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I love cove balconies. Is it worth an extra $400? In my opinion, Yes. But its worth may be outweighed by my budget for that trip.

I think I finally understand why one might buy Cruise Cash with Carnival Gift cards. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it is the convenience of having the Cruise Cash applied to your account without a trip to Guest Services or the quirky kiosk. Makes sense. For me, though, I prowl around the ship late at night, so the Guest Services line is usually non-existent, and the ladies working the desk usually flirt with me (must be a boring job). Also, on my last cruise the kiosk actually worked for me (first time ever). The kiosk doesn't flirt, she's just a big tease.

Love the Caribbean! We have only "not gotten off the ship" one time. Nothing against the port, just needed an extra rest day. We did enjoy the mostly empty ship. Otherwise, we have been successful at doing something cultural, something adventurous, and something beachy on every cruise. We use cruise-sponsored and private excursion operators, and sometimes hire a taxi and head out on our own. While I have participated in a few excursions and activities that are "one and done", every port has some things that I haven't tried yet, and things that I have done but want to do again.

I do not use a CPAP, but I do like an outlet next to my side of the bed. On interior rooms, I used the same idea as OP, but the hook magnets were along the wall, a couple of inches above the floor. I don't know if I would have thought to use the ceiling. Bravo! For my last cruise, I did use an adaptor that plugged into the European socket behind the bed board (to power the lamp). This adaptor had multiple outlets for both European and U.S. so I could use it for the lamp and my power cord at the same time. This did require getting under the bed and maneuvering in tight quarters, so might be a little more effort than some choose to take on. I have heard (but have no personal knowledge) that some ships might hard-wire their lamps instead of using a plug. I researched to make sure my set-up would work on the Vista. If utilizing a European socket, please understand a little bit about the European outlets (~220 volts) and the requirements of your devices and appliances. Know the difference between an adaptor and a convertor, and be sure your extension cords/power bars do not have surge protection.

I guess the pressure from crew to use the HUB may differ based on ship, or venue, or crew member, or the alignment of the stars. On our cruise, in the MDR the wait staff carried around menus and provided them automatically to folks who didn't have a device out. For breakfast, brunch, and YTD, there were always people at the front desk checking in without the app. We had set time dining, and one of the ladies at our table was a virulent anti-phone proponent. She told us that she wouldn't be with us the next night because on a whim, she made reservations at the steakhouse. Since she claims she is disconnected, I have to assume she didn't reserve using the HUB app. My wife used the cabin phone (*gasp*) to make an appointment in the spa. We did have our phones, used the app for many things, and loved its convenience. Just not always. The problem is, if a specialty dining venue, or one of the children's programs, or other activity requires HUB use, what do you do if you aren't connected? Carnival has surprised me in the past, but it just doesn't seem Carnival-like to not have alternate options for those not using electronic devices.

Regular balconies are kinda like structures built out from the ship. Cove balconies are actually openings in the hull. As some have described, it is somewhat like a cave. On the ships where the Coves are located on Deck 2, it almost feels like we were right at water level. Great for sea gazers. There may be a salt film that develops on the balcony railing, floor, and furniture that some find objectionable. And you may feel spray once in a while. Those were not negatives for my wife and me. We had rough seas on one of our cruises which slowed down the ship and delayed our port arrival by several hours. It was fun (for us) to sit out and watch the angry waves rise higher and higher out of the sea and seemingly get closer to spilling on to our deck. Of course, if it had reached a dangerous level, the crew would secure our balcony door, but you would still have a front-row seat through the large picture window. Of course, Deck 2 is not really convenient to many of the popular venues on the ship, but that's not an issue to us (yet).

Several have mentioned that they received pressure while on board to use the app. Sorry to hear that. We have experienced complete choice on our cruises. I love the convenience of my phone, but I just prefer a physical menu, whatever that says about me. We had set time dining, but used the app to check in for brunch in the MDR. It was nice to get the notice that our table was ready, and sometimes kind of a squeeze to get through the crowd waiting around the entrance, but it did not seem that any were pressured to "use the app" as they came in-person to check in at the host/hostess desk. Our wait staff automatically handed out menu boards to those who didn't have their phones or devices in hand. They seemed just as friendly and helpful no matter your app / no-app status. Can't think of anything you couldn't accomplish without the app, although the app sure made most things easier. Except the odd times that it didn't work or wasn't updated with current information.

When we book inside cabins, we find that we spend less time in the room and more time out and about enjoying the ship. We LOVE inside cabins. When we book balcony cabins, we find that we spend more time in the room enjoying the ocean. We LOVE balcony cabins. When we book an Ocean View cabin, well, you can probably guess that we LOVE OV cabins. In truth, I lean more towards balcony, and my wife towards inside. But, totally understand those who have a strong preference one way or the other. For a while, my wife could not sleep with ANY light. Even with an inside stateroom, I had to stuff a rolled up towel under the cabin door at nights. One suggestion that we use in any cabin, but is especially useful on inside rooms: We set up an electronic tablet with the screen propped up on the worksurface facing the bed, and a few downloaded apps - a low-light screensaver that has a large display of the time, a variety of white noise audio files, and a sunrise simulator "alarm". Ah, let the good times roll!

Beautiful photos, I especially love the first one in each of your first three picture posts.

On this side issue of Your Time Dining vs. Fixed Time Dining in the MDR: My wife enjoys having the same table-mates each evening, and the familiarity of the same dining staff. Just her preference. On all our cruises, we have chosen fixed time dining in the MDR. Sometimes late seating, sometimes early. On port days, so far we have not had any issues getting back to the ship at close to return time, and still having time to get ready for early dining. And she always dolls up for dinner on the ship. (of course, on some cruises at some ports there might be an extended return time, so that has to be taken into account) Also, evening shows in the main theater have always been positioned or repeated so that either seating time didn't cause us to miss it. Again, our experience. You may want to be more flexible (Your Time) to catch that one particular Punchline or other event. But, still, we never had a problem.

Back in 2019 I read an interview with Carnival's Marketing VP in a trade magazine. Don't know when the interview was actually done. He reiterated that Carnival's marketing is geared towards first-time cruisers who live within driving distance of one of their embarkation ports. They have such a high number of repeat cruisers that they don't necessarily put much emphasis on "rewarding" them, but instead try to maintain a consistent experience that attracted them in the first place. I might be taking some liberties in interpreting what he said in my last sentence, it's been over two years since I read the article. Point is, he then mentioned that Carnival has decided to shift towards better recognizing loyal customers. Maybe that is borne out by the Job Posting that the OP graciously brought to our attention. I would guess that any change was put on hold by the pandemic. Or, maybe the article and the job posting are not related at all. I do hope that they strengthen the loyalty program. But, not including the perks that don't actually cost Carnival anything, I could reward myself with a super-extravagant loyalty gift, bottled water, bar drink, laundry service, etc., out of my own pocket with the money I saved cruising with Carnival (I still comparison shop). Gifts are nice and do lure me in, but my wonderful cruise vacation at a competitive price is a gift unto itself.

I am prone to motion sickness. I don't much get noxious on car rides anymore (not much), but boats still turn me green. On all my cruises on mass market lines, from older smaller vessels accommodating 2,000 passengers to larger ships holding 4,500, I have never felt the slightest tickle in my tummy while on board. This includes the few voyages in which walking was made impossible by the ship's movement in rough waters. Water taxis and boat rides on excursions, though, still made me sick. What does this mean for the OP's friend? Absolutely nothing! Plenty of folks on these boards report they suffer. But, a lot of them still talk about their umpteenth cruise. Either the experience is so much greater than their discomfort, or they have found a remedy that cures or minimizes their distress, or both (I know, I know - some who do get sick will swear off cruising forever. That would probably be me). As for me, I always encourage friends and loved ones to try new things, especially those activities I am passionate about. I am also careful to not be pushy, as I consider how far I would want someone to try to persuade me. So, maybe if she knew that most people do not get sick on board. Or, maybe if she was aware there are some medicines and natural remedies that seem to work for a lot of people. Or, maybe if she realized that people do get uncomfortable and still have a great time. Or, maybe her concerns are enough that she just doesn't want to go. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Observe the cues to know when enough has been said. Don't forget to tune into my daytime show, "Unsolicited Bad Advice Freely Shoveled Out."

Prior to my cruises, I am able to make purchases of excursions and Fun Shop items, pay my cruise fare, prepay auto-gratuities and drink packages. But I cannot set up my on-board account with Gift Cards until I get on the ship. I usually just put a credit card on file, and then throughout my cruise I apply the Gift Cards. Try to do the kiosk thing, but it is hit and miss as to if it works. Still, I go there first before hitting the Guest Services counter. Buying my Gift Cards throughout the year (both physical and e-cards), I keep a spreadsheet (could be done by hand) of what was spent on each GC and when a GC number has been exhausted. To fund my Sail and Sign account, I can apply cards that have previously been partially used, but it must be the full value of the balance on the card. I have applied up to 5 cards at one time at Guest Services, but never tried anything over $1,000. Just my experiences. As I use up the value of a physical plastic Gift Card, I list them on eBay to see if I can get my money back.

Not sure I could live down my co-workers seeing Vacation Me.

Sure, supply and demand are a major force affecting prices, and the oppressive debt burden being carried by Carnival and other lines has to be serviced somehow. But, Carnival has positioned itself as the FUN and economical option. I would think they have to raise their prices, but still must be seen as generally less expensive than its competitors. Otherwise, it won't survive (I say that as an opinion, so don't ask for my source). Carnival needs smarter brains than mine to determine their pricing structure and product offering to generate optimum revenue for the long haul. I see Carnival as in pretty good shape to weather the storm depending on what unforeseen hurdles appear on the horizon (see Post 33 of this thread for my source). In my book, MSC can have a major impact on Carnival's pricing as MSC looks for more U.S. embarkation ports.

When Carnival first started this, I had great concerns. I know that if you get to your cabin door and either your envelope is missing or tampered with, you go directly to Guest Services and you aren't really going to be out anything. But the thought of starting your cruise in the long lines at the Service desk does not seem appealing, and following up to make sure any unauthorized activity is handled is just extra stress. As it turns out, in all this time, I don't recall anyone posting about a problem with someone messing with their Sail and Sign card left at their door.

Accounting just provides a picture. Not a bad thing, but it is mainly a reflection of management decisions. Marketing is the key. Carnival has to create a product that gets people on its ships. They try to determine the basic product that will entice their target market to book the cruise (~70% of their revenue, at least pre-pandemic). Once on board, so much pressure is then applied to get you to further part with your money (~30% of their revenue). For me, I LOVE it. A cruise on Carnival is basically an All Inclusive experience. But, my wife's onboard spending covers myself and probably five other "free-loading" passengers. If these cuts are "the last straw" for you, either Carnival missed their mark, or you are not who they are after anyway. New bookings will tell the tale.

I don't know how many crew members it takes to maintain the late night buffet, but I assume they can reassign just a couple of them to overnight pizza duty and still come out ahead on reducing overall staffing.

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I do appreciate the responses from everyone. So, Lee Cruiser, just to clarify, did you do a mock booking through AMAC? Thanks.

I am just researching options. I see that AMAC (competitor to AARP) advertises discounts on Carnival cruises to its members, but apparently doesn't reveal the details of those benefits unless you sign up. I am curious if they offer discounted gift cards, and/or savings by booking a cruise through its travel affiliate. Anyone have the inside scoop?

Seems like Carnival is hinting more and more that bringing back FTTF is on the table. My guess would be that this is under consideration as crew members with expired VISAs are being allowed to return to the ships. If I were a high-powered executive within Carnival, the job would be prioritizing the services which were cut or scaled back.

I am somewhat oblivious to the CD, but I don't understand how someone doesn't understand how a CD really impacts some cruisers. If a passenger tends to participate in activities directed by the CD, then of course it is likely their cruise experience will be influenced and the CD be memorable (positive or negative). A few times on a few different cruises, I might be hanging out with a group I just met (or, more accurately, my wife met) around a bar or coffee shop, and the CD walks through and stops for a few minutes and just chats with us. Their interactions didn't seem contrived. More than once I didn't even know they were the CD until someone in our group mentioned it. That makes quite a good impression on me (but I still couldn't tell you most of their names).

Not really a negative to YTD if that is your preference. My wife and I prefer fixed time dining in order to meet up with the same folks each night, or at least those who show up at any particular night. I know that is the exact reason why some do not like fixed time. We have almost as much fun reminiscing about the "not so stellar" table mates as we do the ones we clicked with.

Never have come across that question before. I can't recall ever seeing plasticware on any ship. Also, I have never seen plasticware listed as a foreboden item to bring aboard. If you do bring your own to the MDR or specialty restaurant, be aware they might charge you a forking fee.