It's been too long - 3 years!! - what's new?

[Virga]

It's been three long years since we've cruised, but we're gearing up to find a short west coast cruise next month. Looking like Inspiration, might be Imagination, just four nights. It seems a lot has changed since we cruised last!

 

It looks like we were grandfathered into Platinum status, thankfully, despite being a little shy on nights. Good on Carnival for this! We still get two free bags of laundry on short cruises, right? And Priority boarding/debarkation? As I recall the benefits were pretty skimpy on the 3/4 nighters anyway, so not a big deal.

 

It also looks like the beverage package program has grown - now anything we want will be included, still with the 15 alcoholic drinks per day. Hooray for powerade and bottled water! Anything else changed here?

 

I seem to recall that room service had changed somewhat, but the Carnival site still boasts about complimentary room service 24 hours a day - are we still good to get grilled cheese and cheesecake at 3am?

 

Oh, and the pizza! I was heartbroken to discover they'd killed off the de'chevre before, and now they've made dough changes?? I know we'll have to give this a try just to decide for ourselves...

 

Anything else stand out as a big change in recent years? Is there still a sea day brunch, is lobster still available on formal night - heck, is there a formal night anymore?? Any answers appreciated from folks who've kept up with the times =)

[SadieN]

No free lobster on Cruise Elegant night. Can buy lobster as part of the Steakhouse Selections $20.

Now there is a scallop appetizer and a seafood ravioli in vodka sauce.

 

 

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[riclop]

Food has gone down hill.

[wemjam]

Yes to pretty much everything you said except lobster... this is only on longer cruises now. There is a formal night, one on a short cruise, priority boarding, laundry, drink info, sea day brunch, all good.

 

Room service has two sides to the menu now. There are still free items you can get, and then there are some items that have a nominal charge associated with them, but it is available 24 hrs.

 

Can't carry on any liquid drinks of any kind now unless it is canned pop/juice/etc. (and you are allowed 12 cans per person and only in your carry on bag), plus one bottle of wine per person. No more water bottles, etc. or bottles of any kind for that matter.

 

Timed access is new, but if you are Platinum you don't have to worry you can enter the terminal whenever you arrive as long as they have started allowing anyone in.

 

YTD might be new for you too. Used to be just early or late seating for dinning were your choices, now you can select your time dining and then you have the option to go anytime between like 5:45 and 9pm or so, not set time - walk up just like a normal restaurant.

[BoDidly]

What's new ? Overruled by what's dissapperd :p

[sanmarcosman]

Last May the old style pizza was still being served on both Imagination and Inspiration. Executive Sous Chef explained the space all the way aft where the pizza is made on lido can't be expanded to accommodate the oven equipment needed to bake the new style pizzas. You should still be able to get your favorite pizza :)

[firefly333]

Im platinum, close to whatever the top tier is called, and I too havent cruised in a while, Im guessing 2 years.

 

I just assumed priority boarding, but when i was filling out my boarding info, it asked me to pick a time. The system can see Im plainum, but it made me choose a time. confusing if you ask me.

 

Im actually considering arriving later than the time I picked if I drive down the day of, hopefully its not a problem not to arrive during your time slot?

 

no more free lobster, now thats a big dissapoitment. I love lobster. I booked a 7 day western.

 

someone said the cruising or snoozing cards now only have one choice.

 

Im a big salad eater, and hopefully the salad choices for lunch are still good.

 

I got kinda burned from a bum TA who stole some of my money and turned off to cruising, i used to cruise up to 7 or 8 times a year, not all on Carnival.

 

Ill have to keep a eye on this thread, and see what other surprises are in store for me. At least I dont have the menus memorized and they will be a surprise :D

[firefly333]

Is pizza still 24/7, if i cant sleep at 3 am?

 

In the past I could bring back more than 1 liter of booze into galveston, but they never checked my bag, are they stricter now with customs.

[ferfoodle]

Im platinum, close to whatever the top tier is called, and I too havent cruised in a while, Im guessing 2 years.

 

I just assumed priority boarding, but when i was filling out my boarding info, it asked me to pick a time. The system can see Im plainum, but it made me choose a time. confusing if you ask me. Everyone needs to select an appointment time to check in. However, Plats/Diamonds and FTTF can check in whenever they want to.

 

Im actually considering arriving later than the time I picked if I drive down the day of, hopefully its not a problem not to arrive during your time slot?

 

no more free lobster, now thats a big dissapoitment. I love lobster. I booked a 7 day western. Lobster is still served on the first elegant night on 7 day cruises.

 

someone said the cruising or snoozing cards now only have one choice. Snoozing only. Also, on some ships, the steward will leave a card (or ask you in person) if you want service in the morning OR service in the evening. Twice a day service now has to be requested according to most cruisers.

 

Im a big salad eater, and hopefully the salad choices for lunch are still good. They are.

 

I got kinda burned from a bum TA who stole some of my money and turned off to cruising, i used to cruise up to 7 or 8 times a year, not all on Carnival. Ouch - that bites. Glad to see you back!

 

Ill have to keep a eye on this thread, and see what other surprises are in store for me. At least I dont have the menus memorized and they will be a surprise :D

 

Pizza and ice cream are still 24/7. They have expanded the room service options to include some items for a fee. Still plenty of free items.

Edited October 7, 2017 by ferfoodle
spelling is not my strong suit

[nealstuber]

Im platinum, close to whatever the top tier is called, and I too havent cruised in a while, Im guessing 2 years.

 

 

 

I just assumed priority boarding, but when i was filling out my boarding info, it asked me to pick a time. The system can see Im plainum, but it made me choose a time. confusing if you ask me.

 

 

 

Im actually considering arriving later than the time I picked if I drive down the day of, hopefully its not a problem not to arrive during your time slot?

 

 

 

no more free lobster, now thats a big dissapoitment. I love lobster. I booked a 7 day western.

 

 

 

someone said the cruising or snoozing cards now only have one choice.

 

 

 

D

 

 

They still serve Lobster on 7 day itineraries, good new for you, not so much for OP.

 

I don’t see the big deal about not having a “Crusin” side to the card as we’ve never had an issue with the steward figuring out when we were out (but we’re fixed time dining people).

 

On that subject, perhaps the biggest change has been the service your way with respect to cabin service. You get to choose Morning or evening and can choose both, but some stewards on some ships are presenting it as an “or” as opposed to an “and/or” choice.

 

We like the new “American Table” menus, but we’re definitely in the minority on these boards. I think most would agree that entertainment has improved over the past couple years (especially in the lounges and the pool deck) but not back to the level it was 7 or 8 years ago.

 

I think the biggest change we’ve seen recently (and this goes across all of the lines we’ve sailed) is they do a much better job filling he 3rd and 4th berths in the cabins - the ships are more crowded.

 

 

 

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[SadieN]

Have the choose a check in time but as Platinum you can ignore what you chose.

 

 

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[Virga]

Le sigh about the lack of free lobster on short cruises! We rarely get to take more than three or four nights away... Still, glad to hear that room service is still at least partially complimentary, and that we can get bottled water with the package since they took away our ability to bring it onboard. I figure we'll enjoy ourselves anyway, but I'm sorry to hear that so many little things have gone by the wayside. I'll certainly miss our evening turndown service, just not sure it's worth giving up our morning service if we get a crotchety steward.

[wemjam]

Le sigh about the lack of free lobster on short cruises! We rarely get to take more than three or four nights away... Still, glad to hear that room service is still at least partially complimentary, and that we can get bottled water with the package since they took away our ability to bring it onboard. I figure we'll enjoy ourselves anyway, but I'm sorry to hear that so many little things have gone by the wayside. I'll certainly miss our evening turndown service, just not sure it's worth giving up our morning service if we get a crotchety steward.

 

You can still most certainly request both morning and evening service and they will oblige you. We do it for every cruise and have had not issues.

[firefly333]

I see a thread with something else new. Seems you can get price drops up until you sail on early saver rates now.

 

Last time I cruised you could get moved up to a better cabin but couldnt get price drops once you were past final payment.

 

Im on a VIPF rate or some such I think but my agent mentioned early saver as if they are one and the same.

 

Saw something about American menus in the MDR. Last time i cruised they had comfort foods and if you didnt like anything could always get a staple like fried chicken.

 

Seems like comfort foods and American one and the same lol.

 

Im surprised they were sending out casino rates as early as last March for a Dec sailing. Most of my roll call seems to be on a casino rate.

 

ok by me if they only service your room once a day. Twice seemed excessive to me and half the time i told the steward to just skip me at night or put up the do not disturb sign.

 

There was another thread with something new I saw but forget now. But it does seem there are a lot of changes. Looking forward to them.

 

I was glad to read that as platinum i can ignore the boarding time I selected. I still havent decided between getting a hotel the night before or driving down the day of.

 

Before I could usually find a cheaper cruise out of New Oreleans, but when I booked and put in Belize as a port of call, nothing came up. Galveston it is, so be it. I like Galveston better but sometimes went out of New Orleans just to save a couple hundred dollars. I guess there is either no 7 day cruise any more out of New Orleans, or something.

[firefly333]

I just signed into my roll call and was told they leave your sign and sail card in your mailbox by your cabin out of Galveston. No more picture taking for your card?

 

So, thats new too.

[cyndepet]

I haven't sailed Carnival in a few years either. With only having one service per day, if we pick morning, does that mean no more towel animals?

[nealstuber]

I haven't sailed Carnival in a few years either. With only having one service per day, if we pick morning, does that mean no more towel animals?

 

 

 

As others have stated, you can still get twice a day if you ask for it and on most ships it’s not a big deal. Towel animals still come if you take morning service, but, for us they would seem out of place. Note to Carnival: Towel animals are NOCTURNAL their purpose in life is to put one last smile on your face before you turn in for the evening.

 

 

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[Unclearnie]

"Towel animals are NOCTURNAL their purpose in life is to put one last smile on your face before you turn in for the evening."

 

 

LOL - thanks

[joepeka]

Fire! Where in the world have you been? You were always such a regular here and I've missed you! :)

 

(I know, I know, this is a bit off topic but oh well. I also meant to quote one of firefly333's posts above and muffed it, oh well again.)

Edited October 14, 2017 by joepeka

[ultrafighter]

I just signed into my roll call and was told they leave your sign and sail card in your mailbox by your cabin out of Galveston. No more picture taking for your card?

 

So, thats new too.

If the picture on your ID isn't "good enough", carnival will take your picture. They did it for us last Saturday.