OneLuckyMom

7 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

The '21 summons was (I think) for federal court.  I called in the weekend before my first day and I got an announcement that they weren't having any jury trials, so I was completely excused for that week.

 

The '22 summons was (I think) for county court.  I called in the night before each session, as ordered.  They never pulled my number.

Of the many times I've been called, I've gotten off without going in only twice.

I've been seated on juries several times.  Got to the jury box but got excused a few times too (I currently have a job that makes me a target to get tossed off criminal juries these days.)

I wouldn't say I enjoy jury duty, but I have no issue doing it, as long as it fits my schedule well enough.  I like seeing our legal system at work.

I get called for Jury Duty every 2 years like clock work.  Just read the directions for your jurisdiction.  They are used to it.  In my jurisdiction, we just have to give an alternate week we are available to serve within a certain timeframe.  No reason even needs to be given. New summons will show up a few weeks prior.

19 hours ago, mz-s said:

I really don’t know how many times OP has to explain they know the items were stolen.

 

it’s bordering on victim blaming at this point.

 

you all can unclench - we acknowledge that carnival themselves aren’t the ones that scan luggage - we aren’t blaming CCL. So I don’t understand the white knighting in the replies of this thread.

I don't know that it's victim blaming, but the number of people who seem to think the OP doesn't have a clue and can't possibly be correct in saying it was stolen is amazing to me.  It is very dismissive. I personally choose to believe the OP isn't an idiot and searched thoroughly for the item before determining it was stolen, like all of us know to do.

1 hour ago, jimbo5544 said:

Love your funky jewelry….😉

Maybe she's a robot 😁

15 hours ago, Joanne G. said:

My solo B2B adventure ended with a United Airlines computer system breakdown upon my arrival at Heathrow this morning.   I stood in the line to drop off my bag for over 2 hours, most of the time moving at the speed of the Pride after our first departure from Kiel - meaning not moving at all.  Eventually their computers came back up, I got thru that line, then the security line, then the loooooong hike to the United  gates and arrived at my gate exactly 3 hours after the taxi dropped me off - and exactly when boarding was supposed to start.   But the plane was delayed, for once a good thing. I had a whole 40 minutes to use the restroom and buy a bottle of water.  But I made my flight; I expect some United passengers didn’t this morning. One agent told us the problem was across Europe. 
 

So it was kind of a fitting ending to my B2B cruises. While “dead in the water” in the bag check line, I did get to chatting with a few people nearby, and I shared my cruise story.  None of them had been on a cruise, and I don’t think my story convinced them to try one!  Oh well, their loss. 
 

I am on a bus now from O’Hare, the final leg of my journey home.  It was a memorable vacation.  😃

Well, you certainly had an adventure, that's for sure.  Not necessarily a good one at certain points, but an adventure none the less!  Welcome home!

31 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

In my experience it isn't hard to overlook an item multiple times. Especially when the search is frantic.

And sometimes stuff really has been stolen.

I've had items stolen out of luggage by airline baggage handlers.  It sucks.  My sympathies.

File a police report, contact the port authority to see if they have any reporting procedures, and contact your insurance company.

British Airways surprisingly reimbursed me for a portion of my loss after I reported the incident to them.  Honestly, I wasn't expecting anything from them - I was just making the report so I could claim on my homeowner's insurance.  So sometimes a company will surprise you.  Although I wouldn't count on it.

Seeing the horizon helps. Per an article I found, "doing so helps your eyes 'see' the motion, which will then send signals to the brain more in alignment with what the inner ear is 'telling' the brain".  So balcony cabin is best in my view, ocean view otherwise. No inside.

Otherwise, center low as you said.  If center not available, aft is better than forward.

1 hour ago, TxTeach79 said:

and northbound we go….

 

Did they catch your extra day of parking, or not say a word?  Or did you just grab your car and go?

2 hours ago, evandbob said:

Another ancient Carnival ship awaiting the scrapyard.  Too bad for the people who booked it and had their vacation turned upside down.

I am looking forward to my vacation on the Pride in August - seems like my kind of ship. I hate the new humongous ships, although I have nothing against others that like them. 😁

To each his own. If you don't like older ships, don't sail on them.  Easy peasy.

Only 1 more day of the lovely cargo port view. 😁 Congrats to those B2Bers on board!

1 hour ago, Joanne G. said:

I have insomnia, and I got up to put the “snoozin” tag on the door so I would be covered if I eventually fell asleep. In my mailbox was not the letter posted above about the shortened cruise, but information on my scheduled charter flight to London and hotel stay on Saturday, with luggage tags attached for my bags which were to be set out by 10:00 Friday night.   I already told them I would be staying on board and my flight home was on July 31.  But maybe this was my chance to end this apparent cruise to nowhere??
 

I knew I wouldn’t get any sleep until I tried to get an explanation, so I threw on some clothes and went to guest services.  Another B2B person was ahead of me; one more came right after me.  We were casually told that we would be getting an email “soon” regarding the next cruise.  If we wanted to stay onboard, all we had to do was tell them that and let them know we wouldn’t need the charter flight we were assigned to.  Simple, right?? Why were we worried?  Just because they were apparently kicking us off?  
 

I didn’t have the email when I first checked after returning to my cabin, but now I do, and it is the information posted above.  I will stay onboard due to the incentives and a reluctance to change my post-cruise flight and hotel plans - and exhaustion that makes me not want to deal with travel on Saturday.  All I have to do is go to guest services again and inform them I am staying onboard for whatever the next cruise is (as I told them on the form we were issued when this all started) won’t be on the charter flight.  It’s always fun to go to guest services LOL

 

Hopefully this is the end of the saga!  Besides my own stress, I really do feel for those scheduled on the July 21 cruise.  We B2B passengers aboard now did get almost all our July 9 cruise, and we were already onboard, not in transit to London, when the issues hit.
 

To jimbo5544, thank you for your comprehensive trip report, and I apologize for hijacking it.  If there is any more drama about the next cruise, I will start a new thread. 

I feel for you.  Hopefully at least having the plan will help you rest and relax a bit the next few days!

Just posted to 7/21 roll call:

GUEST ADVISORY UPDATE FOR CARNIVAL PRIDE JULY 21, 2023 (NOW DEPARTING JULY 24, 2023)     July 20, 2023 Dear Carnival Pride Guests,    We are writing to share an important update.    As you know, we boarded technical experts overnight and we anticipate completing the repairs and getting the ship back to Dover Monday morning.      We are happy to share that we will be able to operate a cruise with an abbreviated itinerary departing from Dover Monday, July 24, and returning as originally planned on Sunday, July 30:   If you choose to take this cruise, you will be entitled to:   Prorated 3-day refund of your cruise fare (and applicable taxes, fees, and port expenses as well as any shore excursions for missed ports of call), Cheers/Bottomless Bubbles beverage packages, pre-paid gratuities and Wi-Fi packages. US$500 onboard credit (per stateroom). For guests already in Europe: Reimbursement of an additional night’s hotel stay for Sunday (up to US$300 per night) and a food per diem of US$100 per day, per person. For guests who have not departed for Europe: you are eligible for this onboard offer and the hotel and food per diem for Sunday only.  We will also reimburse the change fee for your airline tickets for the same class of service if they can be rebooked. We realize flights are full this time of year and there may be limited options but we wanted to make this offer nonetheless. If you do not sail, you are entitled to the full refund of your cruise fare and a 100% future cruise credit (plus applicable taxes, fees, and port expenses, and pre-cruise purchases) that was previously communicated.*     While we had previously said you do not have to take any action to cancel your reservation, because of this revised itinerary, we are asking ALL guests who want to cancel to call us by 11:59 EDT on Friday, July 21, to insure timely cancellation of your reservation and the processing of your refund.    From the U.S. and Canada:  Dial 1-800-CARNIVAL, or contact your Personal Vacation Planner or your travel advisor. From the UK:  Dial toll-free 0808-234-0680 and then choose “already booked” when prompted. All guests should follow the instructions from our communication on Wednesday to submit authorized expense reimbursement receipts.  If you choose to cancel, your refund will be returned to your original form of payment and your future cruise credit will be forthcoming based on the terms and conditions at the bottom of this notice.   Thank you for your continued patience and support.

Sincerely, Colleen Oliverio VP, Guest Services - Contact Centers

1 hour ago, jsglow said:

Which is why they'll essentially get all their money back and a massive FCC.

I don't disagree that they may do that.  But your original comment "to have anticipated anything except a multi-day repair in Kiel might have been unrealistic" came across as a bit harsh, which is what I was responding to.  It came across as blaming the victim a bit.

1 minute ago, jimbo5544 said:

Much better on landing, waited 35 minutes for bags, then Carnival reps waiting outside baggage claim and 4 busses to Hotel.  We landed at Gatwick and took busses to Heathrow, Raddisson blu.  Very nice hotel checked us all in in ballroom, fairly quick.  Went and ate and back in room.  Exhausted, they have busses all times to both airports tomorrow, think we will do a cab,  Were told to save all receipts and send in for reimbursement.  Hotel already paid for.

 

Others in our group had other flights (all made it out), everyone on a flight goes to same hotel (different from ours.  will see them in airport tomorrow.  I am beat.

Sounds like a rough day.  Have a good sleep!

Looks like ship is on the move to the new dock...

52 minutes ago, jsglow said:

I completely understand your frustration and I understand your need for a quick decision the other night but in retrospect to have anticipated anything except a multi-day repair in Kiel might have been unrealistic. 

I disagree.  At the time the OP had to make their decision, Carnival was talking up a possible shortened 7 day cruise, which would have meant they expected a quick turn around on repairs.  Now it's "several days" in a cargo port, which would make a 7 day cruise just about impossible given that the ship still has to get back to Dover.

19 minutes ago, Joanne G. said:

I haven’t seen free cheers, either, and I’m onboard.  Where did that information come from???
 

For a reality check - the compensation for those B2B passengers who bailed on next (now cancelled) cruise is generous.  Full refund and 100% FCC.  For those of us who chose to stay onboard, with the expectation of a 2nd cruise, just a shorter one, and very little time to make up our minds to rebook our flight, cancel any post-cruise hotel reservation, and get on a list for a charter, the situation is currently not looking so rosy.  

 

Any chance you could change your mind and ask to be put on one of the last Saturday charters? Maybe they have some seats left?  I do agree sitting in a Cargo area does not seem like much of a vacation.  Seems like you could argue that wasn't part of the information provided when you had to make a decision, and changing your decision now that that info is known is not unreasonable.

1 hour ago, Joanne G. said:

I don’t know about jimbo, but some people I met on board texted me that they would be on one of the flights to London today and that Carnival was putting them up at a hotel in London tonight.  They’d be catching their previously scheduled flight home tomorrow.  It is amazing what Carnival has arranged on such short notice.  
 

I’m still on board, and there is no word on when we will be sailing.  My return flight is on the 31st, the day after the next - now canceled - cruise was due to end.  If the repairs take a long time, then I assume Carnival will be making similar arrangements to get the rest of us back to London eventually.  Besides my fellow B2B passengers, I spoke with a UK couple who drove to Dover, and they are also staying onboard.  
 

There will be more charter flights to London tomorrow and Saturday, per the cruise director.   Still getting people off on Saturday likely means we’ll still be here then, though I suppose people could be put up in a hotel in Kiel if we are ready to sail tomorrow.  But I am not holding my breath for that. 
 

We could leave the ship around noon today to explore Kiel if we wanted to.  Back on board time is 10:00 pm - not because we are sailing but because we are moving to a different pier.  

 

The prospect of a shortened or alternate cruise is starting to feel less likely.  Nothing for me to do but wait for word. 

It's lovely having you on board giving us the inside scoop. Thank you.

9 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

We are not returning to Dover.  Next cruise is cancelled.  They will get us to Heathrow.  More to follow. 

Sorry you are having to deal with this. Godspeed! (Not that I'm particularly religious, just seems to fit here...)

3 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

We’re baaaaccckkk

Didn't we see this picture once before 😆

Just now, jimbo5544 said:

So much for me saying bye bye Germany…..😅

I was going to say you jinxed it - but didn't know if that would be insensitive LOL

How's the family taking it all? Mood still OK on the ship?

1 hour ago, jimbo5544 said:

It is currently 5:15 am.  We have no propulsion (or at least not moving).  Last night we only had the port engine and then vibrations appeared with that see pic) and shortly after that they ***** it down also.  We are in calm seas. Nothing from the Captain after the first announcement.  Expect an interesting morning.  

Fingers crossed for you all.  I was following because I will be on the Pride in a month, but my concerns now are that you all are safe (sounds like you are) and are able to return home without too much drama. Good luck!

23 minutes ago, AllenF said:

For most part it worked ok did use chat features 

Thanks for this and the other info!  I really appreciate it!

2 hours ago, 80sGal said:

In my experience, no.  Some days it works.  Other days I sit and wonder why someone doesn't reply ... only to discover later they never received it even though it appears "sent."  

So was that specifically your recent experience on the Pride? I've read different things lately - some say the app is working much better than before.  Others complain it still doesn't work well.  Seems to me it might be a ship thing - interested to hear specifically how its working on the Pride right now.