ginger123snaps

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35 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

You bought an endless soda package and you're upset that things other than soda aren't included? I guess it takes all kinds.

Who said anybody was upset?  Again, "It's crazy to me that water is not included"....but you are right it "takes all kinds" when you get responses.

I'm reading up on this as well.  Looks like fresh squeezed orange juice in Havana and Main Dining Room are excluded.  Not loving all these restrictions.  I just purchased bottomless bubbles for my boys and water bottles are excluded...which is crazy to me.

It's been so long since we sailed Carnival.  We had Mardi Gras booked for Spring Break 2020 and then COVID!   I have two cabins booked.  We have the aft excel suite and a balcony for my teens (they are 16, 16, 15).  Anybody that has sailed Mardi Gras/Celebration, please share you tips.

I just booked Jubilee for Dec 30th sailing. I had no idea the first few sailings were cancelled.  Looking forward to trying Jubilee. It's been a while since we sailed Carnival. 

Could it take days to remove a large boat?

We were just notified from MSC. We are suppose to board today as well. 

We were on Seascape in March and did our diamond dinner at Butchers Cut.  It says limited menu but it includes 1 side, 1 main course, 1 dessert all from a prefixed menu of items with at least 3 options in each category. .  We had filet mignon and it was great!  We ordered a couple of other items and with the 50% off...I think we paid $14.  They call it a taster menu but it's a full meal.  We had too much food and couldn't eat it all.  It was a great meal and if you like steak then don't miss it.

Past 3 cruises we have been on...MSC is always out of their specialty beer in the sports bar.  They start outed by saying they would have more in a couple of days....now they just say they are completely out.

I'm trying to recall where I heard this.  I want to say it from an onboard booking agent.  They are building a port in Galveston for sure.  The will start building the port in 2024.  

I heard this ship was coming to Galveston.  Did anyone else hear this?

When we were onboard Seascape we were told by the future cruise booking person that you could make a deposit for the yacht club and move it if you change your mind to another cruise in the future.  When I called to booked a yacht club cruise the MSC agent told me that the only way you don't lose your deposit is if you book within 90 days of the original sail date.  Meaning if I book a cruise for Jan 1 2023 and decide to move it....I can only move it to a cruise within 90 days of this date and not lose my yacht club deposit.  Has anybody moved their sail date further out and lost their deposit?

I was looking at the yacht club pool/bar layout on world American and see that it's similar to the world Europa.  We really enjoyed having the pool bar right in front of the pool on Seascape/Seaside/Seashore.    Sometimes we sat at the at the bar and other times by the pool.  We loved the easy access and being able to enjoy both at the same time.  Created a lively atmosphere for us.  For those of you that have travelled in the yacht club on Europa, how was the vibe?  Was it lively by the pool?  Also with more passengers in the yacht club, how was the pool bar service?  Did you see them coming around often?  What did you think of think of this layout?

1 hour ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

that's just crazy to me. We cruise, but we don't get any packages or internet, other than an occasional soda package for the kid. And we don't cancel because of the drink package prices.

 

Can you not cruise without adding thousands of dollars in drink, food or internet packages? These are OPTIONAL charges. It can be done, you know. And it's still super enjoyable.

Everyone's idea of a vacation is different.  When I'm spending $10K on cabins alone...I don't want just the basics.  I want to be able to enjoy.  We enjoy drinks and we also enjoy our WIFI.  If I'm having to add almost another $3K...NOT including all the other fees/charges...then yes it's not crazy to rethink the cost/value of this vacation.  It's crazy to me that you would be okay spending that sort of money for just the basics.

I'm going to cancel because the price of all the extras is adding up to be thousands more then what I expected.  The drink pkg and internet alone adds almost $3K for us.  We still have gratuities and specialty restaurants...whatever else they charge for and then you have excursions.  So YES...I'm going to cancel!  

Can't believe those cabana prices...it's absurd.  The drink pkg is showing eighty-five per person for us.  I'm just soooo happy right now that we booked a refundable fare.  

I've been cruising for many years now.  It's really is hard to see what is happening.  Cruising used to be an easy...all inclusive type vacay.  Things have really changed....coffee card, soda package, classic drinks, premium drinks, specialty restaurants.  I'm just glad I booked a refundable deposit.  We have two rooms (family of five).  I have 3 teens.  By the time I add the drink packages for all of us, it's almost an extra two thousand dollars.  Now you add on specialty restaurants, gratuities, any other activities onboard that cost extra (still need to research what all they charge extra for)....wow!  

Totally get that it doesn't have to be purchased and inflation....etc.  I'm just shocked. From what I'm hearing drinks are around $14 each so then there's that.  I just wasn't expecting such an expensive add on.  

Wow, it's been some time since we sailed RC.  I just booked a cruise last night and was looking into drink packages and dining packages.  I'm a bit sticker shocked.  I can remember when drink packages were around fifty onboard per person per day...we are at eightyfive now.....and same with classic packages.....those used to be around eighteen and now thirtythree!  I guess I didn't realize that now when you book a cruise you need to add almost 2K for drinks (family of 5)....I realize there are free options but I'm just a bit shocked right now.  Thank goodness my cabins were booked with a refundable deposit.  

Hi Marks tours is not available for the blue hole tours on the day we need.  Are there any tour guides from Montego Bay that ya'll recommend?

We have sailed the Yacht Club several times and have always tipped the butler and junior butler.  Never less than $100 and sometimes more....depending on service.  This last time on Meraviglia was the first time we didn't tip our butler.  He did not do any of the special things that our other butlers have done in the past.  No champaigne on ice waiting for us, no bottle of alchohol (he said you can drink from the bar), didn't even acknowledge us...we had to call him to meet him on the second day.  Oh and first day on arrival our toilet was dirty from previous passengers...ewwwww.  He was clearly busy with other things.  Even on the last day when we were waiting to debark he walked right past us without acknowledgment...worst butler service ever!!!!  Sadly we had 2 cabins in the Yacht club and had him for both.  I don't normally complain to cruise lines but I did this time.  His service was awful.

18 minutes ago, Captain-John said:

 

YC (and lots of other 'premium' concepts - NCL Haven, Celebrity Retreat etc.) pricing is simply astronomical and I cannot see how this will be sustained. Or rather, I hope it cannot be sustained - plenty of people are happy to part with the going rate at the moment - which makes it difficult for those of us who like to secure a good deal!

Agree.  NCL Haven was affordable in the early days.  Similar pricing as Yacht club.  Once the new CEO took over and they started the bidding process the prices skyrocketed.  We sailed Haven 3 times before being priced out of it.  I can't justify that sort of pricing for the Caribbean.  

Well good to know.  We are on the Seascape in March and July.  I will look into future cruise bookings to see how it all works out.  Thanks for the tip.

Does the upgrade to YC work out to a better deal then then how I've been doing it with the 30% off.  Had no idea you could upgrade the free room to yacht club.  

Well it was fun while it lasted.  We only recently learned about this deal.  We booked 3 cruises using 30% discount casino vouchers.  Without this incentive...I'm open to other cruise lines again.  Still love the yacht club but this was a reason to keep coming back.  They may be making more in on the room but when you factor in what is spent onboard, in the casino, etc....not sure this is smart.  Specially, when you consider that they are getting repeat customers with this.  

On 7/10/2022 at 4:29 AM, 8420PR said:

Is there any difference between the normal coffees (e.g. cafe latte, americano etc) at Venchi and any other bar on the ship?   I thought they were all the same, and the Venchi thing was more about chocolate (inc chocolate drinks and actual chocolates).

so I found the latte at Venchi's to be too sweet for my taste.  I actually preferred the lattes in top sail.