cathyz

Just now, mama_2_boys said:

With cruise the Vineyard do you have to order 3 different types or could you order multiple of the same? 

You can order 3 of the same wine.

I've been on this itinerary several times, depending on the time of year and the captain, sometimes we have changed time for Cabo and sometimes we haven't.  We were told it's up to the captain how he wants to handle it.  But all the vendors know better than the cruisers what the 'local' time is vs. the 'ship' time.

Thanks for the great review, loved it, looked forward to reading it every day, miss it already!

Coke comes in cans so just buy a few of those,  or pre-order before you're cruise.

We had set up a group cruise (30+) way back when, Carnival decided to add the fuel surcharge, but it was inconsistent in our group, some were charged and some weren't so they ended up removing all of them, in the end we didn't pay.

As close to deck 7 as we can get, close to Lido and down to dining rooms, etc., but only cabins above and below.   On the Spirit class we like the corner aft wrap suites, or the 'bowling alley balcony' cabins.   On Fantasy class we've stayed in cabin E75 several times on different ships.

Thanks, Sid, for the great review and pics!!  How have the crowds been, some say this ship class can be crowded?  Happy birthday!

7 minutes ago, reeinaz said:

Carnival started this new thing where you are actually paying for the steakhouse and chef's table when you reserve it. On Sunday, I made a regular reservation for the chef's table for a May 2020 cruise and when I looked at my cruise again last night, you have to add it to your cart and pay for it. I wonder if they have had too many no-shows.

I wonder if they're doing that for all ships, I made reservations a few weeks ago for the Steakhouse and Teppanyaki on the Panorama for next March and didn't have to pay, I've received confirmations for both.  The Teppanyaki confirmation did say there would be a $25 charge for no-show or cancellation within 24 hours of reservations.  

Maybe John Heald could help with that.

Another Spirit class ship on the west coast!

From my personal experience they're all the same unless you're in a suite.  I don't think they're THAT small, plenty of room to move around.

1 minute ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

When can you do online check in? Is it 60 days prior, 90?

 

tia

It's 90 days, the exact date shows on your cruise manager on Carnival.com.

No they can't, but I've been in that situation before and just set up a place to meet that's pretty easy and obvious, not a problem.

We always buy a wine package, usually premium 5 bottle, on embarkation day.  They have a couple tables around to buy them, maybe the atrium and the lido? You can see the current bottle list that way.

I just noticed this notification on Carnival's website description of the Cheers program, so I think it also applies to non-Cheers drink purchases:   Applicable state and local taxes will be charged to the guest folio when this program is used within US waters. The tax is based on the state's tax structure and the cost of the individual drink purchased (not the daily program rate). For example: if the drink price is $5 and the tax is 10%, the guest's Sail & Sign card will be charged $0.50 for tax. This applies to all US ports (embarkation home ports and ports-of-call). 

Any Spirit class ship is great!  Feels less crowded and easy to get around.  My favorite!  You'll have a great time!

Yes, we've sailed in February, it can be nice and sunny in LA, or it can be cold and rainy, check the weather a few days before.  You probably will need long pants and a light jacket for first and last days, but shorts for all other days.

I just read on the Carnival board that folks were charged sales tax on drinks in NY before sail away.

6 minutes ago, 1025cruise said:

I have heard that as well about NCL and RCI, that they don't process the orders until out at sea so it doesn't show as purchased while docked. Due to the way Cheers works, this wouldn't work.

Whenever we have purchased a wine package while still in port, the crew member wrote everything down on paper, then charged it to us after sail away.

13 hours ago, oakridger said:

I have never been charged tax on alcoholic drinks while in port in California.  

 

~Nancy

And we have been charged CA tax for drinks before leaving port on every cruise we've been on. 

10 minutes ago, purplephenom said:

Depending on the setup, could you turn the couch to face the wall?  

Most of the couches are in pieces, the bottom is a single bed with removable back pieces they take away to make up the bed, they really aren't attached except by Velcro sometimes.

I'm using a tablet and can see the expanded signature section below the +quote, maybe it's a set up thing?

Yes, any drinks while still in port have had sales tax on them in our experience.

6 hours ago, Gigi711 said:

This will be our first cruise out of Long Beach. So many questions!  What is the weather like in January?  What are the best excursions in each port? 

They say it never rains in southern California, but it does, so saying that, the weather could be sunny and warm (70s) or it could be rainy and cold.  One fun thing to do in Catalina is to rent a golf cart and drive around.

You will have a good view from one of the outside QM decks.  They are very close together, way back when, Carnival check-in was literally on the QM.