KevInPitt

Dear Steve. I have better things to do than troll Carnival sites. However you are correct in that Carnival is a cheap product. I still look at their cruises when searching for our next voyage, Alaska being on the short list. Once upon a time Carnival taxes and fees were displayed by each cruise. Since we have not cruised Carnival in 4 years. they changed their site. But since you took the effort to post ( and not move on ), I felt compelled to answer. Everything is about "clicks" these days. Put it all out there, my time is valuable.

And yet, here you are... looking to compare the taxes and fees of a "cheap product" to that of one you find better.

You aren't even willing to take 60 seconds to look up the information yourself. Instead you take an exponential amount of time asking someone else to do it for you and then responding to those who comment negatively.

Sounds to me like the textbook definition of He Who Lives Under a Bridge.

Right now, there are only three insides left (and one of them is a Spa cabin on deck 11) on the sailing you mentioned.

I'd decide quickly if $800 is still too steep before they are gone. I'm surprised there are any left this close to sailing.

$3.90 x P x D/2 = ?

 

where P= passenger and D = cruise nights.

 

Until the .95 PP increase. I still haven't seen how much is going to Carnival and how much is going to the service staff.

So approximately, on average, $27. Got it.

Really? I am not a pig as you would say but I like and expect clean towels twice a day (the same as at home) and ice twice a day. I do not think this is asking too much, especially since they just raised gratuities.

 

If my room steward tells me in Dec. that I can only have once a day then I will tell him that he will get half the amount of his usual gratuity.

How much would that half be?

Sh*t happens and being aware of that fact may make things easier. On a cruise vacation board later, book later flights, schedule a day off from work after the vacation in case things don't go as planned. If traveling with small children or adults needing assistance wait to get to the terminal don't think arriving early will make things easier...a "free" lunch isn't worth the hassle.

Careful... even using quotes around free will still bring on the wrath of a certain group of individuals who will berate you for any inference that lunch should be forgone as a result of any controllable or uncontrollable boarding delay. If it isn't afforded, one should get compensated. ;)

Why are we talking about last years news? Ijs

For the same reason grumpy people still make reference to the elimination of the Midnight Buffet and pillow chocolates as "cutbacks" that are indicators of a downward spiral of the cruise experience.

All you need to know is right here:

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/481/~/deposit-and-final-payment-requirements

Everything you need to know is here under Cruise Ticket Contract Terms Section 6:

http://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/legal-notice/ticket-contract.aspx

Note the implications of having an Early Saver booking. No name changes are allowed.

I will echo what others have said: the Imagination is an older ship without stateroom amenities that newer ships have. The mini-fridge is one of them for all but suites.

An ice bucket, if not present, can always be requested.

Chocolates on the pillow have been gone for longer than I can remember. Not even sure we had them on my 2009 cruise. If we did, I failed to notice.

The continental breakfast offerings also never had "hot" items to my recollection (aside from beverages like tea and coffee) and is still fairly expansive in what it does offer for a quick in-cabin morning nosh.

The regular room service menu still has a good variety of no-charge items as well as newly added upcharge items.

Draft beer is always hit-or-miss depending on the condition and age of the tap system. Sounds like the Imagination's needs some work.

These basics won't change much across the fleet so if you feel this is "slipping", based on solely these mentioned negatives, you likely won't be more impressed by newer ships.

Is it just me confused by the dichotomy of the majority clamoring for a more informal dress code yet expecting a formal dining experience?

To me it would be like going to McDonalds in a tuxedo or showing up at Le Cirque dressed like you are about to mow the lawn.

Make up your minds, people!

The Vista's theater capacity is comparable to that of the Breeze, Dream and Magic. I don't understand how it can be called "tiny" or "shrunken".

It appears to be constructed differently to be more adaptable to a variety of functions (not just stage shows).

Once again, we have speculation that something different will be a colossal failure. Some people will like the change; others will not.

Perhaps Carnival should have made the Vista exactly like it's three previously constructed ships. I'm sure no one would have any complaints had that been done. ;)

They might either ask you not to come back, or comp your meal. It's worth a shot. ;)

You have obviously never been to a high-end restaurant even though you comport yourself on the premise you frequent them. I, however, have and I have been partner in operating one.

I can assure you that in a high-end restaurant a guest comment equating the lack of tablecloths to being a Dennys or McDonalds experience would always result in the former and never the latter. It's not a shot that would ever cross my mind to take.

Your turn, Sybil Dorsett. Be careful with that axe - it's sharp!

i don't see what the experiment proves. why would the newbie be expected to notice the lack of a table clothe since he may not know to expect one on the table. now, if he has sailed other lines that had table clothes then he may or may not notice the lack of a table clothe on carnival. of course, it may be that he just isn't observant of such things in general which would only prove a lack of situational awareness. ;)

What the experiment will prove is, if this individual looks down at the table and says "This table should have a cloth on it!", that tablecloths matter to him/her.

If he/she doesn't, they don't.

The existence or absence of a tablecloth isn't a singular indicator of the quality of the dining experience. Several local 5-star restaurants don't have cloths on their tables (yet just as many others do). I wonder how those that don't would feel if I expressed the lack of tablecloths made the experience no better than Denny's.

I would have asked my steward on my last cruise about that but he spoke such poor English it was hard to actually have a conversation.

Sorry, but I have to ask. What possessed you to pull up this 5 year old thread about a wall gadget?:confused:

My guess is to take a swipe at the steward's language skills. Classy.

Unfortunately, most of the onboard agents book early saver. We always tell them we want the past guest rate.

This has been my experience as well and would be my only criticism of on-board booking agents.

A novice cruiser may not understand the Early Saver restrictions when presented with the option to book at the lowest available fare (which is often the Early Saver rate). If at any time (whether booking on board or not) you are not 100% sure of your travel itinerary, don't book Early Saver to avoid the change fees... unless of course you are willing to risk the $50pp to save the difference between the lower Early Saver compared to other available rates.

More fun to be with 12 people drinking all you can drink wine.

Oh, so that was you everyone at our table was desperately trying to ignore as we enjoyed our meals with the complimentary wine pairing while you chugged down your serving, waved your glass at the serving attendant and burped "Fill 'er up, Honey and don't let me see the bottom of the glass again.".

Fun for you. Not so much for the rest of us.

I've done it twice.

Each time the boat ride was 30-35 minutes one way and was "bouncy" but not so much that a mobile individual would lose their balance.

Almost everyone was able to sit and those that had to stand were robust enough to manage. We chose to stand to give another couple with young ones the seats.

Due to the manner in which you have to climb up and into the boat, a stroller would have to be folded and carried as would your baby for the duration of the trip.

It's not "smooth sailing" and if you are at all concerned about the "motion of the ocean" you may wish to reconsider when taking such a young child. I don't remember any babies, toddlers or children not able to walk by themselves on either of my trips.

They are not A-60 fire boundaries, but neither are the bulkheads between cabins. The balcony dividers provide a wind break to slow the jump from one balcony to the next.

I continue to admire your patience. :)

I know...and look at how many "opposite" opinions she is receiving. Yes, I had one...No, they would not do it. It's crazy. I am a nurse and would never in a million years give an opinion on a medical condition and yet non-professionals seem to think they can. I know people are just trying to help, but it can be dangerous to do so. None of us know her circumstances.

I count 1 saying they had done it (without clarifying they made it known there was a pregnancy involved), 1 saying they couldn't get the massage due to pregnancy and 7 saying consult their OBGYN and/or not unless the therapist is licensed in prenatal massage. That's pretty sound (and verifiable) advice without offering a medical opinion.

On the Pride (Miracle's sister), 7299 is very quiet. On the Miracle, 7250 was just as quiet.

I'm uncertain what kind of advice you are looking for.

Are you looking for advice on what to do about your cancelled cruise and how to recover your gift card refund?

Are you looking for advice on which cruise/itinerary to consider in lieu of your cancelled one?

Are you looking for advice on what to expect from finally being able to plan a wedding and take a honeymoon with someone better than your ex?

Are you looking for advice on the plethora of circumstances you have experienced that the vacation gods may be penalizing you for?

With a little more specificity, some answers may come forth. Right now, it's a pretty wide open playing field.

I had the choice of which cabin I booked. Yes you can pay to upgrade but that has no bearing on an unsatisfactory night's sleep.

So you chose that inside cabin clearly under the galley with a simple look at the deck plans? 'Nuff said. I think they did more than right by you - likely because of your status.

But will criminal charges be pressed? Should we demand that?

Apparently, it may just need to come to that. Don't be surprised if it does.

From the current Early Saver Terms and Conditions:

The Early Saver fare is subject to availability and is capacity controlled. $49 per person deposit is applicable to 2 -9 day sailings, $99 per person deposit is applicable to Vista Caribbean sailings, and $149 per person deposit is applicable to 10+ days, Alaska, Vista Europe sailings. Changes made to the reservation may result in the assessment of cancellation penalties or service fees. Full names are required for each guest. Carnival reserves the right to withdraw and/or change offer at any time without prior notice.

Price Protection applies to the cruise fare only and does not include Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses. Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses range from $56.90 to $359.73, and are assessed on a per guest basis for all guests according to the itinerary. Early Saver fare is backed by a unique price protection policy (only available to bookings made in USD currency) that allows you to adjust your cruise fare to the best available fare for a like category stateroom (no downgrades allowed) advertised by Carnival and available to the general public. Price protection will be subject to the prevailing Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses and/or fuel supplement if applicable. Carnival will honor your request for price protection if the reduction on the total amount paid for your booking results only from a lower cruise fare and not from the booked ancillary services, such as air, transfers, pre-paid gratuities, or Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses. The guest is responsible for increases to ancillary services such as air, resulting from changes to ship and/or sail date, or adjustments to cruise fare.

Early Saver price protection does not apply to group rates, membership programs, charters, select promotional fares, travel agent rebates, or other travel agent promotions not offered by Carnival to the general public. When re-pricing to a new promotion, guest assumes all terms and conditions of the new promotion and may forfeit any or all features associated with the original fare, such as cabin assignment, onboard credit, an upgrade, special deposit and payment terms, etc. A $50 change fee per guest will be assessed for ship and/or sail date changes made prior to final payment due date. Remaining funds are nonrefundable/nontransferable and will be held as a future cruise credit to be applied to your cruise fare on a sailing within 24 months from the date of cancellation. Unused portions are forfeited. Offer is not applicable on Carnival Australia. Must book between March 28, 2016 and March 31, 2016 EDT. Offer is applicable on sailings between June 2016 and April 2018. Request Early Saver. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas, Panama & Malta.

Wow really? Okay, gratuities are $1.50pp more a day so it will cost us $21 more in gratuities for 7 days to sail on NCL. The gratuities on the drink package for 2 was $173.88 total for 7 days.

 

So, that means our NCL cruises were $499pp with $87.50pp obc on each cruise from TA (plus $10.50 more for gratuities for the week pp and $86.94 pp more for 7 days for gratuities for the drinks) for an inside deck 13 for 7 nights with drink package included. That makes for a total of $509.50 for the NCL cruise for 7 days WITH the drink package when you add the cost of the extra gratuities.

 

Our Carnival cruise was $579pp with a $50obc on deck 8 for 7 nights...no drink package. Carnivals gratuities are $1.50 less pp per day. That was included in the above price for NCL. Carnival's price $579- $50 is $529 with NO Drink package. If I had to pay for the drink package...it will add $442.33 pp to the cruise making Carnival $971.33pp for a 7 day cruise to make the price equal.

 

As you can see, the price of the cruises do not even come close when you figure in the drink package.

 

Also, I can't even imagine there being NO outside decks? That doesn't make sense. Are you meaning there is no promenade deck that circles the ship?

For those who don't drink and therefore find no value in a beverage package, the choice becomes much easier. :)