DGP1111

3 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

. . .  It was the last sailing before a dry dock.  

Any chance it was before the drydock of 2007? 

That's the one where the ship returned to Tampa [seemingly] looking worse than before it left.  I'd been invited for a ship tour, and it was almost cancelled early that morning.  We had to agree to put our cameras and phones in a box to be collected at the end.  Carnival didn't want us to document what still going on at a rapid pace. The person leading the tour seemed somewhat mortified.  Stepping around rolls of carpet to be installed.  Passengers would arrive the next day.  My favorite irony was that they new Waterworks would debut, yet nothing with water . . . worked. 

My first time on Inspiration (also out of Tampa) had delayed embarkation and sail-away due to a minor earthquake.  For real.  My first realization that such actually ever occurred off the coast of Florida.

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I wish I had better overall memories of Carnival Inspiration.

That ship just seemed to be a magnet for extreme fluke experiences (as well as one unfortunate screw-up). 😲

I'd enjoy having that 'connection' that many other seem to have.

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14 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

 

Ships are leaving the docks in Europe and Asia.

You may be aware, but that has (unfortunately) already resulted in the first Whomp Whomp. 😟 😟 😟

https://thepointsguy.com/news/covid-outbreak-hurtigruten-norway/

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This link from the CCL web site might come in handy as well . . .

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4529/~/back-to-back-cruises

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On 7/27/2020 at 6:44 PM, cruisin*tigger said:

 

This.  I only had cruise fare and taxes and grats.  My TA was able to roll over everything to a new cruise.

Ditto.

I don't know exactly how he did it (nor do I care), but my Personal Cruise Consultant was able to transfer everything, including pre-paid gratuities, from the former/cancelled sailing to the new one.  I was grateful for that ease.

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Those four Porthole cabins (eight if you count the 'Upper/Lower 1A' options) are prone to additional noise and vibration. Because of the bow curvature, they will experience the slap of the waves a bit more in certain conditions, and you'll see the spray of those waves cross the tunnel-vision of those porthole openings. They are also positioned above the side thrusters, so you'll get that extra vibration when they are being used. If your itinerary includes any stops that require anchoring (tender ports) at the moment the anchor is being dropped, you are definitely going to hear/feel that.

No matter what you choose, enjoy your cruise vacation.

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Anyone have a guess on when the big announcement will come on cancellations?

Since we are allowed to Guess . . . I'll go  ahead and place my bet on the roulette table.

An announcement (not certain how 'big') from CCL later today.

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7 hours ago, Bostwick girl said:

Would be interesting to know if anyone on the CDC board or whatever group they use to make decisions on whether cruise ships sail or not has ever been on a cruise!

 

The answer is a definite Yes.

Several people (directly with CDC) on several committees have personally been on, and enjoyed, cruise vacations.

Note: I am not one of those people I mention here.

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3 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

. . .  Not that they need and/or would ever solicit our "sage" advice but should Carnival initiate some sort of "Carnival Cruise Fan Input" survey? . . . 

🎱 says  . . .  on an even larger scale, this 'may be' already happening, and with Carnival Corp definitely having a presence to see/hear what the avid consumer has to offer about the current challenging situation/s.

3 hours ago, N7786W Flyer said:

. . . 

I think we're going to see ship recycling happen at a rate that we haven't seen since the oil crisis of 1973 where dozens of former passenger ships went to the scrappers.

 

 

1 hour ago, ch09 said:

 

The Fantasy and the  Inspiration will be anchored until the next lunar high tide. This tide allows it to beached further onshore. This could take few weeks, since the Monarch was there for a week waiting for the lunar high tide.

 

Before someone turns the Etch-a-Sketch upside down and my post disappears . . .

That is the coolest information I've learned here on Cruise Critic in quite a while.  Sincere thanks for the education. 😉 😉 👍

3 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

. . . 

 

Other than lots of memories - the spacious owner's suites, the addition of Guy's Burgers, and the often broken atrium elevators (lol) - they are tired and past their glory days. Such is life.

 

. . .

And that's where I met the two of you. 😊

Never noticed any broken atrium elevators. (la la la la la la)

Sending a message to your phone regarding the two ships you mentioned.

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Yes, it will be refunded. 😊  There is not an option to move it to a future sailing.

It will, eventually, happen automatically, but you can give that effort a 'boost' by going into your Cruise Manager, and doing a manual request for cancellation.  If you paid by credit card, that is handled rather quickly (at least it was for mine).  If you did it with a Carnival gift card, you'll want to put on your best pair of patience pants, as that is gonna take a while.

On 7/10/2020 at 9:01 PM, jimbo5544 said:

Actually they are the fun ships, the average age of a Carnival cruiser might surprise you it is the mid 50’s.  

1 hour ago, jimbo5544 said:

I was shocked when I heard it, it is a little dated, but if anything, I think it would go down with the intro of much bigger ships.  IT was at a marketing function with the senior mgt team on a ship (think it was Horizon, but not positive) during a presentation.  I took a pic of the screen, I will try and find it.  

Host C frowns on off-topic posts, and here I am adding to that very thing, so I'll deserve any deletion or slap on my head.

[Conjecture >>]  That base number seems a bit odd to me, but I have zero clue what it truly is, so I'll go with it. 😉 But I will add that I personally feel the average, whatever it may be, will go the opposite direction of your prediction . . . at least for a short while.  I'm not talking about big/significant jumps, but trending toward a bit older, due to repeat bookings of repeat passengers. I think that the VIFP data base is going to get a bigger analytics workout in 2020/2021 than it has in a long time, and could become a bit of a financial saving grace. If that happens, it could be a very smart move. [<< Conjecture]

[Not conjecture >>] On occasion, Carnival's IT department blows worse than Steak & Shake fries. 😲  These current unique times are putting them through some real tests, and it will get worse before it gets better. 

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19 hours ago, ECCruise said:

85 cruises on 8 lines on 7 continents. Only one was a bummer.  Guess which?

Absolutely hated the Epic . . . 

I wish you'd had a better experience.  The love/hate relationship with Norwegian Epic has been going on since Day 1.  It's not for everyone, obviously.

I will be returning to Epic next February [hopefully] for my 15th sailing on that ship, and I look forward to it.  It offers me pretty much everything I need/want for an enjoyable time at sea.

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3 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

The most interesting thing in the whole fiasco was they are looking for another company to do the work. 

I'd really like to know from a physical/technical standpoint . . .  how long can Carnival Victory sit idle in Spain with nothing happening whatsoever??  When in storage, a basic automobile should be cranked every once in a while, and there are FAR more pieces and parts on a cruise ship.  

This is gonna continue to be a tough one for those gathering around a conference table (or Zoom screen) in South FL, and I fear the term Euthanasia might find its first use in CCL's history.

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8 minutes ago, Radiioman46 said:

Try this link:

 

https://www.carnival.com/request-forms/cancellation-preference-v2.aspx

 

I know you weren't responding to me, but just wanted to say a BIG and sincere THANK YOU for posting that link.

You are a godsend to any who've not (for unknown reasons) received the official cancellation notice from CCL.

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6 hours ago, danh84 said:

I'm about to book my first cruise and I'm excited, but I do need some advice. My choice of ship and destination has already been decided . . . 

 

I wanted to know if 8J rooms on either decks 10 or 11are likely to be of a decent quality/location? Any tips about other decks that might be better, or any rooms that offer a lot better quality for a relatively small price increase?

 

I hope there are some kind hearted cruise pros who don't mind sharing a bit of their experience

 

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic . . . and (even better than that) Welcome to cruising!!!

You've certainly made an exciting choice for your first experience, but, as you've already mentioned, with Mardi Gras being a new vessel, there are a lot of unknowns.

Those 8J Extended balcony staterooms would be superb for your back-to-back (especially if you're able to locate one that's available for both, without having to change rooms at the turnover).  If you do change location, the cruise team helps to make that pretty easy.

I'm on the Nov 6 Eastern sailing, currently booked in a cove balcony, and have been toying with the idea of taking a nice upgrade to an 8J myself.  I sorta like the Deck 11 idea, being 'sandwiched' between two other passenger decks with no public areas above or below to create potential noise. No matter which location you choose, I hope you'll have a fantastic time onboard with your family.  I also highly suggest you join the Cruise Critic roll call(s) for your weeks, as there is a lot of good info to be obtained there.  We might even cross paths one of those weeks if that's when you're booked.

2 minutes ago, shof515 said:

they do

On top of the page, there is a UPDATE message. 

I've used two different browsers, and that is simply not there, so I will try a third and, perhaps, fourth.  Thanks for advising.

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22 hours ago, chrisnsal said:

Is anyone else having a hard time to do this cancellation online?  They send you an email with a link to get the refund, or FOC  yet, it doesn't recognize my booking!!! Anyone else have this issue?  I trued calling, after 9 mins on hold. I hung up, tried to do it online.  But that isn't working!  UGH!!

Sorry to read that you are having challenges with getting that taken care of.  If should be easier, for sure.

I'm still awaiting my initial e-mail about the cancellation so I can use the provided link to [hopefully] advise CCL of my decision. I have/had five sailings scheduled before end of calendar year, and this is the first of the COVID cancellations. I'll wait another day until reaching out to my Personal Vacation Planner, who is swamped with a backlog of things.

1 hour ago, harleydudesat said:

I was on the 1 Aug and 8 Aug cruises and never received the cancellation emails.  

 

 

I've not received any notice from CCL about this most recent cancellation either.  It was originally booked over the phone with my Personal Vacation Planner in late 2018.  Everything from CLL regarding all of my cruises comes directly to my e-mail without going into a junk folder, but I checked there as well.  I figured there might be a delay because of the quantity going out yesterday, but 24 hours later, I've still received nothing.

Figured I'd simply go online an find the 'make a choice' link there.  Nope. 

I did, however, discover that CCL is the single solitary CLIA member that does not have a link on their main home page regarding the health situations and cancellation notices.  That is disappointing, but not completely surprising. 😟

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6 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

. . . My entire problem with the CDC (outside of them changing directives and flip flopping more than a couple times) is that their stance on the cruise lines is untenable.  They have not worked with the cruise lines and treated them harsher and at a arms length and totally different than any other industry.

 

. . . 

 

Lastly, who know what the heck the CDC is saying.  Without going back to look, I recall 2 (as in one more than one) announcements to the industry since the 100 day stay.  . . .

Their version of show us what you got, vs working together shows lack of respect, business partnership and disregard for the industry as an entity.  

Good evening, Jimbo.

I do fully understand the tenor of your statements/feelings there.  It's fair.

My response here should be viewed only as a 'What If' posting.  Nothing more.

What If the CDC has been in rather detailed contact with the cruise lines about some of the mandated initial changes required for the industry to begin forward motion, and is giving them (the individual cruise lines) opportunity to provide their own specific plans for making that success happen?  What If the CDC offers this instead of mandating a One Size Fits All edict from the start?

Great discussion (and occasionally some not so much) here on Cruise Critic tends to strongly focus on the guest experience, and the potential changes for the future.  Lots of guessing and suggestions, which can be a good thing.  Check-in, masks, muster drills, no buffets, casino, elevators, etc etc.  I'll call that the Guest/Guest factor, since it's primarily focused only on the paying customer.

Some (but not nearly as much) of the discussion has been on the Guest/Crew factor.   i.e. "What do you mean I can't sit at the main bar in Alchemy?", daily servicing of staterooms, etc.

There has apparently been very minimal discussion about the Crew/Crew factor.  I don't think I've personally seen anything whatsoever, but that changes with this post.    What If, in the domino effect of getting things cranking, there is a perceived notion that this is where the industry breaks away from the norms, such as hotels, airlines, theatres, theme parks.  At the end of a shift, no one is 'going home'.  In this unique branch of the travel industry, they are living [almost literally] on top of each other 24/7.  These individuals are the backbone, and if a situation went off the rails, it could be more than challenging for all.  What If that contingency plan is hitting bumps in the early stages?

I missing cruise SO much, and I want it to begin as soon as possible, with fantastic days at sea that make me happy.  I'm selfish in saying that, and readily admit it.  Sue me. 😊

Jimbo, the only reason I quote you specifically has minimal to do with my post, beyond that I respect your opinion (sometimes differing from my own) and I didn't think you'd take offence or consider it as an attack . . . which can happen from time to time here on CC with some.  La la la la la

What If, during some of the think tank discussions within the industry, people come up with a really off-the-wall question that initially/temporarily stops the progress of the discussion, leading the first verbal response to be, "Well, damn".

Here's one (totally hypothetical, of course) for anyone to play with for definitive answers:

Debarkation morning.  Passengers are all packed up and heading out after a fun cruise.  Room steward comes in to prepare the cabins for the next bunch of lucky individuals.  What does he/she do with the existing toilet paper? (1) Dispose and start anew, (2) make a cute point on the first square and call it a day.  Such a simple question, yet with varied opinions on solution.

A question for those of you who've already experienced the CCL cancel/re-book process . . .

Approximately how long did it take (from the day of official announcement) until you received your e-mail from Carnival?  I realize there are quite a few being sent out in this newest wave of cancellations, so I shouldn't be surprised that mine has still not shown up.  I already know the option I'm going to choose, and have researched the replacement for this one, but I assume the embedded link in the e-mail is the only way to make that happen.

Thanks for any response from those who also didn't get a same-day message in the past, or are still awaiting this one.  (It could still arrive later today.  Yes, I did check junk mail file)

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1 hour ago, salty dingo said:

A little bewildering why they would set the start up date right at the beginning of the fall Flu season.

 

 

It's also the 'peak week' of another season as well.

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11 hours ago, TNcruising02 said:

If my cruise sails in September, one of the stops is Key West . . .

 

. . . I will have to make the best of it and will probably stay on the ship at any port where a mask is required outside.  It's just too hot to wear a mask outside in the hot sun.

I don't know your particular sailing, but most of those have you arriving rather early morning, and then being back onboard a little after noon.  If so, you'll be in average September temperatures between upper 70s and upper 80s for the duration.  Yep, rather warm, but a stroll down Duval Street (perhaps staying on the east side, in the shade of buildings) would still be an enjoyable port break while leaving the ship.  Enjoy your cruise. 😊

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49 minutes ago, drsel said:

 

 . . .

If you have booked an early saver super value fare directly on the Carnival website, then how do you get your cruise fare reduced whenever there is a price drop?

 . . . 

 

https://www.carnival.com/core/requestforms/priceprotection.aspx