bdeluca03

Yes, 18% added to all drinks purchased onboard.

There are 8 total GameKing Machines with Video Poker so while I don't remember if those machines had KENO as an option - but I played plenty of Double Double Bonus & Triple Double Bonus Video Poker.

It appears I've misspoken. As for quality of Michelin Stars (I live in Seattle so we are ineligible due to geography but use to love dining at them weekly in San Francisco) while I enjoy watching the Melting Chocolate Cake being made/served, I am not sure it's going to win any awards. What is the difference between 1, 2 and 3 Michelin Stars? One MICHELIN Star is awarded to restaurants using top quality ingredients, where dishes with distinct flavours are prepared to a consistently high standard. Two MICHELIN Stars are awarded when the personality and talent of the chef are evident in their expertly crafted dishes; their food is refined and inspired. Three MICHELIN Stars is our highest award, given for the superlative cooking of chefs at the peak of their profession; their cooking is elevated to an art form and some of their dishes are destined to become classics.

Gladly: https://www.timeout.com/usa/restaurants/cheapest-michelin-starred-restaurants-in-the-us and the Chefs Table is definitely not Michelin Rated for a variety of reasons primarily on the service side, as for example all dishes don't hit the table at the same exact time to all seated guests.

I can't imagine the squeeze is worth the juice to them as unless it directly effects revenue - do they really want a $2 - $3 per hour employee arguing with a guest who is already disregarding common courtesy? Best case is the guest corrects the behavior immediately & probably goes back to their behavior as soon as the employee walks away. Worst case scenario - it turns into a screaming ordeal or worse. There's little upside for Carnival Corporation in this situation.

At $150 per person, I could easily find Michelin Rated Restaurants in many cities who would provide significantly more value than The Chefs Table.

Use Carnival Gift Cards thru AARP to save 10% when purchasing - but otherwise I haven't seen a deal on the drinks package unless packaged with the cruise fare, etc. in awhile. Otherwise, use this calculator to see if it makes sense: https://www.cruzely.com/cruise-line-drink-package-calculator/

Enhanced Licenses (not Real ID) are only offered in a few states: Michigan Minnesota New York Washington Vermont https://www.dhs.gov/enhanced-drivers-licenses-what-are-they#:~:text=Enhanced Drivers Licenses (EDLs) are,technology that makes travel easier.

Plus Global Entry & Sentri - sucks to go in person for the interview but because the Canadian Govt subsidizes its only $50 for 5 years Crossed Peach Arch Crossing Seattle/Vancouver in 2 minutes Saturday vs 40 minutes for regular crossing lines

I used my enhanced license on Carnival to/from Mexico (Canada would be the same) and they should only need the enhanced drivers license as they'd be entering by sea. Personally, on the way out thru customs in Long Beach, CA - I had both my passport and EDL in Long Beach, CA in January 2024 and saved over an hour leaving with the EDL as I must have walked by 1000 people and no one was in the EDL line.

I'd wholeheartedly agree with this assessment of the Luminosa.

I've read from the online reviews the Venezia was leaps above the Luminosa.

I'm happy to explain my rational for calling it a bait & switch based on booking it before it ever sailed as Carnival was marketing the new Costa ships especially the Luminosa at the time based on the press-release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carnival-cruise-line-announces-that-costa-luminosa-will-transfer-to-the-carnival-fleet-and-start-service-in-november-2022-301567973.html While the statement, "Given the short timeline to get Carnival Luminosa ready for service, the ship will go through some modest updates to change over from Costa to Carnival over the next few months ahead of the November service start-up. The ship will not initially have all of the Funship 2.0 branded spaces that are seen across the Carnival fleet." Based on the success of the Firenze/Venezia (can't remember which ship was released at the same time) it seemed like a gamble worth taking - but I agree that they just ripped off the Costa Branded signs, made minimal changes and put it out to sea. If I would have booked a Marriott Hotel (Ritz Carlton) and later found out it was a Fairfield Inn, I'd be quite disappointed. I felt the same happened here in the Summer of 2023 (August 2023) with the Alchemy Bar being in the middle of a walkway; the Piano Bar being in the middle of a walkway; the ice machines having issue; Ocean Plaza having the only TV's onboard for sports, etc. (no Red Frog Pub, Heroes, Sky Sports Bar, etc); the Chefs Table being in part of the Steakhouse next to a crowd of loud individuals, etc; the F1 Bar (Smoking) former race simulator covered up for smokers with not a single dollar spent on adding a bartender, tv, or any amenities to the area whatsoever. There will a lot of complaints at Guest Services onboard about this ship from a line of guests waiting to be heard.

Agreed, they didn't add Blue Iguana, Guy's Burgers & the features they did add like Alchemy or Piano Bar were absolutely rushed with Piano Bar for example having a walk way halfway thru it along with Alchemy. The marketing on the Luminosa vs. the final product was a definite bait and switch.

I went on the Luminosa last summer & was highly disappointed vs. Carnival Spirit on basically the same itinerary to Alaska. It seemed like they just rushed the Luminosa out of dry dock & didn't give it the same Carnival touches.

I personally thought it had to be based on profitability, etc. unless the data Josh Weinstein has access to tells us that if Cozumel is on an itinerary it's 4x more likely to be booked than an itinerary in the same region without it. Otherwise, I've noticed Carnival does not send it's newest boats to Alaska (Luminosa, Miracle, Spirit) or Europe (Legend) & thought maybe those itineraries are extremely popular & therefore don't need the latest and greatest of the Jubilee, Mardi Gras, etc.

On yesterday's Carnival 2024 Q1 Earnings Call CEO Josh Weinstein stated in regards to the impact of new ships on pricing to Lizzie Dove of Goldman Sachs: "Welcome to the first -- I think your first call or the first call since you've been covering us. So the new ships get a premium. There is no doubt that the new ships get a premium. The way we manage brand by brand, how much of that premium to get. It also depends on where we're putting that ship because we're not going to necessarily want to put the best ship on the best itinerary because that's not the good thing for the overall brand." So if the Jubilee, Mardi Gras, etc. are the newest ships & not getting the best itinerary per Josh Weinstein - what is the best overall itinerary that Carnival Cruise offers?

$5 per person for length of cruise for Carnival Messaging App or you can iMessage to another iPhone if connected to wifi at no cost.

Carnival is not approved for Glacier Bay, while Holland America is approved for Glacier Bay. Therefore Carnival will do the Endicott Tracy Arm Fjord instead.

Did an inside cabin on the Spirit in August 2022 & a balcony on the Luminosa in August 2023. While I would have enjoyed the views of a balcony on the Spirit - if I was only able to cruise with an inside cabin, I'd pick it (love the complete darkness for sleep) and just head up to the Lido Deck (tons of people by the buffet looking out the windows all day), Deck 10 or Deck 11 for the views, etc.

No cigar lounge on the Panorama.

I wish they had a cigar lounge like Princess (one of the reasons I am considering moving to another one of their lines) and have to smoke outdoors. The Luminosa at least had a small indoor area (converted F1 Bar) you could smoke in but otherwise, it's always on the open decks on Carnival. Secondly, the Luminosa had a cigar bar on the Costa - but they removed it with the upgrade to Carnival, which I thought is a shame as cigar smokers typically have a higher socioeconomic status.

To my knowledge PVP's are paid bonuses, etc. based on number of bookings so if they can easily book a Casino Offer in a few minutes (i.e. person knows the exact cruise they want, offer they want to select and potential cabin areas) it helps them get to the next tier.

John Heald told myself no charge outside of the USA - but it's up to the immigration officials in each country as the PSVA of 1886 does not apply outside the US. However, no refund, etc. will be given.

Personally, I enjoy the breakfasts (omelette station), Blue Iguana for Breakfast Burritos/Tacos and the Lunches at Pig & Anchor, Blue Iguana, Guy's Burgers, Cucina Del Capitano, Pizza, and Salad Bar by Serenity. Personally, I could pass on the deli. As for dinner - I'll usually go speciality vs. MDR unless it's Elegant Night #2 Lobster as I personally find the dining room options to be subpar vs. land based cuisine. Lastly, I always book the steakhouse at least once for dinner.