I thought the minimum was higher than $10 now, but eventually, yes, you should receive a check. You can contact the players club after a while and they can confirm or deny how much you will get back.
Obviously Carnival could do more to stop the smuggling of liquor and also illicit drugs. And they can also search cabins looking for the same, if they want to. Some are going to push the limits and then everyone will pay the price. If you see something, say something.
It could also bring some people back to Carnival who were fed up with drunk behavior. Carnival really does need to get rid of some customers. They cost the company more than they are worth.
Carnival has an accurate count of how many drinks an individual has had on a drink package and can cut them off at any point, including for the rest of the cruise.
The booze smugglers aren't part of the equation.
I don't see a smaller package at a price much different from Cheers. Carnival knows most people aren't going to limit out at 15 drinks and bases the price on that. Everyone would limit out on a small drink package.
No doubt a partial response to the increase in rule breaking and violence on ships. Just like the announced $500 fine for rowdy behavior.
Carnival has no way of monitoring how much people drink in their cabins.
Some will try to wrongly blame Carnival instead of the real culprits. No doubt Carnival would prefer not to have to cut off a source of revenue.
The casino requires some Internet to function properly. Expect satellite TV to drop in the middle.
It really doesn't matter how much bandwidth is added, demand will saturate it. I would expect a record number of vloggers, bloggers, FB livestream, etc on the Celebration TA.
Has Carnival signed off on Celebration and handed the money over? That could be what happens on the 26th along with perhaps a soiree. And why they are floating bonds at this time.