dsotm73

Personally I try to get to the port (NOLA) around 10, so we can get through the check-in process before boarding starts, usually by 11, 11:15. I bought FTTF once, now I don't and find I get on 10 minutes after they do.

Consider buying gift cards at a 10% discount (e.g., from AARP's Rewards for Good) rather than using cash or cruise cash.

Yes, on the last day. A lot of people seem to like it, but I personally prefer the desserts on the other days.

Exactly! Items on the chocolate buffet look a lot better than they taste, unless you enjoy paraffin. There were a couple exceptions, but mostly it wasn't worth the effort.

Congrats! Definitely 100% worth it in my opinion. Just sailed on the Imagination this week. We were on board, carryons dropped off in the room, and eating a Guy’s burger and sipping a Funship special by 11:40. Checked bags were delivered early and I was able to unpack before muster. Was able to bypass long lines at Guest Services a couple times. And we were personally escorted to a tender for Catalina. Money well spent.

 

 

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On our last trip on the Dream I was also eating a Guy's burger on Lido at 11:50. Yes, I had my small rolling carryon still with me, but I also had my $90 still available to spend on useful things. We had access to our stateroom within a half hour of finishing our lunch.

We were .also able to unpack before muster, but the five minutes we spend doing that is no big deal either way. Trips to GS are rare and easily accomplished early in the day. We've never had a problem with tenders and don't need a personal escort.

:cool:

YMMV

In my experience they knock lightly . If you're up and ready to respond they shouldn't create much of a disturbance for hubbie.

I've never been chilly in the Caribbean and our recent sailings have been in November, December and January. It may also depend on where you're sailing FROM as well. We sail out of NOLA and even when it's in the 40s at departure it gets up into the 60s and 70s not long after we hit the Gulf. If you leave from a more northern port it will be cooler a lot longer.

Regardless, would it really be an inconvenience to bring a sweater just in case?

I didn’t “get away with it”. I asked and they said no shorts.

You wore blue jeans and a T-shirt. Even Carnival's Cruise Casual Dress Code bans T-shirts. Therefore, you "got away" with a violation of the dress code, though apparently with the permission of the staff. What I'm saying is the next person may not find the staff to be as accommodating. If you're giving advice to a newbie this should be considered.

The Steakhouse

The dress requirements for the Steakhouse follows the dress code specified for the Main Dining Room(s); if the evening is specified as 'Cruise Casual', shorts are not permitted.

Cruise Casual Dress Code

• Men: sport slacks, khakis, Jeans (no cut-offs), dress shorts (long) and collared polo shirts
  
• Women: summer dresses, casual skirts, pants, capris, dress shorts, Jeans (no cut-offs) blouses and tops
  
• Not permitted: Cut-off Jeans, men’s sleeveless shirts, tee-shirts, gym or basketball shorts, baseball hats, flip-flops and bathing suit attire

BTW, despite two posts to the contrary, jeans ARE allowed in the steakhouse on Cruise Casual Nights

I wore jeans and t-shirt to the carnival horizon steakhouse on September 4, 2018. No, I didn’t sneak in, the staff knew. I wore jeans and a t-shirt to the chefs table on the same cruise. No problem.

"Getting away with it" is not the same as it being allowed. If you don't follow Carnival's dress code you do risk the chance of being turned away.

What ship are you on, if I may ask? We sail on the Dream November 25 (2018).

Our 90-day mark just passed and we did online check-in and set arrival appointment time at 12:01am EDT on that 90th day.:cool: We were able to get the earliest arrival appointment (11:30am) while people in our roll call who waited until later that day ended up with 12:30. That would be the only reason to check in early like that.

How far in advance can you pick your arrival time? We cruise the beginning of May 2019

 

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Specifically at 12:01am on the 90th day out. Just in case you're anxious to get that early time scheduled!

Walked in, went up stairs, went right through security. They sat us in zones. I was in zone 26 and I think they were on zone 21 when I sat down. It wasn't a very long wait between that time and boarding. Looking at the time stamp on my pictures. I was actually on the Fulton Shuttle at 11:45. Through port security at 12:03. Boarding at 12:15. And sitting in Pasta Bella at 12:22.

Perfect. Thanks again!

I picked my time as soon as they were available and 11:30 was the earliest available to me. I arrived at 11:30. I assume you'd be standing in that other line if you got there early. I don't know when they let people from that long line in. They weren't letting anyone in from that line when I was there.

I went back to look, but didn't see where you discussed embarkation, other than your gangway videos. How was it? If you arrived at 11:30 did you just walk on through to the ship? Were there any lines at check-in?

Everyone I just realized there’s something important I intended to post but totally forgot about once I got that first funship in my hands. I always see people asking about arriving at the port early. See this long line that spans four frames? That’s the early arrival line.

 

 

This is the on time arrival line

 

 

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Just curious, for our November 25 cruise on the Dream we have an arrival appointment time of 11:30, which was the earliest available to anyone. In the past we have arrived around 10am and boarding usually starts at 11, 11:15. Will we have to wait outside if we arrive at 10 for this cruise?

15 drinks is not enough? Maybe try a meeting instead of a cruise.

 

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Because there is a certain portion of Carnival’s clientele that would abuse the program if the restriction wasn’t there.

Same reason they make every adult in cabin buy it, and why Carnival recently lowered the maximum drink price from $50 to $20.

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Got off the Glory yesterday . . .

 

 

The food was great as I had the boneless rib eye one night and the chicken the second. The chocolate sampler was very similiar to what I had on the breeze years ago and the Washington apple was delicious.

I know this is an old zombie thread but unless I'm mistaken neither the chocolate sampler nor the Washington apple dish are on the new menu, leading me to believe that the Glory still has the old steakhouse menu.

Dessert portion of the new menu:

Without sounding like a Carnival apologist, we're currently booked on the Dream for the fourth time and have never experienced anything close to the problems you've described, especially with the food. We've always had delicious meals, maybe not gourmet quality but tasty enough. I've never had any resistance when ordering extra courses and have even had waiters drop off an extra entree that I didn't order "for you to try, sir." The wait staff has also been superb and responsive.

Maybe you just got a bad crew. I would have "fired" him with the first unfavorable response and asked for a different table and waitstaff. (That's part of the beauty of YTD. You can ask for the same waitstaff if you like them, or try a different one if you don't.)

As to your question, I will experience Celebrity next year to find out first hand. We've been wanting to try different lines but it's so easy sailing Carnival out of NOLA. Cruising Alaska gave us the opportunity to shop around, and we found a better itinerary and actually a cheaper price on Celebrity (after $350 in OBC).

OK I see the NEW menu now, doesn't look any different to me.

The change I sadly notice the most is on the dessert menu. Selections are very limited now, and NO CHEESECAKE.

There were other changes in appetizers and entrees IIRC. Pull up the old one and compare.

I've worked at Whitney Bank (now Hancock Whitney) for 28 years, and always thought that was our most attractive branch. Lots of marble and brass. Never stayed at the hotel though. Please let us now how your stay is.

We just hit our 90-day mark for our November 25 cruise. I was up at 12:01am, so I went in and set my arrival appointment time at 11:30, which was the earliest time offered. Others in our roll call who set their arrival time later in the day reported that they were only able to get 12:30.

That's the only reason I can think of to check-in at the 90-day mark.

If you use this card, then the way to get the best value is to wait until you build up 100,000 points, which makes the points worth 1.5%. For instance, once you reach 100,000 points you can book a cruise, pay $1,500, then you can request a statement credit for the $1,500. If you use the points before you reach 100,000, they will only be worth 1%. Example: 10,000 points = $100 statement credit.

There are much better cards out there. For instance, there is a Citi card that gives you 2% cashback and you are able to use that cashback for anything, not just a cruise.

Am I correct in assuming that the Carnival card gives you one point for every $100 spent, so that you need to spend $100,000 to get that 100,000 points and the resulting $1,500 special statement credit?

This compared to the Citi 2% card, with which the $100,000 spend would get you 200,000 points, and a statement credit (or cash back) of $2,000. To put it a different way, you only have to spend $75,000 on the Citi card to get the $1,500 statement credit.

i continually question why folks think the Carnival card is such a good deal.

No sense trying to rationalize, jimbo loves Carnival and despises NCL.

 

I've sailed Vista recently and going on Bliss in Jan. My cost for Bliss is less expensive.

 

Vista Balcony-Bliss Spa Balcony

Vista purchased Cheers and 1 Steakhouse-Bliss (Drinks and 3 Specialty Dining included)

Vista no trip insurance-Bliss trip insurance

 

Now if NCL nickel and dimes, what does Carnival do.

 

Just wish people would stop their hatred of particular lines. CHOOSE the one they like/prefer and go with it.

Every time I've cruised I price similar cruises on NCL out of NOLA, and found Carnival to be a better value. This is primarily because we do not drink. When I choose from among the other perks that NCL offers

• FREE SHORE EXCURSIONS
  
• FREE SPECIALTY DINING
  
• FREE WIFI
  
• FRIENDS & FAMILY SAIL FREE*
  

Carnival is the better value. I would love to try NCL but will not pay a higher price to subsidize the drinking of others.

Carnival staff sent us to the handicapped briefing until my daughter was 4 years old.

 

Those were the good old days... now it's safety briefings on deck in 110 degree heat with no breeze.

Terrible way to start the cruise, but at least we only have to do it once per cruise.

Depends on the ship. The last couple I experienced on the Dream were in the Encore! Main Lounge. On other ships it has been held in the Punchliner club. Haven't had an outdoor muster in years.

Or, just a suggestion, my plan is to buy 2 $100 Carnival Gift Cards a month.

 

I'm going to purchase CRUISE CASH and apply my GIFT cards to pay for that.

 

Buy the time we sail on the Magic (January) we'll have a good amount on the books already.

 

I won't have to be bothered with Lines and Guest Services.

 

Just get on and start vacationing!:D

Only problem I see with Cruise Cash is that it is ostensibly nonrefundable. Although I hear there are ways around that.

I got one, ended up with like a 6 pack of beer, and haven’t used the card since. I use aarp gift cards to pay off the cruise, and I always use my air miles card for everything else. The Carnival MasterCard isn’t a great deal...

Yep. Plenty of cards out there with better benefits.

The sports bar will have college and pro football on that week. In my experience, the games are pre-determined about what they'll show. I bet you a beer that they'll show Michigan/Ohio State at noon followed by Alabama/Auburn. ;)

No sports bar on the Dream. The only place to watch sports is at the casino bar where you need a gas mask to breathe through all of the smoke. There is also a TV in the bar near the stern on Lido deck that carries a game.