richfret

Just for info.  You get 15 percent off the price of the selected internet plan if you order on line prior to the cruise.  But don't get fooled.  The prices listed have already been discounted so don't expect another 15 percent.  On board, you will pay the extra 15 percent.  Would be nice if Carnival spelled out the details.

Am in the process of purchasing excursions for a January Horizon cruise.  I am interested in the reviews of the tours but most most are several years old and are very outdated.  I don't know if Carnival controls the reviews but there certainly could be some improvement in the timing.  I am surprised that this condition exists since it would be an advantage to Carnival to update the reviews to encourage sales.       

19 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Your favorite drink could easily be obtained at Alchemy since they have all of the ingredients there.

 

No Joe, there were not too many scooters, just too many people that think about themselves first and have zero empathy for others, otherwise known as card carrying members of the me generation.  You're lucky that you don't need to be in a scooter.

On the other hand, I saw where some people with scooters were always trying to be the first out of the theaters and blocked the isles because there was not much room available..  Then everyone leaving was delayed.  Legally, they have that right.  Then again, there is also common sense and a bit of patience.  ........................  Hope this does not start WW3.

It is strange that most of the reviews for Carnival excursions shown on the Carnival web site are 3 years old or even later.  I would much rather read a review that was written within the last 6 months.  Things do change.  You would think that Carnival would want to remove any negative reviews that old.

Similar situation.  Will be doing my 26th cruise with Carnival in January.  Went to print my luggage tags and I was pleased to see the word DIAMOND on the tags.  You need 200 points (Cruise days) and I will reach that during the cruise.   

What you say is true but remember that the floor indicator is in the inside of the elevator.  If you go inside the elevator to check the floors, every one in the elevator would have to make room for you so you could check the floors and then you would have to leave if not listed.  I don't think you would make many friends if there were several people in the elevator.   

Also was on this cruise.  One of the problems with the new elevator system is that there are no floor numbers listed on the outside above the door.  The elevator could be open and ready to go but you can't go on because you don't know where it is going.  You have to go a few feet away to register the floor number that  you want to go on.  When you finish, the elevator is already gone.  Happened several times.

The show entertainment is OK but not fantastic like it use to be.  The music is much too loud.  Actually not loud but LOUD!  Once in awhile, I like a slow gentile love song.  There is nothing like this in any of the shows.  All have the same theme.  Very loud with bright flashing lights beamed into the audience.  It is not the performers at fault.  They do well, but the directing is terrible.  It seemed like most of the shows had themes where the performers were upset about something but I did not know why.  Where is Bing Crosby when you need him?

Ship and crew were fantastic.  You could not ask for better service.  Food was, shall we say, OK.  Lots of repetition in the menus from one day to another.

Takes quite awhile to learn the ship since several places on the decks are blocked.  They need more Fore and Aft and Port or Starboard signs.  That would help

All and all, I enjoyed the cruise.  This was my 25th Carnival cruise.  I would say it was not my worst cruise nor my best but I am already booked for a January cruise so you know I like cruising.  The Horizon is a good ship to sail on.  

Are you kidding?  You got to wait an hour or two during normal business hours.  

I gave her a 5 out of 5 (5 being the best) on the phone survey.

Hurray!  Hurray!  Thank you Carnival.  Just called Carnival and got a $414.50 credit reducing my cruise price on a January 23 cruise.  Hurray again.  Believe or not, I am also eligible for a 25% on board credit for sailing on my 25th Carnival cruise and they said I could use it on this cruise or a future cruise.  I think I would be better off using it on the 26th cruise.  More Hurray. 

Called the number given and was greeted with the message that that department is closed on Saturdays.  $#@*$#&^%$)(@&^$!    In any event, will give it a try Monday.  I am getting closer to a solution.  Right?

Called Carnival at 9 pm yesterday and only had to wait about 10 minutes.  It appears the discount will apply but they could not do it.  They said to call a different area and gave me the same telephone number but with a different extension.  I think they call this progress..  The saga continues.  Remember in the olden days when things were normal.  We did not know how good we had it.  Now it is Covid, cancelled cruises, changed ships and long waits on the phone if they answer.  Maybe when we get to Mars, things will change.  ....................................  Then again, maybe not!  Will advise if I get lucky.  Actually, will advise even if I don't.

2 hours ago, mondello said:

 

I was booked on Horizon for 12/26 and moved to Sunshine. There was a email about the change and said click here to use the FCC. I had cruises booked for 3/26-Vista and 7/25-7/30-Valor B2B. 2 were paid in full; I submitted my request online and about a week later the FCC was applied to the one Cruise I still owe on. I had almost forgotten about the FCC until a post here in Jan. triggered my memory. We actually had FCC from 2 cabins because it was cheaper to book a solo in one cabin because the third pax fare was $1000+. Look back for the email from Carnival when you were switched from Horizon to Liberty/Sunshine. Submit online, no need to call them!

Looks like different guidelines for the 1/8/2022 cruise.  Our letter had no mention of submitting the request on line and the letter stated that the discount would not be available for use until February, 2022 and expired February, 2023.  The letter advising of the credit was written 12/14/21.

Their words "on any departure open for sale".  So if that means it does not apply (not really clear about this), cancel my cruise and rebook it.  I can see the look on their face.  Never thought about that.

Sailed on January 8 and Carnival changed my sailing ship from the Horizon to the Liberty.  In lieu of that, Carnival gave all cruisers on that cruise a 25% future cruise discount for their next cruise.  Good so far.  I already have a cruise booked for January of 2023 and asked if the discount can be applied.  I asked and asked and asked.  Spent a couple hours on the phone and still have no idea if the discount applies.  I don't think they know either.  I even called the original rep who wrote up the cruise and she said to call back (knowing I would spend considerable time on the phone before they even answer).  Apparently, it would be too much of a chore for her to call me.  I have sailed with Carnival 24 times and I like sailing Carnival.  I am not sure if they like me.  Even if they said "Heck No!", at least I would know where I stand.  The good news is that I have several months before the offer expires.  I think I am going to need several months.  

You know that guest advisory we all got from Carnival regarding a 25% future cruise credit.  It was given because of the change in Ships from the Horizon to the Liberty.  It's like Carnival knows nothing about it.  I already had a cruise booked for 2023 and am trying to see if this credit applies.  I have been on line with them for a couple of hours and have got no where.  They say to keep calling them back.  I even sent them a copy of their letter.  They agree some thing should be done but they don't know how to do it.  

Oh well, their letter said the offer was good until February 28, 2023.  Now I know why.

I have sailed on 24 Carnival cruise and the last being a 8 day cruise on the Liberty about a week ago.  It was not the best cruise I ever took nor was it the worst cruise.  It was still a lot of fun but Covid certainly had it's effects on how it was conducted.  The food was OK but with some problems.  Like at breakfast, I always like to have the eggs fried in front of me.  This cruise they were already cooked and they scooped them out of a big bowl so the eggs were always luke warm.  The shows were OK but there was practically no dancing.  Almost all loud, loud singing.  The masks are a pain in the neck.  I'll take that back.  A pain in the nose.  Now some good points.  Less cruisers but same number of crew so there was always someone around to help you.  Also no lines whatsoever.  Casino was the same as always and lots of fun.   Getting on and off was the easiest I ever seen.  Probably because of less cruisers.   Ship was in very good condition but they did have some cabin flooding in a few cabins on one deck.

All in all, I had a very good time.  I am already booked for the next cruise with a substantial discount given on this cruise because of Covid prevention issues.  So, am looking forward to number 25 and will be just a couple points from Diamond.

Just returned from an 8 day cruise on the Liberty.  Regarding food, it was (Shall we say) OK but nothing sensational.  Have been on 24 Carnival cruises so have some experience with this.  The MDR selection was good but limited.  The LIDO deck food had several issues.  I really miss them cooking eggs the way you like them as you waited in the line.  Otherwise you took what was already cooked and was almost warm.  Already cooked pan cakes were the same issue.  The desserts, on the other hand, were outstanding.  There was cake every where and many kinds.  The staff serving did an outstanding job and you could not ask for better help.  Like I say, the food was OK like most restaurants but nothing to brag about.  Hope it improves for my 2023 cruise.  

What a mess.  I called Walgreens and CVS in the neighborhood to arrange to the test to be conducted 2 days before the cruise.  They said their locations were not doing testing but I could get that done at locations several miles from my house.  I would have to go through the internet to make arrangements.  So I tried that.  The site said I could not make the arrangements at that time and would have to try at a later date.   That was a couple of weeks ago.  Then I am thinking to myself, I am scheduled to work the next 4 days before the cruise and would have to take time off.  So to solve this problem, I made arrangements with Carnival to do the test at the terminal.  I got a confirmation number for the test and it says to check in and I would get the test immediately at that time.  I know it costs a $100 but I would have to take off a day from work anyway.  So hopefully this will work better. 

The only risk is that I have to travel 2 1/2 hours to get to the terminal.  Can you imagine if I tested positive.  No cruise!  2/1/2 hour trip back.  $100 lost and one really disappointed cruiser.     

5 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Play it safe.  Book Mardi Gras

I got a $600 Carnival cruise credit for 2 other cancelled cruises.  Also a $200 Horizon credit.  Then add a $50 TA credit.  I don't care what ship I cruise with, that will make it fun.  In addition, I expect what with cancellations and transfers, there will be fewer people on this cruise then would have been, so the Liberty will appear more spacious than the Horizon.  Plus, I am a Cruise-a-holic, so any cruise ship would do anyway.

On 12/4/2021 at 7:25 AM, ontheweb said:

Why don't people use TAs and let them deal with the long holds? Is being on hold forever part of the benefit of having control of your booking?

Nope!  If I call my TA by phone, I get a recording that says how sorry they are that they cannot answer now and that it may take 3 to 5 days before a reply.  No, I am not kidding.  So then after 10  calls or so to Carnival (same problem), they say they cannot deal with me directly and that I have to call my TA.  Remember in the olden days when they actually had customer satisfaction.  Those days are over with and replaced by computers.  isn't progress great? ........................................Not always!

After I got the notice I checked for other cruises.  Although not the same ports, I checked 8 day Freedom cruises and was shocked by some of the pricing.  They had a sale going for veterans and the price with a better cabin location was over $1,000 less than for my Horizon pricing for a solo cruiser.  Once I get on the ship, I really don't care where it is going.  The final purchase date was Monday, December 6.  My TA office was closed so I was going to wait until Monday.  Then it happened.  All the special pricing disappeared.  I bet they were getting so many veteran purchases because of our cancellation that they discontinued the sale.  Darn it!  As usual, he who hesitates is lost.

So after considerable deliberation, I am going with the flow and staying with the January 8 cruise.  I got a $600 credit for 2 cancelled Carnival cruises and probably another $200 for the cancelled Horizon cruise.  With the $800, I can wander around the ship looking for ways to spend $800.  That makes it just a bit easier to take but when I get back I will complain to every one.  That's just human nature. 

The Carnival site is now working and I completed the form.  The strange part is that after you have completed the form and you go back to the Carnival site and view the Cruise Manager, you will see the following: VIEW VACCINATION SURVEY FOR BOOKING.  It is all lined out and gives the impression it should not have been requested at this time or else it is completed and done with.  Take your pick.    

I used the same Travel Agent for years and was very satisfied.  Then when the pandemic occurred, ran into problems.  When I called, I would get a message that it might take them up to 5 days to reply.  Then they said the other option was to go to the web site and book that way.  I came up with another option.  I just booked directly with Carnival.

That is a disappointment.  I wear a baseball hat on the cruise with 23 pins attached with most showing the ship names.  Oh well, I was starting to run out of room anyway.