mel7350

Hello, we have FTTF at the Mobile, Alabama port. I've done it before at other ports, but couldn't remember one thing. What time are we allowed to start getting on the ship if we have Faster to the Fun?

Also, is parking difficult at Mobile, Alabama like Charleston was?  Should I buy a parking pass ahead of time like I did in Charleston?

Thanks for your help.

Melissa Fairchild

OK thanks. So we'd just decide which beach we want and just grab a taxi or shuttle? That's good to know.

Which one do you like better for the beach day?

We are taking the Carnival Fantasy to Cozumel and Costa Maya. For one port  we want to do an excursion and for the other we just want to hang out at the beach. Do either of the ports allow you to just hang at the beach or do you have to buy an excursion to get there? Also, which one would be best for a beach day?

Thanks,

Melissa

FTTF jumps you to the front of every line, including the line to park at the terminal.

It does???? OMG! OK well we have that, so that's great!! Thanks!

Where is the online parking?? I didn't realize it would be that expensive to park!

 

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I got an email from my carnival rep showing me where to go....let me see if I can find it.

Here it is:

Port of Charleston

Union Pier Terminal

32 Washington Street

Charleston, South Carolina 29401

The Cruise Ship Passenger Terminal is located in downtown Charleston in the heart of the historic district. It is easily reached via several major routes into the City. The major routes into Charleston are via Interstate 26, Highway 17-South, Highway 17-North and I-526.

There are permanent highway signs posted along the travel route that will help direct you to Union Pier and the cruise ship facilities. Some signs are the standard green highway signs posted along major routes and exit ramps. Others are smaller sized brown signs with the international cruise ship symbol and arrows showing the direction to travel in the downtown area. Please note there are yellow A-frame signs also referred to in the directions. Those yellow A-frame signs are temporary units displayed at approximately 11:30am on embarkation days.

Union Pier Entry Gate #2 is at the intersection of Concord and Laurens and is designated as the entry point for all general cruise traffic.

Union Pier Main Gate is at 32 Washington Street and is designated as the entry point for taxis, hotel limos/vans, oversized campers, and charter bus groups only.

Directions to the Cruise Ship Passenger Terminal

Coming into Charleston via I-26 East

Once you are in the Charleston area

· Take Exit 219 – B (Morrison Drive and East Bay Street)

· Turn left at the foot of the exit ramp

· Cross over King Street, then cross over Meeting Street

· Once you cross over Meeting Street, you are on Morrison Drive

· Stay on Morrison Drive

· The street name will change from Morrison Drive to East Bay Street after you go under an overpass

· Follow the large green highway signs and the smaller brown highway signs to Union Pier Terminal

· Stay on East Bay Street, until you pass a U.S. Post Office on the right

· From East Bay Street, turn left on to Chapel Street at the traffic light

· Continue to follow the green highway signs and the brown highway signs to the Cruise Ship Terminal / Union Pier Terminal

· Chapel Street will change name to Washington Street along the route

· Turn left and Chapel/Washington Street onto Charlotte Street

· At the intersection of Chapel/Washington and Charlotte Streets, there will be yellow A-frame signs in the roadway with directions for ‘Cruise Traffic’

· Follow the yellow signs. These will be in addition to the permanent street signs already noted

· The yellow A-frame signs will direct you to Union Pier Entry Gate #2

· Union Pier Entry Gate #2 is at the intersection of Concord and Laurens

· The Passenger Terminal is part of Union Pier

· All general cruise traffic enters the area via Union Pier Entry Gate #2

Coming into Charleston from 17-South (North Carolina side of South Carolina)

Enter the Charleston area via the City of Mt. Pleasant

· Follow 17-South signs to Ravenel Bridge (across Cooper River)

· Go across the bridge

· Take Morrison Drive / East Bay Street exit from bridge (first exit)

· Turn left on to East Bay Street from the exit ramp at the foot of the bridge

· Follow the large green highway signs and the smaller brown highway signs to Union Pier Terminal

· Stay on East Bay Street, until you pass a U.S. Post Office on the right

· From East Bay Street, turn left on to Chapel Street at the traffic light

· Continue to follow the green highway signs and the brown highway signs to the Cruise Ship Terminal / Union Pier Terminal

· Chapel Street will change name to Washington Street along the route

· Turn left and Chapel/Washington Street onto Charlotte Street

· At the intersection of Chapel/Washington and Charlotte Streets, there will be yellow A-frame signs in the roadway with directions for ‘Cruise Traffic’

· Follow the yellow signs. These will be in addition to the permanent street signs already noted

· The yellow A-frame signs will direct you to Union Pier Entry Gate #2

· Union Pier Entry Gate #2 is at the intersection of Concord and Laurens

· The Passenger Terminal is part of Union Pier

· All general cruise traffic enters the area via Union Pier Entry Gate #2

Coming into Charleston from 17-North (Georgia side of South Carolina)

· Enter the Charleston area via Highway 17-North

· Follow signs to East I-526

· Once on E-I-526, take #17 to I-26 East – towards Charleston

· From I-26, take exit 219–B (Morrison Drive and East Bay Street ramp)

· Turn left at the foot of the exit ramp

· Cross over King Street and Meeting Street

· After the crossovers, you will be on Morrison Drive / East Bay Street route

· Stay on Morrison Drive / East Bay Street

· Follow the large green highway signs and the smaller brown highway signs to Union Pier Terminal

· Stay on East Bay Street, until you pass a U.S. Post Office on the right

· From East Bay Street, turn left on to Chapel Street at the traffic light

· Continue to follow the green highway signs and the brown highway signs to the Cruise Ship Terminal / Union Pier Terminal

· Chapel Street will change name to Washington Street along the route

· Turn left and Chapel/Washington Street onto Charlotte Street

· At the intersection of Chapel/Washington and Charlotte Streets, there will be yellow A-frame signs in the roadway with directions for ‘Cruise Traffic’

· Follow the yellow signs. These will be in addition to the permanent street signs already noted

· The yellow A-frame signs will direct you to Union Pier Entry Gate #2

· Union Pier Entry Gate #2 is at the intersection of Concord and Laurens

· The Passenger Terminal is part of Union Pier

· All general cruise traffic enters the area via Union Pier Entry Gate #2

Parking Information

Rates are subject to change

· $17.00 USD per day - for standard vehicles up to 20 feet in length

· $50.00 USD per day – for oversized vehicles over 20 feet in length (RV’s, Campers and busses)

The Port of Charleston features both covered and non-covered parking in a safe and secure location. A complimentary shuttle bus is provided between the vehicle parking area and the cruise terminal on both departure and return dates of the cruise. Shuttles accessible for special needs and wheelchair assistance are also available. Please note, guests have the option to walk as well.

· Vehicle parking is available on port property, in a controlled access area available to cruise passengers – not the general public

· The site is secured and patrolled by the Port Police during the cruise

· Pre-pay parking is a simple and convenient way to take care of your parking arrangements in advance. To pre-pay your parking now, simply follow this link http://www.scspa.com/cruise-parking/ or click here.

· If you prefer to pay for your parking on the day of your cruise, full payment is due upon entering the parking area. The following forms of payment are accepted: Credit Card, Debit Card, Traveler's Check, Personal Check or Money Order (made payable to S.C. State Ports Authority). Checks written on non-U.S banks and financial institutions are not accepted

· A color-coded claim ticket and permit is given to the driver upon entering the parking area. The larger permit should be displayed in the front window of the vehicle. The smaller claim ticket should be kept by the driver. It will help identify the parking area on the return date

· Advance reservations are not required

· Parking for handicap accessible vehicles with valid permits, license plates and placards

For more information, visit www.port-of-charleston.com and click on 'Cruises'.

Thanks so much for looking all of that up. I'll definitely consider it :)

No idea about the shows...

 

 

As far as parking, when we go out of Charleston we usually get there the day before and get a hotel. Then we leave the car at the hotel for the week while we're gone. We always stay in Mt. Pleasant, last year at the Mainstay Suite which is just at the end of the bridge from downtown Charleston. It was around $150 a night for a 2bd/2ba/kitchen suite and they let us keep our car there for the week for free. It cost $15 to take an Uber to port. Skipped the long parking line and the $117 parking fee for the terminal. Very good area, safe to the leave vehicle. Highly recommended.

 

 

Another option is to park at the airport and take an Uber to port as well. Not sure of the cost there though.

Thank you. I appreciate your reply :)

But we have 4 families going and we're staying at someone's house (3 hours away) the night before. I know everyone won't want to pay for a hotel so I was hoping someone who had parked there would reply. Plus we already paid for the parking online :(

Does anyone know what shows are currently on the Ecstasy right now?

Also, has anyone parked in Charleston? I have heard awful things about it so just trying to get tips to getting in faster to park and get on the ship.

 

I would try posting this question in the Charleston home port board as you are likely to get more answers over there.

I seriously can't find the port link. This board is confusing. I wish carnival still had a message board lol.

Awesome thanks!! You are cruising on my hubby's bday! I'm going in June. If I remember, I'll let you know how it goes. We are driving bc there are 14 of us and we only live like 15 hours away. I like the idea of stopping in myrtle beach on the way home...I'm going to look into that lol.

I keep reading awful reviews about the Charleston port, getting into the parking garage etc, taking 3 hours. Is this still true or are people just being negative? We do have faster to the fun, will that help? If not, I am considering parking at the airport and having a limo bus pick us up to take us to the port. Has anyone ever done that? Did the bus take you right do the door where we would get in line to check in? Or was there still a long line to get the bus/limo in to drop you off?

1. Always have the Faster to the fun excursion. It comes in handy in the parking lot lines at the port of Charleston.

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I have FTTF but didn't realize it would help with parking...this is my 3rd time having it. How do you use it for parking?

You did not.

 

You can get water, specialty coffee, and milkshakes now with cheers.

 

And it does not count against your 15 drinks, though they made me wait 5 minutes between a coffee and a water... kind of annoying.

Great to know!! Thanks so much.

Last time I got the bottles delivered to my room. My friend and I drank the whole case in 4 days. I ordered from the fun shop and they were in my room the first day.

**QUESTION** I thought I read that they recently added bottled water to the cheers program?? Did I imagine that?

One thing I forgot to include in my original review post:

 

I had read in several reviews ahead of our cruise that cabins on the Ecstasy had only one 110-volt electrical outlet in the living space. I was hoping it might be different in grand suites, but it wasn't. We had only one 110-volt US-style outlet and an adjacent European-style outlet at the desk/counter in the living area. There was an additional US-style outlet marked for electric shavers only in the bathroom. There weren't even enough European-style outlets on the wall behind the bed to accommodate the 4 nightstand lamps that were available. Just something to keep in mind if a passenger has a CPAP or other device requiring power at the bedside. We took a 12-foot-long zip cord and it was certainly long enough to reach from the desk to the bed (despite the fire hazard these cords represent. Keep in mind that I'm the safety/fire safety director for a large health system).

Thank you so much for letting me know about this as well.

This was all very helpful. Thanks everyone!

Is there a beach in Nassau that you can just walk to and hang out? Where you don't have to pay for an excursion?

Also, does anyone know of any zipline place close by? Carnival doesn't offer it as an excursion. :(

Thank you! Your reply about the beach was very helpful! :)

Is there a beach close by that we can go to?

I saw that it said AM and removed my comment about noon LOL! But yeah the FTTF gets you on the ship faster, your room is ready when you get on, your luggage goes to your room first, you don't have to wait in line at customer service, you are #1 on the tender boats to the ports and you get to disembark first. I have LOVED it both times.

If you purchase Faster to the fun you'll be fine to make it by 9:45. It's only $50 and it's so worth it. Even for the fact that you don't have to wait in line at guest relations. It said to meet at 7:15 and we got there at 7:10 and they were leaving. We were off the ship and in our vehicle by 7:30.

I just got back from a cruise on the Imagination and they still have Epic Rock and Divas and Epic Rock was AWESOME! We missed Divas :(

The comedians were great too.

WE got there at 11 and checked in right away, there was a separate line for check in for FTTF. Then we waited for a bunch of people to get off the ship and then they started boarding at about 11:45.

Thank you this was great. I'm about to go on my second cruise ever. My first was with my hubby a few years ago. Now I'm going with my bestie! I'm So excited!

I don't know why but I can't see the pics. But the pdf's of the Fun TImes and stuff really helped me a lot. i was wondering about those.