CRUISERMOMX3

Following thread as I'm supposed to be on the December 4th sailing and then the next sailing for a b2b. Driving to New Orleans from Buffalo, so was heading out December 2nd. Have plans for Pigeon Forge TN after the cruises, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

BF and I are also on the December 4th sailing. I wonder how long Carnival will wait to tell us if the repairs will not be completed in time for our sailing.

Can anyone tell me if FTTF helps with getting off the ship at ports. Specifically, Progresso where the pier is apparently miles long. We have a non-Carnival excursion and am hoping we have priority boarding of the shuttle buses.

Maybe a really stupid question.....but can everyone book another cruise from home within 14 days and get the OBC? I've never booked another cruise while on board because it just didn't seem worth the hassle or time.

I have no intention to stop cruising and I am a loyal Carnival guest, but I agree with some other posters that they are trying too hard to be a Disney copycat to attract families with small children. I have come to enjoy the smaller ships that do not have as many slides or children's activities. Don't get me wrong. I love kids just not on my hard earned vacation when I just want to relax in the pool without being splashed or actually get into the hot tub. All you need to do is watch the introduction to the new Horizon ship and all you see is Dr Seuss and children's activities. None of this means I'll stop sailing Carnival, but I now choose times when more kids are in school and, again, smaller ships.

We are doing a similar excursion in December but we booked it through shoreexcursioneer.com for only $59.99. It's a 5 hour dune buggy, snorkeling, lunch and island tour that also goes to Punta Sur and some ruins. Carnival charges $79.99 for the same thing.

Thanks for all the advice. I didn’t think about the convenience of dropping our carry ons and sodas off at the room instead of dragging them around for a few hours. And I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind getting the stink eye if I did need Guest Services, lol

I purchased FTTF when I first booked my December cruise, but I'm not sure I will need it. I was given an early boarding time, there are no tendered ports, and I rarely go to guest services. I do not have a flight to catch so I do not need priority debarkation. Has anyone ever canceled their FTTF?

I'm sailing on the Triumph in December and I've read there's no Serenity area. What takes its place? Are there still hot tubs there?

I forgot about the local taxes charged while in or near ports. We are leaving out of NOLA so do we pay taxes on drinks until you're down the Mississippi and into the Gulf?

If you purchase the Cheers package on day 2 of your cruise, do you have to pay for day 1 or does it start from day 2?

Opinions please on doing back to back cruises vs one longer cruise. Do you do it for price, itinerary, or other perks? How inconvenient is it to get off and back on the ship?

Ding, ding...round 2

1. Have you been to Cozumel or Progresso before? I've been to Cozumel several times but BF has not. Thought about the Bar Hop again so we can have a little quiet beach time and a little island experience. He wants to do ruins. Progresso seems better for that because I do not want to be hounded by paddlers.

2. How was the Triumph compared to any other Carnival ship you've been on?

3. Any times on must see things in New Orleans? We're going 2 days early too and want to make the most of it. We might stop in Buloxi on the way home if there's any money left.

Glad to hear Uber was so smooth. We got FTTF on the Valor in December and I've convinced myself can not live without it but if embarkation is easy and no tenders then I might want to save the $$ for some extra cocktails

Ok... you asked for it, lol

1. Did you stay in New Orleans before your cruise? If so where and how did you get to port? I've read cabs/Uber are a nightmare and parking at port is expensive.

2. How was the beach in Progresso? Was it peaceful or were you hounded by vendors trying to sell you things? Did you book your excursions through Carnival?

3. Did it benefit you to have FTTF? Most posts say the wait there isn't bad.

I would love to see Carnival enforce their own rules. No children in the adult pool. Please ask them to take their children back to the main area. No children in the hot tubs. I can't remember the last cruise I took where I could actually get in and relax. Quiet in the serenity area even at night instead of letting it turn into a place for all the loud obnoxious drunks to lay down. I'd like to see a return to a real formal night but don't charge me $21.99 for the picture. I'd love a new option for a port in the Bahamas because how many times do you really want to go to Nassau? Ok....rant over

Sorry if this has been answered recently, but do the drinks you carry on board have to be in the form of a 12 pack or can you take 2 six packs or another variety?

Does anyone know if you can bring non-alcoholic beer on board?

I got lucky by checking the shore excursions every morning. I booked mine last week for a December 4th sailing. As final payment time arrives and they know how many Diamond and Platinum members are sailing, I think they open up more FTTF slots for the rest of us. As of today there are still some available for the Valor.

Can you order a bottle of beer and request it not be opened?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Absolutely. Just ask them when you first order it. I did the Cheers program re recently and asked for most of them to be left unopened that way I could keep them cold in the room and have them while I was in the cabin.

Does anyone know how they handle the OBC when there are 2 separate sign and sail accounts? Does it get split up or all go to one person?

I read in another post that security opens your 12 packs. If this is true, do they give you something to carry the loose cans in or help you tape it back up?

There are always glasses in the cabin, but if you want the full wine experience, just buy some plastic wine glasses at the dollar store. I've done this in the past and just left them behind because hey...they're $1!!. There are also some decent wines now that have a screw top, like flip flop wines, so you won't need a cork screw.

Do they process the fee the same way when you bring wine on from a port? If you choose to have them hold it until the end of your trip do you get it back the last night like you do the liquor?

@CRUISERMOMX3 - i was thinking about putting it in between clothes that I will have in a spacesaver bag. Was thinking maybe they wouldn't open something vacuum packed like that!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I usually take mine out of the box and put it at the bottom of the suitcase. Other posts have said that the contents appear like it is air and the only thing that shows up is the cap. Someone posted a hint that the wheels of the suitcase muddle up the images too. I have also taken on the small boxes that hold a single bottle and I would assume they look like they could be shampoo, etc because of the size.

I've taken them on 10 different cruises and never had one caught. I don't think the color of the spout will matter but I didn't know there were some new type of scanners. The worse that can happen is they take it.

If I put sodas in my checked bag won't they call me down to the naughty room? lol. If they are inside your pull on luggage, will they ask me to open the suitcase so they can check what's inside. Sure could be embarrassing if you have other personal items in there too.