Earthworm Jim

3 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

The lifeboats have a total capacity of 7392, while the maximum passenger capacity is 6631.  Then there are life rafts with a capacity of 3672 for only 1735 crew.  So, while she is required to have 125% life saving capacity, she has 132%.

Here's hoping the average passenger isn't more than 32% larger than they assume when calculating lifeboat capacity. Don't they assume 150 pound people? That's rather optimistic for modern day Americans. And I suspect cruise ship passengers skew even heavier than the average American.

Though Americans aren't the only cruisers of course. 

Is this any different than the announcement they had on the same subject a week or two ago? 

16 hours ago, skrufy said:

Suites check in at anytime.

Suites can do online check in starting 16 days before the cruise. But am I correct in thinking you really meant suites can check in at the port (Arrival Appointment time technically) at any time, regardless of their official arrival appointment time?

First time in a suite and I'm still trying to learn the ropes.

14 hours ago, jsglow said:

You actually choose your 'terminal arrival time', not your actual boarding.  And unless you are at least Platinum level, you do so 14 days before embarkation.

Suite guests check in 2 days earlier too.

First time in a suite. The suite perks say "Two complimentary large bottles of water".  We're both gold in VIFP status, which means we get a complimentary 1.5 liter bottle of water each from that. So we'll get four 1.5L (assuming "large" means 1.5L) bottles of water total?

Trying to figure out whether it's worth ordering water or we'll have enough.

4 minutes ago, BoozinCroozin said:

Then the 5% of you need to cover all of the illness and cancer costs for the non-smokers. Most stupid comment I ever heard!!! I guarantee smokers would still be gambling the same amount if casinos were non-smoking.

I would answer that by saying you should read up on the history of the Carnival Paradise before you make such a guarantee.

It's a win/win situation for you. First, the smoking gamblers help pay for your cruise. Second, if their smoking prevents you from going in the casino you also save whatever money you would have inevitably ended up losing there.

You won't need any illness and cancer costs from their second hand smoke covered if you don't go into the casino and expose yourself to it. If you do decide to take that risk, that's on you, not the people smoking. (OK, that's probably not fair. Since gambling is an addiction, it may not be so simple to just not go to the casino for some people. Not implying you necessarily.)

I agree with noslen that a big difference is whether you are a sun lover or a shade lover. The coves offer more shade.

Another point is I wonder if a trans-Pacific might tend to have bigger seas since you'll be in a big ocean far from land? I don't know if that's the case, but if it is there is the chance that those rougher seas could cause the crew to shut down the cove balcony opening covers some days. So you could have days without a balcony.

11 hours ago, FTLCruiseGal said:

When you say “last day of the cruise” do you mean the last day you are sailing or the day you get off the ship?  Carnival does not include debarkation day.  As one poster stated, look at your luggage tags to see what they say.

OP says they have 61 days currently and it's a 14 day cruise, so they must have meant the last full day since that will give them the 75 days required for platinum.

8 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Unlike 25-30 years ago when Vegas and Atlantic city were the only places to gamble in the US there's gambling in almost every state except a few. And now there's online gambling and sports betting via smartphone. The statement I made applies to regular and/or frequent gamblers who instead of a comped cruise would be getting comped hotels rooms with freeplay and meals fully paid for with accumulated and/or resort credit offers. In our case in Philly there's two casinos within the city and Atlantic City is 1 hour away. 

All true. But it still depends on whether one would have gambled some other way had one not been on that comped cruise. 

On 2/10/2023 at 3:19 AM, BoozinCroozin said:

Smoking should only be permitted outdoors, not in the casino. I know about 5% of the population will disagree with that.

But that 5% are disproportionately the ones who spend money in the casino. So if we want them to help reduce the price the rest of us pay for our cruise by gambling, I guess we can't complain too much if they smoke while doing it.

1 hour ago, kwokpot said:

Most gamblers would say their gambling budget is the same whether the cruise was comped or not, thus a comped cruise puts gamblers ahead of the proposition. 

That assumes you would have still taken the cruise if it wasn't comped. If you only went because it was free, perhaps you would have stayed home and not gambled at all. (Though there's certainly plenty of ways to gamble from home, so maybe you'd have still spent the gambling money at home too)

5 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

They want known spenders on their ships right now...best spenders they have are casino guests. They may not buy the photos or excursions but they definitely spend big money in the casino. A busy casino attracts casual gamblers to stop by on the way to supper etc who spend even more...it's a good strategy.

Do all these comped casino offers mean the casinos are busier now than they were pre-Covid?

Here's the 2023 prices:

https://profcruise.com/carnival-bar-menus-and-drink-prices-2023/

Look at it this way: The art auctions, much like the casino, are ways that other people are paying money which allows Carnival to sell you your cruise cheaper. If other people are paying for part of my cruise, I can't really gripe too much that they interrupted my jigsaw puzzle. 

Aruba taxi fares:

https://www.visitaruba.com/readBlob.do?id=27985

My assumption is the prices are in Aruban florins. One florin is currently worth 55 cents in USD.

For comparison, here is a link to Aruba taxi rates:

https://www.visitaruba.com/readBlob.do?id=27985

If I'm reading it right, Oranjestad to Eagle Beach is 12 Arubin florins (I assume the price is in the local currency), which is $6.66 in USD. Per taxi not per person, for up to 5 passengers.

19 hours ago, diverdon48371 said:

Where does it say that platinum members get a $25 slot credit? I checked and did not see it.

 I did see that there was a buy one get one free for the slot tournament. 

If you look at "What you get" here:

https://www.carnival.com/vifp.aspx?icid=CC_vifp-club_1866

One line says "Casino: Buy-one-get-one-free tournament entry (Blackjack or Slot only)**"

Note the double asterisks. Go down to the bottom to see what the asterisks mean and find this:

** CASINO – We are currently unable to host casino tournaments on board and guests will be given US $25 in Casino FunPlay®.. 

17 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Yes, you would forfeit it.  Your account needs to be zeroed out at the end of the cruise and the credit is worthless, only profits made from it.

If you decided to get your 25 in chips, you could always put it in your pocket and gamble it on a future cruise, giving you 50 to gamble when you combine it with the 25 on the future cruise, assuming of course that the program would still be in place.

So it sounds like you'd have to have more than $25 in your account at the end of the cruise to get anything. If you had $100, they'd subtract out the $25 and you'd get $75. If you had $30, you'd get $5.  If you had between zero and $25, you'd neither get nor pay anything.

If you lost $100, you'd really only lose $75 because you started out at +$25, I'm guessing.

On 1/23/2023 at 12:39 AM, johnboy036 said:

For the casino free play just go to the casino cashier and hand them your sign and sail card and they will add the $25 to your account and you use your free play when playing the slot machines.

And what would happen if you hadn't spent your $25 slot credit by the end of the cruise? Do you lose it? Do you lose it if you played for 1 minute and still had $20 left? Presumably you'd get to keep it if you came out ahead.

5 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

I love thread titles where you have to click on the thread to find out what it's about. It's like a little surprise!

Or you can hold your cursor over the thread title and get a preview of the first post. At least on Chrome with my laptop. Might not work on a phone.

On 1/18/2023 at 8:35 AM, Jasonsterling said:

 I assume a lot of smokers will just stay on board.

I wouldn't expect that would be the case, unless it was a port they were rather indifferent about and didn't really care whether they got off or not.  I doubt many would miss a port they were interested in just because it meant they had to go a few hours without a cigarette. Presumably smokers regularly spend that long without a cigarette if going to restaurants, shows, movies, work, flights, etc.

Enforcement will likely be non-existent in any event.

Sail & Sign Account Opened with Cash or Traveler's Checks

• Guests may activate their Sail & Sign account on Carnival.com, My Cruise Manager, Online Check-in, or on the first day of the cruise at embarkation.
• Guests must deposit cash (USD currency only) or Traveler's Checks (USD currency only) at Guest Services on the first day of the cruise. The following minimum cash deposits are recommended:
  • 2 - 4 day cruise: $100 USD per person
  • 5 - 8 day cruise: $200 USD per person
  • 9 days or longer: $350 USD per person
• Guests may add additional cash to their account by visiting the Guest Services desk on board.

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1138/~/sail-%26-sign-onboard-account

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

I was assuming all but him going. They wouldnt want the rest refared. Once the ship leaves they arent checking adult in each cabin. 

 

No show is what I'd do. 

Yes, but if he couldn't go due to work requirements, which might well be an issue covered by trip insurance, he'd want to file a claim. To do that he'd need something to document he didn't go and lost money. But perhaps Carnival sends you something like that which says you didn't show up and you lose your money if you no show. If so, it's not a problem and he can no show as you say.

I've never done a no show so I don't know how it works.

On 1/6/2023 at 8:55 AM, firefly333 said:

Or have him be a no show. Once onboard you can switch to the balcony 

Wouldn't you need a cancellation notice to document your loss for the travel insurance claim? (Assuming they have insurance that is)  Or would you get a notice just because you no showed?

3 hours ago, bucfan2 said:

Perfect advice.  In the event you run into that one-in-a-million situation where someone cares about vaccine stuff, have it w/ you.

Well, assuming the authorities in question will accept a photo rather than the card itself. But I agree you're unlikely to be asked for your card these days. And if you were, having a photo is better than nothing. They might well accept it.