Bookster99

Safety. You will be going on a galley tour. Bring your nice shoes and put them on after the galley tour. 

3 hours ago, Tayoko said:

We are getting married on the Pride 12/8/19 and my grandfather reserved the chefs table for us. My question is has anyone tried it either on the pride or other ships and what should I expect? Anything stand out? Is the food going to be a meal or one of those fun tasting menu that you need dinner after lol?  Thank you 

My last cruise was over the 4th of July, but didn't experience any of what the original poster has mentioned. Food was good, courses served separately. waiter knew our name. My waiter new my preferences, and would point out recomendations on the menu when we sat down. Hopefully, this was not the new-normal! I'm cruising over Christmas, so I can check it out. My 4th of July cruise was on the Fascination. Geez, one of these days I'll have to update my signature. I've been on the Conquest 2 times, and enjoyed both.

3 hours ago, Tayoko said:

We are getting married on the Pride 12/8/19 and my grandfather reserved the chefs table for us. My question is has anyone tried it either on the pride or other ships and what should I expect? Anything stand out? Is the food going to be a meal or one of those fun tasting menu that you need dinner after lol?  Thank you 

It's a meal. You will be stuffed. It's also paired with wine. Lots of wine. Plan on dressing up, but no open toed shoes, as there is a galley tour. It's a phenomenal event if you are a foodie. You will get a picture souvenir to commemorate the event. 

On 11/2/2019 at 9:01 PM, glrounds said:

I don't trust anyone that won't eat meat. 🤣

I agree. I don't trust myself.

20 hours ago, gopackgo21 said:

I just got off the Sunshine and went to the steakhouse. I had the mushroom appetizer, which was amazing, and then the chef prepared me an entree. I was never asked what I do or don't like and I was a bit worried. I was brought a huge plate of pasta filled with veggies. It had Zucchini, Broccoli, Asparagus, peppers, etc. And it was delicious! 

This sounds fantastic!

On 10/26/2019 at 8:25 PM, lidopuppy said:

Has anyone used Carnival's Fly to the Fun for an international cruise?   If so, how did it compare to booking on your own?

I used it for San Juan, which is not exactly international. But it was easy and smooth, and allowed us to spread out the airline cost over a couple months.

On 10/25/2019 at 9:09 PM, G-Heart said:

We are leaving in a couple of weeks on the Dream out of Galveston. We typically pay for FTTF, but this was a last minute cruise purchase, so we weren't able to get it this time around. We are traveling with 10 family members from age 18 months to 84 yrs old. I am wondering how long we might have to stand in line before getting to the seating area upstairs. Our arrival time is 11:30 to 12:00. We started getting FTTF because of the horrendously long lines to check in, but that was before they started staggered arrival. Surely it can't be as bad as it used to be -- at least that's what I keep telling the family! Any help you can give me would be appreciated!

I have found horrible waits with Royal Caribbean in Galveston, but not with Carnival. With the assigned time thing, we seem to breeze right through. However, as always, YMMV.

On 10/28/2019 at 8:41 PM, Ellusionz said:

Looking to decide what to book for our 2020 cruise. If I can talk one friend into booking during December we can get another friend to join us making it 4, bringing the price of getting a balcony much more reasonable. This cruise is the 8 day on Legend that does part of the Panama Canal. We've never been, and always talked about if we did we'd have to splurge for a balcony. Again, talking friend into it is the hardest part right now LOL. 

 

So we've always booked cheaper rooms, what do you look for in a balcony? I was thinking since it's 4 of us to splurge a the lil bit more for the extended balcony for space. Will they give us 4 seats or are they limited to what photos look like of 3? For those who have gone on the Panama Canal Partial thing, is port or starboard better? 

 

Thanks for any tips!

For 4 people, I would recommend the extended aft balcony. We always enjoy our balcony a lot. Have coffee out there in the morning, relax out there in the afternoon. It depends on the expense of the cruise: I wouldn't NOT cruise if I couldn't have a balcony, but if it's an affordable option I recommend it.

I don't know about early or late times, but we boarded the Fascination in San Juan over 4th of July at our "appointed" time, and wizzed right through and on to the ship. No delays. We did not have FTTF, and it was a very full ship. 

As the originator of this thread, I thought I'd give an update: I emailed Carnival and explained exactly what I posed here. They told me it would be no problem: I should check with the steakhouse when I get on board, and they would decide what they could do on the ship. I was planning to do this anyway. I have no doubt they will do something delicious.

1 minute ago, Joe817 said:

Pregreso is a quaint, rustic kind of town. It has some nicer and some pretty rough areas. I wouldn't mind exploring on my own, but my wife would think it's not a safe place to explore. Like you the ruins were to far to transit to. Half the day is taken up on a bus. So we decided to do an all inclusive day at the Hotel Reef Yucatan. It's a beautiful all inclusive resort about 30-40 minutes from the pier. We had a great time. The food was tasty, and the drinks were great. And we'd do it again in a heartbeat. Here's a few pics I took on July 31 last summer of our all inclusive day:

 

It was a toss up between this or taking a tour of historic Colonial Merida, the State Capitol of Yucatan state. It sounded really interesting. And both are offered on Carnival's Shore Excursions. 

 

Thanks for the pictures! The historic tour interests me. I will check that out with the wife. 

3 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

Check out autoprogreso's website. They are the company that provides free shuttles from the pier into town. They are going to be cheaper than carnival and they have a couple of options for Dzbilchaltun. One that just takes you to the ruins and another where you visit Meridia as well. It's a 45 minute ride to Meridia. Dzbilchaltun is less...like 30 minutes. But you're on the right track if you want to avoid a long bus ride...Dzibilchaltun is a lot closer than Uxmal and Chichen Itza.

Thanks for the tip! I'll check that out!

My wife and I are cruising to Progreso over Christmas on The Dream. We are not really "hang out at the beach" kind of people. What excursion for Progreso would you recommend? We are interested in the ruins, but less interested in a 2 hour bus ride...

20 hours ago, DryCreek said:

I was kinda' wondering about a question I had the last time we cruised - a hopping 10 years ago!

 

Anyway, I remember positing the question on this board, and it became very "interesting".

 

The question I had back then, and again this time for an upcoming cruise is about any restrictions for bringing a pocket knife.

 

I found the answer in two excellent threads where some very helpful and polite posters were able to actually cite Carnival policy and point to the source.

 

First Thread

Second Thread

 

I love it when you find helpful and non-judgmental advice.  as I mentioned, I recall that the discussion went off-track as people were wondering whatever on earth I'd need to bring a "saber" or "weapon" onboard for.  I had to politely explain to them that in the West, and the South, many gentlemen still carry a pen knife in their pocket as an everyday too, not to start a bloody swordfight with.  My everyday pocket knife is usually one of my Buck Stockman folding knives with three blades, the longest is either 3" (normal days) or the 2-1/2" one (dress pants).  I had planned on carrying on of my other Schrade stockmans on the cruise with me (more affordable if lost) just in case...

To answer their queries as to the use of a pen knife, I had several:

opening that accursed clamshell packaging

pulling staples out of papers or boxes

removing "Irish pennants" from clothing or other textiles

cleaning my fingernails

prying open small things that are stuck together

cutting that extra-tough broccoli at Panda express (plastic knives are powerless against it!)

removing the tags from my wife's new shirts after they keep scratching her neckline

etc.

 

And do you find yours to come in handy?

 

I always carry a tiny 1 1/2 inch Swiss Army knife. Invaluable. In my early cruises, I thought I was so clever trying to hide in in a pair of socks and such!

4 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

 

I see. I missed the part about Freedom leaving I guess.

5 hours ago, Joe817 said:

4 ships will be home ported out of Galveston:

 

The Carnival Radiance will join the Galveston-based fleet in May 2021. In addition, the Carnival Breeze will return to Galveston from Port Canaveral, becoming the newest and largest ship to operate a short cruise program from Galveston. The Carnival Dream will shift to six- and eight-day Caribbean voyages while the Carnival Vista will continue to sail its week-long Caribbean cruises. 

 

For full article:

 https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21725-carnival-to-base-four-ships-in-galveston-year-round.html

There's the 4th!

5 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

Freedom is going to Seattle in 2021 per JH's FB. So I guess there won't be four ships in Galveston unless there's a replacement that hasn't been named yet.

That's what I was wondering...

from the Alchemy Bar on the Fascination. Incredible experience!

5 hours ago, Irule7 said:

 

Do you mean like funds that are in an IRA or 401k?  I bought mine with my IRA account and just send them my statement and never had a problem.

Awesome! Definitely doing tthis!

Getting ready for a Dream cruise over Christmas. Typically, we stay overnight at the Harborhouse, and then leave the car at their sister property the Galvez. I think it's like an additional $15 for the week. What's the best parking situation you have seen down there?

On 10/17/2019 at 6:30 PM, Irule7 said:

You go here:  https://www.carnivalcorp.com/shareholder-information/shareholder-benefit. Click where it says click her to view shareholder benefit, it will bring up a file that tells you what to do.  Basically you fax or mail to whichever line you are traveling on your name, reservation #, ship, sail date and proof of ownership of stock (like a statement from E*Trade).  You have to do it no later than 3 weeks prior to your sailing.

Thanks! That's very helpful. I wonder if I can use retirement funds to obtain the stock and still qualify? Guess I'll ask...

16 hours ago, Cafedumonde said:

Everyone else probably already knows this, but just to save anyone some time who might be trying to claim it for after that date.  We got an email back today saying too early for our thanksgiving 2020 cruise.  But they did put it on our June 2020 cruise.

So, how does that work? If I buy Carnival stock through E*Trade or something, how do I claim this? (Pretend I know nothing!)

5 minutes ago, M2LR said:

 

I am just estimating the savings. Meijer is 10% off since you get $5 off your next grocery purchase when you buy $50 carnival gift cards when they are running a gift card promo (using mperks up to $500 per promo). Kroger is harder to gauge. I watch for when they offer 4X the fuel points on the category that includes carnival. So a $250 gift card would get you 1000 fuel points which  is equal to $1 off per gallon. If I get 15 gallons of gas that is $15 which is equal to 6% ----- assuming I didn't screw up the math here. Technically not cash back but gas and groceries are staples so in my mind as good as getting cash off. 

OK. I can deal with that. I also use a credit card that gives me 1.5% back, so that adds to it as well.

12 minutes ago, M2LR said:

I recently signed up for the card myself. It comes with a $200 sign up bonus I can use on my cruise plus 10% off shore excursions which was a sweet enough deal for me. I probably won't use it to pay for the rest of the cruise since I do better buying gift cards at Meijer and Kroger which net me more in the 6-10% off range when I use their loyalty programs.  

How does that work? I have Kroger, and have bought gift cards from them. They never offered my 6-10% off. Just gas points.

28 minutes ago, Joe817 said:

For now at least. AARP has removed them from their gift card offerings, until the bugs can be worked out by switching over to their new(Uggghhh) fulfillment company. Hopefully the gift cards will reappear. 

Thanks for this update. I just informed AARP to cancel my membership until they work it out.