snoopyb

Yeah I decided against the driving, though I would love to explore on my own. Hiring taxi seems okay but I don't want to haggle over price or have to deal with someone taking me someplace I don't want to go. (Just realized how picky I'm being, lol).

I will just continue to research and use ship excursion as backup plan. Thanks Mrsfuzzmo.

Wishing I had a cousin or something who lived there and could drive me around, lol.

Freedom isn't the original source of viruses, it's brought onto the ship originally. People get infected all over the world, not just off a ship. Any cleaning of the ship can't stop the virus being brought on board in the first place. People get sick at home too and spread amongst other family members. Does that mean they didn't keep their home clean to prevent illness?:eek:

Yes I know that people can become sick from anyplace and can come onboard sick. However, I wanted to know if the cruise line is aware of these occurrences happening to different people in a certain time frame and if so, do they do anything about it, like doing a thorough cleaning, to help prevent/curb the spread in between itineraries. :confused:

The problem I have with the excursion offered through cruise line is that doesn't necc let you out at every stop. For example, I don't want to drive by the Marcus Garvey statue I want to be able to get out and take pictures.

I was trying to find how much is would cost to hire a taxi for a couple of hours to take us around and therefore we could get out and explore at our leisure but couldn't find any info.

I even thought about renting a car but info I gathered from that says it wouldn't be a good idea.

any suggestions much appreciated.

Soooo... does Carnival know to deep clean public areas/rooms or does everyone boarding the Freedom this summer just take their chances?

If all else fails, I may have to book tour through ship since it may come the closest to what I want to do. However, I would prefer to go with a local company.

Do any of the companies listed above do something similar to this:

*Taken from site*

Excursion Description

Visit historic St. Ann’s Bay where Columbus was marooned in 1494. Photograph his impressive bronze statue. Observe the market full of tropical delights. Visit Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church whose stone was cut in 1534 by the Spanish. Next witness how Jamaican Jerk pork and chicken are roasted on pimento-log grills at the incomparable Scotchies Jerk Center.

The drive through Fern Gully is unforgettable. The canopy of foliage blocks the sunlight in this 4.8 km ancient riverbed. Catch a glimpse the island culture through steep Breadnut Hill. The lush verdant hills of St. Ann and St. Mary are visible from the 240 meter elevation. The entire panorama of Ocho Rios and the cruise port can be seen from the heights of Shaw Park. Descending from the tranquility of the park, you will enter the activity of Main Street, in "Ochie."

The hustle and bustle of daily life—shoppers, merchants, students—is all your to take in. A stop at the famous Old Craft Market is on your itinerary. Unique curios crafted by native artisans are yours to purchase as souvenirs. From the arts-and crafts you’ll be introduced to the up-market items of Taj Mahal. Here, you can browse the stores at your leisure, for this location is walking distance from your ship.

Note: This is a sightseeing tour with 5 site visits, 2 photo stops, 3 drive by sights.

Ship ports in Ocho Rios & I want an island tour stopping at places like the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Marcus Garvey statue in St Ann's Bay, etc. Basically driving around seeing the island and getting out at local stops. I'm not interested in Dunn's River, Blue Hole, etc.

Our cruise ship offers a tour that has these items but you don't get off the van for parts of it. This is what ship info says "This is a sightseeing tour with 5 site visits, 2 photo stops, 3 drive by sights"

I've checked all the recommended "popular" sites and I'm still not finding what I'm looking for. I've checked, knowjamaica, jamaicaphil, libertytours, peat taylor tours, courtney taylor tours.

Am I overlooking/missing something. Help!

*I want to stay in the $40pp or less range*

Thanks

That's not true as I did 2 ecards last night..one for $1000 and 1 for $800..I had to do separate transactions but they went thru and I applied them this morning with no trouble AND I got the promo ecards last night also.

okay so you can't put more than $1,000 on 1 gift card, right? I thought it was flaking out on me.

YOu can't apply a gift card to your s&s ahead of time. No matter ecard or plastic. Take it to guest services when you board or redeem it at the account kiosks around the ship. I believe most every ship has kiosks now. That's what I've been repeatedly advised to do by folks that have done it. You shouldn't need a pin to have it applied to your account, but if you do, all of my egift card print outs show a pin# right on it. When you get the email, click on the gift card link.

Thanks very much for responding :)

If you get the promotional gift card via email, how do you then apply this to your sail and sign account? Do you bring a printout of the email & code for them to redeem at check-in/guest services or do you apply it to your sail & sign account on carnival's website before sailing?

If the e-gift card comes without a pin (as many are saying here) how are you able to apply it to account when on board?

thanks

Don't mean to hijack but don't want to create another post about Springill Suites...is the shopping area where kmart, bj's located within walking distance? I know it is across a huge street but wondering if it is safe for pedestrians to cross?

thanks

I wanted to get the plastic/physical promotional gift card to take with me on board and apply to sail and sign account but you guys bring up a good point about it getting lost in mail with no name, etc.

So, if you get the promotional gift card via email, how do you then apply this to your sail and sign account? Do you bring a printout of the email & code for them to redeem at check-in/guest services? Do you apply it to your sail & sign account on carnival's website before you sail?

Thanks for help clarifying.

This is not true. If you are not booked ES, you can re-price your cruise all the way up until the final payment date. You cannot use the ES form for this, but you can get price drops or take advantage of a better sale as long as you are before final payment date.

Yeah that, lol. You can reprice (even without ES) until final payment by calling and having them recalculate under the new/cheaper rate. The terms may be different however incl change of final payment date (hence my thought of this topic).

However, after final payment, no price reductions, no OBC.

Thanks everyone for your perspective.

This is my second cruise and the first time "fare watching". With the 1st one I didn't have any idea I could get price drops, etc. lol, and I booked early saver. I was happy with the price paid though.

Watching Carnival's recent promotions and how the terms can change with each one got me thinking if maybe a lower fare wasn't the only thing to consider when trying to snag that ultimate "deal".

I'm a different kind of switch happy. I'll book a cruise, and a few months later I'll find another itinerary, ship, or cruise line that I like more and I'll just cancel my old booking and make a new one.

 

HUGE reason why I can't get myself locked in with Early Saver or any other fare that is not 100% refundable until final payment.

Yeah, I was thinking about this when contemplating booking Early Saver a year in advance. What if I want to go someplace else, different cruise line, etc.

A carnival pvp was telling me that early saver is good for people that are DEFINITE about their plans (dates, ship, etc.) if not you will be paying change fee/lose deposit.

If you book a rate that allows price drops, why wouldn't you collect on that?

Because maybe you prefer the 30day final payment instead of 60, or any other terms that make the slight price drop not worth it for you.

Do you stay with price/terms you already have and wait for price range you want or do you hop on any price drops regardless of terms (aka switch happy :)) ?

*Not earlier saver*

For example,

Stay with

Price = $1000, Terms = 30day final payment (waiting for range of $800-850)

Or switch to

Price = $950, Terms = 60day final payment

Are there certain terms that are more worth it than slight price drops like reduced deposit, closer final payment, etc?

Love the tube sock idea! (steals...lol)

thanks for the review

I would call for $20 price drop. In fact I did just that earlier today, with no shame, lol. I would call even for a $10 drop. Those dollars add up!

I was on Freedom not Liberty. :)

Oh, I meant the Freedom, sorry. Just checked FTTF on that sailing.

Wow, you're brave to be so spontaneous but good for you! Now I'm gonna check out this review you speak of :p.

by the way, there are 7 spots remaining for the FTTF on Liberty, Aug 11th, so not sold out. :)

Yeah my rate "dropped" to what I paid for it originally with OBC promo.

So orig price was $1648 and $150 OBC. Only paid deposit, final payment in June.

Now price is $1498. (1648-150) :rolleyes:

Now trying to decided if I should rebook because this sale has final payment 30days prior to sail, which gives an extra month of price-drop opportunity. What to do?

Any advice welcome :D

*actually the tax/port charges increased $12.60 for current sale. So overall would pay $12.60 more for the additional 30day final payment window*

I never get price drops either and now I'm wondering if I'm not understanding something.

 

Original price, 2 people, cat 8C - $1648 (before tax) with $150 OBC.

Fareviewer is showing, cat 8C - $1618

or upgrade to 8E for $1678.

 

Is my original price better because of the OBC? Or is that not a factor in comparing? :confused:

Wondering if I should call to ask for the $1618 rate or if the OBC with the orig rate means I got a better deal.

Well, I spoke to two different agents and they both said the same. I would lose the OBC because of the way I got it (through a sale promotion). They both said I am actually better priced with the original booking and I would only gain if a sale came out that gave a $150 or more price drop.

It's a good thing when your happy with what you got but a little extra $$ could never hurt. :)

Whoops!!!!! Meant to say $2990.20. Geez. Sorry. But how nice would that be??? Lol

Yeah, when you said, $1990 I was like what the :eek:, what cruise is that in July! I wanna go. I was ready to do a b2b.

I never get price drops either and now I'm wondering if I'm not understanding something.

Original price, 2 people, cat 8C - $1648 (before tax) with $150 OBC.

Fareviewer is showing, cat 8C - $1618

or upgrade to 8E for $1678.

Is my original price better because of the OBC? Or is that not a factor in comparing? :confused:

Wondering if I should call to ask for the $1618 rate or if the OBC with the orig rate means I got a better deal.