berrieh

Did Princess collect your passports at any point? In old reviews, it mentions collecting them for the Irish authority. But recent reviews don't... Just want to know what to expect.

I think the new menu looks great. We usually dine at Sabatini's two or three times each cruise, and, understandably, have been though the menu many times. So, a change sounds exciting.

 

I am a bit surprised that there is no beef/steak on the menu. Yes, I saw the veal, and that looks good, but it seems to me that many cruisers, especially, Americans, are serious red meat eaters. No big deal. Just an observation.

Beef cheek pasta, I thought. But, yeah, not much beef. Though pork belly and lamb will hit the same notes for some, as well as the veal.

Let's not pretend Celebrity is a luxury vacation. It is a mass market cruise line, a small step above Carnival. No way near luxury; fair food, nice ships but crowded, decent entertainment, a slightly older clientele but not "uptight"

 

Have a great cruise

 

 

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Isn't Celebrity more akin to Princess than Carnival? I mean, it's not a "luxury" line but it's an upscale tier above (I thought -- never cruised Celebrity, though).

Anyone have these? I have only seen Fun Times from before they (just recently) changed the shows and would like to see the shows/nights if possible (or can anyone tell me just that part?)

Thanks!

I am choosing to still go. I realize things happen and will make the best of it. I do not however feel the compensation is satisfactory. We will miss lunch and dinner the first day and half day of the 7 day cruise. We also lose one port completely and lost two ports of call that normally call for higher booking rates. I just don't feel 50.00 is appropriate after seeing a 4-5 day cruise get same w less loss. In the end I'm ready to go.

First: Why would you miss dinner? Won't they open the dining room for open seating, as they normally do with late departures?

Second: I think Carnival had to make the best they could with bad, but they offered a full refund to anyone that wanted it, plus some compensation, so that's fairly reasonable in my eyes. That said, I could see someone wanting to cancel if they cruised for the ports. Glad Carnival gave that option.

How many times have you tipped the housekeeping crew at a hotel.

Wait, do people not tip daily at hotels?

I leave a tip daily. Though at a nice hotel we stayed at pretty recently, we had some odd hours and didn't get service daily so they didn't get tipped daily (didn't come for service during when we were out of the room, same tip got left for the next day, though I tipped if we called for extra towels -- we had like 10 towels though so it was no big deal that they came at inopportune times on some days).

But other than that, I cannot think of a time I've not left 2-5$ daily.

OP, the Valor has more recently been through dry dock and is a great ship... there's nothing the Liberty has that the Valor does not (except a broken propulsion system which can't be the draw...)

Why don't you want to go on the Valor?

I know they are letting some impacted passengers cancel, and they may let you cancel too... but I guess I don't understand why. Especially if you're a first time cruiser. It's not like you have wonderful memories of the Liberty...

The Valor will give you the same experience (better, really, since she'll make it to your ports) than the Liberty would have. They are swapping them for your benefit, too, so you don't have the issues the Liberty has been plagued with recently.

What are you concerned about?

Why? Just because it's Carnival's policy, as people say.

I assume because it's not cost effective for Carnival otherwise due to sharing etc. I saw a post the other day where someone planned to share with her husband and booked him in a separate cabin with a kid to get the Cheers! So even with the restriction, it's an issue, but probably a much more minor one.

Good to know, we will have lunch in the main dining restaurant upon boarding. It's nice to sit down and be served after a day traveling to the ship.

As others have said, the dining room likely won't be open, but if the Italian lunch place is like the Dream/Breeze/Magic, they bring your food to you and serve you. And it's usually quiet. So that might fit your needs. (And, yes, free at lunch.)

Wonder if people really want to go back to "real" cruising where rooms had two twin beds bolted to the floor, served only 3 meals a day and you were "forced" to eat at designated times. Daytime activities were shuffleboard, skeet shooting, or bingo. At night there was a piano bar and cards. But you were treated like royalty...the staff outnumbered the guests and you paid a couple of months wages for the privilege. Obviously people loved it because "nothing" has changed, or has it?

This is the point you made that I think got lost in the shuffle. People scream "cut back" at any change they don't like but eagerly gulp up the changes that favor them... Well, it's a shift of priorities really. Many chocolates weren't getting eaten, etc, so some things go so other things can be added. I hated cruising as a kid in the 90s and didn't try it for ages as an adult because I remembered how formal and rigid it always seemed, but I enjoy it now. The priorities align better.

For the record, I do get being upset if your steward was rude, incompetent, or lied to you. I would report that to Guest Services if a steward lied, told me they had to only do 1x daily service (and I'm actually fine with 1x daily service to most degrees but not with being lied to...)

OK..I'll bite.

 

What services do people expect in the morning from a steward, and what services do they expect at night?

 

Personally I'm fine with my bed made in the morning, fresh towels once a day (personally I hang up wet towels after use and I wash in the shower so towels do stay clean), my trash can emptied, and bathroom surfaces given a wipe. Toilet paper kept stocked, tissues kept stocked, and (if I have detritus laying around) a quick clean up.

 

Don't give a hoot about ice (get my own when I need it), having covers turned down, continual fresh towels (I guess some people were never taught to hang up towels to dry), towel animals, a full time maid, someone to move my discarded clothes from chair a to b, or pick them up from the floor, someone to pick up after my kids because I'm too lazy to do so.

I'm fine with 1x daily for the most part, but I sometimes like fresh towels because they don't seem to dry right in the cruise ship bathroom (no ventilation or something?) and sometimes trash needs to go out more than 1x daily depending on what setup you get (some rooms seem to have 2 trash cans, some only 1). So I get it to a degree but I find people are a little hysterical (also I see reviews where people expect what seems like a maid or butler -- like the steward to pick up trash that isn't in the trash can or near it or clean their balcony windows or stupid stuff). I'd be fine with 1x daily if we had enough extra towels on hand and enough room for trash, so it all depends.

OP, I think your strategy of waiting a day and then calling because you felt sick makes no sense and this is part of where you went wrong, along with lumping things that are obviously just bad luck in with your complaint (bad weather, medical issues, etc).

The only complaints I can see that are really "valid" are 1) internet package, if it didn't work on your device (should report during cruise right away if it wasn't worth getting, they would've refunded likely) and 2) the late return, which inconvenienced many passengers. I'm not sure if they worked with anyone who had to actually deal with flights, etc (it sounds like that wasn't your issue), or what your being sick the next day had to do with it. If there was a complaint to be issued, you would've been better off doing so onboard, at the time. They are probably not taking after-the-fact complaints as policy, as they said. I can see the logic in that, but also in your frustration with it.

The Liberty had to cancel the following cruise, I believe (or one shortly after) for the same issue and gave lovely compensation (full refunds, plus 100% towards a future cruise of similar length/cost, plus $90 for expenses incurred at the port, waiting to board (they never left apparently). Two upcoming sailings were changed to Progresso and also got some compensation across the board, I believe (and people can cancel for a full refund if they want, now hearing the news). It seems Liberty desperately needs that Dec. 1 dry dock, sadly.

RE: internet package

My husband has gotten the internet package before (I couldn't care less, I bring my devices but games/movies/shows/books are all downloaded... I want no news from the world) and it worked poorly at one point on his iPad. I think it might've been the device because it worked fine on his phone but he wanted it for the iPad (worked fine on newer iPads as well, it seemed, or maybe just something with his). He went to Guest Services after about 24 hours of trying with it, showed them the issue with the iPad, and they immediately refunded and did not revoke the internet. Just complaining about this sort of thing after the fact seems like a poor strategy. They can refund then and there, and they will. (For some, they may revoke the internet when they refund, of course, but if it's working so poorly, why not do that? That's what my husband was going to do but he was very good natured so they threw him a bone when he mentioned it did work on my devices and his phone but he bought it specifically for the iPad.)

Though, truthfully, I don't think their internet is the greatest by far. If internet is super important to you, then that is something to consider. I've not been on other lines since they've had affordable internet so cannot really compare (been on other lines, it just wasn't recent).

I think beer and wine from the self serve machines are also excluded, as are something like ordering a Pina Colada and asking for a floater of rum (I think that would be considered 2 drinks at one time).

 

As far as included drinks that are more expensive, some of those served at the Alchemy bar, if on your ship, are more expensive.

 

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Yes they are! I knew I left something off my list. Floaters are the only exclusion that is a bit of a bummer and doubles (I wouldn't mind it counting for 2 drinks either but you can always do the "Order a shot, run right away, pour shot, make drink, ring drink a few minutes later" dance with a bartender usually if you're willing to sit for a moment or 2).

I don't even understand -- are they revamping "Carnival Legends" (I assume that's the "farewell" since it's always the last night).

We usually book the Steakhouse for the first and last nights of the cruise, and it always runs into show time or we have to be rolled back to our rooms to collapse in exhaustion on the last night, so I've never seen Legends (or particularly wanted to, but I couldn't watch Broadway style shows for 7 nights straight anyway, so that's not a complaint - we always go to maybe 2 and they're fine, then comedy a few times and it's great, and see a movie or two on the deck... we like variety).

So they're going to show a farewell video at Legends? Or ending Legends? Or is the lip synch thing part of Legends? I don't even know what it is we are to be excited about in the first place, OP. A video and a message from the cruise director? I don't really dig the "Welcome Aboard" show either, to be fair, so it's probably not for me, but I'm not even clear on what it *is* you're saying is exciting.

Hello,

 

I was wondering if anyone can answer the following questions for me ...

 

1) is milk included in the bubbles package ?

2) is the souvenir cup with free refills instead of the bubbles package still an option ?

3) does anyone have a list of drinks that are NOT included in the Cheers package ? I know it's anything over the $50 mark but I'm more looking for specialty drinks that aren't included .

4) last question .. What's the most expensive drink you can order under Cheers? I'm not a wine drinker and rarely drink beer. I'll mostly be drinking mixed or frozen drinks and kinda want to try one that's expensive that I normally wouldn't.

 

Thank you all for your continual advice !!

1) milk is free for all

2) never heard of this cup, though the Bubbles package came with a cup one time I had it (long time ago, but haven't had it in ages since we always get Cheers! and I barely drink soda anymore anyway)

3) drinks not included in Cheers!: 1) fishbowl or yard (shareable drinks), 2) buckets of beers (shareable, again), 3) shots or drinks in souvenir glasses, like the shots at dinner -- a lot of these you can go have a bar make you if you really want but not some of the dinner shots probably (never tried, as many sound horrific to me, lol), 4) bottles of wine (so if it's not sold by the glass...no Cheers!), 5) martini tasting or flights of any kind (multiple drinks). Occasionally I have heard, but never experienced, some bartenders refuse certain substitutions of top shelf on Cheers! even after the limit was raised to $50 making the substitution well within the limit; that's not a rule so much as it seems to vary by bartender and customer experience. I have heard it on more than one occasion on these forums so it warrants mentioning. Pretty much everything you could want is included in most cases and the exclusions are more about 1) souvenir glasses or 2) sharing/multiple drinks.

4) I'm sure it's something at the Steakhouse bar (which you can go to without eating there) if there's a Steakhouse. I don't know the ABSOLUTE most expensive thing personally though. It may vary by ship even. Edit: it's probably a scotch or a cognac or something, not a frozen/mixed drink that's most expensive in terms of actual menu price. Not sure with upgrading liquours etc, as I buy Cheers! not to think about these things.

Here are the ones I can tackle:

2. At peak seasons, they do seem to be crowded. But I've never been on a ship where that wasn't true on a mass market line (RCCL, Disney, NCL, Carnival) at peak time when schools were out. I haven't been on the Oasis, however, so maybe that's common there or maybe you just got lucky. The water park area on the Magic is nice for kids (better than Dream but similar), I've heard. No kids here but families sure seemed to enjoy it! Note: In February, I wouldn't imagine pools would be ridiculously crowded but I've not sailed then.

4. There's the deli, and we think it's good. We also like the sandwiches from room service on Carnival. We are sandwich people and eat at the deli (the turkey is my favorite) several times on every Carnival cruise. They aren't imaginative, but they are good, in our experiences. But it's the same deli as the Dream, so did you like it on the Dream? The add-ons the Magic may have (depending on when you sailed Dream) would be Guys (Burgers daily and BBQ at sea days) and Iguana. Everything else is similar to the Dream (both have Italian for lunch, though Magic has the actual restaurant for dinner, both have Tandoor). The Magic will have the American Table menu (some people like, some people hate) which the Dream may not have had on your sailing (or maybe still doesn't? I don't know, haven't sailed it lately). I hate pretty much all buffets, personally, and rarely take anything off of them except the salad bar or dessert bar sparingly maybe, so have little comment there. The Magic has lots of food-to-order venues for lunch and Iguana for breakfast, in addition to the omelet station and dining room.

7. I actually find that past a certain point, the larger the ship, the worse the movement can be (at least the TALLER the ship maybe?) because Dream/Magic seem to be a little more movement wise than Conquest class ships. But this could be in my head or could be rougher seas happened or whatever. I would say the Dream and Magic are similar in this area so if you were happy with Dream, you'd be happy with Magic (depending on weather, of course... any ship can rock on some seas).

8. Carnival seems to have a lot of kids activities through their clubs, including a Seuss parade and a cute Seuss breakfast (extra charge of $5 pp for breakfast). I'm sure whether kids like one or the other better would come down a lot to the experience that week (what other kids, what particular staff, the particular kids' tastes, etc).

I cannot reasonably answer much about suites or too much about family-oriented entertainment or travel, so I hope you get replies.

It's not a special "exception". You can board at any point during a cruise. It wasn't what I "hoped" for, it was what Carnival told me to do. Be there at 8. I followed through. They couldn't even follow their own instructions.

Honestly, I think the poster said that because your OP is poorly worded for this. Your OP implies you selected the 8am time: "we opted to stay in Paris and then fly to Malta a pick up the cruise there. THREE times our travel agent let them know we'd be at the dock at 8 AM. John Held even got involved and knew we'd be there at 8 AM." This suggests you'd selected to arrive at Malta and board at 8am and not that they'd selected the time.

Carnival created the system and if it is resulting in guests feeling aggrieved maybe Carnival should examine their system. We don't know at what point in the game OP did their check in. That said, this is not OP's "FAULT" as so many want to say. They are subjected to the system, which clearly is fine for those that get early check in, but doesn't work so well for those left with the scraps.

 

Do you deny that the system could be tweaked so that guests were happier?

I do know she waited, as it says so in the OP. She was unaware of the changes, despite being a user on this site and almost Platinum. So that's a lack of attention on her part, I'd suggest, though I agree she should receive email notification (as many have said they've received) if her port changed the check in process after she booked. That said, I think it's her job to be aware as well. But she said she waited until late to do her check in, as she's never been "in a hurry" to do so.

I also think working to refine the system is good, and I think they are doing that. As much as I wasn't thrilled at first, I think the system works and makes sense and should not be abandoned, though, as it benefits those who are prepared and on top of their responsibilities, rather than causing chaos for everyone, as everyone shows up en masse, making delays for all involved.

I absolutely think it is OP's fault she got a late check in. She could've checked in online earlier and gotten a time she preferred. She could've known that by the smallest bit of attention and research. That said, I don't think neither she, nor you, need to like this change, but I do think there's some evidence it often works well (some tweaks needed at certain ports, to make sure they're sorting people properly into queues, it seems, from reports, but that is different than your criticism).

The situation is entirely Carnivals making. Can't believe people are BLAMING op. Does no one here have any understanding or empathy of traveling with small kids. What is with the corporate white knighting. This is a terrible policy and it only exists for carnival to save money and force you to pay to bypass it.

 

Sorry OP this board is full of those who think the company can never make a mistake. I totally agree with you and am on your side. Now they can spend the afternoon attacking me instead of you :)

 

Edit: there are a handful of reasonable people too so if you don't feel like you are a corporate apologist don't be offended.

Do you deny that OP easily could've gotten a more preferred boarding time by checking in early?

Though I'd also say, I detest the idea that the comfort of someone with small children is more important than anyone else's. Having children is a personal choice, not like a disability or issue that should be accommodated by society or corporate entities.

I have sympathy for parents who do their best and face struggles but not for those who feel entitled to special treatment because they've selected to have children. OP isn't selflessly raising destitute orphans out of the goodness of her heart. She had children and she chose a cruise time not well suited to their schedule, then compounded that by not checking in early and getting a preferred time.

Carnival's policy may not suit her or someone else, and I think people can dislike it if they want, but they've not created her situation. She'd be in the first boarding slot if she had checked in early and paid attention.

Thanks, that makes sense. Doesn't seem too bad .I guess the only draw back is for carnival because when you get on the ship there are tables all over for things they are selling like drink packages and all.. no point in having that around now.

They could use your folio #/boarding pass apparently. If they can use that to sell drinks and even look up your Cheers! and such, there's no issue to use it to sell the wine packages, etc. The wine package thing required tickets last time I used it (though we've gone without for awhile due to Cheers!) so is irrelevant especially, and the specialty restaurants and even excursions are charged later.

The way I see it is that they wouldn't need so many check in agents upstairs because all you would be doing is getting your Passport scanned/picture taken right at the entrance as you do now before you go through the metal detectors and bags through the X-ray.

 

So you could eliminate all but a couple people at the main desk (the ones that gave you your S&S card). The few agents up there could handle any issues such as if you didn't do online check in, etc. Essentially a whole step is being eliminated so it will be faster. No need to stand in another line so not as many employees are needed.

This is a different thing than the policy being discussed here, though, right? I don't think staggered check-in actually eliminates positions (the new S&S test may, but so far, it seems to be a very tentative test only on the Splendor that has only existed for 1 or 2 sailings).

I do agree the S&S is about efficiency and potentially less port-side staff. I think staggered check-in was simply because too many were ignoring the letters with suggested times before and everyone was cramming in like sardines, trying to be first, making check-in untenable at some ports (I think some ports probably handled it fine, due to reports and my own experience, but likely it's easier for Carnival to extend it to more and more ports because it's simply better to do things as much the same everywhere as possible). Even for a rule-follower like me, it was easy to ignore the suggested times because they weren't self-selected and felt unfair to be randomly assigned, but this process makes it a bit fair.

I complained and fretted about the IDEA of staggered check-in when it was first announced, but I think it honestly is a good idea (it seems to still need some working out at some of the ports -- I've heard NOLA can be a particular mess) to control the crowd. And certainly better than a mandatory ASSIGNED time; you get to pick your check-in time, and it's relatively first-come, first-serve, with some options.

As to the new S&S thing, the more I hear about it, the less I hate it, though my first reaction to that was "Oh, heck no!" as well. (I hate change as much as anyone so I understand.) And that, at the very least, I think you could suggest saves Carnival staff perhaps, but I cannot see how staggered check-in necessarily does. I don't believe there's any less staff at those ports than there was before.

^^^^^......so why the fuss about the staggered check in time? The family would have to be at muster regardless. With it being a later departure (hope she knew that much) muster will be at around 8 or 9ish anyway,disrupting bedtime.

 

Maybe I'm missing something (probably am) but I just don't get her frustration!!!

Yes, this is what I don't get at all. A 3pm start to check-in means 3:30-7ish boarding and that means AT LEAST an 8pm muster, probably closer to 9pm-10pm. I have seen it be 10pm after an open-seating dinner in situations such as this... especially when the delayed boarding was not an emergency but scheduled from the start (i.e. the cruise isn't boarding "late" per se -- it was a scheduled late boarding).

And, of course, everyone, including the kids must attend muster. So I'm not sure what OP planned to do about this issue.

WOW...just...WOW!! Some of these responses are mind blowing and downright rude. What did I do to you? I will never come back here for anything ever again. This is unbelievable. Why would you even make a comment like that??!!

All the person did was point out that you were to blame, and you were, for not understanding you needed to select a check-in time and choosing a late cruise that doesn't suit you. If you ask me, you are the one being rude, and you came in with an angry bluster. If you'd came in understanding that the situation was of your own making, you would receive a lot of more sympathetic responses (I know that's what keeps me from feeling much sympathy for you, since you don't seem to understand you caused your own problem by selecting a late cruise and then not checking in until very late, thus getting the undesirable spots).

I can see staggering to control the crowds but 6:00 is a bit ridiculous

 

 

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I thought according to the OP it's only 6pm because they start boarding around 3pm (Edit: actually they start check-in then, so boarding is likely no earlier than 3:30-4:00 even for priority). It's a late boarding cruise, I suppose. If they are starting at 3pm, 6 doesn't seem that ridiculous (if they were starting at 11am or something, I'd agree).

You aren't paying anyone at home, I assume you don't keep ice in your bedroom at home to chill drinks either do you?

 

Personally I don't see filling an ice bucket as a room stewards job. Their job is cleaning the room, that includes extra towels or blankets if you need it. Ice is an extra job that is nice if they include it but I don't necessarily see it as one of their job duties just because Carnival use to have them do it automatically. I'm sure they waste a lot of time filling up peoples ice buckets and to me guests that want ice can carry that bucket up to the Lido and get their own or Carnival could put public ice machines on each floor like hotels do, but I doubt they do that because kids and some adults would be scattering ice around from them and making a mess.

The Lido is very far away from many of the rooms. I'm fine with an ice machine on my floor, but most ships don't have that. So someone (steward, room service) should be able to get me ice upon request, I feel. I'm certainly willing to tip extra for the service though.

Southwest Check in Opens for everyone at the same time; does not matter when you booked your ticket.

 

Also, everyone once onboard has the same accommodations. No one is being forced to miss a paid for meal based on their boarding. Everyone boards a plane within 20 minutes from start to end and there are no "services" before being in-flight.

 

I don't really think it is analogous.

I think it's analogous. No one wants a random middle seat and no one wants a late check in (I'd wager more people want a late check in than the bad seat), but someone has to get them. Yes, the check in window is much shorter for Southwest, but I think that'd be more inconvenient for Carnival customers in the case of cruise check in times, so I'm not sure your point there. It's still on the individual to check in earlier rather than later if they want the better options.

So...People who defend strictly enforced staggered check-in say that it works great and the response is overwhelmingly positive...But when someone says that it didn't work great for them and is actually causing a big hassle, they get a bunch of responses criticizing them for their lack of personal responsibility and telling them they need to stop complaining? :confused:

 

Can we just acknowledge that Carnival's unique enforced check-in time is a negative for some guests who are forced into later times than they want? Telling OP they should have selected their time sooner would not actually eliminate this reality, because there are a limited number of early slots available -- if OP had gotten the early time, someone else would have been shut out. Unfortunately for the OP, the problem is magnified because of the late start to check-in on that cruise.

I don't think it necessarily gives everyone what they want, but neither did the old system. In the old system, the crap was spread around and everyone except FTTF and Priority boarding was inconvenienced. Now, if you get a good check in time, you really don't need Priority as much so people who are informed and prepared are likely to have better experiences and people who are not as prepared take the brunt of the crap. Either way, there is crap. It's just about how it's distributed.

Please check with someone that has experienced this...

 

Most of the reviews about passengers that just got off the ship are NOT pleasant - there are a few (with priority boarding, fttf, platinum, suites, etc) that had no problem. I have yet to find a "regular joe" that had anything positive to say about the process - I know its new, but wow...

 

Heading out in two weeks - not super comfortable with this.

Where are the responses from people who experienced it? The only one I've seen was in this thread, and she had no issues.

I've seen a lot of complaints, but not from people who experienced it. I dug deeper into Royal where they've done something like it for awhile on at least some ships and saw mixed reviews but most people being fine with it in later ones. If there are reviews of the Splendor process so far, I'd like to read more reviews, if you have, as I'm curious.