NavarreCruiser

One small bit of advice, make sure during cruise 1 that guest services has you on the B2B list, One time we were not.

A few years ago the perks list for Diamond included guaranteed steakhouse reservations (it now says priority like Platinum). I asked John Heald what that meant. He said, "essentially nothing, if they have space you get it, but they will not remove someone's reservation so a Diamond gets in." Priority just moves you to the top of the wait list. That is why they appropriately removed the word guaranteed and why priority doesn't mean much.

Maybe Carnival is more efficient than Royal Caribbean. Having seen how well Royal Caribbean's IT department works, that is easy to believe.

I can assure you that although recently RCI's IT has really sucked, they both have less than stellar websites and IT.

I assume that Royal and Carnival must obey the same laws and regulations. Just an FYI, Carnival lists final boarding time as 60 minutes before scheduled departure.

In the Caribbean I like Curacao. In the Med I prefer Venice. DIY everywhere. EM

I love Venice too, but if you are walking around be prepared to get lost, because of all the one way only bridges and walkways.

I knew which items to order; I called Carnival's toll-free number....the message while holding said online orders could be placed even if you are not the Guests....tried that: it worked seamlessly despite me not having their Booking Number. Yay!

 

 

 

Now it is in Carnival's hands for the couple find their surprise gifts in their cabin at embarkation, just as ordered.

 

 

So now I travel vicariously through others...:D

f you think about it, let us know that Carnival executed correctly and all showed up as expected at the appropriate time.

This is a specific point of disagreement among Carnival cruisers. Officially, suites are not ready for early access if you are not Diamond, Platinum or FTTF. However many people have been told at check-in that their suite would be ready and it has been. So once again Carnival is consistently inconsistent.

If you have a low number you don't have to get off when that number is called. As they continue to add higher numbers they will announce that numbers 1 thru whatever can exit now. On most ships no one is really checking numbers anyway. The only possible glitch would be that higher numbered luggage tags might be delayed, but all luggage is usually out earlier than that zone is called.

Malcolm is supposed to be back now.

FYI: If you are back 2 back you keep your card and use it both weeks. Threw mine away and had to get a new one.

If you are correct this is something new. I have done many B2B and always got a different card for cruise #2.

The current shoes are the right one and the left one!!! [emoji3]

 

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Forums mobile app

Maybe the OP was channeling Ed Sullivan and wanted to see a really big "Shoe tonight".

I’d be shocked if it’s a glitch. They have such a well thought out and professionally done website. [emoji41]

This is why cruise critic needs a like button.:):):)

I wouldn’t worry about riclop. He/she/they aren’t a real poster. They just come on here every night around 8:30pm and post a one line comment on as many threads as possible.

Interesting, I do see many posts by riclop but until I took a brief moment to view his/her history I didn't realize how short the comments were. I took a quick look at the last 100 posts by riclop and none were more than one sentence.

How would I benefit by telling you that? Do your own homework. But given the S&P is up about 13% the last 12 months and CCL is down about 12% in that same time frame, you can rest assured CCL, even with its $100 OBC that requires one to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to claim, won’t be on my investment short list.

You can't tell me that, because you, like everyone else, have only opinions where and when the market is headed! Carnival stock represents less than 1/2 of 1% of my portfolio, but I paid $3.600 for 101 shares in August 2008. With reinvested dividends that holding is worth $7,350 today. And I have received thousands of dollars of tax-free OBC for the 70+Carnival cruises I have taken since then. I have holdings that have done better and worse, but I will continue to own this stock.

Agree. There are so many other stocks that do so much better that it makes the $100 OBC look like peanuts.

 

Look at MasterCard, Costco and Amazon. $6000 of Amazon just 2.5 years is worth over $18k today. That is enough to pay for 3-4 entire cruises from the gains alone.

 

Plus...per Carnival..."This benefit is not transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and, cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account."

So that $100 would be used for either overpriced excursions, drinks, pictures or crap from the fun shops...given that stuff is marked up at least 50% from what you can buy it for "on shore", that $100 OBC is almost a joke IMO. But it is a great gimmick by Carnival to "reward" loyalty and and capture shareholders. To each their own I guess.

Your hindsight is amazingly accurate. Now please tells us specifically what stocks will show guaranteed huge growth over the next 5 years, Percentages and accurate numbers would be appreciated.

This is an interesting thread, Carnival seems to be close to the tipping point on price. FTTF still selling but not selling out on all cruises. We will never know the bean counters analysis of supply and demand, but if the price stays the same for an extended period we will be at that point.

Matt is the one cruise director, we did not care for due to his profanity.

I also am unimpressed. To me he is pompous and his follow through on personal promises is very poor.

Well, nothing like CBS or Fox for the 2018 season. Royal had a Fox station listed on my last Royal cruise, but it never received anything. Princess might still have in cabin ESPN.

 

http://www.espn.com/nfl/schedule

 

It looks like ESPN only has Monday night games.

 

In any event, with halfway decent Internet, I can watch all NFL games on the device of my choice in my cabin, hotel room, etc. YMMV.

ESPN International has totally different programming from ESPN USA. And on Royal your stateroom TV will have multiple NFL games.

What cruise line do you think carries network stations in the stateroom?

During Football season RCCL shows ESPN international in the cabins. ESPN International shows multiple Sunday, Monday and Thursday NFL games.

Hi

 

As I said, for those that like to get drunk a 3 hr. open bar sounds really great. For some of us just a few drinks is enough. By the way, the parties I have attended were an hour, and they do serve hors d'oeuvres, but more food isn't always what we need on a cruise.

 

Maybe 40 yrs. ago the 3 hr. open bar would have looked better :), but not today. Today I appreciate free laundry. I have only cruised with Royal 5 times (and not recently), so I wouldn't know, do they give you free laundry?

 

Also, as I said, the cost of those "free" perks are built into the cruise fare, just like all the other "freebies" they come up with in their promotions. By the time you get them, you have paid for them. So I ask again, why on earth would someone choose a cruise based on the "perks" offered through the rewards program?

At Diamond plus (175 points) you get 1 free bag per cruise.

You must own 100 shares before booking. For a 7 day cruise, you receive $100. For less than 6 days, $50. There is a table for cruises greater than 7 days.

 

No extra credit for over 100 shares.

Carnival Corporation & plc is pleased to extend the following benefit to our shareholders:NORTH AMERICABRANDSCONTINENTALEUROPEBRANDSUNITED KINGDOMBRANDSAUSTRALIABRANDSOnboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 14 days or longer US $250 €200 £150 A$250Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 7 to 13 days US $100 € 75 £ 60 A$100Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 6 days or less US $ 50 € 40 £ 30 A$ 50The benefit is applicable on sailings through July 31, 2019 aboard the brands listed below. Certain restrictions apply. Applications to receivethese benefits should be made at least three weeks prior to cruise departure date.This benefit is available to shareholders holding a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc. Employees, travel agent

Hi

 

On Carnival, you do actually get 1 hr. of free drinks...at the plat/diamond party. I guess some people who enjoy getting drunk more than getting free laundry could see the benefit of 3hrs. of drinking, but for some of us a few free drinks is enough.

 

It's all included in the fare, so why on earth would anyone select their cruise based on the "perks" offered by the cruise line...you have already paid for what you are getting.

On the free drinks comparison, Carnival offers 1 party on the last night for 45 minutes to an hour. On Royal Caribbean, the Diamond lounge is available with snacks and drinks for 3 1/2 hours every day.

with a limited menu.

It is a pretty good selection.

What’s more important to you....free laundry at 75 days or free drinks for 3 hours at 80 days? LOL

It is really 3 1/2 hours.

I agree.

 

However, there are those ... cough cough RCCL ... who think having a different color cruise card makes them a more important person or a higher "class" person. (one of my main gripes with RCCL)

 

Clue: They are not :)

Unless you are in a suite, all RCCL set sail cards are blue. However, I do meet more cruise snobs on Royal.