CruiserFromTheRock

Thanks,  Pyrate. Guess I’ll take cards, just in case!

Great info in your review! We have a group going in a few weeks and glad to see info about Amber Cove. This will be my 10th Cruise, so don’t have many questions, but since I’m sharing a cabin with a friend, the safe matters. Is it opened with card or keypad? I’ve learned on previous cruises that if it opens with a card, hotel room keys work! I don’t like having my cc with me every where I go, so this is a great work-around!!

Here's the link from Carnival about prepaid gratuities being applied to you sign & sail- http://www.carnival.com/core/faq.aspx?faq=prepaid+gratuities

Liquorstore, I clicked the ? mark you mentioned and it says:

Taxes, fees & port expenses could include, but are not limited to:

Taxes

Fees

Port expenses

Prepaid gratuities

On our 5 day cruise, gratuities are $12/per person per day = $60 total per person. Our taxes, port fees, etc are $77.84 per person for the cruise. I wish that included pre-paid grats, but I can't imagine it does. I am going to call to clarify. Good news would be a nice thing!

We had a similar situation, of adding a 3rd person after final payment and room assignment for guaranteed OV, which was booked on sale for a great price. (5day/$169) We had to cancel that booking and make a new reservation, for new price because our room was not designated a 3 person room. It was disappointing, but I fully believe any day on a cruise is a good day!

We had no problem on the Elation in September. I've seen some say their power strips were confiscated as well, but all responses said to a new one and there would be no issue. Walmart sells one for less than $5. They are in the checkout aisles in our area. I don't know about other ships, but Elation has only one plug in the cabins!! And it's a single plug, not a double (standard) plug!!! I've also asked if during drydock, which started the day we disembarked, they did not make any upgrades/changes related to this. I'm planning on taking a small fan on our upcoming cruise, again on Elation, because our room was warmer than I like. I agree with Davey Wavey to get a medical excuse for your CPAP. My MIL had an oxygen concentrator and portable tanks, with prescription from doctor and there was no issue. The concentrator did, however, have to be "checked out" by the ship's personnel before it was delivered to the cabin later that day.

We were on the Elation in September and are returning next month. Be sure to take a power strip, as there is only one electrical outlet in the cabin. Make sure it is in excellent repair, as I've seen some folks say they've had power strips taken at boarding. Also, pack the power strip in your carry-on bag. I've seen elsewhere to take febreeze or air freshener as some cabins reportedly have a musty smell. I'm taking a small fan this time as our cabin was hot in September and the individual control in the room did nothing. That being said, since we are returning to cruise her, we loved the ship and had a great time! Anyday on a cruise is a good day!

I am finding conflicting information. Does the Elation bathrooms have hair dryers? I've read both yes and no

Thanks for your review! We go in March.

 

 

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No hairdryers in "regular" staterooms. I don't know about suites/balcony rooms. And only 1 electric plug.... take a power strip!! We went on the Elation in September 2013 and are going again in January. Be sure your power strip is in excellent shape as I've seen some folks had them taken at boarding. We didn't have any issues though.

Wow! What cruise is that?

We're on the Elation out of New Orleans! We were on the last cruise before it dry docked in September, and it sounds like all they did in dry dock was put some new carpet in some places and did some painting and maintenance.

But as I say.... life is always good on a cruise!! Especially with a such a low price!!

People are getting some significant dollars back. Do they reduce the amount owing on your final payment if you are not there yet, or do they put in in your account onboard? What happens if you cannot spend it all on gratuities, drinks excursions etc? Will you get a cheque or refund to your credit card? Just curious...might be hard to spend some of these larger amounts mentioned. Thx

I had booked 2 cabins on my credit card and they are refunding my card $162 per cabin! We are more than 60 days away from cruising, but both cabins were paid in full, so that may be why we got refund vs OBC.

First time calling Carnival they told me nope to taking advantage due to being after final payment. Second call, Keith happily upgraded me to a balcony room and I still got obo. Thanks for the feedback Cruise critic members!!:D

Awesome news! I am a firm believer that it never hurts to ask!! (And a second call obviously helps, too!)

So we are sailing December 21 and are past our final payment due date(we also are booked ES). Are we out of luck to get this deal due to the fact that we have already paid in full??

That will totally suck!:(

Can't hurt to call and ask Carnival or Travel Agent! They can tell let you know quickly! Best of luck!

We are going to be cruising for the first time in Jan. I am not sure if this is the right place to ask this? but its talking about saving some $$ so I thought I would ask.

 

We booked our cruise this past may and now when I price the cruise it is about $400 cheaper. I have read on this forum about people getting upgrades or on board credit?

 

I don't want my travel agent to think I am a pain by telling her to contact carnival about this. I want to make sure before that I am in the right asking about these discounts before I contact her?

 

Help please

Contact your travel agent!! That is what she's there for. It costs her nothing and could save you money!! More money for more fun aboard, or travel getting to the ship, etc! I booked online, and didn't know if I'd qualify for the price, so I called Carnival and got it! Worst case scenario, is you can't get the current price.... best case, you can! Won't know until you call!! Good luck!!

Yet another sale ....of course it's a Gty cabin one...I can give up ES and jump into the Gty pool and get $300 OBC...tempting for sure!

Just got off phone with Carnival. We booked 3 cabins during the Halloween sale for Jan 2015 cruise. Thought couldn't hurt to see if we could get the 35 hour sale price, saving $162 per cabin. We are more than 60 days (payoff day) from cruise.

We got the 35 hour sale rate!!!! 5 day cruise, OV gty, 169 per person!!! And rather than OBC, refunds are going back to the card we booked with!!!

Glad to see your post this morning, camper49!!!

Must a cruise be paid for in full to get a cabin assignment with a guaranteed cabin?

Do take a power strip with you!! There's only 1 'normal' electrical outlet in the room. Also, there isn't a blow-dryer, as there is on many ships. Another hint I've seen elsewhere is to take febreeze or air freshener. I'm taking this time is a portable fan as our room was warmer than I prefer and you can't really change the temp (apparently, even with the new digital thermostat they added in cabins during dry-dock). And keep your curtains closed during the day, too. We don't spend much time in our room...afterall, we're on a cruise!!

And I agree with the above posters! Remember, some folks can be unhappy and fuss about anything!!

Take a power strip as there is only 1 plug in the room! Be sure it's new or in excellent repair. I've seen some posts say they had their power strip confiscated. Also, some folks said to take febreeze or air freshener... Our cabin didn't have any odors, but apparently some have had issues with this.

Don't worry over bad reviews!! I've been on this ship, right before it went into dry dock and also booked again with the Halloween sale. You'll have a great time... afterall, it is a cruise!!

Great review! Thanks for the info! We were on the last sailing before dry dock and am looking at returning early next year. I was hoping they would add additional electrical outlets in the cabins, but you didn't mention it, so I guess I'll pack my handy-dandy power strip again. It was a necessity for us, between cameras, hair dryers, phones, etc!! Having only one plug is absurd!! And it looks like I'll be packing a little fan as well!

Did they by chance change the access to the room safes? When we were on the ship, rather than our sail & sign card, we had to use a credit card to operate the safe. That was really inconvenient and I was traveling with my husband!

Another necessity that I had seen elsewhere is febreeze/air freshner...and the hint was correct!

I, too, was hoping they had done away with the lifejacket box. If you have a 'kingsized" bed vs twins, it makes no sense!!

Excellent and accurate review! We were on the Splendida with you for one night. We disembarked in Messina. This was our first MSC cruise and also our first non-Caribbean cruise. Being from the southern USA, we believe in order and lines and manners. We didn't see much of that on the ship either. We was appalled, like you, when people in wheelchairs weren't given priority on the elevators/lifts!!!

The kids, not even teens yet, that ran the hallways at all hours, with NO supervision were infuriating. We had been warned by our table mates at dinner the first night to avoid the breakfast buffet. (Great advice!) We did eat there one morning and it was a zoo!!! We typically ate in the MDR for all meals, which was a much better experience! We had excellent service every time in the MDR.

There was a strike at the port in Marseille, so we instead went to Toulon. We didn't have anything specific we were planning in Marseille, so that was fine with us. Our favorite port was Barcelona, specifically Sagrada Familia. One HUGE hint.... purchase your tickets online! It will save you 2-3 HOURS of waiting in line just to purchase tickets!! If you forget to do this in advance, there is a McDonalds across the street with free wifi where you can do it. Also, do this on your own, rather than as a ship excursion. It is very easy to get from port to SF and much much less expensive. Also, I would recommend getting the audio guide. We did do a ship excursion in Naples and went to Pompeii. With the travel time involved and limited port time, we wanted to make sure to get back to the ship in plenty of time. Our guide was incredible! (And Pompeii, the movie, was playing on our flight back to the states! Not a good movie, but it was great to see what Pompeii actually looked like before the volcano blew, especially after hearing the description from our tour guide!)

I also agree with your thoughts on the Allegrissimo package!! We had the basic one, and it saved us an incredible amount of money!

OMG.... the photographers are EVERYWHERE and they INSIST on taking your picture!!! And like you, we discussed what a waste of money it is. We didn't buy any of the pictures and never intended to! Additionally, there was a lot of staff selling things in the public areas. And they also insisted on demonstrating their product to you..... and didn't like being told you weren't interested. I found this to be quite annoying.

We were very pleased that even though we were possibly the only American family on the ship, communication was never an issue. The staff was pleasant and helpful. The ship is beautiful! This was the largest ship we have ever been on. We counted steps one night to our MDR from our cabin (opposite ends of the ship) and figured out it was 1/4 - 1/3 mile (.4 - .53 KM - if I converted correctly) for us to get to the MDR and back to our cabin! Great way to walk off dinner!

I would absolutely recommend this ship and itinerary!

Europeans don't see a need for orderly lines. I think it's because they are dehydrated as they clearly find water to be unimportant [emoji14][emoji14][emoji12][emoji12]

 

There are obviously lots of differences in culture around the world. I rather liked experiencing the europeans on our Armonia cruise. However, I now appreciate my American lines and ice water much more!

Sooooo very true!!!

Thank you for your reply. No, I have never been to Europe so I had no idea what that meant.

Is there a lot more smoking on the ships?

We sailed on the Splendida this summer in the Mediterranean, and were the only American family we found on the sold out ship of 4000 passengers. It was a new experience to be such a minority, but not a bad thing! Most customer service type employees had good english, although the room stewards and housekeepers, not so much. We easily got what we wanted and needed though.

As for smoking, there were limited areas, but the casino was seriously smokey! I'm a former smoker, and it gave me a headache, which doesn't always happen when I'm in places that allow smoking.

Hey Little Rock. We are from Bismarck Lake DeGray. We are on Magnifica August 23. First European cruise. We would like an upgrade. Where do you check if you got one? Our e ticket shows the room we booked.

Hi, Caddo! I had already printed my tickets, boarding passes, etc, then happened to look at my reservation port on MSC website again.... Room had changed! When I called, the MSC agent told me it was an upgrade. Our deck was HUGE and the room was standard balcony, but it was also very large! This was our first European cruise as well. Different than Caribbean for sure, but still great! Casino closes at 2am and much fewer gamblers than Caribbean ships and the only food avail at that time was room service pizza. We were the only American family (me, hub, 21 yr old daughter) on board as far as we could tell and we had a full ship of 4000 passengers (!), but most staff speak some English so it wasn't a challenge. Splendida was beautiful! No complaints at all! Hope you have an incredible experience!!

With these vouchers, do you just bring them to dinner and present to the wait staff? What is the exact process? Is it one per person, per day? We are a group of five traveling in two cabins.

We didn't use the vouchers since we had the allegrisimo package, but I think you do present them to your waiter. I don't know how they are distributed though.

For anyone else who may embark in Messina.... there were less than 200 people who boarded the ship here! Extremely easy and quick. Disembarkation was the same way.

We were very pleased with this room and the huge balcony!! Wonderful cruise!