katiel53

Allure doesn't have Hooked, so I'd probably recommend Giovanni's as they have shrimp, pasta and salmon,. I would like to mention most dinners offered by a travel agent only include two dinners, not four. If you are booked into two cabins, perhaps all will be comped a dinner. Allure is my favorite ship and, selfishly, I wish it were still sailing from FL. Enjoy!

We usually fly down a day or two before the cruise and stay at a hotel near the airport. We have used both Cortrans and Cruise Control shuttle services. Both are excellent.

Reservations need to be made once onboard with a dining package. The packages are at a discounted rate, thus the reason for having to wait until onboard. Those paying full prices are able to make reservations prior to boarding through the cruise planner. I have found with the packages I have booked, dining early is an easier time to get reservations than prime time of 7 or later.

I am not a sushi eater and I had a great lunch when we went to Izumi on Harmony. We had the UDP, so I thought if I didn't like it, I could try someplace else. I ordered the dumplings which were delicious. I had the beef teriyaki which I enjoyed. The waiter told me to try sushi and I explained I don't eat raw fish. He said he would bring me something that I would like. I told him that I was full so I really didn't need something else. He said that was fine, because what I wouldn't eat of the dish he was going to bring me, he would as he really liked it. He brought me some salmon roll which was made with cooked salmon. I tried it and really liked it, but only had room to eat 1 piece as it was quite large. I will definitely order it again when we go on Symphony.

I wouldn't be surprised if your visit to San Juan is cancelled due to the damage from Hurricane Fiona. Right now there is no electricity, but it should be restored by your cruise. There is also a lot of damage to the island. I hope you are able to go to San Juan, but just be prepared that you may not.

My thought is that with renting a car, you are wasting time as opposed to having a shuttle arranged to pick you up at say 8AM. We did self assist and were off the ship at 7:30. Our shuttle was schedule for 8AM, but everyone was at the shuttle by 7:45 and we left then. We arrived at MCO about 8:30 and the lines were quite long for check in, but fortunately one more outside luggage checking area opened and we were about third in line. The TSA lines are very long at MCO and fortunately we all have Pre-check so we didn't have to wait in the long, long lines. We were at the gate in plenty of time for our 10:35 flight. I think if we were going to rent a car, it would have been impossible to meet our flight. Waiting for the shuttle at the port to get to the car rental, getting the car, driving and then dropping the car off at the airport, takes more time than most realize. It is a bit of a walk from where rental cars are dropped off and then getting to the check in area. I have also read where people trying to pick up cars at Pt Canaveral may have a wait as the car rental locations are waiting for people to drop off cars on their way to board ships, so many times there aren't cars available immediately. I have personally not experienced this as we don't rent a car to get to the port.

If we have a group of 11, and they are linked, can 1 person check in everyone? If so, when the table is ready, will we each get notification or will it be only to the person who made the reservations? If each person won't get notification, will we need at least the service that costs $5 per person per week to notify the others? As you can see, we've never done this before. Thanks so much.

It sounds like you haven't cruised since there was a change to the muster drill. It is no longer held just before boarding with a zillion passengers stuffed together on the decks dying of the heat. You can do it yourself as soon as you board. It's so much better than the old way.

It sounds like you haven't cruised since there was a change to the muster drill. It is no longer held just before boarding with a zillion passengers stuffed together on the decks dying of the heat. You can do it yourself as soon as you board. It's so much better than the old way.

It sounds like you haven't cruised since there was a change to the muster drill. It is no longer held just before boarding with a zillion passengers stuffed together on the decks dying of the heat. You can do it yourself as soon as you board. It's so much better than the old way.

If we are booked in 2 cabins with casino offers that include OBC, will we still be able to change people around? I read somewhere that if we tried to move people, we'd lose the OBC. I don't know if this is true or not as I haven't ever booked a casino offer before. If we can't change the cabins, can we just get a key to the other cabin so we can sleep where we want? Thanks.

Will you please explain to me how I would make a reservation for Cucina? We have a party of 11 and we all have YTD, and one night we would like to go to Cucina. We have reservations for the Steak House, Chef's table and Rudi's, so I assume, perhaps incorrectly, that we just show up at our reserved time. We have sailed Carnival in the past, but not where we have had the options that we have on Mardi Gras. Thanks so much.

I agree with part of your post in that I think someone took it, rifled through it and left it somewhere and staff found it and turned it in. I doubt that the person who took the voucher would turn it in as there may be more questions asked. JMO.

We sailed on Harmony July 17-24. I asked for the lobster tails in Chops to have surf-n turf. I was told NO. I had a talk with the manager of Chops, and he was adamant that they would NOT bring food from another kitchen to Chops and that he didn't care that a month before on Allure I was able to get the surf n turf. He said it was Covid related, but then said if he did it for me, he'd have to do it for others and it was not their policy to do so. I told him that on Allure I had been able to get the beet salad from 150 served in Chops. Once again, he stated that he is following policy and that WILL NOT be done on Harmony. I don't know if it is his policy or the hotel director on Harmony who made this decision. I found it interesting that I was able to do this on Symphony as well as Allure, but no way on Harmony.

Thanks so much.

We have a group of 10 people in 5 cabins. My cabin has 2 people. If we all want to go to the MDR for anytime dining, can I check in for all 10 or only for the 2 in my cabin? We also have reservations for 6PM night 1 at the steak house, and another night at Rudi's. Do we have to check in for those or just show up at the time of our reservations? Some of us have never sailed on Carnival and others, including me, haven't sailed with Carnival for several years. If we all want to sit together at Rudi's or Cucina, should we go earlier in the day to talk to the hostess or someone so we can have a table for 10 or when we check in, will that take care of it? Thanks for your help.

I don't know which ship the OP is sailing on, but on the Oasis class ships housekeeping will come pick up the scooter at night, charge it, and return it the next morning. It can be kept outside the cabin during the day. I don't believe an Oasis class ship is sailing from Galveston in September, but you may be able to ask RC customer service if that is a possibility if you are renting a non-handicap equipped cabin.

Wow, I sure hope you aren't ever in a position to need a scooter or help when you want to go on vacation. You sound like someone who has no empathy for anyone!

We cruised on Harmony 2 weeks ago and had the UDP. We did Izumi for lunch and one of us had an appetizer and a large plate. I had a small plate and two large plates (according to the menu sushi was a large plate.) I knew I wouldn't eat the sushi, but wanted to try the salmon roll. I asked the waiter if I could get just 1 or 2 pieces instead of 8 and he said no, but he would eat the rest as that was his fav. When our check came, we were charged as a la carte but we were also credited the charge. Our bill without drinks, we are D+ and the drinks weren't shown on the bill, came to $55.00. I did see on the menu that there was a fixed price, so I don't know why it was charged as it was other than one of us didn't have 2 large plates which was part of the prix fixe luncheon. Neither of us had dessert.

We use a site where agents compete for our business and have done very well using that site. We have had reduced prices, reduced deposits and most times refundable deposits because they have group rates. We always get OBC and at times we have been given meals in a specialty restaurant. There have been times when we had our gratuities paid along with the OBC. It is rare for us to book without using that site. We mostly end up using 1 or 2 agencies, but if we call them directly, sometimes the perks/price aren't as good as when we use the website, so we have learned to use it for every cruise that is not a casino cruise.

I tip $1 a drink if it is just a Chivas and soda. I tip $2 a drink if I have something like a Pina Colada or Lava Flow. My thinking is that a simple drink isn't much work, so little tip. A frozen drink takes more time/work so I tip more.

I haven't sailed on Oasis, but have on Allure, Harmony and Symphony . Most men wore long pants in all the specialty restaurants except for Jamies/Giovanni's. On Harmony last week I did see shorts in Chops, but have never seen shorts in 150 Central Park. I think 150 is the most formal restaurant on the Oasis class ships. On formal nights, most men wore dress pants with a dress shirt with or without a tie. I did not see more than a couple of jackets. The last night's dinner in a specialty restaurant is definitely more casual as many have packed their clothes and wear to dinner what they will wear home the next day.

I bought the coffee card on Allure and haven't used all 15 drinks so I will use the balance on Harmony. I think it was worth the money as I have one mocha latte daily while on the ship. I like these, but don't drink standard coffee as I think coffee smells a lot better than it tastes. At home I drink flavored coffee, so the mocha latte, to me, is great. I do get it at the Cafe Promenade.

Which Symphony thread?

I haven't been on Oasis, but on Allure a couple of weeks ago, we were able to use the UDP at Izumi for lunch. We were able to order one small plate, two large plates and dessert. Both of us only ordered one small plate and one large plate . I happen to love the mango mochi so that's what I ordered for dessert instead of the multi flavored ones. I was totally full with my lunch and I don't see any way that I'd have been able to order two large plates.