mcarney

We boarded the Ecstasy on March 20th .. lady at check in counter said "you know the drill, but I still have to say it ... blah blah blah and of course your room is ready now"

Signs on the fire door are the new generic ones ... I am thinking to supposedly stop everyone unless they know they can access their cabins.

Marquis (sp) sign that is on a loop telling everyone about the ship, things to do, cheers and of course when your cabin is ready ... same sign as always Diamond, Platinum and FTTF have priority room access (available at 11:30), everyone else is 1:30

Our room was about 98% ready (missing the 2 free waters and 2 glasses) - no biggie ... unpacked, left our standard note for extra pillows & glasses and asked for ice and off we went to get lunch.

Removing that perk from D/P would not be a good move on Carnival's part ... I'd surely give up those nasty chocolate covered strawberries if they need to save $ and hire more staff

Anyone recently returning platinum folks able to comment on this thread? Did you get early access to your cabins or not?

We boarded the Ecstasy on march 20th and no problems accessing our room ... actually thr lady at check in made it a point to tell us our room was ready (this was 11:30am)

For those of you arguing with firemanbobswife about what is still on the website and what never was, let me try to clarify because you're completely misunderstanding what was on there and what is now gone. If you look in the FAQ's at the FTTF info, you'll notice that with each FTTF perk, it also includes this statement: "Note: This is also a benefit for VIFP Diamond and Platinum guests." That statement used to be included with the First Access to Stateroom perk. Now it is not there.

 

You're the one who isn't comprehending what's being said.

 

Just FYI, in order to insert images directly in the body of a post, you first have to upload them to an image hosting website of some kind. Then you use the URL (web address) of that picture to insert it into the post. Most people on here used to use Photobucket, but last year they decided to force everyone to upgrade to a paid subscription in order to post images to other websites. That's why, if you go back to older posts that once had these images, there will be a bunch of Photobucket error messages where the pictures used to be.

Thank you 😊

It might not have been under the Diamond / Platinum list of perks ... but there were plenty of other documentation that clearly stated that D/P/FTTF had early access to cabins ... emails prior to cruise, signs on fire doors, sign next to guest services, emails from various CCL employees, CCL Facebook page, John Heald facebook page, Facebook private messages, notations under FTTF FAQ ...I'm sure there is more documentation out there.

Or these emails from Carnival that you get before every cruise ... notice the red "x" from October 2017 ... the email that was just received March 16, 2018 has removed this statement

Additional documentation where early access was for Diamond, Platinum and FTTF

GS - this is the electronic sign that plays on a loop just next to the Guest Services desk

Priority - this was on the website under Priority / Boarding Pass

Had to attach the pictures ... can't figure out how to paste them in the actual post

I emailed Carnival after a “discussion” on here where people were saying Suites also got early access to their cabin along with FTTF/Diamonds/and Platinums. I asked if it was a perk of a Suite and they confirmed it was not.

Thank you very much ... this is very helpful --- How long ago was this if you don't mind me asking.

That is where they had it and it WAS a perk as evidenced numerous places such as the FTTF page, at embarkation, on the ship, etc. Carnival’s website has always been pretty sad. Try and find what Suite perks are included! It’s practically impossible.

 

No matter where it was listed, it in fact WAS (and hopefully still is a perk). If they were “just doing it” then it wouldn’t have been in writing. I will back up my claims with evidence.

When did you get that email with regard to the suite? I'm wondering if everyone who books a suite gets it automatically or did y'all ask what was included and they sent the email.

Thank you

I was on the Pride in September in an extended balcony and requested a lounge chair from my steward .. 10 minutes later he and a coworker were knocking on my door carrying a lounger, maneuvered through the cabin out to the balcony :)

Something I notice is policies seem to say - Pays UP TO $xyz, not Pays a FLAT $xyz, so something must factor into how much they pay out.

 

In any event, insurance companies are in the business of making money, so they must be taking in more than they pay out. They likely did have a bad year in 2017, so I would think premiums are going to go up, and perhaps coverage down, on new policies.

I know how insurance companies work ... been working for one for 21 years.

Yes, they do say 'up to' on some benefits and others it's a flat fee ... e.g.

"The Company will pay benefits for Covered Expenses incurred, up to the Maximum Benefit shown ... " no insurance company is going to pay above what the expenses are ... if the medical expense is $950 but the coverage is up to $1000, insurance company is only going to pay $950.

The it ancillary benefits (e.g. itinerary changes, ship disruption, etc) are flat reimbursement amounts

Someone on another site posted that she was offered but did not take it the owners suite on her 4 day (sensation or inspiration) for $12xx.xx (forget the actual amount, but it was twelve hundred and something)

A friend was offered and took an offer for the owners suite on our 10 day Journeys cruise on the ecstasy for $34xx.xx

Thanks for clarifying!

You're welcome

Yes' date=' but wasn't your change due to a medical emergency? It seems the benefit you got has specific "covered service disruptions." So, while you can confirm that medical emergency is such a covered disruption, I'm looking for confirmation as to whether or not weather is one as well.[/quote']

 

The medical emergency was someone (not in my party) had to go to the hospital ... our princess Cay day flipped with Nassau so they (not on my policy) could get off the ship and go to the hospital in Nassau.

 

My 1st claim was for a changed itinerary before and after departure ... itinerary changed a month before the cruise and then again during the cruise ...we missed grand Turk because of high winds ... our claim was for changed Itinerary both BEFORE ($750 each) and AFTER ($200 each) departure

Give it time.... It will happen. Once they analyze their claim payouts and reasons why...adjustments will be made. No different then any other type of insurance policy. They may not go to seasonal adjustments...but rates will rise. Or certain exclusions will be added and/or the amount payed out reduced. etc. It's still a good deal especially if they maintain the "missed/cancelled port" coverage

If they remove the itinerary change benefit, then I will revisit and research for a different insurer

I notice the after departure change was not weather related.

 

From reading it' date=' I think an after departure skipping of port because of weather would not be covered. Can anyone confirm this one way or another?

 

Sent from my SM-G930P using Forums mobile app

It doesn't matter why the itinerary changed ... it pays because of a change ... I am confirming it ... just got 2 checks for $200 each when our ports were flipped

There is currently no difference in premiums between seasons (hurricane or other). Premiums are based upon other factors, and age is a big one. My husband turned 65 in December and it increased the amount we pay for his premium, while mine is the same. Nationwide has good policies but there are other companies you can purchase through “insure my trip” also.

Yes, age and amount .. when I turned 50, the premium jumped too ... but like the payoutswhen pur itinerary changes

I buy this sam every insurance for different months of the year and the premiums do not go up during hurricane season ... I have filed 2 claims so far ... November for intinerary change BEFORE departure date (doesn't matter what type of change or what caused it) and itinerary change AFTER departure (during the cruise) ... received $950 each

Second claim was for itinerary change AFTER departure date (same ports of call, just had to reverse them due to a medical emergency and the guest had to go to the hospital) ... $200 each reimbursement.

I will always buy Nationwide Cruise policies

I have a disabled spouse, so many of your questions are confusing me, along with this statement above. If you need WC assistance to the cabin, than why in the world won't you go online, and purchase a transport WC for under $100.00 and help your Dad yourself when he needs it? Drop your luggage off with the porters, and you take care of your Dad. Same with self debark. What you are looking for is "others" to help while you lug all your luggage.

 

I came to the conclusion because you Dad can do excursions, but can't walk on and off the ship.

 

My wife uses a scooter in port. We travel around the world with a travel scooter. We also have a transport WC for when it is needed. We don't always travel with it, if we have the scooter, but if we decide to go on a short trip, where walking won't be major, than I bring the Transport since it comes in a luggage bag. We also have a regulation WC we use, if needed, and a larger Scooter, for off roading events and longer day trips, such as at Disney.

 

So my suggestion is buy a transport WC, check your luggage, and take care of your Dad yourself.

Dad can walk around the ship, but cannot walk up/down those huge ramps ... I see able bodied guests struggle, so asking an elderly person climb 3 flights (whether it be on a ramp/stairs, etc) is a little ridiculous, wouldn't you think? Instead, as my PVP as well as the special needs dept suggests is to request wheelchair assistance when embarking and debarking bypassing the ramps ... that's what the wheelchair assistance is there for ... otherwise, they wouldn't notate it as an option.

Stating that I don't take care of my father is asinine to say the least ... so, please do not assume that I am not ... dad can walk with the walker around the ship (slowly, but surely) and any easy excursions that we feel that he is capable of doing ... I certainly did not state nor imply that he's going to be on a walking tour or hiking up mountains, but merely can walk with his walker to an excursion meeting point and most likely on a van for a city tour.

Thank you for your suggestion, but until my father needs a wheelchair or scooter more than getting on/off the ship, we will stick to his walker and request and accept the wheelchair assistance as offered by the cruise line.

We just did this and as you stated, as long as person accompying the wheel chair passenger can handle the suitcase, there's

No issue. If you can't, then just give it to someone else in your party. It was all very easy

Thank you! And to confirm you did self assist debarkation at PC, right?

I figured that from your posts - my DH is the same way using a cane rather than the walker - but I was concerned others reading the thread might think they could always rent a wheelchair after they get on the ship and that normally can't/doesn't happen. :) Arrangements need to be made ahead of time.

Definitely ... dad can use a cane, but since we will be on a ship - I told him he needs his walker for more stability

Unless you booked the lowest category on the lowest deck and only 2 persons with no special VIFP offers, none of these price checker websites are going to help ... your best way to check for price drops is by doing a mock booking ...

Thank you ... We always get to port early and have never had a problem with wheelchair assistance ... but that is Charleston ... I suppose PC will be a new experience as far as handicapped boarding/debarkation goes ... of course, I'll talk with GS and make any necessary arrangements ... if we have to disembark by zone .. no biggie, we should be #1 or 2 depending on how many diamonds there are

Thank you ...

Dad will only need a wheelchair for embarkation and debarkation... he will have his walker for getting around the ship and excursions

When you arrive at the terminal in PC alert the first person you see in a Carnival uniform that you signed up for wheelchair assistance. They'll get a chair and wheel you/dad through check-in. Then to a waiting area where another employee will come to wheel him aboard (with you accompanying).

 

Will you have a rental wheelchair waiting in the cabin? We don't so for my DH they drop us off in the Lido and when the cabins are ready around 1:30 we walk slowly to the cabin.

One person is allowed to accompany the person being wheeled.

To get right into your cabin before 1:30ish you have to be high in the loyalty ranks or have paid for FTTF.

For disembarkation they have those needing assistance wait in one location like a dining room and take you in the order your assignment ticket says.

Thank you ... no, dad will have his walker - no biggie, as long as he's wheeled on the ship, he can take it from there ... we are platinum, so we can go straight to our rooms.

I would prefer to have wheelchair assistance for dad and I will self assist (planning on 1 bag for me and dad combined)

Hi

I don't know what they did for you in Charleston, but for your debarkation..."self- assist debarkation" means you don't need assistance. They state that quite clearly.

 

So that would mean that you would need to have your own wheelchair and be able to navigate all your luggage and yourselves off the ship without assistance. If you need help with a wheelchair, you would normally need to wait.

 

hope this helps

Thank you ... usually when they assist with wheelchair (their wheelchairs), carnival will have a person pushing the chair ... I would be responsible for any bags (self assist)

I will just have to check with GS as for their policy at PC ... I just don't do checked bags and would prefer not to put my bags out the night before and go through that mess in the morning ... I can handle our bag (combining dads and my stuff in 1 bag) - once through customs, dad can use his walker and my bf will get the car