MoniMommy

3 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

Generally Carnival shows the cheapest price on carnival.com, so that is already the guarantee rate. The default with Carnival seems to be guarantee rates, and you pay extra if you prefer to choose your own room

Thanks! Good to know!

Thanks for the replies. I did manage to find it. But I see why I was confused. At Royal choosing a guarantee room gives you a discount of 1 to 300 dollars. There doesn't seem to be any such discount with the Carnival guarantee rooms.

I usually travel Royal Caribbean and always get a balcony guarantee. However, this option is never on yhe website. You must call. Is Carnival the same? I was on the website to book a cruise on the Sunshine leaving from Norfolk in 2025. There was no option to book a guarantee. If I call will that be an option? 

On 8/10/2023 at 10:18 AM, ONECRUISER said:

Could be worse, some Lines are charging to eat in Main Dining

Which ones?

5 hours ago, hollon said:

When I go to book a cruise, I click on balcony room, it then goes to a page to let Royal chose your room or You pick your room. When Royal chooses the room, the room can be Boardwalk balcony, Central Park balcony, or Ocean View Balcony, it's not just O.V. Balcony, correct?

 

Thanks

Yes but if you call you can book an Oceanview balcony guarantee. This I'd what I have done for my past 2 sailing and for our next cruise. So far it's been good for us. Unfortunately I can't book it online I have to call Royal to make the booking and ask for the Oceanview balcony guarantee. On the booking receipt it will say obstruction 0%.

I booked a guranree balcony. I booked on the phone directly with royal. I check prices daily. I saw the price for balconies dropped. I called and asked them to see if a better price was available. I got the better price. I booked Sep 2022 for a cruise Sep 2023.

I understand the 2nd lobster is 17 but whay about the 3rd, 4th, etc? It says the 2nd rather than each additional lobster. 

4 hours ago, kwokpot said:

You answered your own question. There is None. You have to put yourself in a precarious situation. It's impossible just to fall off. 

Thank you!

Other than jumping how does one fall off? I can see being inebriated and stumbling but the railing would prevent you from falling? What are some ways that one can fall without jumping or being pushed? Genuinely curious so I know what to be aware of.

Is Giovanni's table open for lychee daily from 12 to 1:30 or is it just open for folks to make reservations?

1 hour ago, bguppies said:

It gets kind of busy out there, but the Bay St. area would be more like Times Square versus the Queens Staircase being like some random, off the beaten path attraction in NYC. The attraction might have more people, the surrounding sidestreets are definitely less traveled.

Any area in a larger city needs vigilence, especially after trying times for people the last few years.

 

But the area between the pier and Margarittaville, is probably the safest in Nassau. (but not perfect like anywhere else)

Thank you!

1 hour ago, bguppies said:

Queen's Staircase is way down on the bottom right of that map by Fort Fincastle. 

Many blocks away from Bay Street and Margarittaville.(which is just to the left of Pirates of Nassau and across the street on the beachside)

Thanks! I didn't mean they were near each other. I was just surprised that it happened at such a well traveled place. So we'll traveled places can stl pose a risk. But I know there is risk in everything.

I am in a very new relationship and I want to pick up a small inexpensive gift for the man I'm seeing. He is 54 and has a 6 year old son whobof course ai havent met as this is a new Relationshi. I don't know all of his interests since his is a new relationship. I just want him to know I was thinking of him when away. He has a boat and loves the water. He also has a sweet tooth. He likes dessert. He's doesn't really drink liquor or wine but does like sweet cocktails like amaretto sour and Moscow mule. Can you suggest something to but on the ship or in the Bahamas. The furthest I am willing to go is the straw market in Nassau. My budget is about $20 since this is a very new relationship I don't want to go overboard. Thanks for any ideas you have to share.

My understanding is that Margeritaville is next to the Brisitsh colonial hotel. When my kids were 6 and 7 we walked from the piert to Brithis colonial. I'm a single mom. It was an easy walk and lots of people especially om the way back. I felt safe. But you know times change. So I too am wondering. I read some tourists got robbed on a very well trafficked tourist area called the Queens stairs.

Tell us about your experiences on board.

Where can I see some pictures. I can't seem to form a mental picture of how you can see the ocean from the inside balcony. From the picture posted earlier it looks like some cabins have a good view and othere just have a view of other cabins..

Also, as for seeing the aqua show, is it a good view? Can you sit and enjoy it or do you have to stand, lean and squint to see?  Is the view the same for all Broadway balconies or do you have to be in certain one to see the ocean and show. Thanks!

22 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Possibly. Knowing the rules and what’s been done in the past certainly helps when dealing With Royal.  I still get agents that aren’t completely familiar with all tje nuances to their policies.  Depending in the situation I either ask for a supervisor or just call back. 

Update. I booked today. I did have to put down a 250 deposit for the 3rd child who doesn't have a cruise credit. I didn't press the issue to try to have it waived as I was expecting to have to pay it.

One thing was interesting. Online I only had the option for a balcony guarantee. Its the Oasis so there are inside and ocean view balconies. Online I could not specify which I would get as a guarantee. On the phone I had the option to take an Ocean View balcony guarantee. 

Didn't realize the options were different when calling vs booking online. Now let's just hope we sail in Sep 2021. Thanns again for you expertise!

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

If you are concerned about being able to use it under KSF then cancel the third person first, their deposit will be applied to the first two guests fare.  Wait a couple days then cancel the cruise.  The FCC will be issued to the two remaining guests. 

Thank you!

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I have applied FCC’s  for 4 guests to a reservation with KSF. Those were from sailings that Royal has cancelled. I have also had excess FCC moved to another guest in order to use it all up an many reservations both where Royal cancelled and the guest cancelled. 
 

Cancelling either before or after final will result in your FCC being reissued with an expiry date of Dec. 31 2021 or 12 months from the date you cancel...whichever is further. 
 

 

Thank you! I wonder if this is an area where having a TA is advantageous.

6 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

as you are paying with an FCC you are correct about there being no real difference in going non refundable vs refundable other than the $250 extra cash 
 

If you cancelled anytime after final then you would get 3 FCC’s back for the full cruise fare but after final that would be the case with a refundable deposit as well. 
 

yes you can cancel up to 48 hours prior to the date of sailing (note that it is date of sailing and not time of sailing) 

I have had no issues in getting Royal to balance out FCC’s if you were to get 3 and then rebook under a KSF 

 

Thank you. So in your experience Royal will allow a FCC for a kid sailing free with the KSF promotion? I've read about people being unable to use it in this situations. And if I cancel BEFORE final payment, my FCCs will be resissured? Is that correct? Thanks again. 

1 minute ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Correct, you would still need to put down a $250 deposit for the third guest.  That being said I would still call and ask if it could be applied to all 3 guests...sometimes you just never know.  You are going to have to call anyway to be able to use the FCC for the deposit so it’s not like it’s any extra time to ask. 

Thanks! That was my thought too. I always do refundable deposits but since I'm paying with FCC for deposit, I feel like there in no downside to non-refundable deposit. If I understand correctly I can cancel up to 48 hours before sailing and get a FCC. If I cancel before final payment I would get my FCC deposit back (even though I booked a non refundable deposit) as another FCC because of the modified  cancelation policy. The only downside I see is that I may be out of $250 cash. If I get that back as a FCC I  will not be able to use it once the deposit policy changes back because we always sail KSF. Given the current refund policy, and I'm paying with FCC do you see any other downsides to booking a  non refundable deposit? Thanks again.

@Ourusualbeach

So I'm thinking of booking Sep 2021. It does have the KSF offer. My understanding is that I can now use my FCC for the deposit. Its me and 2 children. I have a FCC for 600(me) and 300(daughter). I'm Assuming that even though this amount will cover the 750 deposit I won't be able to use it for the 2nd child and I will still have to put down a 250 deposit for her. Does that sound right? Or would I be able to use the FCC to cover the deposit for all 3? Thanks in advance for any insight you have. 

It may take time for there to be doses for everyone and the first doses would go to those at high risk of death and 1st responders I would think. So when/if cruising resumes it might not be feasible to require everyone to have a vaccine if there aren't enough doeses yet.

9 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

These are marketed as weight loss cruises.🤣

Ok sign me up! After all this quarantine eating, I need a weight loss cruise.

On 4/20/2020 at 7:30 PM, suzyluvs2cruise said:

 

I don't think you can compare cruising after 9/11 to how it will be after the COVID-19 virus. Totally different scenario with what has happened on ships and the current CDC No Sail order. Time will tell what new requirements there will be and how fast the cruise lines can comply. IMHO many will be hesitant to cruise due to the virus and what happened on some ships. 

So you are saying occupancy will be worse than 9/11? Thats what I would imagine because those who are not afraid of the virus will be afraid for their jobs. If you're unemployed you're less likely to cruise. If you are employed, you don't want to risk losing your job if the trip ends in a 14 day quarantine. I think cruise lines have an incentive to make sure things go well to avoid bad press. But this could also make them try to hide illness or engage in some other type of cover-up to avoid making headlines. Of course coverups are always eventually uncovered and make headlines anyway.