glrounds

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

Exactly. The more hoops the CDC comes up with and the cruise lines agree to, the more it seems like it is just not worth it.

 

Lots of great memories, but maybe time to move on.

3 hours ago, Aplmac said:

And this is exactly why I won't be cruising for quite some time.
All this nonsense has to be done, before I feel like participating again.

I like cruising -but NOT THIS MUCH!

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

Exactly. The more hoops the CDC comes up with and the cruise lines agree to, the more it seems like it is just not worth it.

 

Lots of great memories, but maybe time to move on.

It's sure starting to look that way for me, also. 34 cruises with Carnival, it was great fun and I had some good times, but at 82 it just gets more demanding and perks are almost non-existent. Just not the same as the "old days". 🙂

 Not cruising on the PANORAMA again until January 29th (final payment Oct 31st). You cruise pros that have John Heald's ear might know the answer. Look into your future ball and tell me if I will "most likely" be able to avoid the 36-72 hour Covid test before boarding? Otherwise going to cancel. Just tired of all the hoops, restrictions and conditions. 34 Carnival cruises, maybe I've had enough.

7 hours ago, matymil said:

Honest to god i think some people on here know more (or at least think they do) than the people that answer the phones for Carnival

"The challenge is to know enough to think you're right, but not enough to KNOW you're wrong" - - - de Grasse Tyson

On 8/22/2021 at 9:23 AM, Tnlynch81 said:

We were on the cruise after your Panorama trip and will be on the Mardis Gras 9/4. Please don't try to squeeze an extra day in again. Thanks in advance!

Yes, and I was on the 4-day cruise that had an embarkation delayed because you were still in the harbor and we had to wait for you to debark and embark before we could begin our embarkation. Didn't leave port until 9pm !

On 8/18/2021 at 9:26 AM, tm_aw_love said:

We are on the 9/4 also, but this seems super minor... just swapping ports, which will likely have the back to back sea days up front and the last one at the end. 

Years ago this is the way the Mexican Riviera was run. Spend two days getting to PV and hitting ports on the way back with one day at sea day on the return.

How can the 2021-2022 season end on 2/13/2020 ?

4 hours ago, ScottsSweetie said:

They will make the policies, and we will decide to sail or not within those parameters. 

What if one of these policies (72 hour testing before the cruise) was not in existence at the time the cruise was purchased ? . . . Full refund if requested or just SOL ?

Switch over to Jack Daniels and learn how to speak in tongues . . . :-)

On 8/5/2021 at 12:19 PM, WhaleTailFlCruiser said:

I cruise solo and every time I have gone to the Steakhouse I sit Solo and it doesn't bother me, Crew tends to take better care of you and strike up conversation with you as well. 

I cruise solo most of the time and try to go to the Steakhouse at least once per cruise. I've always been seated alone. I prefer it that way and, yes, waitresses tend to stop at your table and converse when they have a chance (think TIP). 🙂

On 8/6/2021 at 11:54 AM, TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail said:

For a lot of folks it’s the masks required where they don’t feel comfortable.  For me, it’s the almost unattainable testing within 72 hours.  I literally have to drive 25+ miles out of my way within 72 hours of boarding to get a rapid test done.  I won’t chance flying in & relying on rapid tests to be available within 24 hours of boarding.  

 

I wouldn’t care if Carnival needed to swab me daily (even though I’m post-covid and fully vaxxed).  But don’t make me jump through hoops for the privilege of paying to sail.  
 

 

 

Precisely, my opinion and position. My final payment date is October 31st so I'll just have to sit tight until that date in hopes some of these restrictive conditions are changed.

1 hour ago, MrMarc said:

The main problem is the cruise contract you agreed to allows them to change pretty much anything about your cruise, including boarding requirements, ports, and much more.  If people want to try this route, I wish them luck, but you can probably save yourself a lot of frustration and anger by simply taking the cruise credit and scheduling a cruise for sometime late next year. 

Thank you, MrMarc. And also comments from Mikeandliz and ontheweb. A somewhat  "cooler head" is now looking at this conundrum. And as EnglceDave has suggested, this may all be over by January 29th.

With 34 Carnival cruises at 82 years of age, FCC is at best, amusing. Maybe it's time for this sailor to move on and let Carnival use my deposit to buy more advertising. Everybody wins I guess.

43 minutes ago, EngIceDave said:

and by the end of January this may all be over, but you cancelled

Final payment not due 'til October 31st and reduced deposit so I'll have plenty of time to consider with very little at stake. This just increases my interest in trips to Spain and Germany.

3 hours ago, ontheweb said:

I would let my credit card company fight with them if they refuse a refund over last minute rule changes.

EXACTOMONDO ! My cruise on the PANORAMA isn't until January 29th, but I'm not going to continue jumping through hoops just to please Carnival with one of their last minute conditions and not be given a FULL REFUND if that occurs. Agree with onthweb. Let Carnival duke it out with my credit card company.

Cancelling cruises even NOW ? . . . . what is going on ?

14 hours ago, Wanna_Cruize said:

always better to no show the 2nd person. They could rebook you to a current solo fare, which might be higher than what you paid. 2nd person forfeits his entire fare, no matter who paid, but you won't get charged more. Also, the tax and port fees for the 2nd person will get refunded. 

I quite agree also . . . cancelling can only produce problems . . . no show is the best way.

23 minutes ago, EmmasNana said:

Yeah, I have not plans on telling him at this point. He tries to keep up with what  is going on anyway. If there is a real issue he will discover it. The CDC colors, he is not watching.

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when at first we practice to deceive" . . . . LOL just kidding

When I was on the PANAMERA a few weeks before the lockdown, I thought the FREE drink was in the dining room for breakfast.

8 hours ago, carib1 said:

I'm platinum and got the same casino offer!

I've been PLATINUM for a decade and I get casino offers all the time (almost daily). Take a closer look at the restrictions and conditions that come with that offer.

I'm usually a SOLO cruiser. So I feel a little guilty already for technically screwing the stewards out of another set of tips. Being a bachelor I'm used to keeping my cabin orderly with everything in its place. Always make the bed myself and hang up the towels and keep the bathroom immaculate. My goal is for them to treat my cabin as a "day off". I always choose the evening, but there's little to do hopefully.

20 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Change happens. Conservation of energy, no matter how small, adds up. Especially when you multiply that one little table lamp by thousands.

On the newer ships (PANAMERA I noticed), your sign'n'sail card turns the lights on when you come through your cabin door and put it in a slot by the door. When you leave the cabin, you pull the card out of the slot, the lights go out and you're on your way. Everybody wins. LOL

On 7/16/2021 at 8:29 AM, MamallamaAndDaddy said:

I don't smoke anymore but I vape. It's much cleaner and doesn't smell bad and it smells enjoyable to SOME people around me. I would like a bar where I can go sit and vape / smoke and enjoy the air conditioning, out of the sun, out of the wind and have a drink and conversation. I am sure there are plenty like myself who would like that. I don't really gamble but I am glad the smoke free casino is out of the way and the casino where you can smoke is convenient.

I quite agree. Have been vaping for 10 years. Never get complaints. Even vape moderately in my cabin. Never a word said about it. Would like to see a casino bar where VAPING ONLY is allowed. Leaves no discernible odor from what many others have told me. Even get positive comments, "Mmmmmm, strawberry ! "

I ALSO have never had any steward unplug any of my electrical devices on

34 cruises on Carnival.

Nothing for me either. I cruised the PANAMERA just before the shutdown and had numerous cruises cancelled on her later on. Maybe that's why they are not offering it to me, thinking I'll eventually book it later. Pricing on cruise ships is so fluid nowadays. Hard to get a bead on what the right price should be.

18 hours ago, stellarose said:

sure you can use an android. I don't have an iphone

if its on the hub app- yeah

 

I think Beave was referring to smart phones in general, not specifically the iphonel

Stop at the first bar (used to be the 10-story atrium bar) and have a cold one. Drop off carry-ons in the cabin. Meet my stewards, explain I'm a bachelor and used to taking care of my cabin by myself, so want them to consider my cabin a 20 minute break. Burgers or buffet, whichever is easiest. If a new ship, get the layout before the crowds come aboard.