kicia

Testing between B2B changed the beginning of April.  It is up to the doctor on board to determine if testing is required based on the number of covid cases on board. 

19 hours ago, AtomicCruiser said:

My wife and I will turn Diamond on our next Carnival cruise.  We have been on a couple lately (Breeze in March and Dream in April and May).  The ships are definitely understaffed.  We saw 1/2 hour wait in deli or coffee bar lines, slow service in restaurants, and minimal onboard activities.

The Platinum/Diamond parties used to be very nice (sliders, other snacks, and plenty of drinks).  Not lately." On the Breeze, the party was at 11am (drink time?), due to staffing.

Also due to staffing issues (supposedly at Carnival home office), we have been trying unsuccessfully for months to get our benefit for completing 25 cruises.  It used to mean 25% off an upcoming cruise.  They have now changed that to 25% in onboard credits (OBC).  So, on a $4,000 Journeys Cruise, would you rather have $1,000 off, or $1,000 in use it or lose it credits?

Also noticeable on these cruises was the high number of blue and red badges.  Carnival is definitely catering to the newer cruisers, as they are spending tons of money onboard.  This and many of the reductions are all feeding the bottom line.  Obviously, they are not as concerned about tried and true loyalty (Diamond and Platinum) as they used to be.

So, no more lounge for preboarding, no more special Diamond meeting, minimal (if any) Platinum/Diamond parties, hard time getting benefits.  The next thing they will say is no more free laundry.  My be time to rethink that RV, even with high gas prices.

The Milestone award was never a  percentage off of the cruise rate and it always was OBC in the amount of 25% (or whichever level) of your alone basic cruise fare.  We used our 25% in 2007 and nothing has changed.  It is not automatically applied but you must call the Milestone desk a few days prior to sailing.

19 hours ago, CruisinRach said:

My 3 year old daughter tested positive and was asymptomatic on our October trip on the rapid test the day before debark she was required to take since she cannot be vaccinated yet. My hub, my daughter and I were then given pcrs to confirm. We were negative, she was still positive. They did not pcr test our son who was 6 months at the time. We were moved to new cabins in the quarantine section. We were escorted there by some officers, security and workers in hazmat suits spraying something behind us. They were trying to contain our footprint I guess since they were shutting fire doors around us to lessen the area we were in. We were confined to our cabins, they did give us 2 so we could keep the baby away from her so he wouldn’t get sick, so that was very nice. They gave us free internet and room service, we could even order off the main dining room menus. Our food was brought to us in cardboard containers with wooden disposable utensils. With a big paper mat covering the tray labeled biohazard. 

 

Luckily, we had driven to Baltimore from NJ so we were able to drive ourselves home. I’m not sure if they would let you go to the airport, I’m guessing not. They did notify the CDC, as someone from there called us when we were still onboard. Carnival also confirmed with us we had our car and that we were driving home to the address on record, we were told not to make any stops. We were escorted off the ship by an officer and some workers in hazmat suits with a luggage cart last after everyone else was already off. We exited via the loading area of the ship on the bottom level. Another worker in hazmat suit followed behind us spraying steam or a disinfectant I’m not quite sure what it was. They shut down all work on the pier forklifts loading stuff, etc. while we waited on it to meet a custom officer, who was very concerned and wanted to make sure we didn’t want to take our daughter to the hospital. She had no symptoms, so obviously we weren’t going to do that. They did not want my daughter in the terminal building, they had a port agent escort my husband to his vehicle and had him drive it up to meet us on the pier. 
 

This was back in October, so things may have changed. Pretty sure they’re still going to quarantine you on the ship though. If our daughter wasn’t required to be tested that day before debark, we wouldn’t have known she had it she had 0 symptoms. 

 

 

This is my concern.  It doesn't sound like the family would be able to take a shuttle to a car rental office to get a car.

If they couldn't fly, they would drive, but would they be allowed to get to the car rental office.

Boosters, for anyone, are only required for the Pride European voyages and the Splendor transpacific.  No other boosters are necessary. 

57 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

The kids can't rent a car or drive can they? What are you asking? What makes you think an adult wouldn't be able to rent a car?

Does everyone have to be quarantined and since no one would be allowed to fly, can the parents rent a car?  Who is notified that there was a positive test?

OK, this is what I need to know.  We have 2 unvaccinated kids in our group so they must be tested on the last day.  The families will fly in.  If the kids test positive, since they can't fly, can a car be rented so they can drive home? There are 3 families that will fly in (2 families with kids) and one from Florida with a car in the parking garage. 

Can they rent a car?  If not, does everyone have to quarantine?

Thanks. 

Has anyone tested positive for covid on the ship (specifically unvaccinated kids that test the last day) been able to get a rental car to drive home?  We have 2 kids sailing and if they test positive they're not supposed to fly.  Who would know since tests are not needed to fly? Can the parents rent a car to drive home? Do they have to quarantine? Hope this is a non issue but just wanted to know the options.   Thanks!

We cancelled our 5 B2B cruises on the Pride for this summer and re-booked for 2023.  Hopefully, everything will be back to normal by then.

On 5/14/2022 at 7:49 AM, silversneakers said:

Maybe no longer "free".....I believe you can order for an upcharge in the MDR 

Lobster is free on the first formal night - but only on cruises of 6 nights and longer.

45 minutes ago, crespo said:

Interesting, my OBC (obtained thru the shareholder benefit) says: "This benefit is not transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and, cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account."  I guess there are different kind of OBC.

 

That's what it says but it has always been available for gratuities.

On 3/12/2022 at 10:20 AM, CarnivalShips480 said:

Was looking at European cruises on Pride and noticed that they only have bookings for summer 2022, so they toke down summer 2023 cruises.

We have 5 cruises on the Pride in the  summer of  2023 in Europe so I sure hope it is still sailing there.

That won't happen because you have to show a negative covid test to board.

What's an upgrade? (free or paid).  Haven't gotten any in 75 cruises.  We must be on someone's s**t list.

You can also buy gift cards at Cherry On Top.

We have 5 European sailngs on the Pride this summer and hope we don't need boosters because we will have to cancel.  I thought it was because the crossings were longer but the Barcelona trips are 10 11, and 12 days.  Ours are 9, 10, or 12.  Hope we know something soon.  Really hate to cancel since we will now lose all of the OBC from rebooking cancelled cruises. 

Yes, you can use it in the casino.

That's it.  There are a few places called Street Eats that are on the Lido that are included. 

Unvaccinated guests, including those under 5, still have to do a PCR test 3 days (or 2 if back in time) before the sailing date.  They will also be tested at the port and on the ship before debarkation.

We did one B2B in Europe in 2007 but several in the US.  The process was different in Europe because you're not going through customs.  We had the same room but we got our new cards the night before and could stay on the ship or wander the town.  If the process is still the same, you don't have to get off the ship at all or go through any customs.  You would just have to move to your new cabin. 

You have to go to the Casino cashier to get the benefit.  We got cash on the Pride and Elation and the others were free play.

Chibang, Cucina, and Pig and Anchor are all now, and will continue to be, free on the Mardi Gras.  You can't make reservations in advance but only on the ship when you want to dine. The MDR was purposely made too small to accommodate everyone with the expectation that people would also eat in the specialty restaurants.  The three listed are part of anytime dining.  When you check in to anytime dining, you have the option to choose first available,  which will get you the MDR, Chibang or Cucina. 

No. One does not affect the other and is in addition to.

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

The first ship has sailed...

I'm thinking he meant the first sailing of the Sailabration. 

Just now, BlerkOne said:

Is that in addition to the $10 credit for a bunch drink?

Yes. 

On the Mardi Gras Platinum/Diamond party, you get one glass of red or white wine as you enter the theater.  No appetizers served and no drinks given in the theater.  A $10 credit is put on your Sign and Sail card for a drink anytime after the party or from  one hour before.  The Diamond lunch was in the Flamingo restaurant.