Love my butler

Sadly, we have crossed Cagney's off our list. Just not worth $60. How long until Le Bistro is $25?

First of all, you're upset with Steiner Leisure, not Carnival. They're an outside company who runs the spa (and about 75% of the cruise ship spa industry). You could have left at any time... You're not out any money and you didn't have pay to enter their drawing. Did you think they were giving away $500 out of the goodness of their heart? They're a business who where making new customers aware of what they offered. They were GIVING AWAY $50 credits every 10 minutes, which you won and were under no obligation to use, and yet you're upset that you weren't given something free and it's a scam???? It's called a promotion. There's a little known secret obout these cruise ships.... They're a business trying to make money. If you didn't like what you were seeing after 10 minutes, walk away. Nobody owes you anything and there certainly wasn't a "scam". I'm sure many of the winners were happy to apply a 25% discount off their $200 treatment. If you're not interested, walk away and enjoy your vacation.....

It's deceptive and the OP wasted a lot of her valuable vacation time. CCL takes advantage of the less-savvy and they should be ashamed. Blaming these deceptive practices on a subcontractor is laughable. The buck stops with Carnival.

Good price and convenient. Nothing beats a cocktail on your balcony before dinner.

You clearly got ripped off, but justify it any way that makes you feel better.

Would like to know what the perks are on the mini suites on the Epic...

 

Thanks

 

 

AJ

It really is a shame so many people get deceived by NCL and their mini-suites. There are no perks for a mini-suite, none, on any NCL ship. Perks only come with a full suite, cabin class that starts with an "S". NCL continues to make money from the deception so I guess they will never change.

The great rate you got was to offset your pain with all the noise you will hear above you. Good luck.

The butler, concierge and kids club staff are not in the DSC tipping pool. They should be tipped accordingly. Your room steward is in the pool and there is no requirement to tip them twice. We tend to use our butler a lot and tip him generously. The concierge can do some things for you, but we don't ask much of our concierge. However, we still tip even with minimal usage.

As a general guideline, think about tipping your butler $100/week and the concierge $50/week. That is for average usage. Adjust up or down with the demands you place on them.

If the shopping consultant is steering you toward a store, think very hard about buying anything at that store. Everything is done for a reason.

Per the website the milk chocolate is 30% and the dark is 50%.

 

Can anyone give me an approximate cost for the bars?

I can give you the exact price for the bars. Was just there last week. They have large (3.5oz) and small (1oz). The large bars are $6 and the small $3. Don't get caught up in the hype. The chocolate is ok, but not great and is way overpriced. The factory tour is more of a presentation than a tour. It's a tiny one room operation. For $10/person it's a reasonable price but having purchased a couple bars I would never buy any more. Just not that great tasting and too much money. Even the milk chocolate was not that sweet and the dark chocolate was very bitter.

P.S. Don't buy the overpriced ship excursion, book it online for the $10/person.

Actually, it is a LARGE, public beach ... though Tropicante has limited frontage. No matter where you go, you either have a small beach, mid-size beach, or a large beach. Saying it's a small beach near other beaches seems awkward ... about the same as saying it's a large beach (which, it is).

 

With reference to the bathrooms ... you are indeed in a third world ... that area has specific restrictions on development. The bathrooms were not what I am used to on a cruise ship, but they are better than what I have seen at various public beaches in the Caribbean.

 

That aside, perhaps the biggest difference is that the beach at Tropicante is CLEAN. The pictures used by Maya Chan clearly are not as clear as Tropicante.

 

Steven

Let me help you. The SMALL area of the public beach that Tropicante has roped off is small. Other restaurants/businesses also have their area roped off all around on the beach. To stay within the roped area of Tropicante can be crowded with lots of people there. Just as nice and easy to sit in just about any other area of the 'public' beach.

The restrooms should be described accurately. I have seen many people describe them as clean and nice. That may be true, if you are looking at them through a third world lens.

Tropicante is ok, but certainly not a resort. It's a small beach with chairs etc and can be very crowded. It's in a section with lots of other beach areas. It was too crowded and small for my taste. The bathroom, while clean, was third world. It's ok, but not great.

Did the golf cart last year, loved it. Breeze in your face, no pressure, stop where you want, when you want.

Did you not fully read the Op's thread? This is a Carnival Promotion, not an outside agency that typically "scams" others in their fake contests. There is no fine print.

Ahh, but there is fine print.

In Anita's list quoted above, I didn't see an SG category. Why is that? We're in an SG on the Star and I'm now wondering if this is considered a mini-suite. Anyone?

If your category starts with an S, you are in a full suite. M is for mini-suites.

I asked our cruise lady if we booked a family suite with the adjoining mini-suite (one has benefits and one doesn't) if the mini-suite would get the perks. She said not officially, but that once on board we could talk to them and my mom and daughter would be extended the opportunity to eat at Cagneys for breakfast/lunch and could be included in our ressies... but just wouldn't get the butler/concierge... I'm considering it... because that is really the only perk that I would worry they are excluded from. I'm not looking at the Haven area, so I don't know about that.

Sounds like a great idea. Let's overload Cagney's with people who did not pay for the perk. I bet it will make those that did pay real happy....

The best Pizza on the Dawn is in La Cucina. The Italian restaurant. The $5 pie is nasty. Buffet pie is a bit better, but not great.

To prepare, have the four of you live in the hall closet for a week. Then you can decide if it is comfortable or not.

If it isn't in writing, you are screwed. He is not getting back to you because he is afraid to face your wrath. You cannot cancel now without losing a large portion of your fare. You are indeed in a pickle.

You are not going to be served course by course. They are not "private" butlers but service several/many suites and are very busy. They will deliver and set up your meal and then leave. Return later to clean up.

You are absolutely incorrect. I have had many butlers and they give me the option of course by course or all at once. I usually choose all at once because I hate having the butler standing outside my door waiting on me.

Not always doable. The butler has 10 suites and also is expected to tend to other duties such as serve at cocktail parties.

Nonsense. You might not have your meal served exactly the time you choose, but you will get your dinner served in your room if you ask. If your butler attempts to tell you he cannot serve dinner, he is being lazy. The butlers work as a team and if one is overtaxed, others will assist him.

The best perk in a suite is the butler. A good butler is worth his weight in gold. He will do almost anything for you to make your cruise enjoyable. He is a butler and should be utilized as such. I read so many people are afraid to bother him. That's a waste of a great perk.