awhitleycrew

Thanks for this information! Maybe we can try this as well. I wouldn't want to wait on the bus for it to fill I'm sure. This will be our first time to fly into a port so I've got extra planning to do. 🙂

Great info about the 2 different airports! I will keep that in mind once I start looking to book flights. Also thanks for the info about being able to walk to the port from the Fisherman's Wharf hotels.

Like several suggested I would wait a little longer before you decide one way or the other. Covid is an unpredictable nuisance we are now stuck with! I am an elementary teacher so I got the vaccine and booster as soon as it came out because I'm constantly around germs as it is. The only time I have gotten Covid was on a cruise out of NOLA in late June 2022. A cruise where all 4 of us had to have our vaccines (show proof) and have a negative test 2 days before sailing. My husband and I stayed in a cabin together and our teen daughter and her friend stayed in their own cabin. My husband and I both got Covid and neither of them did, even after a 7 hour drive home in a car together as I started to feel sick! We have sailed twice since then and none of us got Covid. Who knows!!!!

Thanks for the advice on staying near Fisherman's Wharf. I've been looking at that for a possibility of where we stay. Were you able to walk from the hotel to the port the morning you embarked for your cruise?

Thanks! On Carnival's site there's only one review for this transfer to the airport and it's a 1 star so it made me question if it's what we should do. I have the feeling it's what we will do though!

As you can see in my title we don't set sail until next July but this will be our first time cruising where we fly in and out (we always drive 7/8 hours to the port but we can't do that from Arkansas for this one haha) We will be cruising on the Legend, 10 days to Alaska. Has anyone used Carnival's transportation on disembarkation day to the airport? Would you recommend it? I know we could probably save some money trying to use Uber, Lyft, a taxi, etc but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the whole process and would pay more for everything to be handled for me. We will likely fly in a couple days before the cruise, stay near the airport, visit certain must see areas, then take some type of transportation to the terminal on embarkation day. It's getting back that has me perplexed. Thanks in advance!

I'm not looking at adding an additional person, just don't have the name down for one of the guests. 🙂

I was thinking up until final payment seemed reasonable. I'm pretty certain who will be going BUT I also thought that the last time! ha I was able to get back 75% of that $250 because I had bought Carnival's insurance ahead of time but since I repurchased it for the new person going it didn't really help that much. I just hate having to call to use these AARP gift cards because they ask me every time don't I want to buy the insurance (I haven't on this one yet but might still, haven't decided) and if I want to add that name. I know, it's their script, but it still gets old. ha

We have a cruise booked in late May with final payment due March 11 (2 cabins). In one of the cabins we have my husband and Guest 2 is still TBA. This person will be my college age daughter's "friend". I haven't put a name down yet because last year her boyfriend and her broke up (as in no longer speaking at all) and we wound up paying $250 to change the name since it was past final payment and was a 7 day cruise. I was on the phone with a Carnival rep yesterday (who was hard to understand) because I was paying on the cruise with a couple of AARP gift cards that wouldn't load online and she asked if I was ready to add that name and I said not yet. I then asked her when I had to have that name in and she said right away because it could be canceled at anytime because I don't have a name there. Has anyone heard of this? I was thinking probably before final payment but now I'm guessing I should do this soon. Thanks for any input.

I called Carnival this weekend because I had bought a couple of AARP gift cards and as has happened the last couple of times they wouldn't apply online but worked fine when I called and had an agent enter the information for me. I asked about getting the one upgrade offer that I would take if they offered for the other and the lady was like well maybe you will get lucky later on?!? Maybe I should call back tomorrow if it doesn't expire and ask another agent. ha I just purchased more gift cards tonight and I don't think they are applying so I probably have to call anyway.

We have 2 cabins booked for May and are trying to save money by staying on Deck 2 for the first time with an OV suite and an interior. I actually got a good offer this week to move from the OV to Deck 6 balcony in an area we like for just $90 BUT it's only for that cabin. I have no desire to move one cabin to another deck so I will have to decline. If they made an offer for both I would take it!

Yes, I've decided spending extra money to chase after deposits isn't worth it (time, hassle, actual money involved, etc). I'm not going to lose that much in the end regardless so it is what it is at this point. haha

Thanks for explaining how that worked for you. I'm hoping at least some of ours will come back as future cruise credit. I haven't cancelled quite yet but probably will be in the next week or so.

I'm not trying to commit insurance fraud, that's for sure! Just trying to see what all of my options are. It wouldn't really help me anyway so not going to bother even trying. I think I am going to reach out to a PVP and see if they can help, not cheat the system but figure out my best option. Thanks

For those that were charged the $50 per person and got the rest in FCC do you remember what type rate code you booked under? I am looking at cancelling 2 cabins, one apparently under a casino rate and the other Early Savers. One shows losing $198 and the other $250. I would love to get some of it back in FCC versus just losing it all. haha

Of course the more I think about it I don't think it makes sense because I'm having to pay more money to get some back haha

Ok, we have a cruise booked for 2 cabins leaving June 30. Final payment is due April 1st and so far I've only paid the deposits. Long story short we need to cancel this booking and rebook for different dates due to work issues for 2 in our party. I called Carnival last night to confirm I couldn't just change dates without losing the deposits and of course we can't. One rep I spoke to mentioned if I had the Carnival insurance I could use it to get 75% of the deposits back in future cruise credits. I had to use this insurance this summer for a name change and did get 75% back in cruise credit but it took several phone calls and was a hassle BUT it is a way to try and get some of this money back. It is still showing available to purchase and I'm wondering if I should go ahead and buy it now and try to use it soon to cancel. My fear is there is a time frame where I need to have purchased it earlier. I know that's a lot but wondered if anyone else has tried this to help recoup some of your deposit. I get caught in this all the time: book early and get great rates but then have to cancel because something unforeseen comes up!

Thanks for all the info! I could see the advantage on port days and even disembarkation day being on the lower decks. We do like to be close to the Lido deck so we can take the stairs instead of fighting for elevators. I love the balcony but really don't spend that much time out there time wise. I read online last night that some people really like interior on the Lido Deck but not sure I want to have a cabin for 7 days with no window at all (for me personally). I will try to make sure we aren't below a noisy area if possible. Last summer we had an Aft Balcony on Valor which was so nice EXCEPT it was under the pool area which would be loud in the morning and late at night when chairs were being drug around. I think my main hesitation is that Deck 1 and 2 seems so low on the ship. I do like walking the halls during my cruises to get exercise, see door decor and just generally see what the ships looks like on each deck so I know it's still nice on Deck 1 and 2. I will think on it a little longer and then work on booking something and will keep in mind it's a cruise, we will have fun regardless! haha

Looking for your thoughts on a Deck 2 Ocean View cabin on the Liberty......... We have only stayed in a balcony cabin on Deck 6-8 on the Vista, Valor and Dream, though our daughter and her friend stayed in an interior last summer and it was fine for them. We are looking to book a 7 day cruise this summer and for various reasons I'm trying to save money where we can to help with everyone's bottom dollar and to save for excursions so I'm looking at getting an Ocean View cabin and an interior on Deck 2. For those who have stayed in one at this level what are your thoughts? Any advice is appreciated! Thanks

We've spoiled her because now she wants to cruise for any reason possible! haha

Update: I just wanted to update on our July cruise I almost cancelled. I just want to say I'm very glad we didn't cancel! My daughter's best friend was able to go and those girls had a BLAST! They met some wonderful friends and didn't miss a beat all week! I think one of their favorite nights was the 80s deck party. They dressed up and had a blast right up front with our AMAZING cruise director Leon!! My daughter came back refreshed and feeling happy with who she is. Next cruise we won't put a boy's name on until we know for sure OR make sure it's not hard to change! hahaha We cruise again in March! YAY!

Thanks everyone!!!! After a long emotional day I finally broke down and called Carnival. It costs $250 for the name change to her best friend who went with us last summer on a cruise (nice young lady who's also single so I'm sure they will be fine). I also added the vacation protection for her because you never know what could happen so all told with taxes and such it was like $364. We will be getting 75% of the $250 back in future cruise credit, of course it's probably still in his darn name but it is what it is at this point. There's no way he was going regardless at this point. Live and learn. I tried to change the name online myself but couldn't because it's paid in full and is close to the sailing date. LibertyBella: Thanks for your extra kind words. My daughter is an honor student who graduated 7/115 kids and will be starting college in the Fall. She is our baby so we are also looking at an empty nest soon so I'm so glad we decided to continue on with our cruise for her and us.

I hate to even ask this on here and yes I will be calling Carnival once I figure out what to do but I just needed to vent/ask if this has happened to anyone else. Long story short we have a 7 day cruise coming up in 38 days, senior celebration for my daughter who graduated high school AND her boyfriend of 1.5 years. Yep, you guessed it they just broke up. And I mean the ugly kind where he was caught cheating on her while gaslighting her that he wanted to break up because she wasn't in a close walk with God like he is! Like we really liked this boy so we are all gut punched right now. So, we are either going to have to try and get a replacement which will require a name change which may effect our rate that we booked this under (50% off deal) or try to cancel and MAYBE at least get 75% in future cruise credit. I did buy Carnival's Protection Plan but this was booked under a deal and you know how those are. We love to cruise but I'm not sure this will wind up being the same fun trip all considered. Crazy thing is last summer we went on a cruise and she brought her best friend and they met a couple who were in this same situation and the boyfriend came with them because it couldn't be changed! My husband said this boy is not welcome to come! ha Anyone else had something stupid like this happen?

Thanks. I do have everyone's name and VIFP on my list of travel companions so that's a good start. I will wait closer to cruise time to call Carnival and confirm we will be seated together.

Just booked a family cruise last night for March 2024. We booked 3 cabins separately so our young adult kids can pay for their own cabin at their own pace. We all chose early dining and want to sit at the same table together. Should I call Carnival now to get that set in their system or should I wait closer to the actual sail date? Thanks!