StephPS79

This has certainly been a lot of thought/discussion analyzing a $16 dollar drink benefit…

If it makes the masses happy, once I reach Diamond from my Casino Rate bookings, I’ll tell the bartender to use my voucher to buy a round for the person next to me.  I’ll even pay the taxes if needed.  Holy moly. 

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

To bring it back into focus, in the updated loyalty program, anyone cruising on rates not available to everyone, should not accumulate points.

Almost everyone books with some type of offer code.  It would be tough to define “rates not available to everyone.”  Should only people paying full base undiscounted fare get points?  (TBH, if you’re not booking a discounted rate, you’re not booking right.)

On 7/17/2024 at 1:22 PM, Upset Carnival Customer said:

This is main reason I think Carnival should at least give me a voucher of some description to use on future cruise.  I bet many people in my situation would have gotten on the cruise anyway, thinking’s they would be better in few days, but then possibly making many other passengers sick.  With fever, I knew I had a contagious GI bug, and did not want to spread it.  This should be worth something.

I take this to read as - We should all be rewarded for not doing things we know we shouldn't do.

That isn't reality.

4 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Again, not the point of the thread, but if they choose to give away their money (in the casino), so be it.  Counting it the same as hard earned dollars spent on cruises is totally different.  I do not have a problem with them getting comped, just should not be counting the same as booking cruises.  There are times when I get a cruise severely comped or free, it does NOT count towards my numbers.  Same for other revenue.  Everybody contributes, I spend more on rooms than others, so what.   All that said, it is their ballgame and their ball, they can do whatever they want.  I am fine with it yesterday, fine with it today and will be fine with it tomorrow.

Gambling is just another form of entertainment, much like cruising.  You choose to spend your money on a cruise for enjoyment, much like people choose to spend thousands on a sporting event or a concert, much like people choose to spend their money on gambling.  None of us are forced to do any of these things, we choose to for enjoyment.  I can’t really see any reason it should be differentiated, but that’s just me.   Money is money to the person (or corporation) selling the enjoyment.  

1 hour ago, jimbo5544 said:

When it was put in place I bet that number was just fine.  Oh, by the way, those people pushing 1,000 days are called casino rates.  IMHO, they should not even be in the program

People are dropping thousands in the casino for these casino rates.  It wouldn't make sense that they wouldn't be awarded benefits.  I'm sure if you added up the money spend in the casino over those 1000 days, it would surpass cruise fare significantly.

They are also spending thousands for these comp specialty dining, that they could easily have bought outright for $100.  But people like free things.  And they like to be recognized when they are basically giving away $10K for a steak dinner.

Like it or not, gamblers make bank for Carnival.  

With all that said, as someone who cruises on Casino offers, none of the Loyalty Perks really make it or break it for me.  I cruise on Carnival because I have fun.  If I didn't earn points from my very expensive free offer, I would probably still cruise on Carnival.

9 hours ago, n6uqqq said:

Also they have raised the cost of a no show because these fees also will not be returned for a no show, it will be 100 percent penalty.  

To be fair, people were kind of loopholing penalty fees by no-showing, so Carnival is shrinking the loophole.  Not sure they aren’t right to do it, they are a business doing what is best for the business.

We have and will always do Anytime Dining.  We didn't have any problem on Celebration.  I've never had it really go over the time given by more than a few minutes on any ship, but it's definitely been quicker than the time given.  Some nights the wait time was 40 minutes or so.  As mentioned, there will be no reason to wait in a line if you don't go to the restaurant until you get notified your table is ready.  Just start looking a little before you want to be seated at a table to see what the wait time looks like.  Then, enjoy cruising like normal while you wait for your notification.  It's really pretty easy.

4 minutes ago, Scottycruisin said:

But who or how do I contact someone is my question...hehe

Yeah, I haven't ever heard of them negotiating, but good luck.  You can try the link mentioned, although for things like this, where you'd like to have an actual discussion, I find it better to just contact the Casino department by phone.  I usually contact 866-299-5859.  

3 hours ago, Scottycruisin said:

Greetings glorious people! I would like to contact casino promotions prior to my cruise....does anyone know how to get in touch with them? I did a Google search and searched here also, but can't seem to find it.  Ty in advance ❤️

What is your reasoning for contact?  Are you trying to verify an offer?  Possibly change a booking?  There are different resources depending on what you are looking to do.

I got the email as well, for July 11th access.  The early invitation is July 9th, so tomorrow the schedule should be available.  Hopefully if anyone here has July 9th, they can post screenshots of the cruise list.  This is my first time receiving the Elite offer, I would really like to use it!  But we're booked as much as we are able through 2025 though, so hopefully something we have booked is on the list!  Its seems almost every cruise these days is either Premier, Ultra, or Elite, so we'll see!

33 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

I fully understand the intent of the law, but it appears to have been bitten by the law of unintended consequences.  As I've said, cruise lines could include charges like pilotage fees and line handler charges in the old "port fees and taxes", and it was to the cruise line's advantage to add more to the "port fees and taxes" to minimize the advertised fare.  Now, they will reduce the "port fees and taxes" to just the amount of governmental taxes, in order to minimize the amount that is refunded due to cancellations.  It appears that Carnival, at least, has created the new line item of "required fees and expenses", but since there is no mention of "port" in these charges, they won't be refunded if a port is canceled, and apparently are subject to penalties like the fare is, if you cancel.  The base fare can remain as low as possible, lots of stuff is dumped into the "required fees and expenses", and the bottom line is the same, but less of the fare is refundable.

You are very knowledgeable, so I'm not saying I don't think what you said makes sense.  However - just curious on your take - you think that pricing practices that brought about a class-action lawsuit in the past would be implemented again, just under a different guise?  I don't know, I have a hard time believing Carnival risk pricing for something they were sued for in the past, just slapping a new title on it, instead of adding it to the base fare to begin with.

Not sad to see it moving to Norfolk, as we are about 15 minutes from the port and booked for March next year!  

Well, maybe a little sad, because it would have been nice to have a different ship, but better than no ship.  I'm still excited to see what the Sunshine is like, and it's an Uber ride away, so no worrying about the parking situation.  We've done Norfolk before, and no real complaints.

Thank you info in the review - I don't think I'm too surprised with anything in the review, we usually know what to expect from Carnival.  I wouldn't think there is any comparison to Celebrity or even Princess, I know when I've priced things, it's never been close.

On 7/1/2024 at 4:13 PM, Tiger0613 said:

On June 30th, taxes and fees were not broken out.  I was only given one figure.  It didn't even break it down per person.  I was only able to figure out the taxes and fees by switching to just one person and subtracting from the two person total.

Maybe you beat the system update.  They are currently itemized on the invoice detail.

I just rebooked a cruise for 2025 under a new offer, and the port fees were $6 dollars less. 

I'm circling back on this one - I did reach out to the PVP listed to see if he could help update on offer code on an existing booking.  He's definitely fresh to Carnival, but he was super helpful and very responsive, and I'll definitely reach out to him when we're ready for a new booking. 

Does anyone know if you change an offer code, if this counts as a "new booking" that they would get credit?  From all I've been able to gather, if you change an offer code, it technically is considered a new booking, but I've also seen the info regarding they no longer get credit unless they start the booking.  I want to update a booking with a different offer code, but don't want to waste his time if he's not going to get credit, and can take care of it on my own.  On the flip, if he would get credit for this, I'd like to throw it to him.

Call me crazy, but I'm in the group that much prefers the vinyl orange things of yore.  Everyone that goes on an older ship and wants to say the decor is "outdated."  Sure, they might not be aesthetically pleasing, but certainly easier to take a Lysol wipe over.  

23 minutes ago, Softservekid1 said:

Anyone ever get upgraded from an inside, deck 5 cabin to a balcony? Worth it? I've heard the balcony's aren't very private.

It's worth it depending on usage.  Are you referring to a specific ship?  What kind of privacy are you concerned with?  If you smoke on your balcony, people will know.  But if you're just sitting chilling, you'll hear the person next to you, but most likely won't see them, unless they poke their head around the divider, in which case, rude.  So, if you plan to chill on the balcony naked, user beware.  

19 minutes ago, Softservekid1 said:

80's Glow/White out. Drunk fests? or fun?

Is this to say Drunk fests can't be fun...?

In seriousness, this isn't where you'll find the majority of drunk people, this is usually just people having a good time.

On 6/24/2024 at 8:08 PM, hurricane0226 said:

we did monkeyland in Amber Cove, monkeys were all over you, on your head, arms legs,

they give you a small bowl of fruit snacks or so, and the monkeys are on you . 

6 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

We did the same excursion and loved it. You sit on benches around the walls of the enclosure and the monkeys use you as a stepping stone. The kids that were with us absolutely loved it (as did all of the adults).

We did Monkeyland too and had a fun time, and got some great photos.  I remember it being a bit of a drive to get there, but we enjoy the drives, gives us a chance to see some of the country.

6 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

OP, be aware that in some ports there will be people at the port with monkeys on a leash that they will let you hold and take pictures with for a fee/donation. Those monkeys are very likely drugged and are not being treated humanely at all. DW wanted to hold one in one port and I told her absolutely not, the poor thing can barely move (because of the drugs). I explained it to her later and she was glad that I stopped her from taking part.

This part.  They are often not treated humanely.  It's not uncommon that they have their teeth removed too, to prevent someone getting bit.  And yes, drugged.  Generally best to avoid most of these "experiences" from the random people in the port.

If we only visit once, I'll for sure get the ribeye.  It's consistently one of the best steaks I've gotten.  If we go for a second visit, I'll probably get the lobster.  That's just too much steak in one week lol!

I always get the stuffed mushrooms (too bad for you!), usually get onion rings.  The mashed potatoes are usually really good.  The mac and cheese is hit or miss.  It was excellent on Glory, sub-par on Celebration.  

I usually don't have room for dessert, but the cheesecake is really good!  We usually ask for it to go though, and it sits in the room for the rest of the cruise lol.  

We were in extended aft balcony 14529 in February this year.  Absolutely no complaints.  A lot of people don't like the aft balconies because it can get hot in the afternoon sun.  It does.  But we don't often spend much time on the balcony during the afternoon.  The room stayed relatively cool still.  I liked the view down to Summer Landing pool.  Yes, it can be a far walk to certain things, but also an easy trip to other things.  We went down to Summer Landing all the time, which was just an elevator trip down.  The Tides pool and bar was just an elevator ride up, or just 2 decks if we wanted to skip the elevator.  I really actually like the location.  It was quiet, not many people walking back there.

18 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

I'm not sure I'd like to be called by name on a cruise ship, unless there was a specific need for it (e.g., I lost something & GS somehow found it).  I think there's some value in the anonymity that mainstream cruises and cruise lines (like Carnival) provide.  Obviously, others think differently.

It's very mixed, as evident by the repeated posts on John Heald's other forum.  I, myself, prefer to be recognized and called by name.  I mean, they aren't out there using my full government name, and they aren't out there spreading my confessions to a ship full of people, so I think it's still pretty anonymous and I'm okay with it.  If my room steward doesn't say "Hello, ********* when I pass by, I feel a little slighted.

Some people really get to know the crew, it's part of their experience.  In a few rare instances, crew has recognized us from a past cruise.  I don't know, it just feels friendly. 

Or maybe they have a blacklist of bad passengers, who knows! (I don't think this is the case.)

Not sure there is anything that prevents you from going to the MDR?

1 minute ago, starstruck05 said:

I think the change is them being included in the current emails. I'll have to look back at mine. I used to get a call from mine everytime I looked at a cruise like mz-s said but we came to an understanding a while ago not to call me. I think they don't call anyone anymore unless you request them to.

Lol, well that's a good understanding.  I can say I mock book cruises almost weekly and no one has ever contacted me.  There have been some times when I've had a few issues that I've contacted the Casino department (accidentally cancelled a cruise - whoops!), so sometimes it be nice to have someone to contact directly.  Maybe the next one I'll give the PVP a test spin.

2 minutes ago, starstruck05 said:

You've had a pvp since your first cruise. It's automatically assigned but no you don't have to use them. I've used mine maybe twice in all these years.

Previously, this is what was on our email offers.

And currently:

so I don't know that is entirely accurate.  Seems like something changed.