jcearth

It really depends on how well the cruises are selling at the price point that Carnival chooses. This summer, a lot of cruises had BIG price drops that were atypical for a high season, so it can happen.

Ok thanks - that makes sense - I figured that when they added Epic Rock, that they would have dropped one of the other shows.

Just back from our 25th Carnival cruise first one on conquest.

 

Had an awesome roll call and made some good new friends we hope to cruise with again.

 

Got to rent our first villa at HMC (thanks Kenny and Debbi) and now understand why people want to dothis.

 

Thought food and service was good as usual but entertainment has gone even further downhill.

 

For the first time ever there were no flyons for our 7 day cruise. What we had was two evenings of Hasbro and Hasbro only in the main lounge.

 

Seriously? And one of these evenings no comedy club and no piano bar going on.

 

Didnt care for playlist the first time we saw it and think that 8 mediocre singers do not equal the quality of the old style production shows with two decent singers.

 

How can a company that put on Ticket to Ride and Dancing in the Street think they are putting out quality production when they put out this crap?

 

On a more positive note will say that Epic Rock was a good one the other three hopefully will never have to sit thru again.

 

Michael in the pb was very good (apparently he replaced a woman who suddenly left the ship). The four comedians put on some very good shows.

 

Did we get our money's worth? Yes we did. But we used to love the main lounge entertainment and now it is gone.

 

Perhaps they will tell us that attendance in the main lounge is dwindling so they will have the excuse to Sunshine it and make them half the size in the future.

 

Personally think the attendance is shrinking as guests realize what they are giving us is not worth attending.

We leave for this cruise on Sunday -- we are getting the villa in HMC (can't wait!). I had planned on checking out Epic Rock and one Hasbro show for my kids, but what night was there no comedy and no piano bar? That sounds like a night to turn in early.

I like the fly on acts - that's disappointing if they discontinued them (maybe a last minute cancellation for the performer?) - I will report if we do or do not have one.

I'm sure these questions have been asked already, but I'm fairly new here and thought it would be easier to just ask instead of searching for the answer since I'm considering booking in the next few days and am pressed for time. I thank all of you ahead of time for responding.

I am completely confused with early saver and have the following questions.

1. How many times can you submit a early saver form? Once or as many times as you can find a price drop?

2. Is the price difference only issued as a OBC or is the price just adjusted so you pay less? I assume after you make your final payment and request a adjustment that would get issued as OBC. What happens before final payment?

3. How many days before your cruise can you submit a early saver request?

4. How much have you all saved using early saver?

We sailed on the Breeze this past August on the 6 day and really want to book again next year. I booked this cruise less than 30 days out and got a cove for 559.00 per person, right now the prices for a cove are over 750.00. What should I do? Book last minute again or book early saver now? I'm not picky where I am, as long as I have a balcony.

1) As many as you want -- I just submitted my 5th drop for my cruise sailing in 6 days

2) Before final payment, you can get either OBC or a drop in price

3) Up to 2 days prior

4) Sailing the Conquest on Sunday - just got another $140 for 2 oceanview cabins, pushing me over $1030 total in OBC

Port Days will have the regular breakfast, and sea days will have the Sea Day Brunch. So yes, but depending on the type of day, the menu and times will be different.

I have 10 days and 5 hours, but I will start counting on yours instead! See you onboard!

You will be able to get priority boarding for minors as long as you are all on the same Sign and Sail account.

There will be a meeting for Camp Carnival around 5PM on embarkation day. Only a parent needs to attend. They will go over the ins and outs of the program there and you can complete registration. Also, you will receive the activity sheets for your cruise, listing all of the activities and times camp is open. If you don't go to that meeting, you can still register your child at Camp Carnival on deck 11 at any time they are open.

Fascination 2012: I went to pick up my then 2 year old from Camp Carnival, hoping that he had a good time with his brothers. I walked in, and he was dressed up like a buccaneer complete with eye patch, magic marker beard, colored pirate t-shirt, pirate hat, and sword. It was very late and my other boys were asleep. My 2 year old jumped up when he saw me and shouted "Daddy!! I a pirate! Aarrgghh!!!" It was one of the most heart warming moments of my life.

Balcony guarantees are currently $439 pp, and assigned balconies up to Lido Deck are going for $469 p.p

Ocean Suites are $999 pp

No chance for OBC, but you could get an upgrade if you wish -- The September cruises out of Miami are selling for way less than what they were originally last year -- if you didn't book a balcony, check what the balcony cost is now. If you paid more than what it costs now for a balcony, you can upgrade for free!

If you booked a balcony, take a look at Suite costs -- there may be a way to upgrade from a balcony to a Suite, or even to a "special balcony" (aft extended, vista, etc.)

Should show up within 48 hours - if it doesn't call them back

Got another $80 for our cruise next month with this 72 hour past guest sale! I am now up to $945.16 total OBC for two ocean view cabins!

Having a 3 1/2 year old, I can only imagine how that must have been. Did they get you the backpack and stuffed animal before the cruise left or after you got back? I think my DD would have had a mini meltdown. I definitely would have had to hit up the gift shop for something to distract her.

We didn't discover the backpack was missing until after sail away. Someone had grabbed the backpack and took it to guest services (it was a carry-on and not tagged at all). At Guest Services, they asked us to described the backpack, and then they walked into the office and gave it to us! Needless to say, we were surprised and delighted to find it there - as it saved us a trip to the gift shop, and hours of crying.

My 4 year old son left his backpack with his favorite stuffed animal on the gangway when we took our welcome aboard photos last year on the Dream. We went to Guest Services when we discovered this shortly after sail away to ask them to hold it for us when we returned after the cruise. They went into the office and produced the backpack! We had FTTF, and it saved us at least 30 minutes in line (I noticed the first night and last night lines are enormous).

The parties are only offered on cruises that are 5 nights or longer.

A good PVP makes you avoid the hassle of playing the hang up and try again game with Carnival whenever you have an issue or special circumstance. It is also nice to have a dedicated contact that can make bookings for you that you are not able to do online.

That being said, I use my parents' PVP and not my own. Mine only likes to call right after I book cruises.

I have children that are 8, 5, and 4, and we like to get connecting ocean view rooms. On the Dream class, you get an extra half bath per room that has a bathtub in it, which is very convenient for the little ones. The rooms are also 220 sq feet each (on the Fantasy class ships, the rooms are much smaller, however), so you have plenty of room. I am not a huge fan of balconies, so it's an easy call for me. There are no interior connecting rooms on Carnival that can accommodate families of 5 or more that I am aware of (and I have looked). If you were to get side by side balconies, and they were not connecting, you could have the partition opened up for a bigger balcony connecting both rooms.

Forget the casino...go to the Kiosk and use your s&s and withdraw it in cash.

You can't cash out non-refundable OBC from the kiosks - it shows up in a different area on your portfolio. Also, on my last two cruises, I have tried to get money from the kiosks on the last night of the cruise and they were empty both times (and I tried multiple kiosks). I was thankful for my FTTF sticker at that moment because I bypassed a massive line at guest services each time.

Conquest next month 9/14 (7 night Eastern Caribbean) for my family of 5 -originally booked ES last year - connecting oceanview rooms were $579pp and 3rd person was $209

Now

Room 1 (2 people): $339pp - with port charges ($130.74!!!) total of $939.48

Room 2 (3 people): $289pp - 3rd person $179 -- total of $1149.22 with port charges

Total Cost: $2088.70 for 5 people and 2 ocean view cabins

The price per person is less than what I paid for a 5 night on the Fascination 2 years ago on the same date for same type of room.

Activities

Children under-2 may not participate in the scheduled activities we offer to the other age groups. THERE ARE NO AGE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY.

Sea Days

Under-2 time is scheduled from 8:00am-10:00am. During this time, parents have the option of leaving their child in the care of the Youth Staff (Fees apply: $6.75 per hour plus a 15% gratuity, per child) – OR – during this time, parents can stay and use the Camp Ocean facilities at no charge. Please note that this time is designated for the use of Under 2’s and their parents only.

Port Days

Care for infants begins from 15 minutes before the first tour until 12:00 noon (or from 1:00pm until 5:00pm for ships arriving in port after noon time). Port Days are for drop off only. Fees Apply: $6.75 per hour plus a 15% gratuity, per child.

Evenings

Night Owls - for details, see ‘Night Owls (babysitting)’

Babysitting is available from 10:00pm to 1:00am. During this time, there will be children from other age groups (2-11 years) participating in Night Owls. Fees Apply: $6.75 per hour plus a 15% gratuity, per child

My observations from past few times at the comedy club:

1) The family friendly and late, late night shows had a lot more open seats

2) On a 7 day cruise, there are 4 nights of comedy - the last 2 nights had more open seats than the first 2 nights.

3) For the 9pm and 10pm shows, get there early, and have a drink or two while you wait.

4) On the 4 and 5 night cruises, there were open seats to all the shows.

5) The only time it was super crowded for me was on the Dream on the first night - no open seats at all 15 mins before show - we left and came back later.

It will be interesting to see if it has been discontinued on all ships, or on Pride only.

 

Will also be interesting to see if you can still do the match play when the classic cocktails are purchased through the Cheers program once the new lower pricing for the Cheers program goes into effect on Aug 8.

My first thought upon hearing the lowering of the price was that there was no way they would continue it. At full utilization (105 drinks for a 7 day cruise), match play value would be 105 * 2.40 per match play (odds of winning a $5 bet slight less than half) = $252. Cost of program now $301.88 less match play value = $49.88, or 47.5 cents per drink. They would definitely be losing money at that point.

But if it still works, you can drink for a lot less than what the crew does.

is the 15% gratiuty on the value of the package or the value of the total drinks consumed .. There is a big difference. Like the package , better value just trying to figure out if there is a twist .. Why would you lower the price of a package? Call me crazy .....

 

7 day package 37.50 = 262.50 plus 15% gratituity 39.38 = 301.88

 

now 15 drinks average value for rounding sake 10.00 = 150.00 x 15% = 22.50 a day x 7 = 157.50 gratiuty plus 262.50 = 420.00 total

 

so is the gratiuty of the package or value of the total number of drinks consumed?

The gratuity is on the package.

My theory: The reason for lowering the price is to maximize revenue. The tiered pricing based upon cruise length tell us that the program was selling well on the shorter cruises and probably had a higher utilization rate of drinks per day. Hence, they will increase the price to maximize revenue against higher costs (serving more drinks).

On longer cruises, the program most likely wasn't selling as well and you would guess had a lower utilization rate of drinks per day. Buy lowering the price, they are trying to attract more people to purchase it, and they can afford to lower it because of the lower costs (less drinks being served).

For people like me who were planning to purchase it anyway, it makes a good deal became a great deal!!

My family as well as my sister in law and her family are going on Carnival Conquest leaving Aug 17th together. There are 7 of us total. I would like to do some excursions but we just cant afford the prices on the ship. Any suggestions for snorkeling in grand Turk using independent excursions that are trust worthy and have been used before, we also want to do beach time in St Thomas I was told you can't just walk to beach from port. This is not my fist time on a cruise but fist time with my children which makes everything more expensive. They are 8 and 4 and my nephew is 9... My kids know how to swim and snorkel already so that won't be an issue.

Half Moon -- Beach right there for free

St. Thomas -- 9$ pp each way taxi to Coki Point -Snorkel Rental $10 - Vest $5 - $33 pp to snorkel right of the beach

Grand Turk - Beach right of the ship for free

San Juan -- No close beach, but maybe walking tour of the forts ($5-$7 entry pp)