gadan1

You don't pay tax on Cheers at all. You DO pay tax on drinks purchased on embarkation day until you reach international waters. For Cheers, that tax is based on what the drink costs had you not had cheers. So if I use Cheers and order a $10 drink in a location with 8% sales tax, I sign a receipt with $.80 in tax. Without cheers, it would have been $10 + .80 cents tax + 15% gratuity.

If it has been less than 48 hours since you booked, you may be able to file a claim under Carnival's Lowest price guarantee that applies to all? bookings (I see nothing in the terms that says super saver doesn't apply): http://www.carnival.com/content/lowest-price-guarantee.aspx

This is different than the early saver price protection which applies as late as 2 days prior to sailing; only early saver bookings qualify for that protection

Everything on Lido will be open: the regular buffet (check out both lines; there's a regular one and a comfort kitchen one; they have different options. A menu is usually posted next to the plates), pizza, deli, Guy's Burgers, the Blue Iguana Cantina (burritos and tacos), and the Fish & Chips up the stairs on 10.

I wear a little waterproof "wallet" around my neck with my ship card, ID, a credit card, and cash. No risk of it falling out of a pocket and or stolen if left behind while I'm in the water since it stays ON me.

Fall is also the most active part of hurricane season (June 1-Nov 30) with late August-October being the most active traditionally. It wouldn't stop me from cruising, but just be prepared for potential changes in plans.

My mom and I did a B2B in April-May and it was her first cruise with a pacemaker. Going through security (both at the airport and the cruise port), she just pulled out her pacemaker card and they patted her down.

Getting back on the ship after a day in port, she just told security she had a pacemaker. They would shut off the machine and/or have her just walk around it and they would then have to summon a female security officer to pat her down. The female officer was usually already down there and just had to be pulled over from whatever she was doing.

Getting off the ship on port days do not involve the scanners or security.

I second looking at 3rd party coverage. Carnival's coverage is minimal. $500 if your trip is delayed to catch up with the ship, 10K in medical, and 30K in evacuation, no coverage for cancellation.

For about $4 more than what Carnival wanted, I got coverage that covered canceling for a lot of reasons (medical, family death or injury) as well as higher limits for all the other.

http://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/vacation-protection.aspx

Does that also mean that if you are platinum and traveling with a Gold member they get to go to the Special Party and receive the gifts as well?

No-the gifts and party are still just for the platinum member.

My mom and I have done this a few times (I'm platinum; she's gold). We print the all-in-one boarding pass and check in together in the platinum lounge/line--they always have both our cards waiting.

If the cards have his name on them, you can use them to purchase Carnival gift cards online and then apply those to your sign and sail. I've done that when I've received the Visa/MC gift cards.

Once on board, take the carnival cards (I usually just do electronic cards and print out the emails) to the kiosks or guest services to load.

Keep an eye on your balance. If you don't think you'll spend it all, go to the casino, transfer your balance to your casino account, play the slots a few times and then cash out.

Keep in mind that Visa/MC gift cards generally can not be redeemed for cash (prepaid cards can; there is a difference between the 2).

It is generally the same across ships: You'll get a letter the last day with information on where to go and when on "turnaround day." Check in with guest services mid-cruise to make sure you are on the B2B list. It's usually 10:30 or so assuming a normal 8am arrival. They will then probably give you your new sign and sail cards (both ours did, then walk you off and through customs and back on board, stopping to put your new picture on the card. If you are staying in the same cabin, you can leave everything as is. Just grab your passport and current sign and sail and customs form as you go to the meeting spot. If you are moving cabins, you will need to pack up and move (a steward can help with that) cabins.

FTTF doesn't get you off the ship any faster for ports where you dock. It will get you on a priority tender for ports where a tender is required.

I would say that the decision as to whether it is worth it is this: is it worth $50 for you to get to your cabin as soon as you board or to be one of the first folks off the ship at the end of the cruise? For me, that would depend on how much I carried on and whether I was cruising solo or not (more likely if I were as it's hard to get lunch while carrying around your carry on and no one is with you to watch your stuff).

The $50 penalty no longer applies once final payment date is reached. Normal cancellation penalties apply once final payment is reached. See section 6 to figure out where you are in the cancellation penalties (they escalate the closer you get to sailing): http://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/legal-notice/ticket-contract.aspx

I've done a few cruises solo with anytime dining and always had a table to myself.

I've been on the Glory a few times (including a B2B in April-May of this year). The rooms have 2 power outlets in the desk area. One is US 110v, one is European 220v. You can bring a power strip but they may take it. I usually carry a small 3 outlet tap versus a power strip and put it in my carryon bag and no one has ever said anything about it.

As for what not to miss, if you drink, try to visit the Alchemy bar. Great bartenders and great (strong) martinis. You can order off the menu or just tell them what you feel like drinking (sweet, fruity, sour, etc) and they'll whip something up for you. It's less crowded earlier in the week.

 

That's why if you do have a very last minute cancellation, it is best for that person to just be a no show. Yes they will lose everything (port fees will be refunded) but at least the other person won't be repriced. Print out separate boarding passes and when you get to the port say your cabin mate is on the way. If the no show has insurance they can seek reimbursement through them. It's really the best option for a bad scenario.

It's only financially best when both of the parties don't have insurance or have insurance that won't cover the cancelled reason. If they do, then it is better to cancel. Then the cancelled person can file a claim and get reimbursed for the cancellation penalties and the remaining person can get reimbursed for the single supplement that kicked in as a result of the first person canceling. It is my understanding that one does have to actually cancel in order to file an insurance claim.

Anyone travel with a pacemaker???...I may have asked this 3 years ago but have forgotten...does the ship have something to monitor that..while patient is away from the land line?

My mom has a pacemaker and we did a B2B in April/May. Nothing on the ship to monitor but that didn't seem to be a problem for her. Because of the x-ray machine to get back on the ship after ports, she would just tell the security officer she had a pacemaker, they'd shut the x-ray off so she could go through and then have a female officer come over and pat her down.

oh... I thought you need to hit the 55 day mark to loose 50%

You are right. The lines in the table on Carnival's site do not line up. Sorry--65 days, it's just the full deposit ($250/person on a 7 day). Once you hit 55, it's 50%, 75% at 29 days and 100% at 14.

At 65 days, you would be subject to a the greater of 50% of your total fare or the deposit. The $50 early saver penalty only applies before final payment (for all other fares, there is no penalty to cancel before final payment) See http://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/legal-notice/ticket-contract.aspx

Early saver does not allow any name changes. See http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/specials/pay-per-day-2.aspx

To do an actual name change, you'd have to cancel and rebook at current prices. The fees would be based on wherever you are in the penalties if past final payment or the $50 per person, deposit held for early saver.

Vera was on the Glory when we were on there (April 25-May 9)

I just did the hop on hop off May 9. We were off the ship and shuttled over to bayside marketplace. To catch the buses. The city and beach tours are both 90 minutes. I was able to do the 9:00 tour and could have done a 10:30 and still made the 12pm shuttle to FLL, which got us to the airport around 1. I opted to grab lunch and walk around bayside after the first tour.

I like deck 9 or deck 7. Deck 9 is nice because it's on Lido and you have cabins above and below (there are only cabins forward and part of mid-ship). There's a glass door between outside and the cabins to keep it quiet.

I like 7 because it is sandwiched between floors of cabins, 2 floors up to Lido, 2 floors down to the casino and bars.

Deck 10 has the gym above it.

I have a small carryon tote and my purse. Usually I carry money, id, medications, electronics plus enough clothes to get me through a couple days IF something were to happen to my checked bag (either through the airline flight to the port or at the port).

No--if a drink is above $10, you get a 25% discount under cheers. So a drink that is $9.95 is included in cheers and a drink that is 10.05 will cost you $7.53 + tip.