pe4all

I find it so funny that there is a Nathans there - just as there is one by the pool in Amber Cove. We still travel to Coney Island for the "original" Nathans. I think their fries are still made in the same oil from when they opened in 1916- lol.

I just saw it. I usually check my offers once a week, and there it was. My Premier is also better than my Ultra - balcony v inside, DOUE v DOU in casino for myself and a companion.

I had booked as a Premier casino offer. I had a $100 offer for a balcony (plus tax and port charges) and the price is now showing as $549 for a different casino offer. I am happy with my cost- especially with Aruba, Curacao and Amber Cove as ports for an 8 day cruise.

Interesting thing - I just checked my casino offers again, and my 1/11/25 cruise on Magic is offering me an "Ultra offer" inside, but I had booked this under a "Premier offer" balcony months ago. I. have never seen an Ultra and Premier crowd mixed on the same cruise. Is this a new thing?

I was surprised to see the offer - especially as the cruise is almost 10 months away. I would think an upsell would come a few weeks before the cruise - not so far in advance.

No umbrellas supplied either. And I have seen kids on the slides in colder temps than 60 degrees - lol.

I think what I was trying to say in this thread is "be an educated consumer." Do your research and make sure you like what is being offered, and the location. (and price, of course)

I would hope people reading this thread would check where the cabin being offered is located. Just because it may be a higher deck balcony "closer to the fun" (as quoted from the offer) doesn't mean it is a good offer. However, going from an inside to a balcony - that may be a good offer!

Just went on to my Magic booking for January 2025 to check something, and saw a "special offer." Wanted to upsell me to cabin 9456 for $88. While the price was pretty good, the cabin is right under Lido - not so good in my opinion. I had a cabin under Lido once upon a time on another CCL ship, and the scrapping noise in early morning from them putting out the deck chairs, cleaning, etc. was not enjoyable. I am keeping my cabin which is literally exactly 2 decks below, which I hand-picked when I booked. I like using the stairs anyway - 3 flights up to Lido instead of 1 is better for my health - lol.

There is usually a welcome gift in your cabin. They will send cookies or chocolate covered strawberries during the week. There are special drawings in the casino also.

As you have a lot of sea days, maybe use the cabin phone to call home. It costs $1.99 a minute - but you will be surprised at how much you can say in a minute or two. When in port we use ATT day pass - $10 for 24 hours on land (and it carries over if you are in 2 ports in a row within the 24 hours) and 2nd phone is only $5. The value plan on CCL worked fine for texting - did not try anything else. We were warned not to get the ATT cruise plan, as you will eat up your data very, very quickly, and get hit with a lot of expensive overage charges.(we called ATT 2x and were told same thing.)

Great review so far! We have been on Magic several times. Just did this itinerary in January, (and will be again next January) but pretty much hung around the port areas or on the ship as we have been to the ports many times. I agree about Lido being a madhouse on embark - but we always head up to Capitano and get the pasta for lunch. It is always empty- not so much later in the week when people discover it is free for lunch - lol.

Same here. Have free balcony offers with better perks - premier, play my way perfect balance and play and chill, etc. Will skip this ultra offer.

My offer was for a free interior. We are balcony snobs - lol. I know we can always call to see what the balcony would cost, but truthfully we do better with the other casino offers. This gives us $200 free play, $200 obc, free drinks for me and a companion only in casino. My other offers give the same stuff, but DOU all over - just for me though, which I prefer because my dd and dh get DOU in casino for their offers.

Magic. Been on that itinerary 2x on Magic (again just a few weeks ago) and it is great. Even though Celebration is newer (and larger, which is not a plus in my book) I wouldn't want to go to Nassau if you have been there. There is plenty to do on Magic, enough places to eat that you won't get bored. And 8 days v 7 is always a winner in my book.

We had aft wrap 7459 and never had soot on our balcony. Guess it depends which way the wind is blowing.

I was on Horizon for 8 days during covid in an Havana aft wrap. I am sure you will enjoy the ship - you have great ports. The ship was a bit "big" for us - prefer smaller ships. However - I think I am in the minority - lol!

Interested in what you think about CCL after a nearly 8 year break! And interested in what you think of Horizon in particular.

Interesting that they want the "checked luggage" people to meet at 7:15 a.m. Never saw that in any letter we have gotten. Must want everyone off the ship asap. We get zone 1 tags, but don't leave ship until 9-9:30 a.m. each cruise.

Again - my measly 6,000 points is nothing near what I have seen people get in just one day. I sat next to someone who had 22,000 points by the beginning of the 2nd sea day. She said she was in the casino all night. I can't imagine what their budget is for the week! I have seen people with 80,000 to 110,000 by the last night of the 8 day cruise. This is the first Ultra I have ever gotten - and it doesn't say what kind of cabin it is.

Again - have no idea why I was given an earlier date.

Yes!

I also received a "look out" Ultra offer - my first. My early access start March 19. Interesting, because I am not a "heavy" gambler - usually get around 6,000 pts on an 8 day cruise (penny slots - never bet near the max) and I have only cruised 1x a year recently. I am going on a Premier in January. I never like booking casino offers like that as the casino is so jammed, but that was the date that worked for me in 2025. I get DOU all over the ship on the Premier - on the Ultra the offer is DOU in casino only for myself and a companion. I actually like the ability to get a drink anywhere on the ship over just in the casino. Will be interesting to see what dates are open.

Wishing a speedy recovery to your Grandma. My sister fell and broke her hip, and they had her up and walking the next day after surgery - pins and all. Try not to worry too much - you will be home in a few days, and she is in good hands until then.

Same here. DD is on 3 seizure meds. She has been on all 33 CCL cruises with us. We used to fill out the special needs form for CCL asking for separate table for 2 in dining room and the "special" muster - but since your time dining and "new" muster went in we haven't filled out any form, and things have been fantastic on every cruise.