The ol' switcheroo

[aggieastrosfan]

Only way to avoid it would be to bring GF's parents along.

 

That's what I figured. Someone will just have to deal, at least it's not us switching this time! Thanks. :)

[basketsiam]

we are doing a similar method to get more upgraded rooms for our 12/8 cruise booking past guests in seperate rooms even tho they are couples then switching at the dock.

 

I'm not sure this will help you to get upgrades. In my experience, upgrades seem to be based more on how far out you book the cruise and how much you pay for your fare. We've been less likely to recieve upgrades when we book closer to sailing, or when we book rooms for four people, even if we book guarantees. I'm guessing that your reservations are linked together for dinner. If so, if one cabin gets upgraded, they usually all do. Good luck!!;)

[5forcruise]

I'm confused how you all are able to switch keys or get extra's. Last year for discount purposes we had two rooms with one parent listed in each room. The pursers desk refused to change the keys or offer extra's. We tried twice in the first couple days and were refused both times. :mad:

 

This year our group has three rooms and again for past cruiser discounts they are spread out all over the place. My PVP told me getting the discount was part of the inconvenience, and if I wanted the S&S keys reassigned I would have to pay up the difference for the non past guests. Can I reasonably expect to be able to make a switch on the assigned rooms once onboad or get an extra key? :confused:

 

By the way before we added the third room our original booking was the kids ages 11,9,4 across the hall by themselves, no problems w/ Carnival. Then we were able to add another kid into our room whose parents were staying down the hall. (They were trying to get the inside room rate for the 3rd passenger). When my parents decided to go, who have never been in Carnival before we moved a kid to their room for the past cruiser discount and one of my parents are now listed in the kids room.

[enjoyinglife]

We did this last cruise. While I was a little nervous about it not "going smooth" it was very easy. We just went get an other key so that they had one to our cabin and we had one to there cabin. Then, the parents stayed in one cabin, and my son and his friend stayed in the other cabin, basically across the hall.

[crystalblue0610]

I would think mom and dad WANT to sleep in the same room and bed on this relaxing vacation.....maybe if their still in their prime maybe get a new sibling for the kids.

 

I see nothing wrong with it as long as your kids aren't the next stars of the Problem Child.....if you KNOW your kids are bad and mischivious then that's not a good idea

[Kacruiser]

Correct, you cannot book children alone. My question pertains to "legally" switching (the ol' switcheroo) once you get on board at checkin. I have heard some people have done this.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by "legally" switching, as you cannot have children booked in a room by themselves. There has to be an adult registered in the room, if they are under 21. We did this with our son and god soon who were both 20. My husband was registered to be with our god son in their cabin and I was registered to be with our son in our cabin. My son and husband just switched sign and sail cards (keys) once on board. If you do this you have to switch cards when leaving the ship as the pictures will not match up. They never checked to see if there were adults in the room.

[scapino]

Correct, you cannot book children alone. My question pertains to "legally" switching (the ol' switcheroo) once you get on board at checkin. I have heard some people have done this.

 

Many, many people do this. There is really no other way to travel with a family. As far as, "legally"? Who cares?

[UpstateCruizer]

Folks dont actually switch, thats where you are misinterpreting the posts.

 

What they do do, once they are on board they get extra keys for each cabin, a card that only unlocks the door, not a new sea pass for the rooms. They are still assigned to the original cabins. Whatever you charge on the ship, like drinks etc is assigned to you, not to the cabin, its whatever credit card you present, it doesnt matter which cabin you sleep in.

 

Hope Im explaining it clear?

 

Actually many do get new sail and sign cards :) We did this on our June cruise. At the time of booking my oldest son was 20 and wouldn't be 21 for 3 months. The agent said Carnival doesn't allow anyone under 21 to book a cabin. When asked why I was told that anyone under 21 couldn't be held legally accountable if they cancelled etc? Also by booking it that way we saved on our insurance since my husband paid his rate based on his age and the cost in the cabin he was assigned to which was an inside. My oldest son paid insurance based on a balcony cabin but being 20. It wasn't a huge savings something like $17 but it paid for a drink or two ;) We figured it wouldn't be a pain and would just switch room keys. I wasn't thinking about the fact that if we switched my 19 year old was going to have my husbands sign and sail and it was going to show his age as 43. To avoid this being an issue the purser changed us to the rooms we were actually in and gave out new cards to the 2 that had the wrong ones. She said they do it all the time and had no problem fixing it. :)

[big_duck]

Some people have a reading comprehension problem.

 

You can book kids in their own room, Carnival allows it. There is no illegality about it.

 

If your TA tells you different I strongly suggest you go find a competent one.

[firefly333]

We have sailed many times with our children, as yes, we have actually switched (not just obtained extra room keys). A simple trip to the purser's desk is all that it takes. Room stewards are also happy to arrange the bedding in the cabins to your preference.:)

 

lol I explained it wrong, I stand corrected. Yes, you sleep in different cabins than what you were assigned, but what isnt switched is the sea pass cards they issue you.

 

duuh, I knew I was not explaining it clearly. I forgot to say I meant the cards are not switched.

 

but then above someone says they actually switched their sea pass cards..now I dont know why they would do it...guess everyone has their own way of doing this. I give up. I know how I would do it. Just switch and get extra key cards, but keep the original sea pass cards.

[scapino]

Some people have a reading comprehension problem.

 

You can book kids in their own room, Carnival allows it. There is no illegality about it.

 

If your TA tells you different I strongly suggest you go find a competent one.

 

Ducky, You're totally wrong. Carnival will NOT allow kids to be on the manifest in their own room. Thos has been the case for my last 14 cruises with my kids and we have used many different agents and the cruise line itself.

 

The only way that two people under the age of 21 can book a cabin is if they are married and then they have to provide a marrage licence

[big_duck]

Ducky, You're totally wrong. Carnival will NOT allow kids to be on the manifest in their own room. Thos has been the case for my last 14 cruises with my kids and we have used many different agents and the cruise line itself.

 

The only way that two people under the age of 21 can book a cabin is if they are married and then they have to provide a marrage licence

 

I am not wrong. I do it that way myself all the time. Here is the quote directly from the cruise contract:

 

(f) Carnival shall refuse boarding to any Guest under the age of twenty-one unless: (1) the Guest is traveling in the same stateroom with an individual twenty-five years or older; (2) traveling in the same stateroom with their spouse; or (3) traveling with a parent or guardian in an accompanying stateroom. Proof of age and/or proof of marriage are required. Carnival shall not be liable to make any refunds or for any damages with respect to any Guest’s failure to provide proper proof of age or marriage or otherwise comply with this provision.

 

Obviously your agents have been spending too much time at The House of Guitars.

[PhoneGoddess]

Ducky, You're totally wrong. Carnival will NOT allow kids to be on the manifest in their own room. Thos has been the case for my last 14 cruises with my kids and we have used many different agents and the cruise line itself.

 

The only way that two people under the age of 21 can book a cabin is if they are married and then they have to provide a marrage licence

 

We booked the children in their own cabin right next door to ours. Apparently, Carnival does allow this.

[KatSt]

Carnival told us that if the kids are directly next to us or directly across the hall from us they could be in their own room.

 

We always put 1 adult in each room and then get extra keys for each room. We've never had any problem.

[Djptcp]

And parents are actually okay with their minor kids being in their own cabin, coming and going as they please?? Switcheroo kids must be the ones we see late at night running up and down halls, sitting on staircases, and being really obnoxious, while mom and dad are asleep in their cabin. Can't imagine my parents ever doing that on a cruise when we were kids (I'm 57). Whenever we needed more than one hotel room, it was mom and me in one room and my dad with my brother in another.

 

Carnival - 1995, 1998, 2006, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2008

Holland America - 2004, 2006

NCL - 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003

Royal Caribbean - 2002

[GayleR]

And parents are actually okay with their minor kids being in their own cabin, coming and going as they please?? Switcheroo kids must be the ones we see late at night running up and down halls, sitting on staircases, and being really obnoxious, while mom and dad are asleep in their cabin. Can't imagine my parents ever doing that on a cruise when we were kids (I'm 57). Whenever we needed more than one hotel room, it was mom and me in one room and my dad with my brother in another.

 

Sounds like you and your brother would have been those kids that you are describing since your parents split the kids up.....:p just kidding.

 

I don't think it's fair to say "switcheroo kids" are the one running up and down the halls, etc......That's a blanket statement and usually blanket statements don't hold water.

[big_duck]

And parents are actually okay with their minor kids being in their own cabin, coming and going as they please?? Switcheroo kids must be the ones we see late at night running up and down halls, sitting on staircases, and being really obnoxious, while mom and dad are asleep in their cabin. Can't imagine my parents ever doing that on a cruise when we were kids (I'm 57). Whenever we needed more than one hotel room, it was mom and me in one room and my dad with my brother in another.

 

I see no difference between having the kids in another room or having them in the same room and the parents are out partying to the wee hours at the bars.

 

My kids are under one rule whilst onboard. Behave as we expect or you won't be coming again. Seems to work.

 

Actually, most of the kids you see wandering etc are those of parents that think "hey it's their vacation let them do what they want".

[Thirsty Cruiser]

And parents are actually okay with their minor kids being in their own cabin, coming and going as they please?? Switcheroo kids must be the ones we see late at night running up and down halls, sitting on staircases, and being really obnoxious, while mom and dad are asleep in their cabin. Can't imagine my parents ever doing that on a cruise when we were kids (I'm 57). Whenever we needed more than one hotel room, it was mom and me in one room and my dad with my brother in another.

 

Carnival - 1995, 1998, 2006, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2008

Holland America - 2004, 2006

NCL - 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003

Royal Caribbean - 2002

 

I love the fact that so many people are using the term "switcheroo":D . Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode:

The old switcheroo - George mistakenly uses this phrase as applying to when someone has done something to you, you do the same thing to them. Jerry explains that George is thinking of "what is good for the goose is good for the gander." George asks, "What is a goose|gander, anyway?" Jerry answers, "A goose that's had the old switcheroo pulled on it."

 

Thanks everyone who responded. I mistakenly believed you could not book children alone (we usually book one cabin), but now know this is possible. At the risk of opening another can of worms, is it possible to do the switcheroo :D if the cabins are not adjacent to each other? Or not even on the same deck?

[big_duck]

Thanks everyone who responded. I mistakenly believed you could not book children alone (we usually book one cabin), but now know this is possible. At the risk of opening another can of worms, is it possible to do the switcheroo :D if the cabins are not adjacent to each other? Or not even on the same deck?

 

That is why the "switcheroo" is necessary when booking guarantees. Because there is a chance that the assigned cabins will not be next to each other.

[voyagerfl]

Sounds like Typical American Parenting to Me.....:(

How Sad....

An 11 year old could easily wonder the ship in the middle of the night....

 

I once found a little boy, maybe 8 or 9 wondering around the Casino looking for his parents. He had been left in the room and was now out looking for them.:mad: (around 11 pm) Casino employees showed little interest, when I pointed this out!:confused: I was ready to take him to the Pursers office when he spotted his Grandparents.

 

.

[ashefrog]

I also have the Minor Guest Policy straight from Carnival on their letterhead that states kids can be in their own cabin on the same deck and near their parent's cabin. An adult does not have to be in the cabin, only if a minor does not have their parent, grandparent or legal guardian on board, then the responsible parent must be in the cabin with that minor, plus paperwork filled out from parents back home.

[Cuizer2]

And parents are actually okay with their minor kids being in their own cabin, coming and going as they please?? Switcheroo kids must be the ones we see late at night running up and down halls, sitting on staircases, and being really obnoxious, while mom and dad are asleep in their cabin. Can't imagine my parents ever doing that on a cruise when we were kids (I'm 57). Whenever we needed more than one hotel room, it was mom and me in one room and my dad with my brother in another.

 

Carnival - 1995, 1998, 2006, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2008

Holland America - 2004, 2006

NCL - 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003

Royal Caribbean - 2002

 

Well, perhaps when you are 60 your parents will let you have your own room.

[Karysa]

Good kids probably have good parents. Good parents probably have a good relationship with each other. If you get my drift.

Personally my girls are very excited about having their own room as they feel we are giving them some wings.

Karysa

[seaski42]

I think I am more confused than ever. We are three mothers taking our 4 sons and 4 of their friends on the Fantasy next week(all ages 18-21). Our TA booked us one mother in each room--two inside rooms and a balcony on another deck. She said this was the only way we could do it because of their ages and to just change rooms when we got there. I didn't think about the picture ID not matching on the S&S card. Also, each boy and each mom wants a separate credit account (some are using credit cards, some deposits). How are we going to work this all out? Help!

[ashefrog]

SeaSki42:

 

For you the problem will be the friends. They have to be in a room with the responsible parent. So your flesh and blood can be in another room but the friend can not.

 

Last Nov, what we did was request key only cards to the rooms we had switched to and our S&S cards were what we used to purchase stuff and get on and off ship. We never had to switch cards. I explained to the purser that as a Mom I needed access to the rooms my children were staying in without me. Wasn't a problem.

 

It will work out. Don't worry, it sounds more complicated than it is.