tbjl24

Like I said, if I upgrade on Carnival (last time I booked it was a $1200 difference to move from a Cat 8 to a Cat 11), all I get as a slightly bigger room. So yes.

Right, but the extra $1000 on RCL gets you the same room you already had on Carnival. If its Oasis/Allure, the extra $1000 probably only gets you an interior facing balcony. Carnival cat 11 is a suite....I believe?

So if the additional venues/activities have no allure (no pun intended) to you there really isn't much net difference. Of course other than the extra $1000 missing from your pocket.

Like I said above, it's very subjective.

$1000 isn't bad for an upgrade. We used to do that on the Carnival ship but that just gets you a better room. On RCCL, it buys you a better experience.

Very subjective IMO. For someone who enjoys getting some sun & drinks during the day and hitting the club/casino at night.....that extra $$$ simply isn't bringing me anything different.

Another thing I find interesting.....

Carnival is very much the budget friendly, entry-level cruiseline. Great for first timers trying out their sea legs.......

But then, first timers have such a great time they go back, and go back and go back expecting Carnival to suddenly change to keep it fresh and exciting.

I think Carnival doesn't mind being that entry level line that seduces first timers with its affordable rates and very similar ships across the fleet.

It is interesting to see Carnival now introducing longer voyages with very different onboard experiences. Perhpas this is their attempt to appease the repeat customers.

Yeah, they did appear to put everything on hold. They passed on the mega liners, somehow deeming them not worth the time and investment, and stood by and watched RCCL march past them with their Genesis project.

 

All while readers and even Carnival spokespeople scoff at the idea.

 

Until passengers started flocking to them. Commanding such a draw, they are about to launch an even bigger version.

 

 

And through all the hoppla, the Vista appears to be just another offshoot of what they already have.

 

So yeah, you have a point.

Have you seen the prices RCL charges to justify the cost of the Oasis & Allure? That pricing model does not fit Carnival's business.

I think Carnival is perfectly happy with the ship size(s) its building. The mistake is expecting Carnival to go toe 2 toe with RCL. Carnival is finding its niche without continually having to build the biggest cruise ship in the world.

Another question for you all...

 

If my dad buys a $500 Carnival Gift Card (not the carnival cash but an actual gift card), can he split the money between two different cabins?

 

He wants to use it to pay gratuities for both of our cabins.

Shouldn't be any issue. Just have one person from each cabin at the desk so they can swipe the each folio.

You can call the 1-800 number and have them put a note on your booking that you are interested in upgrade opportunities.

Doubtful that you would receive a free upgrade using this method but I did this a couple years back and did indeed receive an upsell call. I didn't take the offer, however.

I'm in this cabin in 9 days......I'll report back.

VIFP members get special offers. Sometimes(mostly) randomly. Most lately have been coming from the casino.

I've yet to receive one. :( But I plan on making sure the pit boss writes down my sail n sign card # every night while I'm playing craps on my upcoming cruise.

I just noticed you are going here soon. Can you please come back here and post your experience once you return? I would REALLY appreciate it. :)

Sure thing. I am not sure how much my daughter(6) will go.

She has 2 cousins coming along, one which is a teenager and will mostly likely keep an eye on my daughter and the other cousin at night.

We plan on offering Camp Carnival to the youngins and hopefully they like it. If not, they can just hang with us.

one of our group would like to know if they have catholic mass o sunday.

 

thanks in advance

Are you sailing out of Tampa? If so, Sacred Heart is very close by.

http://sacredheartfla.org/

We will be sailing Vision April 4th and We are flying in the morning of the cruise and flying out the afternoon we arrive back. I am getting very nervous with all this fog. Will fog be a problem in April?

It's possible but highly unlikely.

The issue this time around was we had a very severe cold front drop down over us for a few days....highs in the 50s.

Then almost immediately following, a warm front from the south brought warm humid air over the chilled bay waters.

By April, the cold fronts are packing less of a punch and our 'normal' highs are already in the 80s. The bay water has warmed up signficantly by then.

I mean this as nicely as possible....but if you weren't happy with the activities, why not pull them out?

We plan on using the Pride's camp carnival on our upcoming cruise, hopefully our experience will not be as described.

I typically book balconies and I never go over $100 per day per person/double occupancy.

Its tough to really pinpoint a number these days in any category. Folks are seeing pack and play & casino rates for $25 pp total plus port fees and taxes.

It's all relative.

Which is exactly what you're supposed to do with the wine Carnival allows you to bring on board at embarkation. If people keep abusing this privilege by pouring a glass in their room and then carrying it into the MDR or other venues around the ship, I have no doubt that Carnival will eventually do away with this policy.

How would they possibly even know whether you poured in your room or bought from another bar before heading to dinner?

What would happen if anything for cruise ports if Congress forces the Department of Homeland Security to shutdown? Did anything happen in 2013 when they shutdown the entire government? We will be leaving March 6 out of Long Beach right at the start of the DHS shutdown if it does happen.

Last time around "Critical" employees still had to work(TSA, Border Patrol, etc...).

There shouldn't be any issue.

There is usually no penalty for upgrading your room, regardless of final payment or not.

That would not be a good for business policy. ;)

It's unfortunate to see multiple individuals within a single household receive the offer. My wife and I are both platinum but nothing yet.

I've got my fingers crossed they send out another batch of offers, I was already looking at the Nov 6 Victory for a long bday weekend celebration! It does seem these sailings aren't working for quite a few that were offered.

Trying to convince the wife to take a quick last minute weekend cruise on the 22nd.

I would never even consider this cruise since they want $299 a person for an oceanview for basically one day and two nights on the boat. The Ecstasy is $234 a person for a 4 day in April out of Miami to Key West and Cozumel. Worth the extra drive for me unless you really want the Sunshine.

This.

Living in Tampa I've considered this 2 day sailing multiple times but I just can't bring my self to drop $200+ on a 2 night cruise. There is just so much more bang for your buck out of Florida.

Fingers crossed this sailing drops dramatically a week or two before sailing and I can have a last minute weekend getaway.

A month ago I called Carnival to book a 7 day for March, 2015. I didn't think we had a 7 day due to moving of Legend then Pride. Rep assured me and had a cabin and everything when I insisted she look again. She got her suprvisor. Took them 10 minutes to figure out they had me on a trip 2014 and there were no 7 days out of Tampa!

 

We NEED a Spirit class ship!

?? I see 2 - 7 day sailings on Pride in March 2015 out of Tampa.

March 1

March 8

Back in 2009 I crafted a nicely worded letter prior to our Destiny cruise.....expressing my group's desire to visit the bridge. Printed and stuffed in a nice envelope. Dropped it off at guest services on embarkation day and asked if they would kindly deliver to the Captain.

We received an invitation for a private tour of the bridge, just the 4 of us, for our port day in Nasssau. I think we receive the call on day 2 from guest services.

This was before the Behind the Fun tours were around but hey its worth a shot!

I've got this offer as well. Here is the fine print:

CASINO FUNPLAY PLUS CASINO RATE (PTF - UP TO $40 FUNPLAY CHIPS)

Contact Carnival Cruise Lines to enjoy up to a 45% discount on Fun Select cruise fares and to receive FunPlay casino chips. To enjoy this special promotion, you must book your cruise by 3/5/14 and sail by 9/30/14. FunPlay Chips of $20 on 5 day or less sailings and FunPlay chips of $40 on 6 day or greater sailings. This offer is subject to availability and valid only for new bookings made by the Past Guest named here. Please request fare code PTF at booking. The offered discount is non-transferable, and has no cash value. Your booking is subject to the terms and conditions of the cruise contract. Carnival’s standard cancellations penalties apply. Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses are collected per guest, based on the itinerary, and range from $37.06 to $319.82. For full Fun Select Terms and Conditions, logon to http://www.carnival.com/legal/specials-terms-conditions. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas, Panama & Malta.© 2014 Carnival Cruise Lines. All rights reserved.

To redeem the FunPlay casino chips Voucher, the named Guest must bring the original voucher to the casino cage. Enjoyment of the FunPlay casino chips is subject to validation, and Carnival reserves the right to refuse redemption of the certificate. Prior to cashing, the named Guest will be required to show a valid id and to confirm the Guest’s name against VIFP Member Number. FunPlay chips are issued in $5 denominations and can be played on any eligible table game. FunPlay chips are valid for one bet only and will be paid in the corresponding value of casino chips upon a winning bet. FunPlay chips cannot be exchanged and are non-redeemable. For further information, please contact the casino staff. FunPlay casino chips may be distributed in the form of cash or non-refundable on board credit, as determined by Carnival, in its sole discretion. FunPlay casino chips offer not valid in conjunction with any other Casino Cash offer. No name changes will be allowed.

CASINO FUNPLAY PLUS CASINO RATE (PTF - UP TO $50 FUNPLAY CHIPS)

Contact Carnival Cruise Lines to enjoy up to a 45% discount on Fun Select cruise fares and to receive FunPlay casino chips. To enjoy this special promotion, you must book your cruise by 3/5/14 and sail by 9/30/14. FunPlay Chips of $25 on 5 day or less sailings and FunPlay chips of $50 on 6 day or greater sailings. This offer is subject to availability and valid only for new bookings made by the Past Guest named here. Please request fare code PTF at booking. The offered discount is non-transferable, and has no cash value. Your booking is subject to the terms and conditions of the cruise contract. Carnival’s standard cancellations penalties apply. Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses are collected per guest, based on the itinerary, and range from $37.06 to $319.82. For full Fun Select Terms and Conditions, logon to http://www.carnival.com/legal/specials-terms-conditions. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas, Panama & Malta.© 2014 Carnival Cruise Lines. All rights reserved.

To redeem the FunPlay casino chips Voucher, the named Guest must bring the original voucher to the casino cage. Enjoyment of the FunPlay casino chips is subject to validation, and Carnival reserves the right to refuse redemption of the certificate. Prior to cashing, the named Guest will be required to show a valid id and to confirm the Guest’s name against VIFP Member Number. FunPlay chips are issued in $5 denominations and can be played on any eligible table game. FunPlay chips are valid for one bet only and will be paid in the corresponding value of casino chips upon a winning bet. FunPlay chips cannot be exchanged and are non-redeemable. For further information, please contact the casino staff. FunPlay casino chips may be distributed in the form of cash or non-refundable on board credit, as determined by Carnival, in its sole discretion. FunPlay casino chips offer not valid in conjunction with any other Casino Cash offer. No name changes will be allowed.

CASINO FUNPLAY PLUS CASINO RATE (PTF)

Contact Carnival Cruise Lines to enjoy up to a 45% discount on Fun Select cruise fares and to receive FunPlay casino chips. To enjoy this special promotion, you must book your cruise by 3/5/14 and sail by 9/30/14. This offer is subject to availability and valid only for new bookings made by the Past Guest named here. Please request fare code PTF at booking. The offered discount is non-transferable, and has no cash value. Your booking is subject to the terms and conditions of the cruise contract. Carnival’s standard cancellations penalties apply. Fees, Taxes, and Port Expenses are collected per guest, based on the itinerary, and range from $37.06 to $319.82. For full Fun Select Terms and Conditions, logon to http://www.carnival.com/legal/specials-terms-conditions. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas, Panama & Malta.© 2014 Carnival Cruise Lines. All rights reserved.

To redeem the FunPlay casino chips Voucher, the named Guest must bring the original voucher to the casino cage. Enjoyment of the FunPlay casino chips is subject to validation, and Carnival reserves the right to refuse redemption of the certificate. Prior to cashing, the named Guest will be required to show a valid id and to confirm the Guest’s name against VIFP Member Number. FunPlay chips are issued in $5 denominations and can be played on any eligible table game. FunPlay chips are valid for one bet only and will be paid in the corresponding value of casino chips upon a winning bet. FunPlay chips cannot be exchanged and are non-redeemable. For further information, please contact the casino staff.FunPlay casino chips may be distributed in the form of cash or non-refundable on board credit, as determined by Carnival, in its sole discretion. FunPlay casino chips offer not valid in conjunction with any other Casino Cash offer. No name changes will be allowed.

FUNPLAY CHIPS

To redeem the FunPlay casino chips Voucher, the named Guest must bring the original voucher to the casino cage. Enjoyment of the FunPlay casino chips is subject to validation, and Carnival reserves the right to refuse redemption of the certificate. Prior to cashing, the named Guest will be required to show a valid id and to confirm the Guest’s name against VIFP Member Number. FunPlay chips are issued in $5 denominations and can be played on any eligible table game. FunPlay chips are valid for one bet only and will be paid in the corresponding value of casino chips upon a winning bet. FunPlay chips cannot be exchanged and are non-redeemable. For further information, please contact the casino staff. FunPlay casino chips may be distributed in the form of cash or non-refundable on board credit, as determined by Carnival, in its sole discretion. FunPlay casino chips offer not valid in conjunction with any other Casino Cash offer. No name changes will be allowed.

Friend of ours just took these this past weekend. Think they are pretty cool!! Posted them on the everything Inspiration thread, as well.

They are suppose to scan every bag. Their mission is not to look for alcohol it is to look for weapons of sort.......

They know people smuggle........

yeah, you are correct.

I am sure the security folks could care less, especially since I believe they are contracted and are not Carnival employees.

If they did somehow scan every bag(i doubt it) they are not very good at their jobs. We always take a 12-pack of can beer and 1 or 2 plastic bottles of liquor.

Stay away from the glass. Those porters pile up the bags. Too much opportunity for breakage(MAJOR PARTY FOUL!!!!)