Upcoming Carnival Elite Cruises

[lazydayz]

Next round of Elite cruises are out, and I was able to snag a balcony on the 9/2/23 sailing from Baltimore to Greenland and Canada, for 14 nights on the Legend.  I had already booked the same sailing for 8/13/23, but for a $50 change fee for person, we both get free Cheers, a shore excursion, free airport pickup and drop off, plus $500 in fun play vs. $200, and we were able to move to a balcony.  Not bad for $100!  

[lazydayz]

So it looks like our Elite cruise will actually sail on Sunday, 11/28/21.  Boarding the Magic out of Port Canaveral.  If anyone is interested, I will post a review when we get back, and will focus on the casino and Elite benefits.  

[kwbrad]

Would love it if you would post a review when you get back.  I have my first elite in July so I am soaking in every post I can find about them. : )

Have a great trip!

 

[lazydayz]

Our first Elite cruise was advertised.  We took our port parking ticket (pay on the way out) and casino cage gave us cash to pay for parking.  Liquor and mixers in cabin upon arrival.  Card in room requesting we stop by the casino on boarding day, I think between 1:30 and 3:30.  There was always a line, but the casino is the best place on the ship to watch football.  Our excursion tickets were delivered on the first evening.  Since I played a lot, they upgraded these from the regular dolphin swim to the VIP one, which includes lunch at Ocean World.  They sent us to the Steakhouse one night, which included a bottle of wine up to $40.  We had gifts every day, ranging from an Elite key chain to a fantastic fruit basket with wine.  There was usually one drawing per day limited to Elite players, and they would draw three to four names.  Mine was never called, though I ended with 12,000 points.  I did win two small jackpots, and the tax forms were delivered to my cabin on the last evening along with a complimentary balcony certificate.  The casino was always busy, but never had trouble finding a game to play.  Smoking was much more limited.  No smoking in casino when it wasn’t open, and they enforced no smoking unless playing.  Masks were required, with a sip or puff then cover  rule requiring you to wear a mask nearly all the time.  Happy to answer any questions.  

[drmom423]

Sounds like a fantastic cruise! When do the next round of elite cruises come out? I have several upcoming ones, but wondered when they will schedule more. 

[kwbrad]

On 12/13/2021 at 12:04 AM, lazydayz said:

Our first Elite cruise was advertised.  We took our port parking ticket (pay on the way out) and casino cage gave us cash to pay for parking.  Liquor and mixers in cabin upon arrival.  Card in room requesting we stop by the casino on boarding day, I think between 1:30 and 3:30.  There was always a line, but the casino is the best place on the ship to watch football.  Our excursion tickets were delivered on the first evening.  Since I played a lot, they upgraded these from the regular dolphin swim to the VIP one, which includes lunch at Ocean World.  They sent us to the Steakhouse one night, which included a bottle of wine up to $40.  We had gifts every day, ranging from an Elite key chain to a fantastic fruit basket with wine.  There was usually one drawing per day limited to Elite players, and they would draw three to four names.  Mine was never called, though I ended with 12,000 points.  I did win two small jackpots, and the tax forms were delivered to my cabin on the last evening along with a complimentary balcony certificate.  The casino was always busy, but never had trouble finding a game to play.  Smoking was much more limited.  No smoking in casino when it wasn’t open, and they enforced no smoking unless playing.  Masks were required, with a sip or puff then cover  rule requiring you to wear a mask nearly all the time.  Happy to answer any questions.  

 

Thank you so much!  Were there other games (similar to those in premier, ultra etc) for elite only?  Are there any other casino cruise offers at the same time (in other words are there elite and ultra or anything like that).

[lazydayz]

Yes, the drawings were usually games for Elite cruisers only.  I remember Matilda the cow and Fill the Bag.

 

The only limited drawings were for Elites, so don’t think it was a premier or ultra.  There were no parties on our sailing.  

[Brkintx]

On 12/26/2021 at 7:30 PM, lazydayz said:

Yes, the drawings were usually games for Elite cruisers only.  I remember Matilda the cow and Fill the Bag.

 

The only limited drawings were for Elites, so don’t think it was a premier or ultra.  There were no parties on our sailing.  

How did the “Platinum VIFP status for the entire cruise” work?  I’m on an upcoming elite cruise and my checkin and boarding docs all say Gold (red for my roommate). 
 

[urbanhawk]

I received an e-mail today that new/more elite sailings will be offered, starting on 1-20-22. Others with a higher priority status will probably be able to book sooner. Happy cruising!

[Brkintx]

23 minutes ago, urbanhawk said:

I received an e-mail today that new/more elite sailings will be offered, starting on 1-20-22. Others with a higher priority status will probably be able to book sooner. Happy cruising!

Got a similar email, mine says Jan 18 - does that somehow denote something priority wise? (Other than me prepaying a few cruises at a machine?)

 

Edit - wording on that was clunky. 

 

I've gotten every level of offer since my first sailing in Jan 2020, and all the elite level offers until now have included just under 1/3 of the free play that the Ultra/Premier/PremierSE offers had at the same time. 

As I'm not a big drinker, so weighing the difference in free play versus the elite benefits previously had me choosing the 3X in free play.  Now, the elite offer $ amount jumped, and is 2.5 times higher than the other levels, and 8 times higher than it used to be. I'm guessing this is based on my annual total for 2021, but there was a reason for the extra play (you only turn 50 once!) last year and that has not been and will not be typical...

 

Thus, what I'm unclear on is...  Do these amounts stay the same for the calendar year?  All of the various levels did stay the same for 2021...

Edited January 13, 2022 by Brkintx

[Brkintx]

Sorry for the double post, but one other question...

I'm going on an elite sailing on Jan 22. IF that sailing is still on the elite list when it opens for me on Jan 18... will they switch from last year's offer to this year's offer? (Elite for elite, just with more free play?)

 

Anyone dealt with this situation before?

 

[lazydayz]

I don’t think your upcoming cruise will be on the Elite list since you are just days away.  But if it is, they will typically let you switch for better offers.  
 

Can’t wait to see the list tomorrow.  

[lazydayz]

On 1/13/2022 at 1:28 PM, Brkintx said:

Sorry for the double post, but one other question...

I'm going on an elite sailing on Jan 22. IF that sailing is still on the elite list when it opens for me on Jan 18... will they switch from last year's offer to this year's offer? (Elite for elite, just with more free play?)

 

Anyone dealt with this situation before?

 

Too funny.  My Mardi Gras elite cruise for Feb. 26 was on the list.  I called my PVP, who was able to switch it out.  It cost me $4.27 to move from a regular balcony to an extended balcony and I get $500 in fun play.  Nice! 

[Brkintx]

My question about Jan 22 turned out to be moot, as there were no close in sailings on the list. I WAS, however, able to shift my other paid in full elite booking I had (May 28 Vista) two weeks later (June 11 Vista) to benefit from the better offer. Same cost (well, the gratuities will be $2/pppd higher, but otherwise) so they just transferred the funds to the new reservation.

 

I'll do the same exact trip two weeks later instead for 8x the free play and a suite... yep I will... :)

[lazydayz]

14 hours ago, Brkintx said:

My question about Jan 22 turned out to be moot, as there were no close in sailings on the list. I WAS, however, able to shift my other paid in full elite booking I had (May 28 Vista) two weeks later (June 11 Vista) to benefit from the better offer. Same cost (well, the gratuities will be $2/pppd higher, but otherwise) so they just transferred the funds to the new reservation.

 

I'll do the same exact trip two weeks later instead for 8x the free play and a suite... yep I will... 🙂

Nice. Glad it worked out for you!

[lazydayz]

So our next Elite cruise is coming up next Saturday on the Mardi Gras.  We are so excited.  Hubby is eight weeks past foot surgery and has graduated from the knee roller, to the wedge boot, to a regular boot and now in his Addias slides.  It has been a long journey but his surgeon deemed him to be cruise ready! So this will be a relaxing but celebratory cruise for us.  This is our long awaited Mardi Gras cruise.  

[CruiseMomTX]

If anyone has pictures to post from their Elite that would be fun to see.  We've passed or waited to decide too long on our offers so waiting on the next round but want to see what were missing out on, lol.