cmukid87

1 minute ago, x lindsay x said:

Just use the Carnival crib, kids close to two will be too long for it but a 1 year old will be fine. It is a mini crib so use the sheets they give you, it will be hard to find something that fits unless you already have a mini crib. Also bring some night lights to avoid needing to use the main lights while L.O. is sleeping. 

 

My advice - get a balcony room so the baby can have quiet time to fall asleep, its better than hiding in the bathroom or hanging a sheet. 

 

Bring an small inflatable pool to use in the shower, there are no tubs unless you are in a large OV that a few of the ships have, or a suite. 

 

 

The inflatable pool is the best idea.  We also brought one of those for our young ones to sit, play, and splash around in when we were out on the Lido deck.

4 hours ago, Aplmac said:

(Always) carry more documentation than you think they'll need!

 

Even if they don't ask for the Marriage Cert.(or whatever)

you take it out, and place it right before them!

 

Drown them in more paperwork than they need!

I subscribe to this thought process.  We bring WAY more documents than we need.  We brought my wife's birth certificate, our marriage license, her divorce papers since her name was from her last marriage when we married, and passport.

My suggestion is to have some cash on you.  I'm fairly certain the tips that get added to your S&S account are put in a pool.  If you hand a runner or bartender a few dollar bills they can easily take that as their own tip.  Not sure if it is in their employment rules to share cash tips but I always feel like they can keep those as their own.

Sending positive vibes that you can board the ship soon!

I don't think I would label the food as subpar.  I know what I am getting when I get onboard. I know I'm not getting a Michelin Star experience.  I enjoy the food because I know that's exactly what I paid for.  

The way I look at it is this.  If I took my family of 6 out to eat at a local chain restaurant for 3 meals per day for 7 days, I'd be paying $2000+.  Or I can pay a little more and be on a ship in the Caribbean.  That's my justification for the food not being mind blowing.  I eat it.  My kids enjoy it.

Unfortunately this is a sort of herd immunity situation.  There are a lot of vaccinations and boosters in peoples bodies which should lessen the symptoms.  Once people start to contract COVID they should build the antibodies to now contract it again, at least for a larger period of time. 

It seems this is a way to easily deny the benefit from here on out.  There are very few people that book at a "regular rate".  Almost every single booking is made using some sort of special rate, promotion, VIFP rate, etc. 

6 minutes ago, cyclist_guy1 said:

anyone ever have a problem trying to setup your onboard spending account?

 

im trying to setup my family's onboard spending account, during online check-in, and im getting a message - Credit card did not pass Online Check-In verification. i know im using a good credit card because i just used it to pay for an excursion.

Are you near the credit limit or is it a secured card?  

15 hours ago, K_e_short said:

Protocols are only in place until the end of March.

 

I would wait until protocols are announced for July then ask those questions.

 

Rules that exist now may not exist in July. Things may get better. Things may get worse.

 

 

This ^.  Protocols expire March 31, 2022.  My 4 year old is unvacc'd and we are sailing the first week in April.  I'm paying close attention as this would really put a wrench in things.

1 hour ago, havanadaydreaming said:

Does anyone know what tshirt sizes are available?   

 

Im going to make a point to go to this next week.  Our group ranges from S -3xl.  

 

Thanks, in advance, for any feedback ! 

I can only speak up to 2xl.  They have small through 2xl but beware they are at the mercy of inventory.  They do run out of sizes from time to time.

Dr. E was our best BY FAR.  Nobody else has measured up.

I have always planned on being on between 11:30-12:00 and have never been let down.

My crazy low rate promotion has ended.  Bummer.  Was really hoping that would somehow stretch to my already booked cruise for Spring Break!

More true live music and less DJ music.

I feel like each cruise I go on there is less and less live music in popular venues and more of a DJ presence. 

4 hours ago, beachbum53 said:

There is an alternative to this. I don't know why Carnival has never thought of it. Instead of having people put their trays on the floor by the cabin door(s), why not have carts with shelves at certain locations, like the elevator lobbies on each deck, where people could put their trays? 

That would work great....but you'd have to rely on people to actually do this.

On 11/1/2021 at 10:44 AM, ULCajunCruiser said:

Yep.   I've used a few more since then.   Works similar to  Carnival, except you have about a 10 day lag cause you can't just apply them like with Carnival.   With these you have to send them to a gift certificate department, and they apply them.

And confirmed still can't be used onboard?

On 10/22/2021 at 8:37 PM, ULCajunCruiser said:

Yeah, I don't know how using a TA would work??   I booked directly though Royal.  I'm $200 ahead right now.   Mine is also a B2B and I've got a couple more of these $2000 payments to go!!!

Wow.  I was always under the impression the RCL cards could not be used like gift cards and could only be used when first booking the cruise.  So you can book/put a deposit down and pay with these?  I've always done it like that with the Carnival cards but those are true gift cards and a "certificate".

Breaking news - Casinos are rigged, too.

Of course this is all based on a computer algorithm.  Cruise lines are meant to make money, not lose money.

58 minutes ago, princess76021 said:

Sorry guys, I should have said that there aren't any cruises listed for 7/8 days!

 

I'm on the dream (or hope to be) March 26, 2022 !  

 

Nothing shows!

 

Thanks again

Hugs

I see the Dream open for bookings on 3/26/2022.  Maybe just a glitch.

It is usually restricted to two people in the cabin.  It should say in fine print of the offer code.  I booked a room for my wife and son.  My wife gets cheers and son gets bubbles.

5 hours ago, eileen11 said:

Just off the Dream and the 4 comedians did not change their act, so if you see one of their shows, you have seen them all.

This is extremely surprising to me.  If that is truly the case then Carnival should be made aware via the post cruise survey or other customer service measure.  

I have that same rate code.  Today I got a "free" room offer.  $100pp to book but includes $100pp OBC.  It's crazy how cheap my rates are right now.  Unfortunately we can't take advantage because we live in the north, have 4 school age kids, and wife is in her 3rd trimester.  If I could I would take multiple sailings.

CHEERS! starts as soon as you board the ship unless you are leaving from Texas or New York.  The international waters thing only applies to taxes being charged on your drinks.  If you are still in port and order a drink you will be charged the applicable tax.

Technically you would not be covered under CHEERS! on debarkation day.  As it was already said, CHEERS! resets at 6am each morning.  I don't know all of the fine print on that, though.  The 6am reset could be only for alcoholic beverages.

Another way to do this same thing:

Create a mock booking.  You will get to the pricing portion and there will be an option on screen to see "more offers".  This will give you all of the offers you have available to choose from for that sailing.

I was also on the first sailing.  

Lines and capacity - Great
Chair Hogs - FULL FORCE on seaday(s)
Drink wait - average to above average, don't remember waiting more than a few minutes to get served
Gary - Didn't care for.  I have different reasons than others, though.  I don't know everyone's expectations but he did not go anywhere near out of his way to please anyone.
Non-smoking casino - a wonderful addition for someone like me

mask wearing - really not a big hassle.