audcc77

2 minutes ago, JCrewz said:

He has a user name of "No Pants Profits". 

Thank you.  I saw that one but didn’t make the connection.  

Returning on Aug 3 which is a Thursday. 
 

I have early debark.  If I book my flight out at 10:30 — is that cutting it too close?

6 hours ago, JCrewz said:

There is a YouTuber (Richard) that has posted extensively on his back to back Luminosa sailings.

I looked for this but couldn’t find it.  Would you mind posting a link?  Richard who?

thanks.  

On 6/1/2023 at 1:13 PM, lesters said:

there is so little on the Luminosa other than the great Longest Review ever from @EngIceDave

Can someone post a link to this?

Also, any thoughts on me booking a flight home from Seattle afterwards at 10:30 am? I think it’s a Wednesday.  
I can get off the ship early debark.  
 

Is that risky?   

12 minutes ago, pinto18 said:

ok so your Mom looks AMAZING for 85!

I was thinking the same thing!

Glad you had a nice time with your mom and DDs.  

I will miss the sunshine when she leaves Charleston as well.  

I leave my DH with the cats too. 🙂

I saw a YouTube video which showed there were several people standing in line waiting to play PB on one of Royals  ships.  Given the rising popularity of the game, I think they’d have lots of people playing.  
 

This video is very informative.  
 

34 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

should they really be considering this sporting recreation activity as all inclusive on their ships? 

Yes. And build it with shade, please. 

Good for you!

A few months ago, I had a free 7 day visiting St Thomas, St Marten and other ports I can’t recall.   There was only a 1A left.  
 

I was too afraid to be stuck with it so I didn’t book it.  There was no way either of us was going to sleep up there in the top bunk.   I didn’t know that an upgrade was even possible.  Had I known that, I may have chanced it.  

I was just there a month ago.  
 

I believe you have two options. The first option is the actual cruise port parking. This is more expensive. It is about $85 for five days.

The second choice is  “mall parking”.  
I don’t know why they call it this, because it’s not a mall. It is directly across the street from the cruise parking.  It is $55 for five days.  This is where we parked, and it was very simple.  My friend has a very expensive van and she was fine with leaving it there.  You can see it on Google Maps.  

https://jaxportparking.com

in fact, we accidentally drove into the cruise area, only to be told that what we’re looking for was across the street.  Since we already pre-paid for it, I went ahead and parked at the “mall.”

You can find other information and the Florida Departures section of cruise critic. 
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/386-florida-departures/

6 hours ago, 1kaper said:

I went to the casino once when I was home but did not enjoy it.  It was not nearly as much fun losing money.

I’m with ya, sister.  
 

We went to the biggest casino in NY for just a few hours last week and played slots. Just passing through as a one time thing.  
 

Not near as much fun since I knew my losses were not accumulating as points.

3 hours ago, wemjam said:

So, this could be back firing on them already.  I was curious so I looked, we cruise in 18 days and there are still Cabanas and Villas available at the $699, $999 rate.

Ahh, yes.  
 

Price-chicken has already begun. 🐓 

41 minutes ago, dallasdan said:

all of my casino offers expired yesterday.  I am thinking a new round of offers will come out any day now.

Mine too. 
 

All they did was extend the deadline from May 1 to July 1 for mine.   Same offers.  
 

I noticed my offers are for cruises way out in the future.  It’s easier for me to book last minute but there are none.  
 

A lot depends on how much you pay for your cruise.  
 

Whenever I book a cheap or free cruise, I don’t care if I get back any money for cancellation.  
 

It is then when I buy carnival insurance because I just want flown to the US for treatment if I need it.  
 

However, if I spend a lot on a cruise, that’s the time I use Travel Guard.  They reimbursed me every penny and very quickly when I broke my foot and wrist only 2 months prior to sailing.   Great customer service. 

5 hours ago, Pellaz said:

As has been observed, it will be interesting to see how this game of price-chicken plays out for Carnival...and us

Price-chicken.  😂

My guess is that since cruising is becoming more expensive these days, some people will trot over from Royal, NCL, etc., and that $700 price tag won’t seem so bad as they’re spending less on their voyage.   Someone will pony up that cost.  
 

Just theorizing, of course.  
 

I’m out.  

33 minutes ago, wemjam said:

Supply and demand like everyone says..  if people will pay it they will charge it.

Yep. We’ve had a cabana 90% of the time at HMC because I need to stay out of the sun. We don’t usually do any excursions on the Bahamas trips, so splitting the cost amongst 2-4-6 is not too bad.  We usually just have it for 2.  
 

However, everyone has their jumping off point and $700 is definitely mine.  

I’ve been on MG 4 times.  Excellent location.   You can’t go wrong with midship on deck 9 or 10.  👍

Please note:

Smoking is permitted in a designated outdoor area at Bar Della Rosa on Deck 8 (starboard side, midship).

Therefore, you may wish to move if you’re on that side.  Not bad when sailing but possible smoke if in port. 
 

Enjoy!   
 

14 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Simply request the same team

I do. 

1 minute ago, BlerkOne said:

The base tipping is the same.

Yes, I realize that.  
 

However, I only give anytime dining EXTRA tips if I have the same team for several nights.  
 

To me, the service during YTD ranges from ho-hum to lousy.  Unless I find a good one and stick with them for the remainder.  Thus, resulting in an extra tip. 

Wow.  😳I’ve been on MG 4 times and never knew this.  I just always happened to choose YTD.   🤷‍♀️
 

I was thinking of starting to do early dining simply because I figured the service is better and you get to know the servers.  I knew I would give additional tips on set dining and I was fine with that.  
 

However, if that’s a condition of early dining, then I am out.   I start getting hangry around 6-6:30 and nobody wants THAT.  
 

Thanks for posting OP.  

I vote Carnival goes back to San Juan.  I don’t do western.  I’m getting bored with going to The Bahamas.  
 

Plus, we’ve been sitting on free airfare and hotel miles for forever.  
 

If Carnival doesn’t sail from SJ soon, I’m using those frequent miles and go on SeaDream I or II, which has been on my bucket list.  

I think it depends  on the amount.  I had $750 in funplay.  
 

When I went to the cage to get the funplay, they asked if I play slots.  I said yes and so they added it to my card as “funplay,” meaning that I actually had to push the “funplay” button to gamble with it. 
 

Once I won a little something, I added that $$ to my “bank. “
 

The next time I sat at a machine, I used the “funplay” button again.  Then just moved those winnings to my bank.  And so on.  
 

The $25 Platinum money is either given in cash or put on your card, depending on the ship. 

3 hours ago, mz-s said:

Typically we leave the cruise with close to the money we entered with, but no actual winnings. We are happy with that arrangement because we get free cruises and drinks.

Me too.  I feel like I’m spending a good amount but when I see people sitting there at a slot machine on the second day with over 30,000 points, that’s when I know I’m small potatoes.  

Sounds like I need to investigate the Buffalo slot.  
 

I JUST started playing the Panda, having stayed on Quick Hit for years.
 

These slots with the multiple rows of letters and symbols is too confusing to me.   😂.  

15 minutes ago, pe4all said:

She is fantastic.  If for some reason she is on vacation she leaves the name of a backup pvp to call.

Yup. This.   I love my PVP too.  
 

Ooooo!   Maybe we have the same one!😁

Pretty quickly.  If she can’t immediately, then she sends me an email or text telling me that she’s with a client and will call when she’s finished.  
 

No more putting cruises on hold if PVP is expecting to get credit.  
 

I guess you could put it on hold, then take it off hold after you get your PVP on the phone.  
 

The way cruises have been getting booked lately and changing by the hour, I would expect a call back soon if you’ve had this PVP for a while.