sparks1093

Whatever the balance is the kiosk probably has no way of knowing whether that's the original balance or not, so to the kiosk the card is "full".

All of the definitions of what constitutes a heavy drinker miss an important part of the equation- the number of times during a year that a person meets or exceeds that consumption level. I am a heavy drinker on vacation (as I said above, since I tend to average about 1 drink an hour after a certain point), but the rest of the year I'm a moderate drinker (heck, some weeks I'm even a non-drinker). Since the health organizations are concerned with health, they need to include the number of times being a heavy drinker during the year will have an adverse impact on one's health in order for the definition to be helpful. That being said a moderate drinker might still make Cheers work but it would take drinking a lot more specialty coffees, milkshakes, waters, etc. ETA- just put some numbers in the drink calculator. Someone who has 2 cocktails, 4 specialty coffees, 4 mocktails and 4 sodas per day would save $190 with Cheers. So yes, even a moderator drinker can get their money's worth.

I can understand why they are doing it and it does not necessarily follow that Cheers will increase for longer cruises (although it is certainly still a possibility). The passengers on shorter cruises are more inclined to imbibe more in the shorter period of time so raising the cost of Cheers will increase the profitability of it for Carnival. The increase seems to be a modest one and I know that we would have no trouble getting our money's worth, but of course everyone needs to do their own analysis for themselves. (I know that on the longer cruises I will average about a drink an hour starting at around noon on a sea day or when we get back aboard when in port which is usually a few hours before sail away.)

A step in the right direction.

Cruise cash is different than OBC, so you can buy up to $500 if you wish (keeping in mind that the terms say it is not refundable). (Each type of cruise cash has the same limit so you could have $500 Cruise Cash and $500 Cruise Cash Bar if you wished.)

It's my understanding that they don't sell the bottles on shorter sailings any longer.

Shareable drinks that are purchased (like a bottle of wine) do not count against the 15 alcoholic drink limit.

The only hurdle of healthy food is cost. I did point out that the vast majority of people are happy with what is being offered. Regardless of the reason Carnival isn't going to offer something people don't/won't eat, even if it is less expensive to offer it.

Ok re-reading the OP I see that, thanks!

That's what I thought, not sure why OP was charged for soda.

Did Carnival stop including soda when you have Cheers? I don't drink a lot of soda (ok, virtually none) but I always thought it was included with Cheers. ETA, I looked and here is what is included (I didn't realize that fresh juice was removed until our last sailing on Glory): CHEERS! INCLUDES: All spirits (including cocktails), as well as beer and wine by the glass with a $20.00 or lower menu price Sodas, Zero-Proof frozen cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffee, hot tea, 500ml bottled water and other non-alcoholic bottled beverages Packaged water in the Dining Room and Specialty Restaurants 25% discount off the menu price for any spirit or wine by the glass above $20.00 25% discount off the menu price for wine and champagne by the bottle 25% discount off beverage seminars and classes

Great points about medical coverage, for sure. But I don't get travel insurance primarily for the medical coverage. I don't get it for cancellations or delays either. The main reason that I get travel insurance is for the medevac coverage. With a routine medevac starting at around $25k that would certainly throw a wrench in the financial pie. We get a comprehensive plan only because it isn't that much more than medevac only and we are usually one annual trip away from making an annual plan work. (And I am aware that sometimes the medevac is gratis, such as when the USCG medevacs you off the ship, but as with anything else it all comes down to the odds.)

I can see it being more of an issue for a single cruiser but DW will generally grab a table after getting our drinks while I go through the line. I like the buffets that are set up with action stations where lines are generally shorter, but even if that isn't the case if you just need to grab one thing (like milk) most people won't mind if you ask nicely (but most of the ships that I've sailed on the milk is in a separate area). At breakfast I'm by myself, but I'm also up before any appreciable lines form so getting my breakfast isn't that big of a deal. One hack that I've heard of is ordering something in the morning from room service and then keeping the tray to use later.

I've learned a lot from all of these "arguments" over the years.

A recommendation is only that. People still need to decide if the recommendation is right for them and their circumstances. I doubt affordability comes in to play that often for insurance.

Another vote to ask Carnival. I know that they use promissory notes but have never read exactly how things work when they have to use one.

As many American households have found out, junk food is inexpensive and easy to prepare. While there are some who would love what you suggest I would think the vast majority are happy with the choice being offered. That coupled with the extra work (and expense) involved means that Carnival will maintain the status quo.

I like having the option. We used the delivery feature on the app to order late night pizza delivered to wherever we happened to be. It did come with a price but we didn't have to stand in line.

That is true, but that doesn't really affect me. All I can do is learn from their mistakes.

I like this idea!

It's been a hot minute since we've been on NCL but unless things have changed drastically if you show up with two people you will be seated at a table for two unless you request otherwise. And there is no need for anyone to feel like a traitor for trying another line. This is a business transaction, pure and simple. We were getting super attached to NCL back in the day and then a new guy took over and really emphasized for us that it is a business transaction. We book cruises based on which one costs the least for when and where we want to go. Most of the time, that is Carnival, but if we do find a less expensive cruise then we would have no qualms booking with another line. (Recently booked with Celebrity because when we added what Celebrity includes in the fare to the Carnival fare then Celebrity came out less. Unfortunately they decided to move that ship's home port and cancelled the cruise on us. When we looked for a replacement cruise Carnival came out less.)

I do have those insurances, but mainly because the banks and the state require it. If that weren't so then I would have to determine if having the insurance was worth it. For the house, most assuredly. For the car, it would depend a great deal on what said car was worth (for comprehensive coverage, of course, the state minimums would still need coverage). I am one who gets the travel insurance for every trip but mostly it's for medevac coverage, since the costs of a medevac seem to start at around $25k and go up from there. We could get medevac coverage only but a comprehensive plan isn't that much more. But we are older now than when we started cruising and our risks have gone up a bit in the medical department. And yes, I am saying there are risks and acceptable risks, but also what is acceptable to one may not be acceptable to another. Everyone tolerates risks differently.

I believe this varies by ship, so one can find sliding doors on Carnival.

It may not even be intentional, that wind can be strong sometimes.

Yes, we can agree that risk cannot be totally eliminated, but we cannot let our lives be controlled by the fear of something going wrong. Even having travel insurance isn't a sure thing because there are many things that aren't covered (as pointed out above) and sometimes even with travel insurance folks are left in the lurch when seeking medical care abroad because they need to pay the cost up front before services are rendered, which can be difficult for many. Each of us does the best we can for ourselves and we hope for the best. Sometimes it still bites us despite our best efforts.