cmichael1221

This is exactly why I don't understand why people are mad about the group "only playing for $1" or whatever the amount was... How does Carnival say that is okay, but then tell another group that wants to play for $10 or $100 that their amount is not okay? Or tell someone who wants to play poker/blackjack/Pai Gao/craps/etc. that their dice/card game for money isn't okay, but the group next to them playing Left Right Center for money can continue doing what they're doing... This is one of those that needs to be all or nothing and should be enforced as such.

I just add my offers every couple of days, so a long list to add never builds up - and the off chance I miss one and then miss free $$ or points!

Go to any bar in any major city and Carnival's prices look really good!

I think they're always available now and they're E-gift cards now, they're not mailed any longer. You can also find deal to join AARP. Chase often has cashback offers on their cards and check the shopping portals, they usually have offers... I just made $2 on renewing my membership! 🙂

After 3 sailings on Mardi Gras and 3 sailings on Celebrations, we're having a hard time going back to the smaller ships, with all the new options for food and drinks on the Excel class ships... We always do a basic balcony cabin, but spend minimal time in there - outside of sleeping, so the Havana options wouldn't have an impact. I didn't notice much of a difference in terms of crowds between Mardi Gras/Celebration and Horizon/Vista.

I feel like there are some people on these ships who have never used any elevators in their lives, let alone "smart elevators"! 🙂

If you have Chase cards, check your offers - you'll often find one for AARP. I got $8 back from Chase and then another $6 back from Rakuten, so ended making $2 on the membership, before I even bought any gift cards! 🙂

Check AMEX/Chase offers & shopping portals - might be able to stack to save a few extra $$ or get some points/miles as well. Usually gift cards are excluded in the shopping portals, but sometimes they'll work. But they'll almost certainly work if you have an AMEX or Chase offer...

No - sorry - I meant the rotational dining on Disney - a whole different experience, so it's easier to deal with for us.

Awesome - thank you!! Exactly what I was looking for!

Agreed - we really liked the new menu items in the MDR on Celebration in December, especially he Emeril-inspired dishes. We had been avoiding the MDR, gave it a try once so see how things were and decided to keep going back!

As mentioned below - on Celebration several other restaurants are included with YTD - so make sure to look into those if you're interested in venturing outside the dining room.

Good point! I couldn't imagine going back to a set dining time on Carnival! We have on Disney, but it's a whole different experience, so you can't really compare.

We're coming up on our 7th on an Excel class next month and I'm begin to wonder why they even bother with assigned dining on that class?? With so many options, I have a feeling they get a lot of complaints once people get on board with assigned dining times and realize they don't have as much flexibility to eat in the specialty restaurants that are included. I guess I'm thankful it makes it easier for those of us who are prepared though! 🙂

Based on this announcement today - all but certain it's going somewhere in Florida and puts more weight behind the theory of the older Mardi Gras moving to shorter sailings to bring more people to Celebration Key... ======= MIAMI, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today announced plans for a $100 million pier extension that will double the arrival capacity of Celebration Key™, Carnival Cruise Line's new exclusive destination scheduled to open on Grand Bahama island in the summer of 2025. In addition to the two berths slated to be complete by 2025, the expansion will add two more berths, with all four capable of handling up to Carnival's largest Excel class ships when complete in 2026.