Colorado Beach Bum

3 hours ago, soremekun said:

A woman I chatted with in the casino while we were waiting said she was flying out of FLL and had a 10am flight!  I think that's really pushing with.  She also caught a shuttle but was placed in the FLL shuttle.  We wished each other well.

We’ve caught 9:30 flights out of FLL and checked bags.  

3 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

About an hour and a half later than usual, the guys arrived back here with lunch. Unfortunately the "bbq chicken pizza" I wrote on the order list ended up being "bbq chicken wings"... The guy who mistakenly ordered that gave me part of his calzone and some different type of wings as a "sorry" for the mistake. Honestly I was just glad to be done with the problem customer and all the other crap we've been subjected to today. Still an hour and a half till quitting time, and we have at least two more customer appointments before the weekend can begin.

 

Free Lunch Friday: meatballs and garlic bread, bbq chicken wings, and part of a meat calzone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calzone looks awesome. 

We send out multiple bags every cruise and have never had any issues. Jeans, shorts, shirts, swimsuits, socks, underwear - basically anything that’s washer safe. 

Not the experience we’ve had.  With passports, just zip right through.  Line usually longer but proceeds way faster - especially with facial recognition.  When with the grankids and bc’s the line was short but moved slow especially when agents questioned everyone - no facial recognition.  The bc ports were LB and Galveston.  And when I say longer, maybe 15-20 minutes.  Definitely not two hours. 

1 hour ago, vettecruiser1 said:

Thanks were you on one of the first few sailings or a more recent one.  I heard the casino was slammed the first few sailings.  I'm assuming the crap table was too unless the $15 min kept some of the low rolling degens away.

First month.  

It was $15 when I was on. 

8 minutes ago, ledges1 said:

CCL is $15.50 per share and does not pay dividends. As an investment, it is not good. If the $1550 to purchase 100 shares is immaterial to your financial situation, go for it. I am sure your advisor can offer better long term investment advice.

No dividends but if OP takes two cruises this year and gets $200 OBC, that’s just under 13% return which is way higher than past dividends. And if OP turns around and sells that stock right after getting OBC without any loss it’s not a bad move.  But as others have said, get your advice from your advisor.  We are all in different financial situations and what’s good for one is horrible for others. 

On 4/8/2024 at 3:21 PM, nydney1 said:

I went in three weeks ago to get our kids renewed. (Yes, I should have done it sooner). We sail the first of June.

I was told not to even think about trying it without the expedited fee. Looks like the kids are sailing with birth certificates this time.

Did you not just regular processing at the time?  You prob would have got them back.  We did renewals and took 3-4 weeks. 

Agree with others, I wasn't excited about this but was pretty cool when it hit totality.  Glad I didn’t have to travel as we had totality here in central Texas. 

Ok.  Just finished 9-1-1 with the cruise ship.  Many of y’all said it wasn’t great. I should’ve listened.  Can’t get those 3 hours back. 

2 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

I had looked at Sid’s travel dates as well though I doubt he’ll stray from Delta. The best option would be like 6:30pm getting in a 8:30pm. I doubt he wants to do that anyway. It would’ve been super cheap for a regular seat. Like $160.

 

You should be able to do a one way flight. I know they price them separately. Mine down to Miami was like $30 one way and $80 the other way. Of course add checked bags (50 each way) big front seat (80 one way and 70 the other) and boom $360. Still probably as good as a standard seat on most airlines but I get the best seat on this one.

 

Southwest to FLL is decent at $389 and good flight times and no bag fees.  We do either FLL or MIA for Miami cruises. The Sunday flight is early at 10:05 but with priority debarkation and TSA pre can be done easily (we’ve caught 9-930 flights).  There is a 12:30 flight for $60 more.  Still cheaper even with a couple Uber rides. 

6 minutes ago, starstruck05 said:

Terminology is important here. They don't get Platinum status. They get Platinum TREATMENT. So they get the perks of that level but their loyalty card is exactly whatever card it is supposed to be. They get an additional card to show they are Elite players and a lanyard. 

Not true.  We took someone on an elite who was a red card and for that one elite cruise she had a platinum card.  

2 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

I've looked into it, but there's no way in heck I'm doing a layover in New Orleans, Baltimore, or Charlotte just to get from Florida to Atlanta... I'd rather just pay the money for a direct flight...

Agree.  I hate layovers and avoid.  I thought SW had multiple direct flights to either MIA or FLL from ATL. 

2 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

I was hoping to luck out with a good price for my Miami flights this morning, but it was not to be... I'm holding out for something better unless I end up absolutely having to pay these absurd prices. For this amount, I would almost drive down there. (***Not really...)

 

 

Do you ever fly Southwest?  I know some hate it but I’m a huge fan. We only fly SW and enjoy it. 

Very similar ships.  Hard to say which is better.  A couple of the bars have different drinks, shows are a bit different, pizza and deli have different choices and other minor differences.  Pretty similar experience.  Pick based on your preference of where you like to sail from and which ports you prefer.  Casino layout exactly the same but slots will be different with both having many of the same but not all. 

10 hours ago, Redskinsfan92 said:

Just curious if this also affects non alcohol for those with Drinks on Us Everywhere. Love the special coffees, milkshakes, and soda.

DOUE works out of TX on day one as soon as the casino opens for both alcohol and non-alcohol drinks. 

20 hours ago, JGB said:

I just returned from the 5 day Miracle sailing and there was a significant cross section of Americana. From bikers to bankers, men and women of all stripes. I rarely have an opportunity to get up close and personal with some of these individuals. Having bellied up to the craps table and betting on the right side of the dice I with several others who were covered in paint we hooped and hollered as the dice held for quite a lengthy period, everyone made money! I am as white as can be so there was an obvious contrast. Later on, on the Lido deck I was desperately looking for a table for my wife and I when one of my fellow shooters invited me to join him and his wife. For the next hour we had the best time sharing realities. OK but also On the same cruise during trivia we sat with a family who had a senior analyst at UBS, again great conversation and perspective. Well done to Carnival they must be doing something right.

JGB 

Great post.  Goes to show you people from different backgrounds really can get along.  We all really aren’t all that different.  This is one of the things I like most about cruising.  Too bad this doesn’t happen much in the real world back at home these days. 

On 3/19/2024 at 8:36 PM, Itried4498 said:

If you need access to iMessage, there's no other workaround besides purchasing a WiFi package.

Carnivals terms and conditions say iMessage is NOT supported even if you pay for WiFi. So even that may not be a guarantee. 

18 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

If a passport was required for any port stop, you would be denied boarding if you didn't have one.

Denied boarding or denied from going ashore in those countries?

1 minute ago, Elaine5715 said:

I would disagree.  I would guess more than a quarter especially with  Platinum or Diamond level  couples bringing along newbies couples or families.  They could easily stop this.  

A quarter wouldn’t double.  The post said it doubled the count and I said a small fraction - wouldn’t 1/4 be a small fraction?

1 hour ago, Elaine5715 said:

That count is misleading due to the status sharing..Splitting up Diamond/Platinum guests into rooms with Blue/Red/Gold with the intent to move around once onboard.  That can double the numbers. 

Yes that happens but I’d bet it’s a small fraction doing this. 

1 minute ago, jimbo5544 said:

You really think big spenders cover the cost for everyone that gets elite or ultra perks?

I never said anything about elite or ultra perks.  Someone said carnival makes money on all passengers and I said it’s an average, some more, some less. 
 

But to answer your question - elite and ultra perks are covered by casino spending not other passenger non-casino spending

3 hours ago, tidecat said:

Per Carnival Corporation's Q4 financial statements, average onboard revenue per passenger cruise day (PCD) for fiscal year 2023 was approximately $82.34 ($7.526 billion / 91.4 million PCD).

Average means some will be less, some will be way more.  I’d be willing to bet they lose money on many passengers and it’s more than offset by the big spenders. 

2 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

I am not positive, but pretty sure on all other ships they are high tops.  I had to do a double take when I saw your pic.

I think so too.  We were expecting high tops on jubilee and were surprised to see table height.  Maybe I’m wrong but we’ve done teppenyaki on all the ships that have it and thought all were high tops. 

7 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Nongambling people would lose their minds when gamblers spending $20K a cruise lapped them in status.  

And gamblers wouldn’t like it if it was based only on cruise fair paid - and carnival would never do anything to alienate their gamblers.

i like the idea of having to have recent cruises to keep status. Maybe you can have a legacy status with lifetime cruises but if you have multiple cruises in a year you get a plus after your tier - like Diamond Plus, or Platinum Plus and Diamond, Platinum are still there.  The Plus cruisers maybe get additional perks that they can’t give to all.