NEW YEAR CARIBEAN CRUISE FOR 2008

[Kuna]

Kuna is green with envy...   

[spiffy4JC]

Welcome Aboard catzenmouse and KenC! Welcome Robert and Olga!
This looks like it's going to be a great time!
It was a pleasure helping you secure your staterooms on the Carnival Triumph, and feel free to call me with any questions. The great thing about everyone belonging to the boards is it's a great way to talk about the cruise activities, the ports, and share information that everyone finds (and to get a warning about which balconies are within throwing distance for legal!). I will post things that may be of interest too in the coming months to help everyone get the most out of their cruise.
Also, anyone that is interested please call me whenever possible. Prices rise as the ship fills, and their will never be a better choice of rooms than this month, while most families try to tackle spring break and summer plans! I would love to see everyone close together in room assignments and price, but because of the holiday I can only assure that with a deposit.  As was mentioned earlier by one of the "pioneers",  there is only a deposit necessary to lock in the rate and stateroom of your choice. Carnival will allow anyone in the group to back out or up/down grade their room until October penalty-free. This also applies for anyone who would like to just pay and full and be done with it. Think of it as complimentary insurance. Now Legal will chime in with the "fine print"... jk!   Thanks again Legal for spearheading this event. Talk to everyone soon!

Derek Albinson

1-800-CARNIVAL  opt 2, opt 3, please use ext 86297
or 1-866-455-8196 ext 86297

M-TH 11:30-8:00
Fri 9-6  EST

[I/O]

I/O's started chewin' this one over more than half seriously.  Could I inflict such pain on these poor unsuspecting people?    Gotta dig up the info on whether it is viable for Miss (By then Mrs) Siberia to get a visa out of Au to the USA.  She want's in 100%. 

I'll check back in when I have more info. :noidea:

I/O

   

[Turboguy]

For those who try to call Derek his hours are 11 - 8

I gotta be totally out of my mind for doing this but I will be booking our room later today when he gets in. 

Our visa is in "Administrative Review" which seems to be getting very common these days.   You never know how long it will stay that way.  Often it is a few weeks and the record the other way is 8 years.   I guess since I can cancel and get a refund I will gamble that it won't be the 8 years.

[Shadow]

Regarding St Maarten, I think that Carnival will be able to ake arrangements. While they are under the rule of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, they aslo have a 'separate status' which means that not al standard EU laws and provisions apply. As they live mainly off tourism, they will welcome anyone who is willing to spend some $$$ regardless of nationality.

[Turboguy]

That would be great if they can.   Worst case scenario is we miss one port of call.

[catzenmouse]

I/O's started chewin' this one over more than half seriously.  Could I inflict such pain on these poor unsuspecting people?    Gotta dig up the info on whether it is viable for Miss (By then Mrs) Siberia to get a visa out of Au to the USA.  She want's in 100%. 

I'll check back in when I have more info. :noidea:

I/O

I/O,

 Bring it on my friend! We like pain!!!  

 The more we get the better it will be for all. Of course, if you come then our wives will spend most of the trip talking about "home" and ignoring us...  

Turbo,

 This is going to be mighty tricky for you. Interview, Visa approved, Marriage, AOS/Advance Parole filed, AP approved and in your hands by end of year. Wow! Yes, it is a no loss situation to go ahead and book which is why we did it so early. Hopefully you will be in a good position come Oct. 14 to make that final call for a Go/No Go. Best of Luck!

Ken

[jb]

I have been advised by Carnival Cruise that all passengers are pre-cleared for customs and immigrations for all ports of call as they  board the ship.  If all the paperwork, i.e., visas for each country visited, (if you are not a US citizen) are not in hand, then boarding the vessel may be denied.   We are going to check with the Consulates before booking a trip.

[Turboguy]

Yes, I agree Ken.   If it were not for the full refund part I would not take the chance.    With us hanging in A/R it adds even more questions about the timing.   I checked on VJ and currently the average time for AP is 66 days right now but it can take 6 months just as easily and with the government who knows.

If Derek worked different hours I would be booked now but after jb's post I think I will wait and see what he adds to it.  It would be a real bummer to go to Miami and be denied boarding becasue we don't have a visa valid for the Netherlands antilies.   I had thought we might have to sit out that one port but if they won't even let us on the ship...............

[Shadow]

Citizens of the Russian Federation need visa for St Maarten, contact the nearest Dutch Embassy.
And do not be surprised to see a lot of black Dutch peope in St Maarten 

[jb]

Citizens of the Russian Federation need visa for Ports-of-Call for any Mexico visit as well.  Sometimes very difficult to obtain, especially on short notice.

[catzenmouse]

Will be very interested to hear more about these visa issues.

 I would hope that Carnival would have already had this part worked out with the destination countries as part of the package. Seems like a "no brainer" that they would need to make it very easy to do the cruise for anyone legally in this country.

Ken

[Turboguy]

Frankly, I think Derek should do some very serious research on this subject and post some information.   I see few who are signed up who don't have the potential for a problem.   If a nice big RWD group showed up and we were all denied boarding I think there would be some very unhappy people.

[catzenmouse]

I'd go for Tar and Feathering and Riding Them On A Rail Out Of Town BEFORE Lynching...

Ken

[jb]

We expect  Etna will have her "Blue" passport by then, but with the typical delays the USCIS has subjected us to so far, we can't depend on anything until it happens.  Better safe than sorry.

[KenC]

Just checked the website Shadow listed and it appears that Russians need a Schengan visa, but I will check later when the LA Dutch Embassy opens.  
KenC

[jb]

I see several people posting about the need for the AP before travel, this is important, very important because your wife cannot return to the USA after a trip abroad with out it.  Even if it's just a 7 day cruise~!

For those who are awaiting their K-1 ladies to arrive, remember she can't leave the US and return until she has her AP in hand,,, and the AP is trip specific.  You must list the reason for leaving the USA on the AP application, so you might even need a second AP to go on a cruise if you list her home visit as the primary reason she needs the AP in the first place...

[Turboguy]

Well sometimes we need to experience something to know really all the finer points.   I had the impression that once you had your A/P you could pretty much go and come as you want.   jb your post makes it sound like it is a one entry thing?   Can someone clarify this for me!   Thanks.

[jb]

The Advance Parole IS a single entry document.  It is designed to allow the FSU citizen to travel home to Russia or Ukraine during the AOS process, it is not a blanket permission to travel the world for an indefinite period of time.  You get a single sheet of paper which is used for each trip, and you have to request additional AP's if you intend to make more than one trip during the AOS process.

'taint the way you think.

[catzenmouse]

Probably best to go to the USCIS site under forms and pull one up. If I remember correctly there is a one trip checkbox and a multi trip check box but that was many months ago when I filled it out and my memory is lacking in many areas to say the least.

When we got Sergei's we got two copies. I've still got one as we only used one but I'm not at home so I cannot read it to see what it says in the fine print.

Ken

[Turboguy]

I appreciate that jb.  You learn something new every day.  I am beginning to think that my New Years is going to be spent in Pennsylvania.   Hopefully it will be so successful that there will be another group a year later.

Thanks Ken,  I will check it out.  Right now the possibility of being denied boarding and the one time A/P are the deal breakers.   I think the odds of her having her A/P are resonable but I think going back to visit her family will be a top priority when she gets the A/P

[jb]

My best guess is that the cruise is practical only for those men and their wives who have already obtained their Green Cards or citizenship.  Those awaiting AOS are prolly out of luck at this time.

But,,, I've been wrong before.

[Turboguy]

Maybe we could do something like a Miami or Key west get together for those who don't have that blue passport or a green card and have a big party with the other the night before departure,  or maybe a Barbados get together would be good. 

Or maybe I can spend new years shoveling the snow in Pennsyvania.  Perhaps there will be a nasty cold wave come through so the Siberian ladies feel at home.

[catzenmouse]

Perhaps there will be a nasty cold wave come through so the Siberian ladies feel at home.

TG,

 All that's done up here in WI is make my lady growl at me for taking her to "Forever Winter Land"! And you DON'T want to see the looks I get for it either...

Ken

[jb]

Ken,

My wife thanks me everyday for having the good sense to live in Corpus Christi, TX, where the normal wintertime temp is well above freezing and the grass and palms grow all year 'round.

And she's from Moscow...