ray98

I would just go with an OV. I have upgraded in the past but I refuse to pay for one when there is a huge price difference between categories, it simply isn't worth that much to me.

It is quite a bit faster. All the info you enter before hand would have to be done at the check-in desk.

One day I will figure out how this got such a cult following.

The street vendors in the shopping areas always have them pretty much everywhere you go.

You can only hope for the best because the restrictions don't allow for name changes.

It is really going to be a kick in the nuts when she doesn't have the baby this week.

It simply isn't such a black and white issue, too many variables. I have cruised numerous times on each and each time they flip flopped on which was a better deal after comparing similar options. We went early winter on NCL and the overall price was simply amazing when considering UBP was included. The rate for an OV was $499 which was $50pp more than Carnival. The value of the beverage package was $350pp putting us $600 ahead.

Never had a problem....excursion companies base their itineraries based on when the ship docks. They normally meet an hour after docking and tell you how long the excursion will run. No need to worry about time. If you meet one hour after docking and it runs 6 hours you can easily figure out what time you will be back.

I am pretty excited to try the expanded program. Much better than the old one.

I plan to take one next time, it would have come in handy the last cruise where the cabin was slightly warmer than I would have liked.

They can start requiring all the pin #s they want, until or unless Amazon stops selling empty cards, the problem will continue with AMAZON.

 

This problem wasn't because Amazon sold 'empty gift cards'. All cards had the appropriate balances and per Carnival the two which were empty were used by someone in April.

No....you don't need one.

some people are talking about a "fine", under what law? a ship at sea is like an autonomy. No one on board has a ticket book. The drinking age is a rule, not a law, unless you are docked in a U.S. port.

You don't quite understand how things work. Ship security can act on any violation of policy or of the law that occurs on the ship. So, while you are right about no ticket book, they can and will confine you to your room and either disembark you at the next port or turn you over local LE depending on the severity.

Yup.....many of the things people complain about make me chuckle.

LOL...I would just order the full size and make an evening of it.

How so?

We just hand them the birth certificate, they look at the info, and handed it back. Not sure how a passport would be easier than that.

Yup....BC in one hand ID in the other....pass them back in less than 10 seconds.

Good....it was okay food at best. I will take the BBQ any day of the week.

I agree with some of the above. On our last cruise sizing was very inconsistent and it was a task to find anything buy S or M. Wasn't impressed.

LOL at all who think something as simple as a 18yo being responsible for his own wallet is just too much. We have 18yo's in charge of squads in combat every day. Age isn't an excuse, lack of maturity is.

Uhhhhh.....no. Much bigger things to worry about.

If it is what I have said, when we took our first cruise earlier this year

A few people we know who are regular cruisers said to go to guests services and have the daily gratuity removed! We didn't and wouldn't even consider doing this. It helped make our decision to not remove the service charge even easier after watching the series "The Cruise" (actually being repeated on TV currently), and seeing what the other crew members you don't see have to do to make your trip amazing! Eg the person who washes your dishes, makes up your room service tray etc!

The service charge is certainly 'part of the fare' but many seem ignorant of that. If they eliminated it the fares would go up equally to cover the increased operating expenses. The customer, who would still be paying the same amount to be served, loses because accountability fades away. Making sure the customer is pleased because compensation is at risk would no longer be a primary factor, they would get paid the same either way.

Carnival simply offers the best 'bang for the buck' for me. The differences with the other lines aren't enough to justify any increased cost.

Glad they changed....Fish and Chips never impressed me.

Unfortunate but Carnival shares none of the blame. Having a hard copy ID for inspection is pretty much an absolute. Even if he goes on the cruise he has nothing to present at any port or for re-entry into the country.

It is a necessary law and I am glad it is enforced.

This one has always puzzled me, so perhaps fellow cruisers can enlighten me............ US travellers on cruises using birth certificates instead of passports. I know you can, on closed loop cruises, but why not get a passport? If you're spending $000s on the cruise why not splash out the extra $140 and get a passport which will do you for 10 years ......14 bucks a year. Why the reluctance?

....because they may not have plans to travel out of the country in the near future where it would be a requirement. A BC is sufficient for cruising and a passport doesn't benefit you used in that capacity. It may only be $140 but what if you are talking about a family of 5, then it starts to become a financial issue for many.