mistycruiser

I'll try to explain how a Casino bank works.  You are correct you use your S&S card in the machine and you set up a bank with a PIN. You can also use cash.  You don't have to charge to your S&S.  This bank is separate from your regular S&S account but you can charge to your S&S account to load money onto the machine.  When you go to leave the machine you cash out to your bank and the money is loaded to your bank. The cash out doesn't go back against your S&S account.  If you want your cash you go to the Casino cashier and get your cash.  On your regular S&S account it's just basically a debit credit type activity.  Non refundable funds like OBC is used first and then any other credits you have are reduced to offset the charge.  Once all credits are used then it would end up being charged to your credit card at the end of the cruise.  

Not related to minors but the chat iteself.  We've used it several times on various ships and sometimes it's slow sending messages or not worked at all.  Usually if we power down the phone and and turn it  back on it will work again.  Just an fyi in case you encounter issues. 

13 hours ago, mitsugirly said:

 

That does look kinda cool. I just don't know if my family wants to sit long enough to watch an entire show. I will have to check more into this. 

I really need to second  Rthyms of the Night.  It's fabulous. I know you're more a beach person from reading your previous reviews but it's basically like Cirque de Soliel but oriented to Mexico..  But definitely book it thru the ship because we'll all be waiting for that excursion to return in the evening so we can depart. We've done the Mexican Riviera itinerary numerous times including just this last NYE. 

3 hours ago, jerseygirlinAZ said:

Definitely breezy and chilly at night.  Most people watching the movies on lido were bundled up in their blue towels and blankets.

We were on this cruise also and watched several movies on Lido bundled up and I was still cold.  Re: embarkation, we've cruised out of Long Beach multiple times and I've never seen it as crowded as it was this time but as someone mentioned the king tides contributed to part of the delay and it was a full ship so it took longer than normal. 

I think there was an issue last year with the colors of the luggage tags and they all printed in red which is not what they are all supposed to be.  It appears they have finally fixed it and the multiple colors are now back how they used to be.  

I just got off the Panorama on Sunday and on day 1 the steward asked if I wanted morning or evening service.  I said evening and that's what he did.  Hope this answers your question. 

The reason they don't have trash cans is because for environmental reasons all of the trash has to be sorted into various groups such as paper, plastic, food etc.  So it's easier for the crew to pick up items from the tables or wherever and sort it themselves rather than having to dig through trash to sort it.

On the Celebration you can go to the MDR free of course but also one visit to each of Cucina and ChiBang.  Not just the first night but one visit per cruise free.  If you decide to go to Cucina or ChiBang a 2nd or additional time then it's $8 pp.  We really enjoy Bonsai Teppanyaki for the food and the show so we always book it in advance because it does sell out. 

Just one thing to consider for January in Galveston, it does tend to have issues with fog that time of year and sometimes they are delayed from being able to dock. 

I think there was a glitch in one of the maintenance system upgrades a few months ago and suddenly all of the luggage tags were switched to red by accident.  Now it appears they've fixed the issue and multiple colors are back. 

Sorry to burst everyone's bubble but here's how the single supplement with travel insurance works. 

Passenger 1 that can't go because of the medical reason has to cancel in order for them to file insurance claim.  They should review their insurance policy to determine what they need as to documentation of their insurance claim.

Passenger 2 that still wants to go now has to pay the single supplement.  If they also have travel insurance usually they cover the single supplement so they'll have to review their policy to determine what documentation they will need in order to file a claim for the single supplement.

Yes I know that NCL has already been paid in full and that the single supplement is additional monies to NCL but if you have travel insurance that's the only way as far as I know for them to get refunded the various costs. 

I love the Teppanyaki and I order the same thing you do, Terriyaki chicken and steak.  I eat so much fried rice I have a hard time finishing my entree   

The deckplans are also in the Carnival app.

Don't remember how much the tickets were because my husband bought them.

We were just on the Horizon in July and they had 3 brand new movies at the IMAX.  The new Oppenheimer, Mission Impossible, and Indiana Jones.  We went to 2 of the 3 and there was a good sized crowd for both. 

If you are flying out of Miami even without FTTF a 12:30 flight should be fine under normal circumstances,  The airport is only about a 20-30 minute  taxi ride or so.  If you are flying out of Fort Lauderdale that is about a 45 minute ride from the Miami port so it would probably still be an ok flight time. 

18 hours ago, minniegidget said:

Glad you enjoyed the Diamond party. One day I might make it. Got a long way to go. So for now I live vicariously through pictures of cruise critic. 

It was a recent change, like the last couple of weeks or so, that the Diamond lunch is on hiatus and cocktail and appetizer parties are in except for Journeys cruises and European cruises.  Hope it's short lived and the luncheons return.

I've done the ice cream class and think she'd have fun with that one.  You make the ice cream and they have fruits and candies you can do as add ins etc. and then you eat it before you leave. 

We.ve had passports held on some previous cruises.  Normally when they no longer need to hold onto them they'll send a letter to the cabin which will indicate where and when you can pick them up.  Usually they'll do it by deck and they'll have a centralized place to go to pick them up. 

It used to be that St. Thomas since it's a USVI that the amount you could buy from there was I think 6 cartons per person.  Don't know if it's changed or not. May need to check US Customs website for current rules. 

Regarding  picking a pin number for the safe, we always use my husbands birthday mmyy because it;s the only number I can be sure he'll remember.  LOL

I don't use a TA but I do use a Carnival PVP.  When I book I get a written confirmation via email.  When you book with a TA do you receive a written confirmation?  If so, look at the confirmation and compare it to the current price and see what changed.  Then call the TA and have them explain the difference. 

There are multiple train trips from Skagway.  Some require passports some do not.  The train trip that DOES NOT require passports goes to the Canadian border and turns around and returns back down to Skagway. You do not get off the train.  The others that go into Canada do require a passport and have various options.  Some go up by train and back by bus and other options as well.  When you look at the shore excursion offered by Carnival you'll see the various options and those that require a passport will be clearly noted.  

Something else you want to verify is whether or not Mexico will be on Daylight savings time then or not since you mentioned that this is for March 30th.  Obviously the US is on DST but confirm that Mexico is also on DST.  I remember reading a few weeks ago that Mexico switches to DST at a different date than the US. 

When you do online check in you can set up each person's account separetly with individual credit cards assigned to each individual.