98Charlie

If you can find that roll call again I would ask the poster directly. I have never heard of missing a port being an insurable event.

Charlie

Have her read about the possible birth defect that exposure can cause.

Link to CDC page on microcephaly.

Charlie

1) I've never encountered a mosquito on board. (Including Panama)

2) I believe the threat is real.

3) I would not take the chance with the health and safety of my child. Take the money and enjoy a future cruise with a healthy offspring.

JMHO

Charlie

FTTF should definitely help with the embarkation. I've never really had a problem at Port Everglades.

Having said that, each week there are opportunities for things to go wrong (or right). Some time ago we were getting set to board a ship and everything shut down. Medics were called. The rumor was that someone had a medical emergency (heart attack?) just as they got to the top of the gangway. Things happen.

Another time we were disembarking in NOLA on a Sunday in December. This was the year the Saints won the super bowl. It seems that there was a major outbreak of "football influenza" among the customs agents as there were only 2 working to get the ship cleared. Once again, things happen.

Charlie

Its been a while since I have been on a line without open dining. Another family we know are now also on our cruise. How do we go about being seated with them in the MDR?

If you used a travel agent I would toss the question to her/him.

Charlie

I believe that a lot of people enjoy lines on cruise ships. Seems like there is always a line for the MDR even for fixed dining. Not sure why, you already have your table, but people love to stand in line. Prior to shows, people line up... On one cruise I was walking by where they were doing the art auction and I heard someone say, hey there is a line to get in here, it must be something good, lets line up..

If you are more than one couple and want a seat that's not side stage (or any seat at all for some shows) then the pre-show queue is often mandatory:eek:

Charlie

I like the AO areas too. I don't book Carnival just for that because, as stated before, most main line ships have them.

We cruise in the off seasons and don't run in to a lot of children. Most have been well behaved and there has been no problem with them in the AO areas on our cruises.

We do often find the AO whirlpools jammed with groups. But that is a supply and demand thing.

I think you see more kids running amok than adults misbehaving because IMHO security steps in a lot quicker on an adult situation.

Charlie

My experience on NCL in Glacier bay with and aft balcony was super. The ship entered and did a very slow turn so we ended up with a full view over the course of time.

Seeing calving is luck even if you are topside. you never know where it's going to happen next. We saw several and were not disappointed.

We did a second cruise (also with NCL) and had an upper, port side, forward balcony. The view was much more restricted.

Both were September cruises. One was the next to last of the season and the second was a re-positioning cruise. The side balcony required jackets/coats at all times. From the aft we watched the bay in t-shirts and shorts.

If I go again it will definitely be in an aft balcony.

Charlie

I guess it will also depend on what you view as "a line". I don't know if you can ever embark without being in some sort of short line unless you run up at the last minute:eek:

I normally avoid lines whenever possible. The buffets are often near empty if you don't go during a rush period.

Same with disembarking at ports. Unless I have an early tour I wait out the initial glut while hanging out on the Lido or balcony if I have one.

Good Luck,

Charlie

Just ask to be seated alone. If it doesn't happen advise your table mates of your desire to read and have at it.

"People that matter don't mind & People that mind don't matter."

Charlie

Could be a lonesome twosome then, fancied a bit of socializing and meeting new friends

If you request a large table I'm sure they will seat you with other English speakers for dinner.

 

Julie

MSC is our next cruise. First time trying it. On other lines we have gone to the MDR during embarkation just to check out our table. If this is possible you will know if it's a table for two or not.

If you are interested in meeting new friends that would be the time to check with the Maitre 'd and let him know your preference. If you have a second language you could let him know that also and increase your odds of meeting others.

Charlie

Also, the menu is posted outside of the MDR two or three hours before the dining room even opens. You can always go take a look at what's on the menu and decide if want to eat in the MDR or choose a different option.

Most (if not all) of my cruises the menu for the day has been posted in the morning outside of the lower level of the MDR. Gives even more time to decide.

Charlie

One additional thought. If you like the shows you will want to time your meal so that you don't miss both showings.

We did find that we would skip dessert (not that I really need a dessert:rolleyes:) in order to make it to the show.

Charlie

On the surface it looks like you would be happier with set seating.

I was on a cruise with my daughters family of 5 and we did Anytime. Normally we would do early but they wanted to try it thinking it would give us extra flexibility. As it turned out we always went when they opened anyway and there was usually a line unless we went 15 minutes before the doors opened. In effect no difference.

We always had the same table for 6 because of the size of the group and the time we arrived. Over the course of the 7 nights we had several of the same waiters but not the same ones each night.

The service was basically the same speed as all other Carnival cruises.

Charlie

You can download the Uber app and make your own transportation arrangements. ;)

Agreed. Less expensive and often quicker. Looks to be about a 5 mile ride which would translate to less than $15 one way.

Charlie

I'm not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for but I have enjoyed Carli's for drinks and live music. Click Here for a link. When I've been there it is on the line of mellow jazz.

For more about Carli Muñoz Click Here.

Charlie

Agreeing here. The cruise lines of Carnival Corporation alone have more than 100 ships. Figuring an average of 2500 beds per ship (a guess that I think may be low) there would are a quarter million beds at sea right now!

While there are some occasions where many passengers experience sea sickness (not viral sickness like Noro) it is usually a single ship on a single cruise and due to foul weather. Other than that there are a few passengers that do experience true sea sickness. I would think that there are more like me that actually enjoy a slight rocking motion when sleeping.

I can't imagine any cruise line upgrading their beds for any reason or any amount of money.

JMHO

Charlie

Well, if they do, their mobile phones wouldn't work anyway! :D

I believe that Carnival still has Wireless Maritime Service which will allow you to use your mobile. It's billed at international rates so calls could get costly. Text and data are also available.

Here's a link to the Carnival FAQ.

I remember on one cruise listening to the teens on the balcony next to us chat away to friends back home. Wonder what was said when the bill came in:eek:

Best for Mom & Dad to make sure that the teens don't have access to their phones except in US ports. My phone has worked at regular rates in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas USVI.

Charlie

Pretty much the old fashioned way for us. We let others in our party know where we will be and (for the younger ones) where we expect them to be. You will be able to call your cabin or any other cabin from the phones located all around the ship. There is also voice mail with the cabin phones.

With the advent of the cell phone and instant communication we (society) has come to rely on instant communications. Think of it as a retro event:p

I've also seen sticky notes on doors and some that have small dry erase boards for leaving notes.

Charlie

Have you used them post cruise?? How does the return work?? Especially if you dont have a flight home till 5PM

The shuttles start pickups from the cruise port whenever the ship starts discharging passengers. I don't know of a cutoff time but by noon for sure.

They return to FLL and the hotels. To the best of my knowledge they do not make any other stops and should be done by 1PM if not earlier.

Your options would be to wait at the airport or see if you can get a day room at one of the hotels.

Charlie

I've always enjoyed staying in Ft Lauderdale. There are several shuttle services that can get you to and from POM. I have always used SAS but the others get good reviews too.

If you stay on 17th you will have access to number of restaurants (Southport Raw Bar is my personal favorite), a grocery (Publix) and a great wine shop (Total Wine) all within walking distance.

It's also about a 10-12 minute walk to a water taxi stop. You can ride round trip and see a lot of homes of the rich, famous and not so famous.:p

Charlie

As an additional thought, I can't imagine just buying a few shorts and t shirts when in Key West. After spending $X,000 for the trip I wouldn't want to "make do".

If that luggage hadn't shown up by the first morning of the cruise I would assume that I wouldn't see it again on the cruise.

Charlie

Was the friend a first time cruiser? That's about the only was I can imagine something like this happening.

Even then I can still remember coming up to my first cruise and looking for the name of the ship on the side and being amazed at the monstrous size of the thing. (And it had a capacity of 1,200 souls:p)

Yes, I have sympathy for the friend. But I don't see where the cruise line needed to compensate her. Hopefully she had insurance that will help.

JMHO

Charlie

Port of New Orleans and Port of Galveston as far as I know, are the only two ports enforcing the staggered check in. It seems to have great reviews.

They asked me what time we were getting on and I said we would be at the port around 11. There was no time on our Fun Pass. They called their TA who double checked with Carnival and were told that their ship cards would not be available to the check in agents until the time listed on their boarding pass.

I'm platinum so get priority boarding. We arrived at 11 and went straight through the check in procedure.

Charlie

I agree with you 100000% they are just a grease bomb.

I do want to try a Dyers Burger if I get to Memphis.

Charlie