lesters

Hi folks

We used to be FTTF people and this is my first time selecting an arrival time.  We purposely chose the late window as we want to enjoy the morning in Miami and South Beach for a bit before boarding.  

I read in the Cruise Contract info - yup I am that excited to go and over researching that I actually read that thing - and it states that "Checked baggage service is only available until 2 hours before the ship's published departure time. Guests arriving after this time will be responsible for taking their bags on board."  

If our final boarding is 3:00 with a planned sail away at 4 - does this mean I need to not use a porter and should lug our bags in ourselves?  I am fine to do that - just wanting to make sure we are managing expectations - and packing accordingly....well who am I kidding I am going to have 2 checked and 2 carry ons between DH and I.  Want to have room to bring home some Duty Free treasures back to Canada 🙂

We are on the Horizon and deck 2 with a Cove Balcony so that doesn't seem to impossible to manage if that is what we have to do. 

TIA!   

The countdown is on.... 12 days to the cruise and 10 days until the holiday officially starts!

Thank you everyone for the info!   Very helpful and I will be sure to post a review and summary of our trip here!

i missed noting for Aruba we have a loose plan of Eagle Beach in the morning.  Back to the ship for a quick refresh and then reservations at the West Deck - just found it after doing some research. Looks like a great spot and will report back!

Hope to also check out the local casinos in Aruba and Curaçao - we’ve often talked about spending a week on both islands and now we get the chance to get a little taste and  decide about returning!

Hey everyone

I am so excited that we are FINALLY sailing once again.  Our last cruise was in 2020 right before it all went well you know.... we had a Feb 2022 cruise booked but the hoops involved in traveling from Canada made that one a bit too tricky so we cancelled it and now finally we are set to sail on the Horizon to the ABCs.  This is also a bucket list cruise have wanted to see these islands for so long... but open to things going sideways and missing them - know that is always a possibility.  

I can't recall the last time I was this excited for a holiday or a cruise 🙂

We are not newbies but this is our first Vista class ship and first time to the ABCs! 

Staying in a Cove Balcony for the first time as well!  Usually have a regular balcony.  We have Cheers and the Value Internet package to stay connected to home.

We are flying in the day before with one night in South Beach - took the final time slot for the cruise check in to give us some more time to walk around.

Have reservations at the Steakhouse on night 1, JiJis on night 3 and a sunset cruise booked for Aruba.  DH is scuba diving in Bonaire and Curacao is a walk around town kind of day.

Any other great tips or things not to miss?  

Since it is just us this trip so far I expect lots of Serenity deck time on sea days and casino time in the evenings.  

Thanks to all who have posted their reviews and recent experiences on the Horizon I have read pretty much all of them LOL so guessing not much more to learn but I am a planner and this is all part of my travel JOY!!!

Thought I'd share my recent experience to this growing thread.
 

Nexus was set to expire Dec 2022.     I received my Program Expiry Email notification to renew on July 4th.   I completed the online application within a day or two of the email was given the 1 year automatic extension  and I received notification on August 30th that my renewal was approved, no interview required.  So just around 8 weeks processing.

My husband's Nexus is expiring Feb 2023 just received his email notification to renew this week.  He completed his form last night and so we shall see if its the same time frame or not.

I had zero changes from my previous application - same job history, living in the same place.   Hubby has a new job to report.  Not sure if any of that impacts speed or interview requirements.

Oh and yes we have the CIBC Adventura credit card which provides a refund on the application fees which is a nice bonus to that card.

We are finally cruising for the first time since the shut down in just over 2 weeks.  Can Not Wait!!! 

I’ve read a few posts from folks on other ships about having to buy wifi daily no packages available.  Is this because it’s so bad?

im hoping to purchase the Value level for my cruise on the Horizon next month to stay connected to home.  
 

Any recent Horizon cruisers able to validate what I should expect on board?  It’s a Southern route if that matters.  
 

Thanks!  

2 hours ago, bcslots said:

 

Excited to meet you and everyone!! I'm in love with Carnival and can't wait for this one!

See you on board!

Brian Christopher

I'm fan grrling right now 🙂 having you reply to my thread LOL - excited to see you on board!!!   This cruise is going to be a BLAST!!

 

22 hours ago, CruiseCruiseCruise13 said:

Does anyone know if they offer half day rentals?
We’re in port 10a - 11p and plan to do a snorkel excursion in the morning until 2pm. We’d also like to see the salt flats and hopefully some flamingos. Would a GC rental be best, or a would a taxi or afternoon tour be better?

DH and I were wondering the exact same thing.  He is diving in the morning.  THought a 1/2 day afternoon rental might be great.  Might just stop by the provider and see if anything is available and wing it.  Don't want to pay for a full day unnecessarily - can't wait to be there in just over 3 weeks!! 

Hey folks

I might post over on the Canadian board as well BUT it is a Carnival specific question. 🙂

Will I be able to access the WestJet webpage to complete my online check in for my flight via the Value Plan?

Is is possible to just upgrade from Social to another plan for the one day I need it?

Thanks folks

Its on the Horizon if that matters in your responses 

DH and I are travelling to Aruba next month - FINALLY - and I am finalizing our loose plans for this stop. Trying not to over plan but want to have some ideas of how to spend the day.  
 

I’m looking for some ideas of a place along Eagle Beach that are similar to a Jacks Shack on Grand Turk.  A spot that offers you frosty beverages & snacks but also has chairs etc on the beach for guests.  I’m seeing lots of options for bars etc but it’s not clear to me which if any of them also have chairs on the beach.   Or in Aruba is this something you have to rent separately?

We are really only looking for a few hours in the morningish as we want to spend the afternoon exploring the town, shopping etc before our booked sunset cruise.  

Thanks for any ideas or insight!

Was it an extra charge?  

1 hour ago, LibratPDX said:

All that I have been able to find seems to point to it being dry cleaning without the usual toxic solvents, so it's not regular laundry, it would be for items you would normally have dry-cleaned.

Thank you!! 

As we look ahead to our September cruise and trying to not overpack (for once) I was looking at options for laundry on board (the Horizon specifically).

I have used the laundry rooms  as well as sending things out to be pressed on past cruises but noticed this option for the first time - what is the "Wet/Dry Cleaning Technology"???  I'm hesitant to send out more than basics - socks, underwear, not special T-shirts as I am concerned about shrinkage or damage to clothing in the hot water wash.  But this Wet/Dry thing caught my eye.

Any insight is appreciated.  

2 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

After the minor died onboard that was intoxed, they will crack down if anyone is found supplying a minor with alcohol.  

In Alberta - where I’m guessing OP is from - the legal age for drinking is 18 so not a minor at home. 
 

1 hour ago, crewsweeper said:

Slots don't steer my cruising, but if you book hope your golden arm is in good order.😁

Oh its not the slots steering the cruise - its the better OBC, DOU for companions and the cheaper flights.  The BC Slot fun is an added bonus!  Funny thing is DH really is more of a tables and craps player, I'm the one who actually plays them  

Just yesterday I noticed in my offers that Brian Christopher - essentially a slot player influences (I know what is the world coming to LOL) is hosting a few upcoming cruises with Carnival.    We had an existing booking for later in Feb 2023 on the Dream out of Galveston but have been unhappy with the plan as flights are now super expensive from our home town in Canada.  Longer story longer we had a cruise booked earlier this year in Feb 2022 but cancelled due to the complications of travel from Canada to a cruise at that time - but our flights had been really cost effective so were caught off guard when they were as much as they currently are.

So we see the BC cruise out of Port Canaveral for a whole $20ish dollars more than we paid for our Dream rate PLUS another day on board, a quick call to Carnival with an amazing Rep and BOOM we are moved to this cruise - better OBC, some fun extra parties and fun with Brian Christopher (my DH enjoys his videos and is really excited to be part of this cruise).  BTW flights are wayyyyy more cost effective for us to go to PC over Houston so a win there as well.

Then this morning I happen to run across some FB posts about a JH cruise - the FFS #5 with the same date as our newly booked Dream cruise.  Quick good search took me to Carnival's page and confirmed that it IS listed as an upcoming event! https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1390/~/john-healds%2C-cruise-with-john---for-funs-sake-%235

SOOOO the point of this post LOL - what are the chances that BOTH events happen?  If so it will be a very active busy and hopefully fun few days!   

23 hours ago, waytoodeep03 said:

 

 

That is very unfortunate. No idea why they require payment in full so far out from the sailing date.

It’s called cash flow. 
 

They need the money coming in to fund overall operations it’s not like your fare just goes to the line items for that ship.  .  

We are starting to do some planning for our September cruise - for me planning is at least half the fun of travel LOL

So far our cruise (Carnival Horizon) is not offering any dive excursions for Bonaire.  DH really wants to dive here - any recommendations?   We have a long port day - 8am -10pm so less worried about using a ship excursion.  

TIA!

On 1/27/2022 at 7:26 AM, 1kaper said:

Haha.  We had the same.  Except it was an 8 day.  I think it was $130 or so for the 3rd passenger (our child). Plus $200 on board credit. 

Nice!  We have an 8 day in September for a bit more but same OBC and free play.   

11 hours ago, Magicat said:

What is a "Smoking Casino Deal"?  Only sailed on Carnival once so I am just wondering.

Lol just a really good price. We had a 7 day in a balcony for $100 per person plus taxes and fees.  So a smoking good deal 😄

Hi everyone

I have received great insight across these boards - Canadian and specifically the Carnival Boards - so I thought I would share my recent experience in cancelling a cruise we had booked for Feb 26th.

With the increases in cases, reading about some on board limitations and some personal factors we made the tough decision to cancel our Feb 26th cruise out of Galveston.   

We called Carnival and had to talk with Casino services as we were also on a smoking deal - again making it harder to cancel  - but they were amazing.  We have another cruise booked for September and they moved our $$ that we had paid for the Feb cruise (it was fully paid) over to the September sailing.  So the only money "lost" were the OBC and Free Play in the casino.  Which we already have in place for the September sailing.   We were prepared to lose our deposits but Carnival was great and let us move it all over.

It took some patience to get the call through but once through very happy with the result.

Happy sailing to those who are keeping their plans in place - thanks for sharing your experiences on board and on your return back home to Canada! 

2 hours ago, ski ww said:

Makes you think, do I really want to go on a cruise at this time?? With all the testing pre & post cruise/flight, wearing masks while on board, stops been cancelled because countries don't want cruise ships with out breaks spreading the infection. Not the way I want to spent my vacation. 

Agreed. We made the sad decision to cancel our February cruise.  Too much up in the air right now.  
 

Now really looking forward to the September booking.  

26 minutes ago, emoorehead said:

You will receive the cost of the cruise fare, but not the OBC. 

As it was explained to me: the OBC is a perk of the rate that you booked. When you rebook, it will not necessarily be at that same rate, therefore not eligible for the OBC.

I lost out on a $500 OBC from a promo because my cruise was cancelled. They did refund all of my taxes and fees as well as my prepaid graruities.

Thanks!

Hi wise Cruise Critic Members

As many are right now, I am looking ahead to our Feb 2022 cruise on the Vista and making some potential plans so that we are ready to pivot for Plan B or C. 

IF something happens and I am unable to cruise and get a FCC for our booking can this credit be applied to cruise we have already booked for September 2022?   And to confirm the FCC would just be the cost of cruise before taxes and fees - do those get refunded?

I am guessing by the actual name being "Future CC" that the answer will be no.  But wanted to check here.

Long story short (and to try to avoid this post getting moved to the Canadian Cruisers board) we have one of those steal of a deals as casino players and past Carnival guests.   If we can't travel due to border closure the fine print indicates we will get FCC for our cruise.  But this amount isn't much at all it was $100 pp for our balcony plus OBC on board and Free Play in the casino.  

I will be very sad if this happens as the value won't be enough to pay for another cruise.  So likely will mean we just end up losing out on this vacation.  

Is the only way to keep the FCC and OBC to move to a new booking?

I don't want to tie up a Carnival line - even if I could get through - as this is currently a hypothetical situation and no I don't have a PVP or a travel agent.  Have always booked on our own without issue.... 

Thoughts advice confirmations??  Any advice is welcome.

Thanks everyone.

We have a cruise booked for the end of February - Carnival Vista out of Galveston.  We are not cancelling.  We travelled to Mexico - AI - at the beginning of October before the advisory was lifted, so essentially the same level of warning.  My work health coverage remained in place for that trip and will be in place for this one. 

The biggest concern for me is the potential test at home and additional related quarantine.  I do not trust the system to have their "you know what" together enough to have this process sorted out and running smoothly.    But it is still not enough to have me cancel.

We were able to get an insane casino deal for our cruise so cancelling and a FCC based on what I paid is not worth it.  

1 hour ago, Saint Greg said:

Soo maybe dumb question of the day - but it lists morning coffee and DRINKS 🙂   i've read here that the Cheers has continued to work for those final morning coffees but does it work for final morning mimosas????