MsOne

Thank to those that posted the link...and to OP for asking for them in a way I now know why cruisemapper is helpful lol. Looking at our upcoming, 6 seems like a lot for one port. It's Cozumel which I've been to when it seemed like a mad house. But this just seems like it's going to be 😬 since 5/6 are showing sold out in more than one category (ours is sold out in everything but balcony -- think there's like 3 left). So much for mid-January being low cruise season! Children will enjoy lots of others their age being on board though.

And THANK YOU for confirming this is still an option. Some people have been very tight lipped trying to sway people to not do this. I also have the same credits plus some OBC from booking during a sale that offered it. So far, we've only booked a night in the Steakhouse with it...will see how much we actually use when we cruise in a few weeks.

Whoa, that room is tiny! I was not expecting that! Thank you for sharing the pictures. And details about the express elevator. That's usually the area I like to stay in on ships (just above Lido, inside cabin).

Excellent! I was just looking at a Panorama cruise last night...good to know 😀

It shouldn't if they know they're leaving lol. I said that meaning it's not like they'll get arrested or banned for not getting back on. Just like the people who don't get back on because they got left. But in the end, I think the best approach is to tell Guests Services they have a personal matter where they won't be continuing.

Thankfully my frugalness made me pass on the drink package my first Carnival cruise a few years ago. Why am I thankful, well it's not because I can't throw 'em back lol! First, the images of waiters constantly circling to take drink orders I'd read about was totally missing. Based on what I read online, I was expecting to almost be hounded by the waiters to buy a drink during the sail away party or sitting on the deck. And honestly, I was all for it to try a fruity drink and join the party atmosphere...but they avoided me like the plague! So I plastered a smile on my face and made eye contact to appear approachable and friendly and still no one approached me. Then when I went to the comedy show, I was there early, less than 10 people in the place. I thought the waiters didn't approach me because they were still just getting ready, but then they approached others but not me. I guess I just look cheap haha (though I was dressed nice), so it was weird. Anyway, I finally just went to the bar and picked out something, tipped the waiter in case I wanted something else later...and it was horrible! Watered down, almost full of ice, no real (or pretend) juice...just bad. And even topped it with watery Sprite -- actually topped is an understatement, it was about 1/3 of the drink. But the major reason I was so grateful I didn't spend that kind of money on the drink package -- a few hours into the cruise I felt so dizzy from the ship that I already felt drunk which made me too scared to drink! I came home with more drinks than I left with since I ended up bringing my bottle of wine back home unopened, and even my free bottle from the Steakhouse. So that's my experience. By the way, normally I drink nothing but water. However, when hanging out I drink liquor/mixed drinks (high tolerance). Occasionally I drink 100% juice. And since I know the water on the ship is all filtered (not like they're pumping it out of the sea), I'm fine with that. Plus the alternative when I sailed was Nestle water -- YUCK!!! Yuck times infinity! For those not aware, it's local tap water...says it right on the bottle. We used to get it free from a family member who worked there and still I say yuck. So in the end, the Cheers package for me would've just been liquor, but I felt drunk the whole time and didn't drink. I read later about ship stabilizers and apparently they are much better on Royal Caribbean, which I can vouch for since that was our next cruise and I did not have that feeling. That's even with it being a much older ship than the Carnival one. But, after both cruises no matter the cruise line, for about a week I felt the rocking feeling (a form of vertigo) like I was still on the ship. I didn't notice it on the car ride home but as soon as I sat down at our dining table it was like a HUGE rocking. I just wanted to sleep to get rid of it but would wake up still feeling it. Turns out, it is more common for women (check) and 40 or older (not yet but I guess I was close enough). From what I've read, riding in the car or being in the shower makes the feeling stop, which is just what I've experienced. Just adding all of these things for others to consider in case they're sure they're going to sample some of everything whenever they feel like it...just remember, there may be another reason you can't.

Ahhh ok.

No, it was on Breeze.

I wasn't sure if this was going to be our first cruise without going since we'll be with another group that I'm pretty certain won't go due to the cost. Also, this is our first time cruise where our son will be considered an adult, so the jump in price for him from $10 to $48 was not sitting well with me. But I went ahead and booked it now. Thank you so much for sharing your find 🙂

VPN worked -- I was using Cisco AnyConnect -- but there was still the speed issue. I ended up going to tell them it was unusable on about the 3rd day and they immediately refunded without me even asking.

Well, they leave people in port, so if you were to get left behind...

Just curious, is another child taking her place or an adult?

Someone asked our son to be in a wedding when he was 7-years-old, and when I took him to get fitted for the tux and found out it was a $25 deposit.....then a final price of $180, I left. Before I left, I said, I understand with boys this young we have to buy theirs (this was the case with 2 nephews previously), but that's a lot when he's going to grow out of it soon and probably won't wear it again. They said, "No it's just a rental." 😲 Anyway, in the end, I found tuxedos on Amazon for $28. Of course I waited too long and it went up about $10, but I was more than satisfied once I received it. I was worried about the sizing so I ordered up a size bigger (son has always been tall for his age). Turns out, the tux was true to size so I could've gotten his size instead the one that was a little big, but overall he looked awesome! Linking the one we bought Amazon: Spring Notion Big Boys' Modern Fit Tuxedo, No Tail

I think the real question here would be timeframe. A lot of people are doing pretty good if they can cruise once a year, so if these were offered 15 years in a row, versus 1 cruise in a 15 year period it sounds like cruising isn't that big of a deal to the person. But if they're assuming it'd be 15 in one year, versus 1 in 1 year, then it might not be as much to give up. But like I said, most people don't have that luxury to be able to take 15 vacations without it being a multi-year period.

One other thing not mentioned are religious beliefs and freedoms. What some call "honoring the flag," is idolizing to others.

This question was clearly not posed as the title implied. Instead of a what do you prefer, it is why don't you like I what I think is best. But, hey whatever, I'll still play along. Interestingly enough, I had this question before I started cruising because so many people kept mentioning how much I'd enjoy the balcony once I told them I booked a cruise. They were so confused when I said it wasn't a balcony lol. My only cruise before then was as a child back in (as my son says) the 1900s 😁....and balconies weren't really a thing. Anyway, everyone who tried convincing of the balcony told me about how much they LOVED waking up sitting on the balcony watching and sunrise (strike 1, I don't do early mornings) and drinking their coffee (strike 2, I don't drink coffee lol). Over and over, even on these boards, people totally romanticized this sunrise and coffee scenario...and occasionally sunset...or the, 1 person sits outside while the other is getting ready for dinner. None of this applied to me and after my cruise I had NO regrets about the inside room. Funnily enough, neighbors around commented on two cruises in a row about how awesome they thought our room was. One was even surprised there were even "inside" cabins in that area of the ship. I guess she thought it was too siddity for "common folk" to be on that deck lol. She asked as I was exiting the room, "how do you like the big window?" I was so confused, then I said, oh, there's no window. She just stared confused. And I chuckled and continued, "I like it dark like a cave when I sleep 🙂." Her daughter nudged her and gave her a look that said 'See! I told you we should've done that' LOL. So as you can see, I say inside -- even though our next cruise is not -- we'll see how this goes 😧. I guess to sum it up reasons can include, dark, PRIVATE, price, PRIVATE, and the way I look at it -- the whole ship is a balcony! I'm not missing anything by not having one when I want to sleep. I also really like being out in open water, going to bed and waking getting ready as usual, then when I walk out it's like "Wowwwww we're approaching another country! Look at that island!" All while on the way to breakfast. Last point, I think one thing that sealed the deal before that first cruise (as an adult) was reading these boards and the number of people who did mention how hot it got with a balcony. I live in south Texas, so I'm sure what some of those people are complaining about is just known around here as Tuesday, lol...but still, I'll stick with the inside and go on several cruises for the same price as that balcony. I can literally count on one hand how many times I sat on my own balcony the last time I had one, and I had it for 5 years. I enjoyed the great views from my picture window though!

These are beautiful suggestions. I also am sending my condolences and praying for you and your family. Nothing in particular comes to mind to suggest to do, but overall I'd say spend time together and maybe stay busy if it's still hard for your dad. At the same time, I also suggest that if he just wants to sit and look at the water, allow him space to do that too. Do you have any fun or funny videos of your mom that you could pull out during downtime that you two can enjoy together?

Maybe that's what the guy who ended up in the water was looking for 🤪

Cool! I'm glad you asked because I did not know this. Or maybe I did but been a few years since we sailed....plus I don't even drink soft drinks lol. We always take almost everything we brought onboard right back home. But this time we're traveling with others so this might help them out.

Pretty sure this guy is a spy. The whole "falling in the ocean" thing was the cover up for where did you disappear to for 20+hours.

Thank you for posting this link...all this time I thought this was something only open to Allstate customers. Nice to know this is available, guess I didn't need to pay for AARP afterall.

I'm with you, cool stuff on board but not 2.5x the price cool stuff on board. And actually even more when some of that cool stuff costs extra like the Escape Room, go-karts, etc.

I've had the price guarantee honored before. I contacted the company before submitting the request to Carnival so I'd have information showing they were both the same. So definitely reach out to the company and ask if they provide transportation, then attach that email if they do. Also, your responses are amazing. Some of the comments have been far from cordial and you respond to every comment fully respectable. ❤️