Yes indeed, the good old days are over. I never used to get it denied no matter how cheap my room was, but have had several recent ones denied because of a discounted cruise rate.
As a Florida resident I can assure you this is no longer the case. DW and I used to book 3 and 4 nighters for around $600, sometimes less. That's not happening any time soon as long as demand stays high. You're looking at at least $1000 with taxes, gratuities, etc.
You can book your cruise through anyone or anywhere. There is no discount on your cruise fare. You are eligible for on board credit if you own CCL stock. It is very easy to request and redeem. The issue now is if Carnival determines you paid a discounted rate for your room they will deny the shareholder OBC. They used to honor the stock ownership OBC no matter what you paid for your room, but this has changed within the past year.
Yep! And as a little FYI if you find a good server and tip them they will bring you drinks whether you are gambling or not. Just loiter in the casino. 😜
I haven't gotten a bucket in a few years, but it used to be 4. They were around 24-26 dollars. I saw another post recently where someone said it was 6 for $48 now.