WLHyatt

We'll be on the Vista the week before you. The same Howard Johnson was going for $300 a night that weekend, so we're staying in Texas City. We have done relatively little research into the extra stuff the Vista has that the Dream class ships do not, just to have something to surprise us when we do get onboard.

Enjoy your trip!

The closest you can get to any of that is booking through a travel agent who has group rates with amenities and/or onboard credit. The amenities they can get are not usually anything like dinners or wifi paid, but getting $50 or $75 onboard credit is not unheard of. Good luck!

The other bit of this that is a variable is the number of berths on the ship versus how many actually sail. If they plan port fees and taxes for fully loaded ships then the ship sails with less than maximum, they refund that onboard too. Most of our sailings have had some level of refund around $10 per person because the ship was not at full capacity, even with all the rooms sold out.

When they quote the taxes and fees when you book it is based on maximum berths.

Thanks chengkp75! I always appreciate your opinion since you've lived through some of these scenarios.

Why are you commenting on multiple threads that are at least months if not nearly a year old and all about FTTF?

You can't use onboard credit before you board. It depends on how you got the onboard credit. If you redeemed points from the Carnival Mastercard then it should be on your account on the first full day of the cruise.

You choose your boarding time during check in, and you apparently can only do check in a certain time ahead of the cruise. If you are platinum/diamond or have FTTF you choose a check in time but can arrive any time regardless of that time slot selected.

We check ours through no problem.

It is tied to your VIFP profile and will display when searching after logging in. It also shows up in the system for travel agents too after they put in your VIFP number or name/birthdate. The code isn't a discount code like you would use on a normal e-commerce site, it is a booking offer code that applies in the booking process.

It's in the cheers description on help.carnival.com, our waiter on the Magic last summer did this for our entire table since we all had cheers. I don't recall if they did it on the Valor in November, but my wife thinks they did.

I will ask for this going forward though!

We found that being there early is kinda chaotic, but we started to leave the hotel at about 11 or 11:30 and everything just flowed.

From the FAQ:

• Electrical devices such as fans, power strips, multi plug box outlets/adaptors, and extension cords (without surge protectors) are allowed on board when used with proper caution. However, if such devices are determined to pose a hazard, they will be removed and returned the last day of the cruise prior to debark.
  

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2261/ under the section Exemptions.

We sailed through Hurricane Isaac in '12, it was bad enough that they cancelled shows and closed the outer decks. We were fine and went to dinner that night and no one was there. There may have been 60 people in the entire dining room. Service was excellent that night.

The crew was even absent in some places, presumably for sea sickness. They had the seasick bags out by the stairwells. Since we didn't get sick we had a lot of fun with empty bars and lounges.

I wouldn't miss KSC. If you are going to the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy annex as recommended above you can likely skip the Atlantis part of KSC, I got more out of Udvar-Hazy Center with Discovery than I did from Atlantis at KSC. The presentation at KSC is a little more polished, but getting up surprisingly close to Discovery along with all the early space and military space stuff in Virginia made that a better experience, and that's just the space side. The Aviation side is just as amazing for all that is in there.

I would certainly do KSC but do the bus tour to the Launch pads and the Rocket Garden and the other associated indoor displays and skip Atlantis.

We've had rooms right by the doors from the Atrium and the only time we heard music or anything was on the Elation.

Our last couple of trips have been cooler in the cabin than in years past. Since November of last year we haven't had much complaint about the temperature in the cabins on 3 different ships.

You can still bring on distilled water, from the current policy for carry-on drinks/liquids:

Distilled Water

Guests may bring on board distilled water for use with a CPAP machine or nursery water for families with babies and packed in carry-on luggage. Distilled water may also be purchased onboard at $3.00 USD per gallon by contacting Room Service. The CPAPmachine must be packed in carry-on luggage.

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/category/~/dining-and-beverages/~/liquor-and-beverage-policy/c/472

The wine that is free is mediocre at best, use the 50% off and get something better.

The ship is very different before and after, an almost hurried 'get off the ship' vibe, then the feeling gets happier as they start to welcome everyone aboard.

We've done a back to back, and while waiting for the first cruise the second one sold out. We bought both at the same time and booked the same room on both.

You do risk the possibility that it is sold out if you wait to book until you are onboard.

It's secure. The envelope is in your mailbox before you get to your room. You get your envelope and there is a tamper evident sticker that is really impossible to open without there being some sign that it's been messed with (I tried with ours). There is a message on the envelope that says if your cards are missing or it has been tampered with to go to guest services and use the priority line to get them replaced.

If there are any charges on the account before you get the cards I am sure they will cancel the charges, as you did not make them.

If you have FTTF or are Platinum or higher, wait until boarding starts to get to the terminal. You'll walk through security, get your cards, and then walk right on the ship. Sitting in the waiting room tends to add stress for me so we've altered our plan so that we don't start heading to the port until about 11.

Kinda.

Your luggage will make it off the ship but without some sort of priority (platinum, FTTF) you will get off with Zone 2/3 or so. You will not have the card/sticker to get into the priority disembarkation area.

If you want priority then buy FTTF.

From the City of Galveston: http://www.galvestontx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=541

No cruise ships will return to Port today due to 45 and Hobby Airport closures