brklyn78

I'm picky about water (don't like tap water at home) so I bring one of those filtering sports bottles (like Bobble) and it makes it tastes better. If you are worried about it, maybe you could pack one of those and squeeze the filtered water into the baby bottle. That is, if charcoal filters are safe for babies. I would assume so, but have no idea if it's true.

i know they have that chart on the website, i was rather hopeing for some detail as to what is exactly different

If i may appropriate Albert's question as my own, of all the things listed in the levels, what are the things that people get most excited about? For me, I thought it would be the balcony discount. However, I just turned platinum and have two other cruises scheduled, and I have been told I cannot use the discount on either. For the first one they say it can't be combined with the WOW sale, and for the second, they say that since the price went up since I booked, I'd have to pay the higher price to use the discount. It leaves me wondering if it's even worth being loyal to one cruise line.

Coincidentally, on the day the cruise that made me platinum ended, the price on the second cruise was the same as it was when I booked (I have proof) -- but while I was waiting for my platinum status to show in their system, the price went up.

I see there are significant differences when one reaches Diamond plus, but until then, are there benefits that are worthwhile? The balcony discount seems like it's largely a bait and switch.

I am glad the info was helpful to others. :D

With regards to your bold prediction, when you say "phone to phone texting" are you thinking of ship/dect/wow phones or are you thinking of guests phones ?

 

 

 

The reason I ask is because one of my family is deaf and she will be on her first ever cruise in November (Quantum 11/23 Inaugural) and I am trying to work out the best way for the 3 of us to keep in contact at all times on the ship.

 

 

 

I thought of the wow/ship/dect phones (or whatever they are called now) but I don't know if you can text with them...so then I thought of unlimited internet packages.

 

With the current family internet package though it is only 2 devices on at the same time but we would need 3 devices on, so then we would need two packages and that will be rather costly.

 

 

 

So I am interested in your bold prediction :D

Fortune telling aside (though, I hope they are right too) have you looked into your cell phone carrier's international texting options? Even if it's a dollar per text ($.50 to send, $.50 to receive) it could be a more cost effective option than unlimited wifi -- if all you really need is to text each other. The trick would be to make sure people at home don't text you (since your phone would remain on and connected to Cellular at Sea).

There is a special needs board here. I bet they have other ideas on managing this.

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I just noticed that they updated the deployment schedule for 2015-2016, and now indicate that "Winter Caribbean" and "Additional Europe" sailings will open up the week of March 24, with asterisks noting that "select ships" will give priority to crown and anchor ships. This has to be Quantum and Anthem, right?

Here is the static link for the deployment schedule: http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2015_2016/14037156_Deployment_Opening_Flyer_FINAL3.pdf

For comparison, here is the original one, dated 2/4/2014

14037156_Deployment_Opening_Flyer_FINAL3-dated_2-4.jpg.pdf

And, in case they decide to quietly change it again, here is the one date 3/12/14

14037156_Deployment_Opening_Flyer_FINAL3-updated_3-12.jpg.pdf

*Pardon the strange file names -- I had to convert it to jpg and then back to pdf to get them small enough to share on this forum.

That is so sweet! My husband is big on surprises -- but I often ruin them because I'm very observant (or maybe nosey). To get past the issue of the line, the seapass cards, and the luggage tags (which won't say suite but will have the room number), I agree with the poster who suggested you tell her you upgraded to a junior suite. You could even downplay it like "one of their smaller junior suites" or "an obstructed junior suite." I don't think either of these exists, but it sounds like she's new enough to cruising that she won't know that. If you tell her there was a room change, it will also take care of the fact that she'll see a different number on the luggage tags.

As a serial surprise-ruiner, I think the junior suite upgrade story would cover most of the things I'd be likely to spot.

Good luck!

Great suggestions! It's a stupid decision to have to make but paying thousands more is just silly to me...

If you are considering get legally married at home first, you should check back in with Carnival about their prices for vow renewals. They will do the same thing as a wedding, but for a lower cost. A friend of mine was going this route and they even agreed not to tell her guests it was a vow renewal (i.e. the only people who need to know are you and your spouse).

If you go with Carnival and your port gets skipped or what have you, they will make sure your wedding still happens and you won't be out thousands of dollars with no wedding to show for it, the way you will if your port gets delayed or skipped while booked with an independent company. Weddings are stressful, regardless. Make sure you factor in the peace of mind you get with going through carnival as you consider the price differences.