CoconutJD

I think you can get cranberry juice from room service, but I don't recall seeing it in the lido dispensers.

I think the Long Beach airport (LGB) is the closest.

You wrote that you are prone to sea-sickness. So am I... and the Fantasy was a nightmare for me - nearly didn't do any future Carnival cruises because crossing the Gulf of Mexico on her was so awful. 14' waves and the staff had replaced all the brochures with sick bags, me and two others in our family got sick.

 

I now sail solely on bigger ships, above the Fantasy's 88,000 tons (?). Choose Conquest class or bigger! Just enjoyed two weeks on the Legend in the Mediterranean from Barcelona to Dover (via Monaco, Marseilles, Rome/Pisa/Florence, Malaga, Lisbon) in Summer 2013...it was great.

14 foot waves will make any ship roll.

I have a Panasonic TS20 and like it. It's only good to about 10/15 feet underwater, but it works for stuff like snorkeling and in the pool.

The new model is the TS25. I think they're going for around $140.

Triumph does not have the Red Frog Pub. It does have the Red Frog Rum Bar on the Lido Deck.

As for the final payment, unless you booked under a promo that had the final payment 30 days before sailing, all final payments are due either 60 or 75 days prior to the cruise, depending on the length of the cruise booked.

Also, you won't be able to talk to anyone at Carnival directly. Since you have booked through a travel agent, all communication must go through the TA.

I believe that typically, the anytime dining room is the forward dining room, lower level. The other dining rooms are used for set-time dining guests.

I didn't have a balcony but an inside with picture window. Glory 7201 (Riiiiight at the front of the boat)

 

thankfully, I do not get seasick. Which is great, because there was a LOT of movement. My hubby fell over while putting pant on one day lol

 

(plus, for a day after debarking I was kind of sideways. Don't know if that's normal or not)

It's semi-normal. Happens to some people.

John Heald has some posted from last July. http://johnhealdsblog.com/funtimes/2013-07-23/

Not real recent, but post-drydock.

It's the forward dining room (Northern Lights?), on the lower level. This was how it was in November, I imagine it's the same.

Before you started cruising, did you or any of us have the ability to ID a cruise line by a shape, a smokestack, or in the distance. Perhaps they just googled " cruise ship", and slapped it in. Why a picture is needed at all is up to them to reveal.

 

Could be an intern. Could be on purpose. Who knows. But it didn't change the story, at lease to me. I was able to read PRINCESS, and drew the conclusion it was a Princess issue. My mind also grabbed Captain Stubing and Julie McCoy. How long has that show been off the air?

I'm pretty sure the image is the Triumph. They probably didn't want to pay any royalties to get a new stock image, so they recycled.

No age limit that I can see.

KIDS SAIL FREE

Cruise rates are in US dollars, per person and based on double occupancy. 3rd/4th/5th guests are free combinable with Carnival’s Fun Select rates only. $50 per person non-refundable deposit is applicable to sailings outside of final payment due date and it is valid for all ships, stateroom types and sail dates. Final payment due date is 30 days prior to sailing for sailings between May 1, 2014 – August 28, 2014. Changes made to the reservation may result in the assessment of cancellation penalties or service fees. Offer is capacity controlled and is not combinable with any other discount or promotional offer. Category restrictions and exclusions apply. Carnival reserves the right to withdraw and/or change offer at any time without prior notice. Offer is for the cruise fare only and does not include Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses. Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses range from $42.38 to $324.27, and are assessed on a per guest basis for all guests according to the itinerary. Guest may select the stateroom, but a minimum purchase of category 4A is required. Cancellation penalties apply. Offer bookings made as part of a group will include amenities. Offer is not applicable on Carnival Australia sailings. Offer is applicable on new bookings made between March 26, 2014 and April 18, 2014 EST on select cruises that depart between April 26, 2014 and August 28, 2014. Please request rate code PKF. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas, Panama & Malta.

from: http://www.carnival.com/legal/specials-terms-conditions.aspx

Pretty sure that there is one "cruise elegant" night on 3-5 day cruises, and 2 on cruises that are 6+ days.

okay, since it came up anyways...here's the scoop. ds is 9. He has chronic ear infections-he has tubes now. Currently his 2nd or 3rd set. I cannot remember. Salt water or any water is a no go for kids with tubes. So that doesn't help.

 

The point of me mentioning his ear infections is that they sometimes cause him to miss school. Therefore, he's missed one week for the cruise, and then who knows how many more.

 

When he was younger it really wasn't an issue but in November he'll be in 4th grade. Work gets harder. He's always been great about making up work and our school has been great about giving him his work. He just gets unexcused absenses. I make him do the work regardless of getting credit for it or not.

 

I had our cruise paid in full. I meant to pay deposits only when I booked it online but ended up paying it off in full with my credit card. Then a month or so later I upgraded us to a spa cabin. I didn't have to pay anymore at that time. So all that is left to be paid on the cruise was the $300 or so left from the upgrade.

 

I love cruising with my kids. I also love just dh & I. If we have a chance to cruise the 2 of us, I'd prefer that.

 

So what would be the best way if we decide not to take ds? Options on that is what I'm curious about. I've heard people say don't cancel just be a no show. Can I get my money back? Am I paid in full or not because I was, but then upgraded? those are my questions.

 

Thanks.

 

p.s. I have no problem with kids out of school for vacation. I could really just "put my foot down" on the subject lol. :eek: :cool: But I do like the idea of going just the 2 of us.

It doesn't matter or not whether your cruise is actually paid in full. What matters is the timing, or the final payment date. If you cancel your son before the final payment date (typically 75 days before sailing, for a 7-day), all you will lose is $250. $50 of that will be lost forever, and the other $200 will be held towards a future cruise (I think they hold it for 2 years, not sure on the timing). You should get a refund on anything you've paid toward his fare, over and above the $250. If you cancel all 3 of you, you just multiply the above numbers by 3.

If you just go with the flow and have him be a no-show, you will lose his entire cruise fare (nothing held for future cruise).

What happens if OP's son is just a no show?

They'd lose his entire portion of the cruise fare. Since it's before final payment date, they can cancel him with just the ES penalty. They still lose money, but a lot less than if they wait until after final payment date or sail date.

This seems like a lot of trouble to go through for ~$8.

I had no problems on our last cruise bringing a bottle (1.75L or whatever they are) of margarita mix onboard for the tequila, and just brought coke for the rum.

Dang it Carnival!!! Replaces breakfast and lunch in MDR? That's disappointing!

 

Please tell me it is at least comedy free now.

 

(and thanks for the link)

Yes, it is comedy-free.

Our kids (15 and 12) took extra money for spending on souvenirs like t-shirts or bracelets or whatever in ports. They had $100 for the trip (7-day on the Magic) and didn't spend it all. They did spend a lot in the arcade, but they were mindful of how long they spent in there at a time, they knew it was their money.

It's non-refundable. You can, however, pick a non-ES rate and then have a fully refundable deposit up until final payment date.

You probably would have to upload it to youtube or some other video site and just put a link here.

thanks Steve.

 

 

I was not aware that the taxes were a factor. I thought we were locked in when we booked.

You are locked in until you request price adjustments. When they re-price your booking they look at the whole picture. (Taxes, port fees, cruise fare, etc.)

If you don't request any price adjustments, regardless of whether taxes go up, you won't pay any more than your original booking. If the taxes and port fees go down at all, you'll receive OBC for the difference.

Hope that makes sense.

Your best bet is to just call Carnival and ask.

I'm not sure how strict they are regarding the amounts. We carried on a 1 liter bottle of margarita mix in November (this was in Galveson), and they didn't even bat an eye.

If I pay the upgrade price of $125 per person, will Carnival take away the onboard credit of $100 I received when booking?

It probably depends on what the OBC was for.