djhsolara

It is 8 nights sailing this Sunday on the Splendor.

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We're cruising on Carnival Splendor this Sunday and we just upgraded to a Spa Balcony. Included in this is unlimited used of the Thasso Pool and Thermal Suite. We've been in a Spa Balcony on Eurodam with basically no perks. I wish HAL would offer these same perks...it's not like we're paying any more on Carnival than we would on HAL (actually is was less).

I really don't understand why HAL even calls them Spa Staterooms...other than decor (and the few other perks that are not really even related to the actual spa) they are no different than other staterooms.

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We wondered if we would get the call...and today it happened.

They tried to upgrade us to an ocean suite for $250pp and we did not feel that we wanted to pay that much. Since we always use the Thasso Pool and Thermal Suite we asked if there were any upgrades available to the spa area...and yes there were. We were upgraded to a Spa Balcony for $299 total. We would have been paying $200-something for a spa pass, so we now have a balcony and use of the Thasso Pool/Thermal Suite for a just a bit more of what we would have been paying anyhow.

Woo Hoo to us!!

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Is this on all ships?

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When you call from your stateroom is that just billed to your online account?

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This thread has really taken a turn that I wasn't expecting. I didn't mean for it to turn into a "b**ch" session just like all the other posts. Sorry everyone!!

Douglas...Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

All ships are going to have isolated AC issues which get fixed.

 

The Zuiderdam has ongoing issues which never seem to get fixed. CC posters certainly represent a small percentage of cruisers. No question there. However, a large percentage of CC posters have encountered AC issues on the Zuiderdam. Extrapolate those numbers and you would find a large number of cruisers complaining about the problems on the Zuiderdam.

 

 

 

You don't hear the volume of complaints about the other HAL ships.

Absolutely agree!!

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Just sitting here reading posts about the AC problems on Zuiderdam (and part of our party knows about this from personal experience in October) and just began to think...

I can't imagine that the Panama Canal is the hottest place that HAL sails, but would any other HAL ship begin to have the same AC issues if it were constantly in this heat situation like the Zuiderdam? If they put Zuiderdam in cooler temperatures where the AC were not "challenged" on a weekly/daily basis would it perform better?

If they placed another ship, say Eurodam, on the Panama Canal route on a weekly basis, would it begin to have the same issues?

Just thinking...

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Anxious to see what happens next Sunday the 12th when we sail on Splendor out of NYC. I've returned to snow at the airport but have never cruised in snow.

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Thanks for the replies!!

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What do the majority of gentlemen wear on Cruise Elegant Night on Splendor? We're considering not bringing our suits. Will we be out if place or do many people not wear suits anymore?

Thank you!!

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And yet, your name is prominent in your signature. (if someone has images and signatures turned on.)

Is it my full name? (Because if it is, I've done something wrong and need to fix it).

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^^ #1 above is one of the reasons I do not participate in Roll Calls. The organizer protects their privacy by setting up separate e-mail accounts (which is just fine) but we are expected to provide the organizer with our full names and cabin numbers. That doesn't work for all of us. :)

Though that is not the only reason for some of us not participating.

 

 

Oh, I absolutely agree with you there Sail. I organized that M&G and felt strange asking, but it wasn't mandatory to provide.

I sometimes participate in roll calls, but we haven't gone to a M&G in quite a while. We simply just do not like being forced to be social with others (if it just happens that is fine, but the setting of the M&G forces it). I would never give my name and stateroom number out to anyone.

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My husband and I love aft balconies. Are there any decks or cabin numbers that people loved? Sometimes certain ships have bigger balconies on certain decks. Not sure if this is the case on the Zuiderdam.

If you are up for a suite, aft corner suites on the 5th floor have the largest balconies on the ship...and they are covered, so you can be out there and escape the heat of the sun. We did this in October for the Panama Canal and it was a great experience to have the back and side views while going through the canal.

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Now I understand why there are so few m & g for HAL cruises. So different dromrccl and celebrity where they provide ship logo gifts, champagne and gift certificates as raffle prizes at the m & g. I had been looking for a roll call for my Feb 23 nadm cruise but now will stop looking. Very sad HAL can't get behind this as it is a small way to provide goodwill to their most loyal cruisers!

 

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Just because we're all here on CC, it doesn't necessarily mean we are their most loyal cruisers. There are definitely many loyal cruisers on here, but we (as in CC members) are probably a very small percentage of HAL's loyal cruisers.

If every little group that could possibly be onboard would require the services from the ship to print and deliver invitations, that would most likely require a person to be hired just for that. While that's a nice idea, IMHO their resources are better spent elsewhere.

Two things...

1) When I was in charge of a M&G a few years ago, I printed reminder cards at home and hand delivered them to the staterooms of those participating. Additionally, I set up a hotmail account specifically for the roll call group (to provide me with their names and stateroom numbers) so I didn't need to give out my personal email to strangers.

2) However, something to remember is that we are all online, so the announcement of date, time and location can easily be put right on the roll call. You can mention right there that there will be no invitation or reminder card issued onboard, so if you plan to attend please make note of the information.

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Does anyone have the number for Ship a Services at Carnival?

 

Does anyone know if you can pre-purchase a spa package (thermal suite) via ship services prior to sailing?

 

Thank you!!

 

 

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Sorry, Ship Services

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Does anyone have the number for Ship a Services at Carnival?

Does anyone know if you can pre-purchase a spa package (thermal suite) via ship services prior to sailing?

Thank you!!

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Begin a Carnival Overhaul Program that would

 

1. Remove the 50 foot TVs from the Lido deck and replace them with live bands.
   
2. Remove "Comfort Food" from the menu
   
3. Start a trial project that would overhaul two ships removing the MDR and replacing them with multiple specialty dining rooms
   
4. Announce a fleet wide face-lift of all ships to take place over 5 years to transform the interiors of all ships from the disco 1970's look to something more modern
   
5. Increase the staff in all MDR's
   
6. Overhaul all MDR menus with a goal to have a significant improvement in quality of food offered
   
7. Commit to holding the line on fare increases for 5 years to rebuild the Carnival commitment to the customer.
   

I like your ideas, however the last one does not seem realistic if you're looking to spend so much on the prior listed initiatives. Everything you want takes $$, but you want the fares to remain the same...

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Here in PA we are able to go directly to a DMV center and get a new photo license. Maybe possible where you live?

I would never risk it otherwise no matter what they tell you on the phone or via email. It all comes down to the agents at the port...and what if something happens while you are gone and you need to come home from a port? ...possibly SOL.

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I wouldn't pay $500.00 more. My suggestion is go to the Spa when you board. They will gladly give you a tour. IMO $268.00 for the two of you will be

 

the best money spent. With all those cold sea days you will really enjoy the heated lounge chairs, sauna, steam rooms, and Thalassotherapy pool. I will be on the Splendor 1/12 and plan on purchasing two passes as soon as I board.

We'll be right there with you on the 12th!!

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Just off the phone with CCL...

 

 

 

Spa pass is $159pp

 

or

 

$268 per couple

 

 

 

For the 8 days.

And does that include the entire Thermal Suite (Thasso pool, tiled loungers, etc)?

Thank you!!

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1. Really get out there and publicize the changes that have happened post-Triumph. So many potential cruisers have an "anyone but Carnival" mentality because of the sound bites they have heard on the news a year ago. Carnival has invested in hundreds of millions in new equipment and has a new CEO, so they should use that to devise a very clever PR strategy to address the lingering aftertaste of the media circus from last year.

 

 

 

2. This is more of a Carnival CORPORATION issue than a Carnival CRUISE LINES issue but: create an "alliance" of loyalty programs between Carnival Corporation brands so they all become one big program. Airlines do this (you can use your United miles to fly Lufthansa to Germany since they're in the same alliance). Hotels do this (same corporate parent, same loyalty program for Hilton vs. Hampton Inn). Over a lifetime of cruising even your best passengers will want to try different cruise experiences, and making VIFP work on Princess will nudge that VIFP member towards Princess rather than Celebrity in the future.

 

 

 

3. Institute a program where over the next few years, with each ship's next drydocking, every Carnival ship gets the new post-Farcus decor.

 

 

 

4. Greater variety in ports. New York-to-further-south-than-Grand-Turk closed loop itineraries. Better balance in HMC calls (more of them) vs. Freeport/Nassau calls (a few less of them). Perhaps do what RCCL did with Labadee in addition to CocoCay and acquire a second exclusive beach location (get to keep more shoreside revenue that way!).

Regarding #2 - TOTALLY AGREE!! Why shouldn't I be rewarded in the same program for sailing on any Carnival Corporation ship? Ridiculous that my loyalty doesn't count among their cruise lines.

Regarding #4 - Even though it is all owned by Carnival Corporation, Half Moon Cay is Holland America's private island, not Carnival Cruise Lines. Grand Turk's cruise terminal area, however, was completely developed by Carnival Corporation which makes it a "quasi-private-island" experience.

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We disembarked the Westerdam on 12/13. Our flight was on Southwest and we used Luggage Direct. The staff did tell us we would be among the last to get our tags, etc., due to Southwest holding to the 24-hour check in rule. The feeling I got was that some airlines allow a earlier check-in with the service.

 

Our flight out of FLL ended up being canceled due to weather and we had to retrieve our bags at the airport. So while the service worked getting our luggage to the airport it didn't make it all the way home. Not their fault but it kills me to lose $40! :(

Still, you didn't have to worry about it at the cruise terminal or lug it around getting to the airport...so even though it didn't get the whole way, I would have still been pleased for that. Still money well spent to me.

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Is this the 2.1 AMP. This is the third adapted I have ordered and returned. The regular 1 AMP can slow down charging if three phones are doing it at the same time. Also with the 2.1 AMP you can get a rapid charge. Does the 1 AMP version swivel like the 2.1 AMP version does. BTW, it was almost double the cost of the lower amp one.

Is this just for charging or can it be used for medical equipment?

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I have a CPAP, which I didn't have last time I cruised. I contacted the special services department and they told me that I could bring a power strip and an extension cord onboard, provided they were in good condition. They also STRONGLY recommended carrying it on in the same case as my CPAP. As it's medically necessary, it's allowed.

That's exactly what they told us when it was confiscated. I'm thinking of requesting an email stating that I can take it onboard.

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