MsSoloTravel

Nope. We're in the same boat- sailing with an 11 month old in May. I'm bringing a tiny blow up bathtub that I may bring to the deck so she can slash around a bit. [emoji4]

I believe they've added those to the banned list for that reason. I'm sure I saw that either here or on Carnivals website. No blow up pools on deck.

I wish they did have a kiddie pool for little ones. I could take my son this year.

It's funny what kids love to do. I thought for sure she would love the ice-cream, but after trying it twice and ending up with melted puddles because she didn't eat it we gave up. She preferred to eat about a full melon worth of fruit everyday!!

 

 

How old will your son be?

 

My best piece of advice having just cruised with a 3 year old. Try and prep them for the mustering drill. We figured our DD would just roll with it, but she got very frightened. The siren made her upset and she was convinced that the people talking were coming to get her. If you can take a few moments before the drill and warn them it's going to be loud, and that there is nothing wrong. Our DD spent the next several days asking "What's that?" every time they made an announcement.

 

Have lots of fun vacationing with your little person!

Eating fruit over ice cream is not bad!

He will be about a month shy of 4 when we go. He's autistic and a little behind socially, (i should say hes very social, just not comfortable being around lots of kids), we're waiting another year to give him plenty of time to get accustomed to being around other kids. He's finally getting interested! I was thinking about contacting special needs for a private muster drill. I read on here that they have that. I'll judge when the time comes and see if I think it will be necessary.

He loves the water so I'm excited about the waterworks and taking him to the beach. Oh, and monkeys in Roatan!

Early savers can get price drops all the way up to 2 days before the cruise. I think it's 2 days. Past guest and any other booking that has no change fees can get price drops up to the date the final payment is due.

I know nothing about the upgrade fairy. From what I've read it seems to be random and unpredictable.

I made my comment based on your post on 3/16 as paid in full, though it was before the due date. Thought it would be OBC because of it already paid up. Your latest post said you still had a balance. That's why I was confused.

It took me a minute to understand what you meant by me saying I still have a balance. I thought, "I never said that!" I meant still before final payment due date. So, yes, it's paid in full. The due date isn't until July something. :D

If you get price drops before the final payment due date they refund your money. If you get a price drop after final payment due date, which only applies to early saver, they give you OBC.

I owed $36.94 and got a $40 price drop on Tuesday. My account showed paid in full and am awaiting the $3.06 credit to my credit card. Today I got another $40 and they are crediting it to my credit card as well.

Still before final payment so they've been refunds.

On a side note, she asked which card to refund it to. I'm thinking my debit or credit card. She asks Mastercard or Amex. Hmmm, definitely not Amex since I have never owned an Amex. She couldn't tell me why that was showing up. I did check the last 4 of the MC to verify it was my card.

Both people I've cruised with in the past were on my account so there's never been any other card but mine used for a cruise whether booking or on board. Next time I call I'll make sure that card is deleted from my account.

Just got my 3rd price drop...the second this week. So if anyone got a price drop earlier this week check again. They're only showing 3 more rooms in my category so I'm not expecting more. Of course I'll keep looking!

DD was 3.

She loved blowing bubbles on the balcony and watching them float away.

 

She loved the arcade and trying to figure out how to play the games. Daddy held down the gas peddles and she steered the car.

 

She played with her toys on every surface available, including inside the lights.

 

We didn't go to the camp except to make a stuffed animal. They also gave us a coloring book with stickers which was awesome, and went to every meal.

 

We played "Which way" the first day and let me DD roam for 2 hours, we followed wherever she wanted to go. This meant 30 minutes of wandering up and down the rows in the theatre. It also meant almost getting blown off a staircase on the top deck, because it was so windy plus ship was moving full tilt.

 

Mostly she loved having us to hang off of, and play with.

This is exactly what I'm anticipating for my son next year! Made me smile.

OP, I think you're all set. Go solo and have a good time. I really enjoy it. I rather like not being tied to anyone else's schedule or having to worry about waking my cabin-mate if I get up during the night, or early in the morning, or stay out late, or turn in early and they stay out late. It's quite liberating! :D

Thank you. I am actually quite excited for those reasons. Just doing what I want to do when I want to do it. Not having to worry about what someone else is in the mood for. This is exactly what I need right now.

I wonder if she buys Cheers on day 2-- after the no show is recorded-- if they will only charge for one.

I'm sure that would work. But I'd like to pre purchase and save that 5 bucks a day.

Another thing to consider is by cancelling the second cruiser will Carnival change your cabin?.

They did it to me into a totally unacceptable cabin. Was able to change it but not to the one I really wanted

On what basis did they do this? I can understand having a cabin that accommodates 3 or 4 and getting bumped if there's just 2. But, there's no single occupancy cabin. And you are paying for 2. As long as you're in a cabin with 2pax max, which I am, then you should be good.

Rio Secreto !!

I'm not sure if all cruise lines offer their excursion, but Carnival does. There is at least one other cave tour that resembles this one, but it's not the same. Check out their website.

If you order a B52 or another layered shot that is one drink. If you order a shot of baileys, a shot of kahlua, and a shot of grand Marnier then that's 3 drinks.

I haven't used them, but came across Happy and Grumpy in my research for the same type of tour. They only book one tour per day and you fly to them. It's $255 per person with flight. She emailed me back within a few hours. They're the only private ones I've found so far and their set up is really nice.

I'm taking my just shy of 4 year old son on a family vacation with my sister and parents. My dad's health and mobility issues prevents us from doing any inland excursions, no cave tubing, ziplining, Walking at the zoo. And he can't climb in and out of a boat for snorkeling. He needs to be able to sit periodically in the shade. So, it looks like Caye Caulker might be our only option.

Side note. I found an excursion to Little Frenchman Caye that is its own private resort island. But, it's $150pp. A little pricey for us.

Since we're not snorkeling or wanting to walk the island too much is Caye Caulker a good option for us? We don't want to hang out at a bar or restaurant. Is there a beach or beaches to choose from to lounge on for the day?

This is correct if you paid for both people. If the person who needs to cancel paid their own 1/2, then for you to sail solo, you have to come up with the other half of the fare.

 

I sail solo a lot. I used to sail mostly with my DD and now that she's an adult, married, and working, she can't join me. So I still get the privilege of paying for two people even though I'm solo. Yes, there's only one charge for taxes and fees and one charge for tips, so there is a slight savings.

 

Not sure why you'd pay in full this early. I know some people like to get it over with, but I don't like giving anyone my money a day earlier than necessary. But since you're before final payment, it really shouldn't matter (except, as noted, if the other person paid their half).

 

Do you have a good PVP? Just give him/her a call.

I paid for both fares so the taxes come back to me. As far as paying this early...paid the $750 deposit, then had a $350 credit (not sure why I booked an early saver last year?!), then got a deal on a $150 gift card. That left around $200. After 2 price drops that brought me down to -$3.78. Without that cruise credit it wouldn't be paid this early.

Yes' date=' since you booked past guest rate, the best thing to do would be to cancel your friend now. That way whoever paid for it will get a refund of the taxes and port fees. Then if you decide to book another person you can and it would just take the cost of the taxes and port fees to add them.

 

The solo supplement basically means that you are paying double minus taxes and port fees. Where it comes in to play is when you have cancellation penalties. For example if you are at 50% penalty and cancel one person, you lose half of the fare that person paid. So if the total of the booking (before taxes) is $2,000 and you cancel one person, then you lose $500 for canceling and then have to pay another $500 to get back up to the price of the cruise. If you are a no show, then the price stays the same and you are refunded taxes and port fees. It is a stupid way to do it, but that's how it works.[/quote']

 

Thank you, I see now about the extra costs if cancelling close to the cruise date with the cancellation penalties.

I knew I was forgetting something!

I booked past guest rate. So, no worries on change fees. I guess I'm confused on what people keep calling a solo supplement. I have another cruise booked solo and the price is exactly the same as if I had booked for 2 with the exception of taxes.

My thought was if I cancel the 2nd person the only thing that would change is the refund of taxes.

I have a cruise booked for 2 in September and it is paid in full. Now it will just be me. Should I leave the booking alone or go ahead and cancel the 2nd guest? I understand that if that person is a no show I will get refunded the taxes and port fees. But I want to purchase the Cheers ahead of time and don't want to have to pay for 2.

I'm not going to do anything right away just in case I decide to take someone else. Just wanted to know the pros and cons.

Locking the door is automatic for me too. But I'm curious why he was coming in so much. Aren't they supposed to be cutting back on room cleanings?

If your child still needs diapers, even if just at night, they are not fully potty trained. They should be kept out of the pools out of respect for others and the established rules.

Needing a diaper at night is an entirely different story. Plenty of 7 year olds need night time pull ups (a bigger kids version of a diaper) but are fully potty trained.

And the established rules are for children to be toilet trained which her son apparently is.

As far as accidents, as some one else commented, older kids can have accidents. Especially when they're having fun and don't want to get out of the pool. (As well as the adults that don't want to get out of the hot tub...which is why you won't find me there.)

I say go for it, but be prepared for the stares and questions. Hopefully you won't have any rude comments. The only reason my son is not coming on our upcoming cruise is because he's not potty trained and he loves the water. It would be awful to tell him he can't get in.

Best of luck to you!

I love your post, you seem like good people! I have only sailed carnival but haven't sailed a ship with a ropes course. I can't wait. I have 3 booked on the Dream and can't wait. There's so much I missed on my previous cruises that I hope to catch for the first time like sea day brunch, towel animal parade, and the piano bar. And my first time in a cloud 9 stateroom.

I've never been big on the production shows but am a huge fan of comedy. I go every night there is a show and am in heaven!

You definitely have the right attitude and I have no doubt you and your family will have a blast!

I remain amazed that this completely false information continuously reappears on Cruise Critic, especially as it is always pointed out to be incorrect.

 

On a cruiseline excursion, they DO NOT have to wait for you, and frequently do not. There are any number of reasons they will not, or can not, wait. The remaining itinerary, navigational challenges (even including low bridges !) which require departure in fixed time intervals, port schedules and requirements. While the decision is generally up to the captain, the final decision rests with the port authority.

 

What cruiseline excursions guarantee is that the cruiseline will take full responsibility to return you to your cruise, even if it requires overnighting and flying to a further cruise destination.

 

Of course, ships do delay departure to wait for returning cruiseline tours when the captain decides it is feasible, as is often the case.

You will continue to see it as long as Carnival states it on their website. They "guarantee" the ship will be in port if your excursion is late. And "we can assure you you're ship will be waiting for you when you return."

So, if what you say is true, that they do not have to wait and frequently do not, then they are missing a few asterisks on their website.

I'll take $72 off please and thank you! I've never caught a price drop before so I'm a little excited. Now we just owe $36.

This was for an inside spa stateroom on the Dream, Sept 18.