SunshineGal2022

3 hours ago, Sixer said:

Maybe there is a different way to look at it.  Assuming double occupancy, if he had 15 cabins before and 22 now, he was cleaning up after 30 people before and 44 now.  I would expect that cleaning the same cabin twice a day is easier than cleaning.2 different cabins in the same day.  Maybe the extra pay covers the extra work, but it does seem like extra work to me.

Also, knowing how management works, he probably wasn't given much extra time to service the extra 7 cabins and was still expected to finish before a set time in the morning. 

3 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Short answer, in other words, no.  Maybe, except, for brown bag "to go" specials upon special request via the access desk or the Haven butlers for pickup  😄  ??  

Can you take snacks to the island?  If we had picked up muffins or cookies from the buffet the morning before, took them to our cabin overnight, could we take them in our bag to GSC?  

42 minutes ago, Shidah said:

It is listed on my edocs as well.

 

I did notice something goofy looking for this though.  We have a shore excursion discount shdc50 times 2 since we upgraded to plus.  Then we have a shore excursion credit sfasp1 for 1.  What is the shore excursion credit?

Maybe the 1 and 2 refer to Passenger 1 and 2.

The FAS program gives P1 a $50/shore excursion credit. 

FAS+ gives P2 a $50/sh.ex credit. 

I don't know what the times 2 is, but it would be great if you got an additional $50 off.  I would personally play around with the shore excusions and see how they ring up in your cart! 

3 hours ago, mmtska said:

I have a soft sided cooler that holds 24 cans. Since there are 2 of us, it works out perfectly. I just throw the handle around my carry on. 

Oh this is perfect!  I could fit this in my checked bag while flying and then fill it when I get to the port city.  Thank you!

8 hours ago, miles2go2go said:

Thank you all, I was trying a few more options, and it looks like Carnival Breeze 5 day from Galvenston could be within our budget. It stops at Cozumel and Progreso.

I think 7 nights will be difficult for us, but will look into Panorama too

I would choose this!

Southern CA gets socked in with the coastal eddies and overcast skies in May/ June (May Gray/ June Gloom).  Sometimes it comes as early as April, or sometimes we have a rare April shower. Catalina is COLD when the clouds are here.  Sure, you could tour the island and see the bison, the boardwalk shops, or take a glass bottom boat tour, but you probably would not want to snorkel. The water is too rough (and cold!)for little ones most of the year to do this anyways, even in the middle of summer. 

Ensenada is not really a kid friendly port. (Unless there is something I missed...)

The Gulf is always warmer.  There's a high chance you can get into the ocean at each port.  

I would look for a camera at the photo center, or get a few pairs of sunglasses.  Get a new outfit.

I would also go on an excursion that involves seeing animals in the wild because the experience changes just enough with the unexpected animal behaviors to make it interesting. Even if you went on the excursion last time, the animals may have acted one way— this time they could act in a different way.  You may see a larger animal or see a new animal. 
 

have you done EVERY excursion at the ports?  There’s nothing to lose by going on one you didn’t think would interest you much.  

34 minutes ago, jgrizzle13 said:

Hi there, 

Cruising as a family of 4 in April 2022- 2 kids age 1 & 4. My question is, is it possible for the sofa to be removed from the room so we have extra floor room for a pack and play? My daughter can use the upper pull down bed, I assume. Does a pack and play even fit on an NCL balcony cabin? 

 

Also, if anyone has any tips for cruising with littles, let us know!

 

You may want to contact the Special Needs/ Accessability dept at NCL so your request can be fulfilled before you board.  Ymmv ofc but I would start with them 🙂

I assume you mean April 2023, not ‘22. 😄

Just now, Schoifmom said:

 

No, you only need to add them to your reservation before then, unless April 1 is past your final payment date.  In that case, if you add them now, you will have paid them before April 1 when you pay your final balance.

Thank you!

I just booked a 2024 cruise and was hoping NOT to pay for the gratuities yet. But I would, if it ensured I got the lower rates. 

5 minutes ago, lostsoulcruiser said:

Access My Cruise Manager using the “RESERVE NOW” button below to secure the current rates for any Carnival open sailing.

This was in the email I received and I just used it to secure the internet rate (value plan) for my April cruise at the lower rate.  Use of the term prepay is sort of confusing, you are really committing now to purchase the service at the present price rather than the future price. Actual payment takes place during the cruise.

The items increasing in price (gratuity and internet plan) are not mandatory purchases for the cruisers.  Gratuities are added to your daily on-board account unless you get them removed by guest services. So you will run into gratuities now or on the ship.

BTW, if you have OBC, Carnival will charge the purchase to the obc so no money will be spent (this is how I purchased my internet plan).

 

 

So you don't need to PAY them before the April 1st increase?  You only need to add them to your reservation before then? 

I thought you had to pay before those dates to lock in the cheaper rates. 

On 1/2/2023 at 8:48 PM, Southerngal410 said:

Does anyone have room pics of it set up to sleep 4 people in either an Oceanview or Balcony room? Considering a family cruise this summer for the first time and have been on the Escape before but never seen the sleeping arrangements for 4. Thanks! 

The Family Oceanview looks like a nice cabin. I like the curtain that separates the bunk area.  I like that area has their own TV too (which is great if you bring a Fire stick- I THINK you can do that?).  

If you can swing a Large Balcony, I would go for that over a regular balcony.  I think all 4 of you can be outside comfortably on a large balcony. 

Thank you for the review!!

I didn't even realize there was a smoking side.  :O

I have been searching posts on CC for 30 min and I assume you mean the starboard side.  

I need to book on the port side if that is the case....

I appreciate the review about the autism help.  Did your 14yo go to the kid's club area by herself? 

It's good to know they will help accomodate food needs too.  

19 hours ago, MazzyKn said:

I’m curious, which hotels don’t service rooms daily? We travel regularly and even during the Pandemic, we have always had our room serviced on a daily basis.

Many hotels in the US West Coast service rooms only once every 3 days or so.  If you need fresh towels or extra soap on the 2nd day, you can call to get them delivered (or they will tell you to stop by the front desk and get the items). They claim it is for environmental polices (+ the continual drought) but I think it's mostly a staffing issue + they like the savings.  

This was trending pre-2020 but the lockdowns made it permanent at most places.

I downloaded the AllState app using a link from the beginning of this thread (about DriveWise). I created an account.

There is nothing on this app about DriveWise, rewards, or spots to put codes.

Did I download the wrong app?  When I Google "Drivewise Rewards," that page also sends me to download the same app I have.

My app options:

Digital Safety

>All State ID Protection

>Digital Footprint

>Breach Checker

More from All State

>Allstate ID Protection

>Allstate Phone Protection Plus

>Get a Quote

----

I downloaded it on an old Apple phone, if that makes a difference.  Do I have the wrong thing?

58 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

You are only able to buy Cruise Next certificates when you are onboard a prior cruise. So if you don’t have any Cruise Next is not an option for you. However, I noticed NCL.com (scroll halfway down page on right) is offering the $250 Cruise First.  You pay $250 and get $500 certificate.  If your sailing is still before final payment, you can buy one Cruise First cert.  Once purchased it will show up in your account and you can apply it as payment…as long as you have no other CruiseFirst or Cruise Next certificates on your reservation. You don’t have to cancel/re-book.

Thank you!

I booked when you could apply double Cruise First certs to your trip, but I thought I read in the T&C you could not book with a TA and use CF certs. I chose the TA instead of buying any certs in case there was any issues I needed help with since this is our first NCL cruise (and my last cruise was 22.5 years ago...). 

Is it possible to use CF certs with a TA?  I see people with CruiseNext certs can still have a TA.  

3 hours ago, laudergayle said:

If you are using Cruise Next certificates…and you have some that you have already purchased but not used…here are your conditions:

1) your cruise must be more than 180 days out from the day you apply the CN certs

2) balcony and above

3) you must apply them by Jan 5, 2023 (assuming by US EST)

4) you haven’t already applied a CruiseFirst or CruiseNext certificate/s (but if you have, you may be able to add more for a total up to 3)

 

if you apply 3 cruise next certificates you get $1500 credit for a cost of $750 USD.

 

I hope this explains the terms of this offer.

 

To other posters…if I have not explained correctly…please weigh in…TXS.

You can’t apply any certificates to already booked 2023 cruises that occur after Jun 6, can you?  If there are no certificates currently on the booking?  I didn’t quite understand all the T&C details about the certificates so I didn’t buy any when I booked the cruise.

If I cancel and rebook my room, the DSC will be higher than it is today. But it still may be several hundred dollars savings to use certificates.  The savings would pay for FAS+.

On 12/20/2022 at 4:02 PM, CanadianCruiseCritic said:

Thank you! Yes having to drive to Fort Lauderdale is a bit of a pain. Odyssey looks beautiful, but it is missing the Comedy Club that Mardi Gras has... we loved it on our last Carnival Cruise! 

The Brightline train should be up and running by then.  It will travel from Orlando airport to downtown Miami.  You can take a train from Miami to Fort Lauderdale (maybe even the same one from MCO?).

Trains are very fun 5-7 year olds. 

(Hauling luggage onto a train isn't as fun for a parent.)

Fortunately for the members of your party, Target just put their new spring suits out. 

How does the no show refund work?

Did you end up printing a new letter? 

I can't wait to hear about your cruise :)

Which specialty dining did you enjoy? What did you like in the MDR?

How busy did the pool and hot tub get?

Did you stop at Amber Cove? 

2 hours ago, caller9 said:

Would it be an advantage to try to change from what we have now Club Balcony to Spa Balcony on the NCL Bliss? Also do you know what is the charge for spa privileges for a 7 day cruise. Thank you

Search this board and you will find several posts about the Thermal Spa.

I think the 7 day prices are ranging from $239-339, depending on your ship.  I am not sure about the Bliss. 

If the upgrade is < or = $239/person, I would do it if you want guarenteed spa passes.  

With 5 Sea Days, I would definitely look into adding the Vibe or Thermal Spa passes.  It would be nice to have somewhere to get away from the crowds. 

44 minutes ago, European_CruiseGirl said:

I would suggest handing out notes which state something like the below (for an extra nice touch address the notes to FDR…).

 

—

Our family is committed to driving positive impact on the environment. As part of our family’s sustainability program we are constantly seeking opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint. As part of this initiative we have decided not driving anymore to the bank or ATM machines for getting cash. 
 

Hence, for unforseen reasons, we are unable to tip you like we previously used to. 

 

We appreciate your understanding and trust that you support us on this important sustainability initiative.

 

—

😏
 

I can imagine some employees carrying cards with a QR code for their Venmo if too many customers stop bringing cash.

My cart has non deletable dining in it.  Its sat there for a month.  I would like to pay for other things, but that dining haunts me.

I think this affects people with 3+ people in their cabin the most.  Those cabins should have 2x a day service, even if the nightly service is only to make up the extra bed(s).  I imagine if you called and needed the help with the beds, they would still come and help at night (they probably would walk quicker if tipped extra to do this.)

3 minutes ago, Linda the Book Lover said:

I love the thermal spa and in 173 days my daughter and I will be enjoying it once again. 

Are you on the Escape? If so, I will see you in there! 

24 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

I could use duct tape and make a silver collar. Or a camouflaged collar. Or a pink collar. Perfect! 

 

Also, I could find a shirt where the middle buttons pop off, my midriff shows (just a teeny, tiny bit), and my arms look like giant sausages! But, it'll have a collar. Hehe

 

Hahahaha I agree with you! Not wearing a Bucs jersey either though. 🙂 

Now I have in my head a man wearing a wrinkled V neck crop top (or a sports jersey) with a duct tape collar, a kilt, and fuzzy pink closed toe slippers.

Perfect for Le Bistro.