noshoobie

Can you explain to me how Royal bribes guests? (Humorous question. Not a sarcastic question). We sailed on Royal over a year ago and paid for our balcony cabin. We dropped $$ in the casino and the only offer we get is a comp inside cabin for one and discounted casino cruise fare for the second passenger. The sail date options are also very minimal. Now on Carnival we sailed with a free casino cruise offer last year and dropped the same $$. We get offers from Carnival for free casino cruises with drinks in the casino included on a weekly basis. The cruise options are great including 3-14 days cruises. We just booked an 8 day mexican riviera for 2025. We wish Royal would bribe us with the same offers as we have always loved Royal. Since they don't we will continue to sail Carnival and MSC.

Loving your review! Can't wait for more! We will be sailing the same itinerary in February 2025.

We find this very frustrating also! MSC and RC have bars in their casinos. Makes getting a drink so much easier. Carnival casinos also tend to be very smoky.

I make the sign of the cross with my thumb before I board every flight!

Thank you for taking the time to post your review! In February we went to Sky Reef in Cozumel based on your review and it did not disappoint. We are doing this same cruise in February 2025 so I am excited to read your entire review and the things you experienced. Now I'm a little worried about the weather though. You travelled in April and we are going in February. We hoped we would be able to experience some warm California sun but not so sure now!

You got that right!! We had a lot of fun in the Venezia casino but had to buy a $12 bottle of Visine in the gift shop because the smoke was so bad.

This was our experience on the Venezia in September 2023. We sailed on a casino comp inside cabin with free drinks in the casino. Brought $1200 with us to gamble and came home with $200 and don't remember how many points we accumulated. About a month after sailing we started getting offers for the same offer (inside cabin with drinks in the casino) for selected cruises. I still get weekly emails for offers. We recently booked a Mexican Riviera for 2025 and hope to do a Southern Carribbean this fall. Enjoy your cruise! We really liked the Venezia.

Thank you so much! On our Meraviglia cruise last May we had a heck of a time getting an Uber pick up. Just when we thought one was coming they would cancel. This happened several times. We ended up waiting about 30-35 minutes. We are leaving this Sunday for Bermuda. Although we usually Uber to and from the port from Penn Station I think we will definitely consider taking the ferry on debarkation day.

Just to confirm - this does not run on weekends, correct?

I get my casino offers via email. We sailed on Carnival in September 2023 and a few weeks later started getting the Play 'N" Chill Offers. Both my husband and I still get them weekly. If you just got off the cruise on April 5th give it another few weeks.

I really think it's just "the luck of the draw". We have sailed twice. Both times booked a bella gty oceanview and were upgraded to a balcony. We are sailing again in a few weeks. Booked a bella inside gty and that is exactly what we got.

Agreed! We sailed in an interior cabin on the Venezia last September on a status match offer. The cabin was one of the quietest we have ever been in. The darkness of the cabin at night was also a plus.

I can't agree more!!

Thank you. We Ubered last May to Red Hook. $55 plus tip (Sunday during the 5 borough race) and $34 plus tip from Red Hook to Penn Station also on a Sunday. We want to consider a cheaper alternative but, then again, taking an Uber is so much more convenient. We'll see.

Agreed. We love Royal but with the casino offers that Carnival and MSC offer us we just can't pass them up. Our last Royal cruise was in February 2023 and the offers we are getting are free cruise for one and discounted cruise for 2nd passenger. The selection of cruises are also very minimal.

Agreed. We love Royal but with the casino offers that Carnival and MSC offer us we just can't pass them up. Our last Royal cruise was in February 2023 and the offers we are getting are free cruise for one and discounted cruise for 2nd passenger. The selection of cruises are also very minimal.

Need your expert advice. Arriving Penn Station via NJTransit. If we decide to take the subway instead of an Uber to Pier 11 what train would we take?

Yes. This has happened to me. We received a Play and Chill Offer in February with a March 4th deadline. It was the first time we were offered a choice of an Alaskan cruise. DH and I talked about it and I looked up the cost of airfare to Seattle. Two days later when I planned to book, it was gone. I called Carnival and they said that particular cruise was already booked. I believe they only hold so many comp rooms for a particular cruise and once they are booked they magically disappear from the email even though the email said I had until March 4th. My advice is that if you get an offer you like - don't wait. I have had my eye on a Mexican Rivera cruise for my DH's birthday next February. It popped up a few weeks ago so I booked it the same day.

No. I really meant to say something embarrassing. I think saying "ED" is pretty specific - not vague.

Booing?? You must be a Philadelphia Sports fan. LOL. (you can see where I'm from). Has anyone ever thought that the "issue" might have been embarrassing - like explosive d***hea? (Sorry - hope no one is eating breakfast while reading this. lol

Sorry to get off topic from the OP, but can you give me your insight on the Celebration itself? We are considering either Horizon or Celebration in September to ABC. @Saint Greg is travelling on the Horizon to ABC this month. I would love to hear the different point of views of the ships. Thanks.

We are considering this itinerary for September. When are you going? Can't wait to read your review. The other Carnival option to ABC in September is the Celebration.

We have cruised twice with MSC on a casino comp cruise. Both times we were comped a bella inside cabin but were upgraded to a balcony. The comp also included free drinks while playing in the casino. We will be cruising on Meraviglia again the end of April and were not upgraded this time. We loved the Meraviglia and can't wait to be sailing on her again! We are from South Jersey and take a train to Penn Station then Uber to Red Hook. Parking at the pier is $45 a day!

Sounds great - thanks for the info!

Thank you for your review! We just booked this cruise for February 2025. Can you give me a little more details on what you did at the other ports? Thanks.