Joebucks

Are you really trying to imply carnival is 5x the price of NCL?

Did you really try to get pizza when it was closed, or did you just list every possible difference as a reason you decided you hated it?

They're in the guest services line now, looking for something to complain about

Is this question being asked because you want gratuities to be "free" or because you want everyone to "tip" equally? I'm pretty sure I know the answer. It's a naïve expectation to think that now that costs went up, Carnival is going to pay their own gratuities. However, I do wish they'd roll them up in the price. I'd bet they could actually discount the rate when everyone pays, vs just the people who want to. At this point, I'd assume those customers turned away from paying them, are probably not Carnival's best customer anyways. In fact, I'd bet the experience would be better for all if they were gone.

As like many others, it depends. I'm not trying to blow the budget, but I'm not going to waste time going back to the ship if it's too far. I've also had a lot of fantastic dishes at ports (and some overpriced average ones).

I was also pleasantly surprised that the Excel class have multiple bars that can make a proper cocktail now.

Welcome to 2023: "Whose responsibility is it for my timely payments?" Sounds like another instance of a travel agent not being able to "move the sun and moon."

More than half of the stuff listed here hasn't really changed since 2017 or you probably wouldn't have noticed otherwise.

Banking on arriving at a specific port to pickup your prescription sounds like a recipe for disappointment

Time will tell. If it's a big hit and cost-effective, I could see it expanding. Personally, I absolutely loved it.

We're all paying for the same thing and getting the same thing. You do realize that most people will still have a kept room when you return from shore with once a day service?

Who here has ever drank from a public water fountain? I have. People have probably had water go back into the dispenser directly from their mouth. I never understood the extreme fear of using a refillable bottle at the station. Like I get not using a cup on the ones where you have a lever that every cup is touching. However, when there's a separate button that you use to press with the hand opposite of the cup, I don't see a problem. You're probably more likely to touch fecal matter on the button than you are to get noro.

I bought my last pack of sunscreen at Sam's Club for $14.99 for a (4) pack of 9.1 oz bottles (sadly I haven't seen it there since). Even if I buy the generic Walmart brand, it is still nearly double that price. No matter how reasonable it may seem on the ship, it is still going to be more expensive than even the generic Walmart brand. I can only imagine what you paid.

A lot of people bring a lot of junk. I HATE cluttering up the cabin. It's only so small, and personally that bothers me more than having my bed not made up 2x a day. For me, I suppose I'd say anything that saves me from having to pay 4x on the ship for in a shop. Medications, sunscreen, cigars, etc.

The worst offenders I've seen are often Royal Caribbean cruisers. Some of them think they are the most elite of travelers. There's far too many people that snub their noses at Carnival (and have never tried it) or think spending more is immediately a better experience or makes them feel better about themselves. That's true with any vacation or experience really. There's millionaires sailing on Carnival and people financing their Oceania cruise. Some people think their AI vacation puts them on top of the world. Then when I ask about what their favorite experiences are, they really don't know. "Just the thought of everything included is comforting" is often a general theme. I could spend more on anything I want, my clothes, my phone, my air carrier, my hotel, my cruise, etc. For what? I guess I was raised frugally and learned we don't always need all of these things. Don't get me wrong, I will still enjoy myself. I have my 4th vacation of the year coming up in a few weeks. However, to me a higher ticket price doesn't do anything but waste money. If I spend $1000 more on my hotel, is that really an extra $1000 of enjoyment?

I have a name I don't like my name People sometimes call me by my name. I don't like that. I don't feel like changing the name I feel like I lost my freedom Why are people so mean This is how you Karen. Don't Karen.

Honestly, I still haven't seen a good explanation for why you booked a vacation on a holiday when that is literally the center of her expanding business. For years, I worked in an industry that would not let me have a vacation during the Christmas season. Nothing ever tricked me into booking a cruise on Christmas. At this point, it comes down to financials. Do you want to lose the credits or the business (and maybe future business). Which one is more important? IMO, if it's not some ungodly amount of money, I'd drop the orders. Customers are generally understanding especially if it is well-in advance. Personally, I don't know of too many people who lose their minds because they know in advance they can't get marzipan. You could also craft up a very polite communication, and maybe even give a small perk to those who would be impacted. Or even give options of when the cut-off is, how to preserve them, something. You generally lose customers by notifying them last-minute with "tough". When you give options, and notify ahead of time, the impact will be mostly mitigated.

Carnival has very affordable cocktails. It you don't drink a lot, you'll know it. Don't be fooled by the people that say both people in your party will want 5.5+ cocktails everyday if you won't want them.

I ain't mad at the menu being changed up. Also not mad about beef wellington.

Is a twin bed foam mattress cover THAT big and bulky that it wouldn't fit in a suitcase? I found this one at Walmart https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lucid-2-Premium-Soft-Foam-Mattress-Topper-Twin/47961469 Package Dimensions: 21” L x 10” W x 9” H; weighs 6 pounds It seems like far less of a hassle to bring it with you vs trying to fly it in.

What a game-changer that would be if we could bring on bottles in America. Also as a whiskey drinker, I much prefer a bottle in the room vs a drink package. I'll usually give myself a nice tumbler pour for the AM pool/lounging, one on the way to dinner, and maybe another one later on. A double or even triple pour saves so much time of having to go to bar. And if I want to go to the bar, I still can. I surely won't miss out on an Alchemy old fashioned, but it also isn't the center of the universe for me.

While I am certainly no expert on maritime processes, there seems to be a bit of economic principles here that seem pretty clear. If a cruise line could repurpose a smaller ship to save or make money rather than scrapping it, don't you think they would be all over that already? People already think they are the greatest penny-pinching companies there are. We've all seen renovated older ships or at the very least, opinions of people who are on them. There is only so much lipstick you can put on a pig sometimes. Extreme wear, smells, and outdated designs are some of many reasons why it's better off to start fresh. Smaller ships tend to be more and more associated with luxury travel these days. I couldn't imagine wanting to sail on a 30+ year old ship for such a price. People want modern. I also sometimes wonder what the future looks like. A few decades from now, I expect many ports to be unbearable with the amount of people they're going to shovel in. I also think some countries will be forced to adapt their current scenario and find ways to accept larger ships. I also believe there will be ships made again even on the mass-market lines that are smaller than the current mega-builds as some destinations will just need it.

A CD can absolutely make a cruise better. I have definitely been on a few cruises where the CD directly made the experience more enjoyable. Who knows what behind-the-scenes impacts that also improved my experiences. However, I'm going to have a great cruise independent of the CD. The question was can they make it better, and that's a yes. Anyone could make your cruise better. Your room steward. Your waiter. Your favorite bartender.

"What is it you like about cruising vs other vacations?" Is it the entertainment all over the place? No Is it the tons of included and specialty food options? No Is it waking up to new ports each day? No Is it the views of the high sea and beautiful weather? No Is the variety you get at a great price? No It's an empty trash can and fresh towels!!! Some of you are just hilarious to read. It sounds like some of you hypochondriacs need to wash your behind better. Because we don't need you bringing in more fecal matter in the pools, hot tubs, doorknobs, railing, basically everywhere where everyone else's poop already is. I honestly don't know how so many of you have overflowing trash cans unless they are emptied 2x each day. Us 2 couldn't fill ours if we tried. What are you stuffing in there? Diapers? Entire dinner plates? 12 pack of beer? To us, it's a silly concept that we need more than 1x a day (and would survive even without that). In fact, we really dislike is when we want to go back to the room, and we caught them in the middle of a service. 1x makes it a lot easier to plan around. I've never been denied anything I've asked for. If I needed ice, extra towels, etc. I get it. Again, imagine telling potential new cruisers this is a reason why cruising isn't special anymore. Whoever thought of the mass-market cruises as "luxury?" I'm convinced some of you just want to consume every possible food and service you can, regardless if you actually want or need it. You have a fear of missing out. There is a baseline of what used to be and/or what you think should be. Spending your "hard-earned money" entitles you to whatever think, allows you to berate the staff and short them on tips. Meanwhile, the rest of us aren't looking for trivial things to be mad about. We are out having a good time.

I'm shocked to see chicken tenders. That's going to be a LOT of chicken used.