NCL(er) sailing the Vista Havana 2/22/20

[graphicguy]

So, once you pre-purchase the drink, Internet and/or specialty dinners, do they show up on either the Carnival HUB app, or the online reservation.  I’m not seeing any of that.

 

Thx!

[graphicguy]

Decided it was time for me to retire my "old" roll aboard I take on every cruise and get a new one.  eBags had a sale and I snagged one of these....

 

https://travelpro.com/products/platinum®-elite-21-expandable-carry-on-spinner?variant=19629281706082

 

Along with my back pack.....

 

https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/etech-travel-backpack/358330?productid=10685168

 

I'm ready to go, no checked bags and the packing has begun.

 

Heading out Thursday for Galveston and onto the ship this Saturday.

[grandmarnnurse]

On 1/31/2020 at 12:27 PM, graphicguy said:

Call this....”opportunity crossed paths with desire”.  

 

It’s snowing right now as I look out my window.  Trying to find something that will dispatch the post holiday “blahs”!   Hmmmmm.....CRUISE, anyone!  I search cruises.....A LOT....always looking for a value cabin.  I search even more so when it’s snowing.  Although, I’ve been sailing NCL mostly in the recent past, I’m open for just about any cruise line if the value is right.  I’ve sailed in solo cabins on NCL and RCCL (with the teeny-tiny solo balcony that came with it).  I’ve sailed in the NCL Haven and MSC Yacht Club.  And, probably everything in between....from Aft balcony cabins to the cheapest inside cabin I could find.  I’m not afraid to spend money if the value is there.  Because of scheduling with work, it’s difficult for me to plan too far ahead.  That flies opposite of what most can do.  But, for me, I see an opening and I go for it.

 

Sailing last full week of Feb is the target.

 

Surfing NCL, RCCL and Celebrity last night, on a whim, I looked at Carnival.  I usually call my TA and have her do the looking for me, but it was late and her agency was closed.  I actually could have found some really good deals if I could sail next week, but I can’t.  

 

It’s been a long while since I’ve sailed CCL.  Many years ago is probably the best way to describe how longs it’s been.

 

I’ve been mildly interested in Carnival’s new ships, as the pics I’ve seen look a lot better than what I remember the Conquest to be.  The Vista is the one I remember most people talking about (and putting up reviews on YouTube).  When I got to the part on line where you pick a cabin, I just gave a gander at the Havana area.  I really do like the pics of the Havana Cabin “patios” and the idea of having a private pool, jacuzzi and bar area.  Right up my alley.

 

They had ONE Havana Cabin that looked like a great price...well under $2K.  NCL, RCCL, Celebrity...none of them, could touch that price for a similar cabin.  Yes, if I paid more with NCL to move from a GTY balcony to a balcony that got all the perks was available.  But, it cost hundreds more, and it wasn’t the Havana type of area.  It was a plain ole balcony.  RCCL was higher still....a lot higher.  And, I keep hearing of deals people get on Celebrity.  But, apparently I’m no lucky or good enough to score a deal.  

 

I put a hold on it, and called my agent the next day (today).  She said she couldn’t touch my fare....which was quite unusual. Matter of fact, her fare in the same category was several hundred more.  She’ll tell me if I’m better off looking elsewhere, and she urged me to book it through the WEB site.

 

So now, I’m booked on the 2/22 sailing out of Galveston (a first for me) for a 7 day cruise on the Vista in a Havana cabin.

 

I need your help.  It’s been so long since I’ve sailed CCL, I got questions for you knowledgeable Carnival Sailors.

 

I’m Platinum on NCL, so they give me perks...perks I won’t get on Carnival.  Plus, you never have to dress up on NCL (which I like, a lot).

 

-Does CCL have a dress code for the MDRs?  If so, what is it?

-How much does the drink package cost on Carnival?  Is it better to book it in advance, or wait until after I board?

-Any specialty restaurants worth seeking out?  If so, which ones?

 

Again, appreciate the help.

 

 

The dress code has eased up a bit since I first started sailing with Carnival. After experiencing the wonderful Freestyle Cruising Concept of NCL, we were reluctant to return to Carnival, but so glad we did. We no longer go formal. On Cruise Elegant Night, I wear a simple dress, and my hubby wears khakis and either a nice polo or a Hawaiian print button down short sleeve shirt. On all other nights, he wears his khaki cargo shorts. And we now do YTD, which means we can eat whenever we feel like it, rather than follow the old, archaic cruise model of set assigned dining. We really do not like being seated with strangers during our meal. We are sociable, but not with strangers at meal time. I find that way to uncomfortable for my introvert self. The drink package, if booked ahead, is around $51.95pp, and if someone is with you in cabin over the age of 21, you both have to buy it. It includes soda, bottled water, specialty coffee, and milkshakes, along with alcoholic beverages. You have a 15 drink limit per day. Onc onboard, the price goes up, so it is much better to book ahead. We are not big specialty restaurant people, but we did do the steakhouse on our cruise on February 2 (Glory out of NOLA). But it’s not something I felt I had to do every cruise. I’m perfectly fine with the MDR meals, which are excellent. Don’t forget to go to Sea Day Brunch for steak and eggs. They give you a filet mignon! And we love eating in MDR for all breakfasts, as their regular menu has many choices, and served in a relaxed sit down environment. You can wear shorts to breakfast in there, also. 
I will be leaving again soon for a B2B on the Magic on April 5 for our 50th Anniversary, so, you see, we were VERY happy to return to Carnival. It fits our retirement budget much better than the other lines, and as long as we only book inside cabins, we can cruise more than once a year. 😎🛳🏖🌴🍸🍹🍷

[wheelssilver]

Package or FreeDrinks  (Casino) Not available 1st Night.  But paid drinks are. Texas Revenue Dept Law.

[graphicguy]

2 hours ago, grandmarnnurse said:

The dress code has eased up a bit since I first started sailing with Carnival. After experiencing the wonderful Freestyle Cruising Concept of NCL, we were reluctant to return to Carnival, but so glad we did. We no longer go formal. On Cruise Elegant Night, I wear a simple dress, and my hubby wears khakis and either a nice polo or a Hawaiian print button down short sleeve shirt. On all other nights, he wears his khaki cargo shorts. And we now do YTD, which means we can eat whenever we feel like it, rather than follow the old, archaic cruise model of set assigned dining. We really do not like being seated with strangers during our meal. We are sociable, but not with strangers at meal time. I find that way to uncomfortable for my introvert self. The drink package, if booked ahead, is around $51.95pp, and if someone is with you in cabin over the age of 21, you both have to buy it. It includes soda, bottled water, specialty coffee, and milkshakes, along with alcoholic beverages. You have a 15 drink limit per day. Onc onboard, the price goes up, so it is much better to book ahead. We are not big specialty restaurant people, but we did do the steakhouse on our cruise on February 2 (Glory out of NOLA). But it’s not something I felt I had to do every cruise. I’m perfectly fine with the MDR meals, which are excellent. Don’t forget to go to Sea Day Brunch for steak and eggs. They give you a filet mignon! And we love eating in MDR for all breakfasts, as their regular menu has many choices, and served in a relaxed sit down environment. You can wear shorts to breakfast in there, also. 
I will be leaving again soon for a B2B on the Magic on April 5 for our 50th Anniversary, so, you see, we were VERY happy to return to Carnival. It fits our retirement budget much better than the other lines, and as long as we only book inside cabins, we can cruise more than once a year. 😎🛳🏖🌴🍸🍹🍷

Thanks so much. Your info was great!

 

Best of luck on the 50th Anniversary Cruise, and Congratulations!

[graphicguy]

2 hours ago, wheelssilver said:

Package or FreeDrinks  (Casino) Not available 1st Night.  But paid drinks are. Texas Revenue Dept Law.

Thanks.  I think I'll just board late and "hang out" in Galveston until it's time to board.  If I'm going to pay for drinks, may as well pay for drinks which tend to be cheaper on land.  Assuming, once we're away from the pier, the drink package kicks in?  Or, do they not allow the free drinks the entire first day?  

[Denverdonkeys]

entire first day, i think it kicks in around 6 am the second day.

[grandmarnnurse]

20 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Thanks so much. Your info was great!

 

Best of luck on the 50th Anniversary Cruise, and Congratulations!

Thank you! 

[graphicguy]

Admittedly, I haven't sailed Carnival in years.  So, there's much for me to catch up on.  Just got an email stating that My Time Dining wasn't available.  Not sure what that means.  They don't really know when I'll want to have dinner, so how do they know it won't be available.

 

Again, coming from NCL, I had never heard of , Freestyle, Anytime or My time dining being unavailable.  Anyone know what causes that?

[ksmcdonald]

On 2/1/2020 at 9:46 AM, graphicguy said:

Thanks, I’ll check it out.

 

For the record, I’m sailing in the Havana cabin 5207.  Not a suite, but a very nice “patio” instead of a teeny balcony.

 

After going through all the choices for drinks, internet, etcI realized that whenever I cruise on a line different than NCL, these choices are a la carte. I always sail with “All Free (except tips)” on NCL.  Plus, being Platinum, I kinda like getting my laundry done for free.

 

That said, the price for a balcony cabin cost more on NCL, too.  Plus, I don’t get the nice patio and semi-private bar, pool and hot tubs.  

 

Not sure if this is a Galveston “thing” or not, since this will be my first time sailing from the port, but is there a reason drinks aren’t included in the first day of the cruise?  I can get a drink, but have to pay for it?

 

If that’s the case, why charge for 7 days of the drink package?  Shouldn’t it be 6?  Actually, it should be 5 days since you don’t get a full day on the last day of the cruise, either.

 

 

 

 

I've never had them charge for the 7 day Cheers when it was only covered for 6 days.  In NYC they do the same thing.  Just check what the amount they charged you for Cheers.  If the amount was $367 pp then it was for six days, if the amount was $429 pp then they charged you for 7 days.  

[wheelssilver]

Yes, that's right  6am next day. Before free and package drinks kick in.  Heres another kicker to the pocketbook that Texas does to raise more money.  When you come back and immediately clear Customs (within 10 feet of Customs) Revenue Agents interview you and ask how many bottles of booze you bought and direct you to a cashier to pay a per bottle tax (2-4 Dollars a bottle) since they see you carrying the cardboard box with handles.  Better to put in your suitcase.

[graphicguy]

47 minutes ago, wheelssilver said:

Yes, that's right  6am next day. Before free and package drinks kick in.  Heres another kicker to the pocketbook that Texas does to raise more money.  When you come back and immediately clear Customs (within 10 feet of Customs) Revenue Agents interview you and ask how many bottles of booze you bought and direct you to a cashier to pay a per bottle tax (2-4 Dollars a bottle) since they see you carrying the cardboard box with handles.  Better to put in your suitcase.

Thanks....good advice!

[grandmarnnurse]

2 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Admittedly, I haven't sailed Carnival in years.  So, there's much for me to catch up on.  Just got an email stating that My Time Dining wasn't available.  Not sure what that means.  They don't really know when I'll want to have dinner, so how do they know it won't be available.

 

Again, coming from NCL, I had never heard of , Freestyle, Anytime or My time dining being unavailable.  Anyone know what causes that?

That is the one complaint I have about Carnival, and have mentioned this before on several threads, including to a John Heald. You have to have your dining choice “accepted”. It’s not an automatic thing—you choose, you get it. Oh, no. It needs to be “accepted”. I think because they only have one area of one dining room for YTD, they limit the number that can have it. In my personal, honest opinion, I think they need to completely do away with assigned dining, and go totally with YTD. I have been flamed for stating this, but with a YTD becoming far more popular than assigned, it only makes sense. There are some hold outs that argue they would not like it, but how can anyone argue with eating whenever you feel like it, rather than when someone tells you to. I hope and pray you will get your choice of dining, because that can play a big part in whether you enjoy your dinner , or not. Let me add that they will put you in an assigned time slot, either early or late, but I’d assume late, as it’s the least popular, and more seating available. I just think it stinks. A person should eat when they want to eat. 

Edited February 18, 2020 by grandmarnnurse

[figmentfreak]

4 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Admittedly, I haven't sailed Carnival in years.  So, there's much for me to catch up on.  Just got an email stating that My Time Dining wasn't available.  Not sure what that means.  They don't really know when I'll want to have dinner, so how do they know it won't be available.

 

Again, coming from NCL, I had never heard of , Freestyle, Anytime or My time dining being unavailable.  Anyone know what causes that?

 

If you don't get "approved" for YTD prior to cruise, just go to the designated YTD check in area and they'll get you all set up.  And be sure to use the Carnival HUB app and you can use that to request your table each night.  I never waited more than 5 minutes for the message that my table was ready.

[graphicguy]

18 hours ago, grandmarnnurse said:

That is the one complaint I have about Carnival, and have mentioned this before on several threads, including to a John Heald. You have to have your dining choice “accepted”. It’s not an automatic thing—you choose, you get it. Oh, no. It needs to be “accepted”. I think because they only have one area of one dining room for YTD, they limit the number that can have it. In my personal, honest opinion, I think they need to completely do away with assigned dining, and go totally with YTD. I have been flamed for stating this, but with a YTD becoming far more popular than assigned, it only makes sense. There are some hold outs that argue they would not like it, but how can anyone argue with eating whenever you feel like it, rather than when someone tells you to. I hope and pray you will get your choice of dining, because that can play a big part in whether you enjoy your dinner , or not. Let me add that they will put you in an assigned time slot, either early or late, but I’d assume late, as it’s the least popular, and more seating available. I just think it stinks. A person should eat when they want to eat. 

Thanks....your scenario sounds easier and certainly more feasible.  I’m looking forward to this cruise, but admittedly have been sailing NCL a lot recently.  So, maybe it’s just because I got used to just showing up at one of the main Dining Rooms when I was hungry and got seated with no sort of sign up routine.

[graphicguy]

16 hours ago, figmentfreak said:

 

If you don't get "approved" for YTD prior to cruise, just go to the designated YTD check in area and they'll get you all set up.  And be sure to use the Carnival HUB app and you can use that to request your table each night.  I never waited more than 5 minutes for the message that my table was ready.

Thanks for the “heads-up”.  Appreciate it.  There is a YTD check in area?  Is this something I should do as soon as I board to have my dining by YTD?

[amyotravel]

47 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Thanks for the “heads-up”.  Appreciate it.  There is a YTD check in area?  Is this something I should do as soon as I board to have my dining by YTD?

Yes, there is a check in area. It is next to the coffee shop on deck 5. Also, be aware on the Vista that the Hub app did not work 3 of the 7 nights on my last cruise and we had to check in at that area instead of requesting a able on the app for those 3 nights. So if that happens to you, that is the spot you go for a YTD table. It was not just my phone/app. There were many grumbly folks each night. That was disappointing and I reported the issue in my after cruise survey.

[graphicguy]

13 minutes ago, amyotravel said:

Yes, there is a check in area. It is next to the coffee shop on deck 5. Also, be aware on the Vista that the Hub app did not work 3 of the 7 nights on my last cruise and we had to check in at that area instead of requesting a able on the app for those 3 nights. So if that happens to you, that is the spot you go for a YTD table. It was not just my phone/app. There were many grumbly folks each night. That was disappointing and I reported the issue in my after cruise survey.

Thanks....very helpful.

[graphicguy]

Posted this in another thread, but pretty happy with the fare for a Havana Balcony Cabin 3 weeks ago....

 

		Total Price   $ 1,594.57 Total Received   - $ 1,791.14 Final Payment Amt   $ -196.57 Final Payment Due   1/31/2020
Cruise Package Details		Modify / Change
Cruiseline   CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES Ship   CARNIVAL VISTA Deck    05--Promenade Itinerary   WESTERN CARIBBEAN (GALVESTON) Cruiseline Res #   XXXXXX		Sailing Date   2/22/2020   # of Nights: 7 Dining    TBA Stateroom 5207 Stateroom Type HE - BALCONY
Passenger Details		Modify / Change
# Full Legal Name Departing City Depart Date Insurance Birthdate 1 XXXXXX XXXXX 2/22/2020 XXXXX XXXXX
IMPORTANT INSURANCE INFORMATION We STRONGLYrecommend travel insurance as a way to protect your investment in the case of unexpected or unforeseen circumstances that may cause you to cancel or delay your plans. If you would like to purchase travel and cancellation insurance, please notify us immediately.
Passenger Pricing Details
Description 1 Cruise (includes tax / fees) $ 1,496.64 Pre-Paid Gratuities $ 97.93 PASSENGER TOTAL $ 1,594.57
Special Gifts
Description $100 Onboard Credit For Cabin $75 Cruise Cash For Cabin
Payment Details
Date Payment Type Method Card Type Memo Amount 1/31/2020 Full Payment Vendor Direct     $ 1,791.14 TOTAL PAID $ 1,791.14
Mailing Address		Modify / Change
XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX
XXXXX Cruise & Travel Expert

[graphicguy]

Heading to the port from my hotel....

 

 

 

[graphicguy]

Galveston...Oh Galveston....I still hear your seawinds crashing...

 

 

[TravelE]

Enjoy the Vista. We just got off today. Wonderful cruise and fabulous staff. 
Try the gelato in the buffet during lunchtime!

[graphicguy]

Easy embarkation ....no crowd at 1:00 p.m.

[graphicguy]

First view I’ve ever had, in person, of the new Atrium bars   Cool visual!

[graphicguy]

Havana Balcony Cabin...!