sparks1093

Thanks!

Thank you, it has to be the app and not the online account?

I've been looking through X's selections for in cabin gifts and can't find this, but do they sell bottles of liquor for in cabin consumption? DW and I like to have a nightcap or two on the veranda before turning in for the night. (And if yes what is the typical price range?)

Yep, for those 16 and up.

Appreciate the insights. I saw one fellow on a Carnival cruise in the MDR in gym shorts and a t-shirt. Said he just got off of a Royal cruise the day before boarding the Carnival cruise. Something tells me that he wouldn't have worn that attire on a Royal cruise and being on a side to side indicates some means, so the way people dress on Carnival might only be because they feel comfortable enough to dress that way. In any event why people dress the way they do on a cruise is probably fodder for a number of doctoral theses. (You comment triggered this memory and I just wanted to share it.) On our last few Carnival cruises they didn't have the hairy chest or belly flop contests. I've heard that they were eliminated because of COVID, which is just as good a reason as any.

I am not really sure how it was managed, and I wasn't there when she spoke with the waitstaff about her intolerances, so I am not sure if she even mentioned that particular one (I have never really discussed how intolerant she is, I've just avoided using anything on her list when cooking dinner when she is a guest). I will probably see her in the next day or so and will try to ask her for more details. They both definitely had the opportunity at dinner to pick their dinner options for the next evening and brunch the next day if it was a sea day, which was handled by our head waitress. I also know that even if something on the menu was a "no go" for either if the kitchen could prepare it without the problem food they would (like making gluten free WCMC).

If every discussion that happens when people are deciding whether or not Cheers is worth it people remind them to factor in the other drinks that are included with the package, since that can make a difference (two lattes equal about the price of a mixed drink, after all) and when looking at it the way the previous poster did (i.e. getting 20 drinks per day) it is logical when calculating the tips paid with Cheers to include all 20 of those drinks in the calculation. I personally don't parse it that way, I pay the 18% on the price of the package and if I tip extra it's because the server deserves it.

We just sailed on Glory and DW and our travel companion had a variety of allergies and intolerances. The servers were most helpful in helping them make choices from the menu for the next day (including brunch) and their food was specially prepared leaving out anything that might cause a problem (as I understand it even in a separate section of the kitchen to prevent cross contamination). So DW can have a certain amount of iodized salt but too much makes her rash out. Her food was prepared without salt. Travel companion is intolerant of soy, corn and several other things so these weren't used in preparing her food. They both have allergies as well and that too was looked after. (After they made their choices the app would print out a slip of what they ordered and when they showed up for a meal they let the server know who would then obtain the slip from a central location.)

I would think that dogs in the terminal are more likely to belong to local or federal authorities.

I should have added "under normal circumstances" 😉 but this is good info to have.

I don't believe that is possible.

Indeed unfortunate but others can learn from your story. Thanks for the update.

Overlooking the fact that their muster station is printed right on their cabin key, of course (with signage everywhere showing where the muster stations are). I would also like to see the old way of mustering return.

Following along since we are booked for Summit in 2/25. We normally book with the "lowest bidder" and still do, but now that we buy the beverage package on every sailing we compare any cruises that include that in the fare. When we booked Summit (Southern Caribbean itinerary) we compared it to a Carnival Southern Caribbean itinerary and while the itineraries aren't exact, Carnival was the ABC islands, Celebrity is St Martin/Antigua/St Lucia/Barbados/Dominica, they both offered features we liked for an itinerary. Carnival came in at $2400 for a mid-ship balcony cabin. When you factor in the drink package, gratuities and wifi it comes in at around $3800. We booked a Prime Concierge class cabin on Summit for $3700 that includes the drink package, gratuities and wifi, plus a couple other amenities. We are looking forward to trying Celebrity.

We just finished a cruise on Glory and our travel companion is gluten intolerant. She really enjoyed the gluten free bread and the warm chocolate melting cake they made for her that was gluten free. Her only comparison was her taste buds as this was her first cruise. She has several foods she can't eat for different reasons and Carnival did a great job meeting her dietary needs.

Gratuities are based on the price, not the effort to prepare.

Probably only pennies per cabin, if that. There are people who specialize in determining exactly how much extra business is attracted by different types of marketing and many of these folks are employed by the cruise lines. I'll leave it to them to work their magic but most of it is lost on me.

Sure you can, just not with alcohol in them. Since they are covered under the package they should be included in any calculation regarding tip per drink (and many do when figuring out if Cheers is "worth it" for them). Even though I don't exactly agree with the previous poster's analysis I do understand the point she is trying to make.

It certainly isn't an overarching concern, that's for sure. After all, you usually see those things you are expecting to see so I don't want to focus on anything other than having a great cruise with my sweetie.

At that rate the drinks are $3 a piece and 18% of that is 54 cents.

That's why we booked it. 🙂

You are right, general complaints will not be addressed. However specific complaints made onboard regarding specific behaviors are more likely to be addressed. Now, with that said, are they going to follow up with you after a complaint and let you know that the transgressor was keel hauled for their indiscretion? No, they won't. Which some will take as "Carnival not doing anything", even if they did.

Oh, I am aware that given the broad demographics that Carnival has one will find all sorts of people onboard. But just because there might be one or two that fit the stereotype doesn't mean that all do. As you point out, it is rarely seen and that says it all. (And if someone wants to put me into a certain mold because I sail with Carnival it matters not to me at all.)

Since they've started allowing the use of OBC for shore excursions prior to the cruise we've not boarded with any, but I recall that it was split between the passengers in the cabin. I think my sons might have had some OBC on our last cruise, I'll check and see how that was handled for them.

I know that is the stereotypical model of a Carnival cruiser but I've never seen anyone that has met that description, much less shared a table with anyone like that at dinner.