Cruisin'Doc

Thank you to everyone who shared their insight and experiences. Just to be safe, I contacted our travel agent and was able to snag the last double balcony room for my parents on the other side of the ship and up a few decks and a balcony for us up on 9 and far away from the smoke. The upgrade was only $200 for both rooms, so I am satisfied, but I really feel Carnival should be clearer about those rooms on the sixth deck above one of the few concentrated public smoking areas when booking. If I wasn't someone who spent time researching these boards, I would have never found out about it until we were on board and too late... Thanks again!

Glad you were able to get switched. Smoking is permitted port side, right outside Ocean Plaza. On Starboard, slightly further aft (ie. outside the art gallery), there is the Seaside BBQ, and I have watched the smoke drift right into the balconies. I think a move up was a great idea. Otherwise, people would be looking right into your balcony from Deck 5. Some people do not care, but I dislike it.

OP - I know you have already decided to carry your bags with you...

However, just to add onto what others have said. The stewards are still working in the rooms/hallways, so it does slow them down if extra crowds are in the hallways. In addition, the only rooms 'ready' at the beginning is FTTF, P, D. Therefore, the other rooms are generally still in the process of being made-up - so luggage would be in the way. As well, since they are working in the rooms, the doors are ALL propped open, meaning any luggage left in an un-made room would not be secure. Just a few extra thoughts!

For those worried about their upcoming cruises, no, this is not an every week issue. I was on the Dream in December, March, and June. No propulsion issues.

Out of NOLA, the Elation generally begins priority boarding at 11:00-11:15, and the Dream begins 11:15-11:30. These are general times, however, and may change depending on when they can zero out the ship, etc.

If you are trying to keep hubby from seeing sis, I would arrange to arrive at different times. Either have her arrive early and get an early zone card (check-in begins around 10 in NOLA most of the time, though people are often there as early as 8:30-9:00), then you guys come in after boarding has gotten started and there's a good chance she has already boarded (ie. if she gets an early zone card, there's a good chance she'll be on by 12, so you'll be safe to enter) - or, vice versa.

Good luck!

You will definitely make new friends if you are on deck 6! Your balcony overlooks the Lanai. I would definitely avoid a cabin mid-ship ie. overlooking the Ocean Plaza, port or starboard. For me, I would also avoid booking just aft of Ocean Plaza on the starboard side on decks 6 and 7. The smoke from the BBQ on sea days is insane! When I have gone out there, I have felt so sorry for anyone in those cabins, as I would think it would be very hard to enjoy balconies at that time. It's a very short period of time, true, but the smoke will also most likely seep into the cabins, though I could be wrong.

Please do keep checking! Sometimes people put 24 hour holds on cabins. As well, as someone mentioned, only a limited amount of inventory shows at any one time. Keep checking!!

Good luck, and happy cruising!

The person on the pack and play offer has to be in the cabin booked. Have you reached final payment due date yet?

Not necessarily true. I can't say whether or not they have to board the ship, but they do not have to remain in the room. The way most people are doing the Pack and Play offer, to allow friends or family to go, is if two people get it, for example, and four want to go - they book the two in separate rooms, each with one of the people who do not have it. After boarding the ship, they can go to guest services and switch rooms - so it might end up with the two with the offer are in one room, and the two without the offer are in one room. The offer is still in effect, including the OBC. Our PVP confirmed this, and we did this in December to allow family to travel with us.

Although frustrating, the steward was doing his job as he was trained to do.

Stewards, in most cases, will NOT touch any food/drink item. If you have even a miniscule amount of liquid left, and it is obviously no longer good (ie. a frozen cocktail, for example), they will NOT touch it or remove the glass. Otherwise, had you NOT been finished - they would get into trouble and have to pay to buy you another drink. If you empty the glass in the sink, they will remove it.

Likewise, they will not remove any cans/bottles (or almost anything else) unless they are in the trash. Some people might refill a bottle with water (which I did on my last cruise, because Bon Voyage lost my order for water), and then... you guessed it, the steward might get a complaint for throwing away something a guest wanted or was saving for some reason.

So as frustrating as it is, I have found that most stewards are far more cautious about what they will/will not touch/remove than are hotel cleaning staff. If it needs to be thrown away or removed, throw it in the trash or empty it. Otherwise, it might stay there as long as you do!

As far as the towels? No excuse for that one.

We always book in that area on every ship.

It is always quiet.

The only time we hear noise is 1) if a drunk adult or 2) unsupervised preteen is screaming in the hall or sometimes the music in the Atrium is a bit loud, and you can hear that.

Otherwise, all is quiet! No noise at all from general use of elevator and stairs! Enjoy! Great location!

They make you pay for what you see and gave a 48 hr guarantee. When they change the price 49 hrs later you are stuck. Very deceptive practice. As I said they just lost 7 cruisers for $25 dollars. Still taking the cruise but no money will be spent by 7 guests. Will go back to Oceania and will try Princess out of L.A. Our booking gave us a $50 obc but the fare dropped $100, times 3 cabins.

*They didn't "make" you pay, you chose to pay. You liked the price enough to pay it, so you did.

*They did not deceptively change the price 49 hours after you booked. They ran a sale. If you buy a car, and the dealership runs a sale the following weekend, can you take the car back and demand some of your money back? If so, and it works, let me know where you bought that car at, I want to go there, as well!

*THEY did not lose 7 guests for $25. Seven guests chose to give up cruising on a specific cruise line for $25.

Sorry to hear it's not working out for you yet!

We booked via email, as instructed. And when we went, they DID do two excursions....so keep trying! My understanding is that as long as they have enough people, they will do two - and this far out, if the first is booked, I would say there's a good chance for the second to make.

We did it 2.5 years ago, and it was a wonderful experience! Good luck!

Although the general idea people have is that cruise ship employees will not jeopardize their jobs to steal, they will.

While doing a B2B, my mom and I earned the Drinks on Us card on the first leg. Into the second leg, I checked my account on the TV in the room. I noticed a LOT of charges (with a zero balance, of course) for drinks from the casino; for times when I KNEW I was not there - including the first day going down the Mississippi - which means I WAS being charged taxes on those drinks.

I went to Guest Services to discuss it, and they sent me to the Casino. Turns out, one of the bar waitresses, one we had spent a LOT of time talking with on the first cruise, had signed off on all of the drinks. There was no doubt the drinks did not belong to me; many of the slips had not been signed, many were signed but the signature was obviously not mine, charges took place when we were documented in the MDR, drinks were purchased which we could not have drank (mom is on blood thinners), etc. There was no question *WE* had not ordered these drinks.

As it turns out, the way this works is that drinks are ordered and fulfilled by bar services. They are billed, including the mandatory gratuity. The casino services then pays the bar bill. So, for every drink someone orders on the DoU card, wait staff still get their regular gratuity. Great scam - charging them to people with the DoU card, so they aren't charged and won't complain (usually won't even notice), yet the server gets extra grats.

My intent was not to get anyone into trouble when I reported this; however, I was charged for taxes on drinks when I was not drinking, and there were a lot of drinks charged to my mom and I which we had not ordered; I initially let them know just to clear this up, thinking it was a mistake. It was intentional - the server at one point said we had ordered the drinks (until we pointed out my mom cannot drink alcohol), etc. I had to speak with security multiple times. They cleared it up fairly quickly, however (they also found this had happened on several other accounts - on the current and several most recent cruises). The server was fired and as the ports we were visiting that trip included her home country, home she went.

It was very sad to see this happen, and shocking that someone would do it, particularly when a job on the ships can be a wonderful opportunity for many. However, not everyone begins work on the ships with the same awesome work ethic as do most of the workers.

A year or so ago on the Conquest, we were doing a B2B in July. Our room was quite warm. I called to have them check the temp, and someone from housekeeping (a manager) came, and said the temperature was too high (high 70s). She said she would have maintenance come immediately. We waited and waited. No one came. We stepped out for maybe a half hour, and when we came back, there was a note saying they came by, we weren't there, but that everything was fine. I called again the next morning (it was around 10 pm by this time) - Day 2 of the cruise. They sent someone else, and again found the temp too high. They again had someone from maintenance come - only this time, a housekeeping supervisor came and watched them. They fixed the AC.

So, we went two days with minimal AC (in July). The third day, GS called to check how the temps were, and I said it was still slightly warm, but MUCH better! They were very pleased, and then told us we would be getting a 20% refund for the days the AC was not working. Quite surprised!

Last year on another cruise, the E-staff missed several trivias (I think I was on the Elation). One day, I went to GS just to let them know what was going on. Later, I received a SOAS and something else sent to our room (wine or strawberries? I forget). I wasn't complaining - just letting them know in case there were schedule glitches, but they were very responsive.

We have had some other issues which we have reported to GS which have NOT been addressed, but nothing too major.

The Dream is still using the old internet plans (off on 12/21/14).

Elation in November (B2B - 20th - 29th) they were doing this. I received two $5 cash backs on around 3000 points (at 500 and 1,000 points)

Just got off the Dream Sunday (December 14-21), and they are doing it, as well. I received ONE $5 cash back on over 5,000 points (at 500 points)

So, they are implementing it on multiple ships, but it is not consistently being offered at every 500 point increment.

Last week on the Elation, they gave $5 in Match Play if you spent $10 on any single drink order in the comedy club.

The Pack and Go offers are casino offers. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for how they are offered - whether you play a little or a lot, and they are offered to guests from a range of cruising experiences (a few to a lot of cruises).

The offers seem to come up on an ongoing basis among cruisers, so keep a continual eye on your VIFP account.

There IS limited availability. The cabins generally go quick. They also only offer only certain categories most of the time (ie. one sailing no Lido cabins were included, on a March sailing I looked at - they included the Spa cabins, etc.). So... if you get the offer - book as quickly as you can.

You can also do a 24-hour hold on a specific cabin if you are not sure. Someone mentioned not being able to do so - however, that may be if you book online. I have been able to do so with my PVP multiple times.

Good luck!

For check-in, you are directed to the private lounge. After you check-in, EVERYONE is directed into the open area with seats.

If you arrive early and have to wait to board...

On Thursday or Monday on the Elation, they generally say anyone can sit anywhere, because it's a work day and not generally a rush for people to get on.

For Elation Saturday boarding or Dream Sunday boarding - you walk down the center aisle - Platinum/Diamond will be on the left, suites and FTTF will be on the right. Everyone is in the same area, separated by an aisle.

We did a B2B July 27/August 3. We had two different cabins - 8248 and 10263 (each mid-ship close to Atrium elevators).

I'm very hot-natured, and each time our rooms were just fine. Embarkation day is always very warm in most cabins. I wonder if it's because, like a car idling, we are sitting still and the AC doesn't start REALLY putting out until we get to moving? Ok, probably not. It's probably because they have every cabin door open to the hallways as they clean up, so it then takes awhile to cool back down, lol.

Anyway - it was just fine. If you are too warm, call guest services. They will come and take the temp. If it is still too warm, call again, they will come back. Keep in mind that THEIR idea of 'ok' is 75 degrees and below, whereas most Americans keep the thermostat set far lower. Last summer, I made sure to keep the curtains (not the balcony door, that would have let wind in!) open, etc. to make the room warmer when they checked it, so they would do something about it! They can work on the air vent and increase the air flow. If the temp is not warm enough (ie. not below 75) or if what they do does not work, request a fan.

Enjoy!

There are no financial benefits.

On the second leg, the hotel director will usually send a fruit basket and/or a bottle of champagne/wine.

The Dream has started doing a little 'reception,' so to speak. When reboarding, they have bar staff waiting with champagne and Mimosas. They have a vertical banner welcoming you, and two staff holding another sign. You then have your picture taken behind the banner with an assortment of staff/crew, and it is sent to your room as a gift. It was quite nice, actually, and the only ship I have seen do this.

The trip through customs varies by ship. My favorite was on the Conquest - we met, and they took us through - moving us to the head of every line, and then bringing us back. More often, however, what I see is they wait until the ship is zeroed out and THEN take us off/back on. When doing the latter, we have a bit less time to enjoy and have the ship to ourselves.

Can never go wrong with a B2B, however!

They seem to really be cracking down in Cozumel specifically. I did four cruises in July/first of August (2 B2Bs), and although we only got off in Cozumel a couple of times, each time we did, a security guard searched our bags before we 'dinged out,' and guards on the pier stopped us to let their sweet pups 'sniff' our bags. This did not happen at any other port.

 

I see why bingomamma is ticked, we pay out good money, but if you book cruises more frequently than others do it appears you do not get the promotional rate others do. Our friends booked a cruise with us this past January because they had not booked a cruise in the past year they got a better rate than us.

I would not say this is the case. I take at least 2-3 cruises per year on CCL, and took 6 last year. Myself and my mother both received the most recent 'free cruise' (ie. $50 pp interior with $100 OBC + port fees, upgrades allowable) offer - so it is definitely not that they were trying to 'get us back.' We never left!

I do think it is random in that respect. I do not think it has to do with the amount spent in the casino, as I have observed people posting varying amounts spent. I tend to spend more than my mom, she will spend no more than a couple hundred per cruise, I may spend 600-700, and others may spend up in the thousands. I suspect it's almost 'lottery' style, and similar to the lottery, some people are more lucky than others.

I believe bingomamma was simply using her relationship history as an example, not to hijack the thread - she wasn't making those statements literally, only indicating that's what she COULD say/think. She sounds to me like a strong woman who made a wise decision, and is now moving on with her life and enjoying it (with a cruise!). Congratulations to you, bingomamma.

If you have the 'Drinks on Us' card, the servers are already being paid a gratuity, just not by you.

A casino host and I had this discussion in the fall after an unfortunate incident with a casino bar staff charging drinks to my (and my moms) 'Drinks on Us' card, which we were not really using, and at times we were not in the Casino (my mom is on blood thinners, which the bar staff did not know, so she was having a blast charging alcoholic drinks to my moms DoU card). When you get the 'Drinks on Us' card, SOMEONE still has to pay for the drinks. So, when you get the card/order drinks, for every drink you order, the casino pays the bar for those drinks - they pay a set amount for the drink and a set amount for the bar staff. That way - the bar staff is not working for free - they still get their grats.

That's not saying don't tip, that's just an explanation :)

As of the May 18th sailing, the Spa staff said they no longer sell a day pass. They sell only weeklong passes, and they sell only 50 per cruise.

The usual price is $149 for one person, or $249 for a couple, but they were running a special, so it could be purchased for $109/$199.

I did purchase the spa pass, and for me, it is not worth it. It sounded like SUCH a wonderful idea. I was so excited. The reason it was not worth it for me is that the loungers in the Thalasso pool were very hard to get comfortable on - the water was a bit too deep for me to be able to do this without, well, drowning. Also, if the seas are rough, the water in the Thalasso pool is so rough, you really cannot stay in there. I bought the 2 person package, and on day #2, convinced my mom to go in. She came out with bruises. As well, while all of the aromatherapy saunas are wonderful, in theory, for me...they are just far too hot to just sit there. While yes, that is the purpose, the temperatures seemed just a bit too high, particularly if you are a person who does not care for warmer temperatures - which I did not consider before making the purchase (for some reason, that just totally slipped my mind!).

The facilities are absolutely beautiful. They have showers in between the saunas to cool down, and the locker room does have two large showers so that you may shower there if you choose. The saunas are beautiful, and the final relaxation room is quite nice with fruit infused waters and tea to relax and for your final cool down.

So while some people are going to absolutely love it, it's just not for everyone. It's a matter of deciding which type of person you are. For me, I simply did not take into consideration the temperatures, etc. before making the purchase, which was MY mistake - it has nothing to do with the Spa itself.

If you choose it, enjoy! It will definitely be a unique experience :)