Georgiagolfer

DW and I have sailed Fascination 5 times, with the last being on November 30. If driving in the day of the cruise, then I would suggest just parking at the Port. Sure it cost more, but is very convenient and secure.

There are no pay for dining restaurants, other than the Chef's Tale, which is 1 night only and very limited seating. DW and I like the Piano Bar, but the player/singer in November was awful.

Usually live music on Promenade i the evenings at the casino bar, and also in the atrium area.

Comedy club is in the rear of the ship. Get there 20-30 minutes prior to show time to get a good seat.

You will see many of the passengers often as it is a smaller ship, so it does give a feeling of community.

Do not over plan and let the newbies form their own opinions.

In my eyes, CCL is simply offering (to a smaller degree) what some other lines offer daily. On NCL, if you want to, there is a dinner theatre you can attend, you pay for the meal and entertainment. All lines offer pay for restaurants and dining venues. Personally, DW and I have only twice eaten in the steakhouses, once on RCI Freedom of the Seas (gift from TA) and once on CCL Glory (our 1st time on a cruise with a steakhouse). While they both were good, we feel no need to pay extra for these. BTW, none of the Fantasy class ships offer steakhouses, so has their food suffered in the MDR because of better food in the steakhouse? Feel the same with the concerts. If We want to go we will purchase tickets (highly unlikely), if not interested, we won't purchase. We very seldom purchase any excursion any more (been there, done that), so I see no big change here.

If we happen to be on a ship with a concert and in Cozumel, I guess I will have to spend a little more time with the DW, as the casino will be closed during the concert. Now am I to consider this a loss or gain? To me, this can be a positive, but I'm willing to wait and see how this all plays out, and not take an attitude, that the world of cruising is coming to an end.

We sail the Sunshine December 14, 2014. Is FTTF really worth the extra money? There is 4 of us. My Mom is handicap and will have a handicap scooter. Not sure if that makes a difference with boarding or not. We'll be driving and I hope to arrive the night before and stay close to the port.

There should be no problem with boarding without FTTF for a handicap passenger. However, with FTTF, you also get access to your cabin when you board, as well as priority tender times.

My family really enjoys the Fantasy class ships. They're easy to get around and more intimate feeling.

 

My only complaint about Carnival Live is that there's no Journey. I paid more than $20 for lawn seats last time I saw them, and it was well worth it. I think my dad would really enjoy seeing Chicago, though.

They definitely are easier to navigate. Being smaller, you also tend to see the same passengers daily (good, bad and/or indifferent). :rolleyes:

I no longer chase the free drinks card. It's getting harder and harder to get waited on and can take 30+ minutes after you order to actually get your drink. I do want to continue to gamble enough to get Premium Casino Cruise offers. They have some great perks that really enhances the cruise experience.

While this can be true, I have found that when I tip $1-$2 even for the free drinks, they tend to look for me. Of course, you have to spend enough time in the casino for them to remember you. LOL:cool:

Ditto the loyalty program. I used to be good on their old program but am now only red with the new VIFP program. That didn't sit too well when I found that out. Not like the benefits were anything important, it's the principle. I think that customer's level under the old program should have stayed the same under the new program as well.

 

At any rate, we haven't been on any cruise since 2006, and have been told that Carnival overall has lowered their standards since then. Our TA has been wanting us to try Disney or RCI for many years now. We can't afford Disney, but think we will check out RCI for our upcoming cruise in a year. We had never had a bad cruise with Carnival-they always delivered what they promised. We didn't always care for some of our fellow passengers, but that certainly didn't ruin the vacation. We just think we want to try something different. If we don't like RCI, we can always book on Carnival again.

 

The only other issue that we have either way is that Port Canaveral is a great departure port for us. It's easy for us to fly to Orlando, stay with family there and PC is only an hour away. We were not too thrilled with the option of Carnival Sunshine for when we wanted to cruise. Any of the Carnival cruises we were really interested in depart from Miami which is a bit more difficult for us to do.

 

Otherwise, I enjoyed reading all if the responses from the loyal and the not-quite-as-loyal Carnival customers.

 

 

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If you look at the CCL web site, you will see that CCL Liberty is also moving to Port Canaveral, so Sunshine will not be the only CCL ship for longer cruises.

It makes this CarnivalLive thing even better. They have taken an older class of ships, for most part (I know the Fantasy still does some 7 day cruises) and adds to them a good option. Not only does it fit (smaller number of customers on the ship), it re-vitalizes the Fantasy class of ships. BTW, I enjoy the Fantasy class as well. Wish more of them had balconies.

As the Fantasy class ships do not have all the "bells and whistles"of the newer ships, CCL is actually enhancing the cruise options for this class of ship. I still will not cruise just to see a paid for concert, but applaud CCL for trying something new and different.

As they are not supposed to be in the checked luggage, just place in your carry on and you should have no problems, security or breakage.

The drink card is earned at 1500 points as you stated.. My understanding is that for every 2.50 put through the machine its one point... So, you need to gamble about 3700 dollars to earn the drink card.. That does not mean you have to spend that much, you could in theory spend only about 50.00 bucks of you own money if you are winning, since you are then using the winnings to keep gambling..

You are correct. At the slots, you need to place $2.50 at risk for every 1 point earned, your money or theirs. It is 1500 points for cruises 7-9 nights, and 1000 points for cruises 4-5 nights. As for tables, you are rated for average bet, normally $25 per hand and higher, and time in casino each day.

Not really crazy about this Concerts At Sea idea. Sounds like a way to start charging everyone for their entertainment on board. Pretty soon it will be a cover charge for any entertainment that is worthwhile. I have a tentative booking with Carnival and, if I go ahead, will definitely boycott the Concert at Sea. Really hope this does not spread to the other lines. Getting tired of the pay extra for everything.

While I am not interested in attending a concert while on a cruise, I see nothing wrong with CCL trying something different. The concert is sold as an excursion, just like snorkeling, diving, any tour, etc. Book if you want or not. Give it a chance and see what else CCL improves in entertainment, as their announcement said other changes were coming.

How do I purchase FTTF? I looked all over my booking but I did not see the option.

FTTF is listed as an excursion.

We have been on 14 cruises all with Carnival and have enjoyed them all but in May we are going to be unfaithful and try RCCL.:eek::eek:;)

Unfaithful, really?:confused:

I was talking about the ships casino in Nassau. It was open while we were in port during the evening.

Can't see them losing all of the gambling revenue to try and get people to go to a concert.

The casino will open in Nassau, but not Cozumel. As the ship does not sail until 1 am, revenue loss for the casino and CCL that evening. Doubt CCL will make that much off the concerts, as expenses will take a lot of the ticket revenues.

While I restate, DW and I are not interested in the concert, I applaud CCL for even trying something different. At least it is not a ship charter, where everything is priced way more than normal.

I agree, it's been a fun thread to go back and forth about. I think in summary, I don't think Carnival is doing something 100% new. Bands have chartered themed cruses for a while now. For example, our cruise on FOS next month has about 10 bands from the 60's on it. We did not go through the charter so we cannot go to the concerts, but we also did not have a higher cruise price because they were there. I think that is what Carnival is doing.

Seems like the main advantage Carnival has is price, but if they upcharge the cruises with musical acts for the whole ship, then people that do not care about seeing an opening act quality band for headlining prices will look elsewhere.

While I am not interested in a concert on a cruise, this is not a chartered cruise. Each artist comes onboard in Nassau, Cozumel, or Catalina Island. They perform 1 show at 9 pm, then debark the ship. Big difference than a charter. The concert is sold as an excursion, and you/me have the option to purchase or not. We will never purchase the same excursions, in fact after 23 cruises, rarely do DW and I purchase any excursion.

My concern is what will I do for entertainment the night of the concert if I happen to be on 1 of these cruises? CCL has stated the casino will close in Cozumel, but will open in Nassau. As the ship departs port at 1 am, what time will casino open. Will they offer any other entertainment, comedy club, band in lounge, etc.?:confused:

Any idea where these 2 have been lately? Also haven't heard from Mr. Pete. Curious as to what their comments would be about loyalty.

DW and I are not loyal to any cruise line, but are loyal to cruising.

1. CCL is usually the cheapest, but not always. You can catch specials on RCI, NCL, and others periodically.

2. CCL rooms are among the largest at sea for insides, OV, and standard balconies.

3. MDR food is equal or better than RCI. (IMO)

Just wish CCL would carry my brand. I smoke Salem regular, and although they sell by the pack at the bars, the last 4-5 years haven't had available by the carton on the ship. I usually just buy 1-2 cartons in Port. The cheapest I can find here is $48 per carton.

Do it! Be warned though, once you go balcony there's no going back!

Sure you can. DW and I book a specific cabin class based on length of cruise, sea days vs. port days, ship class, costs of cabins. Had everything from Insides to Ocean Suites, and all in between. Only class we haven't booked are Grand Suites and aft wraps. Just leery of aft, seems people either love or hate, nothing in between.

I did it!!!!!! deck 7 room 7353....I'm soooo excited..never had a balcony..this is our 3rd cruise!!!!!I hope it is on the right side to see the ports in the mornings, but if not, no big deal...BTW, the 35' extra is the balcony space...duh..lol

Yeah, like I said, same size room. However, the room seems larger( it's not) because of the view out to the balcony and not closed in.

A friend of mine is sailing on the Breeze this coming Sunday, on Wednesday he got an offer to go from a cove balcony to a grand suite for $400. There were 4 people in the room so only $100/pp more so he took it.

I would have taken that offer myself if I had 4 in the room. The extra room in the GS for 4 people, will be very helpful.

DW has sent at least 1 bag each cruise since CCL started the free program, and never, I say never had any issues. She sends jeans, socks, T's, work out clothes, swim trunks, etc. One of the few Platinum perks left that we use.

ES may be the way to book for many people, but doesn't work for DW and myself. We rarely book a cruise more than 3 months in advance, and often book within a month of sail date. ES is not available when we book as the deadline for this category has passed.

Sometimes, we are very limited on cabin availability, but recently have had no issues with getting a cabin we like. Being retired and impulsive, guess I will keep booking cruises as we are now.

BTW, I can not imagine booking a cruise 1 year in advance. I would go "stir" crazy waiting.:eek:

We have done about 20 something cruises on Carnival and until recently they had real entertainment every night.

 

Going on the Glory shortly and if we have nights of just hasbro and love and marriage (and playlist is as bad as most say it is) will be done with Carnival until they make real improvements.

I agree Stu. Remember the days where we had 2 shows, 1 for each dinner seating, magicians, jugglers, musical acts, etc. If you have seen 1 Legends show, you have seen them all. If showing Legends, at least change up the artists. Hasbro should be an afternoon show, not the main evening show.

I probably will not book a cruise to see a concert, and this has no interest for DW and me. But I do credit CCL with making an attempt to change. Just waiting patiently to see what improvements are made to live music, bands, etc, as CCL stated they are making changes.

Seems like a good deal to me. $100 pp to move from an inside to a balcony, I would go for it. Also, remember that a standard balcony and an inside room are the same sq. ft. cabin.

I've said it here before: they will do whatever they can, to remain the least expensive cruise line and retain their customer base. So, as we've seen in recent years, that means making improvements (cuts in disguise) that either represent a reduction in cost; an increase in potential revenue; or an increase in customers. I belive all the changes they have made thus far, have made perfect sense.

OK, whatever:rolleyes: