meatloafsfan

On ‎2‎/‎26‎/‎2020 at 9:36 PM, D & S said:

We arrive about 3 p.m., Did find a Courtyard in Elizabeth just a few miles from the airport and 12 miles from the cruise terminal.  Looks like a good central location.  Any info on this hotel and area?

We've stayed there, it's a decent hotel. There is a restaurant in the hotel for a quick bite along with a bar (so if having a  drink in the evening is your thing, it's easy). There is an IHOP not too far away for breakfast if you want something more than what's offered at the hotel restaurant (which is a bit on the expensive side with a small breakfast menu).

But the hotel was clean, staff were pleasant and the hotel itself was relatively quiet (especially compared to when we stayed at the Residence Inn in the same loop).

17 minutes ago, xDisconnections said:

Early saver is really to secure the advance deposit in Carnival’s favor.

I guess my phrasing should have been:

"From a consumer perspective, booking the Early Saver rate is to ensure that if Carnival drops the price after final payment - which for many years seemed to be the average time for price drops - your price can be adjusted so that you're going to be paying the same as someone who was able to take advantage of a sale within 75-90 days of sailing."

20 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

I wish they'd be more clear about it in their FAQ's. Everything I've read on there points to ES being the only rate with price matching. And the fact that they denied me because (they claimed) it wasn't an ES rate is another indication of that being the case. I've seen plenty of people on here say it, too, so it looks like it confuses a lot of people. There's times when they don't seem aware of their own policies.

Price drops before final payment usually aren't an issue with most rates (i.e. if you can cancel without penalty, then you can always adjust because you can cancel and rebook at the better rate); early saver rate is really to protect people after final payment.

11 minutes ago, 1GaPeach said:

Has anyone tracked the price difference on if they would have booked the cheapest at time of booking and vs. booking ES and how much was actually saved.

I am currently looking at a cruise that the cheapest option (I want) if booked today would be $2735.  If I book with ES it would be $3045 (with a $50OBC).  So about a $250 gamble to just break even to the original sale price assuming there is a price drop at all. 

 

What are your thoughts, strategies and/or experience?

 

 

So book with ES and then price match to the lower rate.

You never know if the price will go down further. Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

Sometimes on the longer cruises (Journey cruises of 9 days or more), they vary between the brunch menu and the separate breakfast/lunch menus. On longer cruises, it pays to check out the hub app (or funtimes) to see what's up (again, doesn't apply to regular 3-4-5-7 day cruises but since yours is 10 days, it might).

16 hours ago, bunchesofun said:

Carnival Pride, some handicap cabins have automatic doors.  We had 4207 inside (with obstructed view window!) which had an automatic door opener.

Yes on the Spirit Class ships [Pride, Spirit, Legend, Miracle] 4207 (fully accessible) does - 4202, 4203 and 4205 (ambulatory accessible) do not.

On ‎12‎/‎20‎/‎2019 at 5:57 PM, GUT2407 said:

I think it is only on ships that don’t have any accessible cabins of that class that they offer that. Not just that it is sold out

And I think they've ended that as well. Now when I price out on Princess, it makes me select the actual category (and shows no availability when there's no cabins in that class). We really enjoyed cruising on the Caribbean Princess but there's only 1 accessible cabin for 3 on that ship (my mom is disabled and is a full time wheelchair user and my dad uses a cane so I assist my mother and do a bit for him so it's much easier to be in one cabin) and the 1 accessible cabin for 3 is a Window Suite. It no longer shows availability except in the "Mini Suite" category where now all of the Window Suite cabins show. It used to automatically upgrade us from lesser cabin categories but not any more.

Why not contact the special needs department of the cruise line? Depending on the nature of the medical equipment, they may have an alternative solution (or may recommend that based on your family member's overall needs that an accessible cabin is the only way to accommodate all of their needs).

They may be able to remove some less-necessary furniture from the room to make space or figure something else. Better to ask directly.

10 hours ago, Mavis and Me said:

Not at all. My dog works hard all day long, and once I remove her gear and put her ‘to bed’ at night, she is off duty. If I must go out again, I will try to take a service ‘human’ (hubby or kid) in order that my dog has adequate down time each day.  I prefer the company of my dog when it comes to my health, but she deserves time off just like anyone else. Just because you might see a service dog handler without their dog doesn’t mean that it is a comfort animal or a pet. Sometimes we choose to use an assistant in order to protect our dogs health or safety!  🙂

21 minutes ago, BrennerM said:

 

If it is a true, proper service animal they will have it with them 24/7 because that is the whole purpose of the animal.  If they go on an excursion they would definitely want it with them as well.   If on the other hand they lied to Princess when boarding and it is not really a proper service animal, that's a whole other situation.

 

No, "proper service animals" don't work 24/7.

Above is a quote from a person who is assisted by a service dog - no one - not humans, not animals - works 24/7.

On ‎11‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 12:22 PM, CineGraphic said:

 

I think it's ridiculous to push a dog in a baby stroller, but this may be why some do so when bringing their pups into the dining room, so as to not soil the floor. Nobody needs to see that while eating.

I was on a cruise where the owner of a service animal had the dog in a cart-thing (I don't want to say carriage - it was a small 4 wheel cart with a soft plastic top). The cart had a sign on it that said "service animal". We (myself and my mother in her wheelchair) were waiting patiently for an open elevator on embarkation day when they rolled up to the elevator as well and we struck up a conversation. The service dog owner said that they use the cart on embarkation and debarkation and any really crowded place. They had issues in the past with the dog being stepped on (to the point where the dog was injured) or people trying to get between them and the dog where they couldn't actually continue to hold onto the led without injury to themselves.

Now, whenever I see a dog in a carriage, I tend to think it's for the dog's protection.

Yes, just the 1500 points still. What you'll notice is by the end of the cruise many, many, many people will have a DOU card hanging from their cruise card and drink service will take on a different timeframe (the drink servers are working just as hard but their trays will be full all the time).

In my experience, this is where a few $1 tips throughout the cruise when you're using your DOU card really pays off. Despite having a long list of drink orders, the servers still happily got us our drinks (even when we were ordering cans of soda).

As of January 2020, Carnival cruises will be switching from Coke products to Pepsi Products.

If it's successful - I wonder if Carnival Corporation will make the switch throughout all of their lines.

I'm happy - I prefer diet pepsi and if they add in Diet Mountain Dew and Diet Sierra Mist, so will my mother. We'll just bring on diet coke for my dad and then the whole family is covered.

If you can get it for 7 - 15% for most people it would be less than if you put it on a credit card.

For some, it's easier to budget this way and buying on credit is normal.

I'm not going to use it; I'm not going to judge someone who does.

I read something that impacted my thinking recently "You can always get more money; you can't get more time." I can see cases where the thought is "why not take this cruise on credit and pay it off over the next 11 - 24 months. Time is of the essence."

21 hours ago, Erik_On_The_High_Seas said:

 

I know that tipping is an odd American phenomenon, which hints of bribery on one hand and servitude on the other.  But it exists, unfortunately, so I play along.  And I've found that cash tipping the cabin attendant ensures that they actually get 100% of what you're tipping -- and that starting off Day 1 with a $20 ensures that the ice bucket remains full, the room is spotless, the towel animals are fantastic, etc.

I think the Maître D' gets a portion of the tips if you choose the prepaid-gratuity route, so why not let him know in advance how much you appreciate what he does?  (Also helps if I end up at a table with a bunch of people who throw food, complain constantly, change baby diapers on the table, are deathly silent, etc. and I want to move).

Actually - the part of showing your appreciation at the end of the cruise (and not tipping when asking for a change) comes directly from Ken (the singing Maitre D on the Carnival Pride). He declined a tip when we asked to be moved to a shared table and let us know that if we felt that his service was exceptional, the end of the cruise would be the appropriate time to show our appreciation.

I have no issue tipping - I just feel that it's not necessary to bribe someone to do things - it's about tipping them for their overall service at the end of the cruise.

For me

1. Lido deck food options / stations. Love the variety like Guy's burgers, Blue Iguana, Deli, Chopsticks, Pasta bar, wok, etc.
2. The cabin set up including the super comfortable beds, bedding, desks, more than adequate closet and drawer space and the curtains the shower (I know many don't like these but I really don't want to stand in a tube like on some other cruise lines).

On ‎11‎/‎4‎/‎2019 at 3:58 PM, Erik_On_The_High_Seas said:

 

And will it be helpful to say hi to the Maître D' shortly after boarding, perhaps with Andrew Jackson in hand, and request to be seated with an appropriate table?

 

If you don't get moved prior to the cruise, by all means see the Maitre D on the first day to make your request. You don't need to have money in hand (you don't need to bribe them). If you're happy with their service at the end of the cruise, that's the better time to show their appreciation.  

1025 covered the scooter issue really well.

For your son - I recommend talking to the Maitre'd on embarkation day. Explain the situation with your son, they will do what they can to make it work for you. At the same time, you can inform them of the allergy. Even with anytime dining, you can still be sat in the same section (with the same servers) each night. They may also be able to let you know what time is best for your son for when the dining room is the quietest.

thank you for the heads up. I knew about the $1000 limit but not that it had to be at least 14 days in advance.

I will ensure that I order mine ahead of time (yes, I'm one of those Canadians who find it easier to have my gambling money waiting for me on the ship than to bother with going to the bank here and doing the exchange or using my credit card and paying the foreign transaction fee).

Unless your premier cruise includes a lot more cash/funplay, then I would say no. While premier cruises are fun (drawings, gifts to the cabin, cocktail party) it's not worth $340 to me.

I would check your premier cruise offer to see if the funplay is higher than $340. If it is, then I would switch; if it's not, I would just stay with what you've booked and enjoy spending your $340 savings in the casino.

From the Carnival site:

If you are thinking of renting a wheelchair or scooter and haven’t done so already, we encourage you to visit www.scootaround.com, or call 1-888-441-7575. Scootaround’s team of trained professionals is able to review the different rental options available based on your accommodations and find the one that best suits your needs. As a preferred vendor, they have unique access to deliver your rented equipment on board Carnival ships in North America.

They have a whole section for guests with disabilities:

https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/special-needs.aspx

13 hours ago, cruizinisthebest said:

There's no huge conspiracy theory or the fact that it's a new ship. I'm booked on a back 2 back on the Victory, which will go into dry dock 2 months after the cruise. The 3rd and 4th person is priced higher. It's still a price I am fine with, so I paid it. My kids don't pay a dime regardless.

 

Typically and usually does NOT mean always.  If you book enough rooms with 3 and 4 people, eventually you will run into this. 

Absolutely.

Typically 3rd and 4th passengers pay less. Sometimes though - when there are few cabins left that will sleep 3 or 4, the price for those additional passengers go up. Just like when a cruise is selling well, you see the price for 1st and 2nd passengers go up - the fewer cabins they have left, the more they charge.

When I originally booked my brother's room for his family (4 people), it was cheaper to book 1 cabin. Had I waited a couple of months, it would have been less expensive to book them 2 cabins because there were so few 4 person berths left, that the 3rd and 4th rates had skyrocketed.

Yet I have consistently paid less for the 3rd person on the Sunshine when I've booked my parents and I into a 3 person cabin.

Many of the casino rates with the low deposits ($99) have the non-refundable deposits.

In fact, if you read the offer it says something to the effect of "Secure your cruise with only a $99 non-refundable deposit" (yes, I have booked one with the hot streak offer with that clause). 

11 hours ago, c&d said:

meatloafsfan,   We love the pride also have ran into that issue with 3 of us.    I appreciate the comments on other lines,  only problem is we are looking a 2 specific ships as we are cruising with friends.    We will be looking at other lines,  Carnival had always been handicap friendly for us.   Found it very frustrating when I read where folks comment they book the handicap cabin then play wait and see and cancel.  Many folks are now using scooters and booking the handicap cabins for extra room for the scooter.  That is fine and dandy but when you are able to walk up a step and stand in shower or ask for a shower seat but you choose to book the cabin with a roll in shower that someone who is not mobile needs that person is unable to cruise due selfish behavior. I see this becoming a bigger issue as more and more folks with mobility issues are cruising.  

What ships are you looking at? Some of Carnival's Ambulatory accessible are close enough to fully accessible. I find with that cruise line it's really better to look at each cabin set up rather than just trust "It's fully accessible." 

Yes, it can be tough to find wheelchair accessible cabins for 3 people on many ships. I feel your frustration as someone who travels with my elderly parents (including my mother who is a full time wheelchair user due to a stroke and needs a lot of assistance).

The wheelchair accessible cabin on the Caribbean Princess listed above is the only wheelchair accessible cabin for 3 on that ship (I know - I have it booked for January 2020). We also love cruising on the Carnival Pride but have to get 2 cabins on that one because the only accessible cabin for 3 is a suite.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager and Freedom class have 3 interior wheelchair accessible cabins on deck 9 that are great. I'm not the biggest fan of Royal Caribbean but it's often easier to book so we cruise with them occasionally.

Celebrity's M class ships have wheelchair accessible cabins for 3 in interior, oceanview and balcony. I don't recommend the S class ships for 3 as when we cruised in one the 3rd bed was a pull out chair that was no more than 10 inches off the ground (so it was like trying to sleep on a camp mattress on the cabin floor).

The Carnival Dream class has a few accessible cabins for 3 - the nicest are the accessible spa oceanview (they may be listed as ambulatory accessible due to the toilet being on an angle but they have the wide doors, the roll in shower and plenty of space).