staceyglow

Even after years of reading various complaints on CC, I have never, ever heard of anyone with guarantee cabin not eventually being assigned one. Has anyone else?

If building a couple of megaships lowers the price on the smaller ones and frees them up from the Bahamas and Western Caribbean ports to go to more interesting places, I am all for it!

IMO, from a business standpoint, it was a little underpriced. Like every other product with finite supply and a hard expiration date, the proper price is whatever makes it sell out right before that date.

I won't name names but I was at a Carnival piano bar where people lined up their Cheers package drinks on the piano for the performer, and he drank every single one. He must have had 8 in the couple of hours we were there, including several tequila shots. I have no idea how he could still play and sing after that.

My bad. I am mixing up my ships! 🥴

You don't get the email? I always have. I just got one today for my cruise coming up in a couple of weeks: Dear valued Diamond and Platinum Guests: Welcome back! We want to make you aware of the priority benefits for sailings departing from the U.S. and Europe. D Platinum and Diamond guests will be given 48 hours advance access to select their preferred terminal arrival appointment. Please visit My Cruise Manager on Carnival.com starting at 16 days prior to sailing to complete your Online Check-In and select the terminal arrival appointment that works best with your plans. We will not be able to accommodate guests who show up earlier than their selected terminal arrival appointment. Upon arrival to the terminal, look for the Priority line to check-in (as is customary, this is not available for Carnival Journeys cruises). Once on board, you will be able to drop off your bags in your stateroom, but we ask that you not linger in the hallways or your stateroom. Our team will still be working hard to get the ship ready for your sailing, so once you drop off your bags, please return to the public areas of the ship. Priority luggage delivery is available for checked-bags. Priority debark and water shuttle debark is available at the home port and ports of call (except on Carnival Journeys cruises).* A US$25 in Casino FunPlay®, in addition to any other FunPlay® you might be entitled to as part of your booking, will be provided. Additionally, please remember that certain VIFP amenities will be linked to your Sail & Sign folio for electronic redemption, like how we handle complimentary laundry. Simply claim your benefit, using your Sail & Sign card, and a one-time credit for that item will be posted on your folio and visible on your statement. Complimentary Beverages Brunch Beverage – redeemable in the dining room. 1.5L Bottled Water – redeemable from any bar, restaurant or your stateroom. Chocolate Delight (5+ Day Cruises) A tasty treat will be ready for you to enjoy; just call room service to schedule delivery. Carnival Logo Gift & Ship Pin Please visit our Photo Gallery to claim your Carnival logo gift and your Carnival ship pin. We encourage you to claim your gifts no later than two days prior to the end of your cruise. Your continued support means a lot to us and our great staff and crew can’t wait to welcome you back on board! Sincerely, Christine Duffy President, Carnival Cruise Line *Due to the high number of Diamond and Platinum guests joining us, priority debarkation is not available for our European voyages at ports of call where water shuttle operations are conducted. ReplyForward You can't react with an emoji to a large group

Cucina del Capitan. Lunch is free there, and it it's practically deserted on embarkation day.

I was a little reluctant to use the word "fumbling", but couldn't think of a better one. 😀 I know my way around a smart phone, but I was only a step or two into getting into the right screen to look at the menu when a waiter would say, "would you like a paper menu"? I am not going to turn one down, but I am fine looking at the app as well.

We have only been to Costa Maya once. We took a tour of the ruins through this company: https://www.thenativechoice.com/ It was great. After the tour, we stopped in a local town where they served us a delicious dinner, and even taught us how to make tortillas on a stone over a wood fire. The experience was much better (IMO) than a random beach day, which I have done many other times.

That has not been my experience, especially recently. I have been offered a menu the minute I have started fumbling with my phone. I have even been handed them as soon as I sat down. Otherwise, I use the online menus. I am a little past middle-age (certainly not elderly), but I am starting to wonder if they assume I am too old to use the technology! 🤪

How is that getting screwed?

A few years ago I had to get stitches in the infirmary after I tripped on a curb in St. Lucia. I forgot exactly what the cost was, but it was under $200 (including a follow up visit), far less than what my hometown urgent care would have charged me.

Breakfast definitely. I don't know about lunch. A Journeys cruise with a lot of port stops might be different from a transatlantic, which I have never been on. Even if there is no lunch in the MDR, there will be lunch the other venues besides the buffet (Cucina del Capitano, Guys, etc.)

Same here. They may repeat a certain dish here and there, but the menus are different every night.

We primarily book ocean views. We don't think the additional price for a balcony is worth it. We have done it a few times, but we never spend as much time on the balcony as we think we will. And an oceanview is roomier, because the square footage that would otherwise be balcony space is actually inside the cabin.

The banana split is on the kids menu, but a grownup can certainly order it.

Yep. Not harder than any other type of dish. I am guessing mz-s doesn't do a lot of dishes. 😄

Just ask the first crew member you see once you step onto the ship. All of them are familiar with the locations of the muster stations.

The more time the better. Doesn't need to be more specific than that. Three to four months is definitely not enough time. People who are having a traditional wedding send out "save the date" cards further in advance than that. IMO it's pretty inconsiderate for the couple to plan a destination wedding with that little time to plan. What would happen if you just say "I can't go at that time"? Would they change their plans, or have the wedding without you?

Any person who expects anything to be "flawless" while traveling is only setting themselves up for disappointment. IMO the key to enjoying yourself while traveling is to assume that at least a few things aren't going to go your way, cope with them when they happen, and don't let it ruin your trip.

I sailed on the Radiance right after Thanksgiving and got the toiletry bag.

With all due respect, why are you even bothering to post here?

If my kids were ever "disappointed" about a cruise I took them on, it would be the last one. The fanciest vacation I ever had when I was a kid was a long weekend to Rock City and Ruby Falls, and we drove there in our woody wagon. They would be staying with Grandma and Grandpa while Dad and I enjoyed ourselves on the ship.

Retired CFO/CPA here. I am a little late to the party but let me clear up a few things. Paying off debt does not reduce profit. It reduces both debt and cash, which are balance sheet items, not profit and loss items. What it does do is increase net profit going forward, because you are lowering future interest costs. In a time when interest rates are relatively high, that is a good thing. Also, in the short to medium-term, cash flow is more important than net profit. It means that the company can pay its bills, which is key to the viability of the company. A company can have a huge paper profit, but if it doesn't have enough cash to meet its obligations when they come due, they are going to struggle. Also, if you have so much money tied up in Carnival stock that you spend time worrying about its price and/or dividend, your investments probably aren't properly diversified.