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Everything posted by sparks1093
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Do they count drinks at HMC towards 15 drinks?
sparks1093 replied to Thenagers's topic in Carnival Cruise Lines
No, the drinks on the Cay don't count as the 15. One strategy that I've heard (haven't tried it, so YMMV) is to stop by a bar several times per day in the days leading up to the port visit and request an unopened beer. When you get ashore get a bucket of ice from the bar and viola', bucket of beer. -
It's been a hot minute since we've been on Royal but I believe that their app works without wifi. I know that Carnival charges a small fee to use the chat feature in their app (which also works without wifi) and I believe Royal does as well, but I'm sure the details are outlined on Royal's website (although you might need to do some digging to find it).
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Valid Indian visa in expired passport
sparks1093 replied to Wayfairers's topic in Ask a Cruise Question
It is my understanding that is one of the reasons that expired passports are returned to the traveler, in case there are unexpired visas in it that can still be used. -
A Low-No Booze Cruise on the Mardi Gras - Semi Live
sparks1093 replied to crewsweeper's topic in Carnival Cruise Lines
Nope, sorry. My wife runs a daycare and every year or two the daycare families join us on a cruise with their kids (each family pays their own fare, of course 🙂). The first one was pretty fun and I expect this one will be as well. I did start to clarify that in my post but then thought it was too much info. Should have listened to myself. -
Agreed, we typically leave a little extra for the steward and the waitstaff. Usually grab envelopes from Guest Services.
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$16 may seem like a lot but there was one time we ate out for breakfast and then again for dinner and the tips worked out to something like $11 per person for just two meals. These weren't meals in upscale restaurants either.
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A Low-No Booze Cruise on the Mardi Gras - Semi Live
sparks1093 replied to crewsweeper's topic in Carnival Cruise Lines
Alas, we're doing a daycare cruise when we're on Mardi Gras so avoiding Suessipolooza might not be an option for us. -
Double charged for the spa. Who do I take this up with?
sparks1093 replied to spleenstomper's topic in Carnival Cruise Lines
I hope that your healing process continues. I think it is more likely than not that Carnival did handle it correctly so I would do the same thing you are doing. -
I guess he never read any of the stories of the toddler who fell to the pier 11 decks below when she slipped out of her grandfather's hands.
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Here is a link to a drink package calculator https://cruisespotlight.com/drink-package-calculator/. Remember to factor in the non-alcohol drinks that you will be having through the day. You don't need to come anywhere near 15 per day to break even. Remember also that you are working with averages, so if you have more on a sea day and less on a day in port it will average out. If one starts at noon and has one drink per hour until midnight that's 12 and for most people one drink per hour won't lead to intoxication.
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Probably so, but the consequences if caught can be severe, up to and including removal from the ship in the most egregious cases. OP as stated depending on your itinerary he might be able to imbibe in port.
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We had a good sense of what cruising is all about after a 2 night cruise to nowhere. The experience itself was exactly as you describe it, pretty much over before it started, people crowding the bars to get as many drinks as possible, etc. But we saw in that small taste that cruising overall was something we could sink our teeth into. Our next two cruises were 4 day ones, but only because of the time involved to get to Miami by car (with 5 teenaged boys). Again, they were only a shadow of what cruising could be, but nonetheless we could tell that cruising was for us and we couldn't wait for our first 7 night cruise. (It did help that our 4 day cruises happened during the week, which tended to mute the booze cruise feel.) When we finally took it we then knew that we were right in our assessments made during the shorter cruises. Sometimes one only needs to take a bite of a dish to know whether or not they like it, they don't need to clean the plate.
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@2wheelin All you are likely to get is a "maybe" because it's not something that can be universally applied. The answer is too fact dependent to allow an answer for everyone.
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Actually the check in folks would need to get a supervisor involved in order to get a definitive answer and quite possibly the Ship's Documentation Officer as well. Not something that I would do.
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A Low-No Booze Cruise on the Mardi Gras - Semi Live
sparks1093 replied to crewsweeper's topic in Carnival Cruise Lines
Following along since we'll be on Mardi Gras next year. I was diagnosed with gout as well, but the meds keep it in check. -
The rules say that one needs a photo ID coupled with a birth certificate in order to board a closed loop cruise, and this is the expectation. What people fail to take into consideration is that exceptions are made to rules all of the time and sometimes exceptions are made for people who for whatever reason don't have exactly what's required, such as in the OP. One needs to remember what the documents are being provided for- to prove identity and citizenship. A photo of a license in this regard has the information necessary for CBP to verify the passenger's identity through the government databases that are checked while the cruise is ongoing. The bottom line is that what the OP's friend had might just work to board a closed loop cruise (I am glad that the license has been found in this case). I know that if I were in the same position I would go to the port with what I had and hope for the best. It might not work, boarding might be denied, but it also might work. Of course if I still had to pay a lot of money to get to the port then I would have to weigh that consideration, but if transportation had already been paid for (which is normally the case for us) there would be nothing to lose. Best case we go on the cruise, worse case we have a vacation in the departure port. OP, that first drink of the day will taste extra sweet.
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Bringing Beer On Board?! Here's an idea
sparks1093 replied to Dave_Nut's topic in Carnival Cruise Lines
They've always opened any cases we bring, so I just pack the lose sodas in a carryon since it saves time. -
Double charged for the spa. Who do I take this up with?
sparks1093 replied to spleenstomper's topic in Carnival Cruise Lines
I hope you find it because it sounds like getting from Carnival after the fact is a real PITA. -
Sorry, no, one does not need to be a heavy drinker to break even. Using the calculator https://cruisespotlight.com/drink-package-calculator/ if one has 6 cocktails each day (or averaged out) then they save money. On a sea day it's fairly easy, but even on a port day it isn't too difficult. Start at 5pm, end at 11pm and have one drink per hour throughout the evening. And that isn't taking into consideration the other beverages covered under Cheers. A specialty coffee or two each day, a few bottles of water and some sodas or fresh juice just adds to the savings. Everyone should look at their realistic consumption and determine if it is worthwhile or not. Blanket statements don't work since everyone's drinking patterns are different.
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Double charged for the spa. Who do I take this up with?
sparks1093 replied to spleenstomper's topic in Carnival Cruise Lines
The app only works onboard. I can't remember, did they stop handing out printed invoices at the end of the cruise? -
There is a discount for bottles of wine if I recall correctly, unless they changed that too.
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3 days until cruise and still no balcony assignment?
sparks1093 replied to June Bug's topic in Carnival Cruise Lines
I also think this has something to do with the upsell fairy being hard at work. -
I don't know why you can't purchase wine from a bar. I have never seen a limit and don't know how they are counted toward the 15 a day limit.