Essiesmom

Well, there are far fewer CC members in Europe/Med and/or taking MSC cruises in the Med. It would be interesting to see if the same people who complain about the YC on cruises from the US would have the same complaints sailing in the Med. I don’t think you can compare them, because your clientele is different. In fact, if the European clientele would make complaints, they might be totally different from the complaints we hear. EM

I would be asking this on the Disabled Cruising board, and the UK cruisers board. EM

It might say ‘sailing with’. EM

Or casino offers. Trying to game the system and asking Carnival to make it easier? EM

He did a live from for his cruise and it didn’t work. His review is halfway down page 3. EM

Ask your cabin steward or at guest services. There is usually a crew member or two that do repairs for other crew members and would like to earn a few more dollars. EM

The evening menus always have an ‘always available’ selection which includes a basic steak, and chicken breast, maybe salmon. There used to be a list of add-ons also, such as French fries, baked potato, mashed potatoes, some vegetables. If you speak to your waiter the first night about your restrictions, each night at the end of the meal they will bring you the menu for the next night and you can order what you can eat. Sometimes they can modify things for you. They do this for gluten sensitive guests and those with allergies. Then the next night when you are given the menu, tell the waiter that you have a meal ordered. EM

If you go to cruisedeckplans and choose Eclipse, scroll down to OV and click on handicap. It will list the cabins and if there are pics, there is a very tiny camera icon. There is a video of 3102 and pics of 3104. Those cabins will be the same on any S class ship. Cruisedeckplans is a member site, and if you pull up the deck plan and click on the yellow pic icon, it won’t let you see without logging in. However, if you go the first route is outlined, the HC cabins are always free to view. On Equinox there are pics of 3102 and a video of 3102. Silhouette has a video of 3101 and pics of 3103. Bookmark the website. EM

I think you can make it work. I believe there is a special needs form you can fill out and email to Carnival, and then when you board, talk with the maitre’d about your restrictions. Ask for any sauces to be served on the side, if at all. All vegetables well cooked. EM

You should be able to complete most of it as soon as you book. But you can’t access boarding pass and luggage tags until 20 days before sailing. EM

You can do web checkin any time, but the ability to print won’t show up supposedly until 20 days out. But I have had it emailed to me sooner, I click the link and print. And for my last cruise in Dec. there was a link to the boarding pass in the app. EM

In the past I have booked and inside gty Fantastica and been assigned a balcony. And offered a Plusgrade bid opportunity. EM

Back in 2019 they had lots of plans…Armonia sailing from Tampa. At the CC M&G they were asking for ideas. Then something happened…

I remember a number of years ago hearing the shopping rep talking about eating in the buffet. He had a degree of ‘rank’, was allowed to eat there, but limited in choices. He needed another half stripe to be allowed to eat sushi. I think this was HAL or Celebrity. EM

I did for nearly two years when I built a house. EM

And it will have to be released back to the cruise line. EM

No difference. EM

Haven’t sailed Princess in 4 years, but on most cruise line website when you are doing the online checkin, you enter your credit card and it asks if this is for anyone else. Don’t check yes, you would have to enter the name of the baby. Have the parents add the baby to theirs when they do their checkin. Or just say you are using cash, then after you board go to guest services and present your credit card there and make sure the baby is on the other account. EM

It might be a matter of what is in the white area across from the cabin. Probably crew/service area but no way to tell. EM

Have you done any reading on the Hawaii board under Ports of Call?

An unwelcome thought as to budget…unless you plan to all share a cabin, your father is going to have to pay a single supplement for his cabin. Cabin prices are quoted as per person, based on two people in the cabin. A solo cruiser has to pay as if for two. Sometimes it is quoted quite a bit more. I was able to price out a cruise the other day at 75% of the double occupancy rate. And sometimes the cruise lines refuse to sell to a solo cruiser. Price out a cruise for two, then go back and try to price the same cruise for a solo and it is suddenly sold out. EM

Since you all seem to live in NJ, I would recommend any ship sailing from NY/NJ or Baltimore. Drive to port, no worry about flights, hotels, luggage… Celebrity Eclipse sails from Cape Liberty/Bayonne and would be the most laid back ambiance. It’s also the smallest of the ships sailing from the NY area. My second choice might be Carnival Venezia, much more activity, more families with children. The other ships sailing from there are much larger and cater heavily to families with children. Bermuda is a nice, easy port. The absolute smallest ships would be those sailing from Baltimore, also drivable. But still good value. If you have never cruised before, the smallest ship will seem huge. EM

You can be as formal as you want…or not. If you have a significant number of guests for Europe, they will be better dressed every night, not just elegant night. EM

Did you check the S class cabin sticky at the top of the page? That cabin will be the same on each S class ship. EM

Your first sea day will be elegant night. EM