mcrcruiser

What is the real purpose for a brunch  but to  cut  out one meal ?   Thought that with the stiff price increases the cruise line woud not have any additional cut backs ? 

9 hours ago, Mountain Chickadee said:

My late husband and I did two Celebrity cruises on the west coast. The first was 10 days from San Diego to Vancouver. Stopped in Santa Barbara and met family for lunch! Overnight in San Francisco!  While onboard I booked a Mexican Riviera Celebrity cruise from LA round trip. It was Thanksgiving week and we nabbed a Sky Suite. Ate in the Luminae every day! Enjoyed Michael’s Lounge. I had afternoon tea in Michael’s Lounge everyday and the bartender would remember I was coming and have it ready for me. I enjoyed the glass blowing classes! We never got off the ship as we have cruised this route many times. My husband was in his fifth year of cancer treatment and it turned out he would pass 3 months later. He was still feeling so great during this cruise. It was a wonder last cruise together.  We were married 48 1/2 years!🩷💔

Sorry for your loss . 48 + years is a lofe time .We are married 62 years 

11 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Take a look at how these last minute prices compare with the $49 offer HAL recently launched. 

 

For those able to travel last minute, it appears that often it’s better to just book direct and pick your cabin and KNOW you are traveling, sometimes weeks in advance. 

 

 

Truly good prices for any one who can take advantage of them . Yes much better than vying fr  that $49  deal & not knowing  or getting told last minute  .  With the above  prices   people can  book ,then  plan  their days on board with tours ,ie & pack 

In the first quarter 2024  Carnival corporation reoported  that all prices have increased  . Thus ,if Holland America is running a sale that is the best time imo to book a nww cruise . If you area Mariner you can get early booking bonus booking very early which in effect is a saving . On HAL's web site the cruise will say early booking bonus usually within 60 to 80 days from HAL's realease date . you can also save with AARP  getting a on board credit , Owning 100 shares of CCL stock will hey on board credits .There are many ways to reuce the cost of a new booking  

Tthanks for sharing . Here  in the Long Beach area of Calif Carnival sails  the 2019 built Pamorama cruise ship to Mexico . Problem for us is one it is too far to drive to ,2nd the traffic in that area id bumper to bumper ,about one hour to get through  that bottle trap . So a no Carnival cruise for us from long Beach Ca . 

when we sailed on  Miracle ,a mid size ship of 86000 tone to as far into Mexico as Alcapulco  it was wonderful .Carnival decided to move that ship from SD to australia & stopped sailing from SD ,Ca 

We are getting close to 4 star & this one medallion we do want .Unlikely ,at our ages we get to 5 star  . 

We will look for those sweet potato fries on our 10 day Koningsdam cruise in November ,alwwya preferred sweet potato fries over the regular potato fries 😄

10 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Early 90s ('92? '93?) Carnival Holiday. And it was a holiday cruise - my first Christmas cruise and 1st New Years cruise.

Is there a prize at the end of this?😁

Us too on Carnival Holiday . She was a great ship back then ,then we sailed on the old Jubilee to Alaska .We did at least 15 to 20  Carnival ship cruises before we found RCL & Celebrity  & Princess .  Now we are only HAL cruisers for the last 5 to 6 years  or perhaps a bit longer 

We had lunch in the Pinnacle restaurant  on Koningsdam . We were not over whelmed & it was not busy .The food was very average  .We much prefer Tamarind & Canneletto  for their various types of offerings 

We did 5 cruises before 1995  on Carnival & RCCL

On 3/30/2024 at 11:01 AM, QuattroRomeo said:

On Rotterdam last December, they were just left on the bed.

We never got our bronze medallion . Not that we miss having it . 

when we did the 7 day river cruise ,we also spent time in Switzerland which was also very wonderful & post swotserland we flew to Rome for a 6 day stay6 & then took a trans Atlantic cruise in a stern balcony on perfectly calm waters  .Each segment was so very wonderful & very different . 

 Now all we can do is dream of what a wonderfil trip we did take as our ages & physical can no longer go that distance & planes

We agree with Mc Deb above , we took a Avalon river cruise once down the Rhine river from Amsterdam to Basil Switzerland . It was as different from Ocean cruises as white is different from black . The s,alle numbers of people ,The very relaxed atmosphere , the daily guided tours & the best food we have ever had including land based restaurants 

  Service &   pleasing ship crews , better food overall , great long  viages with interesting port stops is what HAL is most noted for 

Tipping is a personal thing  & since you already pay your daily tips any thing you give is  over & above the daily tips . you need to single out those people who gave you extra  ordinary  service not just their job . Then decide what tip is appropriate . No one can offer guidelines since it is a personal thing to do 

50 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Thank you for following along. I agree that boththe memories and friendships I made are going to last a lifetime. I do hope to sail with you as well!  

 

My Gratitude continues as Maui greeted me with this amazing sunset from my Lanai last night. I’ve been watching a group of whales with my binoculars all morning just off of Napili bay. As much as I loved the cruise, there is something very special about my time here. Healing. Centering.  Hard to explain, but I just resonate differently. I can think of no better explanation mark on a cruise of a lifetime than to spend time reflecting in paradise. 

 

My cup is overflowing….

We love Maui .Spent may weeks there & snorkeled  at Malokini  Reef  a number of times  back then  .now our favorite cruise is R/T Hawaii from SD each year in January 

Same here we sailed on Ryndam as out firsrt cruise . I won a DAM ship cap on that cruise 😄

3 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Finally something we can agree. Carnival's priority is shareholder returns over pax service. Problem is the shareholder still isn't seeing any returns.

 

However, before they can increase profitability, they actually have to start making a profit, with the latest results still showing a loss.

Their first quarter of 2024 results is impressive . Taking that forward it is a matter of time before profits .First pay down the debt .Once the debt is paid down  we are off to the races . In 2 years this stock should be itrading in the $50s . I'll take that any day .

27 minutes ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Having witnessed the Carnivalisation of both P&O and Princess, once exceptional cruise lines I worked for and were ruined by Carnival, I tend to avoid all Carnival Brands. I also don't consider bribes of OBC when making investment decisions, regardless of how little money is involved.

It is a very competitive industry . Carnival corp makes decisions to increase the  profitability & thus ,the share price going forward

21 minutes ago, Heidi13 said:

 

If the quarter results were so positive, why is the ROI still negative?

This is why the stock is a buy . /you can buy it when it goes over $50 per share .Your choice of course 

 A 4 % dip in price  ,March 28,2024 is another buying opportunity   .In a year from now you will be glad you added shares yo your portfolio😄

Short sales slightly down today  . 

The stock price when opened & then slid a bit more . Added more shares as imo the stock is dirt cheap now .Unless the entire economy collapses CCL is going to be a lot more ecpenxive to buy .

The mass market cruise lines have changed their marketing methods to maximize profits  . We are all subject to the changes  .All one can do if things bother them on HAL ships is to change to a cruise line that suits their needs .In most cases those are the higher end cruise lines  where most families van not afford   .Those of us who are retired can choose not to sail when  the kids are home on school breaks & that should be easy to do 

HAL could institute a policy pertaining to chair hogs .The policy could be if the chaur is not occupied within20 minutes the pool assistants are able to pick up & store the persona items ,so the people can then retrieve their items from the pool assistants  .People need to send their recommendations to HAL in writing 

 The First quarter report & future guidance are outstanding  .As the debt burden gets  paid down  this stock will soar  to at least a 3 bagger  with  in  2 years from now  .imo