Bert64

I'm leaving 3 kids at home. I need some way to keep in touch daily, and $25 to use Facebook Messenger for the week sounds awesome. It has nothing to do with technology over taking my life or needing to know whats on my news feed...its an economical way to text message.

We did anytime dining and several nights we were in and out in under 40 minutes. Ymmv

 

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This is what I'm hoping to accomplish - did you ask for speedy service, or it just worked out that way? And what time did you go?

What times were you going for anytime dining for you never have to wait longer than a minute?

Going on Breeze next month and switched from late to anytime, but I'm wondering if I should just stick with late. Is anytime quicker than traditional?

From carnival.com:

A small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, juice, and milk) packaged in cans or cartons may be brought onboard on embarkation day and must be in the guest's carry-on luggage. A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12 ounces each or less per person.

I would assume juice boxes fall under cartons.

Ugh, I've been concerned about the connecting door since I booked for the Breeze in September, but it seemed everything that was left in my category that was in a good area was connecting.

I've mostly heard noise travels through the door worse than a wall, but, I'm hoping the other side is right and this won't be an issue. I'm an incredibly light sleeper and not a morning person. I hope we're not next to early birds!

Does anytime dining take longer, shorter or the same amount of time as traditional?

I've got a port side balcony booked for this same itinerary on the Breeze in September...anyone recently on the Breeze want to weigh in on what side they docked at? I thought I had read before that it was port side for all 4 places?

I thought it had something to do with the excursion times intersecting on the website?

But additionally, if the purpose of FTTF is to get on the ship faster, it would seem that waiting for a shuttle to fill up with people isn't the best way to accomplish that. If I was gonna shell out for FTTF, I'd make sure I was on my way ASAP, whether that's getting there the night before or getting in early that morning and taking a cab (or other transportation I don't have to wait for other people) straight to the port on embarkation day.

Week of March 21st here. I'd avoid the weeks before and after Easter.

There are wine packages available.

 

And you can get buckets of beer that are (slightly) discounted.

 

I just don't see Carnival coming up with multiple types of drink packages when it seems that Cheers is very popular.

What is the wine package? Is that paying a fee and then getting a discount on what you order?

I have noticed the last few years the price of the Cheers package drops in the Fall is this typical? I also am wondering why Carnival does not have a Beer and Wine package like other lines IF you don't drink mixed drinks it probably steers you away from the price of Cheers. I found NCL much better than Carnival in that regard.

As a beer drinker, I've wondered this as well. They really should tier the packages. I think they'd sell more, since they're now accommodating those that don't drink liquor drinks all day. I'd 100% buy a beer package that was cheaper than the all-inclusive one they have now.

We start school after labor day and have booked a cruise in late August with the kids to take advantage of better pricing, since in other part of the country, school had started already.

Actually thinking about doing the last week in August again in 2016, but they're trying to move the school start date up a week :cool:

In case you have a Citibank card and have Citi Easy Deals Rewards they have them too. I have purchased a few from them. Of course, you have to use your Citibank card to purchase them. They have the e-cards which you get immediately. I really like that.

I knew about Verizon Rewards...but did not about Citi! I just went to check to see if I have these Easy Deals, and I do! Thanks for the heads up. Another site for me to check.

I won a $50 gift certificate to Legal Sea Foods for like 35,000 points a couple months ago, and I could use another good snag like that. :D

What time do you have to be out of your cabins? And leave the ship? Breeze out of Port of Miami.

We'd be able to handle our luggage for self-assist, and we don't have to be at the airport until 12:00, so we are not in any rush to get off. But don't really want to lug our things around before we actually leave the ship (like, to go eat breakfast.)

Used it on the Breeze on our June cruise and it worked great. Didn't really need it as much as I thought with regard to the texting feature as we all stayed together for the most part, but the texting feature did work great when we did use it. It was nice to have to look up things that were going about the ship on a daily basis. I would say it was well worth the $5 per phone charge.

So the texting feature of the app is $5? What is free with the app?

I always fly into FLL when cruising out of Miami and we always get in early so we rent a car. I have never had a 1-way charge. I got a car from Alamo for our cruise on the Breeze in September for $29.39, inclusive of all taxes and fees.

Hotwire/Priceline is your friend.

Inventory control. That way they know how much is being served.

I understand that, but, they can still swipe your card to account for it without printing a receipt that you have to sign.

I don’t mind signing the receipt for $0.00.

 

It lets me know that I was not charged for the soda.

If you bought the package, it should be easy enough to clear up that you weren't supposed to be charged, right?

It's a way of giving you the opportunity to tip more, what's wrong with that?

Well, why include gratuity in the package price if you want your guests to tip per drink? And can't one tip in cash?

We noticed the receipt printing on our cruise this March too. A lot of paper waste. It would be nice if it could be done electronically.

I agree, it's a complete waste of paper and time.

And they have been having everyone sign a receipt for the last couple of years. They need to swipe the card so your picture comes up and they can identify that it's you.

Why do they make you sign though? I'm sure they can swipe your card to verify your picture withOUT printing out a 0.00 receipt (with a tip line on it.) Or, just throw away what prints out. I feel like it's a way to try to get people to tip more.

When I meet my cabin steward, I emphasize that I have no need to see a used towel on my bed every evening. After over 2 dozen cruises, none of their creations are original.

I actually started asking them when I became platinum; saves the steward time and energy.

Did your cabin steward seem put off by this? I would like to ask them not to as well, because I'd like them to spend their time on other things, but I don't want to offend him/her.

Have to agree in general. If you're on a Caribbean itinerary, an essential is the calypso/reggae/Caribbean live music. Maybe not EVERYWHERE on the ship but it needs to be there on Lido deck for sure.

I cannot agree with this anymore. I don't want to listen to Top 40 when I'm lounging on the Lido deck, enjoying the sun and drinking an adult beverage. Bring on the live reggae!

I'm going with a first time cruiser in September, and I was sad they wouldn't experience that "vibe"...hopefully Breeze will have it by then!

I didn't realize you couldn't use it on the private island. You can still use Royal's drink package on their private island's right? Carnival's beverage package seems much more restrictive, especially considering both in a room have to purchase it.

Does anytime dining take the same amount of time as traditional dining? Or is it shorter or longer?

I always fly in the day before. But this time, I'm taking the last flight out the night before, and THAT'S making me nervous! I would be a worried mess if I left the day of.

As far as costs for getting in the day before, if you're not requiring 4* beach front amenities, you can get a very nice hotel in FLL or MIA for not very much at all. I use Hotwire or Priceline and always get 3* or 4* hotels for $70 or less. My cruise coming up I got a 4* Intercontinental for $67 total. More power to those that stay right on the water, but you don't have to spend $150-200 on a hotel, and then another $100+ on dinner, and then also go shopping and pay for activities.

For 2 people, I can rent a car, get a hotel, eat well and get to the port the next day for under $150, quite easily, and have peace of mind. If I was willing to stay at a less nice hotel and eat fast food, I could do it for under $100. I can afford more, but just for a place to relax and rest my head (after you've done FLL or MIA a few times, there really isn't anything to do), I'd rather spend the extra $$$ on the ship or in port.

I get more out of the "negative" reviews, because the positive stuff I expect to hear and read about. It helps me to know the issues other people have to see if it would really bother me, that way I can avoid having the same problems, or just go with the flow if/when it does happen.

I do feel bad though for those people that post it on here. Posters here can be incredibly critical of things other cruisers experience negatively.

I don't get it though. They have juice on the Lido deck for free. If you want some for later in the day, bring a refillable bottle and put it in the fridge.

I'm not a picky person, but the juice they have up there is INCREDIBLY concentrated. It tastes like straight syrup. And, from what I remember, the choices are rather limited.

Just saying, for little kids (who are prone to pickiness anyway), giving them the sugary mess in the Lido versus "healthier" juice that they're used to drinking would be an annoyance.