I am a first-time cruiser. I have some questions about my Itinerary and Excursions. (dinner, sailing)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Start: New Orleans, Costa Maya, Cozumel, End: New Orleans
1 Room 1 Guests
Interior
Jul 30 2022 - Aug 4 2022 Sat – Thu
Which promo should I take?
-Exclusive Early Saver VIFP Offer (OLA) gives me $50.00 onboard credit and price protection but it adds $87.00 to my grand total.
-Great Resident Rates Offer (PR9) Non-Refundable Deposit (Does this mean what I think it does. That if I had to cancel for some reason I wouldn’t get my deposit back. How is this a perk?
-Exclusive Resident Offer (I am a Louisiana resident) My total with this one is closer to $600 dollars instead of over $700 like the rest of the offers. I get to choose my room location. I clicked on it just to see and only the back (close to casual dining) and forward (close to arts and entertainment) are available. The middle is sold out. I would like a quieter venue which probably would be the middle which is why it’s sold out I wager. Would being near casual dining be the next quietest? Are the cabins even soundproof?
Should I add vacation protection? It’s an extra $95.00. Would this be unnecessary? I don’t think I would need to cancel for anything, but what if? Also if the cruise line itself cancels wouldn’t I get all my money back anyway?
Things I will do
Everything that is included in my price. Since I am one person being forced to pay for two rooms I will get my money’s worth lol.
Swedish Massage. I always wanted to get a massage, but never got around to it so I’ll do it on this vacation then.
Excursions
The only three things that were cheap to do at Costa Maya.
Segway and Beach Adventure
or Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
or Select Retreat & Mayan Wellness
Cozumel
Beginner's Scuba Diving. I don’t know how to swim very well, but as long as they have breathing devices and they don’t get in too deep of water I should be fine.
or Snuba
ATV Jungle Adventure and Beach. The difficult activity level gives me pause, but it is just driving, right?
Xenses- Sensorial Theme Park Save a Sea Turtle Experience
Do I have to pay for the excursions now? Or can I wait a month or so?
Maybe’s.
Premium Wi-Fi Plan $13.60 a day- Only because I might want to watch Netflix before I go to bed.
Bake Shop and Pie town class $ 30.00 who doesn’t like pie. I wouldn’t mind passing an hour or so making different ones.
Carnival Classics Workshop Class with Dinner $30.00 The picture showed chocolate soo..
Chef’s Table $75.00 Do I need to dress up for this one?
5 Pro Portraits Package Since I am traveling by myself it will be hard to take pictures with me in them unless I bother other people. So I thought this would do the trick. Does the photographer follow me around? Is it unnoticed if they do?
Why do all my excursions say NOT AVAILABLE ON THIS SAILING when I saved them to favorites even though I haven’t booked a cruise yet?
Covid?
I have two shots of Pfizer. One from Aug 2021 and another from Sept 2021.
No Booster.
I’m not doing any test.
If my CDC Vaccination card is not proof enough to board then tell me now so I won't waste my time booking.
What are the pro's thoughts on all this? Concerns?
If my CDC Vaccination card is not proof enough to board then tell me now so I won't waste my time booking.
In that case, you've just wasted your time writing that entire post. Without a test, you're not going. And since you're eligible for a booster but haven't had one, that test must be TWO days before boarding (rather than the usual 3 days). https://www.carnival.com/legal/covid...uest-protocols
If you reconsider or cruise line covid policies change, you should look at Norwegian Cruise Lines. They have ships with sections of cabins specifically for singles without that single supplement. And post your questions on cruisecritic.com where you'll get many more replies.
After about 15+ cruises (different lines, destinations, times), we've learned a few things:
1). Interior cabins are significantly cheaper for a reason; as are 'obstructed views'
2).Shipboard excursions are typically crowded buses w/limited flexibility or remote area access
3). First time in the Caribbean limits interest in repeat cruises to the same area.
4). We're unwilling to wear a mask at all times onboard - Further problem w/interior cabin
5). Gratuities, port fees & shipboard add-ons add-up faster than you expect.
6). Shipboard internet is generally slow, spotty, low availability w/excessive on/off protocols.
7). The FIRST and LAST days are typically only a few hours of boarding and un-boarding
8). Lanai (9) dining is overcrowded w/lesser food quality than dining room dining
OP, every single one of the questions in your post can be answered by the cruise line's website. If you don't wish to read all the fine print, then make a list of questions and call customer service.
If the statement says, "Not available on this sailing," then whatever you're looking at is not available on that sailing.
Instead of paying for WiFi and watching Netflix at night, why not enjoy the ship and mingle with other passengers.
And, as other posters said, no COVID test, no trip. You must follow the cruise line's rules; there will be no exceptions. Again, read the info on the cruise line's website for answers to all of your questions and concerns.
.
__________________
My posts as a Moderator will always be in red.
Be sure to review Terms of Service: TOS And check this out: FAQ
Moderator of Canada (and sub-fora), Illinois (and sub-fora), Indiana (and sub-fora), Caregiving, Community Chat, Fashion & Beauty, Hair Care, Games/Trivia, History, Nature, Non-romantic Relationships, Psychology, Travel, Work & Employment, Writing.
___________________________
~ Life's a gift. Don't waste it. ~
Why are you paying for 2 rooms? Do you mean that you're paying double occupancy for 1 room?
Mid-ship is more popular because you're less likely to feel the rocking of the ship. Personally I think the noise is worse by the elevators than by the music/dance/casino places.
If you want to save money, you can book your own excursion not through the cruise line. Downside is that it takes a bit more legwork and they ship won't wait for you if you return late. Upside is some pretty significant savings and usually a slightly better experience, smaller group size or better personalization, etc.
Why are you paying for 2 rooms? Do you mean that you're paying double occupancy for 1 room?
Mid-ship is more popular because you're less likely to feel the rocking of the ship. Personally I think the noise is worse by the elevators than by the music/dance/casino places.
If you want to save money, you can book your own excursion not through the cruise line. Downside is that it takes a bit more legwork and they ship won't wait for you if you return late. Upside is some pretty significant savings and usually a slightly better experience, smaller group size or better personalization, etc.
Add to all of that, when you take the cruise ship excursion, you will need to wait until everyone else boards the bus/van, then unboards it when you arrive at the next place, then may board a smaller boat, then disembark the smaler boat...& kids & older people slow it all down a lot. I lost easily 1 hour/day waiting for the constant boarding and unboarding of vehicles and smaller boats...over and over and over again. It gets old very fast.
The smaller private excursions have a lot less people, and less older people since the older peeps tend to use the cruise line excursions.
Trust me though, being quarrantined to your cabin with you travel partner for 6 days is a living h-e-l-l, & the chances of it happening are much greater than you likely think. It will destroy your trip.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
