meggs11

We are doing NZ on Radiance in March 2017 for 14 nights! Can't wait :)

I had paid in full when I booked due to getting a very good deal which required full payment.

 

This is on Carnival Australia's website......

 

This is in the FAQ section....

1. Online Check-in Guests become eligible for online check-in 60 days before you sail. You cannot, however, print your check in documents until you have paid for your cruise in full.

 

This is on the already booked page....

2.

You've booked your Carnival cruise, so now what?

Then it's time to check-in. You'll need to have your Booking Name, Booking Reference Number, Valid Passport and Credit Card Details on hand to complete all of your check-in details. Your actual check-in time can be selected 6 months before you sail. Please note you cannot print off your boarding pass until you have paid in full.

 

I can understand the confusion.:confused::confused::confused:

EXACTLY!!!!

Lots of people are choosing their time before the 60 days... I wish it was consistent advice.

Have you tried checking in again since you paid in full? Sounds like the rep might be a bit confused. It isn't really any of her business whether she thinks 6 months is too early. I don't see an issue with it assuming the system will let you do it. It isn't like your preference is likely to change between now and then.

 

You need to go through each step of the process including filling in all your contact details, registering your credit card for your sail and sign card etc. Once all the ticks are green you should hopefully be able to print your boarding passes and then your check in time is secured.

 

I'm like you. I like to get organised and make sure I grab the earliest slot as soon as I can.

I didn't actually end up paying the balance as she said there was no point... laughing.... that six months was way to far in advance. Maybe I will just pay it and see what happens. I have done all of check in but can't actually select a time to board - annoying.

Thanks :)

Thanks for your replies.

Had you paid in full when you chose your boarding time with Carnival?

The website says you can choose once paid in full from six months prior to departure. The Carnival rep on the phone said absolutely no way is it open six months before cruising... so hence my confusion... I thought maybe I couldn't access it as we have only paid deposit at this point.

Carnival rep went to the trouble of telling me she knew the website was wrong and it was in the midst of being changed...

Hi All,

Another question about check-in/boarding times.

We are sailing in May 2016, Carnival's website says that we can check in and pick a boarding time from six months before the cruise. So, I looked and it says it isn't available now. I did a bit more reading and thought it might be because our final payment hasn't been processed and isn't due to be done till Feb.

So, I called Carnival today to pay the remaining balance but they told me that six months before the cruise is way to early to pick the boarding time and even if I paid the balance it still wouldn't be available, not till about 60-75 days prior to cruising....

So, the website contradicts the advice I was given... (she did say the website was wrong and they were going to fix it...)

So, anyone have any idea what is correct? Has anyone actually booked their boarding time as the website states around six months before the cruise?

Thanks :)

We had aft facing on Deck 6. The balconies are big, there is a slight overhang, can be a bit hot out there, gorgeous uninterrupted view out the back and looks amazing leaving Sydney. Very quiet location as no-one goes down that far unless they need to. In between two decks of cabins. You might get a tiny amount of soot, so just check your chair before you sit down. Slight vibration from the engines but not disturbing or noisy. It was very nice watching the wake. Enjoy. We got lucky with a guaranteed balcony this way too.

Thanks everyone!

Good to know they enforce it too... maybe I'll call up and get the final payment through so I can pick a time that suits. We got on about 3pm last time I think because we booked last minute.

It says our cruise leaves at 4pm which seems quite early.... who knows.

Hi,

We are sailing with Carnival in just under six months. We sailed last year, but did a last minute cruise and paid upfront. When I look at the online check-in it says it isn't available yet, although the site says you can do it six months in advance.

Is it because we haven't paid the entire deposit yet do you think?

Thanks

Sorry but pizza on Royal ships aren't worth the bother! Think frozen pizza heated up! :(

:mad::eek::(:mad:

Noooooo!!!!

Reaaaalllly goooood Buffalo wings.... and the fake liquid cheese you can get on everything.... velveta cheese for mac and cheese..... Hmmmm.... Yummy New York Pizza..... I know you can't bring any of that.... but I just thought I would add what I loved about US food.... :p

Here's hoping that Radiance of the Seas has US style pizza!!!!!!!!! :D

Prepaying is the same as the auto payment onboard; they just collect it in advance so you don't have to pay later.

 

They previously used to specify the amounts that each would get e.g. your room attendant, waiters and so on. They no longer do this, so some speculate it goes into a pool, but effectively it should achieve the same outcome.

Thanks :)

You definitely don't have to prepay gratuities for MTD anymore on RCI if you have them included in your price and have MTD you can have them removed if you do remove them you will be charged approx. $12 per day pp once onboard ,if you don't remove them then you wont be charged any more on board ,you can also ask on the first day to have gratuities removed completely regardless whether you prepay or not that is up to you ,hope this helps

Hi,

Thanks! That is clearer now. :D

Sounds silly but we have always just tipped with cash daily and then more at the end if we found exceptional service. If it is all pre-paid does it just go into a fund and get divided between all the service staff?

Thanks again.

Hi,

Sorry, I am a bit confused. We booked about a month or so ago on Radiance out of Australia. We pre paid gratuities as we were told we could only do My Time Dining if we did this. Is that correct? So if I have paid them upfront are they going to apply them again once on board?

Thanks

Nice! Midship and a nice cabin :D My mum is in right at the front... hmmm....... I guess we will find out what that is like... anyone been first cabin forward?

Well done. Not too bad. Maybe you will get upgraded to an E1.

 

Your friends seem to have a corner balcony which has a slighly larger balcony and is protected from the wind so would be nice to sit on whilst underway. Best tell them they can be observed from the overhang of the Park Cafe:eek:

I've told my friends no naughty time on their balcony!!!!!

Certainly feels real now!! Only 572 days :D

Well done. Not too bad. Maybe you will get upgraded to an E1.

 

Your friends seem to have a corner balcony which has a slighly larger balcony and is protected from the wind so would be nice to sit on whilst underway. Best tell them they can be observed from the overhang of the Park Cafe:eek:

That's what I thought about the bigger balcony, but the website says a smaller balcony.... who knows!!!???

I think I am pretty happy.... I guess it is the risk you take booking a guarantee. I figure if I feel happy enough cruising in a forward and it doesn't bother me with sea I will never worry again about where we are on a ship. :D

So, out of the obsessive need to check I checked again.... WE HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED!!!

Cabin 1022 on Radiance E2 Category.... Thoughts???? It is forward, but not right at the front.....

My friends are in 9532, down a level but sort of across the hall and down, so not far....

How exciting... I wonder how likely it is we will be moved???

Well, my dabble with the balcony gty upgrade deal has not resulted in any good news for me! I cancelled that original cabin 1000 on Radiance, then a week later I thought I would try booking the guarantee again. So I then waited about 3 weeks, and you guessed it......I got the same cabin. I know, I know, I can hear the snickers. Hubby is still laughing at me too.

 

So anyhow, every day or so I was checking the availability on one of the European booking sites. None of the cabins were allocated for a couple of weeks. This evening there are three no longer available. So, was it the random act of a computer, or was it a person that is having quite a chuckle also????

 

I have been having a look at the current pricing with the "up to 30% off" offer. The E cabins are now going for about 50% higher than what we paid for the gty upgrade deal, so it still looks pretty interesting. We just have to see how the budget goes for the next 12 months or so. We do love Radiance.

 

So anyhow 3 weeks is still pretty quick for an allocation on a booking for early 2017.

Still no cabin allocation here with guaranteed balcony.... it is a conspiracy! ;)

If you do an ebay search on meclizine.The brand I bought was Rugby brand.The supplier was Hargraves Pharmaceuticals.No problems whatsoever with them.I have used a few times for various things.Just make sure you get the 25mg.

That's exactly who I used to. It's a white bottle with an orange, brown and white label on it. They are about $10 with free postage.

Great!!! Thanks again!

We went on our first cruise Jan/Feb to NZ and the decks were closed for 6 of the 14 days, so it was very rough, up to 13 mt waves, our doctor prescribed Stemetil which we took the day before we sailed, sailed into Force 7 then Force 8 2nd day, we were 7 cabins from the front of the ship and had no problems. The captain announced when to take sea sick pills. Had a great cruise despite the weather and missed ports.

OOOOOOOHHHHHH NOOOOOOOO!!!! I think I would have curled up in a corner and died right there... we had big swells in Hawaii but no closed decks!:eek:

Thanks everyone for your great replies and ideas. I did find the meclizine the best out of everything I have tried.

I just don't want to feel sick! So far so good! But better to be prepared! I will have Stemetil, Maxalon and Ondanzatron with me :)

I always buy mine on ebay. Totally legal. I used to get bonine but now I buy the generic brand. A lot cheaper. Just type in "Bonine" or "Meclizine"

The tablets they give out for free are Meclizine. I buy mine on eBay. Really easy to do if you have an eBay account. I buy a bottle of 100 tablets for about $10.00, so really cheap. I get the 25mg tablets. They are the best thing I have used for sea sickness.

Hi,

Thanks - is there a particular supplier you use? I am a midwife and a little wary of using online suppliers, I have heard to many dodgy things and not actually being supplied the drug they say it is!

Hi,

We are off to NZ with Royal in March 2017.

I can be a little prone to sea sickness and am usually fine when I take medication.

When we sailed in Hawaii I had Dramamine Non-Drowsy (Trade name) which is Meclizine (known as Bonine is US as well) and we had some big swells but I was fine. Australia doesn't have this medication :rolleyes: I don't find the stuff here as great, and find it leaves me with more side effects like dry mouth etc.

I was reading on some other threads that Royal supply Meclizine on board - does anyone know if that is true for Australian sailings as it isn't a drug we use here, or do they have to use Australian approved drugs?

I would be so happy to be able to get it on the ship.... otherwise try to find a way to legally import it.

Thanks

I ended up taking 6th January 2017. I hope you enjoy your cruise also :)

Great - will be nice and warm for you in NZ! I am sure we will enjoy our cruise, we have a group of 10 going on it for my birthday... if they don't charter it :p

I ended up just taking a cruise in 2017.... Unfortunately it means I'll have to wait 1.5 years before I get on the damn ship lol they didn't really give me much to choose from and didn't seem to give a crap if they made more money out of me. I've spoken to a travel agent about other cruises going in 2016, but by the looks of things, I'll have to end up paying more money & won't get the incentives I originally had, which is unfortunate. Oh well, 1.5 years will have to do :(

Which cruise did you end up on? We are cruising to NZ from Sydney on March 14th 2017. It has a great itinerary :) We are really looking forward to it.

I agree with you, it is awful that they cancelled your cruise, and I can completely understand that you thought you were being offered 'like for like'.

I also think that some of the posts on here were rude... she hasn't cruised before, she didn't think to ask if they were the same or not... who cares - she made a mistake. Some people have to plan way in advance to take leave from jobs etc... I am a midwife and I can't just take leave at Christmas - because while a majority of the world are enjoying it with family, usually we are working - I worked Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day the year just gone. I have booked March 2017 in the hope that my leave will be approved, it is outside busy times and school holidays but still no guarantee. So, if my cruise gets charted I will be upset too as it is difficult to organise that time off.

Why can't people just say - Oh sorry to hear that, could you try X, Y, Z... instead of making unhelpful comments. Be nice and share your experiences and years of cruising wisdom instead of being condescending and rude.

Anyway - the 18 months will fly by and at least you feel you got a cruise that matches the one that was cancelled on you.