Tampa8

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Thanks for the review!

My non agreement is Key West. The shuttle tour that takes you to the highlights is great and worth it. If you are saying get it on your own and not through Carnival, that I agree with!

Sailing in just a few days!

Updates to staterooms on the Victory are complete. All staterooms are updated.

 

 

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Great news, what I was hoping for. Thanks for the update. 14 days to Leno.:D

It was nice to read about someone just having a good time on the cruise. Loved all the pics.

Just so you are not disappointed not just on the cruise there is no such thing as a restaurant needing to allow an adult to order off the kids menu. A Doctor's note has no bearing on it, there is no law that makes them let you order from a menu. That doesn't mean there won't be any restaurants that won't allow it but usually they will point out other options off the regular menu.

All that said, never hurts to ask.

Well, crisis averted. I got a reply back from Irena, the steakhouse manager. It looks like we are booked now for the 12th (which is a port day, but oh well) at 830pm. We at least got one of our requirements. Hopefully everyone won't be too worn out to attend.

 

The only sea day they could accommodate was the last Saturday...Apparently the Steakhouse is already prebooked two weeks out. That is surprising to me.

Two weeks? Lmao months in advance. I booked over five months ahead and could not get the exact night and time I wanted. It's how popular the Steakhouse option is and for very good reason.

All rooms have been renovated or at the most are just about to be finished. Have you looked just a few threads down for the info?

You don't have to agree with me, but I didn't say it cost $70.

I see that now it was another poster. So I guess I would change my reply to not a significant difference of the $35 with the rest of my post. As I said everyone has their way of traveling and not eating what is included to pay more for something else isn't for everyone. It depends on your outlook and what you think the value is of the meal that is included to what you will get and enjoy for the upcharge.

When we stay at a hotel that includes breakfast we may or may not eat there but I don't see it as we paid for something we are not using, it's a choice to perhaps have maybe a better breakfast a restaurant we really like.

I think what is throwing you off is the word "free", it should have been "included". The point of the PP is that you have already paid for a meal with your cruise, this plus the upcharge for the premium restaurant makes the actual price paid significantly higher than $35 per person.

I can't agree with your cost of $70 nor of how you are accounting for it. (BTW as I posted even at twice the cost it is less than many top notch steakhouses)

If you do not eat at all you have already paid whatever the cost is for the meal in the MDR. There is no refund, no discount if you do not eat there. So you then have a choice, pay $35 more and have one of the best meals you can have for a very affordable price or eat at the MDR and pay no more. Are you saying you never miss a meal at the MDR to try something different? Even without the steakhouse we often take at least one night and try somewhere else even if it has an upcharge. Everyone has their own ideas on traveling of course, it just seems a loss not to spend a little more once or twice for a meal to get as many of the benefits of the cruise.

Carnival isn't even saying the meal costs $35 - they and we are saying you pay $35 more. Including whatever the actual value of the MDR meal is that and the $35 is an excellent value.

One of the best restaurant values there is. The meal would cost at the minimum twice the cost of $35 at a good steakhouse restaurant and honestly could cost three times or more as it would at Bern's in Tampa. And yes their food is in the ballpark of those expensive, and excellent restaurants. Fantastic service and attitude all four times we have dined there on three different ships.

I don't remember seeing it being done or being offered to buy a video on my recent cruises.

We will be sailing May 1st also on Spa deck. I hope it's done as they upgraded us to that deck from deck 6 which is already done.. I am diabetic and really need fridge.

See you then!

Yes, it's very possible Deck 11 will be completed by May 1st. I got off last Friday morning (3/3/17).

 

 

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Thanks for the reply. I'm feeling more confident you are correct.

Question especially for those who just recently sailed. Does it seem possible they will have deck 11 (Spa) done for May 1st? That's just shy of two months. I have been following and it seems like they got deck 9 done quite quickly and now are on deck 10. There aren't many rooms on that deck (Panorama) nor on the Spa deck. The Tampa Times had a brief story on the renovations several months ago, it was thought that May 1st would actually be the first official sailing of the completed renovations. (Jay Leno sailing) But of course I didn't count on that.

I agree, the info that you can simply switch is incorrect from my experience. You need to cancel the cruise and use the remaining refunded amount towards the new cruise down payment.

Seems like a negative to ask what has been taken away. What has changed for better or worse might be more productive. That said I can honestly say I see what it costs to travel now including some outrageous car rental costs and some equally outrageous "Resort fees" that give me nothing I would ever pay for. I believe cruising and particularly on Carnival especially if you know how to book has even more value now than years ago. I don't disagree some things are no longer on a cruise, the midnight buffet as one example. But given the choices now for food including both included and the fantastic Steakhouse I would take that over a midnight buffet. (I can't say enough good things about the Steakhouse on some ships) Most things are just not something I really miss, except the Stage shows. I do feel there is no comparison to the excellent stage shows of years past and today. BUT ---- I do like the live concert series and in fact can't wait for our cruise in May and to see Jay Leno. We also love the Comic clubs that have been added and have a great time going to their shows.

So I see it as some things are no longer and some things are added and the additions many times are as good or better than before.

There is no Paradise cruise on the 28th. The 29th is five days and appears to have the same itinerary as all the others for that route and ship. No doubt someone else will post about it if they got something.

Agree no cancellation fee.

I'm ready for a change to the menus for Dinner. Looking them over I see many of the standards with some new choices.

Day passes are certainly offered. Being sold out is another thing. You might consider a Spa deck room if you want to use the spa everyday. There are other perks such as first choice of services offered. (Most want to book on sea days and not around the dinner hours and those fill up fast sometimes) There are some in room perks also.

You would be in the extreme minority, doesn't make you wrong or right though. By far when we cruised in November all the talk was about how everyone liked it.

As for the change, if it is 12-2 that would be a terrible change even if they are opened at night. That was our go to lunch after being on shore, or when we just were not hungry before, at often around 3PM. Two hours in my opinion is a ridiculously short amount of time when on vacation to serve lunch there.

Great informative thread. OP is a good example how to go about getting something done wrong to be right using these forums.

So you are claiming people just "fly and stay in Hotels" for benefits? Adding extra days and distances just to keep up status? Add this to what appears to be the average family who only travels a couple times per year? I don't see any/many people reporting what you state. I see way more posts of the single trip per year people plan, with claims of budgets.

There's a whole culture built around it, with articles and information explaining how to do it. We stayed an extra night at a choice hotel this summer to get that night back in a Visa card, AND a free night's stay next time.

I wouldn't be playing with a 4PM departure time...... Also they have to have your information about 90 minutes before departure, mostly applies to those who did not fully complete all info online.

Not so much remorse, but while booking my last cruise I was thinking we had been to those ports before, actually twice, three times I have been to one of them, Key West on my own. I wondered if I should book a different cruise, but the timing was perfect, the price was right.

We had a fantastic time including at each port. It just doesn't get old.

I had to give it some thought, at first I thought this was an easy issue, who wouldn't want show bands? Do they add to the overall enjoyment, yes.

BUT - We can't afford to be in a balcony room every cruise especially on something like the Spa deck on most other cruise lines. And ironically the breakdown given of percentage of time on board actually convinced me if it keeps prices well below other cruise lines I don't mind.

You may be on board ship 85% of the time, but as others have pointed out do I care all the times spent in the room, sleeping, having breakfast delivered, getting ready for dinner, at dinner, in the comedy club etc etc. No, that is a huge percentage of the time.

So somewhat reluctantly I can see the decision. I do miss a live band with the main shows, and as I have previously posted I too have seen those shows not be what they once were. Saying all that, our last cruise on the Breeze was wonderful overall. So they still are doing something right! :D