TAYLORCPA

Consider the inside passage to Alaska. Can be as smooth as silk.

We did a Seattle-Vancouver cruise and coming back into Vancouver was terrible!! We both got sick on that one (of course we were in the very front of the ship so we had a lot of motion).

My husband is very susceptible to seasickness. I love cruising but he generally does not tolerate it well. Any tips on where to go for smooth sailing? How is it in Europe?

Don't ya just want to take a pic of them smoking and show it to guest services? I mean, your neighbor already opened the door when she told you she smoked. I find it odd that they (GS) can't find any evidence of it all week long.

After they were confronted the first time, they covered themselves with a towel and smoked under it (talk about a fire hazard!!). I wanted to tell GS just to come sit on our balcony for an hour and they would have proof.

This was our first Carnival cruise, but our 5th overall - one on Princess and three on NCL. I chose this cruise because I was looking for a quick getaway for DH and I without the kids and we could drive to the port. This cruise happened to fall on a long weekend where the kids were out of school one day, so their grandma only had to get them to school one day.

Let's just start out by saying that the cruise did not get off on the right foot. First, we supposed to depart Charleston at 10:00 pm and I had a check in time of 3:30. There were questions of when the port authority was going to open and allow parking at the cruise terminal. Then, about two weeks before the cruise, we received notification that the ship would be leaving at 8:00 pm and to arrive two hours to our scheduled time. Fine with me, as we were driving to port. Then, the day before, we were notified there was a medical emergency on the prior cruise, and not to arrive to the port before 5:00. They were still planning on leaving at 8:00. We got differing information about when parking would open, etc. It was very confusing!!! We arrived at about 3:30 and wound around the parking lot, paid for our parking and had our documents checked. People who had arrived earlier had been told to come back to park at 5:00. We waited and waited but they let us in to park about 4:00. YAY!

Check-in was OK. We had two carryons so we just walked to the terminal (others had to check their bags in the parking lot and they could choose to ride the shuttle to the terminal). No issues, it took us about an hour to get from our vehicle to our cabin.

We had an aft balcony - 5347, which we loved, with the exception of our neighbors. After unpacking we went out to enjoy our view and were greeted with cigarette smoke. The lady in the cabin next door casually said, "I smoke" when she saw us. I immediately called guest services and they sent someone up to our cabin. The floor director arrived about 30 minutes later and explained the process - first they would give the cabin verbal warning and then they would begin fining them if it continued. After that, guest services followed up daily with me, but the smoking did not stop. Guest services said they could not find any evidence they were smoking. I'm not sure if they were fined or anything, but it really gripes me that almost every time I went to sit on my balcony, they started smoking. We could not leave the door open because the smoke would come in our cabin. Sometimes it would even come in our cabin with the door closed. It was very annoying!!! In addition, in the afternoon of the first sea day, the male in the cabin started yelling obscenities to people in other aft cabins. And then about 2:00 am he started yelling again on the balcony. I did not report that to guest services but evidently someone else did because they asked about it when they followed up everyday. I'm all for someone having a good time, but not when it infringes on me. There is a special smoking section and I am sure you could all the yelling you want on the Lido deck.

We did not go to any shows or participate in any activities, although I did have a seaweed wrap massage and it was awesome! We sat on our balcony and read when we could and slept a lot. We just enjoyed our time together.

This ship seems to have an issue with cigarette smoke because I smelled it everywhere it seemed! We avoided walking thru the casino area because of the smoke. One night we walked thru the sixth floor (above the casino) and the cigarette smell was terrible. There did not seem to be a deck where you could easily walk around outside and see the ocean. I really missed the open outside dining areas that we had on NCL.

With the exception of having breakfast at the Taste Bar the day we were in Nassau, we ate in the dining room. The food was OK, nothing special. It would have been much better if the food was served hot or even warm. I know it's hard to serve 3000 guests, but other than the soups, everything was cold.

We went to Atlantis on our day in Nassau and enjoyed ourselves despite the rain. I had booked a room using Marriott points and since our room was ready, we dropped our stuff off there. After walking around the entire resort and riding a few water rides, we went back to the room for a shower in a large bath and DH was able to catch up on the college football games.

Our last sea day we ran into TS Phillipe with winds of 55 mph and 8-12 foot seas. DH is prone to sea sickness, and despite wearing the patch, he was out of commission most of the day. We originally had reservations for the Italian restaurant, but I cancelled them. I went to the buffet and had a HOT pizza.

Debarkation was a disaster. Evidently there were issues with customs and we did not get off the ship until about 10:00.

Why on Earth would it rain IN the cabin?

Did you not read the original post? "Would wrap up the cord when not in use."

Wow. Just wow.

Did YOU read the original post?

Awesome! Thanks so much!!!

I’m assuming my vehicle will be as safe there as at the port?

Is there any parking close to the port (but not within the port complex)? Thanks!

I would like to book a 4 o'clock spa treatment but given the parking and boarding situation for our cruise (sunshine 10/26) I don't want to stress over it. Could my DH drop me off at the port and I check in while he parks and then checks in? According to the port authority, the parking lot will not open until 4:30 but boarding begins at 3 and I selected the earliest check in time.

The dress requirement isn't really that big of deal, if the buffet doesnt have prime rib and you have to go to the mdr...

Good to know! I just don't see much sense in packing a jacket, tie, and dress shoes for a four night cruise! I'm hoping to take a carry on each.

Does Carnival serve prime rib on the buffet on cruise elegant night? Or is there anything special served? I'm just asking in case we don't want to dress up. Thanks!

Our upcoming cruise will be our longest so far without kids (4 nights) and I am really looking forward to dining alone with DH. I am an introvert, so I would just as soon eat alone as I would with a table of strangers.

Speaking of which, could I dine alone at brunch/breakfast? DH is not a breakfast eater but I am going to have breakfast served to me every day I can, with or without him! I am perfectly happy reading a book while the world goes on around me.

I have only cruised on NCL so forgive my questions if these are common knowledge. We are sailing on the Sunshine next month. First, are the dining room menus posted early in the day and if so, where? Next, is it difficult to get reservations at the paid restaurants? And is it possible to "show up" at the paid restaurants without a reservation? I know on NCL, it was almost impossible at times to get reservations after boarding and I want to be prepared if that is the case on Carnival.

Thank you so much!!!

On the two NCL ships I've used the spa I was not able to access the rest of the spa. Can I on Carnival?

Grats have already been paid!

How would you spend your OBC? We may have a drink a day but would definitely not spend $200.

What's yours? Are the pay items worth it?

It seems this ship is arriving empty from Norfolk. According to the Carnival website, check in begins at 3:30, however, the Charleston Port Authority has posted this bulletin http://www.scspa.com/wp-content/uploads/guidelines-for-embarkation-carnival-sunshine-october-26-2017-only-bulletin-1.pdf saying that they will not begin the parking/check in procedure until 4:30.

I have never cruised from Charleston so I am a bit confused. Usually, the cruise company checks you in at the ship- is this different at Charleston? I am wondering if we can park somewhere other than the port and walk to the ship - we won't have any luggage to check. Any help would be appreciated.

I discovered I can use Marriott points to book at Atlantis. Has anyone ever done this? I am curious if we could use all the facilities at Atlantis despite an afternoon check in time?

Yes. And they are available again right now!

THANKS!!!

I was able to score 5 $100 cards!!!!

I am excited to say that I paid $250 thru my TA for my October 2017 cruise on my amex and got the $75 credit. It has already posted to my account, so another $75 saved. Now if I can get my hands on some discounted gift cards!

For those that are making payments on your currently booked cruise, did you book thru a TA or direct with Carnival?

I booked my cruise with a TA and I am concerned that the charge will be thru the travel agency and not Carnival.

My existing cruise is with a travel agent. If I make a payment will it show up as a charge by the TA or Carnival? Or can I call Carnival and make a payment that way?

Also, could I buy a gift card thru Carnival.com and it count towards this?

Thanks!!!

We have a 10 pm debarkation. Any ideas of when we would get our luggage? I don't want to be worrying about leaving our suitcases out overnight. So would it be best to do FTTF?

Thanks!

Great! Thank you!!!

Dh and I are booked on a short cruise on the Sunshine without our kids. We currently have ATD because we prefer that and want a table for 2. After reading of the long waits, I am considering changing to a traditional dining. But do they have tables for 2? Cause if not, I am not booking that.

Thanks for your help!