mz-s

Also if you leave your phone in Airplane mode and connect to Carnival's wifi there will be no unexpected charges. Just make sure your phone stays in airplane mode until you get back to the USA. Carnival's wifi doesn't charge you unless you buy a plan. You don't have to worry about being billed for it unless you specifically buy a plan.

You can try using iMessage on wifi without paying for a plan. It might work. But it's not supposed to. Facetime will not work without buying a plan.

sorry, not taking that bait.

Cruising absolutely is not what it used to be. But the people cruising right now - folks who have never cruised before, or might have cruised once or twice years ago - would never know it. And as long as the people filling the ships right now are happy, more power to them.

don't hate everything - just don't let my brokerage account or the color of my S&S card cloud my judgement. I feel like my description of the deli is closer to reality than yours. No they're not gas station sandwiches, I never said they were although to be frank the quality probably isn't much higher than that. They're also not just pre-assembled an hour before either. For one thing they're frozen and served to guests still cold inside. At least that was the experience on the Magic over Labor Day. The Lido on the whole was not good that cruise. MDR was better but not great. I am sure that most of the time the sandwiches are made properly and they're at least warm.

Very well may, I don't think I've ever had a 7AM port arrival so I can't say for sure.

Irrelevant to the discussion at hand.

I believe the breakfast buffet starts earlier than 7AM. You can also order continental breakfast in your room for delivery starting at 6AM.

Yeah don't really need the car rental and most AIs that I've researched have transportation to/from the airport...and a Carnival balcony is an ocean view room obviously - but is otherwise absolutely not comparable to even the cheapest room at an AI. But any way you slice it, it's not apples to apples.

How do you know those were rooms released by a TA and not a last minute cancellation for example?

Hmm. I was able to get fries on Magic over Labor Day. They frequently were out and had a line of folks waiting for fries, but they replenished as often as they could.

They do not enforce it and there is no way they would know unless you get belligerently drunk and they start looking into how much alcohol you've had.

Reminds me of when Carnival released the "brilliant" new deli sandwich menu of microwaved frozen pre-made sandwiches and chips. People were pissed because it's disgusting food, and JH convinced "the beards" to serve us Ore Ida fries instead of potato chips and acted like he was doing us a favor. The point is they might bring back one option just to throw us a bone, but this change will absolutely not be reverted. I wouldn't be surprised if the omelette station isn't completely gone soon, replaced with pre-made omelette looking objects on the slop line.

It really comes down to the extras you need on a cruise vs. what's included in an AI. And of course the fact that they're really totally different kinds of vacations so they're not really comparable. But on a dollars-and-cents basis, it's not as cut and dry as it used to be. AIs are really competing against cruises right now.

They will not do a special menu. I imagine specialty dining will be difficult to get for that night so book it asap if you are interested. Depending on the itinerary, they might move elegant night to valentine's day but if that would make elegant night the first night or last night of the voyage that is unlikely.

Yes they do absolutely they can make the frozen drinks. Beware they are very sweet and very addicting haha.

Christine Duffy better watch out, you're nipping at her heels. What's the difference between the Carnival buffet and the hospital cafeteria at this point.

I get coffee at the coffee shop in the Amber Cove port area. I like it.

My guess is they have plans to move to pre-made omelettes that are simply heated up as they're ordered - allowing them to save on the most expensive resource in the world - which contrary to Carnival's belief is not bacon (labor).

I have used it 4 or 5 times this year alone, could not recommend it higher. It really works.

Again with the "but everyone else is doing it too" broken record. Yes we know the hospitality industry and cruises in particular were subjected to very heavy-handed regulations. That was then, this is now. We are all ready to move on. At least, I am. "I'm just happy to be cruising again" isn't good enough for me anymore.

What is that on the table, kwokpot? Is that a table cloth? Wow. I mean, I've read about them in books but to see one on a cruise ship...

I fully expect to see more paid menu items on MDR menus in the future (not just the steakhouse selections, but upcharge apps etc like we see on Seaday brunch menu which is a shadow of its former self). Hours reduced and menu cutbacks as we are seeing and discussing to push people towards the slop line f/k/a buffet. Further reductions in service - wouldn't be surprised to see housekeeping move to every other day or even only once per cruise. But to convert the MDR into a 100% paid restaurant? I agree, not sure it'll happen any time soon.

Yeah if they put you in a specialty restaurant because the MDR is full they shouldn't charge you. That's a racket.

They really don't care, you can even carry loose cans if you want (and we sometimes do, especially for shorter cruises where we don't need an entire 12-pack). They just don't want you to put them in your checked bags.