CarolSW

2 hours ago, Joebucks said:

My sailing offered me an upgrade on the my booking page. $230 to go from interior to balcony.

Yes, I think IF we are to be visited by the Upgrade/UPSELL fairy, it will be in an e-mail or our To Do list page sometime within a month or so of our sailing.  Has not happened to me yet, but maybe…someday. 

Did a search to find this topic, from 2019.

It is now 2022 (as of yesterday!) and we just returned from the 7 day NYE sailing of the Dream out of Galveston. No Pixels on the HUB app this cruise , but it WAS THERE on the OCT. 21 2021 4 day sailing of the Breeze.  I loved having that access - first time I had experienced it.  It was so easy to check your photos, and decide to purchase.  I know I bought more than I would have otherwise.

On this most recent cruise on the Dream, disembarked today, no Pixels on Hub, and we never even found all of our pictures in the walk-up gallery.  It was Where’s Waldo all over again, an exercise in futility that I have little patience for.  I do not know why they can’t have Pixels access on the HUB app for all sailings, unless it has something to do with bandwidth load of the Wi-Fi service onboard.  The internet access on this cruise was the worst I have ever had….and I bought the Premium package as I always do.  But many of my regularly-visited websites were not loading for me this time.  It was very frustrating since technology is light years past the old days.  Perhaps they are limiting all of that now to keep us more engaged around the ship and not on our devices.

I still want Pixels on HUB.  I can’t shake the feeling that our most perfect picture was taken but I missed it because I couldn’t find it - LOL!!!! 

Nope, did not happen for us on the NYE sailing of the Dream.  We asked twice at the Guest Services desk once onboard, and both times they said NO we do not give upgrades or upSELLS once onboard.  I am fairly certain there were some no-shows because late on embarkation day, several hours after we sailed away, there were several cabins on our spa-area hallway that still had their sign&sail envelopes in their mailboxes.  That prompted us to inquire about an upsell since we were in an inside cabin.  But it was a no-go.  
 

We learned to love our inside cabin though so all was good!!

Disembarkation at the port of Galveston has been so great on both of our cruises since the re-start.  The facial recognition is amazing.  You don’t even need to get out your passport to walk through customs.  Also, we now park right across the street in the parking garage, and one of us goes to get the car while the other waits with the luggage to drive up to pick up. On a shorter cruise with less luggage we just did self-assist and walked across the street with our 1 bag directly to the car.  
 

The wait happens on the ship as they go through the organized disembarkation plans…self-assist first (seems the majority do this), and then those with checked luggage.  But the actual checking out is so very quick now….just a scan of your sign&sail card, and out you go.  You barely break stride! 

Our Walgreens test on Christmas Eve for the Dec. 26 sailing of a Carnival ship took less than 4 hours to get the results back to us.  For our October sailing it was faster, more like the 45 minutes you mentioned.  The current times are still fast, just not as speedy as earlier before Omicron. 

Here in Belize TODAY as a port on the Carnival Dream NYE cruise!  
YES, vendors, bars, stores, pharmacies are OPEN in the post area when ships are in port!

UPDATE:

We went to Guest Services as soon as we boarded and were told no upsells available.

Later, after sailaway and dinner, we noticed a number of cabins in our spa area hallway still had their sign&sail cards in their mailboxes.  We wondered if these were no-shows, so went back to Guest Services to inquire again.  This time we mentioned we saw what appeared to perhaps be no-shows, and could we maybe take advantage of that.  First they said that it is possible that some guests just have not yet gone to their (spa balcony) cabin yet (this was 3 hours AFTER sailaway), and then said that all upsells would have to happen BEFORE boarding the ship due to CDC regulations.  Not sure how accurate that it, but it sounds possible.  

So we will settle in to our cozy inside cabin (with spa privileges!).  It is fine, really.  I kinda of like the limited space.  Not as many decisions about where to put things, there aren't that many choices!  And I hear we will sleep well because it is so dark, so looking forward to that!  There IS an unusual noise coming from the wall against the inside, and it was there before we set sail.  It sort of sounds mechanical.  I suspect we are up against some of the inner workings of the ship, and I guess we will get used to it.  I have sleep headphones so maybe they will come in handy!

I am really wanting to love this inside cabin so we can sail for less for the rest of our sailing days lol. 

For anyone hoping to snag an upsell after boarding, I don't think it's going to happen. 

…..but wondering if there will be quite a few passenger cancellations this weekend due to CoVid concerns, positive tests, and cancelled flights.

We are enbarking on a Carnival ship tomorrow, and we are booked for our first inside cabin because it was a good deal.

I am musing that we maybe have a chance to get an upgrade/upsell to a better cabin if there are a number of last minute cancellations.  

I have checked our emails AND the “To-Do” list on our Carnival booking, and no “up” offers appear in either place.

We are checking in early, 10 am, it is our first Platinum cruise.  Is it worth it to ask at check-in if there might be an outside or even a balcony cabin available for us at a reasonable upsell?  I guess it never hurts to ask, right?  Wonder what the odds are?  I have never inquired about this before in the 20+ cruises we have taken.

Any advice?

Thanks anyone who has any thoughts to share.

CarolSW

Just adding my experience…..

Have been to the steakhouse once, and while I enjoyed everything, it was too much rich food for my husband and I, and we could not eat it all.  On land I can take my leftovers home.  On a ship, there is no good place to store them since the in-room fridges are not very cold, AND no place to reheat them either.  I am always left feeling VERY WASTEFUL because I could not finish everything I was served.   It did not seem a good return on my $38 x 2.

On our first post-pandemic cruise I decided to try the MDR filet & lobster, and it was just right for me. THAT is what I will be doing at least once each cruise from now on. 

6 minutes ago, stellarose said:

should I worry that my son's booster is on a separate card then the original? 

I do not think Carnival and the cruise lines are interested in our boosters at this time.  The protocol requirements only mention the first two shots.   Boosters are not a part of the cruise ship requirements at this time. 

I successfully took and used the exact model that is the second one pictured in the original post when we sailed on the Breeze 3 weeks ago out of Galveston. 

I am so glad to hear the World Series is being shown on Carnival ships!  I was disappointed not to be able to access the American League Championship Series during our Oct. 21-25 cruise on Breeze, but sounds like they solved that issue for the WS!  Great!  Good job Carnival!! 

I am currently on the Breeze.

It feels just as crowded as before the pandemic.  Lines to check in, lines at the specialty coffee bar, lines at Guy’s, long lines to re-embark at the end of our one port of call Cozumel.

To be fair, this is a 4-day weekend cruise, Th - M, which I expected to be more popular right now. 
I have not gotten numbers yet, but the comedy shows were SRO, the casino was full.  
I think cruising is BACK, and that’s a very good thing! 

It looks like FOX has hosted the WS for the last 20+ years.

And perhaps Carnival had a contract with FOX back in ‘17, but they don’t right now.

UNLESS maybe they make a special agreement just for the WS?  
That would be great for their Houston fans sailing out of Galveston next week. 
 

Of course, would be hard to schedule your cruises around the POSSIBILITY of your team going to the playoffs and the WS.  I am just a tad superstitious, and that would have put a jinx on the whole thing LOL. 

AND we are having a FABULOUS first cruise back since the pandemic because….we are on a CRUISE and that beats land ANY DAY!!  
 

This is just a heads’ up to baseball fans, especially those from Houston sailing out of Galveston next week.

I am on the Carnival Breeze right now, and there was no shipboard broadcast of the Astros/Red Sox game tonight.  
It was disappointing because there are many Astros fans on board since the port is 1 hour from Houston.

AND Carnival DID show the Brave/Dodgers game last night on TVs in the bars, but that NLCS series is on ESPN, while the ALCS was on FOX.

Now the Astros have clinched to win the trip to the World Series starting on Tuesday Oct. 26, and FOX will be the network hosting.

Unfortunately, my understanding from the Guest Relations desk is that Carnival does NOT have a contract with Fox, so baseball fans, especially Astros fans, sailing next week will be out of luck to watch the World Series.  😞

What we did instead tonight was to use one of our internet plans to stream the first hour of the game free from Fox.com, but then Fox asks you to sign in with your TV provider.  That wasn’t possible because streaming services are not allowed with the top level internet plan we had.  So we switched to MLB.com, and one device had the radio broadcast, while the other device (with a separate internet plan) had the Gameday visual.  At least we were able to keep up with the game.  
 

I just wanted to let next week’s baseball fan passengers know ahead of time so you wouldn’t t be caught off guard! 
 

Driving on I45 right now on our way to the Breeze!  It will be our first post-pandemic cruise and we are thrilled!
 

THANK YOU for this great review luckybecky!  So glad you were able to take advantage of the amazing  casino offer with your son.  Now that I am retired and my dh is not, I think I’d like to do the same with either my son or my daughter….or both!   I’m sure you made some great memories.  
 

Thanks to your review, I learned some good info for when I step onboard the Breeze in about…..1 hour!!  Can’t wait!

Here is a promo for this month only at EZCruise…..

Promo Code: October21

Online Only!! 

This promo code is only valid for ezcruiseparking.com online reservations. The promo code is good for $5 off the current online rates. Must use the promotional code online to receive the discount. There will be no discount on pre-existing reservations. This coupon is only good for future sail dates. This coupon is not valid with any other coupons, offers, daily specials, and instant savings. Offer expires 10/31/2021.

I am still waiting for my emed order that I placed Sept. 8.  It was to be delivered by FedEx on

Sept. 10.  When I checked status late that day using my tracking number, it took me to FedEx which said POTENTIALLY DELAYED.   An update was added yesterday (Saturday 9/11) that said it has at least arrived in Houston where I live.  Hoping it comes tomorrow.  I don’t need it until next month, but it would be peace of mind to have it.   

SHRIMP ‘N STUFF !!!!
Locally family- owned and staffed,  loved by local insiders!

https://www.shrimpnstuff.com/

Nothing fancy….. it’s unassuming and humble.

AND VERY FRIENDLY! 

Bar service also.
 

With 4 cancelled cruises in 2020, and none rebooked at the current time, my dh and I have taken to condo vacations on the beach in Galveston.  Have done 5 so far, and each time we go here for eat in or take out.  We also used them to cater our 12-member family beach vacation over the 4th of July.  
EVERYTHING on the menu is fresh and delicious.  
They also have breakfast on the weekends!

We love this place, and consider ourselves ‘insiders’ now too! 

The tiled loungers in the spa are curved to fit you as you recline.  Yes, they are hard at first, but as you relax, and experience the warmth, you don’t feel the solid surface as much as you feel the AHHHHH……

Watched you sail down the channel on our favorite ship!  So excited we are back in business!  Bon voyage!  Viva la Vista!

We have loved our corner aft balcony Havana cabana cabins on Vista.  They have been 90% private, other than when you are standing at the balcony edge looking up, down or sideways.   But I DO always remind myself that there are cameras in many places for safety, so I always act accordingly. 😉

Love that picture with the greeting in lights.

Do you think it’s real?

Or photoshopped?

We usually cruise this very week right before Christmas every year.  One year we planned to take my adult son, staying in the same cabin with us.  He was unable to go at the last minute.  We told them at check-in, but that was it,  He was just a no-show, and we ate the cost of his cruise.  Unfortunate things happen, and we just accepted it.  I don’t recall receiving a refund on port charges, but that would have been minimal compared to the cost of the cruise.  We understood that it is reasonable and just that we still had to pay the cost of his cruise.  Not saying anyone here is disputing that.  I think we are all pretty much in agreement.   Wish we could ALL be getting ready to board right now!

I would be delighted to see a 50% return in the spring, and 100% by summer 2021.  I have been resigned that it will be several years before we can cruise again from the US.