Baylee

From John Heald (There is only one way to read this). The only way you will receive a refund is if you don't rebook.

 

We’d love nothing more than the opportunity to provide you with the cruise experience you were expecting and will gladly apply a 100% credit of the amount paid for this cruise toward your next 2-5 day cruise on Carnival.

We ARE getting a full refund AND 100% of that amount credit toward a future 2-5 day

cruise PLUS $90 each- which is the $50 OBC plus $40 meal stipends for yesterday (Monday)

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Insurance people, insurance!

 

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Carnival is covering the fees to fly back home. But not for folks to go somewhere else - like to Cancun.

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Essentially, everyone is getting a 200% refund; full refund of the price paid and a future cruise credit equal to 100% of the price paid. Isn't this fair compensation considering all the headaches everyone has to endure?

 

At what point would you call it even?

It absolutely is. We were on that cruise and I appreciate Carnival keeping us safe. We were kept informed. Got stipends for meals yesterday plus $50 each OBC. And they fed us again last night after we boarded. Not the vacation we planned - and I'm thankful not to be stranded in the ocean. With that being said - there A lot of people complaining- and I honestly don't think they would be happy with anything

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I have Feb 20-27 for Honduras, Belize & Cozumel.

My husband and I are both in our mid 50’s and did the Zip Line & Cave Tube tour through http://www.waytogotoursbelize.com. We were extremely lucky to have Waylon Gordon as our tour guide! It took about 45 minutes to get to the zip line site and Waylon told us about points of interest during the ride. The zip line was AWESOME and I can't wait to do it again! We had 7 lines – including a suspension bridge across a ravine. Wear comfortable athletic shoes and be prepared to climb steps up to the platforms.

We headed to the caves next and had a fantastic experience there also! There is a place to change so take your swimsuit or a change of clothing. We rented water shoes there on site. The next time we go I'll wear my athletic shoes or take a pair of Crocs - because the path is mostly rocks and the soles of the water shoes are thin. They did have Croc type shoes to rent but not in my size.

You walk about 20 minutes to the cave entrance. Waylon told us about various trees & plants along the way. The water is about 70-72 degrees but you get used to it pretty quickly and you're not really IN the water during the excursion anyway. Waylon told us about the history of the caves and again pointed out interesting things to see. I thought we'd be riding the current - but, in fact, the guides pull/push you along the way for the most part. If you can reach the water, you can help. I couldn't - so I was useless. Afterwards we decided to eat lunch there. There were several things to choose from. We had BBQ chicken, rice & beans, coleslaw - it's not included in the tour price and I believe it was around $8 per plate. Absolutely DELICIOUS!

Waylon got us back to the pier in plenty of time to do a little shopping and have a drink before the last tender. To sum things up … this was a PERFECT DAY thanks to Way To Go Tours Belize!

We cruised on the Freedom in November the first weekend of the staggered check-in and it was a hot mess that day but I'm sure they probably have the bugs worked out by now.

The steps and walk-way were roped off back to the point where you exit the terminal after debarkation. Diamond/Platinum/FTTF just have to show your boarding pass to the Carnival employee at that point to proceed down to the entry doors. Others arriving before their selected time were instructed to come back at their selected time.

There was not a separate line for security check-in but I've been told that has changed. Everyone proceeds through the terminal and up the same escalator to the main check in counters. Diamond/Platinum members no longer use the separate escalator straight to the VIP lounge. Again .. in November, there wasn't a separate line for Diamond/Platinum but there is now (or so I've been told).

Only Diamond/Platinum members are allowed in the VIP lounge. FTTF has separate area from the general boarding area - and Zone #'s are still used.

Once boarding starts - everything is pretty much the same as before. Wedding parties first, Diamond/Platinum members board next, followed by FTTF & then general boarding zones.

My apologies. I should pay more attention.

 

Agostino Fazio?

It's ok ... and no, Capt. Fazio moved to another ship at the end of October. We sailed in November but it's not the same one now.

Malcolm Burn

 

http://johnhealdsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/John-Version-11.11.15.pdf

Malcom is the cruise director ... I'm looking for the name of the Ship's Captain

Did you happen to keep the Fun Times? I'm trying to find out the Captain's name. We're sailing next month and I'm designing t-shirts for my husband and I :)

Hi! I noticed one of the earlier post mentioned the same line, no signage, but that some people did go to the front of the line and were allowed in the terminal. The poster mentioned they assumed it was Priority/FTTF. Not being a snob, but I would imagine priority would go to the front instead of standing in line behind those with later check in times. Or did you experience something else? BTW thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

We are Platinum and were allowed inside the building. But once inside there was only one line - where before there was a separate line for Priority. Once through security everyone walked on through to the escalators to the check-in counters. We didn't have to wait long but we weren't taken in front of the other non-priority passengers. We were in the first group taken from the Captains Lounge to the ship.

I don't need any pampering, my main goal is to get on the ship. I feel pampered enough just getting on quickly and having my luggage arrive sooner. But even before I was Platinum I never had issues in Galveston getting on and getting luggage quickly, getting off is the part that is always screwed up.

Oddly enough, we had the smoothest debarkation EVER!

Im still confused. When you get to the terminal and drop off your luggage and you are priority you go to the entrance show them your priority designation and are directed to a line apart from non-priority passengers. Unless there are hundreds of priority passengers, which can be the case, you move through security through a separate line and then proceed upstairs, don't you. Then you show your priority boarding again and move to the front of any line waiting for the check-in process. Once you have checked-in you are given a boarding number that moves you in front of other passengers TO BE THE "NEXT" group on board. What am I missing?

There is no longer a separate line for Priority. Diamond/Platinum/FTTF can show up at their leisure and are allowed to enter the building regardless of the time they selected but there is no skipping to the front of the line. No separate security line, no separate check-in line.

Diamond/Platinum/Suites passengers who are in the Captains Lounge do board first as before.

The "social media" package is $5 a day or $18 for the entire cruise but can only be used on one device at a time. It's very slow when it does actually work.

I. for one, am glad they didn't allow anyone but Diamond/Platinum in the lounge and made them wait to board at their designated boarding time... It should be like this all the time in every Port... I'm also glad to see that they asked those that didn't belong on the line to wait....

I absolutely agree!

If you are priority boarding you bypass the outside line and are directed to the correct line to proceed to security. Otherwise you just wait your turn. Once through security, baggage x-ray, and confiscation of prohibited items you proceed upstairs to the service desks. There are counters for priority, handicap, groups, and normal folks. Once you have checked in you are given a boarding assignment and proceed to another large area with chairs.

There is no posted information for priority boarding and very few staff to answer questions. And most of those were as frustrated as the new passengers and not exactly friendly. There were also no separate counters for "priority, handicap, groups, and normal folks". Everyone waited in the same line for the next available clerk.

I'm not saying this system won't work out for the better ... eventually. But, last Monday, it was a hot mess. More information should be provided on the email or posted signage.

I will say that the staff inside were more polite and gave more information. We were told "Miami is here ... so everyone has to check in at the same counter". So, I don't know if that means at some point priority will be resume checking in at the Captain's Lounge or not.

My remaining questions:

 

1) clerify; waiting areas were outside the terminal pre-check in, not inside?

2) what did people do that arrived significantly early to pass the time?

3) overall wait time once inside the terminal (any check in window) 10-10:30a busy, 2-2:30p no wait, etc.?

4) were those that boarded with a later check in able to get a bite to eat?

 

I think that's it for me. Again, thank you to those who have responded and kept this thread informational and constructive. Safe Travels this holiday week!!

1) In Galveston there is a covered "waiting" area - however, it's not enclosed. There are very few benches placed along the wall so only a few places to sit.

2) Some of our group decided to walk the Strand and sight see a bit if they checked their luggage and didn't have carry-on's

3) From what I could tell - and from the people I talked to in our group - once their check in time was called they got through security and had their S&S cards fairly quickly. They still had to wait until their section # was called to board - but even still, I don't think anyone said they waited more than an hour.

4) The food areas on Lido stayed open up until muster drill - which was around 3:45.

There was no check-in whatsoever in the Captain's lounge. If there was a Captain's Lounge at all, we missed it! We went to the far left end of the same counter that everyone else went to. From there, to the ship after being 'plucked' from the same line as non-priority folks.

 

I was so ready to feel 'special' (lol) as a Platinum guest, but that was not the case today.

We cruised last Monday, 11/16, and we did go to the Captain's Lounge after check-in @ 10:30 and there were refreshments. In the past, families of Platinum members were allowed in the lounge and boarded with the Platinum/Diamond member even if they weren't in the same cabin. Which wasn't the case this time.

When they came to get us, there were a few that had "joined" the line as we were walking toward the ship and they were not allowed to go on through as before either. They were asked to step out of the line and wait until their section # was called.

There is a FB group called Carnival Cruise Lost and Found. I would post this info there as well.

Already done. Actually before we left Galveston Monday.

Just to clarify, you have a 11:00-11:30 check in time. Boarding may happen later, depending on the readiness of the ship, etc.

Correct. That's just the time you will be allowed to enter the terminal.

We just got off the Carnival Freedom and I found several pieces of new jewelry in the vanity drawer. I would assume it was left by someone on the 11/12/15 sailing. I turned it in to the service desk and was told it will be mailed to the Miami office. The owner will need to call there to claim it.

My question is and what about families and groups, we have a group of 22 or so on Dec 6th and it gave us 4 different times 1030-1100 was 1 11-00 to 1130 another family and 1;00-1;30 2 FAMILIES.. so it is confusing......I know they are trying to help and speed it up but I have went out of Galveston many many times, on Carnival, RCCL and even Princess before the went to Houston and never had a huge issue first come first served is a way of life, now we want to make people stress on vacation to be on a certain time frame.....we are driving 5 hours to terminal, alot plays into this and that........it shall be interesting.

I would suggest calling your PVP and ask that it all be changed to the same time. There were so many people that 'took a chance' and blocked the sidewalk so that the ones there at their assigned times couldn't get through. The lines were crazy.

I'm guessing a little of both. Most likely people not on CC or any other kind of cruise related social media, who then only skim their e-mails and think it's the standard message telling them not to arrive early, which most have ignored in the past. Heck of a wake up call for some I'm sure.

We saw the same thing - a time slot was chosen but decided to show up WAY early anyway. We talked to one guy later that evening who had select a 2:00 check in but arrived at 10:30 am .. and had to wait. He was not a happy camper.

We just returned yesterday (Freedom) and check in Monday (Galveston) was pretty much of a confused mess outside the terminal. You can not use the steps up to the terminal entry doors. The sidewalk was roped off back to the area where you exit from when you disembark the ship - but there's no signage telling you and it's hard to see because they use the black strapping.

If you are Diamond/Platinum/FTTF you are allowed to continue to the doors to enter the building - but there weren't signs posted to tell you this. There was a lot of confusion and frustration by both passengers and employees. And if you were not in one of the 3 groups - early boarding was not being allowed as it has been before (disability, elderly, etc).

Diamond/Platinum did not go directly to the Captain's Lounge via the separate escalator to check-in as before either. Everyone was directed on through the terminal and to the same counter to be checked in, given S&S card and then to the Captains lounge or FTTF area.

The rules were being strictly enforced.

Thanks, Nancy! I hope it's still the bag!

I knew it was going to change .. we're leaving on the 28th and I'd rather have the tumblers again.