KKB

OK... Got an email that our upgrade payment was declined (NO idea why...I must have entered the number wrong). As soon as I saw the email I hopped over & put in a different credit card. All other offers show expired, but that one still shows Pending. Do you think we are still getting the upgrade? Interior to balcony would be nice for Alaska! (cruise leaves the 18th)

LOL I’m here so much it’s like a part time job…NOT sure how I missed it!!

Huh. sailed Princess out of Galveston in March & was getting times then. Princess change or Southampton?

Looking for the option to choose checkin time at port. Always did it before. 🤷‍♀️

We are at 42 days & no option yet🤷‍♀️

OOPS--u r right! I have done RCCL & MSC thru them! During COVID I saw an ad on FB to send your casino players card to Carnival. THAT is how we got it!

We booked our 1st every Carnival cruise via Urcomped (casino match service); sailed Miracle to Hawaii last January. Loved it! We certainly do not gamble as much on a cruise as in Vegas; but 9 sea days, well were there each night. We honestly usually only budget about $100 each per night on a cruise. We have had ENDLESS free or dirt cheap cruises emailed to us. I am doing New Caldonia & New Zealand in Feb--2 cruises for 20 days total. $100 plus port fees for each; but $200OBC for each cruise, so essentially costing me $300. Can't beat that! (Used OBC for wifi already) Plus I snag a number of Carnival gift cards at 10% off from AARP to put on my account (OK, to gamble with...) One of my Chase cards also currently has 10% off up to $86 ($860 charged) if I do excursions, drinks, etc. Most generous of any line we have sailed that's for sure!

Not sure what you mean by "theatre" in Murano--had a great meal to be sure. Our server in Luminae was superb. (but in 34 cruises I can only think of one not so great server) Perhaps my expectations were too high--I thought we would get a superior meal to MDR. Not worse, but not better.

We did try several specialty restaurants on Equinox but never have on M class. Eclass MDRs were outstanding--truly making us not even consider specialty restaurants. But then we did Eden--OMG. A new MUST DO. And totally different on Apex & Edge. (will do on Beyond in Dec; since we were in Retreat in April & had Le Voyage & Chef's Table, opted out of Eden) Then we did Chefs Table & Le Voyage...Celebrity, I am not one who needs specialty dining, but you are wise enough to make me WANT IT. (BTW was not overly excited about Luminae. It was good, don't get me wrong, but no better than the 4 MDRs on Eclass)

In April it didn't matter. The other couple said they had the regular drink package (we were in Retreat so premium)...and the Veuve flowed all night!

We began sailing 20 years ago, mostly on Princess (also RCCL & DCL). 10 years ago we discovered Celebrity & we were hooked--the food & service were a step above the other lines. Then we sailed Eclass 2 years ago & it is a step above other Celebrity ships in decor & food. We sail a variety of cruise lines for a variety of reasons--a good deal, itinerary, date. But everything being equal, we would choose Celebrity EVERY time. (particularly Eclass)

Oh, goodness, I find the naysayers are always the loudest in the room. Those of us satisfied are simply content to be so. I have cruised 16 cruises on 6 different lines in the last 15 months...2 on Celebrity. Equinox in Nov & Beyond in March. Celebrity remains our FAVORITE line. Has any trip been perfect? Nope. But has every trip been good? Yep. Determined not an MSC fan...but even good things about those cruises. After 34 cruises in 20 years...and many other trips along the way, ONE thing is the difference between a great time & a miserable one. ATTITUDE. Don't get me wrong. Crap happens. But it is nearly always situational. And if you try again & find it's a pattern, you learn. DH & I joke that we would still have a good time on that Carnival ship that was stranded at sea w/o electricity for 3 days. ATTITUDE. (LOL I'm the one that started a thread w/ my thoughts on cuts...boy oh boy did it get the responses...)

It appears you can. $6.50 for Acqua Panna or San Pellegrino bottle. Is it worth it up upgrade? Well, it's about $250pp for a 7 day cruise; if you are sailing w/ a spouse or friend that is $500 more. So...will you drink 6 of these large bottles/day? (will both of you if 2/room). If so, it is probably worth it. 5? Then no. (PS I understand this is a burning question for you, but you might pose your response more politely to get polite responses. For example: "Thank for your responses. I understand NCL sells water boxes. I'm curious if I can also get Acqua Panna/San Pellegrino bottles onboard, what their cost is, and if so, whether it is the smart move to get Premium Plus")

Thus your name.

Also Prima

We have only done 1 Carnival cruise--14 days to Hawaii in January. Having sailed most other mainstream cruise lines, we heard lots of people say we would HATE it. We LOVED it. Bartenders said Carnival long cruises are the best! No repeat MDR menu; new one each night. 3 comedians EVERY NIGHT. Trivia--uh like 8 a day! (but hard to get seats--some people plant their butt all day!)

Sailed Celebrity for the 1st time in 2014 after 10 years mostly w/ Princess but also RCCL & DCL. We were hooked--we just felt food & service were a step above. Sailed the Edge July 2021, only 6 weeks after cruising got back up. 1/3 full, Captain Kate & Eclass--OMG, I was HOOKED! I put Eclass a step above other Celebrity ships for style, food & service. Sailed Apex in March, Equinox in Nov & Beyond in April (Retreat on that one); all fairly full. Service--having sailed almost monthly the last year, I'm finding service to be great overall on all the ships we have sailed. One waiter on Princess was terribly stressed in Oct & our FULL poker cruise on NCL felt understaffed--but they still were striving to do the best they could. Food--I still put it a small step above other lines. On the Edge in 2021, no surprise crew was FANTASTIC. Glad to be back working, few passengers, Cap. Kate the quintessential hostess. They had time to really get to know you. On of the activities staff (Chrystal) was on our Cozumel excursion & we found out she was from OK, and we became fast friends. My mother (who was battling cancer) joined me for week 2 after DH went home. Chrystal called our room one day & said she had a 4 hour break & did we want to com play cards with here & another activities staffer. That made our cruise!!

I will be curious as well. On the Anthem in 2018 they had sea day SNGs for $100. Played the 1st one only to find out NO cash prize for anyone. You won a seat at a SNG on the final day where the winner won a cruise. OK, we did that on the Mariner in 2010 & won a cruise for 2011--BUT there was still a small cash prize for the winner of each tourney. Needless to say, they didn't fill anymore tourneys after the 1st 2. They ended up giving the 2 guys that qualified cash prizes.

LOVELY--have a wonderful time! Living vicariously thru u this week!!

Glad to hear the positives. 5% tax & 17% tip is less than I pay here. We have over 7% sales tax, plus a tax for our concert venue at restaurants & bars & we usually tip 20%!

Good to know--Mariner play 3PM the 17th when we will be there.

I was able to feel the breeze, hear the waves, see the endless sea/horizson & hang out in the IV area. I've had covered balconies & truly find the only difference is that there is a door/wall separating the spaces. (IV does have a divider). I do seem to be in the minority. We had a porthole balcony booked on Apex but upgraded to IV...the porthole balcony is so narrow that chairs can only sit sideways. Too small for me.

Thx all--yep, I wasn't sure if it meant 30 days from when I booked onboard or 30 days from when I actually booked. Looks as if we are probably out of luck BUT it might be worth a call to TA.

Cagney's & Ocean Blue are our fav specialty dining--especially if we can get a seat out on Waterfront. I WANT to like Le Bistro...but didn't have a super experience last year. Menu on the other 2 is always a win for me. I've heard Food Republic is really good We ALWAY eat at Manhattan Room--band, dancers. Nice ambiance. Shows...well, Footloose closed a bit back so not sure what they have now. (we sail in Nov so I am curious too!)

GM no idea. CD...gosh, I can see him & hear his voice, but his name escapes me Really enjoyed the activities staff.