Drazil65

My confusion is how they think still allowing wine and beer to preordered will slow or stop the problem of the few. I guess they have never seen someone drunk on wine or beer. 2 regular bottles of wine or 8 beers (tops) is all you can preorder for the week, I dont think most people in a cabin will be falling down drunk during that week from that amount compared to hard liquor. Even if you include the 2 bottles of wine a couple can bring on board with them and the preorder. That being said, if someone brings wine and preorders wine plus gets cheers...then maybe a possible problem...

We also use cash for our on board acct, you can also add cash anytime at one of the kiosks if the guest service line is too long. To answer OPs question about using cruise cash, they will deduct from that category first if you have it before touching regular cash amounts. It will be used up first.

Had the same thing happen last week to our cruise this December, our 2023 trips were there but I had to go in and put the December 2022 back in.

Magic is one of our favorites (and the Breeze) and have sailed on her several times, that coupled with the 8 day itinerary would probably sway our decision. We dont sail on the MG until December this year and although we are excited to experience that ship, the fact that you are talking about a spring break cruise would definitely factor into the decision with the amount of people on the MG. I might have a different answer after we sail MG in December but based on what I know right now and the information you gave, I would go with the 8 day cruise.

now I am wondering if I am going to like it. I am sailing for the ship, not the ports. Obviously you wont know until you YOU try it...take note of the reviews and take them with a grain of salt...make your opinion...

I wouldn't eat at Golden Corral if the food was free, and certainly wouldn't pay for it. 100%...

What day does your check in date reference online when you pull website up? We are leaving on 12/17 and our check in is 16 days prior to that...once the date referenced arrives you are able to actually make your check in appointment online (you will choose a time to arrive on embarkation day) and then can print boarding pass...Your check in date should be listed and it will be 16 or 14 days prior to embarkation day...

DH puts a weeks worth (however many days we are traveling) into a meds carrying (Sun, Mon, Tues clear plastic holder) case with days of week on it. He then takes a pix of each prescription bottle (with the corresponding pill next to it) with the RX stuff written on it. Never takes the bottles. The meds are in his carry on bag and clearly marked/transparent. He also takes a pix of the prescribing doctors business card with phone, fax and address for reference. He has been doing this for decades whenever we travel including cruising and travel abroad, no issues at all.

Just hold on to it and hope it goes backup? Or what? Yes, the long game and that is what you get with the stock market...its a gamble...

"I don't visit the more dangerous places in U.S. as a tourist, either. Your point is pointless." Well geeze...here in USA its the churches, grocery stores, Walmart and federal bldgs that constitute dangerous places these days, so how do you know???

Always deck 7 for regular balcony or suite on this size ship.

OP...have you initiated a dispute with the card company you used to make the purchase? Its obvious you were charged and have the proof. There are times when going that route will resolve faster than going to through the place that did not provide the goods/service. Your card company will flat out ask them for the proof that they sent out the email with the reward info for you to use. When they cannot provide it, the card company will handle it and should credit back your card for the amount you were charged.

I went online to purchase discounted Carnival gift cards from AARP a bit over a month ago, I've never had a problem with these before. This time the transaction didn't go through even though my credit card was charged. Interesting, did you get the email confirmation they send out when you purchase or is that how you figured out it did not go through?

Horizon would win out here but because of the ship size and being newer (not the port location). Been to NOLA many times for land vacations and a wedding once. Loved it and if you are a smart traveler then you should be just fine. Not sure I would go to NOLA (or Miami for that matter) in August for anything except leaving on a cruise as it would be quite uncomfortable in either place to try to be a typical tourist and do things in that kind of heat and humidity. The latest in the year we have been in New Orleans has been mid June (wedding), it was stifling and we were averaging changing clothes and a shower 3xs a day! Thank goodness it was only for a 3 day weekend event but spring and fall are wonderful in New Orleans. If just going to be boarding a ship then it should fine.

Anytime in the past we have needed to get connected cabins we just call CCL directly. The couple times we have done it there have not been any issues. Good Luck!

Worked for me as well just now, although the $500 card was sold out the $100 cards were still available.

DH and DS go for the upcharge lobster in the MDR, much better and worth it for them. DH also really enjoys the Striped Bass as well, he orders both...I dont eat lobster so it doesn't affect my choices.

We were on Sunshine at the end of May, as soon as you walk on the ship there were several crew members to direct you to your station.

We were in a suite so we were allowed to walk right into the terminal via a separate line to check in. Once checked in we were directed to a separate lounge to wait for boarding. It was around 11:15- 11:30 when a staff member came to the lounge and we were directed to go ahead and board the ship. This...works every time like this when we are in a suite no matter what ship. We are in a suite on Mardi Gras in December and we expect it will be the same as our previous experience (and has been confirmed by previous posters that have sailed on MG in a suite)...

There are still free items on the room service menu, not as many but still a few (sorry things evolve and change, prices go up and maybe if room service choices are your make it or break it then...) We order our coffee very early to wake up and have on the balcony prior to getting dressed and out the door a little later in the morning. Sometimes we order a little snack while we are dressing for dinner to have with a glass a wine, what's the big deal. We have no problem paying for that service and like the better choices with paying. Why would that bother anyone when its me paying for what I like. We are neither overweight or wasteful (as was mentioned or eluded to by prev posters) and will pay for what we want and how we want it, period. In over 20 years of cruising we have never purchased cheers, I have seen plenty of drinks left around because someone didn't like it or just up and left the glass because they could try something new or just decided they didn't want it. We have no issue with those that pay all that money to drink freely at will and can finish a drink or not. Same with the waste we have seen on every CCL ship with the ice cream, dishes and cones left everywhere (stairways come to mind) , half eaten, dripping and tossed/left, very wasteful. So like it or not, waste is prevalent on a cruise ship whether you pay for the service or not and if you pay for it then what is the big deal to everyone else (the waste will still happen). We dont like to see the waste either or the drunk people making fools of themselves or the rude loud mouths (definitely not unique to Carnival) at any given time on our vacation but...that is why we do us, we get our balcony cabins so we can escape the masses when we need to and enjoy what we like to do. We do the same at an AI on land or any other vacation adventures we have, we know there will be those people out there but we make choices that allow us to enjoy OUR time freely. People are people wherever we go and we cannot dictate how others spend their money and they cannot dictate how we spend ours. If you dont want to pay for room service then dont, no arm twisting going on.

Our last trip we had a cove balcony and I wouldn't do it again. I just did not enjoy it. Same for us, we had a cove one time many years ago and it was not our thing. Too close to the bottom of the ship (seemed like it was damp with mist all the time while sailing) and too closed in, not the same open air feeling like a regular balcony for us. We prefer balcony or suite cabins on the upper decks (deck 7 and above). Try it once and see if you like it, if not, then dont do it again.

On the Mardi Gras now. I rarely take the elevators but I can see why it would be an issue. We are the same, cannot tell you last time we took an elevator on a cruise ship. We are on Mardi Gras in December and will be using the stairs as usual (cabin is on deck 12) especially hearing the many complaints about the elevators over the last year.

People who think they should have an opinion about it amaze me. I mean, argue all you want about whether Carnival should charge or not; or whether they should provide trays to make it easier to fetch your own meals and bring them back to the room. Seems fair game. Offering your opinion about how I spend my vacation or where I eat my food, and thinking it matters to me, is something else entirely. Agree, amazing that people that do not use room service have a very strong opinion on those that may use it. We do and will still use room service for that 1st pot of coffee each morning (early risers) to enjoy our quiet balcony, sitting in our pjs, feet up and watching the sun rise (undistracted, quality time for DH and I). We will continue to use it and will be happy to do so. Not only do we use room service early in the morning, we get a balcony or suite and also, gasp, we hold onto the tray that our room service came on. We use it to bring food to the room such as snacks (pre dinner while getting dressed) or DS will use to get his breakfast later when he gets up (he loves to relax on the balcony before dealing with a lot of people for extended periods of of time). This is all part of our cruise experience and what we enjoy, some people enjoy getting the cheapest inside they can so they can buy cheers or a bunch of excursions (you do you). Everyone enjoys and pays for their own experience and that is how it should be, its vacation not a contest!

We are partial to booking port side, just our thing for some reason and after so many years it just feels right to choose that side.

Think of it this way with tropical storms and hurricanes, its not their first rodeo. As the previous posters have said they sail around, reverse ports, skip/change ports and do what it takes to avoid the storms. Just be prepared for some possible rough seas for a day/night or 2 and wind (could mean things will be shut down on upper decks). We have sailed through some rough weather with many things falling in the MDR or the bar (glasses, bottles etc.) but the cruise lines do a pretty good job of staying away from a storms path for the most part.