CruizinSusan70

https://cruiseradio.net/carnival-how-much-cruise-line-made-lost-post-shutdown-q2-2022/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email

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I am fully aware of the changing attitudes over the years since I have been cruising for over 35 years. I put the initial blame squarely at Norwegian when they came out with their anytime dining and the relaxed dress codes many years ago. Other lines have followed suit with making adjustments allowing a more casual atmosphere. A pair of Izod or Docker shorts with a golf shirt is fine as far as I'm concerned even in a specialized restaurant on board. The patron with a baseball cap in a sit down venue on board though crosses the line. The major problem is that the cruise lines have rules that are worth nothing since they are either not enforced at all or are left up to the individual maitre'd to enforce them or not.

Either get a new PVP or get an outside TA. It's your hard earned vacation time.

Dress shorts in the steakhouse are allowed on night one and is up to the maitre'D the rest of the week. Dress shorts in the MDR are OK every night, even elegant nights. Wear a collared golf shirt or even a Hawaiian shirt and you'll be fine.

Wasn't agonizing about it, but what others wear does effect the ambiance of an establishment. A single wearer of a cap is one thing, but when you have 5/7 men wearing them, it's a bit of overkill. Baseball caps do not belong in the MDR, let alone a specialty establishment, IMHO.

The Excel Class on Carnival has become a real game changer for them in raising the bar. I am hoping that the Sphere Class does the same for Princess. Of course there are many that pine for the older, smaller ships of yesteryear, just like there are factions that still like the Fantasy Class rust buckets on Carnival. That's why they make vanilla and chocolate.

No question. Carnival has been marketing to the blues (1st cruise) and reds (newbies) for years. They don't care about those who are Platinum and Diamond. The same theory obviously holds true with Princess.

It's not too difficult to see a party of 14 walk in taking up multiple tables consisting of 7 men and 7 women. Five of the men were all wearing baseball caps, twenty somethings that were accustomed to it who obviously had bad parenting. If not, they were just card carrying members of the me society.

Cruise cash is a money grab by Carnival. If a TA decides to gift a client OBC instead of a discount on the booking, why would they give that client OBC on all of the other cruise lines and then give Cruise Cash on Carnival? OBC given by a TA is refundable, whereas Cruise Cash is not. If the TA gives Cruise Cash, it lessens the gift since the client has to spend it. If the TA gives OBC, it is refundable. If the client has prepaid their gratuities and is frugal, then maybe they would not spend anything else and would be forced to spend the cruise cash instead of getting a cash refund from the refundable OBC.

Post Covid, the enforcement of the dress code is very lax. While on the Discovery in April, there were five "gentlemen" in Sabatini's wearing baseball caps. My father is turning in his grave. We never worn them at home let alone in an upgraded venue on a cruise ship. There is no need to go overboard worrying if what you have packed is good enough. It will be. A nice top and black slacks for her and long pants and a nice collared shirt with optional tie for him will suffice, especially since you're cruising in the Caribbean.

By this criteria, Mainstream would be NCL, RCI, Carnival and MSC. Premium would be Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, & Cunard. Luxury would be Seabourn, Viking, Azamara and Regent. Just because the Princess of today has dropped a notch in your opinion, that doesn't mean that they are no longer a premium line.

Possibly consumption of Mississippi Moonshine?

If the TA bought Cruise Cash, which I doubt, then it's use it or lose it. If it's OBC, then it is refundable and can be gotten as cash on the last day.

I get your drift Mike, you want to share your Cheers package with the other couple and attempt to get two drinks at a time. The only way to get two at a time is one for yourself and another for your wife. Here's a suggestion for you. Stick with RCI and enjoy your five free drinks per day.

Can EZ Air flights be paid for with Princess gift cards? Can you reserve a one way ticket to lock in a great rate on the day that reservations open and then reserve the return ticket 14 days later for a 14 day cruise?