mz-s

All bets are off for casino offers. I got some good prices back when I first started cruising Carnival, around 2014, due to the fallout from the poop cruise, concordia disaster, etc., tarnishing the industry. That was before I was eligible for casino rates. The only Carnival cruises I book now are free (I pay deposit, they give me the deposit back in the form of OBC) thanks to casino offers.

Well I know for a fact you are limited to 15 under Drinks on Us in the Casino, whereas before you were not. I know of people who would drink their 15 under Cheers (beers by the pool or whatever) and go into the casino at night and drink more comped by the casino. But now, you are limited to 15. Now if you're paying by the drink, and you're not looking like you're overserved - maybe the bartender could override it and serve you a 16th or more. But I think they just say after 15, you're cut off - to help stave off behavioral issues. But it's not a hard-and-fast rule I don't think.

I had a good PVP but he quit when cryptocurrency was going insane. I hope he was smart about it and is doing OK now. Every PVP I have had since him has been sub-par, so I just book myself or use a travel agent.

same here! Lol now that I don’t pay for drinks anymore I don’t really drink! They know what they’re doing.

Starve the beast tactic IMO

multi-serve drinks like that are a loophole! Buckets of beer too

They aren't testing anyone anymore so I'm not sure how this would even come up.

To answer your question, Carnival hasn't changed their dress code "on paper" in at least 5 years - so shorts are still not acceptable for elegant evening. But in reality if you wear shorts with a zipper you'll feel overdressed on today's Carnival.

my goodness why even bother with something like that

The last time I asked for proof in a different thread (that I think has since been deleted), I was provided screenshots from speculation threads here on Cruise Critic of other cruise line's policies - absolutely nothing from Carnival Cruise Lines. I think people don't understand (or choose to ignore) that a big problem many of us have with the current gratuity arrangement is the lack of transparency. Where is our money going? How much is my personal cabin steward receiving of my $16/day? etc. We deserve to know. I don't care how much my steward makes total - none of my business. But how much of my $16/day is he directly receiving?

This is what Carnival's documentation says. Birth Certificate Information The following are acceptable: An original or copy of a birth certificate issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics A clear, legible copy (photocopy) of a birth certificate that was originally issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics. The copy does not need to be notarized or certified. Birth Certificate Card A Consular report of Birth Abroad Internationally adopted children (under the age of 18): If the adoptive parent was not issued a birth certificate, we will accept as proof of citizenship, a Certificate of Citizenship by the U.S. and adoption paperwork. A Certificate of Citizenship is issued by the U.S. once the adoption is finalized. Guests may obtain a copy of a birth certificate by contacting: The Department of Health and Vital Statistics at: www.vitalchek.com. If the guest has laminated their birth certificate, it is acceptable.

You can still get the level of service you remember, but not on Carnival. You'll have to look at other lines. Carnival still offers a good product but yes it has changed a lot.

Well this is like the 5th time the president of the cruise line is saying they're taking it seriously, so you tell me...

Easter is actually one of the biggest vacation holidays, right up there with Christmas. So it makes sense your cruise would be near sold out.

You can disregard your port arrival appointment and arrive to the pier whenever you'd like then. Platinum, Diamond, and Suite guests can arrive at any time. You will still need to select one when you check in however.

What is an acceptable level of illegal drug use around you and your family on your vacation, in your opinion?

This site is cruise critic after all, we critique every aspect of the cruise experience.

People being told to sit at home for months at a time it's incredible how quickly they turned feral.

Indeed - a lot of boomers may not know that marijuana today is much more potent than it was when Cheech and Chong were around.

You can smoke cigars in outdoor smoking areas, just not in the casino. You cannot smoke marijuana anywhere on board.

Cruise ships have absolutely been used to smuggle drugs. No evidence to suggest that is what Duffy was referencing in this press release however.

Atrium bar is deck 7 (empress) midship, near the glass elevators. It's where you first walk onto the ship.

On Elation, go to Lido buffet area and keep going back far aft past the bar and pizza place. There are doors to take you to a nice al fresco seating area. Probably one of the more quiet areas of the ship on embarkation day.

No to both. Specialty coffee shop typically isn't open for embarkation (it is worth walking by just to make sure but in my experience it is not open, they are cleaning up from the last cruise and restocking on embarkation day), but you can order many specialty coffees at the atrium bar. MDR is never open for lunch on Carnival.

I still say some of the best food I've ever had on a cruise was on the Ecstasy. The smaller ships even though may not have had all the dining options as the newer ships - what they had, they excelled at. Glad to hear that's still true!