Vitality08

I don't think even Sam Walton can comfortably afford to "lose" money. Do you have a car and not have insurance? Do you not have health insurance? Do you not have life insurance? Even the rich buy insurance.

 

Our upcoming B2B cruise is costing us a little over $3000. The insurance cost less than $300. If we miss the cruise, we are out nothing. If we go on the cruise, we are only out the $300 so to speak. I'd rather lose the lesser amount than the higher amount. And I don't really feel like I've lost anything. I just consider it part of the cost of the cruise.

To me, there's a difference between the insurances you mentioned and trip insurance. Car and health insurance protects me from possibly owing huge amounts of money in the future...money I don't/won't have. Life insurance is in the same category. It replaces income that I would have earned to support my family in the future.

Trip insurance (the type people are suggesting the OP'S friends purchased) doesn't protect you against future expenses, it reimburses you for money you've already spent. If you think about it, if you miss a trip because of weather or what have you, you really haven't lost the money....you lost the experiences and fun you expected to have in exchange for that money but there's no added expenses related to simply missing your trip.

So in that sense, I don't think insurance is ALWAYS necessary. Like a previous poster said, most will make the trip and not need the insurance.

Please try to follow the same format and click quote on the last post of excursions. Thank you.

 

 

Sunday 2/1 - sail away

 

meet and greet

 

superbowl

 

 

Door Decorating contest begins PLEASE REGISTER HERE AHEAD OF TIME

Ribbons for 1st, 2nd, 3rd

 

Cruisingcouple2008

Suziq333

 

 

Monday 2/3 - Key West 8-4

bike rentals - self tour the island for the day with http://www.eatonbikes.com/

 

uffdafla - Kelly and Dan

cruisingcouple2008 - Amy and Austin

suziq333 -Sue and Bruce

 

Tuesday 2/4 - sea day

 

4:00 pm lrc dice game aft lido

 

 

Wednesday 2/5 - Grand Cayman 7-4 (tender)

 

mdr breakfast on a port day - austin

 

maybe walk to Eden Rock to snorkel then head over to 7 mile beach. Public transportation I believe is $2.50 if we decide to take that.

 

IslandtoIsland - Tracey and Marcus

Cruisingcouple2008 - Amy and Austin

Suziq333 - Sue and Bruce

 

beach horseback riding - carnival excursion 10:30-12:30 89.99 pp 6 spots left as of 6/30

 

uffdafla - kelly and dan

**meet up with folks for beach time after.

 

PLEASE HAND IN ALL DOOR DECORATING VOTES BY 10PM

 

Thursday 2/6 - Jamaica 7:30-2:30

 

canopy adventure - carnival excursion 4hrs 8:00 - 12:00 99.pp

 

uffdafla - kelly and dan

cruisingcouple2008 - amy and austin

 

 

 

4:00 pm lrc dice game aft lido bar

 

AT LRC door decorating winner announced

 

 

Friday 2/7 - sea day

 

4:00 pm lrc dice game aft lido bar

 

2/7 - in FLL PRE CRUISE DINNER ???

 

 

Saturday 2/8/14 - fll

 

(b2b'ers meet 10:00 APPROXIMATELY to re-board)

 

meet and greet aft lido bar

 

DOOR DECORATING CONTEST BEGINS PLEASE REGISTER HER AHEAD OF TIME

Ribbons for 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Suziq333

 

steakhouse - PLEASE email me your booking number. I will link us all together. Our reservation will be for 7pm

 

cruisingcouple2008 - amy and austin - confirmed

uffdafla - kelly and dan -confirmed

ernvette - lenore and ernie - confirmed

elephantman - helen and tom - confirmed

islandtoisland - tracey and marcus - confirmed

sweetreet - rita and jay confirmed - confirmed

muzicgal - laurie and bryan

 

 

Sunday 2/9 sea day

 

Is anyone interested in a group cocktail party ? Cost is 18.40 per person must be paid ahead of time (20 ppl minimum required

Includes 3 specialty cocktail choices (pre selected), red wine, white wine, sparkling wine, Domestic and International Beers, Soda, Regular coffee and tea.

 

Cruisingcouple2008 - Amy and Austin

 

 

4:00 - lrc dice game aft lido bar

 

 

Monday 2/10 sea day

 

1:30 - CABIN POKER CRAWL $5.00 per person

 

 

POKER/CABIN CRAWL

CALLING ALL CRUISERS...Any more crawlers wanting to join us for the FUN.................................

WE STILL NEED 1 MORE CABIN !!!!

An Aft-wrap or suite would be awesome *wink wink*

 

For those that aren't sure what is involved, here is an explanation

Each cabin has a deck of cards and as the crawlers arrive they pick a card and then host cabin writes down their pick on the scorecard.

The host cabin can also participate, and sometimes they decorate or offer up some refreshments of some sort...maybe something from their hometown.

At the end,we tally up the scorecards and find the winning hands.

There will be 1st place,70%, 2nd place,20% and 3rd place 10%...also a

"boobie" prize for the worst hand ;0)

Also if you would like to crawl without offering your room, then please let me know, so I have an idea of how many scorecards/cheat sheets to make up. Now don't be shy, because anyone can play even if you don't know how...that's what the cheat sheets are for !!!!!!

 

 

 

HOST CABINS 7 cabins needed

SuziQ333 - Susan and Bruce 6450

Cruisingcouple 2008 - Amy and Austin 9201

Uffdafla - Kelly and Dan 4E

truegrit - Barry and Barb -7247

Dandy Twister - Tracey and John 2324

Muzicgal - Laurie

 

PLAYERS

SuziQ333 - Susan and Bruce

Cruisingcouple2008 - Amy and Austin

Uffdafla - Kelly and Dan

Ernvette - Lenore and Ernie

CruiserRose - Alex and Tanya

truegrit - Barry and Barb

IslandToIsland - Tracey and Marcus

Muzicgal - Laurie & Bryan

BigDoll- Eileen and Barb

blagmn - Brenda and Damon

Rob & Jeff

Sheila & Deeanne

Dandy Twister -Tracey and John

 

 

4:00 - lrc dice game aft lido bar

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 2/11 - St. Thomas 8-6

 

may be doing a solo excursion over to trunk bay on st. John

 

cruisingcouple2008 - amy and austin

islandtoisland - tracey and marcus

 

 

Wednesday 2/12 - Antigua 8-6

 

Valley Church beach, public transportation 1.50 but not sure about that due to the time waiting for the bus to fill up. I read if we have enough people we can negotiate a cab for $8.00pp.

 

Islandtoisland - Tracey and Marcus

Cruisingcouple2008 - Amy and Austin

 

http://www.rexresorts.com/antigua/ho...x-resorts.html

all inclusive day passes are available which include:

meals, drinks and usage of facilities

9am-6pm us$60 per person

11am-4pm us$40 per person

children under 12 are half price.

we are choosing the half day price 11a-4p however we will be getting to the beach earlier than that. We will be arriving and departing by taxi.

 

truegrit - Barry and Barb

 

 

Thursday 2/13 - Tortola 7-2:30

 

Brewers Bay Beach about 15 minutes from pier. Taxi 8pp beach free. Chairs extra

 

4:00 - lrc dice game aft lido bar

 

 

Friday 2/14 - sea day

 

Would anyone be interested in a gift exchange ? 10.00 limit. 3:00 pm prior to LRC you must bring a gift to get a gift

 

Cruisingcouple2008 - Amy and Austin

Suziq333 - Suzi and Bruce

 

3:30 - lrc dice game aft lido bar - final meet and mingle.

DOOR DECORATING CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED AFTER LRC

 

 

Saturday 2/15 - Nassau 1-7

 

Breezes in Nassau ..http://www.breezes.com/resorts/breezes-bahamas# they gave us, thanks to juli, a discounted rate of $40 pp since we will have a limited time there. A normal day pass ($65) allows you in from 10am to 6pm. This is what is included...

 

Our super- inclusive rates include:

 

• breakfast & lunch in a tropical terrace buffet setting

• beach grill

• pool bar & lobby bar – serving premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

• several fresh water pools that all flow into one another, towels

• misting pool and jaccuzi

• kayaks, windsurfing, & sailing, all with instruction

• flying trapeze

• rock-climbing wall

• basketball & volleyball

• 3 tennis courts

• fully equipped fitness center

• games room and activity center

• daily themed activities

#10 jitney to breezes. It is $1.25 pp. You need exact change. It takes about 15 minutes to get there & the bus makes stops along the way. The bus stop is right across from breezes.

You can also take a cab. It seems like it was about $5 pp for a group of four. We will have to take a cab back because the jitney stops running at 5pm I think. Space is limited to 30, but they might allow a few beyond that since we are technically a group :) Here is the list so far.....

 

Cool breeze cruiser- Juli & J.R. (2)

ramrax4- Robin & Robert (2)

elephant man- Tom & Helen (2)

suziq333 -Sue,Bruce,Jeff,Rob, Sheila, Deeann (6)

blgamn - Brenda and Damon (2)

IslandToIsland -Tracey & Marcus (2)

Akeka - Kay Lynn, Steve & Earl (3)

Cruisingcouple2008 - Amy and Austin (2)

Uffdafla - Kelly and Dan

lMuzicgal -Laurie and Bryan

Bigdoll -Eileen and Barb

__________________

Sunday 2/16/14 fll disembark

 

 

If people are interested in signing up for excursions or joining in activities now is the time to get our plans made and reserved.

 

 

Planning to do the steakhouse with us ??? Please write confirmed next to your name or add it and confirm. I will be sending in steakhouse reservations IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS !!

__________________

Add me to the bike tour in Key West. I reserved my bike today.

Is it flat rate and if not, how much have you paid in the past?

The service offered by Carnival is only $15. Would I do substantially better with a taxi?

I did a search but only found old posts from 2005. I looked at the Native way site and I like the Stingray/Coral garden and Starfish tour. Much cheaper at $40pp vx RCCL's excursion at $75pp (though it is one hr longer). Native's later tour starts at 11:15. So dumb question? Am I stuck with ship only excursions since we dock so late? Any other tours that go later?

In my limited experience with private tours, I've found that the tour operator's are very familiar with the arrival times of all the ships and adjust their start times to accommodate. I would email the company you are interested in and ask if they will be adjusting their times to accommodate the ships passengers.

Is being quarantined an "on your honor" type thing? Does someone come check to make sure you haven't left the room?

I prefer a review written in ONE post (not a series of posts) with a link to pictures (or no pictures at all). I prefer it sorted by categories (service, dining, entertainment, stateroom, etc) rather than chronologically. I will not read one that is all caps, no paragraphs or written in a dozen different posts with comments between. I love reviews, always click on them, but will abandon if longer than a novel or too tedious to bother with.

Second!:)

Keep it short and sweet.

 

I don't like pictures.

 

I don't care about where you stayed the night before.

 

I don't care about the details of your meals.

 

Just summarize...what was good, what wasn't good. What stood out...either negative or positive.

 

I'd probably like a review in the form of an outline....with perhaps 10 bullet points.

This sums up my feeling. I like bullets that get to the down and dirty. I don't mind a few pictures here and there but generally, I don't care for them. I think I may be in the minority with this opinion. Generally, if the subject line of a thread is "Live from ......." I don't even open it.

There's a review style that fits all so I think it's best that you do the type of review YOU would like to read.

For those doing the bike rentals for Key West, are you having the bikes delivered to the port?

The prices are crazy! We booked three weeks ago through Last Minute Travel and got the Best Western Plus Ft. Lauderdale Airport South for $155 with taxes.

I ended up going with Econo Lodge. The reviews are decent and the price with taxes was $115. They offer a free airport shuttle and the shuttle to the port is $5. My flight doesn't land until almost 10 pm so all I'll need the room for is to sleep. Hopefully it's suitable for that. lol.

Which hotels are people staying at pre cruise? the prices seem so high. I know its best to arrive the day before especially because it's winter but these prices seem ridiculous.

thanks!

Were they an all a capella group on the ship also?

Thanks all. No harm in asking.

 

I was a little confused because the day after we booked our cabin category was $10 cheaper. Not much but I thought I would call and ask. She said I could get the new rate if I switched rooms. So I thought maybe that was the case now but I guess that is only because we just booked.

I think there is either a 24 or 48 price guarantee when you book. That's what you must have gotten for the first price drop.

Again, that wording that CNN showed does not appear in Carnival's current ticket contract. Watching the video it appears that they were quoting a Carnival lawyer, and if so that shame on him, but that was not taken from their current contract.

 

It's entirely possible that the phrase was in the contract that was valid at the time of the Triumph incident but I don't have access to the older contracts. So, we don't know when Carnival changed their contract and we don't know when Royal changed their contract. They may have been concurrent.

 

I don't like Carnival and I don't see myself ever cruising with them, so I'm not blindly defending them, but I think CNN is doing their usual stellar job of reporting the facts. :rolleyes:

I think it a defense the lawyers are offering now to try and limit their liability.

I was also told that they also aim for people who are at max capacity and try to sell a room with more square footage.

I got an upsell call to move from a Riveria inside to one of the suites. The guy told me it was because it was 4 of us in the room and they wanted to offer us more space. I didn't take it because it would have been an addition $900.

I was planning on booking but still deciding. So far, the price on the cruise I'm looking at has remained steady.

My only hang up is that I have 2 trips coming up in Feb and April that i still need to buy air fare for. This cruise wouldn't be until Feb of 2015. I'm starting to think that the money I would spend on the deposit can be used to buy my airfare for trips that coming up sooner. decisions, decisions. I'll decide by Wednesday.

I am pretty sure that is under pool on deck 11. The pool itself goes down into that area on deck 10. Not sure if that is access to pumps or what but that is how it looks to line up.

any idea how noisy that may be? I'm not a light sleeper but if it's extreme I may be bothered by it.

I think there will be plenty of people who would enjoy it. I personally don't read long reviews. My favorites are the bullet style reviews. Short and sweet. But if this is something you want to do and will enjoy it, I think you should.

Looking at booking Adventure of the Seas room 9601. When checking the deck plans, in that area on deck 10 is just white space. Does anyone know what this is or may be?

In order for me to select a room on a different floor, my price goes up by $200.

thanks!

One of my pet peeves is the fact that restaurants go to some length to make sure the tables are wiped properly and dishes and silverware are clean. Not once have I ever seen a restaurant employee wipe off the salt & pepper shakers.

 

There's no fixing stupid. Not even with duct tape.

 

Cathy

I've seen workers wipe salt and pepper shakers along with ketchup and bbq sauce bottles that sit on the table. Not sure how clean the towel they use is though.

Agreed! I know the breakfast at Taste is available on the Dream, Magic, Breeze and Sunshine. Not sure about the other ships :o.

 

Will have to look on the Miracle in February. It would be a nice quiet alternative to the Lido on Sea Days - if it's available. ;)

Glory had a taste bar but I don't know if they served breakfast. I was on her back in June.

I have one coupon left and I board my next cruise on February 2, 2014.:rolleyes:

A friend of mine may be joining us on this cruise! She's still deciding so I will update when she decides.

Second question: I'm not having any luck applying my FCC. Carnival said I had to have CruCon do it. Crucon sent me a link to redeem it on line but I can't get it to submit. Advise please.

Thanks.

Shareese aka Vitality08

Glad everyone is saving money on this price drop :D

 

Welcome to all the new comers. We love adding new peeps to our group.

Lynn, Laurie and Robin have an awesome trip I cant wait to see pics.

 

Grisso I sent you an email would love if you and Sue could come.

 

SUZIQ you are awesome keeping this up to date while my life is sooooocrazy !

 

 

I saved $120 on the military rate. I had to make full single deposit for the rate but once I apply my FCC, Carnival will owe me money!

POKER/CABIN CRAWL

Any more crawlers wanting to join us for the FUN.................................

 

For those that aren't sure what is involved, here is an explanation ;)

Each cabin has a deck of cards and as the crawlers arrive they pick a card and then host cabin writes down their pick on the scorecard.

The host cabin can also participate, and sometimes they decorate or offer up some refreshments of some sort...maybe something from their hometown.

At the end,we tally up the scorecards and find the winning hands.

There will be 1st place,70%, 2nd place,20% and 3rd place 10%...also a

"boobie" prize for the worst hand ;0)

Also if you would like to crawl without offering your room, then please let me know, so I have an idea of how many scorecards/cheatsheets to make up. Now don't be shy, because anyone can play even if you don't know how...that's what the cheatsheets are for !!!!!!

 

Monday 2/10 Sea Day

 

1:30 - CABIN POKER CRAWL $5.00 per person

 

HOST CABINS 7 cabins needed

SuziQ333 - Susan and Bruce 6450

Cruisingcouple 2008 - Amy and Austin 9201

Uffdafla - Kelly and Dan 4E

 

PLAYERS

SuziQ333 - Susan and Bruce

Cruisingcouple2008 - Amy and Austin

Uffdafla - Kelly and Dan

Ernvette - Lenore and Ernie

CruiserRose - Alex and Tanya

do all the crawlers travel together from room to room?

Hi Amy,

 

I actually booked on my own. I went on this cruise last year for Super Bowl and had so much fun I booked about 2 weeks after returning from last year's cruise!!;)

 

I'm cruising solo and spending 3 nights pre-cruise and 2 post-cruise. Last year I stayed at the Sheraton FLB - great location. For this cruise, I discovered a boutique hotel next door to the Westin right on the beach. Good reviews on Trip Advisor! Where are you staying?

 

I'm so looking forward to meeting everyone and cruising!!:)

 

Debbie

I'm also booked solo. What kind of room did you get? I booked an 1A, inside porthole.