Itried4498

The “issue” is that they’re going to make you wait because the computer is programmed to release rooms to guarantee fares at specific times, generally shortly before your cruise. We booked a guaranteed rate for an accessible room for four within Family Harbor. There’s only a single room that meets this criteria, yet it wasn’t assigned until the day of departure - and of course it was the room we expected.

Some people have success with this, others don’t. There’s no tips or tricks and it’s not about your carrier since cellular is turned off. On most of my cruises, I get select push notifications and a random iMessage or two but that’s it. Make sure your phone off!! be aware Cellular At Sea is expensive, and even more expensive if you don’t get a package via your phone carrier. My wife left her phone on for a day (not even 24hrs) and we got hit with $60 in charges, all push notifications.

Carnival ran some incredible deals on fall sailings, so occupancy will be high. If your cruise isn’t listed as available for sale, it’s probably sold out.

Comedians generally introduce their new material on cruises as a way to test audience reactions. You’re not seeing their best material - that’s saved for paid gigs (yes, they get paid by cruises but the potential payout is much larger at touring shows). This is really no different than almost any comedy club. I’ve seen numerous comedians lose their audience on cruises and turn to “plan B” - generally classic material / toilet humor / etc.

Interactive TV is so 1990s. I remember checking our account balance, ordering room service and checking out of the hotel in the late 1990s when I was a teen traveling with my parents. These features have generally migrated toward apps, where they’re more customizable and much more user friendly.

It was discussed in the earlier replies, and there’s several threads on the issue. Per JH, Carnival is simply accelerating standard maintenance schedules on a number of ships. Miracle was moved to mid-Oct to mid-Nov because it’s one of the weakest periods of the year, and it enabled Carnival to deploy an upgraded product (Radiance) on a two-week Hawaii run. There is some speculation that there’s a mechanics issue Carnival is trying to repair, but that’s pure speculation and denied by JH. The Miracle’s Thanksgiving cruise, the two-week Hawaii cruise that follows it, and a couple of the Holiday cruises are either sold or mostly sold out, and always charged premiums, whereas the weekend Ensenada runs were priced cheap. Thus, in the event that Carnival needed to extend the dry dock - and again, there’s no reason to suspect that, it’s almost a certainly that most or all of the Miracle’s runs would be moved to the Radiance.

Yes but As I mentioned, this is unofficial and just speculation on our end. JH insists Carnival is merely accelerating routine maintenance, so as it’s performed during the slow season, and nothing more.

Let’s try this again: - In Alabama, you watch ESPN (US/Canada feed). - In Miami, you watch ESPN (US/Canada feed). This means that if you were living or staying in Miami, you would have seen the Auburn vs. Alabama game as ESPN provides a single national feed. - On Carnival cruises, you watch ESPN Caribbean. Unlike other Latin American versions of ESPN, the Caribbean feed is in English and has most of the programming of the USA/Canada feed, sans a heavier emphasis on soccer. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESPN_Caribbean Carnival is using Caribbean-based DirecTV satellite, so all channels are Caribbean-based.

I don’t think that’s correct. ESPN is a national network, so what’s on in Miami is also on in NYC, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. On the Panorama and Radiance, the use the English Latin America ESPN feed. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have a studio in Miami, but you wouldn’t Be able to view it there. As I mentioned, they showed the Super Bowel on the Latin America ESPN - which does not have rights to carry it in the US. Also, all the commercials are Caribbean.

Yes, they still record and play the excursion “presentation,” and often the disembarkation presentation, but that’s it. Previously, Carnival would record and air highlights of the cruise - everything from excited people getting on the ship, the sailaway party, shows and events, the ship arriving and departing ports, sometimes interviews with passengers, etc.

Officially, Carnival is accelerating routine maintenance so it’s performed during a less busy time of year. Unofficially, there’s some speculation it was accelerated to address a propulsion issue. But it’s very unlikely there will be any further passenger enhancements, as it received the remaining 2.0 upgrades barely two years ago. It is suppose to get the new paint job.

IIRC, it’s a Caribbean feed of DirecTV but I believe all channels are simulcasts of the US feed. We were on the Panorama during the Super Bowl, and it was a Caribbean feed of Latin America ESPN. They claimed halftime show may be blacked out but it wasn’t.

Carnival has a wide selection (at least on the Panorama and Radiance) of complimentary on demand movies. Royal (at least on the Navigator) does not. Royal did have more news channels, and a few unique channels (two that explored the ship / itinerary, and featured daily briefings and content recorded throughout the cruise itself; one that featured two really corney made-for-Royal movies that were basically a creative way to advertise for upcharge options) but much of their content was on proprietary channels that had no pattern for scheduling. For example, there’s kids and teen channels that showed a random assortment of programming, largely from Nickelodeon late 90s/early 00s. Meanwhile, Carnival has actual familiar live channels. I’m guessing much of Royal’s content is based on the ship, which is cheaper than showing satellite. That said, I believe they show major live sports (in the room) whereas Carnival insists they cannot due to programming rights/costs. Royal also had a catchy “wash your hands” song that if you have small kids they will sing a long with (it comes on every 5 minutes it seems). Carnival use to also show recorded content from the cruise, and I wonder why they stopped. Virtually everything is taped anyway to put it on the big screens…

The parking situation doesn’t surprise. We arrived late in February and the garage was nearly full, despite the fact that the Panorama was sailing with 3K, and the Miracle/Radiance had very light loads. In March, they started using the Queen Mary lots as overflow, but that was probably rendered unnecessary when the Miracle went to San Francisco. When it came back, they were preparing to re-open the QM, so that was probably off the table.

Caribbean lobsters have the texture of chicken, and they're not nearly as sweet as rock lobsters. And for all the fuss about rock lobster, they're the most common type of lobster found at your local supermarket or restaurant. Maine lobsters are available too, but in less quantity and generally at a much higher price point. I recall when langostino lobsters (which aren't really lobsters) were on the menu circa mid-2000s, but today they cost more than rock lobsters, so they disappeared...

It’s a cost cutting move that yields less fewer included options for guests. That’s a fact, not an opinion. Can’t wait to read your and others responses When Carnival adds a $15 cover to Guy’s Burgers and insists it’s to combat climate change (as a reduction in beef = less cows contributing to greenhouse emissions).

RCL also offers a complimentary continental breakfast (with a nominal per stateroom charge for everything else). We’ve gotten it once, and it was served out of a bag, likely prepared the night before (= low service cost). It may be a minor change to you and others who’ve acknowledged you ordered room service, but to those of us who do, it’s not.

That’s limiting — businesses will generally make whatever moves that will maximize profit. 10 years ago, we stayed for 5 midweek nights at the Plaza Las Vegas for less than $30 all-in; today, resort fees guarantee we will pay at least $300. Resort fees aren’t popular, but were embraced by the industry, leaving consumers few alternatives. Likewise, RCL charges $15 for Johnny Rockets (it’s Guy’s Burgers equivalent). Adding a cover charge to Guy’s Burgers and other non-Lido/MDR options is an easy way to cut cost and increase revenues, and the direct completion is already doing it. Guy’s was arguably necessary on the Fantasy class ships — space within the buffet was too limited — but are a luxury on other ships.

Some people will ignore facts and defy rationality to defend Carnival at every opportunity. As I mentioned, room service is a high cost service that’s been dropped from most domestic hotels (that were charging hefty fees to begin with) as well as all-inclusive resorts as an included option. But that’s irreverent, because very few Carnival guests ordered it to begin with, despite a sea of trays outside rooms and 2+ hour waits during peak meal time. Carnival simply made a move that impacts a few passengers because they care about food waste. Change is good! Meanwhile, on the Lido deck…. When Carnival adds its next surcharge - I’ll bet it’ll be for Guy’s Burgers - I will love the reaction. By charging a $15 cover charge that’s equal to a meal at most premium burger joints, Carnival is doing its guest a favor as it can reinstate classic Guy’s fries, unlimited bacon and reduce food waste! Change is good!

LOL. If Carnival “ran the numbers” to reduce food waste, they’d know they’d have to price the product at a level to discourage people from ordering it. And again, basic economics of demand suggest that something that was once free but now has a significant fee (it’d have to be significant to reduce food waste). Which will cause demand for room service to drop. And again, if Carnival cared about food waste, it’s make changes within Lido- which has a much higher amount of food waste. Instead it targeted a service that’s notorious for its high costs. I know it’s convenient to ignore facts we don’t like, but that doesn’t change reality.

Carnival isn’t adding a cover charge to room service, they’re charging a la carte. A service that was once “free,” will now cost a couple $50+. I realize we live in an environment status quo where people choose to ignore facts that don’t fit their argument out of convenience, but it defies the fundamentals of economics and demand to suggest that a product that was once free but how has a hefty fee won’t impact demand, at least in the short term. It would be the first time in history…. Carnival isn’t making this move to reduce food waste - they’re doing it for the same reason many hotels, even domestically, have - it’s labor intensive. If they truly cared about food waste, the buffet is low hanging fruit.

If you haven’t noticed the room service trays discarded in the hallway, on your next cruise I suggest you leave your stateroom as late as possible. The housekeeper will place the trays that had been in the room in the hallway and there will be so many, it will impede your exit. In the past decade at most AI in Mexico/Caribbean, room service has went from an included option to fee based a la carte (excluding premium room categories). The decline in room service orders is easily noticeable. Fact is, most people aren’t going to pay for something when “free” options exist and to suggest otherwise is foolhardy.

I think you missed my point. The assumption that people will order less because it’s now a la carte pricing is a fallacy. In actuality, most people will stop ordering room service and instead enjoy their meals at the included buffet or MDR. And those who eat in the buffet will generate far more waste.

It’s not going to reduce food waste - in fact, it’ll probably increase food waste. JH is using the argument that fee-for-service will cause people to order only what they can eat, when in actuality they will go to other no-fee dining options. Those who choose the buffet will generate far more waste. It’s also going to increase waits for the MDR and even Lido…

It's best to call Carnival - they've been introducing new offers with plenty of restrictions. Early this year, we booked an offer in a Family Harbor room. A couple months later, we had a better offer in which we could book two rooms for ~$100 less. Even though it wasn't past the final payment date, our original offer had a $300 penalty (the deposit). We cancelled, anyway -> when we originally booked, it was $1300 for all four of us in one room or $2000 for two rooms. The new reservation was $1200 for two rooms, or $1500 after the penalty was added. So, $200 more for our own room (and $500 savings from the initial offer) was a bargain IMO.