enester

It was about 3 weeks for my Brother in Law :)

The discount that the coupons used to carry is gone, it's penny for penny now....The only reason to buy them is as a gift that you're willing to see donated to Carnival if it goes unused....

Whatever you do, don't use "cruise cash". You buy it on the website. It's a dollar for dollar lock up of your money. After you apply it to the cruise - you can only use it for that cruise. If you don't, Carnival keeps it. It's the goofiest, most customer unfriendly and cynical program I've ever seen. Carnival is a fantastic corporation, who brings a great product for a reasonable price. I know that this adds some to the bottom line - but it seems very out of character for them. :(

Someone noted to me that this program is meant as a gift for someone taking a cruise. True enough (though I'm not sure why it needs to be locked up) - However, it shouldn't be used as a cruise onboard expense savings program ~ :o Save that for your bank account ~

I think you are the one being cynical.

 

The Cruise Cash Bar is considered a Bon Voyage gift item that you wouldn't buy for yourself, but for someone else you may know that is sailing. It's like a gift certificate to a store.

 

Say a couple of close friends or business associates or a honeymoon or anniversary couple you knew were going away and you weren't going with them. You would order the Cruise Cash Bar for say $25 to be a nice surprise in their cabin with a note attached to the envelope saying something like "Have a great time. First round of drinks are on us!!! Love John and Jane".

 

If you are going on a cruise yourself, there are better ways of handling your own onboard bar expenses.

HA! - Maybe I am! - Still think it's a goofy program. I was reading how people wanted to apply money to their account as part of their saving for cruise expenses - and this was the only avenue open to them. Even if it's a gift, not sure why it needs to be a use it or lose it proposition. No matter - it's easy enough NOT to do something :)

Whatever you do, don't use "cruise cash". You buy it on the website. It's a dollar for dollar lock up of your money. After you apply it to the cruise - you can only use it for that cruise. If you don't, Carnival keeps it. It's the goofiest, most customer unfriendly and cynical program I've ever seen. Carnival is a fantastic corporation, who brings a great product for a reasonable price. I know that this adds some to the bottom line - but it seems very out of character for them. :(

Cruise Cash Bar provides an immediate credit to a guest's Sail & Sign account which can be applied toward any bar purchases. This credit is good for any bar charge made to their account including alcoholic drinks, juice, soda, water, and coffee shop charges. Cruise Cash Bar is valid for a single voyage and cannot be transferred to future bookings. Cruise Cash Bar is non-refundable and any unused credits will be forfeited.

What an awful program... you lock up your money for no other reason than you don't think you can save for it... only to gamble that for some reason you can't use it - and Carnival pockets the money. For all the great things about Carnival, this is their most cynical approach to their customers. :(

Does anyone know if or when the Dream will roll out the new family style dining?

 

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Yikes! - I'm hoping not through September ~ I like the existing menu - More variety - and choices. :o

Lobster night has been hit & miss - but usually hit. I've had it too overdone - and other times rich & tender as it should. Dunked in butter, it's still a great guilty pleasure :)

I'm 2 hits & 2 misses ~ Usually sail in the Fall ~

This is one of my favorite pictures, it's even my screen saver at work-but you can see how small the island is.

 

Carnival is not showing this as an excursion anymore either, and here are two reasons-In my opinion

One, the reef itslelf is dead here and needs time to recooperate, the other was the people who ran this tour for Carnival really had very little interaction with the patrons, nor did they run the safest boat in the fleet-preferring to be a little reckless on transporting us all out there. When they started slamming the waves, two rather large women went up out of their seats, and came down hard, cracking the fiberglass seats in the center of their boat-poor ladies, how embarressing, but in regards to breakage, I think the staff got what they deserved.

What a great shot! - - - I'll have to agree on the state of the reef.. at least the day that we were there. The exception being when I was very close to the island itself... otherwise, there wasn't allot to see (at least compared to other snorkel sites that I'd been to) - - enester

I did the tour through Island Marketing last week. The tendering wasn't a problem for us - and they made sure that we were back in time.

When we went out for the snorkeling we got hit with some big chop - - they had a hard time maneuvering the boat and getting people back in. The guides stayed out there with us - and four of us (with a guide) finally just swam back to shore. (Note that life jackets are required, so there was no emergency).

The snorkeling itself was awful (for obvious reasons) - the best was when I got close to shore. There were scores of colorful fish swimming near it's rocky outcroppings, I was a little too pooped by this time to spend much time with it.

Anyway, once on shore we relaxed in the warm sun near the water... The included rum punch made the trip all better - and we had a great time.

The guides were fun & competent (the chop came up quickly so it wasn't their fault) - it's a unique experience.

enester :cool: