momdaughterondestiny

Yes, I did it on the Liberty in March 2015. Not many board in Barbados, however the number has since then increased because they just recently started allowing Americans to board in Barbados (previously it wasn't allowed for some reason, you had to book through a weird travel agent who lived in europe or something).

 

 

 

We did this itinerary back in 2009 on the victory and we are Americans and we booked thru Carnival with our pvp . But you are right we had about 10 people board and muster drill was very short and sweet .

 

I would do this again in a heart beat we had 1 1/2 days in Barbados and relaxed and di a little bit of sightseeing. Hope if you book it you enjoy it as much as we did.

I will apologize in advance if this is hard to follow... but ive been told by Carnival this is a rarity... So i would like opinions.

 

It has a great itinerary... I just want to hear from people who have done this.. Thanks!

My mom and I did this a few years ago I forgot which ship but it was a great itinerary and we had a blast but yes it did seem weird to do this type of cruise where people are getting off and on in different ports but it was a great deal and lots of fun. :D

Thanks everyone. Pictures coming as soon as I can figure how to upload them.

I have to say this is by far the funniest and most entertaining review of any ship on any line I have ever read.:D There are those that can do a great review one of them commented on the first page but this one goes in the record book of all time great reviews. Thanks for making me smile and laugh.:D

I would love to sail with you and welcome to carnival hope you stay and glad you enjoyed your cruise.

Momdaughterondestiny,

 

You must have gone on a personal search to dig this up from the

past to prove what point???

 

 

 

 

That you had asked about the insurance and booking with carnival vs other. I meant not harm or to be nasty. And it is not hard to find other posts of anyone just click on their name and scroll down.

That explains a lot and makes me really appreciate my carnival PVP and I use him because he explains everything to me before I book and sends me the info before I even hang up with him.

I feel bad for the OP I had an experience but with an online agency and while I WILL NOT book with them again it was my fault for not reading the fine print, but the gal didn't tell me the ins and outs of booking at a reduced deposit as far as how they break it up.

I to appreciate all the people here who help answer questions I have learned al lot since I have been here.

Please give your opinion of the advantages/disadvantages of booking directly through Carnival or booking through a cruise travel agency.

 

Does Carnival charge an agency fee? Do they offer any perks like agencies sometimes offer? Are there things one can avoid by booking through Carnival vs an agency? Is the travel insurance through one better than the other? Do you get better customer service through one rather than the other?

 

I realize that names of agencies probably cannot be mentioned. So to stay within the guidelines of this board, let's lump all cruise travel agencies together and pit them against booking direct through Carnival.

 

Just curious to hear other people's opinions/ideas/experiences.

 

Thanks all!

It appears that the OP asked about booking and insurance and was given a couple of answers they didn't take heed of.

Thank you OP for giving advice and you are right to be upset

Carnival's website should be working right and although

its been said on here 1000s of times you call and get

one answer then call again and can get another. It

should not be that way things should be consistent. New

cruisers would not know deck plans or such if this

popped up .

I always have my PVP to email me a copy

of my booking well after 5 yrs he sends it usually before I

hang up the phone but I have it in writing.

Plat and diamond have had access to the rooms before FTTF was added. At least since I've been cruising since 1997.

I agree with all those who posted to just follow the rules.

If you want to not drag your luggage around then either buy

FTTF or board at a time after 130 or check your stuff and

carry a small backpack.

After waiting over 320 days I can now say I'm doing the double digit dance at 87 days til the Conquest.

I have sailed both ships and had a good time on both. For me like

another poster said it's all about the itinerary and I'd pick the

eastern over Bahamas every time.

I have only sailed NCL once on the spirit and it was in the top 3 of my

14 cruises. With reviews I usually read say 10 reviews and take

them all with a grain of salt.

Power trip indeed. Its not only cruel it make absolutely NO sense for people to do this.

 

I been rallying and sending commentary to Carnival about building tips into the criuse price but apparently I'm one of a few, because people like to take it out on the little guy rather then complain to corporate where it belongs.

Excuse me what if someone get horrible service they should just suck it up...... I had horrible service on my last cruise and though I didn't remove the tips you can believe that I complained when I got home. I'm cruising again in June and you can bet if I have service like I did last May I might remove my tips. I don't think that is taking it out on the little guy as you say but simply me rewarding or not rewarding for bad service which is what a tip is all about correct. I can remove all tips and tip the dining staff and I already tip my bar waiters per drink they bring.

Personally I do not care if they add it to my cruise fare or not if I get horrible service I will be raising cane you can bet that.

I think when you pick your time you should pick the time

that you most likely will be there. If you pick say 11 but

know you will not be there until 1130 then you should pick 1130.

The staggered check in is a result of everyone showing up at the same time causing long lines.

If you pick a time knowing that you will not be there until 30 mins later

then why not pick the 30 min later time. In June I will be able to board

at any time so I plan to be there at 1030 I will pick that time.

I tip a dollar per drink if my waiter takes care of me

which haven't had one yet that did not take care of me

very well. Last cruise our waiter never let us go without

a drink while we sat on Lido. There were at times 14 of

us sitting there he knew our names day one and usually

what we wanted to drink before we told him by day 2. He

always had a good morning, evening and a smile . When he

was off we had an equally good waiter who took care

of us also.

Thanks for the chuckle!

After 9 pages of information, thoughts and mainly

laughs I do hope the OP comes back to share

their experience. Again I'll ask has anyone

had no choice but the late check-in times.

Has anyone here reported that they got a check in time

later than 1130 that they didn't pick themselves.

I can't remember reading anyone posting that they had

no choice but to pick a later time then 1100 most

have said they got 10-11.

Here is what I found at least for the port in Boston.

About Intercruises Shoreside and Port Services

Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services is an experienced global business

offering first class ground handling and

port agency services to the Ocean and river cruise industry.

Our people provide a professional and caring service,

able to handle any unexpected situations, with excellent local knowledge

and contacts complemented by the support and resources – more...

Clearly they are not cruise line employees there.

And in Seattle

2016 Seattle Pier Agent (New Hire)

Metro Shore Services 5 reviews - Seattle, WA

$13 an hour

Join Our Team!

Do you have a customer service background and want to try something

new? Metro Shore Services is currently seeking candidates to fill multiple

part-time openings at Pier 91 (Magnolia/Queen Anne area)

in Seattle for the summer 2016 cruise season (May-September).

During the summer several cruise ships visit Seattle weekly.

When a cruise ship arrives in Seattle, all the guests

disembark in the morning and then new guests arrive

to sail to Alaska in the afternoon. In total nearly 11,000 guests will pass

through the terminal on a busy day, and this is

the team that makes all the magic happen!

Pier agents assist guests at the beginning and end of their cruise and represent Seattle to tourists from all over the world. Agents help guests board transportation to and from the airport, check-in for their cruise, and find their luggage when it's all over. This is an upbeat and fun work environment serving happy and excited vacationers, often on the trip of a lifetime! Our staff includes many teachers, bankers, stay-at-home parents, and college students who work in these positions as well as many staff who have already had a career or two.

SCHEDULE & HOURS:

Shifts are available Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. Staff must be available at least two consistent days per week. All positions are seasonal and part-time from May through September. Most shifts start at 7:00am or 9:45am and are 5-7 hours including a paid 30 minute lunch break. All staff must be available for training on April 30. Time-off requests not disclosed in the hiring process may be denied.

PURPOSE:

Provide excellent customer service in all areas for the cruise lines Metro Shore represents. Strive to exceed guest expectations by delivering a smooth experience through the cruise terminal.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide excellent customer service to cruise line guests.

Greet each guest with a warm smile while maintaining a professional and positive demeanor.

Listen to guest questions; respond, and resolve appropriately.

Communicate clearly with guests and co-workers.

Follow all company policies and procedures including arriving on-time and in uniform to all scheduled shifts.

Complete tasks as assigned each day.

Remain flexible and willing to adapt to schedule or position modifications at the request of any on-site supervisor.

Review guest travel documents and proof of citizenship to ensure compliance with U.S. and international law.

Accurately complete computerized guest check-in on laptops.

In 4 cruises with my daughter I only took

the letter once. They didn't ask the first

time so I quit carrying around another

thing I don't need.

Smoking is currently allowed on regular balconies . We had a Lanai cabin . These cabins open up to a public deck with a reserved spot outside the cabin . No smoking allowed . It was great ! :) We never ever take balconies on a ship which allows smoking on them . Why pay extra to be annoyed . Therefore for several years Carnival and currently HAL were off our balcony cruise list . My experience is one nearby smoker can and did ruin my balcony experience .

Thank you so much for letting me know about where smoking is allowed and not on the balconies I've never cruised on HAL but my sister said she read that smoking was allowed on balconies I'll pass along your information to her. And yeah carnival is off my list to get balconies now I get an inside and save money for other stuff. Thanks again.

Eventually the casinos will be smoke free as the cabins , balconies and all food areas now are .

Until that day , Carnival should improve the ventilation systems and institute 2 days (minimum) non-smoking on

7 day cruises . They have this on HAL and I was pleasantly surprised how the stench was almost fully gone .

You can smoke on your balcony on HAL also or did they change it?

Because that's where the MAJORITY of smokers on board congregate just so they can smoke. They believe it's their territory because it's allowed by Carnival. I don't go in the casino because of the smoke. Gives me more money to spend on shore - I buy those cheap Bloody Mary's on shore. :D

I would agree with you except I smoke and wonder why I can't find a chair in the smoking area if the majority are in the casino. So I do not agree with that.

I also do not smoke in an area of the casino that is non smoking nor do I light up unless I first ask the person sitting next to me if they mind even if I am sitting at a smoking machine. I try to be thoughtful of others but some

on here are never happy and make it hard to be nice.

I agree with whomever said that non smokers got it banned on the balconies, they got an inch and now want a mile. Even though there are smoking areas outside some still are not happy where they are located.

I'm with ya on the cheap Bloody Mary's on shore lol.

Not really. Only a small percent of people smoke now, and with all the knowledge we have this statement has been proven inaccurate numerous times. Ban all smoking inside, and people will still gamble.

If that is true then why are there people stating that the smoke in the casino is so bad?

We are doing a cruise on Carnival out of Galveston this Coming Sunday....6 rooms...we all have different check in times.... so how the #/^÷/%_£^/#= are we supposed to coordinate picking up family members from hotels...flights....others driving in..... We are Elite on Celebrity and Diamond Plus on Royal...earned both....not real impressed with Carnival so far....:mad:

Maybe everyone can just use the latest check in time that your group has? I know we will be on the conquest one cabin is platinum, one has FTTF one has kids who are linked to the platinum and one cabin first cruise so we are all going to check in with the first cruisers if they've started it in June in FLL we will pick the earliest time for the one cabin with the first timers. You can check in after your assigned time just not before . And boarding does not go by your check in time.

You have to purchase it together. But you can now order it online so maybe you can both purchase it before you board online .

We picked the cruise because of the concert. As someone

else already said seats are not assigned but we stood

in line at the doors about an hr to hr an half to get in

and we were up top right at the glass. I think this

is one of the best concerts I've been to with the

exception of the Eagles, and I"ve

seen Journey about 6 times over the years

in big concert venues. You can see then

up close it was a very small area and

it felt personal.

If I didn't already have a 7 day on the conquest

with others going I would book it in a min

just for the concert nevermind the ports.

But unless you are also wanting to do a cruise

regardless of the ports then it's probably not

worth it.

it would not be worth it .

We are booked on Valor this June

Our PVP told us that by then it will be in place in PC

That is what I am thinking that Miami was first in Fl in March and then other embarkation ports in Florida would be next.

So our group is planning accordingly. Thanks for the heads up.