goldenk

Actually I think I might be higher on NCL's loyalty list than CCL's at this point but the perks at either level are nothing to crow about. .

NCL updated their loyalty this year. Wish I was plat there. Two free specialty dinners. I could go to that Brazilian Steakhouse every night. No one upset about a silly prize/trinket. I'm sure that will change the more that people become platinum. I don't think it would be possible for CCL to have free specialty dinners with the number of plats I've heard thrown around.

Are they leaving within a few days of ea other?

Magic & Epic are the 18th, Oasis 19th.

Wow...NCL cheaper than CCL...while not uncommon, I still find it intriguing when it happens.

Why we took our first ever last Thanksgiving. I try to only go out of Port Canaveral. I live close by, so if I see something there, I'll grab it first. At the time, Sunshine balconies were higher than Oasis of the Seas & Epic. I'm sure the Oasis comparison shouldn't count as they're balconies overlooking the boardwalk. You can price check this Thanksgiving and see the Magic, Oasis & Epic in Port Canaveral. Epic is the better price. With the UBP & specialty dining promo, just makes that price much nicer. All were leaving Port Canaveral, balconies, seven day, going nowhere special.

We did our first ever and loved it. Starting with the food. Was nice to see four omelet burners in different areas of the Garden Cafe. I'd give CCL the win on the room size. Rest went to NCL. I really loved how I rarely heard or noticed the CD. I like how their jumbo tv is at the back of the boat. Instead of a smokestack as your backround, it's the ocean. We liked it so much, we booked this Thanksgiving with a different itinerary. Never been to Tortola. Like above, the base price is still lower than the Magic that is in port that week.

I'd pick Oasis easy. Would like to do that also.

Was on the Magic last year. I usually only cruise from Port Canaveral. Last Thanksgiving we gave NCL's Epic a try. I was impressed. Especially by the shows & food. We had the promo, which is still going on, for free alcohol (you have to pay gratuities on that) and four (now three) specialty restaurants. Everyone was great (Cagney's, Moderno's, Tappenyaki's & the Italian one). So, I booked for next Thanksgiving. Only here five months then goes back to Europe.

Not sure how they do it on NCL, but an Irish Coffee is not coffee and Bailey's.

Reminds me from a carnival cruise. They had Irish Coffee on sale for $2.99. I asked if I could get it without the whiskey. They said not for the same price, it would be $3.00 more (yes, without whiskey). The sale was a full irish coffee.

I then asked if I could get the whiskey on the side. They did and I left on the counter.

I was surprised on Thanksgiving that all three games were advertised and shown on the Epic. Wasn't expecting that. Two day ones on H20 Spice & all three in O'Sheehans.

I went to the actual websites for CCL and NCL- CCL Magic mid-ship balcony on the Magic $2094; NCL Epic mid-ship balcony $2683 (includes the gratuities for the "free" promotions).

I was pointing out Thanksgiving week. Magic is only a 5 day cruise vs a 7 day. Sunshine 7 day cruise is $1,229 per person on carnival.com right now, beginning 11/19/16 for a balcony. NCL.com has a guaranteed balcony at $1,099, regular you pick at $1,299. Both prices at this moment. I was comparing full week ones, not partials from the same port, balcony, dates.

Those darned gratuities for free drinks. I'll happily pay gratuities.

I'm just looking at the week of our next cruise, Thanksgiving. Looking up prices here at cruise critic for Port Canaveral, Thanksgiving and balcony. Carnival is the most expensive at $1,229, followed by Epic at $1,099 (with the free drink package and four free specialty dinners) that is followed by Oasis of the Seas at $1,098.

All are a week, nowhere special going to, same port and same week.

Not sure about you, but I'd rather save the $130 and get the UBP/Dinner promo. That's a lot saved with the promo.

Was just looking up the Thanksgiving cruises for this year for Port Canaveral with balconies on the same date. Going nowhere special. These are the prices I found on CCL & NCL's pages:

Sunshine - $1,424

Epic - $1,099 Add the free drinks & three free specialty restaurants.

Yeah, time for me to check this line out for myself. Even Oasis of the Seas in PC was cheaper than the Sunshine. I think we're being hoodwinked.

I'm just extremely happy that ship is out of Port Canaveral and now has the Magic. I'll leave it there as I wouldn't want to criticize a cruise on cruise critic :rolleyes:

At the time I was looking in February, I compared NCL Epic & Carnival Magic. Same port, date (thanksgiving) & balconies. NCL was $50 more pp for the entire seven day cruise. But, I'm saving $100.00 (my wife & I with Cheers, not including gratuity) a day with that ultimate beverage package, plus four (it's three now) free specialty dining restaurants.

When we booked we were only charged the gratuities for the Epic free drink package is all.

I'd say it's free just paying grats.

Remember seeing Heald say there are over 100,000 platinum members. Would never work. It would be nice. But, be like getting your Burger King status and have it transferred to Ruth Chris Steakhouse.

Thank You, on the Magic in 8 days :)

I'd go with the Magic with those choices.

Port Canaveral is getting nice ships this year (I live close by and it's either there or Tampa for me). I priced out the Oasis, Epic & Magic for Thanksgiving week. I remember the Oasis being so much more than the other two. Was the same week and balconies. Epic & Magic were close. Epic was $50 more per person for the week. But, with their promo their running now, I'm getting free drinks and four specialty restaurants for free (do have to pay gratuities on these). But, that will save hundreds and chose NCL. My first one with them, also first non-CCL cruise in about twelve years. The Oasis & Epic do not come to PC until the Fall though. Magic is here now :)

I am excited about the upcoming Magic cruise. Seen many good reviews.

As a non smoker, I love the changes. Smoke doesn't bother me, but I have a relative that is allergic to smoke, she gets stuffed up and her throat starts to close. I'm sorry that an addiction doesn't allow you to have a good time on a cruise. My mom smoked for 45 years and quit and is much healthier because of it. It's not like you can't smoke at all. Just have to go to different areas.

 

Also, taking your tips away from hard working employees is a childish way of trying to show your displeasure. Think about that, your depriving someone of pay because you dislike changes that carnival made that those workers had ZERO to do with. Shame....

Good for you, you've got 95% of the outdoors. A week in the casino is fine with me.

Where did I say I wasn't tipping? I took the prepay off and all pre-purchases. As we're all anonymous keyboard warriors, just have to go for the point I was hoping Carnival would see to get a passenger looking forward to a trip. If I would have known the new areas I'd get a balcony near them. I've been part of cc for at least eight years. I only sign on when a cruise is coming up.

Call off the anonymous Pom poms.

Port side right past red frog pub seating.

 

going into Suess Breakfast now.

I know this will draw some flames. But, I no longer care. I used to like practically everything on this cruise line. I am not happy with the smoking areas change. With a PVP I got a balcony on deck 11 that was close to the midship smoking area. This was just three months ago I booked, the change happened last month. That has vanished and I'd have to walk to the corner of the AFT. My other option, is taking the nearby elevator to the casino bar. I was practically on top of the windy ship and was okay with smoking out there, but now going indoors. I chose this room because of mobility problems and to be considerate being near a smoking area. Now that it has changed, I can only ride the elevator to the casino bar.

After I was informed by a cruiser, I asked to cancel. I could with an $1,100 penalty. So, that wasn't happening. In turn, dining reservations canceled, pre-paid tips canceled. I'm not happy. This cruise is sold out. You'd think Carnival would want someone that is excited about going on a cruise than someone in my position. They could sell it instantly.

You'd also think they'd have updated maps by now on Carnival's website. Nope, have smokers getting cabins in the old areas still with no official announcement. Heald did confirm the changes when asked on his page.

I booked Ncl because of their promos. Saving a lot.

Last time I was on the Magic there was smoking port side deck 5 and starboard side deck 11. My daughter just returned from a post- dry dock 3/27 cruise and reported a very small area on deck 5, none of it covered, and a very small area on 11 aft.

 

Our next booked cruise is on the Breeze out of Galveston. If the outdoor smoking area is reduced this way of course we will be in the casino.

My friend also. She would rather be on deck 11, but the extreme shrinkage (Not Castanza) is going to make her change plans to the casino also.

Yikes!! Big difference! That whole outside area shown, used to be smoking. It has been reduced significantly. I better call my friend and see if this is a problem. Thanks for info!!

As far as I know it's just for the Magic. No other ships that I know of.

This was the diagram for deck 5 that was shown last week.

This is only for the Magic after drydock from what I've seen. But, could include all dream class ships when they hit that.

I doubt it will increase as long as all adults need to purchase.

My wife doesn't drink. So, I'll never have the program.

Apparently this happened right after dry dock. John Heald & Mischelle both acknowledged it. I just heard of it last week. I don't know when the ship got out of dry dock. I know it wasn't that long ago.

Someone posted this on John's page. So many were happy, me included, until one of the smokers said, well I guess we're going inside for the week. That made me pause and think about what I was happy about.

I just hope the casino doesn't get worse with not much outdoor areas (that really get used on deck 5 & 11). Was terrible on the Sunshine (my last cruise). Yes, the bar was about 3 people deep on the smoking side. My first cruise since 2014, Sunshine. I like Port Canaveral. So I tend to cruise only from there as it is a forty minute drive for me.

Like I said, I'd rather my friend be outside on deck 11 than inside the casino. She is not going to walk practically the entire length of the ship to get to that smoking area. An elevator right to the casino is about four doors from our balcony.

http://www.carnival.com/~/media/CCLUS/Images/pdf/carnival-ship-approved-smoking-areas-pdf.ashx

 

Scroll down to Magic, 3rd ship from the end of the pdf

I just found out these areas are no longer on JH's page, after the drydock. Only reason I know is a friend of mine, who smokes, is going and found out that Deck 5 & 11 have been reduced to a small portion of the AFT area. This was on his page and he acknowledged. My friend said she planned on being on Deck 11 alot, but that has changed to the casino. She was advised by a Carnival rep to use the casino, casino bar and/or nightclub.

Personally I do not like her habit, but would rather it be outside. I hope she's the only one that is changing her plans to indoors. I can understand her choosing to go to the casino over the back of the boat. We reserved our cabins on deck 11, forward because of her and it the cabins being so close to a smoking area. Now, the closest is the casino. I like being on the top of the ship and the other side is non-smoking. I am fine with the location.

The changes below we saw for deck 11 only.

Inside Edition did a documentary on Booze Cruise. Have your friend google Inside Edition on that, also on YouTube but it's not CCL they're talking about.

Time of the year, duration of cruise matters for the lines.

Same coffee mug, with coffee grounds (no there is no coffee maker) on the Sunshine two weeks ago.