12 minutes ago, Guindalf said:

 

When Starbucks discovered that they had to make it 'yuppified' in order to make people want to pay $5.00 for the cr@p they serve under a fancy name made with burnt coffee beans.

 

Next question?

For a second there I thought you were going to say Dunkin’ makes good coffee. Whew!

Real addicts come prepared. Bring your own fine grinds and enjoy. Sandwich ziplocks work best for your ground coffee. 

Vietnamese Coffee Filter Set. Also known as a Vietnamese Coffee Maker or Press 8oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01953YT1I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_gxUeDb59G9QWV

Any refunds are always made in the same payment form as received. 

If you paid with gift cards, then you’ll receive gift cards as refunded payment. 

Physical cards will be mailed to you. If the sum is large, they might arrive express carrier with signature required. 

1 hour ago, CA_Cruzing said:

As for the big box stores extreme rebating, the travel suppliers should be ashamed of themselves for doing business with them.  Rebating is simply discounting and that’s against most suppliers policies.  While I understand the advantage from a monetary standpoint, I wouldn’t want to have to rely on some online agent at the big box store if I got hurt in a foreign country, missed a flight, or had a travel supplier go bankrupt mid-trip and leave me stranded.  That’s not worth a $300 in-club gift card to me.  Plus, travel agents are small businesses (even the ones that work for large agencies are typically independent contractors) and I like to support small business every chance I get.

you didn't refute any points in your original post, which basically assails box box TAs because they give a rebate, which is identical to a non big-box store's TA giving you OBC.

from your posts, all i can deduce is you're a TA and promoting using independent TAs versus big box because you don't like the "rebate" but instead you'll take OBC credits.

clearly you're only seeing the trees in your own forest.

your statement above is what i am calling out. "That’s not worth a $300 in-club gift card to me." you seem to harp on a rebate and posit that only a "local TA" can be of help in your time of need. that's just untrue.

travel as you wish, but don't slam another TA because you prefer someone else or don't like that big-box delivers high value.

OBC gifts are the same as a rebate store card. you're just spending them in different places.

I'll stick with my 12% cruising discount structure. all because NO ONE else is giving me that discount level in addition to quality service.

10 minutes ago, ilovetexas said:

As for the big box stores extreme rebating, the travel suppliers should be ashamed of themselves for doing business with them.  Rebating is simply discounting and that’s against most suppliers policies.  While I understand the advantage from a monetary standpoint, I wouldn’t want to have to rely on some online agent at the big box store if I got hurt in a foreign country, missed a flight, or had a travel supplier go bankrupt mid-trip and leave me stranded.  That’s not worth a $300 in-club gift card to me.  Plus, travel agents are small businesses (even the ones that work for large agencies are typically independent contractors) and I like to support small business every chance I get.

Except most of that is opinion and hyperbole. If all you get out of bigbox is a "rebate" then you've failed to take advantage of their services. That's on you, not them. As for getting hurt, missed flight, or travel supplier going BK, one would buy a travel insurance policy.

TA's can guide you on those but any traveler spending real money on any trip will and should buy travel insurance that meets or exceeds their needs. One would be foolish to buy an expensive trip and leave it unprotected. Why not rip into the carrier (Carnival, for example) for offering and selling a minimalist travel insurance policy? I think you'd find more support for that argument than the one you made.

13 minutes ago, Mamadenenes said:

I am beginning to fear that my 3 teenage boys will be at a loss for activities. They don't need the slides or rock walls etc but some fun activities are needed. Anyone that has cruised in June have input? I know that in August we have a better chance of having some more kids on board. Hoping anyway!

We wanted to give the boys a slightly more sophisticated cruising experience but didn't think we were foregoing so much " to do". 

Glad to hear the movie screen was added!

just a FYI, schools in CA ended in late May. we've cruised in June and July (on other lines) and November too and all cruises had children on them.

as for activities for teenage boys on X, I have no experience to share. we have booked our first X cruise for this coming March and selected X due to seeking a more relaxed cruising experience and fewer children. that is our hypothesis though. we'll have to see how it plays out in reality.

if you're seeking to keep you boys occupied, i'd plan on excursions that map well to their and your interest. this way, they might enjoying relaxing some while on the ship. for our family, this strategy has always created a balanced vacation experience; busy and fun port days and relaxing sea days. 

8 hours ago, KorbenDallas82 said:

I was on this same cruise and it was my first time on a Celebrity ship. The crowd was definitely much older, but you're right...there is a severe lack of actual things to do on this ship and that makes me want to try Celebrity again in approximately 30 years. The cruise WAS relaxing though, so I'll give it that much.

Does that put you in the 25-34 year age bracket or 35-44 bracket at time of sailing? Just trying to add context to your reply of “try Celebrity again in approximately 30 years.”

1 hour ago, AAAAmerican said:

Dear Saint Greg,

 

Yes comparisons are vital to save.

 

Wth Cruise Compete they have always provided the Travel Agencies a way/method to Compete for business including all Fees/Taxes etc..

 

I like to, even once i get competing bids, to compare what other benefits each ASTA agency provides.

 

ASTA does require 1/2 million $USD Bond so kinda like SPIC.

 

Only one big problem is with RCL :NYSE firms as they say "You paid too little" , so they are not providing the REQUIRED Shareholder Benefit, as shown in the 10K. I hope someone reports the abuse !!!

That is kind-a like going into a Giant Supermarket saying you paid too little and no coupon usages allowed.eeh.

 

 

 

BTW: Did you know 3 years in a row a NewJersey Lady has been Carnivals largest booking agent worldwide. It is an ASTA Agency too.

 

 

 

I’ve read and reread this post ten times trying to understand what you are saying or point is.

So, can you please clarify your point(s) and objective in your post? I’m thoroughly lost. 

7 minutes ago, livingthedream1 said:

Does every ship offer this I have never seen this offered anywhere? 

First sea day, usually at 11AM in the steak house. On the Vista there was a demo for all pay restaurants at the Lobby Bar which served samples from each specialty restaurant. 

I don’t know about every ship but on my 7 cruises I’ve been to all of them. 

2 hours ago, 2wheelin said:

Definitely not the TA I am forced to use for a group cruise. Her cruise price is higher than online but she insists that is the price from CCL. I have asked her to recheck it two weeks later since online prices change and she refuses. Just emails me that “she is sure the price is the same” but if I find a better price let her know. Problem is I don’t know which codes are allowed in group bookings. Not all are. No OBC or price breaks and she is booking for a wedding with at least 15 cabins plus hotel and port transportation. I did the research and chose the cabin. Then she makes mistakes on the invoice. Never again with a TA. 

Wrong TA. I’ve booked with my PVP in past and while he’s super nice, I prefer the 12% discount. 

My family cruise last summer started at $5200 for 4 people. With price changes and my method, we cruised for less than $4324 total, for a 8-day S Carib Vista Cruise out of Miami (balcony on deck 7, mid ship). 

To to each their own. YMMV. 

3 hours ago, dave_k58 said:

 

I would bet that most TA's don't know half as much about cruising as the average visitor to Cruisecritic. Most don't know the differences between the ships, ports, cabins etc.  They can, if they feel like it, give you a cut of their commission as some sort of OBC.  A major big box club store has the best prices and the most perks, as far as I can figure out.

Those bosco TAs are awesome. I’ve moved ALL my travel to them for cruises, land vacations and car rentals. No one has beaten that deal for me. No one. Added value with their credit card and exec membership too. 

On 6/19/2019 at 8:32 PM, 2xsin12mths said:

Those who use a TA .....do you think it’s still worth it? Are you getting a better deal then just going on carnivals website and booking yourself? I have used a TA for 10+ yrs but feel like I do all the work. I pick the ship, the dates and the room I want, then I call her and she books it. I don’t feel like the price is any better than what I see online?

She prints and sends my docs but really I can do that. So why am I still using a TA??

( oh and I don’t get any “freebies” as far as onboard credit, a bottle of wine etc. I know some ppl said they get those perks with a TA)

i do my own legwork, book and then transfer to my TA. for 12% off on a cruise, i'll transfer to my TA every day. i don't need someone to book my stuff or choose my experiences. i'll do that myself, but the services offered on transferring plus the overall discount wins in my book to move it to my TA.

question, who's giving you 12% off on your cruise? answer, not yourself.

I gave up on listening to people “saving” money on their bookings years ago. 

For us us it’s more simple; cost per day per person to be on vacation factoring all discounts into cruise fare. 

Example, if I’m spending $1943.56 pp for cabin (1B) and taxes/fees included for a 10-day cruise, that comes to $194.36 pp/pd. Then I add in all my TA’s OBC/cash back and other discounts (12% is my usually discounts total, not including perks like drinks or $150 OBC per person) and my cost to cruise pp/pd comes to $171.03. 

Add on top of that the value of Classic drinks and $150 OBC pp and that’s how I determine the actual value of any cruise. 

We’ll use the OBC and pay grats with them so really we have no additional ship costs (maybe a restaurant or two).

To get hotel and meals cost at $170 pp/pd we see as reasonable. 

All of X’s perks bundling plus base cruise fare are meant to distract buyers from seeing base cruise costs and any extras cruise cost. Sure, some people don’t want to see any bills at cruise end. They’re likely the ones who will wrap up the complete price for all options and call it a good deal.

We’d, however, prefer to take more cruises and vacations and skip many of the perks because perks just increase fares with intrinsic value. How you extract the value is dependent on how you utilize the perk(s). 

Our cruise in Mar 13 2020 has now increased $900 per person. This “sale” didn’t offer much value to us. 

We live in CA and wine taste often. IMO, Carnival’s wine list is meh at best. You just might enjoy hitting a Total Wine at home (if you have one nearby) and buy two very nice bottles on their recommendations and bring them on board as your two free allowance. We do this and then fill in whatever we want/need while cruising and in port (drink, not bring aboard).

We go every time and try to arrive 30 mins early. We’ve seen a few different dishes prepared so our experience is that they’re not all the same. 

If if you’re a foodie it is time we’ll spent. Have a great cruise!

17 minutes ago, NightOne said:

 

 

Nothing at Pig & Anchor is safe for people with celiac  disease.

 

I spoke with multiple staff on multiple occasions including a ship officer that was supervising the venue when I was on a previous cruise and was informed that nothing at Pig & Anchor is safe. Not sure what they add to the meat or seasoning that contains gluten or whether it is a cross contamination issue in the kitchen or on premises but I was told it is not safe.

 

I even asked about certain items like the pulled pork and was told it was not safe and nothing else was safe either.

 

For lunch you can get:

 

1. Guy's Burgers

2. Blue Iguana Cantina - Tacos on Corn Tortillas - Make sure they wipe the grill and no other worker throws flour tortillas on them when they are cooking.

3. Pasta Bella/Captain's Pasta Bar on ships that have them

4. Seafood Shack with advance notice - your mileage will vary depending on the specific ship

5. MDR on Sea Days until 1pm

6. Carnival Deli

7. Ji Jis

 

i'd be interested in hearing what's in the BBQ join'ts food. please share. we've had zero issues eating here for GF (meats only).

as for your list, here' my observations, which are just that, observations.

For lunch you can get:

1. Guy's Burgers - SOLID CHOICE GOING PROTEIN STYLE AND NO BUNS. THEY DO WARM BUNS ON THE GRILL THO.

2. Blue Iguana Cantina - Tacos on Corn Tortillas - Make sure they wipe the grill and no other worker throws flour tortillas on them when they are cooking. - AGREED

3. Pasta Bella/Captain's Pasta Bar on ships that have them - WE DON'T EAT THERE DUE TO NO DESIRE TO EAT HEAVY CARBS

4. Seafood Shack with advance notice - your mileage will vary depending on the specific ship - YES, BUT AVOID DEEP FRIED FOODS AS THEY HAVE BATTER ON THEM. 

5. MDR on Sea Days until 1pm - AGREED, SOLID OPTIONS HERE.

6. Carnival Deli - HOT DOGS CAN HAVE GLUTEN, SANDWICHES ARE BREAD, DELI MEAT IS UNKNOWN 

7. Ji Jis - SOY SAUCE ABOUNDS. MUST BE HIGHLY SPECIFIC IN HOW YOU ORDER AND WHAT YOU ORDER

1 hour ago, oceangoer2 said:

This is interesting...we're looking into a land holiday after many years cruising.  Considered Sandals further into the Caribbean.  What time of year were you there, how was the weather/ocean (Atlantic side is generally rougher waters), and did the buildings appear old?  I'm always concerned that with so much traffic in these resorts they become run down.  Thanks for your opinion, although this is off-topic.

"and did the buildings appear old?" - nice trick there sliding in the "old" word.

while reading this thread, IMO, people a way too serious about age. age is a frame of mind. without "older" people there wouldn't be younger people. and if only "old" people sail X then who will sail when the "old" are gone? we are mutually dependent.

let's just all cruise and have some fun. i learn a lot from my "older" clients and i have a lot of fun with my "younger" clients.

let it all go. life is too short to B&M about age and how others experience life.

1 hour ago, Gatordad815 said:

 

 

Thanks for the Offer! She is just GF. Drinks lactose-free milk, but otherwise does not have to strictly avoid dairy.

 

I expect the MDR will be easy for breakfast and Dinner; I’m just more concerned about lunches I’ll be getting for her at various places. Even with meats, I’m always concerned about seasonings (the hidden gluten) and cross contact. It’s good to know the meats at Pig and Anchor don’t use seasonings containing gluten.

 

My additional questions, to the extent you have experience, would be:

 

1) At the quick service places that offer GF options (I’m thinking Pig & Anchor, Guys Burgers & Pizza Pirate), did the staff appear knowledgeable about exactly what was GF and proper procedure to avoid cross-contact? When staff appear clueless (on land and sea), we tend to just avoid as not to risk her getting sick.

 

2) I’ve read the Cucina place serves a pasta bar at lunch. Do you know if they can make a GF pasta dish at lunch, or is it just the bar?

 

3) Any experience with the deli? I know some deli meats are GF (Boars Head, for example), while others are not.

 

4) Any other input?

 

Thanks again! Much appreciated!

 

 

It’s good to know the meats at Pig and Anchor don’t use seasonings containing gluten. - always confirm and never assume. ask the staff what's on the meats. we try to eat clean and natural as in salt, pepper garlic, onion and other spices on proteins. we also try to avoid sauces due to many contain flour as thickening agents. the brisket, pork and chicken from my recollection are all seasoning based with basic unprocessed spices. we avoid the potato salad, and baked beans due to high carbs and sugar. we found the slaw to be mostly flavorless so i'm assuming it has mayo and vinegar.

1) At the quick service places that offer GF options (I’m thinking Pig & Anchor, Guys Burgers & Pizza Pirate), did the staff appear knowledgeable about exactly what was GF and proper procedure to avoid cross-contact? When staff appear clueless (on land and sea), we tend to just avoid as not to risk her getting sick. - Staff is knowledgeable but know that cross contamination is very possible. at Guy's, we order burger on a plate (no buns) with fries. we then top them off ourselves at the toppings bar. 100% success for us at this venue.

i'd avoid the Pizza place as you're asking for trouble, even with the Caesar salad they serve as i recall it having croutons.

2) I’ve read the Cucina place serves a pasta bar at lunch. Do you know if they can make a GF pasta dish at lunch, or is it just the bar? - Being GF, we just avoid italian food. we see the risk too high for just carbs. we'd rather eat protein, salad, fruits and veggies.

3) Any experience with the deli? I know some deli meats are GF (Boars Head, for example), while others are not. - IIRC , you can get a chicken breast on a plate with toppings. obvs, avoid the bread. i'd also avoid the falafel as most mass produced falafel has flour as a binder, whereby real falafel does not (chickpeas, onion, herbs, garlic and spices are the only ingredients in falafel with other recipes using beans instead of chickpeas - depends on which ME country you are in). we tend to avoid the deli as it's processed and prepared foods which we tend to avoid, except for Boar's Head brand. And i seriously doubt, and maybe i'm wrong here, but CCL doesn't use BH brand due to cost. Remember they're servings thousands of people and this isn't the Ritz.

4) Any other input? - sea day brunch is always a hit. custom omelettes, smoked salmon, capers, onions, mimoas, breakfast meats, all are always a hit for our fam. for lunch we tend to eat the cleanest food we can find on buffet and always a nice green salad, fresh fruit. you'll find fish options but make sure any sauces are flour free. chicken is usually good. at any asian station just tell them meat only, or get rice noodles and if you're soy sauce free tell them so. most asian sauces have soy sauce in them so be aware. a simple stir fry of protein (shrimp, chicken, beef or pork) with veggies is easy to enjoy.

and if you'd like any special desserts, speak with the maitre'd and the chefs will prepare something for you. mind you, they'll possibly get it wrong but they will work to understand your needs. you can also contact Carnival in advance and advise them of your special needs/requests before you cruise and this might derive  better experience too.

And at Blue Iquana, we get shrimp tacos in corn tortillas and top our tacos ourselves. Sometimes you'll have to ask for the shrimp. we've never had an issue with this. the fish, however, is coated in a breading type (think fish sticks) and we avoid this (and we prefer grilled fish anyway, hey we live in CA and fish tacos are a staple here. i even had them for dinner last night).

LMK if you need/seek anything else. You WILL enjoy your cruise and your daughter WILL have a great time. Many people eat healthier now than in year's past and Carnival is aware of food trends. Regardless of how much deep fried, flour based and unhealthy crap is on Carnival, you can eat healthy and have a great vacation too.

21 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

All sliced deli meats are gluten free, unless they are per packaged

this is not a valid statement, "All sliced deli meats are gluten free." unless you read the actual manufacturers packaging, you have a risk of gluten in processed meats. example would be if soy sauce is used as a seasoning. 

read this on autolyzed yeast extract which is in many processed meats: https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/news/update-on-the-gluten-free-status-of-yeast-extract/

Are you GF and dairy free? 

P&A is all meat. Brisket and pork and chicken. All DF and GF. 

Im unsure if the sauces have soy sauce which would make the gluten. 

We eat GF and DF and have never had an issue cruising. My sone gets custom desserts of chocolate and peanut butter. I believe the have ices for dessert which are GF and DF. 

Ask away way and I’ll do my best to share what I know. 

Dinners in MDR are super easy for GF. Fish, chicken, meat, salads, veggies, rice and some apps will work too. 

On 6/10/2019 at 4:39 PM, hcat said:

definition of OLDEN....Merriam Webster Dictionary

 adjective

old·en | \ ˈōl-dən  \

: of or relating to a bygone era

 

Not a Noun!....there are better  words to decribe older adults or seniors

crotchety. Oops, another adjective. Sorry. 

Isn’t the Miracle coming back to do Hawaii and then head to SF as her port?

Regardless, we’ve sailed Miracle, Splendor and Pride all out of LB and suffice it to say we’re look forward to Panorama. We thoroughly enjoyed Vista 2x and it’ll be great to have Panorama in LB. She’s a massive upgrade from all of LB’s ships of past. 

7 minutes ago, kimco93 said:

I have looked, and can't find the answer to what I need to know.  We have 2 formal nights on our Carnival cruise.  My family has to pack light for our cruise, and I also don't want to go out and buy formal attire that we will not wear again.  I want this cruise to be fun and stressfree.  My question is if my husband and son wear khakis and button down on formal night will we be able to eat in the dining room or will we just need to go to the buffet? 

Your proposal is just fine with khakis and button down shirts.

Mike, there a kosher place in Cabo right across from Whale Watch Cabo tours’ office. Check out their google reviews. Looked good from what I read. 

Yup, I took a huge leap here. Hope I didn’t offend. That’s not my intention.