sanmarcosman

1 minute ago, kwokpot said:

I know you know all this but I'm quoting your post to elaborate your point. The OP will see all comments. 

I'll keep this in mind for future reference LOL

3 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

All cruiselines have stopped doing this, the company that ran the program for the cruiselines went out of business. If you want to dress up you'll have to bring your own suit, otherwise slacks and a shirt will be what the majority of men will be wearing. While I do see men in suits and/or sports jacket, you'll literally be able to count the men in tuxes on one hand. 

Why are you quoting me? It's the OP that asked the question LOL

No, they stopped tux rentals in 2005. Carnival also stopped calling it Formal in 2011 and changed it to Elegant night. They still rent suites though 😉 

34 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

My posts and logic ALWAYS make sense.

I know you're joking and while you may have once mentioned U.S. tax law in this matter, I was chatting with AHS who did not quote you. It is her eloquence on the topic I was thanking.

Other than 'the bottom line' comment above, what other details about Carnival's business reasoning to have gratuities that can be removed at will can you share. There may be more to this story and I would like to learn. Thank you

2 hours ago, AHS123 said:

 You've shared in the past that if Carnival builds into the fare a cost for service which cannot be removed, then the U.S. government considers that to be crew wages and not tips. Which means that Carnival would have to begin paying U.S. payroll taxes on those wages and that is the prime reason that Carnival wants things to stay just as they are. 

This makes the most sense and best explains why Carnival does business this way. This really puts it in perspective and helped. Thanks

52 minutes ago, Calnev1 said:

I know what you mean about the dark MDR.  But at least on the Miracle, you can get a table for two that is not right up against other tables for two.  Sailing on the Panorama right now, and I sort of wish the MDR was darker so I could avoid looking at the folks jammed up against us.

If you are assigned to the Vista Dining Room the upper deck port side has tables for two by the glass wall overlooking the lower level. Those tables are good.

59 minutes ago, n6uqqq said:

Dry dock is 2-17-25 to 3-28-25. It's probably curtains for Mr Frankenstein on the lower dance floor!

Let's hope so and here's to goodbye dark, dark, dark Bacchus Dining Room and here's to a light and bright MDR. Half the time in Bacchus I can't see my spouse across from me at our table. Thanks for sharing the news.

43 minutes ago, wemjam said:

We've been handed $25 on all our cruises so far.

It depends on which ship you're sailing. I was told not all ships can give it as a credit due to the accounting program/system used, e.g. on the Miracle it is cash and on the Panorama it is a credit. 

5 hours ago, hurricane0226 said:

The spouse of a Plat/Diamond can go.

To clarify, the word "spouse" is not used on the invitation. The invitation says " you and a guest." 

3 hours ago, kdr69 said:

If its in the Serenity area the enforcement should be about the kids being there period not what they were saying.  It is quite clearly marked as an adult area.

I hope the OP returns to clarify. What I took from it was adults in Serenity acting like youths. 

23 minutes ago, balcony bound said:

Hmm.  maybe the burgers were sad? but that's not what I remember prior to Guys.  I recall not only hamburgers, but you could also have chicken or steak sandwich.  And I miss the tortilla chips and cheese/chili. 

The steak sandwiches were popular. The burger place also served an afternoon make your own ice cream sundae event one day on 7 day or more cruises. The hard ice cream was scooped to order with a choice of 3 flavors and toppings were self-serve with a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional toppings. Gummi Bears were a topping, who knew, but it was a fun event usually served at 3pm and was popular.

8 minutes ago, wemjam said:

The only point I was making was they didn't take the mushrooms away for the couple of us that enjoyed a spoon on the side either, which is what you kind of implied. 😁

I'm saying the person who was told that was given bad information, i.e. told an untruth by the staff who said it.

1 minute ago, wemjam said:

Uh, no.  Someone else already posted that they said they took them away because no one ate them. 

You know that's Carnival's go to excuse when they cut something. There used to be free drinks late afternoon for anyone who wanted to go in the main lounge on every 7 day or more cruise on the last day.

When Carnival wanted to eliminate this popular event Carnival stopped listing it in the ship's paper and then when people didn't go because they weren't aware of it Carnival said the free drinks party was eliminated " for lack of attendance." There are other examples of the long history of Carnival using this ploy to cutback.

The other things you mention about bacon, etc. I agree with you 🙂 

On 5/9/2023 at 12:29 PM, wemjam said:

Mmmmmm mushrooms.  I would just go get a spoonful to put on my plate as a side.

That's the reason the mushrooms were 86'd from Guy's condiment bar. 

OP, this is not new. Speakers in the public areas have been prohibited for over 12 years that I am aware of. Do people do it anyway? Yes, they do, it's called entitlement. 

1 hour ago, sanger727 said:

I don't know for sure what this is - but if the need is to heat up water; you would be much better off contacting special needs. They could almost certainly provide you with an electric kettle. They aren't going to give you permission to bring on an item that is forbidden for safety reasons. 

Kettles aren't the answer, Carnival doesn't have them.

6 hours ago, notscb said:

 

Maybe I'm mis-rembering, but before the serenity area was a thing didn't some ships have the aft pools as adult only?

Spirit Class ships have their Serenity Area at the aft pool and hot tubs. Before Serenity came along I don't believe they were adult only. The aft pools on Conquest Class ships were adults only prior to Serenity Area.

6 hours ago, Buffettfan 225 said:

Last Radiance cruise we did in March was the first time security used narcotic dogs

Narcotic dogs, who knew?

Yes, dogs have been there for months and they did not slow down the three times we've sailed Radiance since they have come into use.

I imagine if the dogs are alerted by several guests it could be another story.

21 hours ago, Calnev1 said:

getting about 4 dollars back in gas on your $100 Carnival gift card purchase.  That would then be about a four percent discount on the Carnival GC purchase.  But I am sure someone has actually figured this out.

$4 will almost get you a gallon of gas. 

8 hours ago, asalligo said:

No one checks if people walking to their room to put their bags away are Diamond, Platinum, or FTTF. Frankly anyone can walk to their room and put their bags away without being challenged. Carnival really needs to step up their enforcement here, but they have always been the line of making rules they have no intention of enforcing. Sadly, people get away with a lot on a Carnival ship if they are willing to just ignore rules, but I catch one little, tiny fish that I did not even keep from my balcony and I am banned for life. Go figure. 

 

There would be fewer violators if you didn't give them step by step instructions.

3 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Yep - I'm not sure that critical thinking skills have been a priority in the education system.

Thinking stopped long ago, now they feel everything. " I don't feel I should have to learn." 

22 minutes ago, kelkel2 said:

I think it’s because people either couldn’t or wouldn’t figure out how to use them. It made a great concept a nightmare because they weren’t being used correctly. 

Most Americans won't read and follow simple instructions. 

9 hours ago, SRQbeachgirl said:

You mean you didn't order the Trichinosis Special? 

Winner, winner no bacon for dinner. You are correct. I haven't seen bacon this raw served on Carnival but now I have. Thanks to the OP as well. 

16 minutes ago, audcc77 said:

I don’t “worry” about it.  

At all.  

Neither do I but I do agree with the member who said if more people prepay there's less chance people will remove tips that are posted during the cruise. I think this is especially true of people new to cruising. They buy all the frills offered on board and then sticker shock hits when the bill arrives. 

4 hours ago, beddibi said:

Thank you  I want to bring my waterpick and want to make sure I have an outlet

I take my travel waterpik to be safe. Some ships I can plug it into the bathroom outlets and others I can't. The travel one lets you charge it up in the cabin and then take into the bathroom when the bath outlet isn't a match. It can also be charged with a USB. Good luck.