sarmat1

1. Despite a prior post saying otherwise, crocs are in fact allowed on the rope course.  The requirement is closed toe shoe and crocs are closed toe.  Now, I don't know that it is necessarily wise to wear crocs on the ropes course, but that's a different matter altogether.

For the complimentary specialty (Cucina, Chibang, etc), I get the fact that those with assigned dining times can eat there from 7:45 pm on.  But does that mean that we can make reservations when the reservation window opens (just for 7:45 on) or do we have to actually wait until 7:45 to make a reservation?

Does anyone know the cost of the washers and dryers for the self serve laundry (I presume that it's the same on all ships, but if not, then the Horizon and Celebration)?

Also, how much is the laundry service (I believe it's per bag)?

We'll be on the Celebration later this month and are seeing in some sample Fun Times some differences with non-Excel ships that we've been on.

1. For comedy, is it safe to say that in any given day, the 6:45/7:45/8:45/9:45 (18+) shows and the 7:00/8:00/9:00/10:00 (PG) shows are simply repeats of each other?  So simply pick one that fits your schedule? In addition, while I'm sure it's comedian-specific, I presume that on a different night, any given comedian is doing a different show, so day to day they won't be repeats?

2. I know that comedy is typically 30 minutes, but what about the other shows:

- Magic

- Celestial Strings

- Festival of Nations/The World Works Here/We are one (are these all names for the same show?)

3. What are "What's Age got to do with it" and "Guess that Groove"? Both are held in Grand Spectrum.

4. Is Center Stage/Celebration Central 3 decks (6/7/8)?  The deck plans say so, but Fun Times only list events there as 6/7.  Is it possible (or advisable) to view/sit on Deck 8? 

5. For that matter, where is the best seating for shows at Center Stage?  I am guessing the answer might depend on any given show?

6. Does Carnival typically card for the late-night comedy showcases in the main showroom?  They definitely do/have at Punchliner on other ships (which is easy since there is only one entrance).  I would think that doesn't happen in the main showroom with so many entrances?  We'll have late teens with us and have no issue with them going to the 18+ showcases - just curious if Carnival will actually care?

Been a while since I bought from AARP.  Are the AARP  ones now e-gift cards?  And if so, do they come instantaneously?  As in if I buy one now, will I be able to use on our cruise tomorrow?

Is this now used for sea day brunch and port day breakfast in MDR?  Is there then a separate line to get in so you don't have to wait with the masses who are lined up outside of MDR onto the stairs?

We've always had FTTF so never had to consider the process for water taxis/tenders.  With FTTF gone, now we do.  Do you need to get a boarding number or something similar and if you do is it just one for the cabin or does everybody need something?  And when is this done - night before, morning of, when you're ready to go, etc?

You can use them on your booking if you still have a balance due.  If you're fully paid, then apply them when onboard.  Technically, this can be done at the kiosk, depending on how fussy that particular kiosk is.  If there are issues, you can just go to guest services.

Looking through some recent Fun Times, I see no Hasbro game events in the theater.  Are they now gone?  I also now see Deal or No Deal with cards to buy.  Does anyone know what this is all about?

4 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

 

The OBC and FCC that was given for the Carnival cancelled cruises belongs to those people on the original booking.  It will be divided between them.  

That's not true (or at least not always true).  Ours is just on the cabin not assigned to anyone.  I remember at the time, the agent asked me if I wanted to allocate it to each guest (there are four of us) or just put it with the entire cabin and I chose to put it on the cabin.

Going out of NY in a couple of weeks on Magic.  Is Verifly worth the effort?  Are there any separate lines or time savings, or is it just a matter of not having to fumble with a bunch of COVID documentation?

For boarding zone, how many numbers exist for each letter?  We always had FTTF, but with that gone, for our July cruise, we just got a 10:30 arrival appointment, but zone B01.  Just trying to figure out how many zones in A are before us and how strictly zones are being used to board.  We're cruising out of NY if that matters.

17 hours ago, Buffettfan 225 said:

Do you bring a non surge protected extension cord for fan then? 

Yes, but since we typically put on desk, an outlet is already there.  That being said, we always have extension cords (for any electronics) since outlets are limited.

10 minutes ago, nwcruiselover said:

The problem that has come up recently is when people want to reprice ES to a non-ES fare (such as resident’s rate) they are allowed to do that, but then they are no longer ES and can’t reprice anymore after final payment.  That started happening this spring when lots of resident’s rates came out.

That's interesting.  I thought the reason Carnival was "once ES always ES" was for cancellation penalty purposes.  The reason we initially book non-ES is so we can change/cancel penalty free, particularly if we book far out.  If they're now allowing ES to reprice to a non-ES rate and then dropping the ES, can somebody then subsequently cancel/change subject to non-ES rules i.e. no penalties? 

21 hours ago, misand said:

Anyone stayed in a cabin line R154?  Pictures? It says it’s a non converting twins

I can't speak to your specific cabin, but we were on the Paradise many years ago in a cabin for 4 and had no trouble putting the lower twins together.  On the Sunshine we had that same warning message when we booked, and we had no trouble there either.

The April "$1 for 3rd and 4th guests" sale, got us a $1,000 immediate reduction for our kids on our July cruise.  Just took one quick phone call for that adjustment.

5 hours ago, nwcruiselover said:

If you book the $2800 Early Saver and then price match to the $2300 Summer Sale, that’s it.  Your price would be locked in at $2300.

We've never had any issue repricing non-ES fares.  In fact, we rarely book ES to start.  If reductions come along, we just call to reprice to the better deal.  I've never heard of any Carnival price being "locked".

We've brought a fan on every cruise.  Helps for air movement in the cabin and helps to mask any sounds in the hall outside the cabin.

This thread has me intrigued.  In the past, we've always flown to port and it would have been too complicated/limiting with the carryon liquid rule/security, etc.

Next month we're driving to port for the first time, so we no longer have those airport restrictions.  

Some questions:

1. How big is too big for carryon to the ship?  Are there any size/weight restrictions?  Could we even take a full size suitcase as carryon?

2. Are there any restrictions as to number of bags carried on to the ship?  I'm thinking not.

3. Can we really drop off in room when embarking?  Not unpack, not bother steward, but just drop off so we don't have to cart around the ship?  We've always had FTTF before, so this wasn't an issue.  Now with FTTF gone, we have to think about it.

I can certainly see how going all carryon can be a benefit - no waiting for bags to arrive the first day/night.  No waiting in long lines at debarkation since self-debark goes first.  No trying to find luggage in terminal (and hoping it's there).

When we first started cruising, DW was worried about motion.  We booked deck 1 interior mid-ship.  No issues and we've booked that way (category 4B) ever since.  Even when we feel motion during dinner, theater, comedy or lido, once we go back down to our room, everything is perfectly fine.  Can't feel any motion at all.

2 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

 

If Carnival is in a position to do test cruises from the US, Carnival might be better prepared to be the first cruise line to restart from the US.

 

And they still might be.  That's not mutually exclusive from also cashing in on a homeport outside the US.  This summer is effectively gone as far as US homeport sailing unless regulations change imminently.  No reason Carnival couldn't both wait out CDC for US sailing while simultaneously putting a ship in a Caribbean homeport.  Clearly RC/Celebrity think it's doable.

7 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Will Carnival follow? Would they really need to? Probably not. Let someone else be the guinea pig. Carnival (Princess) was the scapegoat last time.

I would think that Carnival would follow.  Both Celebrity and RC are going with fully vaccinated adults/tested kids to significantly mitigate risk.  Why wouldn't Carnival want to re-start their revenue stream homeporting outside the US with the same rules?  Would seem to be a no-brainer assuming Carnival felt they had proper protocols in place.

And don't forget the caesar salad and bread to go along with the pasta.  We always love going there for lunch as it's typically not crowded and the food is a step above many of the other lido buffet items.  Load up that pasta with shrimp, all the veggies and top it with an alfredo sauce.  Side it with the caesar salad and bread and we're good to go.  Of course, we finished it off with swirls afterward (or gelato on the Vista) . . . . 

Always inside for us.  For those saying there is no natural light, our "window" is the TV set to one of the CAM channels.  It's dark at night and brightens the room at sunrise.

We did this years back on the Splendor.  As others have said, you can only book it onboard and should do so as soon as you get on the ship since these tours sellout.

We thought it was well worth it as you get to see places that you otherwise would never see.  We were in the galley, on the crew deck, in the laundry facility, in the engine control room, on the bridge and pretty much everywhere else.  While you can't take pictures, there will be a photographer who will take a group picture as well as a picture of just your group with the captain.  Those pictures will be delivered to your stateroom (they're included in the tour price).  We also got Behind the Fun hats, drawstring bags and I'm sure some other things.  Our tour ended in the steakhouse where we were given what everybody thought were little chocolates.  We would have eaten ours except the staff told us they were soaps. 😕  Now why the steakhouse gave out little soaps at the end of our tour, I have no idea . . . . . 🙄

This tour was also memorable for us because, for some reason, our daughter became nauseous on the bridge (she has never thrown up on any of our cruises).  As a result, she has the distinction of being able to say that she vomited in the captain's garbage can on the bridge.