VentureMan_2000

1 hour ago, Iamthesea said:

I asked before, but did not receive an answer.  If you (or my daughter in this case) purchases the drink package, and then  decide not to take the cruise, is the package refundable?  According to the following wording, it is not.

 

• Program is non-refundable

Under 'Program Restrictions', 5th bullet point down:

• If the program is purchased prior to the cruise, it is refundable up to 9:00pm ET, the evening prior to the cruise departure.  Otherwise, CHEERS! is non-refundable.
  
  carnival.com/help?topicid=1106
  
   

Carnival did a software release a couple weeks ago and the site has been crap ever since.  It even has a disclaimer at the top explaining this.  I'm sure they are working on a new release that will fix the issues.

Your best bet is to just call Carnival and book it over the phone.  It's pretty quick and easy.

28 minutes ago, coondog99 said:

--Same ports of call on the bigger ships and of course, those that Carnival has invested $ in. eg Grand Turk, Amber Cove, etc

--lack of different level of Cheers type packages.

--elimination of paper menus

They have paper menus...  you only need ask. 

I want to know how much y'all lose in the casino to get those free drinks.  The Casino is not offering these cruise packages because they feel like being generous.

On my last cruise, I was talking with some folks in the pool and mentioned that I'm doing a back-to-back cruise.  They said that they wouldn't be able to afford a B2B cruise because they couldn't afford a 2nd week of gaming in the casino.   

If you're not having fun on a Carnival Cruise... it's your own dang fault !

Don't ask the question...

Experience the question and decide for yourself.

Well, a Grand Suite is about the same price as two balconies.  You would maintain your privacy if you each had a balcony stateroom.  You could always ask that the balcony divider be opened between staterooms if you want a larger balcony experience.

2 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

Thanks amcankid - I had no idea the price was going up. 

Still undecided if I want to purchase at all, or just pay per drink.  Are drink prices going up, as well?  If I book and pay now, is the cost of the package refundable should we be unable to take the cruise?

Sunday, October 8 is the last day you can purchase Cheers before the price increases (for cruises 5-days or less). 

The new higher price start October 9.

9 minutes ago, Spif Barwunkel said:

Using your favorite vodka or gin for your typical non-specialty martini, what difference does it make who makes it? None, actually. If how the bar looks makes your martini taste better, you will certainly enjoy it at the Brass Magnolia.

Not all bartenders make a martini (or any cocktail for that matter) the same.  Some take shortcuts, like a quick shake and pour.  Some are too heavy or too light on the vermouth.  Some might give you multiple olives, others just one.

It does make a difference which bar and bartender you go to.

I like Mai Tai's made a specific way, so I go out of my way to find the bartender who makes a perfect Mai Tai to my liking.  Let me tell you... it's all over the board for such a simple drink.

What is on the Boarding Pass to indicate that you are Diamond, Platinum, FTTF, etc. for priority boarding ?

After check-in at the terminal, everyone is seated, waiting for clearance to start boarding.  Then a Carnival representative starts boarding passengers -- He calls out for Diamond A01 - A05 to board.  I see him look at the boarding pass as people funnel by him.  What exactly is on the Boarding Pass to indicate they are Diamond, and not just Platinum trying to sneak by ?

Does the boarding pass have "Daimond" printed on it ?
Does the boarding pass have "Platinum" printed on it ?
Does the boarding pass have "FTTF" printed on it ?

Anyone have a photo of a Diamond or Platinum boarding pass?

$5 difference.

For cruises 6 days or longer:
Purchase before boarding:   $59.95 + 18% gratuity pp = $70.74 pp

Purchase after boarding:   $64.95 + 18% gratuity pp = $76.64 pp

For cruises 5 days or less:
Purchase before boarding:   $69.95 + 18% gratuity pp = $82.54 pp

Purchase after boarding:   $74.95 + 18% gratuity pp = $88.44 pp

If she's Gold, then she's a veteran who won't have questions regarding checking in at the port. 

There were five rooms on our last cruise... all different check-in times at the port.  Wasn't an issue meeting up... we just kept in contact via text messaging.

I wouldn't give it another thought... probably less than an hour's difference in getting aboard. 

It certainly doesn't hurt to print it and have it on hand.

My philosophy has always been, 'Better to have it and not need it than to find out you need it and don't have it'.

Just a couple pieces of paper... why not print it ?

Contact Carnival Cruise Line® to book your cruise and request Rate Code F5E. 

2 hours ago, glrounds said:

 If you are booked a year and a half out, how would Carnival collect this SURCHARGE ? Give you the option to pay that added surcharge OR cancel your cruise with full refund ? Put the surcharge on your onboard account ?

 

If this happens, using your tips to cover the added cost is idiotic, at best. And easily perceived as just plain cruel. Apparently Carnival has, but I don't ever remember them doing this.

 

It's all spelled out in Carnival's TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT.  Perhaps you didn't read it ?

They will just add it to your S&S account.

Section 1. 

1. DEFINITIONS AND SCOPE OF CONTRACT

Sub-section (d)

(d) Cruise Fare does not include fuel supplement charges, security surcharges, or similar incidental surcharges (“surcharges”); subject to applicable laws, Carnival reserves the right to impose or pass any of these surcharges and no right of cancellation shall be implied. “Fuel supplement” shall mean any additional charge to defray a portion of Carnival’s fuel costs. The amount of fuel supplements and government fees and taxes collected are subject to change. Carnival reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement of up to $9.00 USD, or its equivalent in foreign currency, per person per day, without prior notice, in the event that the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) is greater than $70.00 USD per barrel of oil. Carnival may collect any fuel supplement in effect at the time of sailing, even if the cruise fare has been paid in full.

10 minutes ago, Crusin Karen said:

This is a bit OT and going to sound dumb but how do you get OBC? In our earlier days we always had a bit. Seems since we turned Diamond I don’t get it anymore. And btw I cruise solo and pay for 2 so it would be nice to get something! 

I'm assuming you are not getting any special rates, like from the casino.  I've read no OBC for those deals.  

You can always purchase 100 chares of CCL and get s shareholder OBC that ranges from $50 for cruises 6-days or less, $100 for 7-13 day cruises, and $250 for 14-day or longer cruises.

8 hours ago, sydney dog said:

Do they just go around now saying "Pirate Punch" instead of "Fun Ship" to everyone as they pass by? 

Yes, pretty much.  And they are usually offered in a specialty container of sorts... like a thermos mug, a shark-head, a dolphin head, a coconut, and I think one other.

You can use it to purchase Cheers before the cruise, if you plan to purchase cheers.  Then the Gratuities can be charged to your account.

Agree with Sparks.  

I too can be a heavy drinker on vacation, but the rest of the year I'm a moderate drinker - liking 2 or 3 cocktails before and while dinner cooks.  I rarely drink after dinner.  And like Sparks, there are some days/ weeks where I don't drink.  In fact, I'm trying to lose weight from my cruise two weeks ago, so I'm currently abstaining until the weight is off.  I probably gained it all from a week of heavy drinking...  🤣  

I could totally see a day of drinking on a cruise looking something like this:

  6:30am     Irish Coffee (out on the balcony, of course)
  8:00am     Greyhound (top deck, while strolling and taking in the view)
  9:00am     Greyhound with breakfast
11:00am     Mai Tai at the pool
12:00pm     Mai Tai at the pool
  1:00pm     Mai Tai at the pool
  1:30pm     Lunch
  2:30pm     Mai Tai at the pool
  4:30pm     Alchemy Bar pre-dinner cocktail
  5:15pm     Alchemy Bar pre-dinner cocktail
  6:00pm     Glass of wine with dinner
  6:45pm     Glass of wine with dinner
  7:30pm     Mai Tai at the show
  8:45pm     Alchemy Bar cocktail
  9:15pm     Alchemy Bar cocktail

32 minutes ago, pc_load_letter said:

Well, this is a bummer. We sail out of Long Beach probably five to six times a year. Always on the four day. This will add costs and probably keep us from booking as often.

Will add $95 to your cruises.  I'd pay it myself.  We drink 14 to 22 drinks a day between us.  6 drinks will become the new break-even price-point if you exclude all other non-alcoholic drinks ( coffee, water, energy drinks, etc. ).

10 hours ago, lasvegascruising said:

WHAT?? I have a 5 day booked on the Firenze May 16, 2024.  I have not received an email notice yet.  What will the new price be per day per person?

Check your spam folder.
 

For 3, 4, & 5-day cruises: 

Currently, people who pay for Cheers! before their cruises pay $59.95 a day. That price will go up 17%, to $69.95 a day. Passengers who opt to book onboard will see the same $10 a day increase, from $64.95 a day to $74.95 a day. That's 15% higher.

You have until Oct 8 to lock in the lower price by purchasing.

From October 9th – December 1st, you will only be able to purchase Cheers (the higher price starts Oct 9) via your Cruise Manager.  Cheers cannot be purchase during this time by calling Carnival.

2 hours ago, sammee said:

It's word games, got the email too. Am I correct in saying the price goes up if you wait until you are onboard to buy? This is above the "Buy now" button in the email - "

PAY ONE FLAT PRICE FOR YOUR SPIRITED BEVERAGES

Save $10 per day (that’s $15 off new per day pricing onboard) when you book your Cheers! package now.

So I'm guessing, it's 59 now, but will be 69. Now if you wait until you get on board, 74, that would be the extra 5?  Either case, I'm not getting it, I don't drink enough anymore. 

 

For 3, 4, & 5-day cruises: 

Currently, people who pay for Cheers! before their cruises pay $59.95 a day. That price will go up 17%, to $69.95 a day. Passengers who opt to book onboard will see the same $10 a day increase, from $64.95 a day to $74.95 a day. That's 15% higher.

You have until Oct 8 to lock in the lower price by purchasing.

From October 9th – December 1st, you will only be able to purchase Cheers via your Cruise Manager.  Cheers cannot be purchase during this time by calling Carnival.

Yup... has occurred before.

14 minutes ago, Riles34 said:

Where do you get the $707 for a 5 day? I spent $340 for a 5 day a month ago. Was well worth it with everything you get outside of just the booze. Had a handful of $19 shots and would have spent over $1000 easily without Cheers. 15 Drinks X @$12 an alcoholic drink would be $900. So it is a good deal...

Let's do the Math...  I like doing the Math...

Assuming two people in the stateroom...

$59.95 x 2 = $119.90

$119.90 x 0.18 = $21.58   ( Gratuity )

$119.90 + 21.58 = $141.48

$141.48 x 5 = $707.40

20 minutes ago, south-carolinagirl said:

Just got the email today about cheers increasing, right after learning Carnival made 1 billion dollars profit!  Really?!

They owe 32 billion.  It will take years to pay off.