pbsteve

they recently began a new policy, I got an email to set up what time I will board, apparently, come too early, and they turn you away. I signed up the same place I set up all of my cruise information, IE flights, hotels, and passport/ID info.

PVP's can do more than you can. First off, if you book with them, they can get rooms you cannot see are available, not just after the fact, but they can make a recommendation based on what they see, vs you looking at what it shows, I got an L shaped cabin, and my family members lined up next to my cabin, even though online showed that some rooms were not available. I could have called after, but now I'm booking and calling.

After the booking, everything is the same for you, unless you need help, in which case you have a specific and regular contact at carnival, and when they are off duty, you can still just talk to anyone there. My PVP helped get my mother in laws cruise on the mardi Gras added (her only other cruise ever) so she could get the past guest rate and OBC.

Last year, our PVP put a note on our booking that it was our anniversary, and champagne appeared on the second night.

I also wanted to try a Cove balcony on the next cruise after this upcoming one, PVP suggested a room based on feedback surveys from other customers for us. We don't have access to those, they actually do, and can research any issues, like engine noise complaints, above or below bad areas. I cannot guarantee it, but my PVP knows I dont like kids ( ok to be honest, I don't like how terrible some parents are with kids, and don't trust kids to have been raised properly) he gave me a list of rooms available, I picked one, and he said I might want to pick a different room, because "there's often families with an 8 and 10 year old next door to that room"

Great PVP's are hard to find, but can make a huge difference

This didn't happen on our recent Breeze cruise.

 

We had to go to a special table set up in the Atrium in front of the bar and buy the stickers. It didn't take very long, but it wasn't as simple as you say.

 

gary

First off, the sticker doesn't mean anything, mine peeled off in the pool day one. Second, you didn't have to go to the table, the bartender standing behind you at the Atrium bar can also add cheers. I skipped the 50 person line, went for a drink and he was able to do it no line

Next taxes are paI'd on drinks while in port, they fixed the online issue that was charging tax

Can you buy cheers on the second day if you're leaving from Jacksonville or Charleston? Or is that just for Galveston? I think more than three drinks the first day will just put me to sleep after the excitement of waiting for vacation to start.

Yes can be purchased on day 2

My hubby doesn't like the idea of booking another vacation before we have even gone on our next trip. I know when & where long before then. To make sure I get the accommodations I want and at a good price I opted to do the $50 dp. I don't have to tell him until after and the low upfront dp makes it easier to hide. It is sneaky but this scenario makes us both happy.

haha exactly what I did. my wife didn't want to book another cruise yet... we didn't go on one this year because by the time she did decide she wanted to go on one it was too late for us to book because of our vacation time from work. Now 2017, by the time she remembers she wants to go on one, I can let her know we will be leaving in a month :)

Not sure what that has to do with my post, but a credit card window is only a month, so, yes, depending on dates- I may be paying charges pretty quickly. Makes no difference to me. I don't "budget" anything and don't think about when I pay. (can be any time) - except to avoid being late. :)

you say you didn't understand why people book with the lack of funds. however, that is not the case all the time. I for one budget out vacations, taking usually one trip a year. I also do not have a single credit card, the question then remains why give my money to Carnival 2 years in advance (I booked a 2017 cruise) when the money can sit in my account collecting interest. Can I pay off a cruise all at once... sure I can. but budgeting out 100-200 a month interest free is a financially beneficial option.

In my opinion, people who pay off the cruise right away, or use a credit card seem far more mysterious than people who book with a budget. It's not all about not being able to afford it at all.

I totally agree. I only care about the end price. :)

 

I just don't get all the excitement, over a $50 deposit.

 

Find it very hard to think, someone would commit to booking a vacation with the claim of lack of funds (have to "save" up)?

 

Flame away- just a general opinion- not directed at anyone. Clearly would be only my thinking- with a booking decision.

one question? how do you pay for your cruise? credit card? do you instantly pay off the card?

i see people talking a lot on the cost, heres my take on this kind of promo, since I've booked it for every cruise.

I call this sale the get the room you want sale. because it lets people book the room they want with very little money. Very shortly after, carnival offers a better sale, to get those 50.00 people to put the rest of the deposit down to get the new lower price.

I make sure the price is ok, but I know booking ES the price will go down at least a little. usually at the pack and go rate time.

For me, it's an easier way to sneak an extra cruise, I can book for very little down, while paying off a current cruise, and my wife doesn't know that the 100 went to a new cruise. then I can be sneaky and buy small gift cards at the grocery store to pay it off, by the she starts getting the vacaion bug back in her head, the next cruise is already paid off.

I miss her, does she miss me too?

For those that leave it in the safe... you know where its safer? At home.

A passport is not needed to cruise, so why not bring just a birth certificate, leave that in your safe and carry your passport picture?

I carry mine with me. If stolen, it can simply be cancelled the new ones are all chipped so become useless if stolen. I dont want to hope carnival takes it out of my safe. Do you leave it locked i a hotel if you travel?

I just dont get people. Its an ID, not your soul

Not true, no tax on it even if pre-ordered... when it was first rolled out they had a system issue with it, and was charging tax in error...

Exceptionally goog to know

I just saw at the fun shop you can buy the CHEERS package before you sail

 

http://www.carnival.com/FunShops/item/SQA/cheers

Yes, but youll have to pay taxes if you pre order it

Thrres a lot of prefereces. I pick 8 on dream class ships. Rooms above and below me.

Stay sober enough to make it to dinner the first night

Just took a look, and 50.00 deposits are back... I wish price drops were back though... still the same prices.

But perhaps Ill book another anyway, for that low of a deposit, why not get an early start while still paying off my next one.

If I remember, you can get bottomless bubbles and get juice at the bars all day

What carrier, I can pull actual charges for texts sent and recieved.

Also what kind of phone, iPhones are notorious for issues to other iphones, as I messaging is over the intermnet, and more costly, changing to text mode and most other iphones don't get your texts

I just found out about the Verizon ones! I was so excited then I checked the site and they were sold out:(

 

Do you know if they are physical cards or printouts? I know you say they use the Verizon ones all the time but the site led me to believe they were cards you get in the mail. I guess my concern is if they will process a print-out without too much static. Thanks though :)

They are print outs from many places, and work fine... but some carnival people do not know how to process them onboard, and you may have to ask another rep.

NO. Rules changed a few years ago.

If anyone is UNDER 21, they must travel with someone OVER 25

Guests Under the Age of 21 MUST travel with a relative or guardian of 25 years of age or older

The guardian does not need to be a legal guardian

The bookings must be cross-referenced with the relative or guardian’s stateroom and documented properly

When minors (18 and under) are not traveling with a relative, we strongly recommend bringing an original signed letter from the absent parent/legal guardian authorizing the minor to travel.

Guests who are 21 to 24 years of age may travel with their minor children.

my grandparents were chosen. They were picking longest married, new married, and random other people. My grandparents were chosen because they were on their 65th year.

should be the same as any e gift card. people use the Verizon cards all the time.

call the special needs dept. there are often many people who book the Accessable cabin who do not actually need it, and they will move that person for you. It is a risk many people take for the extra room, knowing they may not actually get it.

i know many companies stopped taking them because they are easy to fake.

do what the rest of the world does and use an ATM

I have PNC, which refunds ATM fees. Mine were refunded to me when I used the ATM on board while docked in Cozumel.

the guys putting people in harnesses for the skywalk on the breeze last year were from Texas