Sarah@Sea

Last September I purchased an open booking while on board FOS, the email confirmation states I can contact the TA for which I used for that cruise and give them my booking number. However, what if I do not want to use that same TA? Right now I see better rate directly on RCCL website, I had only used the TA for the OBC they offered last year, this year it's only $45 not worth the difference in the price.

Sorry to hear you couldn't move cabins, but happy to hear you won't let it ruin your cruise! Looking forward to hearing more!

 

P.S. is the Tandoori station gone as rumored?

I'm a few cabins from the bridge, looking at them get ready for sail away from my balcony, I told my mom I'll be BFF with Captain and CD by the end of the cruise, and she replied "uh oh there's a way to get them to move your cabin."...LOL

I didn't explore Lido too much as for food options, busy with people but I'll check on Tandori, I know I saw Mogolian wok listed in fun times

Just finished a Guy's Burger for lunch and going to head down to my cabin. Had AC issues at hotel last night, but I survived. Left hotel at 11:45ish on shuttle and was in line at Port Everglades at 12:05, lines went quickly was in zone 13 and on board at 1:00. Went to GS to ask about cabin closer to elevator and was told none avail at this time and possibly not later, I won't ask again..I'll be ok. Btw to whomever asked about the ramp to get on board...there was a very steep ramp from port building up to ship, never experience such a ramp on any other cruise on any other line, having to pull my carry-on wore me out and I had to stop half-way and rest. I plan in taking a lot of pictures but not sure anything will be uploaded before I get home. Key West tomorrow so I can update about first night!

My dilemma...I have steakhouse reservations for the first night at 7:30 so hopefully I get on board early enough to enjoy a Guy's Burger and still have room for dinner.

Sunday for me! :D

Booked my March cruise in January after shoveling 6 inches of snow off my driveway and sidewalks. Book next weeks cruise the day it SNOWED in APRIL! :eek:

I just got same for Freedom...but yeah no...I like earlier, less crowded in Lido...I admit last cruise I didn't get to port until after 2 because my boyfriend had some errands that took longer than expected and from curb to cabin it was like 20 mins. which was nice..but then felt very rushed getting some lunch before muster etc....I mean but hey as long as I'm the ship!

Not that this really has to do with the thread, but on our last cruise (Conquest), our room was on the bottom Deck and all the way forward. There were only two cabins forward of us (we had an inside room).

 

Guess which dining room we were assigned to?

Yep, aft one.

Not only that, but our table was all the way at the back of the room - right next to the aft windows.

Great view, but made for a very long, long walk!

 

Andy

All that walking is a good excuse for an extra dessert! :D I don't think I'll mind the fwd cabin when getting back on the ship from port....I admit walking all the way to our l-shaped aft cabin after all the time walking the pier and standing in line, standing waiting for the elevator....at least before dinner I'll have most likely had a nap.

Found the Bubba Tumbler at Kroger today for $7.99, and a Bubba water bottle spout for $4.99. :D

I wonder how many people are out there right now trying to get this price on one of these suites because of this thread? :D

Me! Well I went to look...but not the type to book 2 years out....I mean if I found that price I would...but not otherwise.

TA called today and said the rooms I provided as possible moves were taken and that to move anywhere else would be $220. So for now I'm staying put and might ask once I'm on board. And it reminds me why I don't use a TA, this time I booked too close for ES so I figure no harm in moving it to TA and seeing what benefits might be, but I had called her yesterday morning and she didn't call them until today, I understand this, she has other customers...just saying reason why I like to have the direct contact with Carnival.

The pros of the location are deck 8 so just 1 away from Lido, also near the bridge entrance...I can be BFF with Captain and the CD by the end of the cruise! Right! Also I realized because the bridge takes up space the cabin is not as far fwd as it would be on other decks.

Is anyone out there having any luck finding a hotel in New Orleans for the weekend of April 17th to 19th or for May 8th to May 10th 2015. I might have to change my dates completely.I might have to go in the fall of 2015. I was just worried about the weather if I have to go in the fall. I guess a hurricane could hit in April or May just as easily.I am about to give up.Anyone know about public parking in New Orleans. I might have to stay in Metairie and drive into New Orleans.

Hurricane season is June 1 - Nov 30. A hurricane in April or May would be very rare. However, I've sailed nearly all my cruises during hurricane season and never encountered a storm. My birthday is the PEAK of the season but oh well...the ships sail around the storm if there is one.

So, does anyone know if the Sunshine muster stations are all outside? My daughter is on a medication that decreases her ability to sweat and can cause her to overheat quickly. This thread has me a little concerned. It's our 1st cruise.

 

 

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Let the crew know you need to use the alternative muster location for those with special needs. You can contact Carnival Special needs prior to the cruise or let crew know when you go down to muster location. I actually like to go down to the muster location so I am aware of where it in if there were an emergency and I tell crew I am unable to stand for a long time and they show me where the other location is, once it was in a nearby bar/lounge and last cruise it was in the library.

Did my first solo cruise in March and the guy taking the fun before you board photo made a comment like "how come a pretty lady like you is alone?" or single or don't have a boyfriend...some reference to that matter. I said I have a boyfriend he's has school and work so I came by myself...he just dropped me off! :D I think the most comments I ever got was when I went to Disney by myself....that just really blew people's minds....I don't know why?

Soooo..what is it you planned on doing during seven or eight days in the Caribbean heat?

 

Beach time? Transportation in an open air bus and toes in the sand time would expose you to more heat than spending those uncomfortable minutes on the deck...which is usually shaded near the lifeboats.

 

Staying on board? Better stay inside. It's hot by the pool or serenity deck.

 

"Conditioned to stupidity" sounds an awful lot like "i know it all" which is why many of us born in the North relocated to the South. Enjoy,

It's not "shaded" by the lifeboats it's more like the lifeboats block any available breeze, and the body heat from hundreds of people standing shoulder to shoulder is quite different than being up on the lido pool or serenity area.

We've had them take anywhere from 15 minutes up to 45 minutes. Our long one was right after the Concordia sinking and they were trying to make sure they had an accurate headcount. They also released muster stations in clumps in order to not crowd the stairwells and elevators.

 

You mentioned your son has Asperger's and ADHD--have you considered calling Carnival's Special Needs department. They could help you to arrange a quieter space for the muster, so that you're able to get the relevant information. That way if your son had a meltdown again you wouldn't be squished between people.

I agree set up with Carnival to use the alternative muster location. Even if you don't remember to set up prior for next cruise you can go to your station and let them know you need to go to the alternative location, that is what I do as I cannot stand for long period of time...in the heat of FL...as your described it gets extra hot smashed between all those people and I am short too so I feel very closed in, I had a friend pass out on her cruise last October during muster.

So when I go down I ask where the other location is and usually a crew member shows me personally, once it was in a nearby bar/lounge and last trip it was in the library, there were other families there with young kids, elderly etc. Also, they usually tell us to go earlier than the outside groups so the people with scooters and wheelchairs and get the elevators before they fill up.

Only one cruise completed since she got back from dry dock, on CC was there but not a picture taker...maybe someone who returns on Sunday will have some...I'll take some when I sail the 18th.

This time we decided to book with a company called MarineLand Tours. I was originally booked with Moby Dick Tours but I decided to switch because I had come across MarineLand's boat.

Their boat has steps and a platform that drops all the way into the water so you don't have to climb a ladder. This worked so much better......if any of you have people in your group that have mobility issues and want to go to Stingray City then go with MarineLand Tours

This was the boat.....it was wonderful. The excursion has to be booked through Carnival and it was $52.00 per person. I usually don't book excursions through the Cruise Ship but with this one you have no other choice. I booked it at home before we left for Florida

Inside of the boat. There is also a sun deck

You are transported out to the boat on these trolleys

Dad and I are ready to swim with the stingrays

There's the Carnival Freedom

I booked that tour for the same reason, easy on and off the boat! Thanks for the extra pictures.

Prob the best piano bar player I have seen.

Wonderful! The one on Victory in March was a bit disappointing. :D

I'll be sailing May 18th! I would be happy to post some pictures before we set sail, and then our first port is Key West so easy peasy to find wifi...my only issue...lol...someone point me to instructions on how to post picture from iPhone via TapTalk...I have that app.

So have you called? Curious to see how this turns out.

I am waiting for Monday, as I moved the booked to a TA so I am going to have them call...right? Carnival will not talk to me about changes? I have to go pick up my completed travel insurance documents anyway, was going to write down the rooms I see open so 1. I can give them a cabin number if they ask or 2. so if they give a cabin number I can know if it's one that I saw. There are some open in the category to which I was given, and odd that my current cabin can accommodate 3 people and I am sailing solo....I would think they'd want to keep a 3 person open for possibility of 3 fares. I will report back.

I wish they would make it easier to find a place to set the used glass when you are done. It can be a real pain to try and be good and conscientious when there is no close place to put your used coffee so juice cup after filling your own. This on Miracle.

Wondered about that too...

It is hard as an adult to keep on track on a cruise...a 12 yr old boy...eek!

 

I have a few suggestions:

1) eat all your meals in the dining room...they will have set portions for him to order. If he doesn't go to the buffet the temptation isn't there to take too much.

2) set a schedule for meals that matches the meal schedule you follow at home.

3) allow him to choose the food, encourage and praise him when he makes healthy choices, but do it quietly or even after you leave the table so not to embarrass him.

4). If he doesn't choose something that you would want him to choose, still allow him to choose, at least in the dining room he is getting a portion controlled size. You can talk to him later to explain why you might not have chosen that, but I wouldn't make it a you shouldn't have chosen that, but more a curious why he chose that.

5)make sure to plan snacks, but have them by the pool, and you go into the buffet and get healthy snacks...fruit, a proper portion of ice cream or a cookie (not a dozen).

6) if you do need to do the buffet, make his plate for him, let him say what he wants but you control the portion size.

 

Make sure you go over things with him, so you let him know you are going to let him have choices but you want to help him not hinder him, so these will be ways to do that.

 

I would also suggest what someone else did...get him a FitBit and challenge/encourage him to do so many steps a day, just don't offer a food-based "reward".... Maybe something iTunes gift card or something like that.

 

Having just lost a significant amount of weight, I feel for him. It's hard when his friends might eat all they want. I would suggest maybe a "free" day, maybe the last day, that way the temptation isn't there on following days.

 

It's great that you are working with your son at this early age so that he can learn good eating habits now.

I agree with 1, we actually rarely eat in the buffet, usually just embarkment, and lunch if we don't go into port...otherwise breakfast and lunch and dinner are MDR and it does limit the over piling of the plate at the buffet...because oh look they have that, and that and that. And my favorite room service item is the mixed fruit and veggies w/ dip.

Right, but if what we are told is right; ie, only 5pc or so of cruiseship passengers read or post on cruise critic, then, probably only less than 1pc live in the Ft Lauderdale area...:(

 

I also cant wait to hear. I know that lots of folks got their luggage wet in the rain storm on departure day, but I hope that the rest of the cruise was great.

Some passengers replied on JH Facebook that Carnival was offering free laundry service for the wet clothes, hopefully other items could be salvaged or bought on board or port and they still enjoyed the cruise.

Anxiously waiting some feedback....FL passengers should be home and settled by now right? LOL