gamecockinnc

I’ve done b2b. Carnival has a lot of b2b cruisers. The last night of your first cruise you will receive a letter of instruction in your cabin. Sorry that you have to change cabins. We were lucky and booked a cabin that worked for all 14 days. But a b2b is awesome so you will be fine.

In the aforementioned letter you will be instructed to meet somewhere on the ship while everyone else de-embarks. Make sure to have the requested docs/passport with you.

They will issue you new sail & sign cards. We had about 10 people doing b2b’s. While we waited in a designated area in the theater together there was CCL staff assigned to us. They took our docs and returned with new sail & sign cards. They hung out with us and even have a b2b sign that they had us hold up and took a picture of the 10 of us together. And then offered a drink to anyone over 21 years old.

Our first week was rough with a lot of unruly cruisers and first time cruisers so de-embarkation took unusually long. But once they were off CCL escorted the ten of us to customs and then right back on board.

You DO have the option of dembarking and then embarking with everyone else but no one did on my b2b.

Those cruisers that were switching cabins then went and moved their belongings and then the passengers were already getting on board for the second week.

I would suggest speaking to guest services to make sure they know they know your a b2b cruiser and speak to them about moving cabins. It doesn’t hurt to introduce yourself to your next cabin steward either and tell them of your hopes to have the cabin clean and ready. [emoji6]

Have a wonderful b2b!

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I have used the Social plan and use direct message on Instagram and Twitter or Facebook Messenger to “email and message “ those back home and onboard. I’ve also used the medium package that includes email. Btw if you purchase before you embark you save about $1.00 a day. I think Carnival has great WiFi packages EXCEPT this year on the 12/23 Christmas sailing CCL Magic. It was awful. We actually were refunded no questions asked. I had been on the Magic the month prior on another sold out sailing and the wifi was great.

But if you are in charge of the group and the main contact person then you would want the middle package. Remember you can always upgrade if its not enough for you. But you can’t down grade.

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My last 3 cruises on Carnival the latest was the December 23rd Christmas CCL Magic had holes in our Sail & Sign cards. If not Guest Services or the casino can punch a hole in them for you.

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Aaaaah, large groups......How could I ever forget sailing with over 1,000 WWF (World Wrestling Federation) fans on my honeymoon cruise? [emoji23]

 

 

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Oh my. I bet that was interesting. [emoji848][emoji51]🤭[emoji23]

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Praying for all involved. It’s always worrisome when something like this happens. And even those watching. Hoping for the best outcome in both cases.

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Just wondering, if your husband and son are days from platinum and if those "days" were less than the number of days in the cruise you are taking, then the whole thing should not be an issue !

They would not turn platinum on the Christmas cruise but will on our next scheduled cruise. [emoji1303]

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You have much to celebrate! A serious illness is so hard on the family and a cruise is a great way to put it behind you.

YES! It was and memories and pictures to prepare us for the next one.

I have to laugh at myself and tbh I am embarrassed at myself about over reacting. My only excuse is sometimes it seems the things we can control become more critical because there is so much we can’t. Regardless I must chill out.

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Let me clarify. He was not in a crew area! The 3 bags were found by themselves grouped together near an elevator. We can only guess that someone had been sent by guest services to find the missing bags and then were “diverted” ,”distracted” or something or someone called them away and the 3 bags were left. My husband was never in a crew area. I said lower deck which was deck 1. And I said access below deck which I can easily see could be interpreted as a crew area. Lower deck to me is deck 1. My husband even shared how tight security was which made him feel better due to his profession. I apologize for insinuating that my husband was running amuck in crew areas. He waited on deck 1 each time.

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I thought I would provide and update on cabins 7210 and 7214.

I had posted because I was concerned because our cabins were all the way forward and our middle son suffers from sea sickness.

1. The balcony partitions did open. Not as wide as the Breeze but they did open so we had a nice long balcony.

2. The motion wasn’t too bad. We did have a few windy days and 2 “rough” nights with storms, rain and wind. And the Captain advised everyone to stay inside and take care if outside. But again we didn’t notice anymore motion than mid ship or aft.

In fact I had just sailed on the same ship on the November 11th sailing and stayed on deck 10 forward. And felt a lot more motion 3 decks higher in November.

3. We had the ear patch prescription filled for our middle son and took it with us but he decided not to wear it. Instead he took Dramamine and used Ginger candy. We had 4 ports back to back which put him on land. And he spent a lot of time on the sports deck, at the teen club, pools, and on his balcony as y’all suggested and it worked. Thank you!

The only issue was our cabins 7210 and 7214 were connecting cabins but we struggled to keep the connecting doors open. We asked for a door stop and that worked but then the cabin steward took it and for reasons we don’t know never gave us another one. We made our own with different items but it was still difficult to keep the doors from locking.

The boys cabin 7210 balcony didn’t lock so we would just go around and enter that way.

Bottom line in my opinion the motion was no worse than mid ship or aft.

Thank you for all of your replies and helpful suggestions. They really helped!

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An update:

We arrived at the port around 11:45 am and I showed our doc’s to the CCL employee. Without a word she pointed to the left to the priority check in (where btw there was no one in line) and we checked in.

We then were directed to board the ship and both of our cabins were ready.

I don’t know if it helped that we were a family of five, two parents and three children in connecting cabins?

I am platinum. My husband and our eldest son son are days away from platinum and our other sons are gold?

The only hiccup we had was we had 6 small-medium duffle style pull suitcases. They can be pulled or worn (by a strong person) on your back. Three arrived promptly. The other three didn’t arrive until very late Saturday night. And that was only after we had gone to Guest Services. And had asked several people to help. My husband finally offered an anonymous CCL employee cash to take him down to the lower decks where they found the 3 bags together in plain sight and very visible. Needless to say my husband was very aggravated. There were no other bags around waiting to be delivered and our 3 bags were sitting in plain sight and if anyone had really looked they would have easily found them. My husband and the anonymous CCL employee my husband paid found them within minutes.

CCL knew they had messed up. Through out the week we received wine, gifts and 2 letters of apology. Tbh I didn’t want gifts. I would have appreciated a face to face apology and explanation of why it took us paying a employee for access below deck when we had been assured that guest services had conducted the same search several times.

But we weren’t about to let us ruin our Christmas or cruise.

But I noticed some things on my November sailing and then again on this Christmas sailing and it makes me wonder if our loyalty is indeed being rewarded. It is something I really need to consider.

Anyway thank you to everyone who took the time to reply and help me prepare for our embarkation. I hope y’all had a wonderful holiday.

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Does anyone know when elegant nights will be on this weeks December 23rd Holiday sailing? I was just on her in November but cannot recall which nights were the elegant nights.

And it may change since this is a holiday sailing. We are at sea Christmas Eve and in Cozumel Christmas day.

Thank you!!!

T

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Do soft drinks have to be in a carry on bag? Can they be carried in the box or a recyclable bag? It seems like a waste to take an another back pack?

 

 

 

you can carry them any way you want. they will inspect them so if they are in the box it came in, they will probably rip it apart (and provide tape to tape it back up)

 

 

Can we take a 24 pack soft drinks or do we need to separate it into two 12 packs?

 

 

 

if you are all together, you can keep them together

 

 

 

Lastly, are limits on the number of carryons? It seems as if we have more luggage than normal due to it being a Christmas cruise.

 

 

 

no limit as long as the bags fit into the scanner

Thank you!!!

Crazy the things I haven’t noticed 15++++ cruised before now but will a fold over garment bag fit through their scanner? It it a hanging garment bag.

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I am trying to pack we leave for Florida in the morning.

And leave on the Magic Saturday.

Cruising are myself, my husband and our 3 sons (19, 16 and 6).

Do soft drinks have to be in a carry on bag? Can they be carried in the box or a recyclable bag? It seems like a waste to take an another back pack?

Can we take a 24 pack soft drinks or do we need to separate it into two 12 packs?

Lastly, are limits on the number of carryons? It seems as if we have more luggage than normal due to it being a Christmas cruise.

For carryons we will have my purse, a soft sided garment bag and 2-3 backpacks.

Thank you for any help!

T

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We leave Saturday on the CCL Magic and will be in Cozumel on Christmas day. There will be several ships in port with us but Cozumel is always busy.

We’ve been to Cozumel a lot but want to try something new.

We have 3 boys, 19.5, 16.5 and just turned 7.

We usually do the Fury Catamaran and they love the inflatables.

So the inflatable water toys are big for us.

I am trying to decide between Mr. Sancho’s a la carte or Paradise Beach.

We are not big drinkers at all so I don’t think the $55 per person AI option at Mr. Sancho’s would be worth it other than the ease on a busy day?

Any advice? We leave Saturday and I am the designated Julie McCoy of our family. 🤪

Yikes ! I am sorry and appreciate you telling me! Merry Christmas! [emoji319]

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We leave Saturday on the CCL Magic and will be in Cozumel on Christmas day. There will be several ships in port with us but Cozumel is always busy.

We’ve been to Cozumel a lot but want to try something new.

We have 3 boys, 19.5, 16.5 and just turned 7.

We usually do the Fury Catamaran and they love the inflatables.

So the inflatable water toys are big for us.

I am trying to decide between Mr. Sancho’s a la carte or Paradise Beach.

We are not big drinkers at all so I don’t think the $55 per person AI option at Mr. Sancho’s would be worth it other than the ease on a busy day?

Any advice?

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I am loving reading this thread in my spare time. I have wanted to cruise by myself. I always come home exhausted from doing what everyone else wants to do. Understandable when my 3 sons are with me but not when I sail with other adults. I want to sleep, take a relaxing shower and shave (even in a tiny shower), eat what I want to eat, read more, think, read, sleep. Not get home and feel as if I just completed a triathlon. Great writing by the way! [emoji1303]

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Now things make a little more sense. I just recently split a Mom and Dad up because they both had very generous casino rates and we wanted to get that rate for both cabins. However, I wouldn't beat yourself up over this. If this guy has booked that many cruises for you, he SHOULD know your preferences and booked you correctly to begin with. I WILL say it is very hard to find connecting cabins on some ships, especially for high season sailings.

 

 

 

For your little one that suffers from motion sickness, it has been my experience (dealing with my granddaughter) that if I give her a 24 hour acting meclazine at night before she goes to bed than she is fine. If it makes her drowsy, she'll be sleeping for the next 8-9 hours anyway. I usually start the regiment the night BEFORE we set sail, that way it is in her system when the ship sets sail.

 

 

 

Good luck and enjoy the time with your family celebrating the great news and good health of your son :)

To be honest I didn’t know which discounts he ended up using since we had the military, past cruiser and a casino rate. Past cruiser almost always is the same as military discount anyway.

And that was point. I have used him since 2003/2004 so he does know my preferences. But I had made it clear that I was willing to give up some of those preferences such connecting cabins or even cabins right next to each other if needed. Or a suite and a balcony, suite and interior, balcony and interior etc. Or be under a public area etc.

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Just received word from Celebrity that both my brother and his wife were killed in the accident.

 

 

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Oh no! I have been checking to see if you updated your post. And there are no words. My family and I will pray for you and your family.

I am just so incredibly sorry!

Tiffiny

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"Although it was initially mentioned that the crash of this unit, a Mercedes Benz with license plates 82RA7V, could have occurred due to the explosion of a tire, everything seems to indicate that the driver was distracted or fell asleep at the wheel."

Or was drinking...my husband who is Hispanic Just told me the few times we were in Mexico and on a bus he heard conversations on how the drivers did not make it home until 3 or 4 in the morning after drinking all night! I hope this was not the cause.

 

 

These were not cruise related tours ..but looks like it is an accepted practice. We were lucky, made it to our destination. We do not go to Mexico any more.

 

 

 

I noticed another smashed up car in the pictures too. But the reports keep stating no other vehicles were involved. My heart just breaks for everyone involved.

 

 

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Just heard from Celebrity that both my brother and his wife were killed in the accident.

 

 

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I am so sorry for your loss. Praying for you and your family during this tragic time.

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I hope these stay around for a couple more months!

Me too!!

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I have corresponded with my TA. As I said I do blame myself. He is use to me researching the cruise I want and even submitting a list of cabins. When life was getting away from me I asked him to select our cabins based on the criteria I always use and I listed it out again for his reference. When I caught the mistake 4.5 months ago the ship was very full. My biggest mistakes was at that time asking him to fix it. His response of “the ship is pretty full and you can keep checking it online too” did send off alarm bells but it irritated me more because I was already checking but needed help when life was not allowing me to stay on top of it. Therefore I asked him too do it. And help me especially before final payment and or around final payment when cabins may open up.

As I have said he knows I am unhappy but he knows I also blame myself and I chalk this up to poor communication on both sides. I have booked 12 plus cruises through him and have never had a problem. That counts for something. He’s gotten us on a flight we booked on Expedia out of Florida when we have been stuck at sea when the port closed due to a hurricane. If he hadn’t we would have been stuck in Florida for days and days and my husband was deploying. And we were already 3-4 days overdue from the port being closed.

He doesn’t want to switch the names on our cabins because he said he used 2 different promotions that is why one cabin is in my name and the connecting cabin is in my husbands name. He said if he switches the names we will loose the discount on my husbands cabin?

He also said he has called CCL and they have noted the system about everything but I explained how Port Canaveral is set up and the CCL employees directing people once you go through security do not have computers or handheld devices so they will not be able to look up the notes on our reservation. So ?

At this point it is what it is. The entire ordeal has been a learning experience and even though I am still upset with myself I choose to use these bumps to learn.

I am loaded up on sea sick remedy’s for our middle son. That is the real concern! His comfort! And trying not giving him medicine where he sleeps the week away. That is where the guilt comes in. He is currently going through a PT Throwing Program for a stress fracture and trying to be ready for Highschool baseball and travel ball. I just want him to relax physically and mentally!!!

And maybe this thread has helped someone else. I am an experienced cruiser and I messed up. It happens.

Life has been so much worse. But our eldest sons latest blood work, bone marrow biopsy and scans were good. I just want him to enjoy this cruise. Enjoy life!

And to put this into perspective I think of the 12 people who lost their lives yesterday on the Mexico excursion. And my heart breaks for all involved. [emoji17]

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On the November 11th Magic I also got the white tumbler (metal) which was better than the little plastic tumblers I received on my B2B’s on the Glory in the summer. Hoping to get the same white tumbler on the 12/23 Magic. It is actually useful.

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I don't know how you can blame yourself with everything you have been dealing with between deployments and hospitalizations. I think your doing remarkably well with even being able to plan a trip! Of course you left things up to your travel agent - you had much more important things to focus on.

Board at whatever time you can all board together and enjoy your cruise!

That is nice of you to say. I am used to being on top of it all. And I guess when our our eldest sons health became out of our control it is a coping mechanism to try to stay on top/control the things you can possibly can.

But enough of that. This isn’t therapy. [emoji51]

It will work out.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! [emoji323]

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