Last year we went on Carnival Pride to the Mexican Rivera. We brought two of our children with us. The room (balcony) isn't designed very well. When you enter the room, the bathroom is on the left, (closets on the right). The bunk and the bed underneath is right next to the bed.
I have learned from crusing before to bring extension cords to plug in a night light, plus a way to plug in our cells, etc. Unfortunately, on the last night, they require you put all of your luggage OUTSIDE your stateroom, well the extension cord was packed, and of course I got up to go to the bathroom and SMACKED my head so hard on the bunk (such a stupid location) when I woke up in the morning, my entire head was covered with blood.
I should of notified Carnival of the design flaw, but didn't feel like hasseling with it. If you book a room with the bunk feature, INSIST they put something soft on the corner just in case you do the same stupid thing I did.
SherryBabie Love 2 Cruise W/U
Posts: 1 | Location: Oceanside, CA | Registered: June 22, 2008
Gosh, that is a terrible thing to have happen. I did something simular in my bedroom at home while getting up in the dark. I had moved a glass top end table to a different location to put my suitcase on while packing for a cruise 2 years ago. I got up in the middle of the night and bumped into it pretty hard, resulting in a pretty bad cut and bruise on my leg.
The take away from SherryBabie's terrible accident should be to leave on a light source in unfamiliar surroundings. Whether it is in a cruise cabin, a hotel room, or one's own home (especially if you move something).
Before I started taking a night light, we would leave the light on in the bathroom, and the door opened a little.
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Unfortunately, on the last night, they require you put all of your luggage OUTSIDE your stateroom,
While I have great deal of empathy for this awful accident, I have to correct this statement. Carnival does not require anyone to put all of their luggage out. There is the "self assist" option. I put out everything except the backpacks, which we carry off board. Mine usually has my clothes from the night before, my camera and valuables, and the powerstrip and night light in it.
I am so glad you posted this. If this helps anyone to avoid a simular accident, it will be well worth it.
The first balcony we ever booked was a balcony guaranteed with Princess. We got a cabin with 4 berth beds. We have never booked a guaranteed cabin again because of that.
We asked to be moved but were told that there was nothing else available. To show our displeasure we would take two mattresses off of two berths every night and put them next to each other on the floor and sometimes on the balcony. The room steward never said anything; he just kept putting them back in place.
The first balcony we ever booked was a balcony guaranteed with Princess. We got a cabin with 4 berth beds. We have never booked a guaranteed cabin again because of that.
We asked to be moved but were told that there was nothing else available. To show our displeasure we would take two mattresses off of two berths every night and put them next to each other on the floor and sometimes on the balcony. The room steward never said anything; he just kept putting them back in place.
7thSon, That was an awful thing to do to the Steward!
They had absolutely nothing to do with your cabin assignment. In fact, no one on the ship probably had anything to do with it. The Ship Coordinators are land based. The ships usually sail full, so they had no place to move you to.
My suggestion is, if you don't like the luck of the draw with guarantees, is to book an assigned cabin in the future. Please don't take your dissatisfaction out on the crew.
Dwayne
Posts: 4986 | Location: South Carolina | Registered: August 22, 2005
I agree it was a very improper thing to do. Not only could the mattresses been damaged, but you took a lot of time away from your cabin steward. Why would you be upset anyway? I have stayed in cabins many times with upper berths. I have never considered them in the way when they're folded up.
We asked to be moved but were told that there was nothing else available.
So what were they supposed to do? Come in and remove the upper berths? I don't understand why it was a problem anyway. When folded into the wall or ceiling they are not in the way. Are you saying the upper berths were lowered into position?
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To show our displeasure we would take two mattresses off of two berths every night and put them next to each other on the floor and sometimes on the balcony.
You willingly let the cruise line pick your cabin and then blame the cabin steward. Sort of like yelling at the convenience store clerk over their gas prices. Any guesses as to who won the crew's award for most annoying passenger of the cruise?
7thson, do you think the Cabin Steward had any idea that your mattress tricks were to show displeasure in any way? He was probably laughing his head off with his fellow crew members about the people who paid so much for a balcony room and then ended up sleeping on mattresses on the floor.
Thanks for all of the suggestions about not taking a balcony guarantee. I wish that I would have known about these forums at that time and I could have gotten better info than what the TA recommended. It was the first time that we booked a balcony and the TA told us that that was the best was to do it.
In my original post I wrote that we never booked a guaranteed cabin again.
The main reason that we put the mattresses on the floor was because we requested a double bed and we wanted to sleep next to each other not on separate bunks.
The main reason that we put the mattresses on the floor was because we requested a double bed and we wanted to sleep next to each other not on separate bunks.
I don't understand. Are you saying you had twin beds in your room rather than a double bed?
Do you know that all twin beds can be pushed together by the room steward and made up as a double bed? That's what most double beds are on a cruise ship, twins that are made up as a double. Did you tell the room steward that you would like your beds together instead of apart?
The main reason that we put the mattresses on the floor was because we requested a double bed and we wanted to sleep next to each other not on separate bunks.
I don't understand. Are you saying you had twin beds in your room rather than a double bed?
Do you know that all twin beds can be pushed together by the room steward and made up as a double bed? That's what most double beds are on a cruise ship, twins that are made up as a double. Did you tell the room steward that you would like your beds together instead of apart?
Sandy
All 4 beds were built into the wall like murphey beds or beds in a studio apartment. They were attached to the walls and could not be moved. They were on a hinge and stacked like bunk beds. 2 beds on each side of the room. All 4 beds could be swung up into the wall. I guess this would be a good arrangement for a family of 4 and the parents weren't interested in romance or if you wanted to have room to have others for square dancing but when you are celebrating a anniversary it doesn't work. Even if it wasn't our anniversary any trip is a special occasion and we want to be able to sleep together.
I don't really want or expect any special treatment just because it is our anniversary (I always crack up when posters will be <removed> because it was their anniversary, honeymoon or birthday and they were disappointed that they crew did not bow down and kiss their <removed>. Mostly everyone on a cruise is celebrating a special occasion of some sort even if it is just celebrating life and having a good time. I wouldn't expect the crew to give anyone any more attention than any other passengers because we should all be treated the same and if not then we were cheated. Since that cruise we don't indicate celebrating a special occasion because we don't like the embarrassment of the crew singing at dinner or any other acknowledgment) but when they ask if there is a special occasion that you are celebrating you would think that they would use a little common sense and not give you a cabin with bunk beds.
As I posted before we will never ever take a guaranteed cabin. We now pick our room as we are not willing to leave it to chance. The more you cruise the more you learn about what is comfortable for you and what to avoid. Everyone has different needs and comfort levels. All you can do is read all the posts and sift the <removed> from the sand and make your own opinion.
<Edited borderline and thinly disguised words>
This message has been edited. Last edited by: IslandCruz,
I want to make sure that everyone knows 7thSon's experience did not happen on Carnival. This thread could be confusing for readers of the forum who may think it relates to Guaranteed Balconies on Carnival.
