emceejay

It is walkable, but it is a really long walk. 

As you get off the ship (or through the local vendor area, I can’t remember) there will be people there offering rides to Eagle Beach, but you will have to wait until they fill their vehicle (open air safari truck type thing).

There are taxis that can take you.  Some will take a card, otherwise US cash is fine. Some will offer to pick you back up at a particular time, but keep in mind they will not want you to be wet and sandy.

The local bus system is also really reliable and the terminal is not far from the port.  You can pay per trip (2.50), buy a retour card (round trip) or an all day pass for $10.

There are vendors at Eagle Beach that rent chairs or you can bring your own. 

On 8/6/2022 at 10:44 AM, doktor71 said:

Any recommendations for excursions would be appreciated!

In Icy Strait:  I highly recommend Hoonah Whale Tours.  https://www.hoonahwhaletours.com

It is a family run business and there are only 6 passengers on the boat.

Just returned from this itinerary. 

With the exception of Icy Strait Point, the times in port are VERY short.

If you like to wander around in the port locations, I would pay close attention to the excursion times.

That being said if we were to do it again, we would likely book an excursion on the ISP day.

6 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

I might be misunderstanding you, and if I am, I apologize, but I just want to clarify something. The Cruise Cash you bought can't be used to buy prepaid gratuities. It can only be used to pay gratuities if you choose to pay them on the cruise because the Cruise Cash funds won't appear in your account until embarkation day. If you don't prepay gratuities, they'll be charged to your S&S account on the last night. Also keep in mind that the Cruise Cash will be the first funds to be deducted from your S&S account as soon as you start spending on board. So if you happen to spend $500 (or more) before the last night, there won't be any Cruise Cash left to pay gratuities.

Thanks for the clarification.  My intention was to point out that we planned to make a payment to cover the gratuities, so Carnival would have had an advance on our money regardless.  By purchasing the Cruise Cash we help them “stay out of bankruptcy”  and make a nice return on our money.

We bought $500 worth for an April 2021cruise.  

Yes, it is a year out, but who else will give me a 20% return on my money?  My 12 month CD is only earning 7%.

The fine print also says it can be used for gratuities - which we were going to prepay anyway.

You're not the only one...

Our numbers did not add up either.  Need to call back and speak with a different rep.  The one we got was just as frustrated with us as we were with her.

Suggestion:  Screenshot / make a copy of the April/May newly cancelled cruise so you have your most recent dollar amounts.  Once the rep "cancels it" and moves the FCC/OBC to a different booking it is gone for good (Learned this the hard way).

In trying to discuss numbers, we were not speaking the same language...  She was quoting figures at a per-passenger rate, while we were talking amounts paid.     (...Felt like when a salesman talks in terms of monthly payments and we want to talk total sale amount )

We are now going back over our records as it seems the initial $500 we put on the booking that is receiving the FCC/OBC has vanished and been replaced by the FCC.  

10 minutes ago, Organized Chaos said:

The sensationalism of this thread title and the OP's first comment are worthy of today's mainstream media. It's designed to grab attention, has a strong potential to cause unnecessary panic, yet is lacking important context.

Well said.  Completely agree.

45 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

I guess the point is, at the high level.....CDC says defer all cruise travel as of 2 days ago,

The article in the first link, which is more of a summary of events, states that the CDC issued the recommendation on March 17 .... not exactly new information.

7 minutes ago, pinacoladasatpianobar said:

Do you remember how much it was and how long ago. I’m sure prices went up

Ours was about 5 years ago.  We bought the album, and the rights to ALL the photos, so the price was close to $1000.   Like I said, it was pricey, but  worth it.  To this day, the pictures are on our desks at work and the walls of our home.

From the link I already gave you:

Not sure how many photos you need, but it states it starts at $149.

They take a ton of shots, but you don't have to buy them all....

3 hours ago, IonImplantTech said:

 

Bingo!  Thats what I meant.  LOL thanks!

Recently called Carnival to confirm that FCC/OBC for a cruise scheduled April 18 is transferrable to a cruise already booked (in my case December).  Rep said no problem.  Only difficulty might be getting through to Carnival

We did a family photoshoot on Half Moon Key through the Dreams Studio (part of Pixels).

It was not cheap, but the photos are outstanding. 

According to this link:  https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1153/~/pixels-photo-gallery-and-dreams-studio  you can make a reservation request ahead of time.  

We made ours on the ship one evening a night or two before we were to arrive on the island.

10 hours ago, tallnthensome said:

Where are those who were so sure just a day ago that they’d be sailing here in a few weeks ......???? Pretty quiet now or a changed tune. 

Well, that’s quite the inciteful post, but I’ll bite...

Still here - quietly watching all the dogmatic posts about this virus.

Still have the Horizon booked for April 18 - Not planning to cancel.   I’ll (hopefully) take my FCC/OBC and apply it to my December booking. Also have a cruise booked next April, so not worried about cruising again.

Still washing my hands and avoiding sick people.
 

1 hour ago, Butterbean1000 said:

I really miss that ding. 🛎

The local Walmart has the exact “ding” as you approach the cosmetics aisle - presumably to alert you you are being recorded

Check your junk mail.

We are booked for April 18.  Received the email Monday.  Booked on Carnival’s site.

It was filtered to spam

Yes, we have done it lots of times.  Never had a problem with a bartender filling it with soda and ice using bottomless bubbles.

That's right - I forgot about the manifest submission.

However, I thought that was primarily used for terrorism suspects.  

CBP/Homeland Security is currently screening passengers at 5 airports in the US.

Has it been confirmed they are actively screening cruise ship manifests?

6 hours ago, sapphire_407 said:

 

If you have been to China in the last 14 days prior to your embarkation day,

How would Carnival even know this??  They don’t have access to APIS, or similar,  do they?

It seems they are relying on the honor system - like back when one had to fill out the hand written health form....even if you had the sniffles, you likely weren’t going to risk being denied boarding by checking “yes”.

This virus, like others is avoided by hand washing, not touching eyes/nose and avoiding contact with someone who is sick.

This is Carnival’s attempt to quell fear, based on the media blitz that is happening, but in reality, this virus is just as common/dangerous as the flu, noro, SARS, et al.

I don’t recall the exact amount, but it’s about $25.

You CAN get a bucket of Corona, but because they come in glass bottles,  you will be served 4 beers already poured into plastic pint glasses.  They  use crushed ice as opposed to cubes and “pack” the cups in so they do not move.  You just need to drink them more quickly.    I wish Carnival would switch to cans for Corona.

*over New Years the Breeze was out of limes - may want to confirm they have limes before ordering

I agree with some of the above ideas:  Free drinks or OBC

Perhaps on a sliding scale; the more days, the more benefit.

The program is supposed to reward you for being a frequent customer.  I would prefer a discount over trinkets.  With OBC I could choose to buy a keychain, lanyard, or blanket.

Drinks are free at the past guest reception, but would prefer to have my free drinks on my own schedule

Just got off the Breeze and did not see these for sale anywhere.  Anyone know what ships other than Vista they are available on?

Breeze had the Red Frog Amber and Caribbean Wheat (is there a third Red Frog beer??), the Parched Pig IPA, and I think I saw Heineken in the pub (could be wrong...).  I don’t recall if Blue Iguana had draft beers available 

Have they moved to cans yet for Corona / Light or is it still glass bottles, which they pour into those plastic bottles?

It sounds like they did away with the acoustic guitar player as well ?