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@Jamman54

Great review as always! Our last 2 cruises were on the Freedom and Spirit and it was great to see all the pics. Heading out on the Pride Saturday. 

12 minutes ago, sanmarcosman said:

Carnival doesn't give boarding times.

Nope, they give you an arrival appointment when you check in.  Link the booking numbers and you can check all rooms in at the same time.

Although if you really want to get "technical", this is what it says:

1 hour ago, EngIceDave said:

If I am plat and wife is not, do both of us (cabin) receive plat benefits, like laundry, or is it only that card holder?

Just you, although she will board with you so she gets that part. 

31 minutes ago, rev6ho said:

Get there booking number and link it to yours where it says manage another booking. That's what I did with parents and it automatically gave them the same boarding time as mine.

This is what we do. 

2 hours ago, highcorral25 said:

I am looking for first hand knowledge of how Casino points are earned while playing Texas Hold'em.

 

On a recent cruise I played Roulette on three different days.  Each session was the same:

• I bought $100 in chips using my Sign & Sail card (note: there is a 3% fee).
• The dealer took my card, handed me a receipt to sign, then gave me my chips and my card.
• I played for about 30 minutes.
• I traded my chips in so I could cash out.
• I cashed out (note: they give you actual cash -- it does not go back on your card).

 

The only time my card was used was for the initial purchase of chips.  The Casino points I earned each session varied (22 points the first session, 88 total points across 3 sessions).

 

There doesn't seem to be a fixed formula for Casino points when it comes to Roulette.

 

I didn't play Texas Hold'em and the only time I checked a table it was empty.  Since the game is electronic I am assuming you can use your Sign & Sail card the same way you would use it on slots.

 

If this is the case, how do you earn Casino points?  With slots it is 1 point for every $2.50 you play (including winnings).  For Texas Hold'em, is it based on the bets you make?

 

 

 

 

I haven't played the electronic hold em, but I am pretty sure video poker machines are 1 point per $5. Wouldn't surprise me if they were the same. 

18 minutes ago, helene109 said:

I am hoping that I can pay online! 

Call the number on the certificate and ask. 

7 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

Yeah I don't know how far back your experience goes but this has somewhat recently changed. It used to be you could say "I want to pay for this drink" as you were getting close to your 15 Cheers drinks, and you'd pay out of pocket for the drink and it wouldn't count against your 15 included in Cheers. And people buying drinks a la carte could buy as many as they wanted.

 

Now, you are only served 15 single serve drinks per day. It doesn't matter if you order them via room service, from a bartender, or a roaming waiter. And it doesn't matter if you have Cheers or not, you only get served 15 drinks a day.

 

Limited exceptions - like buying a pitcher of margaritas or drinks purchased on private islands - apply.

Just did in October. Going again in 17 days and will let you know. 

25 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

multi-serve drinks like a bucket of beer or a pitcher of margaritas doesn't count against your 15, probably because like you said it's assumed you're sharing it. But single serve drinks will.

Not exactly. I've bought shots  for the table in the MDR when they use to bring them around all the time and never counted. Just paid for them. Have also bought drinks of the day for people and didn't count. This is one of those rules that Carnival uses to protect themselves from people who can't handle their booze well. If there are 10 of us sitting by the pool and I want to buy everyone a drink they are more than happy to take the money. Of course they can see that I am not ordering just to get by the 15 limit. I'm sure they would count if I just went up and said I wanted to "buy" a beer when I'm at drink #14 though. LOL

24 minutes ago, BobbiSox said:

I thought the rules are pretty strict about buying drinks for others on your package. Better check the rules. Maybe that's no longer frowned upon. 

Strict how? Your not using Cheers to buy. You are paying what anyone else would for the drinks. 

10 hours ago, kwokpot said:

I don't think casino's Drinks Everywhere includes Energy drinks. Gatorade, yes Energy drinks no. 

It does. Or at least did for us in October on the Spirit. 

3 hours ago, BoozinCroozin said:

Room Service drinks aren't covered by Cheers, you will pay for those. On top of that, each of those count towards your 15 drinks per day regardless of how you get them. Just keep that in mind.

This is not true. Have bought many buckets of beer on all my cruises and none of them counted against Cheers or drinks everywhere from the casino. Just tell them you are buying for friends.

47 minutes ago, pcvtmom said:

Ditto!!

Another vote for Rusty's!

Enjoy the cruise @sid_9169!

15 hours ago, valandemmy said:

 

The trip is Mid September..."historical" weather said 70s during the day....I can live with that lol.

 

Do you think it is an older crowd for that type of cruise...doesnt seem like a party cruise lol

Bring layers. The temps in September can be all over the place. However, you are most likely to have cool nights and mornings (40's-50's) and it will take awhile for the day to warm. That 70 will likely be around 3-4 PM.

13 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

Looking forward to our experience at (our local!) Pt Canaveral later this month on the Mardi Gras, not so much for our trip/experience in Miami in May for the Celebration.

 

Does Carnival still sail out of Pt. Everglades ? 

Tom

They do not. Wish they did. Get free rooms at Hard Rock.......LOL

2 minutes ago, MujerIsla said:

Ha! I thought it was fun because of the novelty of it. Who in the world even sits down to have a quiet tea and desserts?? My kids will think it's rad. 

The Breeze is a good ship (all the dream class are IMO). It's going to be quite different from what you did the first time (fantasy class). I'm sure you will all have a great time!

1 hour ago, MujerIsla said:

Disclaimer: I completely believe any experience is mostly what you make it. That being said, I've taken 1 and only one cruise: a May 2009 Carnival Ecstasy (God rest her soul) swine flu re-route from Mexico to Jamaica and Grand Cayman for my honeymoon. We loved everything about that cruise! But this was back in the days of free sushi happy hour, adequate staffing, free room service, and dress code enforcement in the MDR. Seasoned cruisers, knowing how Carnival cruising was back then vs. what it is now, do you think we'll have a vastly more negative experience?

 

1. Are there still fun things like free tea time?
2. Is there really a dearth of food options like I keep reading about in reviews (ie, not enough lines or restaurants open, empty coffee/ice cream/whatever dispensers)
3. Are there gangs of unruly kids running around the ships terrorizing 40-something people like me? 
4. Is there anywhere to go on the ships to avoid the crowds? (For reference, we'll be sailing the Breeze over Thanksgiving --yikes!)

 

Thanks for any tips and reassurance you can give me. I realize it's still vacation and will be great, but I want to meter my expectations if necessary. 

1 - Tea time is fun??? LOL! Plenty of stuff to do. Trivia, comedy, shows, casino, etc. Just depends what you like.

2 - Breeze has plenty of places to eat.

3- You are going over a holiday so could be a lot of kids.

4 - Hang out at the back pool (most kids will be at lido pool). Also, outside on deck 5 is a great place to relax. 

4 hours ago, EngIceDave said:

Before you get a drink (or drunk), go directly to your muster station, sign in, pay attention and then go about your business. Have some fun and consider it "An Amazing Race" to be there as fast as possible while touring the ship.

Nobody getting drunk. They cut you off after 2 if you haven't done muster yet. Lol

22 hours ago, tonit964 said:

I'm trying to choose between a 1A with two portholes, cabin 1202 at the very front of the ship or an Interior, deck 8 on the Panorama. I would like the natural light and the sofa in the 1A but it's kinda far from everything. The difference in cost is not an issue. Wish I cold do a balcony but it's not possible this time.

 

Any suggestions are appreciated.

TIA!

If you're a person that's in your cabin a lot go with the portholes. If you are out and about the ship all the time do deck 8. If you want light in the morning just turn the tv on one of the deck cams before bed and it will lighten the room as the sun comes up.

6 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

I just had new Elite offers hit my account this morning.

 

I went in and took a look and, in virtually every case, I had other remaining offers which were way better than the Elite offers.

 

No thanks - I'll just continue to pick and choose. If I never have an Elite door magnet to go with my Ultra one, somehow I'll manage !  😄 

 

Having said that - at some future point if/when my other offers (all w/drink everywhere and OBC/Freeplay) dry up, I'll reconsider.

 

Tom

Just went and looked. Same thing as last time. "Play My Way" offers are way better. I haven't booked an Elite or Ultra yet. Just go with the best offers that work. 

On 1/17/2023 at 8:51 AM, Jamman54 said:

 

Sadly, Topher passed several years ago,  and Jack and Janet have retired and moved back to Canada. The new owners have retained the name for obvious reasons, and they fixed the place up nicely. The food is still good, but the bar staff leaves a lot to be desired. Very inattentive, looking at their phones, and you practically had to beg for a drink, even when they weren't busy. That never would have happened with Jack sitting there. Don't know if we'll go back. 😎

We were there in October and their daughter was still working so got great service. Talked to her quite a bit. She was heading to Canada around Christmas or New years. 

Did they get the license plates back up? On of the bartender's said they weren't going to but the daughter said they would be going back up. 

Got a cruise booked the 1st week of March and booking another for October with my current offers that came out like 10 days ago (which are pretty much the same as before). 

There are different offers and not everyone gets the same offers. It's really not that hard.

Drinks On Us! included for you while playing in the casino. 

Drinks On Us! included while playing in the casino for you and a companion.

Drinks On Us! included for you everywhere on board the ship.

Drinks On Us! included everywhere on board the ship for you and a companion.

It's not about how much you bring to gamble each day. It's about points earned and time playing for slots. Table games are by how much you bet and time playing (and as mentioned, it doesn't hurt to make friends and get noticed!).

Bounce back offer's (the ones you get when you get off the ship) are based on your play for that cruise vs. everyone else's play on that cruise. The offers you get quarterly are different. 

19 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

I booked a cruise over the Easter weekend a month or so ago that was more than I would prefer to pay (with price protection) hoping we might get a casino offer later on. The price is even more now.  My TA said new casino offers were coming out in January.   We didn't get any...so I was hoping maybe we might get one after our next cruise in early February if we gamble on that cruise.  We didn't really gamble on our last cruise because it was in Europe and there wasn't time and we haven't gotten any casino offers since then.  Final payment on our Easter cruise is due before our Feb cruise.  Has anyone gotten lucky and had their cruise go down after final payment?  I am going on it regardless but was just wondering. 

IF you get a casino offer they are for new bookings only. You would have to cancel and then rebook. Unless it was a really good offer it probably wouldn't be worth it because you would get hit with whatever the cancellation penalty is on the first booking. 

2 minutes ago, serene56 said:

you can upload into a slot machine-- but dont think it will allow the whole 500 with one shot   

 

It will.