MauiWowie57

9 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I have texted with several crew members (all bartenders) over the last few days and none of them have been contacted (or know other crew members who were contacted) about a firm return to work date. Several of them were previously contacted about possibly returning to work in January, but nothing concrete. While personally I think cruise lines should be allowed to resume operations from US ports soon, the reality seems to be we are still a long ways from cruising resuming from the US. 

As we used to say in the Marines, "this is an indicator," - if nobody you know (who knows anyone else) has gotten firm return to work dates...then...I'd say...Carnival is hedging and trying to "multi option/late decision" which is why they sent all of us that letter offering $600 p/cabin OBC for proactively cancelling. 

I'd much rather cruise, but...per the tone of their letter, I'd rather have stable holiday plans (though it's just me and the dog, and she's not cruising)

4 hours ago, seaman11 said:

it will not go away , we have to learn to live with it at some point. 

Got the same email - and I'm presuming that Carnival is betting (at least 50%) that either the CDC will get it's way and push the No Sail out further, -or- they'll be under pressure to voluntarily extend it.  Should the Miami/PC cruises get cancelled, it'll be easier for CCL if they've already processed a large lot of voluntary cancellations - rather than two ports/two months worth of cruises all at once. 

(I do work for a large government health agency, but at this point, there's no telling between the president and Dr Redfield of the CDC who's going to have the final say, but I'd bet on Mr DJT.)  From my professional vantage, waiting on  vaccine to solve all your cruising problems means they won't get solved for years. Seaman is correct, the planet (including cruisers) will have to learn to live with it. I've been around the world multiple times courtesy of the US Navy, and done 25+ pleasure cruises, and never gotten sick aboard ship - because - I wash my hands, etc. etc. I have no issues with going on a cruise right now...but there's a lot of politicking at this point that transcends public health science.  

In this thread, what we've all been trying to do is figure out what what the odds are of the Miami/PC cruises (I'm on the Horizon, 26 Dec) being cancelled by CCL, and I'm thinking that the chances are greater than 75% that they will get cancelled.  CCL will probably offer the same deal at that point - take a FCC with $600, or get your money back, period, whether they cancel or you cancel.  This will be the 3rd cancellation since March (plus one HAL cancellation), and no, since someone asked, the bonus OBCs don't accumulate (otherwise most of us would be wildly rich, on paper anyway).  My advice to myself: Wait another two weeks or so, see if CDC & CLIA can agree.  

On 6/11/2020 at 3:40 PM, shof515 said:

Vegas been open for about a week. If Vegas can successfully reopen, so can a casino at sea like the cruise ships

How's the infection rate in Nevada though? 

*sigh*

Interesting! Thanks for all the links and comments. I'm happy to go on "approved chaperoned" excursions vice just wandering about. Not really overjoyed about it, but then again, like most posters, there's some ports that I'd just as soon sit through onboard. I'm happy to be on the ship, period. 

Sad but that is what eventually happens if there's no buyer; and can't imagine any other line would be in a buying mode at present. They could attempt to mothball and wait for demand to return, but the major issue right now is cash flow. All I can do is book and roll over unused FCCs (which I keep doing) but in accounting parlance, that's "unearned revenue."  Eg, eventually they have to put us all on a ship to report that as earnings and not just "cash on hand." Besides, I think most of us in CC cruise at least once a year (if not more often...retirement goal: Live in S/FL around Venice Beach so I can quickly drive to either Tampa, Miami, or even CC in a day to Pack & Go). 

Sadly I do believe we're all in for a massive 2nd wave (disclaimer; I work for Defense Health Agency) and I'm halfway expecting my Christmas on the Horizon to be cancelled. 

On 6/23/2020 at 7:30 AM, jsglow said:

The real question is whether some of the ships in the line are ultimately destined for salvage.  THAT becomes a real possibility with what will assuredly be over capacity in the market. 

Exactly. That's where they give cave and beach it in India and walk away.

Or at least it has to be issued before the final payment is due - wouldn't hurt to call.

12 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

 

I thought the wines in Cellar #2 were better than Cellar #3.  Even the wine steward said that.

Yikes!

I was going by price. 

Maybe I'll just stick to martinis.  DW is a wine drinker however. 

On 2/7/2020 at 2:54 PM, VMax1700 said:

Rudi's is no longer priced a la carte, but fixed price $40 each.  

It is? Fantastic. I'm going to guess the Seafood Fountain is extra above the $40 though, if it's still offered?

----

Different menu for pop up (Eurodam, etc.) vice full time (Koningsdam) I suppose? And yes, the Fruits de Mer (seafood fountain) is a $25 surcharge (and worth it).

I'll miss the Earth Wind Fire & Wood (the band plus Wood) menu. I just looked at it online; looks good, but not as extensive as it had been.  

Does anyone have any wisdom on the "relative worth" of the Cellar (wine) packages? There's a "Cellar #1," then #2, #3.  Three of course is the most expensive, and not being a wine expert, I am guessing that the available bottles in #3 are "better" than #1. But for anyone who's pre-paid a wine package, what's good enough? 

Discovered the secret of getting a HAL phone agent on the phone is to call at 8:55 pm - right before they close up shop.

Dunno about the website; it's half-right; hopefully they'll take our comments and get on there and fix it. 

The website redesign was done badly. There's too much "dynamic" content, resulting in bandwith usage issues (it would be great IF you were hooked RIGHT into the server, which of course the developers were), and you're exactly right, there's no good single sign on/identity management - which is why every time you go to a different function set (reservations/payments/looking for a cruise) you have to log in again. Bad, thoughtless design.

I'm a IT professional so I'm picky I suppose.

However, due to the bad UX and poor architecture, the PHONE is now overloaded. If anyone knows a secret phone number, please share, I've been literally calling for days (I dial in and put it on speaker for a few hours, then they drop the call and I start again).  

I've done the Vancouver to HI to LA - and yes, it can be a little dramatic off the coast of Vancouver until you get out of the north Pacific - so the first few sea days might be a bit rough on your DH's equilibrium. 

18 hours ago, nybumpkin said:

This is us on our Bermuda cruise two years ago.

You sir, are truly a class act, and your lady is lovely. Thank you.

I wore a white dinner jacket as well. Wished I had the pic!

I'll say this though - they do NOT yet have an electronic boarding pass (like Apple Wallet) for your boarding pass.

The luggage tags? It's just one paper per bag. Color is good though as the decks, port/starboard, etc. all have color codings that help the crew handling bags rapidly identify where you're going. 

So - if you're trying to register prior to boarding, you won't have a folio number - no worries.

If you're trying to register in advance (as it's fun to use the Countdown feature) - --- 

(a) Do you have a travel agent or did you book yourself?

(b) Did you meant to book multiple rooms on the same booking number? 

If you don't have a TA, call Carnival and find out what the heck's up, and link the booking numbers together. You can do that so you can all board together, get seated in the MDR together if you wish, etc.

If you do have a TA, they can do all that. 

I haven't eaten in a "Carnival Steakhouse" in a few years - as I've been on the older smaller ships most recently that don't have a dedicated steak house.  I'll say this though - used to be a heck of a great deal for the (a) quality of the meat (granted it's not my local, grass fed fresh beef, but it's very high quality frozen), (b) the atmosphere and service.  The $20 upcharge in the MDR for "steakhouse selections" by comparison is definitely, IMHO, not a good value. 

Just call CCL and ask the question specifically about your ship and cabin's furnishings. 

I assured my DW on the last cruise that the Paradise would have a hair dryer; she called - they didn't - and told her to bring one.  She did (they didn't confiscate it). Turns out they DID have one in the room (!!!).

Perhaps in some suites there's coffee (Keurig) machines - HAL has them in their suites - but generally ships try to avoid putting heat (fire) generating appliances in staterooms. The irons (and ironing boards) are 'hard wired' in the laundry rooms, and controlled by timers as an example. 

3 hours ago, Cushing985 said:

I think the secret is the length of the cruise.   The 3-4 day cruises are called booze cruises for a reason.  Five day cruises are borderline.  

Definitely. I've been on everything from 3 to 18 days; the short the cruise, the more raucous the party - and again, if it's spring break/graduation/etc., you'll have more.  Longer cruises tend to attract older, possibly retirees (yes, retirees on Carnival!). As has been noted, the Serenity Deck is usually quite serene (!), but you still have the option of participating in the HC Contest and other fun. 

On 5/21/2019 at 9:58 AM, MRSG29 said:

The Vista was the only ship I been on where they had the Muster inside in the MDR. The rest have all been outside.

And I sailed on the Vista on her inaugural Trans-Atlantic and frankly was surprised we got to do it inside.

The one Princess cruise I took in ... 2015?... featured an inside muster; but my most recent HAL this past Christmas was..back outside.  If anyone can decode it, I'm curious!?

10 minutes ago, beacha said:

Also, there is no thellasotherapy pool on Sunrise.

Got me! Website says there is. Let's just say "Magic Hot Tub." 

Hi, and welcome to Carnival.  NO worries, I'll start the replies with what I know:

We are cruising to Bermuda on Sunrise in September. If the ship leaves Bermuda at 5pm, what time must we be back on the ship? I believe with NCL it was 1 or 2 hours (can't remember exactly) but I can't find Carnival's policy anywhere.

• It's usually an hour before 'cast off' and 'underway time.'  Bermuda isn't that big, but if you're going on your own, sometimes getting a cab back to the ship is problematic.  Roads are narrow, etc. 

Here are a few more questions I have:

1) Adults-only Serenity area is included in the cruise cost, right? I seem to remember that NCL charges (or at least used to) for their adults-only area so I want to make sure I didn't misinterpret that Carnival includes it. And speaking of Serenity, are those fancy cabanas first come first serve or is there a fee to reserve? Again, on NCL I think there was a fee to reserve them.

• It's included, no charge.  Everything is fc, first served - which leads to "chair hogging," - people that get up, pile stuff into a lounger, then disappear to work out or eat or something.  (I suppose that's the problem with them being offered free!).  Suggest you tag-team with your cruise partner and post a guard while the other one goes for chow, as we say in the Marines.

2) The deck plans make it look like the Fitness Center is inside the Spa. Would we need a spa pass to be able to use the Fitness Center?

• It does like that doesn't it? I've never been on the Sunrise/Triumph but I've been on her sister ships. You don't need a spa pass to use the gym/fitness center, though they're in close proximity to each other. The "spa pass" (extra charge) is getting you access to the Thalassotherapy Pool (very high end hot tub) and the magical heated tile loungers.  There most likely is a charge for exercise classes, yoga, etc. Gym remains free. There are free hot tubs out on deck of course. 

3) I know on Elegant night(s), there is a more upscale dress code. I think we'd prefer to avoid packing a special outfit for 1 day so I know we won't be able to use the MDR. But I know the Lido Buffet will be available. What about the other free restaurants? Will those follow the Elegant dress code or will they be casual like Lido? Just wondering if on Elegant night if Lido will be our only dinner option unless we pack a nicer outfit for everyone. 

• Don't worry about the Elegant nights, unless you want to. Of course the Lido has a relaxed dress code, if, as an example, men show up in the MDR with a "collared shirt" on, that's more than fine.  Even on Holland America, I haven't seen people turned away from the MDR on elegant nights as long as they weren't in shorts and a tank top. 

4) What restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day? I know Lido is and so is the Italian place (right?). Wondering what our food options will be that day. Which will be the least crowded place to eat on embarkation day?

• Anything up on deck would be busy - the Italian place  ( CUCINA DEL CAPITANO) may or may not be more crowded than, say, Blue Iguana out on deck. I'd just get on the ship and start exploring, and when your nose lights up and it's not too crowded...eat!

5) Will the pool be open for use immediately upon embarkation? We are weighing whether to try and get on board as early as possible and let my 10 year old enjoy the pool before it's packed vs spending time in New York for a few hours. 

• It most likely will be, but it's NYC in September so it's liable to be a bit chilly!  The main pool has a retractable cover though, so shouldn't be too bad.

6) Can kids join you in the lounges? In case there's ever a night we want to go to one of the lounges and listen to some live music, just wanted to know if those are considered adult-only or not. We plan on making use of Camp Ocean so we can always ship him off to them if we can't take him with us.

• Yes, of course.  They also do two sets of shows at the Comedy Club, 'family' friendly "adult only." 

7) How busy do the activities on board get during different times? Meaning what are generally the best times to try to do the mini golf or ropes course or go to the sports square area? 

• I'll leave that one to someone just there, but I imagine it's dependent on the weather, time of year, itinerary (long/short/Spring Break) as to how active your fellow passengers are. Sounds like you're going right after school's started, so mostly single adults and retirees? 

8 ) Is a spa balcony worth paying an additional $142 over a regular balcony? I never did a spa pass with my 2 NCL cruises and I'm not sure how much I'd use it since I think the Serenity area is included. So I'm not sure if I want to "upgrade" to a spa balcony or not (we are currently booked in a regular balcony).

• I think what you're getting with the upcharge (aside from a special bathrobe) is access to the Thermal suites (the super hot tub, special steam rooms, heated lounger)  I mentioned. Serenity is included in your basic cruise fare, so unless you really want to hang out in the Spa, it's not worth it. I believe they'll also sell Spa passes to non-Spa cabin cruisers, so it can get crowded in there (that was my experience on the Vista). 

On 5/1/2019 at 11:20 AM, stobe1 said:

No. Drinks on HMC are pay as you go.

Honestly, I don't know.

Anecdotally, as my last visit to HMC during Christmas of 2018 was on HAL, not Carnival...HAL has a similar beverage program, 

I read the second poster's article stating that CCL had expanded Cheers to HMC..didn't know; and I've been to HMC since 2013, on Carnival, with Cheers, and paid ala carte for drinks. 

1 hour ago, Butterbean1000 said:

I would also like to point out what d and pc's get that FTTF can't buy.  Free flowing drinks at the Reunion party, free laundry service and a free gift.  There are other things that I can't remember at the moment.

Or an Australian Shepherd dog! Love your avatar.

Honestly, I made a commitment to achieve Platinum status at some point, and by golly, through diligent savings and keeping my work life from interfering with my 'life-life,' I made it.  The laundry and party is nice, but mostly it's nice just to cruise so many times with all you nice people.