luv2trvlnow

Also new ports take a long time to show excursions. We are on the Splendor repositioning cruise on November 1 and we are waiting for excursions for both Martinique and Grenada. Hopefully we will get them soon, because Martinique seems to be difficult to arrange anything on your own.

Sharon

OH!!! What a mess they have right now. Not much that is correct. Our Valor cruise in March doesn't show up. Then when I look at our Splendor cruise in November it says an interior starts at $549. But when you follow through it changes to $929. The $929 is what it has been. It makes it truly confusing.

Sharon

Since it sounds like there are many issues with Balcony Breeze staterooms how about the interior spa cabins? Do you feel the rocking of the ship that high up and that far forward? Are they the same size as Balcony cabins (minus the balcony of course)? Would you book this over a Balcony guarantee?

The interior spa cabin we had on the Magic was definitely smaller than the inside of the balcony cabins. My son brought a tape measure. The balcony inside is 185sq ft. The interior is smaller, maybe 150sq ft., but definitely under 160sq ft. Don't believe the stats Carnival gives. They seem to be the same standard numbers for every room and that is not always the case.

Sharon

I am 99.9% sure for a lot of reasons that I asked for room 1201 on the Magic. Now while I'm going over my documents I see that it is #1211. I purposely moved my sail date to Sept from Oct. in order to get that room.

Shame on me for not checking it more closely.

 

Does anyone know if there is a porthole in Magic #1211?

 

 

JT

 

:mad:

Maybe the reason you got 1211 is because when I look at the deck plans there is no 1201 on the Magic. You probably said you wanted that cabin with the porthole in the front of the ship on Riviera and that is what you got.

Sharon

Sharon

I booked a deluxe ocean view cabin on the Dream for 10/19/2014. I look every day and our price has held steady.

 

Do you more experienced cruisers know if I am just looking too early or are my chances slim to none considering the cabin category that is booked?

 

Thanks for your advice.

 

 

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My son booked the Dream with some friends and they had porthole. The price for the deluxe ocean views were $300+ more. But later they were able to get one for only $50 or so more than they had paid for the porthole. Carnival opened up those ocean views to solo without the supplement. If they hadn't done that the price probably would have gone lower.

Last year we were on the Breeze. We booked it 23 months in advance and the price remained the same until 3 days before final payment, then it dropped $80. After final payment it dropped several times. We ended up with $610 in total OBC. So keep checking. I think the prices drops, if they are going to happen, usually come after final payment.

Sharon

Has anyone had that cabin or one close it to? Just interested in your comments.

 

 

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We had 1114 on the Conquest (sister ship). I like the location for the Lido deck. Makes it easy to get back to your cabin if you need it when out on deck. But it is a long way down to get off in port and seems like a longer way up after returning in port. It is also a long way from the dining room and theater. Elevators can be difficult to get. We had a terrible time getting an elevator when it came time for debarkation. None of them were coming up to deck 11. We called and then a couple arrived but they were completely full. We had to call again and finally they had a crew member bring up an elevator that was empty. The whole lobby area was filled with people trying to get the elevator.

We liked the quiet up there, at least for us it was quiet. I also liked the sliding door to the balcony instead of the regular door so there was no slamming of the balcony door. It was very windy on our cruise and we couldn't spend much time on the balcony while sailing. It was just too windy. The balcony is not covered so it provided little protection from the wind or sun.

Also people on the deck above can look down on your balcony. But that was very rare usually during sail away and when coming into port.

Sharon

I have seen pictures of the dividers open on the cove balconies.

The balcony can only open to 1 of the cabins on each side of it. I know that if the rooms connect then you can't open the divider. So if you find a room that connects to another you know they can open to the cabin on the other side. This would give you a starting point to see if your two cabins could have the divider opened. Example: 2268 connects to 2272, so 2268 and 2264 can have the divider opened on the balcony, and 2272 and 2276 can have the divider opened. Each group of 2 after those can have the divider opened. Always remember connecting cabins will not allow for connecting balconies.

Sharon

So those 2 other ports I mentioned are not an issue? The Valor does not go out of those ports?

 

I know there is the pier across the street but read that those ports are for visiting ships?

No the Valor doesn't go out of those other ports. I believe that Royal Caribbean and Celebrity go out of the Pan American pier. I think they use the one near Old San Juan that Carnival uses when they are there as a port of call.

Sharon

I was in 2217 on the Dream and slept on the sofa bed. If you like firm beds then it will be to your liking. I don't, but I was still able to get enough sleep.

I have attached a picture of our cabin 2217 and our collection of towel animals in the porthole area.

Sharon

Thanks.... sounds like the weather was not great for your cruise. Did you end up with lots of OBC due to the cancellations? What did you use it up on (or maybe it was refundable?)

Some of the OBC is refundable and there are some that are not. You might be able to find out by calling Carnival. If you can't, you will be able to find out once onboard. They will use nonrefundable first. If you don't use it all you could always use the casino to get the money. Just load an amount equal to your OBC credit onto a slot machine and maybe play a little. Then cash out.

Sharon

You can book a cabin for 4 and only have 3 going which opens more cabins. I've done this many times and never had to move.

 

Might need a PVP to really help you.

You might be able to do this. But since it is during the summer they may have restrictions on the cabins. Meaning you can only book a cabin for 4 if you have 4 people. If you are able to book a cabin for 4, you also have a chance of being moved to a cabin for 3 if they need that cabin for 4 people. You should know that this is a possibility.

Sharon

I found this information on the Valor.

Name: Launderettes

Location: Riviera Deck 1 - midship / across from 1357 and 1359

Main Deck 2 - midship / across from 2365 and 2367

Upper Deck 6 - midship / across from 6385 and 6387

Empress Deck 7 - midship / across from 7337 and 7339

Verandah Deck 8 - midship / across from 8349 and 8351

Lido Deck 9 - midship / across from 9268 and 9270

Hours: hours posted on the door to the Laundry

Hope this helps.

Sharon

You can try this for Cozumel. I like this site, but it doesn't tell you the number of people in port, just the ships. And sometimes it shows the same ship more than once. Just choose the date that you are in port.

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises-to-cozumel-mexico.html

Here is the page that lists all the ports. The top part is for the departure ports and the bottom is for the port of call or destination ports.

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/

Sharon

Last year when boarding the Breeze in Miami, we were in a separate lounge than the FTTF people. But they didn't separate the Diamond from the Platinum. Then then led us to where we were to board. All of a sudden it came to a complete halt as a lot of people in the general area started to push their way into the line. Then they started checking to make sure you had priority on your paper work. Some people that had FTTF said they should be on first, but were told to wait.

I was just happy to get to take our carry-ons to the cabin and not have to take them up to the Lido deck while we had lunch. It was nice for all 3 of us to get our lunches at the same time instead of 1 person having to watch the luggage while the other 2 got their food.

Sharon

Just found this thread and looked at your pics, TeeTee. I upgraded myself from an interior to a French Door cabin and then moved to this one when I saw it had become available because it looked like it might have at least a slight water view.

 

Enjoyed your pics. I'm doing the Single Digit Dance tomorrow (and I'm sailing solo after a very rough tax season). Starting to get really excited!

You are going to enjoy that cabin. We had a French Door cabin on the Miracle but we didn't have a good view. None of the French door cabins for 3 have a good view, but that was what we needed. We loved the cabin and the location.

I'm sorry you had a rough tax season. After 1 tax season I knew it was not for me. I preferred the financial side which was my strength on the CPA exam, so I went to the big businesses, with all the financial statements.

Have a relaxing cruise and we will see you in November on the Splendor.

Sharon

This is what I am also thinking and even if the T/A screwed up by not changing to the "Now Is The Time" sale OP still got the original $40 per cabin price drop for a sale that was never switched to:)

 

I cant see Carnival putting out a sale just 13 or so weeks before sail date that gives all benefits of ES $50 reduced deposit plus 30 day final payment.

 

The price of OP,s cruise only dropped by $400 per cabin after final payment terms and less than 30 days before cruise day (early April for a late May sailing) so unless OP was under ES T&C,s with or without the correct switch by T/A there is no price drop to claim.

I agree with most of what you are saying except it was not less than 30 days it was more than 30 days. If you add 30 days to Early April that would bring you to Early May, she is not cruising until late May. So it was more than 30 days before the cruise, not less than 30.

Sharon

You have to like sea days, which we do, cause usually there are a lot of them and some altogether. The prices may be lower but you lose that in the air tickets. But they're fun and relaxing/

This is usually the case for repos. But not for the Splendor on November 1, 2014. It is an eight day cruise that leaves on a Saturday from San Juan and gets back on a Sunday in Miami. We have 5 ports (St Croix, Martinique, Grenada, Dominica, and Grand Turk) and only 2 sea days. I don't expect this to be relaxing. At least there is 1 sea day, Grand Turk, and the last sea day at the end. We start with 4 port days in a row.

The price started low, $399pp for all interiors expect the spa. Now the price is $909pp for a 1A, and goes up from there. It seems to be a popular cruise that is booking up quickly. Really happy that we booked back in December at the low prices.

Sharon

I'm the original poster and want to thank everyone for their insights. We decided to book the Valor for March 22, 2015. Mostly because this year Southwest is not flying to San Juan from Tulsa during most of April and all of May. They did fly there in March and will be flying there again starting in June. If they do the same thing next year it would be best for us to go in March so we don't have to pay AA's higher rates and baggage fees. Hopefully we have chosen a good time.

Sharon

I know you all feel that customer service is horrible. But I had a cruise booked on Celebrity for next year and I ended up cancelling it. You couldn't do much of anything online. Things just wouldn't go through. Then you would get an "sign-on error" and told to call. This happened to me twice. The problem is when you call Celebrity it is a 45+ minute hold. Sometimes you get cut off or they transfer you for another 45+ minute wait. Everyone over on their forum kept complaining about it, but claimed once you got onboard the service was great. I decided I didn't want to spend that much time having to call because I wasn't able to sign in. So I cancelled. It even took an hour on hold to cancel because the cancellation wouldn't go through online.

At least at Carnival you get 3 answers in an hour instead of a long wait listening about "Modern Luxury", "everything you wanted a nano-second before you knew you wanted it". HA-HA!

Sharon

a couple people have tried to switch and were told it was for new bookings only

 

Bill

This must be something new or some of the people answering the phone are clueless. I think the reason they can't match to this is because it is for a guarantee cabin. In the past we have matched to More=Merrier, which also says for new bookings only. But they allow you to match if you are Early Saver. Under More=Merrier you choose your cabin.

The end result would be the same (no matching) for the balcony sale, but the real reason would not be that it is for new bookings only, but because it is for a guarantee not for their 8c cabin.

Sharon

I have put a hold on cove balcony 2379 breeze. is there anything not good that I should know before I make payment.

I can't tell you if that cabin will be quiet, but I can tell you it might be noisy. The galley is above you and crew can are in there working at all hours of the day and night.

If you can get a cove between the mid and forward elevators, you would be under the carpeted dining room and it is not used at night. We had a room under the dining room last April and had no noise even though that dining room was used for the brunch.

Sharon

Can a child ride with an adult?

 

 

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No. It is 1 rider at a time.

Sharon

Gotcha. I must say that I am sad that Southwest is leaving Branson this summer. We will need to drive to Tulsa or STL or possibly Little Rock. It would be worth it for a good savings over Springfield.

Don't come to Tulsa. We are flying out of Tulsa to San Juan at the beginning of November. On Southwest there is only 1 flight a day (but none on Saturdays) and it costs more than St Louis or Kansas City. Kansas City has 4 flights and St Louis has 2. The cost from Tulsa is $228. From Kansas City or Kansas it is $198 or $203.

Sharon

I have only cruised in forward or middle rooms, normally on higher decks. However, I will be on Main Deck Aft (cabin 2444) on Triumph later this month and am starting to worry about some of the horror stories I have read about people not being able to sleep because of the vibrations from the engines. Let me hear your experience staying low and aft on the ships.

All I can say is that I was in that cabin (2444 on the Triumph) in 2010. That was before the fire. Hopefully they have improved things. We cruised from New Orleans. It was very noisy and had a lot of vibration coming into and leaving ports. Everyone back there was commenting about it. All the way in on the Mississippi we heard loud booms, like someone was using a battering ram trying to open a huge door. What made it worse is it wasn't consistent. You could have several booms and then go for 5 minutes without one. Just when you thought it was over you'd get another boom. The rest of the time it wasn't bad.

Sharon

Yes, it is on Carnival's side. I have a cruise booked in November of this year and the excursions come up for it. But for the cruise I have booked in March 2015, it doesn't. It just comes up blank. So it has nothing to do with clearing your cache or browser history this time. It's Carnival that hasn't loaded the excursions for that time frame. You will just have to play the waiting game.

Sharon