of the voucher giveaway to change the reservation and the agent stated "I see your voucher here, let me apply it to the cruise".  I think with cruising getting going again they are being extremely flexible with cruisers requests to change trips and apply credit that is available.  

Had email for my first voucher offer to pickup in vegas on one of 4 different weekends.  None of which we could make.   I contacted reservations to change our cruise we had previously booked to a different date/ship and they said they had my voucher and would apply it.  Dropped my balance due by $1600.  

Thanks everyone for your feedback.  I know I can handle a 14 hr drive but DH not so keen.  Even with a split drive stopping halfish the way saves over airfare.  Also time involved for flight isn't much better,  1.5 hrs to airport, 2ish hour wait, most flights appear to be 5-6 hrs with plane change, 1 ish hr to get off plane and get bagage after landing, then an hour or so to get to hotel, So my flight travel all in time is 10-11 hrs at worst.  Travel  back also extended past that as I tend to book later flights so spend  more time in airport for return.   We booked early in 2019 hoping the covid would not be an issue but if it lingers then  driving gives me an easy way to head back if for some reason one of us tests postive ( if they are still testing in early Feb),    Hotel Park and cruise rates seemed pretty reasonable as well if driving.

Trying to convince DH to change Feb cruise out of Orlando Florida (NCL Escape) to New Orleans (NCL Breakaway).   While Florida is by my standards too far to drive at 24 ish hours we could get to New Orleans in a bit over 14.    Anyone have limits on flight vs drive?   

I just booked a cruise on the Escape in Feb 2022.  More so to get the room I wanted.  I called Casino at seas and had another 20% taken off.   I did buy the cruise first certificate for $150 that covered my deposit.   Maybe should have waited but wanted to have something to look forward to.  434 days to go!

We are on the Dawn in February,  How long did disembarkation take (self and/or regular disembarkation) ?  We have a 11:15 am flight out of Tampa that I am concerned about getting to after seeing some comments in this thread and others

On 12/27/2019 at 3:27 PM, ebseckar said:

We received the same text before our cruise on the Dawn earlier this month. Having embarked and disembarked, I believe the problem is not with the Dawn, but rather with Terminal 2 in Tampa. It is our least favorite terminal.

 

Everyone coming off the ship is required to take an escalator or elevator downstairs once inside the terminal. You are required to have one hand free to ride the escalator. Otherwise, you are required to take the elevator. The wait for both the escalator and elevator were extremely long and this created a long line of people waiting to get off the ship. Needless to say, all of the passengers are not off the ship in a timely manner. I believe this is what delays the ship from being ready for the boarding of the new passengers. 

 

Terminal 2 also does not have a designated area for suite passengers until after you go through security. We arrived shortly before 12 and there was not a line outside the terminal (other cruises we have waited in a long line outside Terminal 2). Once inside the terminal, there was a line to get through security. After that, you can proceed to the suite check-in line.

How does this delay self disembarkation?  We are on the Dawn in Feb and have a flight out at 11:50 am.   

Leaving Feb on Dawn.  We have already prebooked 2 excursions we wanted to take.   Are there any discounts given either due to latitudes level (bronze) or to sell excess "spots" on open excursions once on ship?  There is one more we are considering but not going to ruin our trip if we don't go on it,   Thanks

We were on the Epic a few weeks ago. Similar sutiation, we got on at deck 15, elevator stopped a few decks down and several couples got on and one of the ladies already appeared to have had a few drinks was trying to make out with her husband and being a bit raunchy talking to the other couples that got on with them. Elevator stopped on our deck and my husband and I asked to pass thru. After no one moved I raised my hand to get the couples attention to move and the inebriated lady high fived me. I promptly stated we needed to get off but no one really moved so we had to push through them. I wasn't really mad but just dumbfounded that they were so unaware of anyone else around them.