4Cowboys4Life

No Pai Gow Onboard. Haven’t seen one on any cruise line I’ve sailed. The return is so low for the house as it is, land Casinos hold back 5% on a win.

That's why I was hoping.for pai gow, not much they can do to the game to sway it more in their favor aside from holding back more.

They could be like NCL I suppose and charge $15 for every bottle regardless of where you consume it. You could also not bring a bottle and pay $26 for the same $8 bottle of wine;).

They’re not charging you for opening the bottle, it’s a service charge to offset profits lost by you not purchasing the wine from them, the same as land based restaurants.

Yeah, I know. It's just silly. Either let people bring their own (without charging $15 for what could amount to an $8 bottle) or not.

Sorry I keep asking questions but I saw this over on the gambling forum on here and figured it was specific enough to CCL to warrant posting over here. This forum seems to get more traffic so maybe I can get an answer faster.

 

Is it true that they've added a 3rd Green Zero (B) to the roulette wheel on Carnival? We are a big gambling family and this really bothers me. Casinos in general are cutting back by making odds worse all over the country but it seems like Carnival is doing that at a really fast rate since we've been sailed them. We heard they had changed to automatic shuffler machines fleetwide on the blackjack tables which is terrible. Also heard all tables less than $25 per hand were 6/5 blackjack which is also bad. But 3 0's on the wheel is beyond comprehension!

Don't have an answer for you but if that is true then that is horrible. Odds go down which you know.

I'll be taking my first cruise embarking on 8/5. Do you know if the casino has Pai Gow?

I can't fathom (see what I did there?) being bored on a cruise ship. Especially if it will be first time to ever be on one. Which incidentally will happen in 4 days!

For the soda you carry on- you probably want to put it in a glass first. No one can give you trouble this way. You can find cups on lido, ask for an empty glass at a bar, and/or there are water glasses in your cabin.

 

People tried to tell me that I can bring a bottle of wine to the dining room and not pay corkage as long as it's already open. The first night I tried this I had no trouble but the second night I had to argue with the manager and promise not to do it again to not get charged.

 

After this one guy online INSISTED that you absolutely won't get charged corkage if you bring it open and that he's done it for millions of dining room meals, rudely disputing my saying "you have to bring it in a glass", and then they tried to charge me, I was SO mad.

 

Even if I ran into the one server who decided to be a jerk about it, I'm going to play it safe for the rest of my life and only bring wine in a glass from now on

Your room steward should have placed wine glasses in your room . Request them if there not there.

Ok, thank you. This has all been so much help and has made the decision easier.

You can take them, and your wine or champagne anywhere in the ship at any time in your own glass, cup, mug, etc..

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Oh I see. If we are bringing our own wine do we have to bring our own glass as well?

I actually have family fairly close to port, which we'll drive in and stay with them the night before. They will drop my family and I who will be cruising at port. So I will have no issue getting 12 packs there. Sounds like that will be the way to go. We'll just carry them on in a large duffel bag and keep them with us until able to enter our room. Then we'll have the duffel bag to bring any souvenir purchases home.

My wife is a wine drinker and we'll be carrying on wine as well. How is that handled as far as using and bringing your own wine to dinner?

Thank you very much to all who have responded. I read all comments and they are much appreciated.

You may also want to post this on the dedicated Carnival forum: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215

I did do that. Thank you.

I don't understand why ships can't offer both.

I can answer that. It's because they were out an exclusive deal with either Coke or Pepsi. They get discounted rates when doing so and there is a clause that they cannot serve a competitors product. It's why in most cases you'll never see both Coke & Pepsi side by side at a self serving station.

I tried both. Carry on is the only way for me. The BB program is full of gotcha's. Pineapple juice was NOT included. The wait at any bar was way too long. MDR service was faster, but a refill was not really a reality. The soda was served from an open can and was as flat and diluted from the amount of ice used.

 

In my own cans I had greater variety, and it was cold, cold, cold out of the fridge or on ice in my room. A cold can at Guy's, or a Mountain Dew at dinner in the dining room completes my meal.

Aha! I created a new topic for this but you may have answered my question. You were allowed to bring your carry-on sodas into the Dining Room/Buffet?

Hello,

First time cruiser here. I know I can bring on 12 soda cans per person. I also understand that sodas aren't included in the standard package purchase price.

I understand that if I purchase the bottomless bubbles package I will be served soda in the dining room/buffet when requested. Is this accurate or do you have to purchase at these venues if you want a soda regardless or the bottomless bubbles package.

My other question is, if I do not purchase the bottomless bubbles package am I allowed to bring my carry-on soda into the dining room/buffet in lieu of purchasing a soda there? If I am able is it kosher to do so?

I called Carnival and was told I cannot. The representative seemed unsure so I called again, spoke to someone different and was told I am allowed to.

I'm guessing I may need to call a 3rd time to try and get a solid answer but thought I'd ask here as well.

If I cannot bring my own in and am forced to purchase a soda (not liking the standard options) at these venues then I would just as well purchase the bottomless bubbles package.

How do people who like a soda with their meal handle this on a cruise?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

Hello,

First time cruiser here. I know I can bring on 12 soda cans per person. I also understand that sodas aren't included in the standard package purchase price.

I understand that if I purchase the bottomless bubbles package I will be served soda in the dining room/buffet when requested. Is this accurate or do you have to purchase at these venues if you want a soda regardless or the bottomless bubbles package.

My other question is, if I do not purchase the bottomless bubbles package am I allowed to bring my carry-on soda into the dining room/buffet in lieu of purchasing a soda there? If I am able is it kosher to do so?

I called Carnival and was told I cannot. The representative seemed unsure so I called again, spoke to someone different and was told I am allowed to.

I'm guessing I may need to call a 3rd time to try and get a solid answer but thought I'd ask here as well.

If I cannot bring my own in and am forced to purchase a soda (not liking the standard options) at these venues then I would just as well purchase the bottomless bubbles package.

How do people who like a soda with their meal handle this on a cruise?

Thanks in advance.

Mike