BlerkOne

For some reason, Carnival has issues on Spirit Class ships trying to update the Intranet Funtimes which is where I normally download them from. I did manage to get them to post one from the current cruise, and that was all. I'll have to scan the Funtimes and post those. Maybe later today.

Maybe try to bring some organization to this chaos... Barcelona - Arranged transportation from BCN Airport to Hotel Gaudi with Welcome Pickups. They cost a little more - I don't care. In my experience they have been reliable and on time with quality vehicles. Especially with the amount of luggage we travel with. Sea Day - Diamond luncheon and 1st Elegant Night Valletta - Carnival tour - Mosta, Mdina, and Rabat - great tour. Messina - Carnival tour - Taormina on Your Own - Great non-tour Naples - Private tour - through Joe Banana - 50 Shades of Lemon from Naples port - Great tour Civitavecchia - Private tour - through Viator - Ancient Ostia from Civitavecchia - Great tour Livorno - Ship tour - A Tuscan Day in Volterra & San Gimignano Towns. This was somewhat disappointing, though no fault of Carnival. There was a huge accident that caused delays and a rearrangement of the tour itinerary. The disappointment was San Giminnano - the highlight for us - was moved to the end of the tour and time was cut short. Second Elegant Night Toulon - Ship tour was cancelled due to lack of participation. We simulated on our own. Ship tour was Mont Faron by Cable Car & the Landing Museum. Barcelona - Transportation to airport with Welcome Pickups Conclusion - another great cruise!

I failed. Okay. I didn't try. 🙂

The casino could replace the $25 credit with a bar of gold and some would complain.

Okay, made the connecting flight, we'll see if this fully loaded 737 gets off the ground.

Note to self: never fly international through Miami again. Ever

Before that, I was carrying on half gallons of liquor. Carnival didn't care. Free cabins, free liquor, free highest tier status. Some people do care. How many are on each cruise varies. I think there are more and more casino events and so more casino cruises.

I think it is a given that people who drink free (drink packages of any kind) consume more than those who pay by the drink. The more drink packages, the more competition for limited resources. There might not be a line at all.

To some extent, it depends on how many casino drinks packages are given away. That is bound to frustrate paying customers.

Debarkation was a breeze. I had arranged for a driver to take us to the airport. No problems. Now at one of the clubs.

The $25 credit was a CASINO offer, not a Carnival Cruise Line offer. Put the blame where it belongs - on the CASINO.

Our cabin also has a new, larger TV, so those likely went in wherever possible. I'm guessing a new phone system. They must have fiddled with the elevators (or maybe they were always like that). The elevator buttons don't always stay lit, but the elevators are probably still working. Once there was one that toggled endlessly between floors, but could be convinced to go elsewhere. LED lights in the ceiling.

It makes sense to dump the $25 credit. Carnival already wrecked the loyalty program by awarding sail days to cruisers on basically free cruises. More and more of the $25 casino credits were going to people already cruising for free and likely already had fun play. How many dips in the well do people want?

You're welcome, and yes, they do. New bedside lamps with USB and 120 volt outlet.

Got $25 cash last night on Carnival Legend. Put it in my pocket.

Any cruise beats staying home - especially with the weather back home. Electricity [for others] was off and on. Our generator hummed along unsupervised.

But I'm Diamond!

You're welcome and thank you! There is a satellite coffee shop. Right next to the pizza place.

This has been a great, but exhausting cruise.

Of course American Airlines wanted to make sure we didn't forget about them, so Travel Date: Friday, June 7, 2024 Due to an expected increase in travelers departing from Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) and a required temporary bus service to board the aircraft, American Airlines is encouraging customers to arrive 3 hours prior to departure to allow for extra time to check-in, clear the Security and Passport Control checkpoints, and arrive at the assigned gate.

I believe it, but strange how the only Italian port where the ship TOLD us to take our passports ashore was in Civitavecchia - where a lot of people might be taking trains. The next day in Livorno, a drivers license was okay. The authorities should have access to the ship's manifest to quickly determine if someone belongs. The Italian ports we visited were Messina, Naples, Civitavecchia, and Livorno. Today we are in France (Toulon). Our excursion was cancelled fro lack of participation, so considering taking an Uber to do the same thing. The cost looks to be about the same.

No problem carrying on a bottle of wine today.