mz-s

Smoking is regional. In my area of the country, tobacco is still part of the food pyramid so it probably is closer to 25% but I'd say it's still quite a bit lower than that. But in NYC or Seattle or even Miami I'd guess it's lower still.

I have personally never had a cabin steward on a Carnival ship that worked in the US food service industry so I am confused how that's relevant?

false equivalency

To me it sounds like they misunderstood your request and answered a question that wasn't asked. In my experience you both will get DOU as you both had the same offer for the cruise. If you wish, email them again and ask specifically that question - one sentence, simple question. Or wait until you're onboard and speak to the casino host.

In my experience, if you both have the same offer (let's say the offer is code FCL, FCL has to appear in both of your profiles) then you both will get drinks. If not, then only the person who received the offer and booked the cruise will get drinks. There are also offers that say "DOU for you and a companion" but it doesn't sound like that applies here. You can speak to the casino host once onboard and see if comps can be extended to you initially, or if you will need to earn them through play first.

https://www.pepsispire.com/ seems close enough I reckon

Yes since the restart, most of my stewards have told me when they clean the rooms (morning or night), they do not give me an option to pick and twice daily on Carnival is flat-out not an option anymore. I'm sure if I voiced an opinion they'd offer one or the other, but it doesn't really matter to my wife and I anyway. All the special touches of Carnival in the past are gone.

Bimini pretty much only exists as a cruise destination for the ResortWorld casino that is there (and it's close proximity to Florida as well of course)

That's exactly how I do it as well. Some on here say the crew must surrender cash tips so they are pooled anyway, I guess that might be true. But that's not something I can control. I do mention my displeasure with the eroding standard of service from the company (not the crew) in my comment cards.

They do, but not 100%. Like everything with Carnival it depends on who you're talking to.

Oh I know what you mean BasicSailor. I didn't want to point fingers but even if I was, I wouldn't have pointed one at you.

I do agree with you. I don't get involved in things that aren't my business.

I don't think the jokes about gender are really very appropriate. It's not unique or funny and doesn't help OP.

Celebration (and many of the newer ships) has a dedicated Chef's Table space and they do a Chef's Table sitting nearly every night of most cruises. On some other ships, Chef's Table doesn't have dedicated space and is more limited.

By the book, Bubbles just includes sodas by the glass. No flavor shots, no cherries, etc. Some bartenders may do it but they are the exception, not the rule. It would be nice if Carnival would install Freestyle (or whatever Pepsi's alternative is I guess) so people can make their own mixtures. They'd certainly sell more soda, but they'd also probably have bartenders upset because they'd miss out on gratuities.

There is absolutely no way I would ever consider paying MORE for a Carnival cruise vs. its competitors, except for maybe Margaritaville at Sea. Carnival still has a good product but it is less and less a special vacation and more and more like you're staying at a La Quinta near the airport and eating at the Chili's across the street. Now granted I went on 4 Carnival cruises last year so maybe I'm just a little jaded. Or maybe I witnessed their cutbacks happen over the past year in real time. Take my thoughts for what they're worth - absolutely nothing. I'm just one more person on here with an opinion.

Seems to be, yes. On my last cruise - middle of September 2022 so not peak travel season or anything, if you didn't start playing blackjack right after supper you had to wait for a seat at the table. There were always slots available but perhaps not the game you want. And roulette/craps were just as busy as blackjack. This was on Sunshine which has a fairly large casino for the size of ship.

if you’re spending $2500 over your fun play then yeah I see your point…that’s often not necessary to continue receiving these offers however.

It's the same thing that's happening in the US during afternoon tea and seaday brunch. Guests are being offered Art of Tea bags at afternoon tea, not being told Lipton is available free. And during seaday brunch folks ask for orange juice and they're just being served the $5 "pressed" orange juice instead of the included Donald Duck concentrated stuff...

They want known spenders on their ships right now...best spenders they have are casino guests. They may not buy the photos or excursions but they definitely spend big money in the casino. A busy casino attracts casual gamblers to stop by on the way to supper etc who spend even more...it's a good strategy.

I agree, I absolutely would not recommend a Sunshine class cruise during peak season.

For some reason I'm even more attuned to it now that I am an ex-smoker. I can smell it when someone across the street is smoking. I guess I mentally prepare myself somehow before a cruise because it doesn't bother me too much. I went on 4 Carnival cruises last year, and spent a lot of time in the Casino on each. But I will say - the last cruise I got off of, a Disney cruise - was VERY nice, having never gotten even a whiff of smoke. The Disney ship I was on had only two remotely located smoking areas and I never had occasion to be near them.

I agree children should be supervised. I'm sure you agree scooters should be in the stateroom. Everybody wins.

And an attractive nuisance to children.

I don't think you actually prepay for the steakhouse on carnival.com. You're just reserving. You can cancel any time because you're not actually charged until you go to eat.