Jasonsterling

I go with location. I'll sail any deck if the price is right, lol but I hate walking all the way down to 1! 8 is better located but there are other factors I'd consider as well, like price. That's a hard one. 

This will be interesting to see. Does the ship count as a hotel while in port, lol. If not then I assume a lot of smokers will just stay on board. The article is short but I'm assuming it means ZERO smoking designated areas in Mexican public spaces? Only in private residences? So would a "smoking club" or shop count as private? If so I'd expect them to pop up at every single port/hotel/shopping center ect in Mexico. Don't know though. I don't smoke but I have friends that do. Chances are Mexico is now off the table for them. 

I know in Texas is has to do with liquor tax laws. If RC allows drinking on their plan from Texas where Carnival doesn't then it must mean RC doesn't mind whatever hassel and paperwork is involved with doing so. I don't know if RC does that, it's just as example. Isn't Bayonne in New Jersey? If so then that's the difference. NY and NJ have different laws governing it. Carnival does only charge for six days, not seven in those ports so there is at least that.  

For anyone who's curious this was a solo rate on Carnival I received about a year and a half ago. The rate pp was 125.00 for five days and you can see from the total I paid 125.00 plus taxes/fees/tips for just one person. It was a 1A upper/lower. These fares are rare but they do happen. 

11 hours ago, newbie3815 said:

If you book a solo cabin and purchase the Cheers drink plan, would it have a surcharge or just the normal amount

It's just the normal amount for one person. 

10 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Those really aren't "Solo" rates, just cheap rates on Carnival.  It would be the same cruise fare if two sailed.

That's not correct. I've gotten the same offers before but very rarely. Recently, it was 125.00 pp for 5 days on the Breeze. So two people would have been 250.00. I just put in my self and it was only 125.00 plus taxes/fees. I tried both ways and then booked it as a solo. It was a 1A upper/lower rooms set up. Every time I've seen the offer it's been for that sort of room. 

8 hours ago, MJ702 said:

My pvp is no longer with the company and neither is our casinos host. My absolute worst fear is I get a rep who’s not familiar on how to make changes and he or she accidentally releases the room to rebook and someone snatches it right at that moment. We’ve actually had that happen. That’s kind where my hesitation is in contacting them. The cruise is fully booked no rooms available for 2, 3 or 4 guests. 

If you call with a "what if" scenario of what will happen at the port BUT do not change the room at that time then you should be fine. Just make sure and tell whoever answers the phone that the GF is "not sure" so you aren't changing anything just yet. You're just getting information. Whomever you speak to should be able to list what will happen and how much cost will be involved when you get to the dock. Then you can handle it at the port if you prefer that method. Otherwise, it's a casino deal, just gamble it and show up. I really doubt they'll turn you away- they don't want ANY empty rooms. They'll just charge more money.

54 minutes ago, Davechipp74 said:

Where is it listed that platinum level allows you to go to stateroom before its announced that rooms are ready?    

I didn't feel like searching Carnival. com lol so here's a screenshot of the email from Carnival to me regarding my cruise on Saturday. 

6 minutes ago, groundloop said:

 

Thank you.  I was mostly just disappointed because I'd been bragging to the family about all the great benefits of being Platinum.   

 

You'd think Carnival would standardize things such as this across the fleet instead of leaving customers on their own to figure things out.

I don't blame you for being disappointed and it should be standardized. Part of the concept of going on vacation is the idea of things being easier and more smoothed out for the client. That's part of what the client pays for. I love Carnival and I love sailing with them but I don't work for their marketing or HR departments nor am I a blind cheerleader. I expect them to follow through with what they've agreed to, just as they expect with me. I would have just left my luggage in the hall, against the door to my room. If it was a minor traffic issue it would be easy for an attendant to open my door and roll them in. 

Since, as always there's some variation in answers here because policies change and sometimes people just don't know what they're talking about here's a link to Carnival's official policies on boarding documentation based on what's required by them, various ports of call and the U.S. government. Birth certificate information is further down the list. https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=3409 

That's unfortunate- in the future you could just prop your luggage up by the door. When they drop luggage off it's just in the hallway outside the door so it wouldn't be any different than that. I can't you having to drag that stuff around with you on the ship. 

I haven't done it recently but you are correct that in the past there was a rotating bus service going back and forth to the ship from the beach. It started about 1:30. So you were dropped off 30-45 minutes after leaving the port and then the FIRST time you could return was 1:30 which was what was listed on the excursion and I think it ended totally around 4 maybe? Still, it could have changed but I agree that would be a short excursion. If it doesn't look like it'll sell out you could always wait until you're on the ship to book it and ask at the excursion desk. Then if it's that short now just take a cab.

19 hours ago, KKB said:

I purchased it before prices went up for our upcoming 14 day Hawaii cruise. That 14 day price tag is a tough pill to swallow (tho we did have some OBC to offset)

We ALWAYS get the "all-inclusive" plan on NCL/Princess/Celebrity so not accustomed to paying out of pocket--ouch!

It is about $65/day including gratuity, so approx. $52/day cost each.

I KNOW DH will get his moneys worth & then some...mostly beer but he will move more towards frozen cocktails as the cruise goes on.

He will drink the same whether we have the package or not.

I'm more hit & miss. One day I will have several cocktails/glasses of wine, the next one or none.

I will have coffee daily (how is that buffet coffee--NOT so good on other lines, but I will drink if OK), an occasional soda.

I'm the $ one in the family...so no package would make me a lot more conscious of my drink choices (from sodas to cocktails)

2 long days on Oahu & Maui make it really 12 days...

If it's a break even (or even close), it's worth it.

Keep it? Cancel & see what happens?

 

 

It is a tough one because of the length. Figure on 11.00 for a "frozen" style drink/glass of wine or champagne, 5.00 for a coffee at the cafe (w/o a shot), I think 5.00 for a soda (hard to remember as it's been a while since I haven't had Cheers/Bubbles) as a start and realistically decide if it makes sense. In my case my coffee would have Baileys so it's like 8-9 dollars and I usually have a milk shake as well 8-10, then a mimosa, frozen drink in the afternoon, something for during dinner and two in the evening as an example- then throw on a bottle of water as well 4-5. And that's not a crazy heavy day but pretty easy going and it's around 70 dollars so in my case different worth and I do like the more all inclusive feel. 

No. That letter referred to steel panels they bring out to reinforce those lower deck windows in extremely rough weather. The same is true of Cove Balcony rooms. If the sea are rough they'll seal those opening behind steel plates. I assume in case a wave broke the glass.  

Yes Carnival has a dress code suggestion and no they do not enforce it- at all, save the part about the bathing suits. They do enforce that in the MDR last I knew. Some can read this as my telling you to wear whatever you want- No- I am telling you that Carnival allows you to wear whatever you want. It's their line and their call on that, not mine. AS far as dressing up there are two considerations I have no matter the evening onboard. FIRST, there are typically 4 irons for the ENTIRE SHIP on say a vessel the size of the Vista. Why did I stop wearing a suit jacket? Because there are only four irons, one is probably broken, two work in a basic manner and they all have a line of people. So I end up looking like I was wrestled to the ground right before dinner and held there under a pile of animals. Yes I've used Carnival's laundry for pressing and it sucked too. That said, SECOND there are numerous photo opportunities on board and it's not often that I get photos of my son and I together so I do want at least a few where we look "nice". I mean it's something to keep in mind on say "Formal Night". A group family photo is a good excuse to go a little dressier which my son and I do BUT he typically wears dark pants (cotton twill) and a Polo shirt ironed as best as I can coax out of an iron picked up at a garage sale and installed in the laundry room on the ship by Carnival.   

They are two different experiences. The Chef's Table is a long extravagant experience with a set menu so everyone gets the same items (yes, they'll accommodate allergies of course). There's nothing else like it on board, the food is prepared in a more upscale, professional manner. For comparison the MDR is more like banquet food in a large hotel and Chef's Table is closer to a five star restaurant. It's NOT a five star restaurant but it's closer. I've done the Chef's Table several times now and between the two I'd take the Chef's Table every time. The menu rarely changes much on each ship, though each ship might have variations between each other, so try looking up the menu or experience for your particular ship on YT and you'll have a pretty good idea of what's there.

9 hours ago, Dale P said:

I am hoping to catch a 4 or 5 day cruise out of Charleston SC this Feb or March to the Bahamas on the Carnival line.  Trouble is I'll be travelling alone and so the price doubles. I have been trying to find a downtown Chrleston travel agent thinking they might have the inside track on last minute cabins to save me a buck.  They must be busy -nobody will talk to me.  I called Carnival direct and they said to call them back a couple days before each sailing.   Is that my best option? 

I'm not sure how common last minute cabins are BUT it used to be the case that maybe two days before the cruise the newspaper for the town the ship left from would have an ad from Carnival with a deal on leftover rooms at literally the last minute. I don't know if they still do that and it would only be in the Charleston paper if they still do, there were never many left and they went fast. My guess would be that you could try Carnival say two days before instead of looking in the paper and if you get lucky then you get lucky, much as they suggested. The other option is not to sail last minute, sometimes you can land an interior bunk bed set up room w/o at just a single price but you have to book well in advance as they go fast. Good luck. 

If they want to increase prices they can start with the Casino Deals, lol. Maybe a free balcony room or even suite AND free drinks all over the ship AND obc AND free specialty restaurants is adding up. I get that there are some people who play enough to justify the offers but people I know getting them definitely aren't. They're like Jason just go play a hundred dollars during your cruise and you'll get a free room! That said if they're going to raise prices people are going to expect a greater experience and quality in at least some fashion. 

It's okay- the menu is a little limited imo if you've been a few times. It seems to never change and the offerings are pretty pedestrian. They're not bad just somewhat uninspired. The quality was "good enough" but I think over the years the service and food have slipped there. It's a nice intimate space though for dining. If you've never been I think you'll enjoy it. 

8 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

When this happened to us with the Mardi Gras,  it was 25% of the base cruise fare,  not 25% of what you had already paid. 😎

Oh nice- that would be great. 

5 minutes ago, Tracyjj0 said:

Presumably the 25% fcc is only on the monies already paid ie 25% of the deposit, or is it 25% of the whole cruise fare, minus port fees and tax?

Lol- that's what I've been thinking. They "generously" offered 25% FCC on the "paid" fare and since it's so far out nearly everyone has just paid the deposit. That means a great FCC of $75-100 dollars, lol. And the 100 per person OBC I already had with the Jubilee booking so you know, it is what it is. Supply problems were the case back when they opened up bookings for this ship. They most likely knew then that it would never make those dates but sold the rooms anyway for the temporary infusion of cash. Now try getting the ship, not to mention some of the rooms anywhere close to the original booking. 

23 hours ago, asalligo said:

 

This is an example of why Carnival makes money on Cheers. Everyone calculates their usage on a sea day. On your average seven-day cruise, there are only three sea days and four days that are not full days due to port days embarkation and debarkation. Unless you maintain this level of usage on those days also, you are losing money on the deal. 

Well, I usually still do. I still have something to drink in the morning before leaving the ship. Instead of a mimosa I might do two coffees. I'm going to take a bottle of water off the ship with me, if not two and then getting back grab a drink straight off. Then the usual 3-4 spread across the evening- so still around 70-80 dollars easily. So the plan still works. I don't buy it to try and maximize what I'm getting btw. If I save 5-10 dollars then fine no big deal- it's still 5-10 dollars. The list I gave above is an example not a hard and fast rule as well. Some days might be a drink or two extra and some days a drink or two less. 

It's not hard for me to hit that "worth it" mark and yet not be drunk or over drink. I have a specialty coffee in the morning w/Baileys and that's 9, then a mimosa with breakfast 9, a bottled water tossed in there 4, a milkshake in the afternoon and a frozen drink on deck around 16, glass of champange before dinner and two drinks through the evening 36. So you know around 74 dollars easily. I also like an all inclusive feel and paying upfront. The shock of my bill at the end of a cruise took years off my life before the plan, lol.  

1 minute ago, MemphisFan said:

they are showing up for me. so maybe hit your limit?

The E-Delivery method isn't showing up for me, just the mail delivery.

This happened last year as well, as I recall. They went strictly to mail order. Maybe to cut down on fraud during the holidays- you know using stolen credit card info ect.