tbjl24

3 minutes ago, chickenfoot said:

My cruise is 8 days out and I was just going to purchase the Cheers and Wifi but it seems I don't even have the option now. Is everyone else logged out of this now? Do you think this has to do with this glitch?

John Heald was made aware so most assuredly someone in corporate was notified and they’ve pulled the items until the issue can be corrected. 

On 6/26/2023 at 4:10 PM, finoky said:

I am of the opinion that Carnival is more interested in Blues and Reds. After 25 Carnival cruises we are moving on.

On 6/26/2023 at 4:06 PM, ProgRockCruiser said:

Q: Why does any cruise line (or corporate entity) have a Loyalty Program?

 

A: To encourage former customers to return, because there is perceived value in that.  The more value in a returning customer, the more sense a "valuable" loyalty program makes sense.

 

Carnival does not seem to be hurting for customers - their financial stuff released today indicated over 100% capacity sailings, on average, IIRC. 

 

And supposedly, the most revenue-generating pax (other than perhaps casino folks) are the blue and low-number red cards.

 

What incentive does Carnival have to expand/improve their VIFP program?  The current perks are "just enough" to show that there is a program in place, without actually impacting the bottom line significantly.  Why does Carnival need to offer additional 25% discounts for Gold/Plats/whatevers when they are selling out cabins anyway?

 

If all the Plats/Diamonds suddenly lost their ever-so-valuable perks, how many would change lines?  Would Carnival still be able to fill their cabins, but now with more Blues and Reds?

 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

18 hours ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

You can be Platinum on Carnival after you spend a boatload of money and a bunch of days on board. So, now you get a few extra perks.  Then Carnival decides to sell the FTTF package and dilutes whatever benefits you have earned with their LOYALTY program.  I'm sure if Carnival does anything to revamp the VIFP program, it isn't going benefit their loyal customers at all.

Exactly all of the above. If you are expecting a competitive loyalty program then I suggest you start looking elsewhere. NCL and Royal have actual real perks once you work your way up the ladder a few rungs.

12 minutes ago, Many Time Cruiser said:

Yeah I hear you never thought I would switch but hearing the offer on a 3 way conversation did me in. I won’t feel guilty if I take off all the tips, but these people are going with us so we will just drink on their cheers package haha! Platinum means NOTHING!

*****...

9 hours ago, Lee Cruiser said:

I'm not really sure what that has to do with anything.  I have a graduate degree and I wouldn't pay the older price of $200 for a cabana rental, much less what they are asking now. I've never really had a desire to rent a cabana. I don't see it as a "right", for me it would just be a ridiculous waste of money.  I would rather put that money towards another cruise.  The last few times we've been there, the cabanas were rarely used.  People would put their stuff there and go off and do other things.

8 hours ago, icft said:

It is said wealth rarely lasts three generations.

 

What I see is more along the lines of you can tell who is building wealth and on the rise and who is throwing it away and in decline.😁

8 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

The first creates, the second preserves, and the third spends it away.

 

What I see is people with tee shirts proclaiming they are spending their children's inheritance.

My point was that you can see that some folks here aren’t running their own business. Understanding free market conditions, etc

3 hours ago, RD64 said:

Capitalism 101! People on this thread are making it sound like having a Cabana is a basic human right. It isn’t. If you can’t afford it - or simply do not want to pay the going market rate then move on.

You can pretty much tell who are hourly workers in this thread 😂

Yes it is public space. Accessed all the way forward on 10 or via the staircase on 11 

27 minutes ago, Lee Cruiser said:

You and I disagree on that one.  I think it's the very definition taking advantage of someone.  Back when there was a run on toilet paper there were people selling toilet paper for double, triple and even more times than that of the normal price and there were people buying it.  The people who were buying it at that price were being taking advantage of by those selling it.  Just because someone is willing to pay a high price doesn't mean they are not being taken advantage of.  Carnival is taking advantage of the fact that there are people who will continue to pay for the "luxury items" no matter how high they go.  As long as people keep paying it, Carnival will keep raising the prices.

Yes, Carnival is taking advantage (its called a free market)...no, no one is being taken advantage of. A Cabana or Villa is not a basic human need like toilet paper...or water...or food. Apples to oranges

1 hour ago, dcgrumpy said:

 

 

I'm on Joy the week after you.  Are you still going to Costa Maya? We lost Costa Maya awhile ago, they also said that it was due to port congestion. 

As it stands today, yes, we are still going to Costa Maya. They swapped Bimini in place of Roatan and moved Cozumel from Thursday to Monday. 

Just got word our 3/11 western Caribbean on Joy will no longer be stopping at Roatan. The excuse given…port congestion. We were scheduled to be the only ship at Coxen Hole. Cozumel had 8 ships on our original itinerary and now the new itinerary is stopping at Cozumel on a day with 4 ships and replacing Roatan for Bimini. Total cost cutting move if you ask me. 

16 minutes ago, GetToLivin said:

 

I was trying to do the same for Allure in December for a family member - tried a different date, that worked. But the one I want keeps giving me the "oops somethings wrong" message. I cleared cache too, so it looks like some sailings are rendering that error. 

14 minutes ago, zanydoc said:

I’m getting it also for Wonder November 13th.

14 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I just tried on Royal's consumer site and when I select Oct 9th it brings up Sept 18th

Thanks all! Reassuring that it is not just me. Will keep checking periodically

Help! I am at a loss. I am trying to mock book Harmony of the Seas 10/2/22 sailing on the Royal site.....every time I select the date, the next screen pulls up the Harmony for 9/18/22-9/25/2022. I've tried on my computer and phone and get the same result. Same with the 10/9 sailing. 

I can mock book the 16th. 

Is the ship in dry dock those weeks? I couldn't find anything.

17 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

Thank you for your analysis of the Carnival Fleet after one Cruise. Let us remind you that this is a Carnival Cruise forum and not those other guys. Welcome to the Carnival Cruise Nuts brigade! Now that's out of the way lets chat.

 

My family and I have been loyal Carnival Cruisers for a very long time. During those many years I have never experienced anything even remotely close to what you are describing. There are personnel shortages throughout the industry; not just Carnival. The reason we are so loyal to Carnival is because we did exactly what you did and many years ago tried one Royal Caribbean Cruise. We were not impressed with the Cruise or the Cruisers and we found out that we spent almost double for the Cruise as compared to Carnival.

 

Long story short we all have choices and preferences when it comes to Cruising. Maybe you will be like me and my family and decide that the other Cruise line was not for us!! Nothing wrong with that choice if that is what you decide. Otherwise welcome aboard and welcome to the Carnival Cruise Nuts forum!!!

 

Long Live Cruising (Carnival that is) !!!                   

Just because it’s a carnival forum doesn’t mean everyone loves everything about carnival. I certainly don’t. 

On 6/14/2022 at 10:29 AM, SayHeySillyGirl said:

Other people (both parents and non) complained about all the kids in the buffet who I saw at Camp earlier so I know they didn’t have a choice. 
 

Don’t really understand this complaint. If they were smaller children I hope the parents were with them supervising and if they were older children the kids likely were able to check themselves out of camp and could be there regardless. The tweens/teens are always running amok on every ship I’ve ever sailed. It goes with the territory. 
 

Sounds like some cruisers picked the wrong week (vs cruise while school is in session) or the wrong cruise line.  What an odd thing to be upset over. 

On 5/24/2022 at 12:17 PM, csm5986142 said:

We were on Horizon for Christmas prior to the pandemic, and I hate to be negative but we will not do it again.  Of course it is different for each family (ages of the kids, etc) but our kids (who were roughly 13 and 21 at the time) both said they'd rather be home for Christmas.

We found that the cruise industry is very cyclical, and (at least for us) we did not find they did a lot of things special for Christmas (it was kind of like any other cruise).  Granted there were very nice Christmas decorations, formal night/dinner was Christmas dinner, etc.  

We did take our own little "pop up" type Christmas tree for the cabin and a few small gifts for the kids (but we had to fly across the country so space was limited).  But that brings me to our next "never again" ... we will never fly across the county at Christmas time again.  Extremely expensive airfare, crazy busy airports, overbooked airlines, weather issues, etc.  Everywhere you go, everything you do (before/during/after the cruise) will be absolutely packed.  Hotels are very expensive, very booked up.

But I will admit, Christmas on a ship is way less work for Mom.  😄

Having said all that, I would love to go in early December when all the decorations are up, etc. but before the holiday crowds set in.

Same experience we had on Thanksgiving. Thought it would be a cool to experience a holiday outside of the normal way we've done forever. We found ourselves missing the traditions of home. Probably won't ever sail Thanksgiving again nor try xmas. 

I think a news year eve cruise could be fun, however. 

Edit to add the dining room had "Thanksgiving" dinner....it was anything but. They tried, I don't know if it's not in their wheelhouse or mass preparing Turkey and trimmings is super difficult....but it wasn't good.

2 minutes ago, markp9114 said:

I’m supposed to sail on Freedom on Saturday….this is concerning. Will call carnival later today and ask about it.

I'd start looking for alternative sailings asap

54 minutes ago, aswmammoth said:

I just got off the phone with someone at NCL.  These are the options he gave us:

 

- Pay to upgrade to The Haven, a spa cabin or the club balcony suite with larger balcony for $91 (not unreasonable but unsure about the lack of privacy and shade).  They were not allowed to upgrade our cabin unless the higher category is currently priced higher by NCL than what you've already paid.

- Wait to see if prices potentially increase before sailing and pay to upgrade then.

- Take the 50% FCC on another sailing

Interesting model they have going. Very unlike other competitors. Oh well it is what it is. The next one will be booked after final payment since I live in Florida and can be pretty spontaneous 

35 minutes ago, aswmammoth said:

Good to hear.  This will be our first time with NCL so we are unsure if we would even use a FCC with them unless it was a significant amount.  We would've rather paid to upgrade to a club balcony suite for this sailing, but they are now priced about $100 less than what we've already paid.  If only they would let us just pay an extra dollar or two to upgrade!

So you can't simply call and get upgraded? Sorry for the question as this is only my 2nd sailing with NCL and we are in the same scenario as you....have a standard balcony booked and Club Balcony Suite is now available for less than we paid for the standard balcony. 

I cancelled my upgrade bid on the Club Balcony Suite because it seems ridiculous to have to give NCL more money for something I could buy cheaper today than when I booked 6 months ago. 

I was able to squeeze a 50% credit on the difference for a future sailing a few weeks back. 

1 hour ago, pjb3832 said:

Verifly says I am not fully vaccinated because my booster was less than 14 days ago. Carnival clearly states booster should be at least 7 days prior to sailing. I will be  12 days boosted at time of embarkation. Guess I can't use verifly. 

just don’t enter the booster information. I had a issue where my booster is on the back of my card via sticker (I hate Publix for doing that) and was rejected on VeriFLY. I resubmitted without booster info since it is not a requirement anyway….went through fine. 

5 hours ago, dbrucern said:

We are on the Magic for March and April and never received an email to use Verifly.

You probably will closer to sailing date. We are sailing Magic this coming Sunday and just received the email last night. They just expanded this app to Elation and Magic 

46 minutes ago, ultrafighter said:

Has anyone gone through this and can tell me what to expect?  We've got the PCR test scheduled for 72 hours out, but we have no idea what to expect from the rapid test during check-in.  Is that done before we stand in the longazz line to show our documents or after?

In Miami, they escorted us to a special line....checked boarding and test results/vaccinations of all others in the family. Then upstairs to the testing area (only 1 parent can go with child while the others wait in lobby). You and child will stay in testing area until results are received and hopefully reunited with rest of waiting family to complete check in (passports, credit card, etc)

Just received an email from Carnival today to download VeriFLY for our upcoming Magic cruise on Sunday. I thought this was only being tested on Mardi Gras at the moment? 

Followed the instructions anyway and get a Booking Not Found message in the app. GRRRRRRRRRR 

Curious if Carnival IT jumped the gun a bit. Will keep trying over the next couple days. It would be nice to not have 15 pages of medical documentation to keep track and fumble about in the terminal. 

Definitely hit or miss...I was able to connect my phone via HDMI on the Magic a few years back. But the same attempt was unsuccessful on the Sunrise this past November

I bought tickets for my kids to use the slides (age 13 & 7)....does anyone know if parents can get in to supervise without having to pay the full cost? No interest in utilizing the slides or wave pool. 

On 11/13/2021 at 4:20 AM, Jamman54 said:

In 59 Carnival cruises I have never been cut off at 15 drinks EXCEPT when I have had Cheers. It's hard for them to track otherwise. Rounds of drinks for friends,  buckets of beer, extra shots for $3, bottles  of wine, etc. They would have to make assumptions and I don't think they want to go down that rabbit hole. 

Yep, that is why this specific line in the policy caught me off guard. I've seen folks get cut at 15 with Cheers and others who have been told please drink some water and come back later....but, this seems different. Maybe it's there to help bartenders point to a policy for unruly guests. 

The other lines are looking more appealing every day.