rebfan831

This is from an article in USA Today:  "Ten U.S. tourists have died in the Dominican Republic since March, some reportedly after drinking alcohol from hotel minibars. The deaths resulted in the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism elevating safety regulations and enforcing food and drink inspections."

There have also be 25 deaths due to tainted alcohol reported in Costa Rica this year and there is talk of the same problem in several Mexican resort areas.

This is just an FYI for anyone traveling in the Caribbean.  Do some research and be aware.

I'm interested in knowing this also.

My husband and I did a premier cruise on Conquest in Nov 2017 and the casino cash was not given to us as cash money. The casino placed the play money in our casino bank and we had to play it in the casino only. Anyone else experience this?

Same here. I was on the Dream in December 2017. It may be something they just started doing at that time because my Carnival agent told me it would be given as cash.

How does the casino cash work? Is it uploaded and you withdraw at the machines or tables? Anyone win using it?

 

 

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I was on a Premier cruise in December 2017 on the Dream and they put my casino cash on my card and it had to be played. I was kind of surprised because my Carnival agent told me it would be cash. It was hard to share with my partner since my card had to be in the machine the entire time he was playing.

Question from the hubby.....

 

Cigarettes? he rolls his own w a machine. Can he bring the ones he rolls? also, whats the rules on smoking on the ship? watched you tube videos where people r smoking on their balconies. can yall fill me in on the smoking rules or locations?

I was on the Dream in November 2014 and took my self rolled smokes. I had a bunch of those plastic cigarette packs that I put them in. The lady who checked out our stuff didn't even bat an eye at them. Even though there isn't smoking on the balconies anymore, the Dream is the best in the fleet for smokers. The smoking areas aren't tucked away out of sight. Starboard deck 11 (I think), just above Lido, has regular tables and is great for watching the happenings by the pool and watching the movies at night. It's also covered so you don't roast in the sun.

Hi All,

My cruise buddy is disabled and I'm wondering if anyone knows whether there is an elevator that will take us up to embark. I remember there being a fairly steep ramp that I had to go up to get to the ship and I'm not sure he can make it. I thought about asking for a wheelchair but I don't think I could push him up that ramp either. If anyone knows I'd sure appreciate hearing from you.

My daughter is getting married on a Carnival cruise this March. Needless to say most of the family is going, including my other daughter's young children. We are trying to figure out what to pack so here are my 2 questions for anyone that may know:

1. Does Carnival have life preservers for swimming available to use?

2. Grandson can be (not often) a bed wetter. Does or will Carnival supply waterproof mattress pads? Will she need to ask for one to be put on the bed?

We can supply these things for ourselves if Carnival doesn't supply them but she doesn't want to pack anymore than she has to.

Thanks in advance for any replies :)

Thanks for the info! Yes, they plan to do the paperwork here in Michigan prior to the cruise :)

My daughter is getting married during a cruise in March 2016. She has three options for the ceremony: Cozumel on a beach or Grand Cayman Island either on a beach (something Cove) or at the Grand Old Hotel. Is anyone familiar with any of these places? We'd like to see the sites before she makes a decision. Any info is good info :)

Where do you think you can smoke with a land vacation? It won't be in your room or on your balcony or patio. It won't be at the pool, bars or restaurant.

There are many countries where smoking doesn't have the stigma that it does in the U.S. There are also many areas in the States that aren't smoking-phobic yet. The South is still quite accepting of smokers. Don't you worry your pretty little heads about us, we'll be just fine :)

It does kind of suck though that the popcorn got cold waiting for the show, doesn't it?

Your friend must be a poor business man. It has been proven that sales increase or have no effect a year after the smoking ban. I am sure Carnival will see no effects in the long term. Smokes can cry and complain but in the end business does not change.

Actually, they are pretty good business folks. They own a pizza parlor and a hardware store. Both are doing quite well as was the bar before the law was changed. When smoking was allowed the place was pretty busy most nights. Now it isn't unusual for my friend & I to stop in on a weeknight and be the only ones there.

Statistics are all well and good if you are writing a report but real life trumps them. Unless of course you are a non-smoker and then your way is always right. :cool:

Jean

Actually it doesn't. In every state where smoking in casinos is banned the gambling revenue has dropped significantly from 25 - 50%. It happened in Delaware, Illinois, and Colorado and it is the reason that Atlantic City and Las Vegas will never go smoke free.

 

Also statistics show that in all states that do not have an exemption for bars in their smoking bans that states lost both lottery and liquor sales tax revenues...Large amounts in the short term...Never rebounded to original numbers in the long term.

I don't have any stats to quote, just personal experience. Our local pub was owned by friends of mine. When Michigan banned smoking in restaurants and bars they lost the bar. Local non-smokers rejoiced, saying they could now enjoy coming into the bar but they never showed up. Those of us who do smoke did our best to still frequent the place but rather than spending an evening we began going for an hour or two. Michigan winters are just too cold to stand outside often. Plus, it used to be fun. There were always lots of folks that we knew and it made for an enjoyable evening. Now (the mortgage holder kept it open) there are generally only 3 to 5 people there on any given night. The owner (our local slum lord) must be using it as a write-off because he sure isn't making any money.

Jean

I can get used to the inconvenience of having to get dressed early in the morning to go down to the casino to have my coffee and cigarette; I can get used to the fact that should I want to enjoy a beverage and a cigarette before I go to bed

I don't plan on getting dressed to go have my morning coffee & smoke. I'll just throw a robe over my jammies and trot right up to the Lido deck, smoking side. You are welcome to join me even if you haven't brushed your hair yet :p

I think Carnival should have given more notice for people who smoke ( i do not). More amazing to me is that people are ripping smokers for complaining about this change. On these boards I have seen complaints about the new menus, no bands, bad shows but as soon as smokers complain, oh my, how could you complain about this, carnival can change anything they want so live with it or cruise elsewhere. Funny, how all these people can complain on other threads about changes, but when a change comes along they like, how dare someone complain about it.

Thank you. It's hard not to take this all personally when people tell me how disgusting and filthy I am, how happy they are that I will no longer be on the ships ruining their vacations and how they wish entire ships were non-smoking so I would never cruise again.

Smoking is a horrible addiction and I don't know one fellow smoker (including myself) who hasn't tried to quit many times. We all keep trying and someday maybe it will work for some of us but until then I am a smoker.

I love to cruise and have always booked balconies so that I don't bother anyone else. This coming cruise was so highly anticipated for my friend & I, it's been a rough year and we both needed the break. The policy change felt like a punch in the throat. Its hard to relax and have an enjoyable vacation when you know that you are not wanted.

Jean

Two trains of thought on that.

 

It has taken away the benefit of having a balcony room for those who smoke and therefore downgraded its value; or

 

The room still has a bed and a bath in it and a place to sit outside.

 

Depending on the passenger, it has either diminished its value or stayed the same.

Definitely diminished the value of a balcony for me. I booked them only so that I had a private area in which to relax and smoke. I would have cancelled my November cruise completely & booked something with NCL except that my travel companion (another smoker) still wants to go. We DID decide to downgrade to an inside cabin though. Why pay all that extra for a balcony that we have no use for?

I remember when the law passed to ban smoking in all restaurants and bars, smoker's were obviously upset about it and said they would just not go out to dinner anymore. Well, they do and just go outside to smoke.

 

Would a smoker, that really enjoys Carnival cruise line, plan a different vacation because they couldn't smoke on their balcony? They do have areas on the ship they can smoke.

 

I just don't see that happening. That would be "cutting off your nose to spite your face" kind of logic?

 

I think eventually, all cruise lines will go this route. I just can't believe people that love to cruise AND love to smoke, would stop cruising because they couldn't smoke on the balcony.

Let me clarify a few things for you. First...yes, as a smoker I will give up cruising (even though I love it) because it will not be a vacation for me any longer. I spent 16 years married to a drunk and dealing with all the misery that goes with that. I HATE being around drunks. My balcony was my refuge. Spend the day on shore, have dinner and retire to my balcony with a book and a smoke before bed. Total bliss.

Secondly, I also remember when my state banned smoking in bars & restaurants. Several of our bars went under because all of the non-smokers who celebrated the smoking ban failed to show up to support the businesses. Of course we quit going so often because it's damn cold to stand outside most of the year to have a cigarette. Restaurants are a little different. Not so much time is spent there. We order, we eat, we leave, have a smoke on the way home.

Cruises are a bit different. I am trapped on a ship for a week. I can't just get in my car, go for a ride and have a smoke. That's the reason that I've always paid extra for balcony (plus the dealing with drunks part). I could retire to my balcony and I paid very well for that. How relaxing is it to have to get re-dressed and go however many decks away to the "designated smoking area" for my end of the day smoke? I'm not going to spend that much money for that kind of vacation. And you are right, we smokers have been conditioned to smoke outside. That's what we've tried to do but it isn't good enough for some of you.

I'm obligated for one last cruise with my friend in November. Here's how it's going to play out. I've traded our beautiful extended aft balcony for an inside room. I booked it as close to a "designated smoking area" as I could. I will get up in the morning and throw a bathrobe over my nightgown and trot up a deck for coffee and a smoke...IN A PUBLIC AREA. Later, when we get back on the ship, we will most likely just plant ourselves in one of the smoking areas for the remainder of the night. How does this benefit all of you non-smokers? Now, instead of outside on my private balcony, I will be forced to smoke in public areas (some of them inside). They didn't do you any favors with this either.

As for ships being completely non-smoking, do a little research on the Carnival Paradise. It was a non-smoking ship for 6 years and Carnival lost big money on it. You non-smokers didn't show up for that either.

If this is true, then it looks like Carnival feels their crew members "deserve a raise" again. Instead of paying their employees more, they'll happily pass it on to the consumers whenever they "feel" that they "deserve a raise." Or at least, that is the phrase they used in 2011.

Since it is clear that Carnival does not value my business, I will not assist them with payroll. I will tip those who provide me with excellent service directly.

Unfortunately, I have a cruise booked for November. I was so looking forward to peaceful relaxation on my extended aft balcony, away from the drunks and the noise :( Since I am no longer a valued customer because I smoke, I downgraded to an inside as close to the "designated" smoking area on the Lido deck as possible. I would have cancelled but my travel companion still wants to go. I have no interest in this cruise any longer.

I know that the lion's share of profit from a cruise is not in the cabin fares but in the up-sells. I will not drink on the ship, I will not gamble and I will not shop on board. I will spend my money after the cruise in New Orleans and Biloxi where a smoker's money is still welcome.

I don't know how they (Carnival) expects to determine if a guest has "smoked" an eCig inside their cabin. They are odorless and leave no residue.

I went on my 1st cruise at the age of 48 to celebrate the completion of my Bachelor's Degree. I mentioned my plans to a few folks and the next thing I knew there were 19 of us going! My poor son-in-law was the only guy in our group LOL! It was beyond incredible...my 3 daughters were with me, my two best friends...we swam with stingrays, ate & drank like there was no tomorrow...memories that will last forever :)

My cruise group has dropped to just a couple of us. None of us are wealthy but we plan ahead & budget for the trip. I almost always book at least a year in advance (nice to have something to look forward too) and divide the balance up into monthly payments. We stick that away (just in case life happens & we have to cancel) and pay it off the last week possible. That usually gives us a couple of months to stick a little spending money away. We also always drive to the port...even from Michigan it's cheaper than flying.