zzmmmommy

Hi, we are looking to book a balcony cabin on the Allure.  Anyone know where the outside smoking areas are?  We like to book on the opposite side of the ship, or at least making sure we are farther away from the smoking area.  My daughter has special needs and she is very sensitive to the smoke.  We have been on tons of cruises before, but our last cruise (Carnival Celebration), we were right above the smoking and she really struggled.  I just want to try and avoid that.  Thank you!

1 hour ago, Drazil65 said:

they cleaned our balconies while we were at sea and left all the balcony partitions open...all along deck 9.  

 

This has been been standard practice in balcony and suite cabins, they typically leave a mailer at the door or as they did a couple weeks ago on MG they leave a "balcony cleaning day card" inside on the counter in the cabin.  We have always had a heads up the day/evening before.  

We didn't have an issue with the cleaning - we knew this was happening.  We didn't realize all the balcony partition doors would be open all along the deck, hours after the cleaning had been over.  Since the balcony doors don't lock on the outside, anyone could enter our rooms and move about the balconies along the entire deck.  I just wanted to point this out in case anyone has younger kids and leaves them in the room to nap, or leaves valuables out...it is a safety issue.  I was just making people aware. 

30 minutes ago, audcc77 said:

I’m not sure what little bit means, but I dropped a lot (for me) on a cruise in September and received offers about 2 weeks later. Free interior and DOU.  Meh. 
 

On our last cruise about a month ago, I AGAIN spent way too much in the casino. I’ve gambled more in the last 3 cruises than I have ever.  Still only received small offers like free interiors with DOU.  At this rate, my DH will divorce me.  

 

Hopefully you’ll get something in a few weeks but I think it takes time.  
 

Maybe you can take advantage of one of your friends offers and switch rooms.  

I wish we could but she is already using all her offers with some other family members.

I am really a lightweight in the casino - maybe I spent $100 over the entire week (blackjack and slots combined).  My 19 year was more, but still nothing compared to our friends.  He probably played with $500-$600.  Hopefully something will come in the next few days!  My kids are dying to go again.

On 1/3/2023 at 4:17 PM, edspec said:

We cruised with 32 year old autistic DS on Panorama last July and I'll echo what you said...CCL staff is amazing with the autistic population.  I really want to take DS on Celebration as he dearly loved Barnum and Bailey circus when it came around each year.  If we cruised at an off time perhaps we'd have better luck w/ getting good seats.  Thank-you for sharing, it is so helpful in planning.  We have a Princess cruise booked in June and I haven't been able to find any first person accounts so very nervous about embarkation, debarkation, and table in the mdr.

They only issue we had was the waiting during embarkation and debarkation.  She sometimes has a difficult time with all the lines and waiting.  The Celebration was the easiest and quickest we have ever had- both getting on and getting off.

On 1/3/2023 at 11:59 PM, SunshineGal2022 said:

Thank you for the review!!

 

I didn't even realize there was a smoking side.  😮

 

I have been searching posts on CC for 30 min and I assume you mean the starboard side.  

 

I need to book on the port side if that is the case....

 

I appreciate the review about the autism help.  Did your 14yo go to the kid's club area by herself? 

 

It's good to know they will help accomodate food needs too.  

Sorry, I forgot to respond!  My kids never go to the club area so I can't help you there.  Now that they are older they can wander around themselves.  They did go when they were much younger, but all 4 always went together so they always stuck together. 

The smoking was right outside Bar 820 (if you are on the celebration).  It never crossed my mind to look, and I never would have noticed it until I saw someone mention it in the facebook group.  However, it was a non-issue for us.  But I will keep my eye on it for our next booking.

Sorry it took me so long to respond!

I got home from a NYE cruise -  7 nights on the new Celebration.  We wanted to book again for spring break with some friends.  My friends got some crazy offers and I keep checking and checking but I am not getting the same offers, or any offer.  Her husband is a big gambler, so obviously it is related to that.  We gamble (my 19 year old and I, but little bits...nothing major).  Will I ever get any offers?  As it gets closer will the price drop?  Anyone have a magic ball with the answer?

Hi, we just got off the Celebration and I wanted to give a quick review (sorry, it won't be as detailed as others), but you have all been so helpful to me that I wanted to return the favor.

We traveled with our 4 kids...19, 17, 15, and 14.  My 14 year old has autism - so some of this might help those of you traveling with special kids :).

Getting on was quick - no issues.  Our rooms were on the same side as the smoking and I was very nervous after reading some posts on facebook.  I tried to change our rooms because I knew my daughter would not be happy if she couldn't use the balcony, and she isn't comfortable being around smokers.  Our rooms were extended balconies on deck 9, right above the Havanna club.  Absolutely not one whiff of smoke from the smoking section down the ship.  Our extended balconies were amazing.  Our rooms didn't connect inside, but the door between the balconies was opened and it worked just as well for us.  My kids like to be able to go back forth between our 2 rooms.

The extended balcony was not expected, I didn't realize it when I booked it. We spend a lot of time hanging out and my kids had friends on the ship and they really enjoyed the extra space.  One room had the lounger and the other didn't.  I asked for a lounge chair for both decks.  I didn't realize they should both have a lounge chair- so make sure to ask if you don't get one!

The dining room food was gross (late dining). Sorry!  We have cruised tons and tons of times, and we always find the dining room food kind of yuck, so we took advantage of all the restaurants, and it was great. We ate at chibangs three times, the pig and anchor once and the Italian restaurant twice.  We were nervous that the waits would be long and my daughter would have a hard time waiting but guest services helped me and was able to give us a set time to sit at each restaurant.  Our dining time was 7:45, so this varied depending on the night (somewhere between 7:30 and 8:30).  But they were great at accommodating her needs.  I can't say this enough...guest services and each restaurant really helped us.  If we couldn't get it to work then we would just eat the main dining, but they were all wonderful. The food was good- but it took us about 2 hours at each restaurant so be prepared!  I also think they are still working the kinks out so some of the food would come out cold and some really hot.  It is what it is.  We still enjoyed it.

If your kids (or older teenagers...ha ha), don't want the food at the restaurants they can still get some of the classics- one of my kids ate salad and the steak at every restaurant.  

The lunch was good but having it all over the place was challenging for us.  Everyone wants something different and then having to bring it up or down to meet somewhere was annoying for us.  Again, some families might not mind but this was definitely annoying for us.

The soda machines are good in theory but they NEVER work.  

The shows were good but celebration center is just awful.  We tried to see the big circus but couldn't get seats, people lined up hours before and I just wasn't.  I found the location so distracting with the coffee place and casino right there, it was just awkward.  During NYE we couldn't see the dancers and DJ on the center stage...for us it was a big fail.  We did enjoy the piano bar and the shows in the Grand Theatre.  

I also thought the pool outside needed a live camera.  They did some games and other things with the DJ but the big screen didn't show anything.  The screen just ran the carnival ad over and over.  I feel like I remember other cruises showing us on the big screen what was going on during the pool games, etc.  

We used the gym every day and really enjoyed it.  I was disappointed that I couldn't pay for a day use of the steam room area.  It was either pay for the whole cruise or not at all.  I would have liked to just pay for the days I wanted it.  Not the end of the world.

My older kids said there were a lot of fights at night in the casino and dance club.  I never saw one, but I go to bed early with my youngest.  My older kids said some of the fights were bad - like blood and people attacking each other but they would see the same people the next day by the pool drinking again.  My oldest son even laughed and said that I am bigger than some of the security officers (I am 5 feet and on the tiny side).  But again, I never saw any of this.

The beds are the smallest things ever.  My kids and husband are not tiny, about 5'10-5'11 and weight between 180-250 and the beds were like doll houses.  No way are those beds twins. For me it was fine, but for my husband and older boys they were miserable.  

A few side notes - they cleaned our balconies while we were at sea and left all the balcony partitions open...all along deck 9.  We let my youngest daughter nap and didn't realize it at first.  Thankfully one of my boys noticed this.  I immediately called guest services and it took a few hours for them to come back up and lock all the doors.  You could basically walk into all the rooms on deck 9.  It was neat to see the fancier balcony next door to us!

We never do excursions, so I have nothing to add about that- we usually just get off in the morning and walk around the port then take advantage of an empty ship in the afternoon.

I don't think Lee is that great.  We barely heard from him or saw him around the ship.  We've cruised a few times with Jake Miller and find him to always be out and about.  

Overall, the ship is amazing.  My younger two went on bolt multiple times and the ropes course over and over.  We have been on tons of cruises with my kids, and none have ever been so accommodating to my daughter with special needs.  They would let her do the ropes course over and over since she loved it so much.  There was something for all my kids, they were all kept busy and had fun.  I made sure to tell guest services how appreciative I was of all their assistance.

I hope this helps anyone with anything!

Thanks!  How do we get to Infinity Bay or Paradise Beach?

Thank you everyone! I’ll take a look. 

2 hours ago, Cruisesfun65 said:

These are all available for your date and are connecting balconies 

Thank you, I found rooms and booked!  Now if only it was next week and not next year!

2 hours ago, Cruisesfun65 said:

If you can't get regular customer service to assist you, send an email to:

specialneeds@carnival.com or icare@carnival.com

Explain your children's needs and request them to switch you to any of the above cabin combinations.

Wow- thank you. I didn't realize they had those services.  We were super lucky on the sunshine and able to get a connecting balcony for my daughter.  It wasn't a make or break situation, but having quick access to her is certainly easier...the switching of the ships at the last minute made me nervous but it all worked out.  These email addresses are good to know.  Thank you!

Sorry- I should have said that!

December 27

Those don't show available to me...what am I doing wrong?

I was able to find rooms going through the website. I don't understand how the 1-800 Carnival reps can't give the rooms, but either way I found rooms next to each other after lots of back and forth.  Do you know if all the balcony rooms have doors that open?  I can't find two balcony rooms that connect on the inside. When we just went on the sunshine we had the same problem but our balcony door was able to be opened so we connected that way.  Do all balcony doors open/connect to the room next to them?

That is so crazy.  I don't know why the 1-800 Carnival number won't let me do it.

I think we decided on the celebration going in December.  I have called Carnival a few times and I keep getting the same answer...I can't book a guarantee room since the ship's deck plan hasn't opened yet.  Yet, I can see the deck plan on the Carnival website.  When I go on the Carnival website and try to book the cruise I can only select a category but not an actual room.  Anyone have any ideas when this will open? I need connecting rooms, I have 2 children with special circumstances - we all need to be connected.  I can't book without knowing we can be connected.  Thanks!

We are on the sunshine now and super disappointed…I’ll write a full review when we get home. 

Kids and I were just trying to plan our next one. Any thoughts…Mardi Gras or do Oasis class on Royal? My kids are 13, 14, 16, 18. We like activity- basketball, running on the track, slides, etc. 

I would love to hear your suggestions!

36 minutes ago, blueskadoo said:

Update #2: made it through at 2:24. Very

nice rep but obviously stressed. Took care of everything efficiently and refunded no problem. 

I am going on 2 hours with the resolution team - hoping someone answers soon!

If I wanted to find out about changing the room with my girls to either be connecting to mine or my boys room, should I do that now and try calling or wait until we check in?  My TA is away and can't help me right now. Any ideas when it is better to try and get that solved?

We started at midnight and finished all 6 of us at 2 am.  We had 2 different ipads going and just went back and forth. It was super easy- every test kit was perfect, but I am glad I purchased the extra ones just in case.

We are scheduled to sail next week on the Sunshine.  When Carnival moved us from the Horizon to the Sunshine our rooms changed - we had connecting rooms with our kids and we no longer have connecting rooms. Our travel agent has been trying to get them to move the rooms but she says they are giving her a really hard time and she has been waiting on hold for hours and hours (I have to add that our TA is family so it is somewhat hard to push her to help).  With that being said, any chance of us asking for different rooms when we check in on Sunday?

Obviously it isn't a make or break but we would prefer to be connecting since they are all under 18.  She also said that Carnival should not have booked them in their own room since they are all under 18- but the original agent did book them.  So now I am nervous that when we get there I will have a problem.  We have cruised with them plenty of times, but never in their own room.  This is the first time we split the kids and us instead of 2 kids + dad and 2 kids + mom.  

Thanks!

3 hours ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

If I were you -- stay with the 7 day cruise.

 

3 and 4 day cruises tend to attract the drinking crowd which I doubt you want your children exposed to.

 

The most activities are in the children's clubs -- they really should them.

I wish we could do the 7 day - but for a family of 6 the price is just too much, especially for my kids to not be so interested.  I am going to take another look though since our Spring Break seems to be earlier than most areas.  Thanks!

Hi, we are a family of 6 (4 kids- between 14-10 years old).  Last year we did the carnival magic and loved  the idea of the cruise (we had a horrible experience with the room but that is a whole other story), but the 7 days was a bit too long for my kids.  I am looking for a shorter  cruise, but still with some bells and whistles.  I know the RCCL Independence of the Seas was just redone, so something like that. My kids don't go in the camp so we prefer a ship that has lots for them to do.  Any cruise line...any suggestions?  Destination doesn't matter...but we prefer to leave from Port Canaveral so we can go to Disney a day or two before.  Our Spring Break is March 21- March 31.  

Thank you so much!

Is there a place where I can see a table/chart of all the different cruise lines and itinerary's offered. A few years ago I was able to go on the Oasis for 5 nights, they were having a special sailing. I am trying to find if there are any of these special sailings in November or December/January of 2019. Not specific to the Oasis, but we are looking for one of the larger ships that are possibly having a special 4 or 5 night sailing.

Thank you!