ArchieCruise

Gratuities are already assessed at 18% when buying the package.  While many do tip in addition to that it isn’t expected or required.  

The Havana area is the reason Havana cabins are so much more.  There are also age requirements to be in that area.  Your family in the family harbor area will not be able to visit you in the Havana area as it is exclusive for those that paid the premium to stay there.  I haven’t stayed in any suites so I can’t answer most of those questions, but can say that we enjoyed the Panorama as a ship.

I just got off the Spirit this last week.  For anything that uses a large amount of data such as video I would recommend the higher package.  With that said the internet speed on the ship was horrible at best.  We had the premium package and could not do any web browsing for 3 straight days and even when it did work it was slow and not very good.  You should have cell coverage in Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Victoria.  

I did notice on the Spirit we just got off that they did have white table clothes in the MDR so maybe it isn’t all ships that have done away with this.  

We went twice on the Carnival Spirit this last week.  While it isn’t branded as the Fahrenheit 555 it has the same menu.  The food was good and well above the quality found in the MDR.  I got the Rib Eye one night and the Cowboy steak the other.  My wife got the Lobster both nights.  For a special occasion I think you will enjoy it.  

3 hours ago, Ellaleah said:

I, too, am sailing 12/27 on the Celebration.  If we are up to date with vaccines, we can take the test 12/24 which is 3 days before we sail.

I think the previous poster sailed last Christmas as their post was back in November.  

I just turned Gold on my last cruise that ended yesterday.  This was on the Spirit but I just walked up to the bar and ordered a drink and it was automatically discounted to $0.  I don’t drink alcohol so I ordered something zero-proof and it was relatively easy.  It is after 5:00pm the last night so not for brunch.  

It depends.  If the excursion was great I would tip more.  I tipped about $15pp on my recent excursions.  I don’t think lunch is expected but you can if you feel they went above and beyond.

We are on our last day.  We will be stopping late this evening in Victoria for our required Canada stop.  A few things of note after spending a week on the ship.  The ship is small compared to the newer ships.  We were on the Panorama in January and this ship is noticeably smaller.  There are far fewer guests than what the larger ships hold so it hasn’t felt crowded.

There is three pools on board.  There is a covered pool and an uncovered pool that is available to everybody and one in the Serenity area for 21+.  The pools are heated but the temperature varies by day we have noticed.  One day the Serenity pool as just as warm as the hot tub.  For those that like to use the hot tubs the best kept secret is the one in the Spa.  This ship doesn’t have a spa package but does have a hot tub in the spa that is at no cost.  There was hardly anybody ever in this area.

Internet has been spotty at best.  The internet went out completely on our Icy Strait Point day and was pretty much non-existent for three days.   It was good that two of those days we were in port for 12 hours a day so we could use our cellular connection.  Guest services was nice and when asked if there was any adjustment that was being made for the internet issues they refunded the full cost of the internet package.

In Ketchikan we did a flight seeing tour to Misty Fjord that was probably our favorite excursion.  Yes it is pricy but it was worth the cost.  
 

Just got an announcement that we will not be doing Tracy Arm but going up Endicott Arm instead.  With the warmer weather this week I think that there is more calving than normal and causing more ice to be in the fjord.  I am glad we went on the Tracy Arm excursion from Juneau so now we can see both arms. 

John Heald posted on another social media site today regarding the transpacific and addressed many of the questions regarding that sailing.  

Internet has been spotty at best.  A few other things to note.  Food in the MDR has been sub-par.  It seems to be worse than the food on the Panorama that we sailed on in January.  We have reservations at the steakhouse tonight and tomorrow so hopefully the food there will be better.

I know this varies by each sailing but the casino doesn’t seem too crowded on this cruise.  It has been easy to find a blackjack table and at times I have been the only player at my table. 

As far as excursions are concerned in Icy Strait Point we rented a private van with a group of people and toured the area.  It was alright and a decent day but ISP is a small town and not my favorite Alaska port.  Yesterday we spent the day in Juneau and booked a day trip to Tracy Arm through Adventure Bound Alaska.  It was a great excursion and definitely the highlight of the trip so far.  The excursion is roughly 10 hours so an all day event but we’ll worth

On 6/3/2022 at 10:31 PM, knagl said:

 

Thank you for your ongoing report.

 

Would you be kind enough to look for me the next time you're in the casino if there's a $1 denomination Wheel of Fortune slot machine in there, and if so can you give a description of where in the casino it's located?

 

I'm organizing a group slot pull for my cruise on the Spirit later this year and so far I haven't seen too many pictures or video that show the entire casino. Thank you!

I don’t normally play slots but there are a set of wheel of fortune machines against the wall away from the blackjack tables.  They were $1 machines.  I didn’t participate but I know that is where our slot pull was.  

20 minutes ago, jamie717 said:

Sailing in 6 weeks, excited for a Spirit review! If able to answer, I have a couple questions. Does Spirit have self service laundry?  I don't need laundry but was curious about iron and ironing board.  Also, I saw the Splendor has a "game" in the arcade that is full of ducks, I love the ducks, does the Spirit arcade have this as well?  I feel so silly even asking about ducks but sometimes it's the little things that excite us the most! 😂

 

I haven’t been by the laundry or the arcade but they do have launderettes on the map.  

Last night my DW got a massage in the spa.  Yes they are overpriced, but we were able to purchase during the Mother’s Day sale so it wasn’t too badly priced.  She seemed to enjoy it and left feeling refreshed.  
 

After the massage we went to dinner in the MDR with our your time dining.  It was about a 10-20 minute wait for a table.  When we finally got our table assignment someone was sitting at the table halfway through their meal so they found us another table.  Dinner was typical Carnival food.  It was decent but nothing to write home about.  
 

After dinner we went to the casino.  Due to where the port of Seattle is located at the casino cannot open for a long time after departure.  The casino did not end up opening until 8:40.

Leaving Seattle we sailed on the west side of Vancouver island.  We are in a balcony cabin towards the aft of deck 7 and the ship was moving pretty good last night.  I have been on about a dozen cruises and this seems to have more rocking than most.  Hopefully the rocking reduces once up in Alaska waters.

34 minutes ago, dbrucern said:

I received the email yesterday for our Alaska cruise and the Arrive Canada app is mandatory not the Verifly app. It said if we did not have the QR code we would be denied boarding with no refund.  ArchieCruse misread the email

I didn’t misread the email and you are correct the ArriveCAN app must be completed without exception.  The VeriFLY app may be optional but since you are using the exact same documents for the ArriveCAN app you may as well use it.  Comparing the boarding process in January on the Panorama without VeriFLY TO THE spirt using VeriFLY this seemed much smoother as they just had you open the app and look that it showed cleared for travel.  No showing vaccine cards or test results at the port.  As we were checking in I did not see anybody that did not preset my the VeriFLY app.

1 minute ago, Keepin_outOcold said:

It took them three weeks to get back to me after my second request. 
This is the vague answer they gave me…making it sound like I “may” get free drinks depending on my play.

“We are glad to hear you are sailing with us again and we apologize for the late response. 
 
Our records indicate you claimed a casino Exclusive offer aboard the Carnival Legend 08/20/2022. We have extended a significant discount towards your booking on this voyage. You have also qualified for the Drinks On Us valid for your personal use while playing in the casino. 
 
Additional casino comps cannot be combined at this time. On your cruise, our Casino staff will provide you with onboard comps based on your level of play.
 
Should there be any changes made on the booking in the future, only the promotion that was last applied will be extended to you onboard.”
 
We look forward to welcoming you aboard!

Based on this email you booked a casino rate with drinks in the casino for you (not your travel companion).  

3 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

Since when is this an absolute requirement? First I have read of that since many others are bringing their vaccination cards and print outs of negative tests. 

I don’t know that the VeriFLY is absolutely required.  When checking in they asked to see your VeriFLY app and didn’t phrase it as “or your vaccination/COVID test.  If you are completing the ArriveCAN app it was quick and easy to do both at the same time.  

We boarded the Carnival Spirit today and there were a few things that I observed during the check in process.

While masks are optional on Carnival, indoors in the port of Seattle they are still required.  In case you didn’t have one with you there were individuals passing them out before entering the cruise terminal.

Check in went relatively quick once they started letting people in.  We were in group B3 and we’re on the ship by 11:20.  The Muster drill is on the same floor that we entered the ship and this was done within just a few minutes of boarding the ship and allowed us to enjoy lunch knowing we were through with the boarding process and ready for the next 8 days of fun.

To sail to Alaska you must complete the ArriveCAN app that requires you to enter the days you will be stopped in Canada and upload your vaccine cards.  This app must be filled out even if you have no intention of getting off the ship in Canada.  You must also complete the VeriFLY app by uploading your vaccine cards and negative COVID tests.  

We ended up booking the week before Christmas so we get off the ship on Christmas Eve.  The kids are out of school but it didn’t have the high fares that Christmas week has. 

You must be actively gambling.  So it only applies when the casino is open and you cannot just walk up to the casino bar.  You must get a server to bring you your drink.  Now once you have the drink in hand you are not required to stay in the casino until the drink is consumed.  There have been times that I have gotten a drink and then met my wife for a show.  

Does anyone know if the Cucina menu items being added in the main dining room will be available on the ships that didn’t have a Cucina in the first place?  

I have done a cruise out of Italy before.  I would recommend doing the few days in Rome and then the cruise.  It allows you to see more of Europe.  If you have visited Europe several times in the past then maybe that will change things a bit.  I would also recommend looking at sleepinitaly.  It is similar to Airbnb but for Apartment rentals in Italy.

This was definitely the hardest ordeal I went through.  I am glad it is behind me.  Here is my image.

Another option instead of crutches is a device called an iwalk.  It is basically a peg leg that allows you to walk freely so you have use of both hands.  It is great for things like cooking or daily chores so you have use of your hands.