angelsfort

On 6/2/2024 at 12:20 PM, shof515 said:

on facebook, you can adjust your settings so only certain people can all of your information,some or none at all. you can also do the same thing for the things you post . people need to learn how to post thing only for the people they want. for some odd annoying reason, the default settings when posting something is Public. i always have mine to various customs list i created so only the people who i actually really really know in real life can see what i post

thats all true for anyone with good intentions - only the people you allow to see your info, can see your info.

but...  once you post ANYTHING on social media ANYWHERE, it becomes a part of that systems data set and anyone with ill intentions can hack in and get access.  You should never post anything on any social media platform that you do not want to be publicly accessable.

some of those stupid little games that people play (if there's any sort of link or any interactions with the game systems at all) can be enough to give access to your device and all of it's information / content.

if you access your social media platforms from an unsecured wifi connection, that too can open you up for someone else to get in and get your information.

it's not as simple as making sure your settings are adjusted for privacy, unfortunately.

I always told my daughter that she could use me as an "excuse" if something was going on with the group she was with, that she didn't want to participate in... or if she just wanted to get away from them for a bit.  She could claim that she had to check in with me, or that I had messaged her and asked her to come back to the cabin.

so she could leave the group and not look like she was a "chicken" or whatever kids call each other nowadays.

she did actually use that excuse a couple of times and was thankful that it was an option for an escape

she's 21 now and still occasionally does it!  LOL she'll message me and say that if anyone asks (usually a roommate who has my number) that I needed her to help me with something  LOL

I always bring my marriage license with me as well...  many cruises and have only been asked once to see it.  (but I did get asked...  so there's that...)

I guess you never know who's going to be checking you in and what they're going to need/want to see...

for that many cabins, I'd definitely look into a travel agent or a Carnival PVP. 

On 5/4/2024 at 12:44 PM, missusagi said:

Thanks everyone! I understand that I can just get an extra key and that Carnival doesn't care who sleeps in which cabin. I was specifically asking about doing a true room switch so that we don't have to buy the Cheers package for both rooms since only my husband and I want it. My mom and aunt don't drink so they don't need the cheers package, hence the question about doing a true room switch (not just extra keys).

If you'll all be together most of the cruise, why not have your husband and mom get the Cheers package and then just have your mom get your drinks for you?

On 4/29/2024 at 6:07 PM, luv2kroooz said:

No time to have any letdowns. Plus, why would they let someone else's actions control their feelings. Whether someone tips or doesn't tip extra is out of the control of the server, so no need to fret. They just move on to the next guest with a smile.

I find this comment funny.   We live in a world now where a large portion of the population wants to be offended on other peoples behalf.  Not for something that affects them directly but for something that may or may not affect someone else.

People get upset when someone has an opinion that differs from theirs - so you're question above has extra weight on it for me...  as I don't understand WHY people have to do this.  Too many people get so upset about the actions of others, when it has ZERO direct impact on them or their lives personally.

my opinion on tipping... do it if you want to!  You know that by adding that extra tip to the bill you will make the bartender happy...  but you won't necessarily make them "unhappy" if you don't...  they all know that the gratuity is already included but it doesn't stop them from enjoying that extra bit of $$ when it does come their way! 

Oh please post back in here when you're on board and they've "found" you!  I'd love to hear how it went!!

this is such a fun idea!  🙂 

On 4/24/2024 at 7:19 PM, mamiamjo said:

I have some Protein Powder I use at home, but the container is much bigger than what I want to carry around and don't really want to carry around a couple of ziplock bags with powder in them. I'll see what I can get from the Java Blue

I wouldn't use a ziplock bag, get a tupperware container with a screw on lid and just put it in your luggage (no need to carry it on in your carry-on bag)

you can then have room service deliver directly to your cabin the water/milk or whatever you need to mix it into

8 minutes ago, staceyglow said:

I would be tempted to just pick those up and throw them in the garbage.

 

At a minimum, I would take one off the table I needed and claim ignorance if someone asked about "their" table.

ditto.  I wouldn't be "tempted" - I'd actually do it. 

and if they asked about "their" table, I'd tell them that I would happily move if they could get a carnival TM to confirm that it was an "officially" reserved table. 

and then add that I wouldn't be there long... saying it was because I didn't believe in taking up precious space on the lido deck when so many people are looking for places to sit and EAT THEIR FOOD!

I'm glad to hear that they will take into account the CD's preference (when they can) - I wonder if seniority has anything to do with whether or not they actually GET their preference?

31 minutes ago, Pyxie said:

I've participated a few times. A couple of times we did Goo Goo Clusters candy (we're from Nashville where they are from), though, this one could be iffy due to allergies as they contain nuts.

 

We also once did custom tea-lights with the ship name and date with battery operated candles. These were from Oriental Trading and I really did it because I had a good coupon. Otherwise they probably would have been a little over budget.

I love the idea of giving something that represents your home town/ home state!  I would also add a card of some kind that explains the significance of it as well, so that the recipient knows exactly why it was gifted. 

Here's something I was thinking about when reading a thread on another platform about Adam, who is the current cruise director on the Liberty.  It got me thinking because the Liberty isn't exactly a large ship (not the smallest, by any means but not that big either) - how do the CD's feel about being assigned to the smaller ships with shorter cruises? 

I would think that the more popular CD's would be assigned to the larger ships, to try to pull the crowds to those larger pricier ships... 

who determines what CD goes where?  is it "the luck of the draw"?  or is there some sort of algorithm used to decide who goes where? 

LOL anyone have any insight? 

16 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

They shouldn't have been let in in the first place. 15 minutes after assigned dining starts, the hostesses are supposed to close the MDR doors and tell latecomers to go eat elsewhere.

 

So the issue was actually with Carnival not following it's own rules. After it happened the second time, I would have spoken to the Maitre'D.

ya.  that definitely didn't happen!  there were 4 other couples assigned to our table and pretty much every night we were finishing up our main course by the time any of them arrived. It was disheartening because we choose to eat in the MDR so that we can meet new people and have interesting (if not amusing) conversations with our tablemates.  (we've made some good friends this way on past cruises!!!)

I didn't know that they were supposed to turn people away if they were more than 15 minutes late - we always try to be on time for dinner (or early).  Not because we're afraid of missing dinner but because we don't want to be rude or be an inconvenience to anyone!

If you are not trusting the ships water - you could always bring a water bottle on board that has a built in filtration system / purifier attached.   Bring it on board empty and use it all over the ship.

I didn't even know there was such an excursion!   I'd definitely be interested on our next cruise!

On 2/28/2024 at 4:11 PM, elcuchio24 said:

We'd been big fans of YTD for years, but after a couple of set time seatings over the last year, we're finding it nicer to have a set time for the kids and the same wait staff every night to know your preferences, etc. 

Unfortunately it doesn't always work out that way...  we had Set time dining on our last cruise and were the only ones at our table (of 10 people, 5 couples) that arrived on time every night.  You'd think our servers would have remembered our names, at least!   They did not - called me "Nicole" for the entire cruise even though I corrected them the first couple of times.  They also did not remember that we had the Bottomless bubbles package and that I got a Mug Root beer and that my boyfriend got a Pepsi with every meal - we had to ask for them every night.

I know that part of the issue was with our table mates - they showed up 30-45 minutes late every night for dinner, which threw off the servers I'm sure!  

1 hour ago, skywalkr2 said:

 

If I was lucky enough to live in florida, I think I would probably do about 10 3 day cruises a year.  They typically are cheaper than a nice night out.

I wish I could!!

20 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Idk what to say. I live in texas and it's been all over the news. Of course I follow stocks and news a lot but cant imagine not having heard about the bridge collapse.

I would not have known about the collapse if I hadn't seen the thread here on CC.  I don't watch the "bad" news and most of my television watching is via streaming channels on my Roku device.  I also don't have cable (cut that cord many years ago!)  I really don't watch enough TV to justify the price of cable.

so it's not out of scope for someone to be completely unaware of the collapse.

14 hours ago, staceyglow said:

If you just made Gold since the last revamp, you don't cruise on Carnival very often.  It's called a "loyalty program" for a reason. 

well...  as I said in my post, that you quoted.. 

 (as you can imagine,  I can't afford to cruise often, so I don't get to raise my status very quickly.)

and I don't know if you're aware but I can still be "Loyal" to Carnival even if I don't sail often...  there's no reason to be a turd about it.

I laugh because I just made Gold status again on my last cruise...   and the last time they revamped the loyalty program I had just made Gold then too, but then lost it with the revamp.  (even have my Gold S&S card to prove it!)

So I'm certain that they'll be changing it again and I'll once again be back to Red...  

LOL good thing I don't really care about my status or this'd really bug me!  (as you can imagine,  I can't afford to cruise often, so I don't get to raise my status very quickly.)

12 minutes ago, SRF said:

They may not be responsible for the situation, but they are responsible for giving you the cruise you booked.  How would it be if you booked a cruise out of Miami and they said, oh, your cruise is now leaving from LA, it is your problem?

 

IMO, they should offer transport to/from Baltimore and Norfolk.

 

Or either let you cancel for a full refund or for say 150% of your fare as a credit to a future cruise.

totally depends on the REASON why they are now leaving from LA.  If it's because they just felt like moving the ship, then yes they absolutely should be on the hook for "giving you the cruise that you booked" because the decision to change ports WAS THEIR IDEA.  But for a disaster such as this bridge collapsing, that was in no way a result from anything that Carnival has done - they should not be penalized for it.  They are doing the best that they can - they will eat the cost of getting folks who are already on board back to their vehicles safely (and for free!).  

But it's not their responsibility if you choose not to change your flights or drive to a new location to get the cruise that they ARE STILL OFFERING, with the same ports of call, etc.  Especially if you have plenty of advance notice to make any changes needed

1 hour ago, mz-s said:

That's an over 4 hour bus ride. Not how I'd want to end my vacation but what choice do you have?

what would especially suck is if you're from Norfolk and had driven to the Baltimore port...  now you gotta take that bus to the port and then just drive right back to Norfolk

because in my opinion, each guest has a different idea of which perk they look forward to the most.

for some it's the priority boarding - for others its the laundry - still others are all about the free drinks available at the party...  with a "points" based program, each guest can choose which perk they want from the available perks in their tier / that they can use their points to select

this means the cruise line isn't "on the hook" for every perk for every guest in each tier of the program.

Personally, I feel like they should go with a loyalty program like Chick-Fil-A...  where you accumulate "points" and when you reach certain levels, you get more perks to choose from and you accumulate points a little differently (such as more points are awarded for each $ spent, etc)

you don't automatically get ALL of the perks, you use your points to choose the perks that are the most important to you specifically.  Some of the redeemable perks could be VIP ship tours once you reach Diamond or Platinum - or a special dessert in the MDR once you reach Gold status (each available at different point values)

each level accumulates - when you reach Diamond status, you have all of the perks from all levels below available to choose from plus a few extra higher point items

that sort of thing

If you get the wifi plan while on board the ship, you can use the "WhatsApp" app to communicate with friends and family throughout the cruise.   Then we don't have to worry about switching airplane mode on/off - we just turn it off when we get to the terminal at the beginning of the cruise and leave it off until we return back home.

that's what we do when we're on board. (or off on a trip to another country)