N7786W Flyer

We also had Jake on the Sunshine a couple of years ago...and I agree, he's a good one. Also, this past November, he was in a transition period with Lei Lei Ross (he was leaving, while she was transitioning onboard) on the Glory. Anyway, since Lei Lei was the acting CD, he had a little more available time to speak with the passengers. During one evening's 30 minute conversation, he recounted (if I remember correctly) how he, Lei Lei, Andy Mercer, and one other CD had all been placed in the same Fun Squad shortly after their hiring. He remarked how rare it was for so many members of the same Fun Squad to make it to the level of CD. He struck me as a very intelligent, charismatic, while focused guy. Hopefully, we'll get to cruise with him again one day. Garnett

On our last cruise in November, my wife received the Diamond Gifts while on the cruise, but no letter. However, we had already achieved Diamond status back in 2021 and had sailed an additional 100+ days since then, so receiving the additional gifts seemed strange. Obviously, she wasn't the only one whose gifts were duplicated. Garnett

I'll beg to differ...I think the Pampers (I mean Panthers) take that high honor 😜

We just got off the last Greenland cruise and as the previous poster indicates, there is no priority debarkation due to the large amount of Platinum/Diamond guests. However, even without priority debark and basically taking our time, we were at the Baltimore airport by 11am without any issues at all. I'm speculating that if we had REALLY tried to get off the ship as quickly as possible, we could probably have made it to the airport as early at 10:15, but again, this is pure speculation....and I really wouldn't book air passage based on it. Garnett

No reason given for the removals...and at $700/cabana (at now without AC), I won't be renting one again. My opinion only. YMMV Garnett https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-cruise-line-makes-change-at-private-island/111110?utm_source=Cruise+Hive+Newsletter&utm_campaign=ca15973a1d-CHV_RSS_News_InstantUpdates&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e04b47b456-ca15973a1d-633218579

We're "in the same boat" ourselves. Getting ready to head out the door to the airport on our way to Baltimore. See you on board! Garnett

Thanks! I learned something new! 😀 Garnett

I know they sometimes give Military discounts in the cruise fares, but am not aware of them granting any OBC for veterans...and maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see any mention of OBC in the link provided above either... Garnett

On our last cruise (we debarked 5/13/23), other than a free glass of wine, there were NO free drinks at the Platinum/Diamond party. However, they did put one free drink on your SNS card to be used at your discretion. Even at the Diamond party, you could order only 1 drink at a time. My wife tried to order two drinks when we entered the venue, but was quickly shut down. Garnett

Relative to the "other lines", MSC had zero comedy on the Meraviglia when we cruised on her earlier this month. Garnett

It was the original TSS Mardi Gras back in August 1984. Garnett

Of course, I'm being facetious, but on a serious note, I do miss when cruise ships would stay late at a port....sometimes until the very early morning. You still see it sometimes, but not nearly as frequently as it used to happen...

...and skeet shooting...

...and the beer drinking contest 😬

I miss... The men's nightgown contest...

See attached from our 1984 cruise on the Mardi Gras...

I was told, last year, by a cruise director that that show had been discontinued. He said they had issues with people adlibbing once they got on stage and performing "acts" that were not approved. Don't know how accurate this really is, but that's what I was told. Garnett

My wife and I have stayed on Riviera Deck (Deck 1) many, many times and have never had an issue with loud noises keeping us awake or waking us up. Garnett

Assuming you were on the Carnival Dream's Journey's Cruise this past January (as were my wife and I), we were told by our dining room staff that the whole upper floor of the Scarlet Dining Room was closed during the late sitting as there were very few late sitting passengers. Garnett

1) It is a tender port 2) In my opinion, not near as nice as HMC. There is one small area that looks like and where you can wade into the water, but overall, Princess Cays is much more rocky than HMC. I would recommend water shoes if you decide to go into the water. Garnett

My wife and I just got off the Spirit on a B2B. While we typically order one entree each, we do, at times, other a third one that we split. We did this on two occasions last week, and no "finish what you have first" edict came down from the Dining Room team. They served us the third entree without issue. Garnett

The airfare is difficult to swallow...we're paying $2500 for the both of us...and that's just one way from Australia to the US.

I believe that is correct...October will be the first sailing from Sydney. My wife and I are on the transpacific cruise from Seattle to Sydney on 9/6/22. We arrive in Sydney on 9/30. Garnett

The rooms for Diamond and Platinum cruisers won't necessarily be ready. This has been going on for some time since they reduced their work force and gave the room stewards many more rooms to take care of... However, you are allowed to go to your room and drop off your luggage. We've done 8 cruises since the cruises started back up and our room has only been ready once...and we are Diamond. Garnett

Just off the Miracle yesterday. No Diamond luncheon and no Platinum/Diamond VIP Party. Upon boarding, we were given a letter saying both had been indefinitely suspended, but in their stead, we (and we are Diamond) were given $50/each onboard credit and two free drinks. Not sure if the Platinums received the $50, but I do know they received the two free drinks. Garnett