Sweet Dutch Girl

I do only worry about me and mine, but I don't think that we need to lessen CCL's current requirements.

So you do think that clothes affect the way people act and think and behave. It's like saying that young children act so much better when they are forced to wear their Sunday clothes so we should force that on adults to get the same kind of "sunday behavior". That is quite the archaic thinking and a great cop out.

Children behave as they are trained...not by what they wear. Adults, the same. Someone isn't smarter because they wear a suit, a women isn't more convivial because she wears fancy "dress" shoes, a person doesn't only display their manners when they are dressed to the nines (whatever that means).

"Forcing" someone to dress per a set of pre-conceived and outdated "standards" doesn't ensure that the dining room will be full of grace....an obnoxious drunk doesn't care about what clothes they are wearing. Nor is a loud and attention seeking individual more apt to act inappropriately if they are wearing a button down shirt as opposed to a golf shirt.

I feel that many people judge others by how the clothes they, themselves, affect the way they act. If I were someone who judged myself by my attire I may be more negative about people who dress super casually if I changed my mannerisms when I dressed "down". But since I am the same person in shorts and a tee shirt as I am in a "ball gown" that just isn't my criteria for weighing how people will act.

Sometime in the last 50 years people across this great planet of ours have decided that "clothes" are no longer a symbol for much of anything. The majority of us are no longer influenced in a positive way by what others wear and we no longer think it important to keep up with the "joneses" who relied on clothing to show their superiority when their brains couldn't keep up with the masses.

I don't "ever" look at what people wear...I couldn't relate what anyone wore yesterday to our extended family get together. I can remember the yummy tasting food and the good conversation, the jokes and the teasing, and the way the experience made me happy. I 'think' there were some sweat pants in the mix, and an assortment of foot attire, and Grandma's beautiful necklace she received as a gift from a native American friend of hers. Beyond that, nada.

Going on vacation should be a chance for all of us to wear what we find comfortable. As long as our privates are hidden (something fancy dress for women doesn't always ensure) and we are clean and our smell doesn't compete with the food (ahh, fancy perfumes and moth balls) who really cares. And if we want nice fancy and overly expensive family photos showing us dressed outside of our normal comfort zone who is stopping us from doing that.

As in all things on a cruise....worry about yourself and your significant others and let everyone else be. They (whoever they are) can only ruin your 'vacation' if you let them.

Ah, eating vs dining.

I agree, whole heartedly. We always let the server know that we are treating the meal in the steak house as an experience and that we are not in a hurry. It is our time to visit with our companions, to really enjoy our food. Even in the regular dining room we choose late dining for the reason we can dine at dinner not shovel down our food because someone else needs our seat.

The OP's itinerary takes them to warm, muggy, wet locales where the months of August and September are more often than not rainy. The good thing is that unless there is a tropical storm the wind stays really mild this time of year. Nothing gets cancelled, excursions stay on. They don't close the scuba or the water sports or even the zip lines. And its so warm that a plastic poncho would make you more uncomfortable than the rain makes you wet. And thunderstorms last only about a half hour and then they move on quickly. Just don't expect brilliant sunshine...most days are overcast (saves on the sunscreen).

If you give cash someone can buy their own t-shirts, earrings, candy and liquor. They do have days off when in port and can do their own shopping for stuff they really want. The best gift is a Thank You and a personal endorsement left on a survey or at the service desk.

Gifts are more about making the giver feel good and can often be misconstrued by the recipient to indicate how much the giver has in relation to what the receiver has. Personally I feel it is bit demeaning for a service employee to get "gifts".

You can get an expedited passport, either new or renewal in as little as two days as long as you have booked your vacation airline travels.

Always lock your luggage. If someone is picking the lock it might be noticed.

It takes just a few nano-seconds to cut a zip tie, snap a tsa lock, or use a mini-cutter(the size of tweezers) to disable a luggage lock.

Cruise lines gives you options. They don't require you to leave your luggage out for pick-up. Just man-handle it off the ship yourself.

I hate it when people say: my luggage is too big to move myself....then get smaller luggage and pack less; I don't want to schlep my own luggage....then don't pack your valuables in your luggage and carry them off in a tote just for the purpose; Carnival should be responsible for my luggage....no, they are providing a service that may contain security risks, it is up to the passenger to use the service.

I have seen luggage at embarkation stacked outside a stateroom for hours while the inhabitants are off doing their thing. Carnival fulfilled their end, passengers should fulfill theirs.

I'm impressed how many have taken their valuable time to tell you they would never do what OP did .

It's good to offer helpful advice . :rolleyes:

The incident has already happened and none of us can make it unhappen or can really advise on how to get it resolved. We can, through our own experiences, and for the benefit of all those who read these threads, express how we try and protect any valuables from theft.

I, too, have learned, through experience that theft happens everywhere. When I was a flight attendant one of my compatriots had their luggage stolen right from under their nose as it was in the cabin of the plane and a passenger, apparently, just grabbed it from under the seat where it was stored and walked off with it.

If something is valuable to you, keep it with you. Throw dirty clothes into your luggage and carry those things that are precious. Trust only goes so far. And luggage locks are a joke...lock your luggage and you are saying to a thief: "look, I have something to steal".

Many of my favorite "at home" beverages may or may not be offered on a cruise ship without paying extra for them. I love clamato juice, grape juice, pineapple juice, limeade, virgin bloody marys, ginger ale, iced flavored coffee, cherry cranberry...you get the idea. If they are "important" to me in my daily routine I budget for them if they are offered at all on a cruise. Liquid habits are different for everyone, and if you want your drink of choice why would anyone expect them to be available at grocery store prices on a ship.

If someone drinks a few 64 ounce cokes a day (and I see people carrying those mugs around as though they were security blankets) why do they think their "special" drink should be cheap. Why should I have to pay "top dollar" for a virgin drink so that others can get their soda fix for peanuts.

Actually, that's a good question. I got my original PVP, which I still use to this day, back in 2000 on my very first Carnival cruise. I cruised several times on Carnival, but wanted to try other lines. From 2008 to 2013, I tried other lines and Carnival assigned me another PVP since I was MIA. Then, in 2015, my original PVP was on vacation when I booked, so they assigned another PVP.

 

So, how do I get rid of the 2 that were assigned that is not my original PVP? the other two still send me e-mails and make calls...

You can automatically send any unwanted emails to spam, just mark the offending email as "spam" (with yahoo it is on the bottom of your home page) and any additional emails from that particular sender will end up in your spam file...then just delete your spam file on a regular basis without opening the emails. For calls, assign the number from the pvp a name like "don't want" and when it pops up on your phone you can easily avoid answering the number.

Sure, it isn't automatic....but it does save you from having to look at the emails or answer the phone.

I would like to know how RC came thru in so many ways.

Since it is a completely "new cruise" on RC how is that comparing apples to apples with a "cancel" and re-book cruise while in the penalty phase. Did RC give the OP the money back that they had spent at Carnival before charging them for the cruise. No, probably not, they just gladly accepted the money the insurance company coughed up. Just a theory, since I'm not the OP.

If you sit at a round table for 12 or more just remember to bring your megaphone and your ear horn. You won't be able to hear or converse normally with those across the table. It's between 8 and 9 feet across the table.

We always get two tables and then switch places every night so that we can be seated next to everyone a couple of times a cruise.

Born in the Netherlands: name 1.

Immigrated to US: They americanized the spelling at Ellis Island (yup I'm that old)..name 2.

Became an American citizen and I dropped one of my middle names. Name 3.

Married once: Name 4.

Married twice: Name 5.

Now some people's logic say I need my birth certificate, my immigration papers, my naturalization papers, and two marriage licenses to board a ship. C'mn guys. A little common sense here.

Here is the problem with this, the Customer Service Rep give Good & Bad and just plain wrong info all the time. And they aren't the ones At port reviewing your documents. So a telephone call is not going to protect you should you run into an "Officious" jerk having a bad day. So why not be safe rather than be sorry, grab that extra piece of paper! If you have it you likely won't need it, but in my world if you are unprepared and someone will want that stupid document that is still locked up in the safe deposit box.

 

My advice is that it's better to be safe than to end up being sorry. Also do not take important advice from strangers on the internet.

Your answer may change if you actually would take the time to read the Carnival documents. Only time you need a marriage license is when you register in your married name but your id is in your maiden name.

Wonder how many multi-timed married ladies are asked for historical evidence for each name change. That would be a heck of a lot of paper to carry around.

AC on ships is not an ac unit per room as it is in hotels. It is like the AC in most homes and runs on a central system traveling through duct work to various rooms, hallways, etc. If you prop open a door the duct in your room senses the warm air, and begins to compensate by pouring in more refrigerated air. Hence, all of the other rooms on your system are adversely affected with less air going to everyone else.

The doors are self-closing for a very good reason. Both for safety and because conditioned air should not be allowed to escape. And, there are signs at the doors directing you to keep the doors closed.

Think about it.....if the ship's engineers were happy with people opening their doors for "outside ventilation" they would have designed ships with operable windows. And they didn't!!

I am a let people live person but I would be screaming bloody murder if my neighbor was confiscating my conditioned air. Hope I never travel with anyone who says it isn't a big deal.

CHANGE....the nastiest word in the Cruise Critic lexicon. As far as most of the posters on Cruise Critic are concerned CHANGE is always a negative.

Examples: Even though we now have a buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner available people still complain because the "midnight" buffet has been eliminated.

Chocolates on the pillow were pretty nasty tasting but people still mourn their demise even though most ended up in the garbage.

Carnival cruises has become more family friendly, insuring a large passenger base that helps keep costs down as ships sail full but some are belligerent that the "adult" experience has gone missing.

The current trend of no tablecloths for many upscale restaurants is ignored by complainers as they want the ambiance without paying the price on a cruise line.

Open deck spaces now have water slides, water works, miniature golf, basketball, running tracks, rope courses and other "activities" but people are not happy 'cause they don't have yards and yards of space to sit and veg for hours.

Ships now have fitness rooms, saunas, hot tubs, balcony rooms around the entire perimeter so people can enjoy themselves 24/7, there are activities and venues for children that give them something to do onboard but people are concerned about the fact that room stewards aren't their personal butlers all day long.

No longer are people assigned set dining times, now they have choices and multiple venues but people are forever complaining that the food they consume isn't "Top Chef" quality and up to their "standards" (whatever the heck that is).

For so many it is all about the losses and never the gains. What is up with that?

Nothing that threadstarter describes is out of the ordinary for Carnival anymore.

I must be blind because the incidents described by the OP have never been on my radar. Just like I've never had kids push all the buttons on the elevator, or seen them running, screaming, and knocking on doors in the hallways (not anytime, any ship).

Regardless of anything I still feel that people see what they want to see...if they are negative by nature anything outside of their comfort zone will impact them adversely, whether it be the actions of others or their own interpretations of activities. One solitary incident will drive them crazy...others of us will not even turn our heads since we are more involved with our own enjoyment then being fixated on the activities of others.

To say that Carnival is all about bottom feeding people is bizarre....uncouth people are everywhere no matter how much money they spend or what their "station" is in life. Perceiving one's self as "above" the norm is more of an indication of someone's "I'm better than the next person" and here is why attitude that seems to be prevalent on these boards.

People are people no matter where you go. Some are uncouth, some are loud, some are obnoxious, some are selfish, some are just plain stupid. You find them at public swimming pools, amusement parks, many are at sporting events, some stay at the same hotels you do, some eat at the same restaurants. I learned a long time ago that I won't let the antics of others ruin my vacation. Nor do I think the "host" should be the people police. Sure it is a bit aggravating when you see or overhear things that people say but it is best just to ignore it. And to condemn the "host" for behavior issues that they can't control is a bit over the top in my opinion. It would be nice if everyone we come in contact with could be as sweet and rule following as we believe we are but that just doesn't always happen.

No! The names on the document must match or you may be asked for the linking document for the different names.

 

Do not be mislead by any posters who frequently post misleading, useless or totally wrong information.

For a woman, as long as your photo ID matches, exactly, the name you "booked" under you only need the ID and your birth certificate confirming you are a US citizen for sailings originating in the US. A marriage certificate is only needed if you booked under your married name but have not updated your driver's license.

Non US citizens need a passport. If you are a US citizen, do not have a passport, and you were born outside of the US you will need your naturalization papers. Legal US aliens (ie students, green card holders) will need their documentation.

As others have said it is best to read the Carnival regs and come prepared. Here is the link (read it all):

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/category/~/travel-documentation-and-online-check-in/~/travel-documents/c/406

A gazillion food shows on every network, specialty grocery stores that overprice basic ingredients, a populace that eats out almost as much as they eat at home, millions of dollars spent on cookbooks which nobody ever uses (but the pictures are pretty). The current "fad" is that everybody has started thinking of themselves as foodies...they think they know everything about "great" cuisine, that the best food is created with the most obscure ingredients that you can't find anywhere, that the more obscure food is the better it tastes.

So, the "complaint" of the week is how "bad" food is on a cruise...'cause everyone is now a food expert and their palates are world's ahead of what is prepared on a ship. Ship's food hasn't changed to any great extent, but expectations by a whole slew of foodies has perpetuated the myth that it is increasingly bad, or awful, or uneatable, or wrongly cooked, or made of sub-standard ingredients.

Food is sustenance, it serves a purpose. Thinking that food is a source of elegance, a path to status is pretty much wishful thinking and just another "I'm better than the next guy because it isn't up to my personal standard" and a way of expressing that "I'm smarter, more discerning than the average joe".

Why do people think that an "inexpensive" cruise line should be up to the standards of a Michelin 5 star restaurant that charges $100 for a minuscule plate of food is just absurd.

It's interesting to me that the "cheaper" chain restaurants where I live do a thriving business whereas the good "chef" driven establishments that charge a bit more for "gourmet" food close as fast as they open because they can't find customers who are willing to pay for fresh food prepared one dish at a time.

When you sail on the budget cruise lines (Carnival, RCI, NCL) you sail for the budget prices and just like chain restaurants you should know that you won't be getting 5 star quality food.

Good food prepared by hand is expensive. I don't think people eat prime beef at home, range raised chicken, wild fish...their budgets don't allow for that. Instead we usually get grocery store food...choice beef, pen raised chickens, fish farm seafood.

Why, suddenly, when we cruise do we think our budget dollars will pay for the kind of food we can't afford or don't buy at home...nor do we spend the dollars it requires to eat day after day at 5 star restaurants.

As a society we like long menus, multiple choices. Cruiselines offer that but at a cost to quality. Would we be happy if we cruised and, like in the old days, you were fed 3 meals a day in the dining room with a choice of fish, fowl, or meat. Of course food was better then but choices and options were limited...and you were forced to eat at the same time everyday.

Again, I am always amazed that there is a train of thought out in cruiseland that we should be getting something better than we are willing to pay for. We don't expect it at home, or when we patronize all these chain restaurants...

Food and coffee is very, very subjective.

Buffet food, (everywhere, not just on ships) is usually just edible...never my first choice when I eat out.

MDR food is "banquet" quality...the same stuff you get at the peas and chicken dinners where they seat a thousand diners.

A pound of good coffee on land sells for $15 bucks (minimum)...buy the $6 variety and it sucks big time.

Ensenada is a dump...but so are most of the ports on the baja penisula with maybe the exception of Cabo. What foreign port, a one day sail from LA, would be better?

3 and 4 day cruises, are cheap for a reason. Wouldn't catch me on one, once was enough (oops, twice since my experience on RCI was worse than Carnival by far).

Wonder how many people are up and mobile before 7am on a cruise. My experience has been the ship is a ghost town before then. And on a cheap cruise where "price" is the motivator how many folks are springing for a "specialty coffee", that they have to pay extra for, early in the morning?

Want cheap stuff shop at Walmart. Want quality best look elsewhere. Not to say Walmart (Carnival) is bad it just offers people a cruising experience on their "short" cruises that are affordable for the masses. People who expect a "real" cruise experience need to anti-up.

I believe you can sign a waiver and your 18 year old can drink beer and maybe wine in your presence.

 

I believe you have to purchase and serve though.

Nope...Carnival has a 21 policy...no exceptions when sailing from a US port. May be different for international departures.

If you pay off your balance every month the Carnival card is not bad. But if you run a balance the interest rates of 15% to 20% are points beyond my credit union card that charges 8%.

Actually, it's 21+ for the Serenity. An 18 year old can fight and die for their country but can't go to the Serenity or buy a beer.

They can't buy a beer anywhere in the US. And this thread is about the aft pool areas not the serenity area. 18 year olds can go to all adult areas but serenity. And why they would want to go there is beyond me.