Cheers and Norfolk - 2nd day start

[kierra]

For those sailing out of Baltimore originally and now shifted to Norfolk who have Cheers please note the change recently posted to Carnival’s website. Cheers can only be used starting 6am the 2nd day in Norfolk instead of immediately in Baltimore.

 

From the website:

 

https://www.carnival.com/drink-packages/cheers-package/cheers-SUM

 

[jerseyjjs]

And you can't use Cheers while in Half Moon Cay either.  Doesn't seem like a good investment on this sailing.

[mz-s]

Wow I just looked up that article a few days ago and it had no mention of Norfolk so this must be a very recent change. Good eye!

[ManyMore]

The states that do that I don't think it really worth it for the cheers package for many. I know when we cruise we probably drink the most that first day so that is a big hit on top of the cheers package.

[Pyxie]

30 minutes ago, ManyMore said:

The states that do that I don't think it really worth it for the cheers package for many. I know when we cruise we probably drink the most that first day so that is a big hit on top of the cheers package.

 

And I actually think it is *more* worth it because you can pay for 1 less day (and I can wait until day 2 to drink). Maybe I'm just cheap lol.

[bg2310]

Truly some of the dumbest laws/rules on the books. Especially coming from such states like Texas that love to claim they have so much "freedom". 🤣

 

What an oxymoron. 

[StephPS79]

This hasn’t been the case normally, but the local chatter is that since there were no plans for cruises leaving Norfolk this year, Carnival did not pay whatever tax or permit is needed to the state for 2024.

 

 

Edited March 29 by StephPS79

[MaisonRose]

2 hours ago, Pyxie said:

 

And I actually think it is *more* worth it because you can pay for 1 less day (and I can wait until day 2 to drink). Maybe I'm just cheap lol.

I’ll bet they SELL drinks on that first day…n’est pas?

[Mike45LC]

By "Day 1", do they mean embarkation day?  Because for many purposes, Day 1 refers to the first full day of cruising.

 

I don't sweat this, my embarkation day's bar tab was about $30 total for two, a minimal amount compared to the total cruise cost (air fare, hotel, cruise fare, WiFi, specialty restaurants and MDR upgrades, ...).

[Saint Greg]

4 hours ago, bg2310 said:

Truly some of the dumbest laws/rules on the books. Especially coming from such states like Texas that love to claim they have so much "freedom". 🤣

 

What an oxymoron. 

There is no Texas law preventing Carnival from selling Cheers on Day 1. Princess does it. It just starts after sail away. Carnival uses it as an excuse to make people pay for individual drinks the first day and lies to you about it.

 

 

Edited March 30 by Saint Greg

[JMAE]

Never got Cheers. Since it starts day 2, does it stop early on the last day too?  

[Saint Greg]

3 minutes ago, JMAE said:

Never got Cheers. Since it starts day 2, does it stop early on the last day too?  

No. It does impact debarkation morning. If you’re used to getting a coffee on cheers debarkation morning, you’ll have to pay for that. That counts as the first part of embarkation day.

 

[bg2310]

2 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

There is no Texas law preventing Carnival from selling Cheers on Day 1. Princess does it. It just starts after sail away. Carnival uses it as an excuse to make people pay for individual drinks the first day and lies to you about it.

 

 

Ooh. Even worse in that case. I could have sworn I read there was some regulation about it there and that's why they had to do this in certain places. 

[Redskinsfan92]

Just curious if this also affects non alcohol for those with Drinks on Us Everywhere. Love the special coffees, milkshakes, and soda.

 

Honestly, I don't know of any new Virginia laws regarding this. I follow new Virginia laws pretty closely. For instance, there was an effort this year to pass a bill to allow cruise ship casinos to operate while in Virginia waters that failed to pass. So, if you are used to the casino turning on quickly leaving Baltimore don't be surprised. It takes much longer leaving Norfolk according to a friend. There is also a law that specifically allows casinos in Virginia to give away alcohol. Sounds more like a move to get back some of that $100 on board credit they are giving people. Possibly avoiding an ABC fee as well, but that doesn't make complete sense as they will be selling drinks.

Edited March 30 by Redskinsfan92

[jerseyjjs]

14 hours ago, bg2310 said:

Truly some of the dumbest laws/rules on the books. Especially coming from such states like Texas that love to claim they have so much "freedom". 🤣

 

What an oxymoron. 

 

If that's the case, then that freedom loving state/city of New York has the same protocol,

[shof515]

Why is carnival is the only cruise with this problem? Royal and Norwegian does cruises out of Texas and NYC with the drink package working on embarkation day

[NYcruzzer]

2 hours ago, jerseyjjs said:

 

If that's the case, then that freedom loving state/city of New York has the same protocol,

Please don't blame NY. It's Carnivals decision not to offer Cheers out of NY on day one. NCL's drink package starts as soon as you board the ship. Of course you have to pay the NYC sales tax.

[Colorado Beach Bum]

10 hours ago, Redskinsfan92 said:

Just curious if this also affects non alcohol for those with Drinks on Us Everywhere. Love the special coffees, milkshakes, and soda.

DOUE works out of TX on day one as soon as the casino opens for both alcohol and non-alcohol drinks. 

[SRF]

For RCI out of Tx only certain bottled may be used that have had state tax paid on them.  So limited drink menu at the start 

[Sgwscruiser]

3 hours ago, SRF said:

For RCI out of Tx only certain bottled may be used that have had state tax paid on them.  So limited drink menu at the start 

This is the case with carnival also. Very limited Brands available.  Almost all of these are Bar Pour Brands that most people have never heard of.  I think People that purchase Cheers would be upset about not being able to get the brands they want so Carnival states that Cheers does not start till day 2 of the cruise 

[ninjacat123]

This was true when I cruised out of Mobile, AL on Ecstasy. The bar selection was limited until we were out at sea.

[jerseyjjs]

5 hours ago, NYcruzzer said:

Please don't blame NY. It's Carnivals decision not to offer Cheers out of NY on day one. NCL's drink package starts as soon as you board the ship. Of course you have to pay the NYC sales tax.

It wasn't my intent to blame NY, it was a nod toward the person who was citing this as an example of Texas limiting freedoms.

[jerseyjjs]

6 hours ago, shof515 said:

Why is carnival is the only cruise with this problem? Royal and Norwegian does cruises out of Texas and NYC with the drink package working on embarkation day

 

       Carnival is also the only cruise line that doesn't allow their drinking package to be used on their private island, not to mention it's also the only line to limit the number of alcoholic beverages per day.

[tidecat]

1 hour ago, jerseyjjs said:

 

       Carnival is also the only cruise line that doesn't allow their drinking package to be used on their private island, not to mention it's also the only line to limit the number of alcoholic beverages per day.

Technically Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays don't belong to Carnival Cruise Line. They belong to Holland America and Princess.

 

It will be interesting to see if Carnival builds any integration for the Sail and Sign network into Celebration Key. Right now Carnival has to manually process any Sail and Sign charges once the receipts are brought back to the ship when Carnival stops at Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays.

[JMAE]

1 hour ago, tidecat said:

It will be interesting to see if Carnival builds any integration for the Sail and Sign network into Celebration Key. Right now Carnival has to manually process any Sail and Sign charges once the receipts are brought back to the ship when Carnival stops at Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays.

I wonder if this will change once the pier is constructed....