beachbum6264

This was the case on my last sailing on Victory in Oct 2017 from Miami. I thought it was awful. We had purchased the Cheers package and couldn't get drinks until our keycards showed up to our rooms. Yes, the paper ticket should have worked but bars were not accepting them. It may have been because it was a new process and they just weren't up to par with it yet. Either way, it was annoying to have to stalk the room for your key card.

We were on Victory in October 2017 - walked right into the lobby bar as soon as we boarded, handed them our boarding passes and were served a drink on our Cheers with no problem. I'm counting on it working again this October.

Too many issues to worry about to fly in on the same day, IMO.

And Florida and September? One word - hurricane.

September is prime season for storms, have a plan B

The email address for every Maitre 'D is in this thread:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2578210

(found easily with a search for Maitre 'D address)

You need a Birth Certificate with Driver's license, or valid passport, or State Enhanced Driver's License (which I don't think California has, according to my friend Google). Not sure how long you have until your cruise, but I'd be expediting a new passport or birth certificate right now.

Are the rooms available right away for priority boarding as they are with FTTF?

Yes, that's a perk for Platinum and Diamond.

Update: cancelled FTTF, priority markings remain, saved $70. Thanks Cruise Critic!

 

 

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Use the $70 wisely...I suggest the Alchemy Bar. :tropical-drink:

Here's what the markings look like for Platinum:

Flickr

High tea? No. Afternoon tea? Most likely.

The difference between high tea and afternoon tea.

Rude - and not allowed, unless you have FTTF, or are Platinum or Diamond. Cabins open at 1:30. Best advice: take them onboard in a rolling case.

We hadn't started cruising when our children were babies, but did many road trips with them. We took them everywhere with us, and they were great little travelers from the very beginning. We went on a vacation with another family once and I will say that it was much easier for me not having to carry bottles and formula everywhere we went. I wouldn't want to have to deal with that on a cruise, making sure you had enough formula - you never know when there might be an emergency and the ship is delayed returning to port. Carrying enough diapers is hard enough - none on the ship, so you'll have to take all you will need.

I say go!

We always keep an extension cord in our CPAP bags, both DH and I use one. No cruise line has ever checked the cords. $3 is no big deal, I'll gladly pay that to not have to carry a gallon of water onto the ship.

Where did you 'hear' that? This is what the Carnival website has for laundry for Platinum:

Complimentary Wash & Fold laundry service (2 bags on 3 – 6 day cruises,

3 bags on 7-12 day cruises, 5 bags on a 12+ day cruises)

We had the normal laundry service in March.

thanks lol - she's a straight A student... but the school has a rule about absences effecting final exam exemptions. Which really doesn't make sense to me. If you have the grade to be exempt that should be all that matters.

It's because a body in a seat = $$ for the school. That's the main reason

(retired teacher, glad to be away from all that.... yes, All Children Left Behind!)

I hope things work out for you.

Another vote for Nachi Cocom. We've been there 4 times and have never seen more than a handful of children. No water toys for them so families don't usually go there. They only allow 130 people, it used to be 100 but it looks like they've increased it, according to their website it's now 130. You need to make a reservation online with a small deposit and pay the rest when you arrive.

We cruised with friends with 3 18 y/o boys and a 14 y/o girl - all the kids had a great time and found plenty to keep them occupied. The 14 y/o girl loved Club 02 - we hardly saw her.

Pretty much any bar can make you a mimosa, not sure about bellinis since I never drink them.

Miracle and the Western itinerary. I love the layout of the Spirit class ships. Even Half Moon Cay doesn't make up for Nassau, and that's bad coming from someone who used to live there and is 1/2 Bahamian. Routan is one of my favorite ports, the snorkeling is great. Grand Cayman has a great beach, Belize is good for more snorkeling, and Cozumel is another beach/shopping day. We've done that itinerary several times and will most likely book it again.

And 7 days beats 6 days!

I thought the one carry-on-sized bag (checked) requirement seemed odd, but I just called Carnival and they said that's all you're allowed. We'll be re-wearing our dinner clothes, I guess.

This just proves that some people who answer the phones at Carnival do not know what they are talking about. I'm sure everyone who has cruised has seen many many people who have exceeded that limit. And many of us have exceeded it ourselves.

We've had them put a sticker on the first time we got a drink, but when they came off they were not replaced. The bartenders can tell when they swipe your card that you have Cheers. Last time we never had a sticker.

How much larger than the 12x12x12 rule? I've seen too many coolers tossed in a pile - I'm not sure I'd believe what someone on the phone at Carnival said - Carnival is not the ones at the port. If it's just a tiny bit above 12" maybe... if it's several inches then no, I wouldn't try it unless I wouldn't mind it being left behind in a pile and I had another way of carrying whatever is inside.

You pick your own check in time online, now it's supposed to be 90 days prior to your cruise. In your cruise manager there is a button on the left side for Check-in. Click "edit" and pick your time.

It's going to be tight, and 2 people will have upper bunks. Having one bathroom is another consideration. With just the 2 of us getting showered and ready after a late port day isn't easy - DH usually goes to the spa and uses the shower there - bigger than the one in the cabin too.

As long as everyone is fairly neat it's doable - you won't be in there much anyway. Have fun!

There's no question for me... 7 days and much better ports wins, hands down. We don't spend enough time in the cabin to make a balcony a must.

We love Maya Key in Roatan. Now it's a Carnival excursion, you can't book independently anymore. Wonderful snorkeling and a fabulous lunch.

I've been thinking about the Carnival credit card and wondering if there is a yearly fee for it? If so, how much?

Thanks