Top_of_the_Cube

If you choose not to put a credit or debit card on file, the other major ways of funding your on-board account are cash, Gift Card, On Board Credit (OBC), or Cruise Cash. Of these four methods, only Cruise Cash and OBC can be used to fund your account prior to boarding the ship. Otherwise, you will need to visit Guest Services or a kiosk after boarding to apply cash or Gift Cards. Since I like to use Gift Cards, I can buy Cruise Cash on line with Gift Cards. This way my wife can buy her drinks as soon as she gets on board. I would only buy enough Cruise Cash to cover one or two days. After that, I visit Guest Services to redeem my Gift Cards as needed (I am known to prowl around the ship in the late evenings, so no long GS lines). To the OP - you may already know this, but Carnival's term for your cruise ID badge is Sail and Sign card. Serves as your room key, payment card, and required ID to get on and off the ship. Can also be used to scrape the gum from underneath the table and to pick gunk from between your teeth.

If you are not going to put a credit or debit card on file and do not have OBC, then @papajak is correct, Cruise Cash is a great way to pre-fund your on-board account. This way you can get a drink or make purchases immediately once on board. @CookieShip does give good advice, though. Don't purchase more Cruise Cash than you will use. My goal is to obtain enough Cruise Cash to get through embarkation day. Then, throughout the week, I stop by the Guest Services desk or the kiosk in the late evening to add Gift Cards or cash when needed.

To me, it makes sense to tie the midnight check-in to the embarkation location time zone, but apparently it was just a computer glitch. I believe John Heald addressed this, saying that he was told the IT dept. will be "correcting" this so that it goes back to midnight EST. Of course, it could also be that Carnival IS working on making this change but the programming went live before they actually intended. I recall this happening a few times in other areas of their web site over the years.

I am not normally a spa-type of guy. A few cruises back, we got a good deal on a Cloud 9 spa room. I have now become hooked on the Thermal Suite pass that comes with the spa rooms. In fact, we don't necessarily go for a Cloud 9 spa room, but do purchase separately the Thermal Suite pass. The Suite is especially nice on the Magic since it includes the Thalassotherapy pool (a step up from a regular hot tub, in my mind). Of course, check out the link provided by @weezal to decide if it might have value to you.

Thanks so much for the review! Just the enticement I needed to book my own Jubilee cruise. So, @bethfelk, did you try eating at any of the Street Eats counters or Shaq's Chicken? Just wondering what gluten-free options might be available. Enjoy your post-graduate life!

Just FYI - Carnival.com states that "Great news: on Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras, your first meal at Chibang! is on the house… and additional visits are just $8! Extra-great news: on Carnival Jubilee, they’re all free!"

You cannot apply a Gift Card to your on-board account until you actually get on board... - BUT - ...you can use Gift Cards to purchase General Cruise Cash before getting on board, and the Cruise Cash will automatically be applied to your account. I buy just enough Cruise Cash to meet the initial fund requirement. Then, at my leisure throughout the cruise, I can stop by Guest Services and use Gift Cards to keep my balance at the appropriate level.

Had an acquaintance who worked at Carnival Corp. He claimed that since HMC is owned and run exclusively by HAL, there wasn't really an option for Carnival Cruise Line to extend their CHEERS package to that island. Of course, even if CCL did have that option, doesn't mean they would do it. CHEERS does not work at Amber Cove, which is operated by Carnival Corp.

Once, I tried to book a cruise through Carnival and it was sold out. I tried the travel agent route. On my second agency, I got lucky. They happened to have the exact room that I wanted.

Hmm, "Who does this?" indeed... LIVE- Valiant Lady- 1/14/23-1/22/23 By MeganGC1983, January 8, 2023 in Virgin Voyage Posted January 19, 2023 Who does this?

One of those "islands" looks uncomfortable.

Wife and I like forward. Doesn't really matter what deck or which standard cabin; whether interior, OV, balcony, cove balcony. We love feeling the movement of the ship, which surprises me since I have always been prone to motion sickness. Yet, on a cruise ship, no issues and no medication. And we have been on some pretty choppy seas (our favorite)!

At lunch time, they call it a pasta bar. Options include a pretty good lasagna and chicken parmesan. I am not normally on the ship for lunch on port days, but a look at some of the posted Fun Times shows it is open on port and sea days. This is the Magic, but probably the same for all non-Excel class ships that have the Cucina del Capitano. I just don't know the situation on the Excels and the ships with different Italian restaurants.

Just one of many options: Prior to your cruise, use gift cards to purchase just enough Cruise Cash (general) to fund your on-board account. Then once you have boarded, at your leisure, you can apply gift cards to your account as needed. On more recent cruises, I have found the kiosk works well. Previously, I never could get them to accept my gift cards. For the few who may not fully spend the initial amount that was funded with Cruise Cash, this may not be a good idea as you will not get a refund of the unspent amount. But, you do have a great career ahead of you as a financial advisor.

Just a warning, when they start the event they do emphasize that if you are easily offended then you should leave NOW. I would suggest that if you are even mediumly offended you should seriously consider whether you want to attend. It can get kind of raunchy, at least prior to COVID. I only know this from the videos from people who did not follow the first rule of Quest.

A few of the fine folks that have posted "live" reviews over the last few months have included copies of the Fun Times. On at least some of those sailings, Quest was listed as one of the activities. Don't know this for a fact, but many have said that Quest is at the discretion of the Cruise Director. I love commenting on things of which I have no personal knowledge.

To be specific, it is Holland America Cruise Line that owns Half Moon Cay, not Carnival Cruise Line. But then, Carnival Corp. owns both lines. Still to your point, I am reading that Holland America's drink package also does not work on the island (per my internet search).

As I understand it, CBD derived from hemp (not marijuana) is federally legal as of 2018. Yet, may not be legal in certain states, and apparently not legal in some ports of call. I only share this in case it ever comes up on Jeopardy.

On the Vista, we had a cove balcony under Guest Services, which I assume would be more active than the Adventures desk. On that cruise, we never heard any noise from above during the times we were in our cabin.

Congrats on scoring a table with a view!

To "muster" just means getting to your assembly location. If you know your muster station and how to get there, not sure what more you need to know. Prior to the shut-down, when my muster station was at an inside venue, the required drill never actually entailed the crew escorting you to your survival craft. They just took roll. Which, as best I understand, is the actual intent of a call to muster. And I get the idea of training for the crew, but again, they take roll and report those passengers (and I assume other crew members) who are not accounted for. Not sure how the old way is significantly superior to the current system for them. I am not an experienced seaman, but I am familiar with Disaster and Relocation drills for business buildings. Of course it is not the same, but not really that dissimilar. I take the muster drill seriously. And I think all passengers should occasionally remind themselves of their assigned location, and periodically consider where that location is in relation to their current spot. I highly respect and appreciate those experts who post on these issues, this is just my observation and opinion.

Wife and I had decided to book a last-minute Caribbean cruise. We had a specific cabin (on a specific sailing) that we wanted, but it never appeared on Carnival's website as available. Maybe less than a month before embarkation, we finally went to an on-line TA who was able to hook us up with exactly what we wanted. It was during the capacity-limited phase (Oct. '21) of the restart, so I am sure there were some unusual forces in play, but still, I continue hearing about occasional last-minute successes in this sold-out era. Wouldn't put money on it, but wouldn't give up hope, either.

I really don't think you will enjoy the experience, at any price. Just out of the kindness of my heart, I might be persuaded to take that free cruise off your hands.

I think cove balconies are dark and cramped and noisy and smelly. Way overpriced and the the view is completely overrated. I would rather book accommodations in the sewage reclamation area below deck. (if you guys keep heaping on accolades, it may affect their availability when booking my next cruise.)

My experience: During dinner time, there are crew members walking around with a tray of shots. The souvenir shot glass color and drink content changes each night (see @Jamman54's Post #7 for example). You may have to ask one of your wait staff to hunt down the shotsmeister. As @LHARTWICK mentioned, one night might be the cinnamon toast crunch and the next night lemoncello, and I recall a chocolate concoction. Can't remember the flavors of the other nights. Souvenir glasses are not covered under CHEERS!, and before the recent price increase the cost was $10.03 w/ gratuity.