I suppose you could just pay for the kids now, and straighten it out once you get onboard at the excursion desk. That way your kids will have a reservation.
You would have to buy the social media plan for her and anyone else she would be communicating with if you want immediate responses. Otherwise she would have to occasionally kick you off the plan to log in and see if you messaged her. The messaging through the app is only $5 per person.
Not only does Carnival put a markup on the excursion it offers you, they also buy them from the tour operator at a discount. If you buy the tour directly from the operator, more of the money goes to the local business, which might be another reason to bypass Carnival.
I think this schedule is perfect. My guess is those dates correlate with embarkation days,
Christmas decorations that are up before Thanksgiving is a pet peeve of mine.
Maybe, maybe not. It varies from port to port and even cruise to cruise. The people who are checking the tickets for arrival times don't know how you got there.
I certainly wouldn't count on being able to get into the terminal early, especially if you would not handle waiting outside very well (i.e., heat, standing, impatience, etc.)
If the other option is a lower price and you are convinced that it is the same tour as what Carnival is offering, why not just cancel your Carnival excursion and book the other one?
If I am not mistaken, you can do that up to 24 hours before the excursion.
Have you ever been on a cruise where the entertainment did not perform as scheduled (except for illness of the performers)? I haven't. And they aren't going to play in a place where the bar is not serving drinks.
But if it is a random bar, of course they may close early if they have no customers. And that might have been more likely post-pandemic when they aren't sailing full. But Carnival isn't stupid. They make huge money on drinks. If people are buying, they are going to be serving.
According to this copy of Fun Times, Red Frog Pub, the Center Atrium Bar, Sam's Piano Bar, and the nightclub all have live music past 11, so one could safely assume they are still serving drinks as well
I have a feeling that tuxedos are like evening gowns - usually not returnable, because people would do exactly what you are suggesting. Plus asking an 8-year-old boy to keep his clothes clean is a pretty tall order 😆
I am surprised that you haven't found any of my posts, because I went to a steakhouse brunch on a Journeys cruise a year ago on Pride, and wrote about it several times.
It was one of the best meals I have had in the 126 days I have cruised on Carnival. I hope they start having them more often.
Most of the shows in the main theater have a 7:30 show and a 9:00 show and last 35-40 minutes. I think what Colorado Beach Bum was saying is that you could go to the 7:30 show and still be on time for the 8:15 seating.
So, so far no one who responded has had the same experience as the OP.
Let's give Carnival the benefit of the doubt that this was an isolated incident instead of going off on Carnival as a whole.
Not necessarily true. We have found lower base prices for Carnival Cruises on a TA website. They are usually only a few weeks out. We called our PVP to see if Carnival could match it, but they couldn't. We felt bad not using her to book the cruise, but she said she understood.
I am guessing that some of the larger TAs guarantee Carnival that they will sell a certain number of cruises and start lowering the price (and taking the hit themselves) when it gets too close to the sailing date for comfort.
The Pride is also the only Carnival ship in Europe at that time, where the Mardi Gras has the same general itinerary as a bunch of other Carnival ships. In a time where ships aren't sailing full, more choices for the cruiser means lower prices.
My Pride Balcony this past summer was also more expensive than any "nicer" ships I took in the Caribbean.
If I were you, I would go to Guest Services with the other parent immediately after boarding just to make sure. You don't want to miss your excursion because you ran into problems in the disembarkation line.
As an alternative, have the other parent come with you as you leave the ship for the excursion. If necessary, she can disembark with the child, and then turn right around and get back on the ship.
Wear sneakers, and pack flip flops and dressier sandals. If you ha have room for one more pair, throw in some loafers or topsiders and stuff them full of socks and underwear.
Easy Peasy.