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Reservations: Cabins, pricing, passport and airports

This page has information about cabins (shipboard rooms), pricing, passport requirements, and traveling to Miami (airports and "Fly-Aweigh" program).

For information on other topics such as baggage limitations, activities and entertainment, etc. please see Carnival's website. There is a page with "Frequently Asked Questions" which may also be helpful.

The cruise we are taking is a 5-day Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami FL, sailing on the Carnival Destiny on September 6 2010. Carnival's webpage for this particular cruise has links to pricing and shore excursions.
 
 
Cabins

Cabin status

As of 28 July, 2011, ILDA has 24 cabins available. If you want one of these at the ILDA rate, we highly recommend that you book your cabin as soon as possible. Cabins on this cruise tend to sell out fast.

Once these cabins are gone, either you will have to book a higher-priced cabin, or you may miss the cruise entirely if the ship is sold out.

Book as early as possible

This is not like a typical ILDA Conference where if the main hotel is sold out, you can get a room across town. By booking early, you'll be assured of having a cabin. And the earlier the better -- you can hopefully find a cabin in the price and quality range you desire.

It is far better to make early reservations, and then if you have to, drop the reservations later (up to July 7). Anytime before July 7, you can get a 100% refund of your deposit. (Please double-check with Carnival for any limitations or changes in their refund policy, of course.)

ILDA-reserved cabins

ILDA has set aside 30 cabins ($349 per person base rate) on the Carnival Destiny:

• 13 Interior staterooms, cabin class 4B, double-occupancy. Rate is USD $359 per person for double-occupancy, or $718 if just one person occupies the cabin.

• 8 Ocean View staterooms, cabin class 6B. Rate is $429 per person for double-occupancy, or $858 if just one person occupies the cabin.

• 8 Outside Balcony staterooms, cabin class 8B. Rate is $499 per person for double-occupancy, or $998 if just one person occupies the cabin.

All are first-come, first-served. ILDA's rate is fully refundable up until July 7, 2010.

In addition to the room rate, there are two additional charges. Taxes and fees are $62.01 per person, and there is a gratuity (tip) charge of $50 per person. Other, optional or potential pricing charges are listed below.

The rate for the 32 ILDA-reserved cabins is the same or lower than the rate to the general public; the only difference is that these cabins are reserved through July 7 for our attendees. After July 7, ILDA's hold on the reservations end -- you must choose from whatever cabins are availble to the general public.

Non-ILDA reserved cabins

If the 32 ILDA-reserved cabins are sold out, or if you want a different class of cabin, you can still go on the cruise with ILDA.

When you reserve, give the ILDA Group Booking Number (see above) to the Carnival Group Reservation agent. This does not affect the price -- you pay the same as the general public -- but it does put you on a list of ILDA Conference attendees, so that you are assigned the same meal times, etc. 

Single cabins

All Carnival cabins can sleep two or more people. There are great cost savings if two (or more) people share a cabin, as opposed to a single person taking a cabin.

Therefore, if you are going by yourself, and you might not mind sharing a cabin with another Conference attendee, let us know. With your permission, we will let laserists know via this page and mailing list announcements. Interested people can contact you directly and you can decide if you want to room with them.

• As of 28 July, 2011, we have no single roomers. Check back from time to time as this may change.
   

Pricing

Standard Carnival pricing applies to all cabins and arrangements. Please note the following costs; there may be others as well. Also, costs are subject to change at Carnival's discretion.

• Basic cabin rate. This is usually quoted "per guest, based on double occupancy". For example, a "$359" cabin really means $718 for the cabin if one person stays in it. If two people stay in the cabin, each pays $359. This rate also includes all food on board; soda and alcoholic drinks are extra.

• Government taxes and fees: $62.01 per guest.

• Pre-paid gratuities. This is a one-time charge of $50 per guest to cover dining room waitstaff, room service waitstaff and room steward. You do have to pay, we recommend that you pay in advance when you book. (You can pay onboard using your shipboard Sail & Sign account but this is more of a hassle.)

• Extra cabin guests. Some cabins can hold three or four people. The third and fourth person in a cabin each would pay an extra fee which is lower than the room rate; this covers food and other personal services. (Typical extra fee: $149 per guest.)

• Fuel supplement: We do not expect that there will be any additional fuel supplement (surcharge). However, Carnival has the right to impose a fuel supplement of up to $9 per person per day, if light sweet crude oil exceeds $70 per barrel on the NYMEX.

• OPTIONAL (Recommended for U.S. citizens):  Vacation Protection Plan. This is $49 per person for the Interior cabin, and $65 per person for the Ocean View and Outside Balcony cabins. The Vacation Protection Plan covers you in many cases where your plans might change. This plan is only available to U.S. citizens. Be sure to read the policy coverage details to know exactly what is, and is not, covered.

ILDA Conference Registration fee

In addition to the above Carnival fees, ILDA has a separate Conference Registration fee. This covers the Conference events. More information on who must pay this fee, and on how to pay, is here.

What if plans change

Reservations are 100% refundable up until two months before sailing (July 7). If you cancel a reservation after July 7, there are penalties. This is a summary; Carnival's rules and dates are the final arbiter.

• $200 per guest for cancellations between July 8 and August 8

• You pay 50% of the total rate ("Cruise-Only Rate, Air Add-ons, Cruise-Only Transfers and Packages") for cancellations between August 8 and August 29.

• You must pay 100% of the total rate for cancellations between August 30 and the sailing date of September 6. In other words, no refunds on or after August 30.
   

Passports (travel documents)

Carnival and ILDA highly recommend that all guests, U.S. and overseas, have valid passports from your home country. If you do this, you should not have a problem.

Additional information from Carnival is here.
 

Traveling to Miami

The Carnival Destiny sails from the Port of Miami at 4:00 pm (16:00) on Monday, September 6 2010. You must be on board by 2:30 at the very latest. We recommend that you arrive between 12 noon and 2 pm. The ship will leave from either Terminal D or Terminal E.

LaserNet has made arrangements at a local hotel, for the evening before the cruise (Sept. 5). If you are coming in on Sunday -- which is an excellent idea just to be safe -- contact Christine at LaserNet to reserve a room at this hotel.

Driving to the Port

Driving directions to the Port of Miami are here.

Airports and time of arrival

The two closest airports are Miami International (MIA) which is 8 miles away (25 minutes travel time) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) which is 25 miles away (45 minutes travel time).

Carnival recommends the following guidelines:

• Monday, Sept. 6: Flights into the area should arrive before noon. The absolutely latest that Carnival recommends is an arrival time before 2:30 pm for MIA, and before 2:00 pm for FLL. Due to aircraft sometimes arriving late, obviously the earlier your arrival on Sept. 6, the better.
       If you are coming in one day early, on Sept. 5, contact Christine at LaserNet. She has arranged a hotel for the night of Sept. 5.

• Saturday, Sept. 11: Flights leaving the area should depart after 11:30 am for MIA, and after 12:00 noon for FLL.

Airport/Cruise Transfer Services

Carnival offers transfer service between the Miami airport and the cruise terminal, for USD $16; the return transfer is also $16. Transfers between Fort Lauderdale airport and the cruise terminal are $32; the return transfer is also $32.

To arrange for a transfer, call Carnival's reservations service by August 29. After August 29, you would have to purchase the transfer at the airport from a Carnival airport representative.

You will be met in the baggage area by a Carnival representative. More information on transfers is here.

Carnival "Fly-Aweigh" program

Carnival can make airline arrangements for you through their "Fly-Aweigh" program. This may or may not give you the lowest available price, so you may want to check airfares before contacting Carnival's Fly-Aweigh agents.

Their primary goal is finding suitable flights which will fit well with the cruise's sailing and return schedule. For an additional fee of around $35-$50, Fly-Aweigh agents can make custom bookings such as having you come in early or stay later, finding hotel accomodations, etc. For guests from some cities, they may help book an overnight stay if that is required to make flight and cruise connections.