RjayB

The one and only time we have let Carnival pick our room, it was the worst cabin we have ever stayed in. Fantasy class Empress deck right under the galley. I don't know what they were moving around at 3am, but it was loud!

Since then, I pay very close attention to the floor plans when deciding which stateroom to choose. The only bad thing that has happened was having incredibly inconsiderate next-door balcony neighbors, but that is not Carnival's fault. :p

Got halfway through this thread before realizing how old it is. :rolleyes:

Yes but they can also print them at the airport. It's not a better option unless there is no line. You also have to fly in the day of the sailing or go back to the airport which would be a waste of time.

Thanks for the info :)

How can they give you sail and sign cards at the airport? Aren't those all printed ahead of time?

We are flying to MIA for the Glory in 2 months, but are platinum...trying to figure out if this is a better option than the standard check-in.

I bring a small fan that has a USB style plug, but have it in my carry-on to avoid the possibility of it being taken.

It doesn't put out a lot of air, but I don't have room for a big one. :)

Wait a second minute. I don't know if this is a change, but this is incorrect. They will be Platinum first day of the cruise your 75th day falls in.

I guess I was thinking of the old way, where you were not platinum until after your 10th cruise. Sorry for the misinformation!:o

Wait a minute, I think everyone is missing the most important detail. OP says they are "turning" platinum on this cruise. To me that means they are GOLD at embarkation, and none of them will board early without FTTF! :eek:

Unless they have changed it, you are not Platinum until AFTER it is complete.

Unless you get n+x "cruise cash" for every n dollars spent, what's the point? Sounds like a good way to throw money away. Why wouldn't you just pay for what you want, when you want it, and pay the same amount with no risk of losing nonrefundable dollars?

Exactly, I do not understand this at all :confused:

Thanks for the CruiseCal link! I can't believe the Glory is going to be the only ship in Cozumel on 8/31...that is usually one of the most crowded ports! :)

Those prices could turn a man sober.

It's "Vacation Math."

1 Liter = $85

50ml is a shot, 20 shots in a bottle.

20 individual drinks on board = ~$200

$200 - $85 = $115 in savings!

:p

http://www.carnival.com/FunShops/beverages/liquor

$85

Have fun!

Whether to take the passport into port or leave it in the ship's safe is an assessment of risk and impact. What is the risk that your passport will be lost or stolen if you take it with you. What is the risk that you will miss the ship and will need your passport.

 

What is the probability of each and what is the impact of each.

 

When making the assessment, consider what you are doing in port. Are you planning to go swimming at a beach where you may not want to leave a passport unattended and may not want to take it with you. If you are renting a car or going on a private excursion, what is the risk of breakdown or other misadventure that could cause you to miss the ship.

 

In terms of impact, if you did miss the ship, is the only way to catch up with it or to get back to the departure port via international air travel? When we were on a cruise in Italy, we knew that if we missed the ship, we could just take the train from the current port to the next port and meet it there.

 

Whenever we conclude from our assessment that we should leave our passport in the ship's safe, we always take color photocopies with us. Yes, I know you can't use a photocopy in place of a passport for anything. However, if you are stranded in a foreign country and need to go to the embassy or consulate, I understand that having a high-quality photocopy (or photo image) will go a long way in helping you secure a replacement.

 

The closest we ever came to missing a ship was in Crete, Greece. We had no ID and a total of 14 Euros for a family of four. We arrived at the port at exactly the back-on-board time, but there was a long line for the two ships in port and it took us another 30 minutes before we actually boarded.

This is the correct answer! I was going to write something like this but you beat me to it:p

I just got off The Glory and wanted to report my experience as a platinum guest at the past guest party. ...

Approximately how many were at the party? Was it in the main theatre or a smaller venue?:)

I don't think Mischelle is coming back to check this thread. She averages 10 posts per year (only 111 since 2001). ;)

This is good information! The Cheers program would never work for me personally, but I don't mind that it is there for others.

The one thing that surprises me is how many people give $1 in cash per drink above and beyond the normal tip. I consider myself a good tipper (always give steward and wait staff extra in cash above autotips) but am happy with the $1 - $1.50 that is auto-added for drinks. I guess not being much of a drinker has an affect on my perception?

We're not fond of having Carnival cabin stewards address us without using a Mr. or Miss in front of our first names.

Be careful, you might scratch your nose on the ceiling.:rolleyes:

Nice honest review, glad you had a nice time! I don't like the sound of the AC going out though, that's one of my biggest fears :eek:

Sounds like you had a great group of people also!

No offense, but as I've said before, a big reason to cruise on Carnival is for its affordable prices. If you're spending 4X times more than the passengers on the cabin across the hall from you, maybe you should consider sailing on a more upscale cruise line where you will be pampered for that kind of money, regardless of past guest status.

Exactly! At the very least you should try Princess. Being serious, not snarky!:)

Apparently I am in the minority, but I ddin't think Guy's was worth all the hype.

Sure they are better than McD's, but in the end they are still just hamburgers.;)

So John told us the party was getting too crowded with all the returning cruisers and I would agree. Instead of un-inviting the Gold members and making them angry why not keep the same party in the theater for the Gold members only and give the higher level members their own separate party at a different time with BETTER drinks and snacks. That would make ALL loyalty members happy instead of disappointing the majority of Carnival loyalty members which they have managed to do.

This would be the best scenario if the goal was to make the parties more meaningful to Plats/Diamonds, but unfortunately the only reason they are doing it is to save money:(

I would hope so, because bourbon is a gentleman's drink. Don't know if Carnival uses a 5/8, 7/8 or 1 oz shot

I thought shots are all 1.5oz? :confused:

Thanks for the laughs!

Can you give more information about the ruins tour in Belize? Was it booked through Carnival or a 3rd party? How long was the ride (and was it comfortable)?

Thinking about doing this when on Glory in August, but not sure if I want to be stuck on a hot bus all day :eek:

The Tervis cups were the best, still use mine all the time! :p

My husband usually leaves $20 for the two of us. I'm getting a little "tipped out" on Carnival and feel less inclined to tip extra, unless the service is stellar. He always adds a dollar to every drink order, which already includes tip. I'm trying to break him of this habit.

 

We leave on gratuities and tip extra when warranted. Lately, though, there seems to be this expectation to tip beyond what's included and it's starting to irritate me.

Unfortunately I am beginning to feel this way also. I have always been an "over-tipper" but it seems service continues to get worse and worse anyway :(

No contest...Breeze is definitely the best!