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On 3/17/2024 at 2:13 AM, rrraydon said:

Ok, so I found this cruise on the website, "cruiseplum"... I'm pretty sure it was on here that I read about the site. I knew nothing about MSC at all when I was trying to decide whether to choose the "plain cruise" package (no bells and whistles) or one of the others. I chose the " Bella" package and for a couple of hundred more than the base cruise price I get the internet package, $25 OBC and the Easy Plus drink package. Also, they pick my inside cabin. I don't mind an inside cabin at all...as long as it's not all the way forward in the bow and all the way up on the top deck. (and what are the chances of that happening, right? I mean all those inside cabins they can pick on that ship) Yeah, right...that's exactly what I got! So I called to see if maybe I could switch...I mean not an upgrade but make a lateral move to a cabin in the same category... maybe aft and a few decks down. Nope, nothing available. A few days ago I got the email to bid on an upgrade so I bid on an OV cabin but haven't heard anything back yet. Oh, well...I'm not going to die being forward and up top and I'm not going to let it bug me either. 

 

I read a Nassau review a few days ago and the lady had some beautiful pictures of Graycliff Hotel/Mansion in Nassau and they offer day passes. As well as wine tastings, chocolate making classes and cigar rolling. Next to their hotel (within walking distance) is their chocolate making factory that has tours and you sample and make chocolate. Also, they have a cigar making factory too. The day pass for the hotel, that includes a drink and lunch, is about $160...more than I want to spend. I'm not much on cigars but I do like me some chocolate!! I also noticed in some review pics the street that these places are located on has many cute little shops. All of this is within walking distance from the port. Maybe about the same distance from the port to Junkanoo Beach which I've walked plenty of times in the past (that's what it's looking like to me on the map). I'm thinking of walking to the Graycliff Hotel, having a cocktail at their bar or out in their outside pool area and checking the place out (the pics show beautiful gardens all around the place--great for picture taking). Taking a walk over to the candy factory to sample and purchase some of their chocolates (I probably won't purchase the factory tour and chocolate making ticket). Then checking out a few of the shops and grabbing a bite to eat from one of the lesser priced establishments along the route. 

 

The one other stop we're doing on this cruise is MSC's private island, Ocean Cay. It's not as nice as Royal's private island, but it does have some beautiful water at their beaches. I've been checking out the pics on various reviews. I think I may snorkel here instead of purchasing one of the many excursions they offer. I plan to get off the ship early and get some sun and snorkel for half the day and head back to the ship to eat at which point I'll probably just lay out at the pool. They food choices on their island is limited to hot dogs and hamburgers and I'm not interested in eating that. 

 

These are some things I'm still tossing around...as said, I'm winging it! lol

not so, they have a bigger buffet area that has a variety of food items, like chicken, bbq style  with salads, desserts, different meats, etc

On 12/9/2022 at 11:23 PM, VibeGuy said:

start of their relationship with Norman Love

ooh as in the Candy Company in Ft Myers FL? My son works for them, and I only just recently tried their candies, oh yum! Beautiful and tasty.......

On 12/13/2022 at 12:01 PM, cruzsnooze said:

You can get a regular cruise card at guest relations if you wish. I use the medallion only to unlock my cabin door. I keep it in an RFID credit card sleeve because I hate the idea of being tracked every minute. The credit card sleeves do indeed block the signal and costs less then 25 cents.

I thought I saw where you could turn off the tracking mode.

Is the milestone obc based on 25% of the fare from your milestone cruise or is it 25% of the fare of the cruise you are going to use it on....,?

On 11/29/2022 at 7:12 PM, jordanaire said:

Our 25th Carnival cruise is coming up on the Magic this Saturday. It has taken 27 years to get to this milestone cruise. Most were taken when we lived in South Carolina and Kentucky. Now we live 15 miles from Port Canaveral, so many more cruises lie ahead for us. We have 25% of our cruise fare placed into our OBC for this cruise this weekend. 

 

Did you have to do something or did they automtically do this for you? I just cruised my 25th over Halloween and have next carnival in January and trying to figure out how the OBC happens

 

 

 

 

I am happy to report after a very patient wait on hold, all has been resolved and cruise is back to paid in full and ready to sail!

no, the base fare increased. However second call Navigator was awesome, they added my shareholder onboard credit yesterday and accidentally removed a "marker" which caused the price increase in the fare. She was able to fix and I am now back to paid in full and ready to cruise my first time with Princess.

Booked & Pd in full Oct 8th with confirmation booking detail receipt. Now showing balance due of $63.72, which i can determine is a almost $60 increase in the base fare then travel insurance increase. NO CLUE WHY. I am currently on hold trying to reach customer service, had managed to get through and speak with someone who was zero help as they just read off the new onvoice numbers but no explanation as to why price suddenly increase after i already paid in full. And the website shows that balance was due Oct 8th, before yesterday it showed paid in full as well. i asked to speak to someone else, put on hold and then disconnected. So back to the start ............any clues???? The only change was they added my shareholder's onboard credit for the sailing......

On 9/22/2022 at 8:17 PM, CruizinSusan70 said:

Why take the middle step and buy cruise cash?  If you purchase it you need to spend it all, but if you just apply the E cards at customer service if there is anything left over above 10.00 on your account, you will receive an E gift card via email when you get home. If it's under 10.00, it gets donated to St Jude.

Any idea how long this takes for refund

On 9/19/2022 at 1:22 PM, shof515 said:

its getting harder and harder for me to go to the brunch to use my platinum drink coupon. i wish it was like the gold coupon that can be used anywhere on the ship 

I have never understood this, why do platinum have to use drink coupon at brunch, but gold can use anywhere. To me, it seems like the gold has the better benefit......maybe I am missing something.

what is the earliest time you could pick for a return flight? My thoughts 11:10 am is not good option??!

On 2/3/2022 at 4:15 PM, jbrinkm said:

 

We booked a Cabana at the southern end (Money Bar was our 2nd choice) so we'll spend most of our time in the cabana and/or snorkeling - either somewhere in the Park or down by the cabana end. We got discounted tickets and snorkel gear and a fruit plate along with the Cabana. In fact the discount almost paid for the Cabana as admission is now $26 or $18(kids). I'm just wondering what we would actually do in the park? Maybe the teens would like the pool, and I think we'd all enjoy an animal show or two. Do you know how often they do the animal shows?

how did you book your cabana? I see it described on website, but did not see a place to actually book. I found massage packages, etc but no cabana

14 minutes ago, Ideus19 said:

Is the Tides area adult only? Isn’t the Serenity area for the spa?

Tides pool is not adult only, although it does seem most imo use the other pool on lido. Serenity is adult only area, with two hot tubs, open to 18+ not just spa.

On 7/3/2022 at 12:23 AM, Doug910 said:

Wife and I have more luggage tags then we'll ever need. At this point, we find "blue card" (first time) cruisers on board and give the luggage tags to them. They are always very appreciative.

I never thought of this, great idea! I just have not bothered to pick them up on my cruises, but now I will and do this too!

Cruising out of port canaveral for week in October, then day of return, jumping on another ship but out of port of Tampa. Recommendations to get from Port Canaveral to Port of Tampa? Will not have a car, but if able to pick up and drop off different locations without large charge willing to do that.

Thanks.

On 2/16/2022 at 9:49 AM, Julie-Jane said:

Just booked a Signature Taco Tour at vallartaeats.com and Eric was so helpful, again (did taco tour in 2019) in Puerto Vallarta. Eric even added an additional time for my family. 

I was reading where to meet for this tour on their web page, is this easy to get a taxi from cruise port to their location?

On 11/12/2021 at 9:08 PM, pinto18 said:

We were there in October ...did our usual walk to the water taxi to stone island...never felt unsafe

can you get here without the walking? Do you just take a taxi to the ferry to stone Island?

On 7/11/2022 at 1:59 PM, Ashland said:

Looking for some great food in Mazatlan...Try Panama Restaurant & Bakery just around the corner from the Mazatlan Central Market. We were there in January and will definitely go back during our next port stop.

Is this close to the port? Taxi needed?

On 5/14/2022 at 4:41 AM, mondello said:

I was on Sunshine 12/26 and Vista 3/26, both ships opened a late night section of the buffet every night. Grilled ham/cheese, small meatball sub, caprese sandwich, penne pasta w/marinara, chicken noodle soup, and cookies. This was offered every night around 11:30-1:00 or 1:30.

I was on Vista last month and they did too, but just off Vista yesterday and the late night section of buffet is no longer being offered. Pizza is only included item until 3 am, after that it is only for a fee room service. The deli also closed earlier at 10 pm versus 11 last month. 

On 3/26/2022 at 12:42 PM, pc2425 said:

Actually John Heald posted that they want you to put the trays in the hallway instead of leaving it in your room.

and my last cruise it also said somewhere while I was on the ship to put in hallway as well. 

How do you have to specifically request? Any luck? Are there certain cruises, ship,etc with less kids typically that increase adult approval? Thnx

On 2/23/2022 at 12:10 PM, BasicSailor said:

News to me, thanks, makes me wonder what else gest hacked to pieces .

sad thing for me at least was when I booked this cruise, this year 2022 the midnight gala buffet was being advertised as part of it and grabbed my interest. So while I can understand it being covid restricted, they had to have known few months ago when still in their adds. And kinda wondering why they could not modify and set up in the actual buffet areas they use for current meals on lido, etc. 

Does anyone know if there is a copy of the health questionnaire you must complete 72hours before boarding? Scenario, DH came down sick 3 weeks ago, had a delayed in obtaining Covid test, finally tested about a week after getting sick, Positive. I was exposed to him 7 days after he got sick ( before he tested), within 3 days, I too was sick. Again i tested 6 days later, and results took 3 days ( so nine after illness, 3 after no more fever). Here is the issue, Despite being past sick, and testing 2days before cruise negative, I will have had a positive Covid test within 14 days.......the test was taken exactly 14 days before I would embark, the results would be 11 days. BUT current test shows negative................does this make sense? I guess I am trying to determine if I am going to be denied because of the timing of test, where as if I would have tested immediately, it would be greater then the 14 days required.

On 1/13/2022 at 2:26 PM, DramaQueen22 said:

Doing it this way seems to be adding an unnecessary step.  If you are going to spend the money for Cheers, then why not just purchase it outright?  Using gift cards doesn't save you any money.  Even if you buy the discounted ones through Allstate or AARP, you can't use them until you are onboard.  Cheers is then more expensive, so your potential savings are negated.

I have purchased the discounted AARP carnival gift cards and used them to pay for the discounted cheers package before the cruise. When you check out, you just select carnival gift card as the payment option. I do this is it saves even more money

On 12/14/2021 at 11:50 AM, nyonefivetwo said:

Is anyone else getting "VIPF GUESTS UPDATE" emails every couple of hours leading up to a cruise? Every time I see the email letting me know I can pick up one bottle of water I start giggling...

nope, have not received any, 4 cruises since Sept and one coming up in January