VentureMan_2000

On 10/30/2023 at 4:39 PM, Rahi said:

The casino area to walk through -I felt sick, smoke, stale smoke, and what smelled like urine. Avoid this ship!! 

Hard to leave your slot machine when you are on a hot streak...  Urine leak is a likely consequence...  😂 

I hope not only because of the cost to fly there.

5 hours ago, tomcatguy74 said:

 

We went on the Celebration a few months ago and found that the pools on that ship were freshwater. It was so amazing how much more fun those pools were without saltwater in them. 

 

Fresh water would be nice.  However, I spent 2 weeks cruising a B2B on the same ship, in the (saltwater) pools and would have never known the pools were salt water had I not learned prior.  The pools are only typically about 25 feet wide by 45 feet across and 4 feet deep, so swimming is not an asset.  Mostly just keeping cool and telling stories and lies amongst each other while enjoying a cocktail. 

So, now scratching my head why these pools would be so amazing and how much more fun those pools would be without saltwater in them.

19 minutes ago, luv_to_cruz2 said:

 

1...what is the latest we can get off the ship?

 

You have to be out of your room by 8:30.  If no US Customs issues, all passengers are usually required to be off the ship by 10am-ish.  US Customs can't clear the ship for boarding until everyone is off the ship ( i.e., has been cleared ).

The Bars...  I recommend you bee line to the bars...   🤣

3 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

The latest inspection score is bit disturbing, especially reading about the food prep areas, bugs, etc.  Now worried!

 

 

 

 

Pretty sure everyone is going to die... even though it passed CDC...   🥱

11 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

Yes the food quality on Carnival is really in need of serious help. I cancelled my 2024 Alaskan sailing and have no future cruises with Carnival at the moment because of it.

If you are a foodie, there are many Carnival Corporation cruise lines you can select.  Carnival Cruise Line is about fun -- advertised as "The Fun Ship".

 

On 10/16/2023 at 10:21 AM, mz-s said:

 

Carnival is not known for the maintenance of their ships. Rather they're known for how rusty and worn they often appear in port, alongside ships from other lines.

 

 

Show proof of this statement... even a little proof... even a tiny bit of proof.

Pretty big statements to make.

On 10/16/2023 at 10:29 AM, aborgman said:

 

Gratuities are:

 

1) discretionary/non-compulsory

2) Paid directly to the person providing the service

 

Under California law - 100% of a gratuity HAS to go to service employees. Service charges can be distributed (and skimmed) by management.

I mostly take exception to your position that Carnival or any other cruise line screws their employees on gratuities because "they distribute them".

 

 

First... Ships do not operate under California law.

 

5 minutes ago, icft said:

Looking only at me it costs $2,500 plus taxes, port fees, gratuities and parking. If you look at what I am actually out of pocket taking my wife into account it costs me $5,000 plus taxes, port fees, gratuities and parking. 

Thank you for your honesty.  So, the cruise price seems to be a break-even, and there's an additional $1k to $2k spent on 'Entertainment'. AKA, Gaming.  Is this an accurate description ?  Seems like the Gaming is really not any more than folks spend on a couple 6-hour excursions. 

11 minutes ago, LatinaInTexas said:

Prob get the same answers I see in my Vegas groups, everyone breaks even every trip😂🤣

So, if you were to infer by your experience, folks say they pay $100 ( guessing pp ? ) and free drinks in the casino ( likely most often just the 1st person in the room ).  How does that play out ?  Say, a 7-day cruise.  Assuming they still have to pay port & Taxes.  Also, assuming an Interior costs $1,000 less than a balcony ( most never explicitly specify what the casino booking room is ).  How much does it really cost per person or per cabin ?

Asking about "Cutbacks" is like asking, "What am I going to miss that I don't even know anything about".

Really... ?  😂  😂  🤣

Lots of posting of $100 rooms, free drinks, etc. posted often.

Carnival's Casino is not giving away money and only offer these bookings if they think (know) they will make bank.

So, What is the final cruise price you casino gambler's actually pay including losses... ?

Was talking to a guy at the pool on the ship... said I was doing a Back-2-Back cruise.  He said he couldn't afford to do a B2B because of the Casino. 

Anyway... any honest gamblers willing to tell their stories, both good and bad ?  Really don't want to hear only the rah-rah stories about how they owned the casino.  Just looking for the bottom line of how much the casino offers really cost you.

46 minutes ago, Aubriee01 said:

 How do back to backs work if you are doing both cruises on the same ship, in the same cabin?  Can you leave your stuff in the cabin and just disembark then re-embark?  Stay on the ship?  What is Carnival's policy?  We'd be sailing out of Galveston if that matters.

To answer your question(s) directly:

Yes, you leave your stuff alone in your cabin.  Don't touch a thing.

Yes, you can stay on the ship... don't need to get off the ship ( see below how this works )

If you want to get off, they give you card that gets you back on the ship if you decide to visit/enjoy the port, without having to wait in any lines.

Our B2B in New Orleans, we received notice to meet in the Main Dining Room at 8:30am.  Carnival did their paperwork there, and U.S. Customs came up to verify our passports, and were checked in for cruise #2.  However, sometimes U.S. Customs requires you to leave the ship, in your B2B group, down to the terminal, and then y'all march back onto the ship.

Next, you relax in the lobby bar area enjoying Mimosa's provided by Carnival, free of charge, until boarding starts for all the other cruisers waiting in the terminal.  

On 10/13/2023 at 4:26 PM, aborgman said:

No, it doesn't.

 

Up To 10% off infers all amounts from 0% to 10%. It infers no dollar amounts.

 

In fact, no discount other than exactly 7.7% is available.

 

 

OMG... Hilarious,  I must have dipped into the Cheers pre-cruise...  Yup, percentage signs are not the same as dollar signs...  🤣🤣🤣

6 hours ago, aborgman said:

 

The problem is - it isn't "up to" 10%.

The maximum you save is $5

$59.95 vs $64.95

That is 7.7% off.

 

Or (because someone who doesn't understand percentages will bring up gratuity)

The maximum you save including gratuity is $5.90

$70.74 vs $76.64

That is 7.7% off.

 

There is no 10%, there is no way to get 10%, and their advertisement is just false.

 

 

 

Also, "Up To" 10% off infers all amounts from $0 to $10.  

OBC can be requested for cruises that start by July 31  2024. 

Funny that when people get away with something, especially if more than once, that they treat that as the rule rather than the exception.

From John Heald, 5 days ago:

"This is one of those times where I need to respectfully and very kindly ask those that have permission to go directly to the cabin to drop off that carry on bags to please do just that, drop them off.
 

11 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

Otherwise do they have a QR code for the menu on the table or something?   I think I would still prefer the printed version.  Your previous suggestion to read the one posted at the entry isn't really a good option in my opinion.  

They have a QR code...

Not everyone likes using a phone...  some like the old fashion method of doing things.  

  

From John Heald, 5 days ago:

"This is one of those times where I need to respectfully and very kindly ask those that have permission to go directly to the cabin to drop off that carry on bags to please do just that, drop them off.
 

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

... not just casino rates people brag how cheap their rates are.

I often look and it's the same ole every time I look. Nothing to encourage me personally to book. Seems like they don't want my business. 

Well, you have to shop.  We took advantage of the $100 pp OBC they were offering for our upcoming cruises...  We booked thru a Big Box and received a few hundred dollars in cash-back incentives for each cruise, so I count that as a price reduction as well.

They are $32 billion in debt, so it's not so easy to offer a lot of incentives.

The people who brag about their casino incentives and pricing are sure pretty tight-lipped about how much their cruise really costs.  Casinos are not staying open and offering those rates because they are giving money away...  😉 

1 minute ago, Shayhooper said:

 

 

I’ve never enjoyed the servers dancing during service.  Half of them seem to enjoy it but the other half clearly…… do not.  For me, it is painful to watch.

 

 

Oh... that reminds me, speaking of painful...

They really need to do a better job of vetting the wait staff that they have sing in the MDR.  There's some great voices out there... but I've also had to bare some pretty bad singing.

I don't eat cake, so can't don't have an opinion on the deserts.

However, I've been very pleased with their bread selection, quality, and taste.

6 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

Do they actually have real bakers on these ships? I feel like most deserts are sitting in a freezer frozen and thawed for mass consumption. 

All baked goods are made from scratch... bread, cakes, etc.