Eli_6

So, I am departing a cruise (with my family) on June 9th to Dover. I went on another cruise last year on this same boat and we had to be off the boat super early...like 6 in the morning. I have an appointment that afternoon to look at a manuscript at the Parker Library at Corpus Christi College at Cambridge for my dissertation. (I am studying medieval history.) My plan was to take the train from Dover Priory to St. Pancras and then take another from there to Cambridge. It appears the Parker Library is only about a mile from the train station so I figured I could either take a taxi or walk and my husband and kids could either check into a hotel (I thought the Clayton hotel looked nice) or go check out the Botanical Gardens while I did my research. I have sailed into/out of Dover before, but I have never been to Cambridge before. So, is my plan a good plan of action for getting from Dover to Cambridge? Is there anything else that my husband and children might do in the city to entertain themselves for a few hours? Any must see sites in Cambridge? My children will be 9 and 10. Alternatively, would we be better off renting a car? My only concern with this is that often if you don't return the car to the same place you got it from (i.e. Dover), they charge a huge fee. My husband has driven all over England and Scotland (including in London) so I don't worry about his driving ability. I have some concerns because every time we have been in the UK, there have been issues with the trains. Once there was a strike. Last year, they shut them down due to the heat when we were there. And another time (in 2018) we were on a train and a man jumped in front of it and they stopped the train and we had to get off in the middle of nowhere. I am told that train interruptions are not normal and we have just been the victims of extremely bad luck...but I don't want to plan on taking the train and then it turn out the trains aren't running.

Yay! They refunded me the deposit minus the $50 per person fee to my credit card for the cruise I booked directly with them. I have to go through my (unhelpful) TA for the other booking they said. (For some reason, I booked one through the website and one through the TA.) Honestly, though, I know if I get her to transfer over that deposit that means I will have to use her for my new bookings and it isn't really worth it to me to do that for the $130 I will get back because I have not liked using a TA. It makes everything more difficult. I much prefer being able to call and talk directly to Carnival.

So, still on the phone and they said they could transfer it minus the $50 per person fee...however, now the system is giving her a hard time because it is in Australian dollars. So it may not let her, but at least she is trying.

My money is on that the TA didn't book you when you paid her the deposit and by the time she got around to it, the price went up.

I am on the phone with them right now. Their first response was they couldn't do it, but then I pointed out that: 1) I have done it before, 2) this is a more expensive cruise, and 3) Carnival changed the itinerary and now is no longer going to a place I wanted to go. I am not flying across the world to Australia and not getting to see the main place I wanted to see...that was originally on the itinerary and Carnival changed. She put me on hold to ask a supervisor.

That sandwich went from WOW to womp, womp.

I am not diamond yet, unfortunately. 😞

Yes.

Did you call the diamond line, the regular line, or do you have a PVP/TA? Asking because I am trying to get deposits moved over to a different, more expensive sailing but the dates are the same.

A lot of school districts where I live now have a break in February. My kids are in private school, but our local school district has a week long break in February. Our school does a different version where they give the kids a Friday and Monday off...we also get the same over Easter weekend and once in October as well. School districts seem to be starting earlier (like early August) and giving more breaks.

So, I have two Australian cruise rooms deposited for summer 2024 but now that I have seen the Europe 2024 sailings, I would like to do a Europe sailing instead. They did change itinerary for one of the Australia sailings, but the real reason has more to do with airfare and ease/expense of getting to Europe vs Australia. The Australia cruises were booked over a year ago on a casino deal, the Europe itineraries weren't out, and airfare was less back then. I want to transfer the deposit to a Europe cruise for 2024 for the same time period. Obviously, I can't be in two places at once. The two Europe rooms are a lot more (more than double) so it seems like it would benefit Carnival. In the past, Carnival would transfer deposits for a more expensive room. I brought this up to my TA, but she just said that they don't do that anymore. However, I was considering either calling myself or emailing guest care and saying "Hey, look- you guys changed the itinerary on this cruise and this port I really wanted to go to is now not on the itinerary....so will you move my deposits over for this more expensive cruise at the same time?" Is it worth a try or not? I did get them to do this twice before--even before Covid--but I know things have changed now. It isn't a huge deal as I will just eat the deposits even if they say no. But the deposits were about $420 so I feel like it is at least worth an email.

A couple of the 9-day Friday departures would have you only having to take 5.5 days off of work because they cruise Friday-Sunday. I think the problem is that out of Galveston, the ships can't reach much else other than the same old ports in 7 days.

I wasn't trying to be snarky. I apologize if it came off that way. I am just more excited to NOT be going to Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize, and Roatan. Here lately, they haven't even been going to Jamaica or Cayman very much...probably because the Vista can't make it there with her propulsion issues and the Breeze mainly does 4 and 5 day cruises. I know the Dream offers some 8 days to the Bahamas and there have been a few extended cruises but they have always been when my kids are in school. I don't like taking anything longer than a 7 day without my kids for a variety of reasons...mainly because I have learned the hard way that too much time left with grandparents and the chances go up that someone will get sick or have an accident...and then MY trip is ruined.

So, take what I say with a grain of salt because I have only had aft view balconies...although, for many sailings, they or the vista were my cabin of choice. However, I have had them on a couple of different boats and I think at least once it was in the same class. The advantage to the extended aft balconies are: -more traditional room lay out -deeper/bigger balcony (the L-shaped is not as deep) -view off the back of the ship (which I really like) -and I *think* there is a sofa in the room Advantage of L-shaped: -bed faces towards the windows where you can lay in bed and look out (I *think*) I also feel like balconies on the side of the ship get more light than on the back of the ship, but this may have something to do with the decks I was on (i.e. I usually try to get on a deck with a fully or partially covered aft balcony), too, or even the weather at the time of the sailing.

I have an FCC I have to spend by August, but for future years I am looking at MSC and Celebrity. Seriously considering Celebrity for a cruise to Egypt in 2025.

@Joanne G. I also have been discouraged by how few reviews there are for many of the excursions. I hate investing $600-800 for our family of 4 in an excursion and it turning out to be a dud and not only wasting the money, but wasting the only day we have (or may ever have) in that particular port. In some of them that do have reviews, one or two have even said "take the train instead of this excursion...it is only a bus ride and you get more time in town by going on your own."

I have never seen a cruise going to ABC out of Galveston before on Carnival. And this is the first PC cruise from Galveston I have seen offered during school break.

What is wrong with Miracle?

This is the best day EVER. I have been wishing for this for so long. Finally, some new itineraries in Galveston! The Miracles is coming in 2024/25 and we finally get to go somewhere other than Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Roatan! SAN FRANCISCO • Carnival Journeys – 15-Day Panama Canal from San Francisco, CA (Tuesday departure) 2024: 10/01/2024 Tue San Francisco, CA 5:00 PM Wed "Fun Day" At Sea Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 9:00 AM 6:00 PM Sat "Fun Day" At Sea Sun "Fun Day" At Sea Mon "Fun Day" At Sea Tue "Fun Day" At Sea Wed Puntarenas, Costa Rica 9:00 AM 6:00 PM Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Panama Canal Transit Sat Cartagena, Colombia 9:00 AM 5:00 PM Sun "Fun Day" At Sea Mon "Fun Day" At Sea Tue "Fun Day" At Sea Wed Galveston, TX 8:00 AM GALVESTON • 9-Day Exotic Western Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Wednesday departure) 2024: 10/16/2024 Wed Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri "Fun Day" At Sea Sat Montego Bay, Jamaica 9:00 AM 5:00 PM Sun Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 7:00 AM 3:00 PM Mon Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan 10:00 AM 6:00 PM Tue Belize 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Wed Cozumel, Mexico 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • 9-Day Exotic Western Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Monday departure) 2025: 02/17/2025 Mon Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Tue "Fun Day" At Sea Wed "Fun Day" At Sea Thu Montego Bay, Jamaica 9:00 AM 5:00 PM Fri Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 7:00 AM 3:00 PM Sat Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan 10:00 AM 6:00 PM Sun Belize 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Mon Cozumel, Mexico 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Tue "Fun Day" At Sea Wed Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • 9-Day Exotic Western Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Tuesday departure) 2025: 04/15/2025 Tue Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Wed "Fun Day" At Sea Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Montego Bay, Jamaica 9:00 AM 5:00 PM Sat Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 7:00 AM 3:00 PM Sun Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan 10:00 AM 6:00 PM Mon Belize 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Tue Cozumel, Mexico 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Wed "Fun Day" At Sea Thu Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • 9-Day Exotic Western Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Tuesday departure) 2024: 12/06/2024 2025: 01/17/2025 Fri Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Sat "Fun Day" At Sea Sun "Fun Day" At Sea Mon Ocho Rios, Jamaica 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Tue Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 7:00 AM 3:00 PM Wed Costa Maya, Mexico 11:00 AM 7:00 PM Thu Belize 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Fri Cozumel, Mexico 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Sat "Fun Day" At Sea Sun Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • 9-Day Eastern Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Friday departure) 2024: 10/25/2024 Fri Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Sat "Fun Day" At Sea Sun Key West, FL 10:00 AM 6:00 PM Mon Freeport, The Bahamas 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Tue Nassau, The Bahamas 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Wed Princess Cays, The Bahamas 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Thu Bimini, The Bahamas 9:00 AM 5:00 PM Fri "Fun Day" At Sea Sat "Fun Day" At Sea Sun Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • 9-Day Eastern Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Sunday departure) 2025: 04/06/2025 Sun Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Mon "Fun Day" At Sea Tue Key West, FL 10:00 AM 6:00 PM Wed Bimini, The Bahamas 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Thu Nassau, The Bahamas 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Fri Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Sat Freeport, The Bahamas 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Sun "Fun Day" At Sea Mon "Fun Day" At Sea Tue Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • 9-Day Exotic Eastern Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Wednesday departure) 2025: 02/26/2025 Wed Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Key West, FL 10:00 AM 6:00 PM Sat Freeport, The Bahamas 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Sun Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Mon Grand Turk 11:00 AM 6:00 PM Tue "Fun Day" At Sea Wed "Fun Day" At Sea Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • 9-Day Exotic Eastern Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Friday departure) 2025: 03/28/2025 Fri Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Sat "Fun Day" At Sea Sun Key West, FL 10:00 AM 6:00 PM Mon Freeport, The Bahamas 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Tue Princess Cays, The Bahamas 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Wed Grand Turk 11:00 AM 6:00 PM Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri "Fun Day" At Sea Sat "Fun Day" At Sea Sun Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • 10-Day Panama Canal from Galveston, TX (Friday departure) 2024: 11/15/2024, 12/27/2024 2025: 02/07/2025, 03/07/2025 Fri Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Sat "Fun Day" At Sea Sun Cozumel, Mexico 9:00 AM 5:00 PM Mon "Fun Day" At Sea At Sea At Sea Tue Limon, Costa Rica 10:00 AM 7:00 PM Wed Colon, Panama 9:00 AM 6:30 PM Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Sat "Fun Day" At Sea Sun "Fun Day" At Sea Mon Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • 11-Day Exotic Eastern Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Monday departure) 2024: 11/25/2024 2025: 01/06/2025 Mon Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Tue "Fun Day" At Sea Wed "Fun Day" At Sea Thu Montego Bay, Jamaica 9:00 AM 6:00 PM Fri "Fun Day" At Sea At Sea At Sea Sat Amber Cove, Dominican Republic 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Sun Grand Turk 7:00 AM 2:00 PM Mon Princess Cays, The Bahamas 9:30 AM 5:30 PM Tue Nassau, The Bahamas 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Wed "Fun Day" At Sea Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • 11-Day Exotic Eastern Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Monday departure) 2025: 03/17/2025 Mon Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Tue "Fun Day" At Sea Wed "Fun Day" At Sea Thu Montego Bay, Jamaica 9:00 AM 6:00 PM Fri "Fun Day" At Sea At Sea At Sea Sat Amber Cove, Dominican Republic 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Sun Grand Turk 7:00 AM 2:00 PM Mon Princess Cays, The Bahamas 9:30 AM 5:30 PM Tue Bimini, The Bahamas 9:30 AM 5:30 PM Wed "Fun Day" At Sea Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • Carnival Journeys – 12-Day Southern Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Sunday departure) 2024: 11/03/2024 Sun Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Mon "Fun Day" At Sea Tue "Fun Day" At Sea Wed Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Aruba 9:00 AM 10:00 PM Sat Bonaire 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Sun Curacao 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Mon "Fun Day" At Sea Tue Ocho Rios, Jamaica 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Wed "Fun Day" At Sea Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • Carnival Journeys – 12-Day Southern Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Sunday departure) 2024: 12/15/2024 Sun Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Mon "Fun Day" At Sea Tue "Fun Day" At Sea Wed Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Aruba 9:00 AM 10:00 PM Sat Bonaire 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Sun Curacao 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Mon "Fun Day" At Sea Tue Falmouth, Jamaica 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Wed "Fun Day" At Sea Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Galveston, TX 8:00 AM • Carnival Journeys – 12-Day Southern Caribbean from Galveston, TX (Sunday departure) 2025: 01/26/2025 Sun Galveston, TX 4:00 PM Mon "Fun Day" At Sea Tue "Fun Day" At Sea Wed Montego Bay, Jamaica 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Bonaire 9:00 AM 6:00 PM Sat Aruba 8:00 AM 10:00 PM Sun Curacao 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Mon "Fun Day" At Sea Tue "Fun Day" At Sea Wed Cozumel, Mexico 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Thu "Fun Day" At Sea Fri Galveston, TX 8:00 AM \

I talked to my husband and I think we are going with the May 30th sailing. I have an FCC that I have to use by August 2024 that will pay for at least one room and I have a companion flight ticket with British Airways that expires June 2024 and another that expires November 2024 so this works out perfectly. We will have all been to Barcelona, and he and I have been to Rome (albeit, in 2008), but everything else will be completely new to us on this sailing and several of the ports are places I have been waiting to see...like Pompeii and Pisa.

I suspect the people who think it is boring are saying that because they repeat their itineraries every summer. Many of the cruisers go on B2B2B....and so on...so if they have done even 2 or 3 of the itineraries for a couple of years or more, they have probably ran through all of the possible itineraries. they want to see something different. My husband refuses to take off for more than 3 weeks until Carnival gets better wifi so we have yet to make it through all of the itineraries.

I believe that I am incorrect on that front. I think the lack of Fjord cruises is probably because they changed the requirements in 2024 for the pollution so I doubt Carnival's oldest ships meet that criteria.

Honestly, I don't think these are all of them. Some dates are missing.

I will be choosing between the 12 day western on July 28th and the 8 day Med on May 30th.

FINALLY! I literally contacted John about this yesterday and he told me was going to get back with me...and he did!!! (I am not suggesting that I have that sort of pull...it was surely coincidence.)