VentureMan_2000

5 hours ago, Castaway Cowgirl said:

Is it only an app?  Can I go to a website?

Just an app.  Kind of a 2-step process.  After StockPerks confirms your eligibility, then you use the app to submit a shareholder OBC request to Carnival. 

4 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

I wonder, if DH and I were seated at sea day brunch, could we order it as our Platinum benefit and it wouldn’t count in our Cheers 15? Hmmmm….

Carnival limits you to 15 drinks... Cheers package or not.

40 minutes ago, Mike45LC said:

Serious question:  How do I identify Left Right Center when it is being played somewhere on the Lido deck?  Is it a card game using one normal deck of cards?  Or multiple decks?  Are there game pieces?  How many players?

 

I have never been aware of this particular game until this exciting thread, and now I want to watch out for it on my upcoming cruise.  

I've seen before at the Alchemy Bar tables as they are long with plenty of seating (before Alchemy opens).  The Left Right Center host (organizer) was walking up and down the length of the tables with a big'ol wad of cash in his hand -- collecting and distributing money.  I'm sure there was hundreds of dollars in his hand.

Didn't bother me... but I do get the whole gambling not allowed rule.  Cruise Lines do have to meet Federal laws and other country's laws.  

58 minutes ago, SwordBlazer Cruising said:

Carnival Global Casino Operations are a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, you are correct. It is not a concession like some other cruise lines .

Makes sense as Carnival Corp operates 91 ships.

I only found Carnival's policy on pregnancy:

Pregnancy Policy | Carnival Cruise Line

7 hours ago, MaisonRose said:

I paid $50 share years ago & recovered more than that BUT the price is low, BUY NOW. MY $50 shares are worth $16. 😢

I too bought 100 shares around $45 July 2019, pre-Covid.  It was a good deal then as the dividends were good too at 50 cents a share and I liked the shareholder benefit.  We had 5 cruises booked for the coming 2 years.

Then starting around Feb 24, 2020 CCL's stock price started to crash.  I chased the stock down, purchasing more as the stock declined, trying to cost-average the price I paid.  I chased it down to the $8 range.  When I was done purchasing in the $8 range, I now had 800 shares of CCL and had cost averaged my CCL price down to $22.45 which was still three times to going price of $8.  I sat and waited... watching the market daily.

Then June came and I saw a chance to sell and get out.  Friday, June 5th saw a high price of 22.30.  I put a sell order in over the weekend for $22.45, hoping to at least get my money back.  Not only did my shares sell Monday when the market opened, they sold for $23.45... I actually lucked out and made a $1/share profit - $800.

I finally became brave enough to cruise again at the end of 2022 and booked an Alaskan Cruise for 2023.  I again started to monitor CCL's price again, and finally bought 100 shares at $9.40 in April 2023.  I figured at that price, I wouldn't have much to lose... and it wouldn't take long to receive $1000 in shareholder benefits as we have been booking 6 cruises a year.

But this story serves as a lesson of caution if you are only purchasing for the shareholder benefit.  The stock price moves up and down a lot.  Carnival now owes $32 Billion... it will be a long time before this debt gets paid down.   

  

The price of CCL fluctuates a lot.  You could easily lose more than $100 on the price fluxuation of CCL while trying to get a $100 OBC.  Very common for the price to rise/drop 4% in a day... never know.

Carnival says: 

Except where it is a mandatory requirement, Carnival highly recommends that all guests travel with a passport book.  The passport book must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel. 

You can read the details here:

carnival.com/help?topicid=3409

Glad I turn Platinum in June.  

The folks I have seen waiting in the so-called midnight buffet line and midnight pizza line do not look like food connoisseurs...  

I think your post answered your question.  "Max of 2" is pretty straight forward.

Also, I think there is an age limit of 18 and over...

Age Policy: Guests must be at least 18 years of age to ... utilize spa facilities, as well as use of the Thermal Suites, Hydrotherapy Pool and large hot tub spa. 

Just submitted my request for Oct 2024.  Uploaded my docs... received a reply saying it will take 2 days to process.

Patience Grasshopper...  It's renewed every year at the April Shareholders meeting.

Yes... but you should call Carnival to see which ships can accommodate.

You can bring cans of non-alcoholic beverages -- nothing in plastic.  I believe the can size is limited to 12 oz.

Carnival Policy:    On embarkation day, a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, energy drinks, juice, and milk), packaged in cans or cartons, may be brought on board and must be in the guest's carry-on luggage. A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12-ounces/354-ml each or less, per person

6 minutes ago, Kevin135i said:

 If I have to take legal action(s), that will probably end my journey with them in the future, which is heartbreaking since the Carnival Kids stuff is amazing for my little ones.

Just because you deal with them in court does not mean you cannot still enjoy their cruises.

I sued Chevrolet for a Lemmon, and still continue to buy Chevy.  I wouldn't had to if the Dealership did its job.  Same with Carnival... just because of one bad actor within Carnival should not mean dropping Carnival altogether.

You will be charged sales tax on any cocktail purchased.  Whether you purchase CHEERS or not does not affect whether you will be charged sales tax.

Sales Tax rate for Long Beach is 10.25%.  

Sales Tax rate for Catalina Island is 10%.  

45 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

I'm sure the Dairy Industry will be glad to know that all of the "Got Milk" commercials failed. 🤣

Favorite "Got Milk" commercial...   The Steer's pick-up line to the Cow... "You work out... ? "  🤣

7 minutes ago, thesmiths said:

Where do these numbers come from?

 

Was posted 5 hours ago on a B2B cruise forum... it was a 4-day cruise.  CD's provide this info in their presentations.  

My first cruise, there were 1,200 people on board... 800 of them newlyweds, info provided by the CD.  That ship was rock'n...

Flight duration is 20 hours to 22 hours, and air fare price is $2,000 to $3,000.  I think sale and saver fares are non-refundable.

That's a long flight...

2 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Not exactly.  I don't waste my time at the P/D party on the Mardi Gras. My supporting information is that they know exactly how many guests are coming to the Diamond Only events and they plan accordingly.  There aren't one White Card with two Reds, two Golds and their Blue card friends trying to find a place to sit.  

Explain further...  

Seconds ago I read a post of someone cruising on the Miracle.  Below is the passenger breakdown.  In this example, would they only allow the 28 Diamonds to enter the guest party ?  Or are you saying that a Diamond may also bring along two Reds, two Golds and their Blue card friends that are allowed into the guest party ?

Just trying to understand what you have observed/experienced.
 

17 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

Totally disagree, and I can prove it if you want.  

An example would be sufficient.  I am curious.

Only allow Diamond and Platinum... no plus 1's.  It's the abuse of Plus 1's that is a big part of the issue with Guest party.  How do you enforce who is actually a plus 1.

Perhaps the guest party would be smaller if plus 1's weren't allowed to tag along -- in that maybe fewer folks would attend if the plus 1's couldn't attend. 

I would drop the FTTF.  You will have Platinum status for this cruise, so FTTF is not needed.

But I have some commentary regarding FTTF:

For $190, I don't see the benefit relative to the expense.  In the past, FTTF allowed you into your cabins early, but not anymore... only luggage drop-off is allowed now before 1:30pm.  And "Priority" has seemed to lose some of its meaning and benefits due to the abundance of "Priority" passengers.
 

Here is what the program includes:
 
Priority Check-in (during your arrival appointment).  The actual boarding will save you 15 minutes.
 
Stateroom Access:  Once on board, you will be able to drop off your bags in your stateroom until your room is ready. 
 
Express Luggage:   Very debatable -- It's very common for "Priority" passengers to receive their luggage way after the blue, red, gold passengers.
  

Guest Services:  I honestly never understand wanting this ahead of the cruise taking place -- do folks have an expectation to use this often ?  Is it worth $190 to save 15 minutes ?
 

Dining Reservations:  Priority Main Dining Room and Specialty Restaurant reservations (excluding Your Time Dining) could be useful.
 
Priority Water Shuttle Boarding:  Definitely useful if it's important that you want to get off the ship early.  The only stop requiring a tender is Half Moon Cay.