Joebucks

I still don't understand. They still charge you for drinks and it goes to your S&S, doesn't it? Regardless, Carnival doesn't have to extend it to anything. I'm sure the real answer contains more complexities. They would likely need to introduce dynamic pricing because included drinks at private islands undoubtably would be a higher expense for Cheers. Only to get complaints by more people who now "know the reason" why their Cheers was so expensive, and wanting a refund if a port is missed. It sounds like more hassle than it's worth as a whole.

Got it on my everyday cash card. Can't let it go to waste!

Just sailed out of Galveston on Royal recently. Package worked on day 1. They said they could only serve certain liquors that had been taxed out of Texas, or something to that effect. It was not the full menu. The argument against Carnival citing laws is a silly one. It absolutely is a law that disrupts their normal offering. Citing a law does not have to mean what you want it to be.

Entitled cruisers, who have never had a hardship in their life, losing their minds over trivial matters? Since when?

While your statement is right in theory, there's a reason I said it the way I did. CFAR insurance is really the only thing I'm foregoing. In I don't even know how many trips I've ever taken, never had to use it. It is not something that would bankrupt me. So why would I spend more throughout a lifetime, to insure one of them? My card covers up to $10k per person and $20k per trip of cancellation for sickness, severe weather, and other covered events. I will not pay extra "in case I can't go." CFAR doesn't even cover the entire trip either. It covers about 50-75% of expenses that wouldn't be refunded otherwise. So I'd get back port expenses, taxes, and other fees without insurance (and who knows, maybe even something a future credit or something else if I pursue it). With something I have never had to claim, why would I pay hundreds of dollars to get back 40-60% of my cruise? Those numbers do not add up. Insurance is a lifelong waste to 95%+ of people. There's a reason it is one of the few remaining things we buy that someone is getting recurring commission on. It is extremely profitable. I maintain the minimal amounts to protect myself from catastrophic loss. That is what insurance is supposed to be. Not to solve your every inconvenience. I can't even count how many times I have facepalmed about the amount of people who swear by travel insurance because after years of policies, they saved $500 or so on one event. Yes. Plus, I have money saved in an HSA should I even incur a medical expense. I've grown tired over the years of paying for fear insurance that got me little in return. Instead, I self-insure and pay myself in an account that is always mine. It is never denied because of how or where I get sick, or how I claimed it.

Maybe I'm a little biased because burgers and tacos are amongst my favorite foods. Getting great quality ones, complementary, and right there at the lido, just far and away does it for me. Happy as a clam. Not that I didn't find anything good in the windjammer, but I didn't particularly enjoy having the venture into the buffet for my only option.

Absolutely. Maybe that "free drink" can also offer a 10% or so Cheers discount. Perhaps they could stimulate people to use their "perks" to buy more. Also, free drinks in the casino are usually only good in the casino, right? It wouldn't hurt to be able to get one outside of it.

Honestly, my question may be broad and not what they are looking for. I just want to hear what the future looks like. What might change, what to expect, etc.

As with anything, it's about the math and assessing your true needs. There is no "better" in every scenario. Personally, I do neither. My credit card includes travel insurances and my employer health insurance has international coverage. It would be silly for me to buy insurance for CFAR, (which I have never needed) to be insuring 50-75% of my trip.

I found the MDR and Buffet to be "about equal" for lunch and dinner. Some some trade-offs here and there, and splitting some hairs to draw a line in the sand. Carnival's Sea Day Brunch selection is vastly superior to Royal MDR breakfast. Complementary "Deli" on Royal is like 4 rotating, pre-made, light options, compared to the heft of the Carnival Deli. I found the Pizza to be higher quality on Carnival. Royal's pizza screamed of pre-made. Carnival has garlic, cheese, oregano, red pepper flake, and chili oil to put on it. Royal has tobasco, cheese, and oregano in the tiniest containers I've ever seen. My Royal ship was a Voyager class and didn't have any extra non-specialty venues than what was listed above. Some of the larger ships do. However, Carnival's ships all do. Having Guy's, Blue Iguana, Deli, etc. it wasn't even fair. The burgers in the windjammer were awful, dry, buffet burgers. Same with the breakfast burrito in the MDR vs a make your own, delicious burrito from BI. I couldn't even get a taco at all. Not that there would have been a good option. I'm not going to sit here and say "everything was inedible and terrible." However, like you stated for the price difference, it certainly wasn't a more premium experience, it wasn't even equal. There were many times where we found ourselves wishing we were on Carnival as there were no other options open than the pizza (in the middle of the day).

For all of its faults, I find it harder to select non-Excel classes in the future. There is so much more to do, see, and eat. It doesn't get boring. We spend a lot of time in Serenity, and absolutely loved Excel's Serenity.

The price, the amenities, the people, the vibe. It's a value and experience that is tough to beat.

They were all there for priority boarding and ensured everyone was aware

Marketing is a powerful tool. There are people out there who will choose to spend $5000 with a company because of a $200 "free item." Even if the next company was $4000 and charged the $200, WHO WANTS TO BE NICKLE AND DIMED?!

I just recently returned from a Royal Caribbean cruise. I can unequivocally say that the food was way better on Carnival.