Pellaz

Now THAT sounds like a beach-lover's dream itinerary!

You've already gotten your answer, which is awesome. The way John is normally reached is via "community posts" on his FB page.

Yep! The carved soap -- a seahorse, I think -- was included in the string-backpack that I've received as part of the swag. Yep, they normally deliver some goodies to your cabin later the same day (so, usually the night before debark). I've gotten strawberries decorated with black and white chocolate and looking like they were wearing tuxedos. --Except on Liberty, where they just dumped some chocolate over strawberries and called it a day. (The dining was wayyy off on that cruise.) Seems like every ship has resumed the tours. I really hope they're on Celebration as we'll be sailing on her in October 2024.

As I read Carnival's press release, the price was increasing by $5 per day, not $10. It was confusingly written, so I could well be reading too much, or too little, into it. Either way, lock in those drink packages sooooon.

Theoretically the pizza place also has caesar salads available, although this may have been dropped. I miss the "Pizza Pirate Plus" late-night menu, where they also served lasagna and a rotating sandwich choice each night.

Considered a "game of skill." 😄 😄 I've been on ships where even the claw machines were turned off while in port. I've also been to Grand Turk, where -- unless things have changed -- the casino is actually open while in port...presumably because there is no competing casino on the island.

Did they bring that direct-call elevator system back on the Vista? When we sailed on her many years ago it had that system, which WE liked but most folks didn't, and it was removed in favor of conventional elevator operations a few weeks later. We'll be on Horizon in a few weeks and I'm hoping it has that more-advanced system. --And now we know to make one request for EACH MEMBER of the party; that was never explained the last time.

If nothing else, you could contact John Heald and ask. Not only would he be able to get the answer, but it's also likely that more good vibes would flow her way. 🙂

I was able to do this on my last (also my first) solo cruise since I wasn't traveling with my let's-get-off-ASAP friends. 🙂 It was really nice to enjoy a relaxed breakfast and just take that extra time. I'll see if I can "sell" te idea to my cruising compadres on this next cruise, since we'll be driving down and time won't be as critical.

Aha! That's something we're going to have to remember in two weeks on the Horizon and add to our usual routine. But first up, food-wise, for me: This is my usual food go-to on ships so equipped, since I am a Mongolian str-fry FIEND. 🙂 See also my sorry post about Jiji's free, maybe-here, maybe-not stir-fry lunch on the Horizon. If it isn't there, I shall be Very Put Out. This is exactly what I do! That magical moment when you step from land-side to shipboard HAS to be commemorated in some special way! My other boarding rituals de lo habitual: Go to ShoreEx to book the Behind the Fun tour Go to ShoreEx to reserve a good cabana location at Half Moon Cay (but likely not any more due to the price increase) Make the first drink stop on the way to Jiji's or the Cucina, commonly at the Atrium Bar Watch sailaway from our friends' balcony, since they always get something special: aft-wrap, Captain's Suite, Excel suite with the hot-tub, etc. Failing that, we go up front to the "secret decks" to watch sailaway, on ships so equipped

They do not take you to the actual engine room, but to the Engineering Control Room, for reasons of security as well as safety, as the engine room area requires ear protection. They can bring up camera views of the drive-shafts and other parts of the diesel gensets and drive motors...or at least, they have done so on some of the tours I've done. The water and sewage systems are controlled from there also. Asking knowledgeable questions there will often get great results. You usually end up walking through the entire galley, so you'll see much of the food prep machinery. You DO visit the main laundry and see the giant washers and dryers, as well as smaller ones used for guest laundry, plus the real star in action...the automated drying and folding machine. 🙂 You'll also get two presentations regarding the main stage production shows, one from the cast perspective usually from the dance-captain, and one from a technical perspective from the stage manager. Between the two I'd choose the Horizon. I'll be doing that tour myself in about two weeks. 🙂 Definitely choose an early check-in time and go to Shore Excursions immediately upon embark. You didn't get a carved piece of soap that looks tantalizingly like white chocolate? You wuz robbed! 😄

"Back in the day" pre-COVID they ranged from $65 or so up to $95, depending on the ship-size. Not surprised the price has increased; now they're on a par with Royal's behind-the-scenes tours pre-COVID...and Royal's tours weren't quite as long or immersive.

That's a powerful memory, and my first Carnival cruise was on..... ^^^^ Yep. Imagination. I'd bring her back because I loved the smaller-ship feel, the fact that we sailed at only 70% capacity on that journey, and some other things, like..... ^^^ Yep, like those. We loved those "wings" that stuck out over the Serenity area in the back of the ship, especially my Mom. At a time when al fresco dining on cruise ships was uncommon, that was kinda nifty. --AND let's not forget that awesome Serenity area aft. Great views of the ship's wake, not much wind (unlike the forward-located Serenity areas on most ships), and hot-tubs that didn't close until midnight. Or 2 am, if you were lucky and they forgot. 🙂

Well, aren't y'all a huge ray of sunshine? 🙂 Oh, well, I guess I'll find out for sure in less than two weeks.....

Do you mean the "pre-made" bowl options? Now I'm getting really curious about them. Oh, well, if I don't like any of the combinations there's always the Cucina across from JiJi's... And Guy's Smokehouse, Guy's Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, Fresh Creations, the Deli, the pizzeria, and oh yeah, the Lido Buffet. 🙂

Huh, that's interesting. I'll be checking it out in two weeks, but that's disappointing. I wouldn't think it was THAT much more difficult to collect our filled-out cards, toss the items onto a wok, and cook 'em.

You're SURE it has never been allowed in the past?

Yes, and sometimes you might get a group photo AND an individual photo with the Captain. As with every tour I've done, you just never know quite what you'll get, and what you'll see. But I've always learned something new.

Huh, in this aspect, Carnival comes out ahead.

Carnival has always granted your next-tier status at the beginning of your qualifying cruise -- for me, this will be in 19 days. Contrariwise, Royal does not; you have to wait until the following cruise to enjoy your just-earned status. 😞

Yes it is, and I understand their reasoning, but you will get at least one and possibly two professionally-taken photos free as part of the deal.

At one time, Carnival was prioritizing suites on turnover day to have them ready by boarding time, and I thought suite guests were allowed -- and were the ONLY passengers allowed -- to occupy their staterooms upon boarding. However, I just searched on the website and couldn't find a reference to this, so either I was misremembering, or the perk was discontinued. A pity, since exclusive suite perks on Carnival are few and far between, compared to other lines that have, say, concierges.

Which is weird, because after a certain time pre-sailing, porter services are no longer available and you must carry all luggage with you as carry-on. If a large suitcase doesn't fit through the X-ray scanner....what then? Is it checked manually?

Yes, the BtF Tour is always conducted on the last sea-day. For one thing, it's much easier to see things like the food and drinks storage rooms when they aren't completely full of stuff and you can't even hardly get inside.

Welcome to Cruise Critic, where there's never a dull moment. 😄 And as a Platinum, never mind as a suite guest, you are absolutely allowed to do so. There's a chance you'll be able to occupy your suite early, as well as just dropping off your luggage; ask your steward if it seems your suite has been readied for you when you arrive. Early stateroom access might be a suite-guest perk, one of the few on Carnival, alas.