DrSea

Glad to see things pick up. I will say that I am checking availability <1 week out and I see availability.

I am expecting it to be more packed. But are CCL ships sailing at 100% occupancy? I find that hard to believe. Correct me if I am wrong

Huh? No, I am saying that most of these ships are not packed. I haven't cruised in 3 months. I will this weekend. But it was about 50% capacity 3 months ago. Plenty of room to move around when I had my issue with my cabin.

Glad you caught my qualifying word. Well, with the economy the way it is and most cruise lines sailing not at capacity, I think that it is a safe bet that there will be open rooms available.

Even on full ships it there are usually empty rooms that they keep on reserve. I know bc I have been moved bc of bugs, flooded bathrooms/broken toilets, or they gave me the wrong room.

I don't understand why you just didn't transfer rooms.

agreed

They could. As I mentioned before, it's possible but not probable. But the relative risk increases when a balcony is involved. Agreed that those with a propensity for going overboard should reconsider going on a cruise. But I am not the master of the universe.

Other people read the thread too. It may prevent a bad outcome. Who knows.

Most people cannot afford a $500 medical bill. So it doesn't surprise me.

I disagree that it is misleading. You have cruised for 20 years. You know what people do while cruising with an unlimited drink package. Mix that with psychiatric issues or recklessness and it can be an issue. The fact that it isn't mentioned I think is misleading. Just because I don't fall, would never jump off, or do something reckless or stupid doesn't mean that others wouldn't. Fact: about 1 person goes missing per week. Not many given the sheer millions who cruise. But it does happen. It's something that should be considered if you have friends or family that have a high pre-test probability of falling off a balcony. And it's a free country. I can only advise friends and family on what they should do. If they ignore my advice and book a balcony and there is a bad outcome, I know I can sleep better knowing that I at least advised them not to get a balcony. Telling others what to do is paternalism and I cannot control others.

I have been cruising over 20+ years also. But please don't shame others for their drinking and partying habits, especially on a Carnival thread. Alcoholism is a real addiction. Although I don't drink very much, it is not my job to judge. I have friends from all walks of life. No one is better or worst than another based any thing. 1 person is valued at exactly 1 person. Doesn't matter their profession, conditions, or who they are. Some people have demons (alcoholism, depression, bi polar d/o, etc) where they may jump or do something stupid and walk from one balcony to another on the rails when drunk. It is my responsibility to at least recommend against cruising in a balcony to these individuals.

I haven't read this entire thread. Me personally, I have stayed at suites, jr suites, and grand scenic ocean views rooms. Other than the grand scenic ocean view rooms, inside cabins are my favorite. I can sleep until noon if I want. Napping isn't an issue. The AC works well. Every time you open that balcony door, the heat comes in. And heat easily is transmitted via the glass doors. My guests prefer balconies and etc. So I get suckered into getting other rooms. Tips: - keep the bathroom door light on over night and just crack open the door - leave the TV on with the channel to the front of the ship. It helps some ppl. - spend more time enjoying the ship. I'll subscribe to this thread. Please update us what your experiences are like after you get back. Insides are not for everyone. Conversely, balconies aren't for everyone either. Drawbacks of balconies - I get worst motion sickness seeing outside - heat as mentioned above. It may be an issue in the middle of summer - I get woken up early bc of the sunlight, noise from the pool deck, etc - chances of falling off are higher. I have some friends who go buck wild and do stupid things. I cannot get a balcony with them because it is a safety hazard.

Thanks for all the clarification. Was the water clear when getting water at the drink station? Someone said that the water was yellow when they got it from like the Lido deck.

Great deal. Did the water taste funny? I saw some video right now of people saying that the water was yellow...

I cannot believe my lying eyes. The cruise literally dropped $10 within the hour. Haha! It's now $80 for 5 days.

Thanks for letting me know. I will keep my eyes posted for deals. I think it can drop to $50 for the 5 day cruise.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this on their sailings?

That was very helpful. Did the ship smell? How was the food? I presume it will be the same kind of food across all fleet (minus the XL class) for all ships that do 3-5 day itineraries. It seems like the Ecstasy prices will continue to fall the closer to sailing. I have about a month to book, and I doubt it will fill. Thanks

I am thinking about saving money by sailing the Ecstasy. My question is what are people's recent experiences on the Ecstasy and/or Elation? When I sailed past the Ecstasy in January, it looked really bad. I could see the rust and it just looked like it was in bad shape. The entire ship just creaked when floating. Trying to decide on how cheap to be. Haha. It is about $75 cheaper per room to sail on the Ecstasy vs the Elation. Any thoughts are welcomed. Thanks.