BarbieGee

Would only Carnival gift cards work? Has anyone ever tired a Visa gift card?

Using Cruise Cash to fund an S&S account before the cruise allows one to purchase drinks at one of the bars as the ship leaves port and sounds like a practical plan. But just to be clear, if I use a gift card to transfer a portion of the funds on that card to the S&S account, THAT IS refundable? What happens? Guest Services transfers unused funds back to the gift card?

Thanks to all. I learned so much! On my past cruises, I used only my credit card because I didn't know about these options and what they meant. I like the idea of purchasing a gift card and adding to my S&S account. There are certainly benefits to that. Thanks again cruisers! 😍

My cousin, her hubby and adult son and myself will be cruising in February on the Paradise out of Tampa. I have been debating as to whether to put money into an on board account which I will be setting up to use the On Board Credit I received through the travel service I used. My cousin says it really isn't necessary cause at check-in we will each use our credit card and settle at the end of the cruise. Using the HUB app we can keep track of our expenses. Is there really any specific benefit to adding money 'up front' or waiting til the end of the cruise? Discounts or any other money saving advantages?

Yes, good point. But perhaps your cruise of this past February was not well visited because it was still within the pandemic period? I suspect that cruises now are fuller and more participation will ensue. You do make a point of 'do what you want' and that would include the level of dress. I am just hoping that I wont see people showing up in bathrobes, swim suits, ball caps, or shorts and tank tops at a nice dinner venue.

Thank YOU

It's been a very long time since I sailed on RCL so I don't know if the quality is still there. Not having yet sailed on CCL and can't make the comparison to NCL. But having stayed in a JS on NCL their suites look a bit roomier then what I've seen on CC in pictures and videos.

How sad.... https://lifewellcruised.com/what-not-to-wear-on-a-cruise/

I would hope that consideration would be given to the other people also on the cruise. 🤩 We are all 'in the same boat' 😉

😐 😶😔 I am not equipped for ball gowns and jewels but I believe in begin properly dressed for a nice dinner. It would seem that cruise lines are more anxious to fill cabins thereby dismissing their traditions.

Oh dear! You mean to say, no breakfast in the MDR on port days? And no lunch available, ever? 😐😞

I found that having breakfast, lunch and then dinner in the MDR is very relaxing. When sailing on the Norwegian Pearl my son and I had a late (2pm) lunch in that beautiful Summer Palace dinning room, ordering every appetizer they had on the menu. The room was nearly empty and it felt so elegant.

😞 I've seen this at many other buffets. Very distressing and sad.

My opinion of gator bites is, it does NOT taste like chicken or any other thing. It tastes like the batter it is fried in or the sauce it is dipped in. Kinda like escargot. 😏

Perhaps dress is more formal for the Captain's Table dinner? ARE there Captain's Table dinners on the Paradise?

My past experiences with cruising have never really included a true 'formal night'. I've seen pictures of some of these nights and it looks like something from an Oscar night with tuxes and designer gowns. I KNOW beach attire such as shorts and tank tops would NOT cut it in the dining room. I have some nice clothes for dining but wondered just how fancy one's attire must be. Just how formal is a formal night? On a 5 day cruise are the At Sea nights the formal nights? How have others dressed on these nights?

As a child in New Jersey, I would watch my dad and his brothers 'clean' their catch of frogs caught from Lake Hopatcong. I guess I was traumatized, watching that cause I have never yet been able to eat frogs legs. 😜😒

Well, there was no other option for dining on my booking other then the one I originally chose. I'll call just to check.

It has been over 6 years since I last sailed on the Pearl and I was just wondering if the main dining room is still that elegantly appointed Summer Palace. That dining room is one of the most elegant and beautiful dining rooms I have ever seen. I hope they did not renovate that to something else.

This is off my original topic but... What are the benefits of MTD vs MDRx2? Does the fixed time place your party at the same table each time one dines? (we will be a party of 4) I experienced this on Royal Caribbean. MTD... different table each time you reserve? That was the case on Norwegian.

And that brings up another question: what time does the MDR close? From this post, 9pm? When I made the booking I was instructed to choose one of two MDR choices, early or late. No mention of My Time Dining. Is it possible to change this? The idea of dining several times is intriguing. (Dinner at 5:30pm, desert at 8pm!) My Time means one makes a reservation for each time one wishes to dine?

That was another question I had in mind, what time would the dining room close. You answered that. Thanks! How about the Lido deck buffet? Same thing I suspect.

When getting off early, is it very crowded and disorganized?

Is getting off the ship (disembarkation) as soon as possible the best idea or would it be better to allow the bulk of passengers to leave and wait till later? We all live close to the port (Tampa) and there is no time crunch for us to leave the ship which is scheduled to dock at 8am. We could then have a leisurely breakfast without rush and avoid the crush receiving our baggage. Good idea or bad? Or does the staff require all passengers to be off by a certain time?

I hope staffing issues have been solved when our cruise in February takes place. I am sure this has had multiple affects on the cruise experience.