NavarreCruiser

This is from the news wires a couple of days ago. I am holding my Carnival stock for the long haul and for the OBC. It only represents a small portion of my portfolio so I am not concerned or thinking of selling. However, it is illustrative that Carnival stock is in a little bit of a swoon right now.

Carnival Corporation (CCL) is currently at $57.88, down $5.65 or 8.89%

-- Would be lowest close since April 13, 2017 when it closed at $57.47

-- On pace for largest percent decrease since Jan. 17, 2012 when it fell 13.65%

-- Currently down five of the past six days

-- Down 7.06% month-to-date; on pace for worst month since Sept. 2017 when it fell 7.07%

-- Would be a new 52 week closing low

All data as of 10:55:51 a.m. ET

I have long been an advocate of some recognition for Carnival cruisers who wish to try other Carnival Corporation brands. It would be in corporate's best interest to encourage us to try their more expensive brands. It doesn't have to be a full-on level match, but if I wish to try Princess, or Holland America, or Cunard I really don't want to be considered a first-time cruiser.

How do you know if its refundable or non-refundable?

You can get a printout at Guest services. In theory, the self-serve printout at the sign and sail kiosk should also tell you, but sometimes all info is there and sometimes not.

FTTF you are automatically in the earliest access

Thanks for your response, but did you read my post? After 92 Carnival cruises, I am fully aware of how FTTF works. I just asked for a Facebook poster about arriving early at Port Canaveral without FTTF. However, the point is moot now that thread has been removed from Facebook. So as Edith Ann (Lilly Tomlin) said: "Never Mind".

It's quite possible one of your "it's MY vacation" self-entitled neighbors pinned their balcony door open wreaking havoc on a/c in all the surrounding rooms.

I am very curious if this rumor is fact. John Heald has specifically denied that an open balcony door effects any cabin's temperature except the one with the open door. But like you I have seen this multiple room effect posited many times. If someone knows about HVAC systems on cruise ships, let us know.

normal cruising speed is 22.5 knots. That is 64% nominal speed.

 

:(

That speed is close to top end. Carnival ships rarely cruise at 22 knots or higher, consumes too much fuel. Cruising at 15 to 18 knots is the norm.

I am Diamond and have been for a long time so this does not apply to me. But on Facebook a young lady going on her first cruise was confused and unhappy about the Carnival check-in process. I explained how FTTF worked and the various check-in and potential boarding times.

I know that some ports are very strict about arrivals before a passenger's assigned time and some ports have an early arrival line that may get you a zone tag before the time you were assigned for check-in. My question for her is which way does Port Canaveral handle check-in.

1. No access to the terminal before your assigned time. or

2. Early arrivals have a line to stand in and hope for earlier access?

Thanks to anyone who has done this and knows the answer.

A 2 seat couch is not a lounger. But if you insisted on taking up 2 seats with your 1 butt, I would have simply called security and you could have dealt with them.

And security would have laughed at your request, maybe not in real life as they are trained not to laugh at ridiculous requests. But inside they would be laughing and shaking their head.

You sit with people at dinner, why is the Libo buffet any different? And yes, you are required to allow people to use unused seats at THE table (not YOUR table) if they want to use those seats. Can't tell you how often I've offered open seats where I was sitting to folks looking for a place to sit. To not do so is just plain rude. You seem to think some people are more special than other folks. Surprise, they are not.

I don't sit with strangers at lunch or dinner. After 100 plus cruises, I have sometimes seen people offer to share a table when seating is tight (nice gesture), but way more often I have seen people searching and no one inviting them to share THEIR (temporary) table And on RCCL on ships that have too small a Windjammer (the name of the buffet on all RCCL ships) crew will often help people find seating. And they almost never force diners to share a table.

No, you don't have to give up your machine but you also don't have the right to complain if a smoker sits next to you and lights up.

 

As for the "love seat", it's not. It's a 2 seat couch. You do not have the right to take up both seats of a 2 seat couch no more than you have the right to stretch across 2 loungers next to the pool. 1 seat per person. So it is immaterial if there were other seats available in the smoking area, you were a single person occupying two seats and she has ever right to ask you to move your feet so she can sit in the second seat and smoke if she wants. You have the right to sit anywhere you want but you don't have the right to occupy more than one seat.

So using your logic if you and 2 friends are sitting in the Lido buffet having lunch at a 4 person table, you are required to let any single cruiser to sit at your table. Not many people would agree with that.

My PVP told me that we could add the TBA person whenever we wanted, but to be aware that if the ship reaches capacity, you will no longer be able to add. So, even though there is a bed available in that cabin, the ship could still already be at capacity. We currently have a booking where our son is alone in a cabin, as he hasn't decided who he will ask to go with him. It's still 11 months away, so we aren't too concerned just yet.

There is indeed a Coast Guard maximum capacity for each ship that includes passengers and crew. But that number is rarely reached. And when it is Carnival will usually delay some of the replacement crew members from coming on board (a significant double or even triple digit number of crew members end a contract or begin a new on every cruise). They would rather be short some crew than turn away a paying customer.

so its running at approximately 85% normal cruising speed.

 

We are on the June 30th sailing, no word yet if they are dropping a port.

Cruise ships can go 22 to 24 knots, but rarely do. Itineraries are arranged so most ships can do 17 to 19 knots most of the time. that burns less fuel and saves costs.

The only difference I noticed is that the kids club is in an area that was part of the aft lounge (comedy club) on the other Fantasy class ships we’ve sailed on. That made seating for comedy tight. The Atlantic Deck seemed the same as the others. We’ve also cruised on the Elation, Fascination, and Paradise.

 

 

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I agree, I have been on the Fantasy 7 times and every other Fantasy class except the Imagination.

Most itineraries are designed with port times that allow the ships to cruise at 15 to 18 knots. Close ports they will go slower but they do want to be moving most of the time to maximize power generation. They really don't want to cruise at 21-24 knots as this consumes more fuel. However certain routes, weather, or other circumstance may require petal to the metal speed. On a legend cruise from California to Sydney cruise the ship was doing 22 knots almost all the time.

I agree there is little chance of it become a reality but maybe someone could slip a note to the big wigs suggesting it when the Panorama arrives in NYC........ ;)

One aspect of them charging tips as part of the cruise fare that I saw discussed on Cruise Critic or Facebook, is about taxes. According to that post, Carnival would have to pay income tax on those increased fares which would amount to a lot of money. I am not a CPA but that sounds likely to be true. The tips received for the crew are not considered income.

If we do a back to back cruise what happens when it comes to the end of first cruise. Do we just stay on the ship or do we need to get off.? We have the same cabin for both cruises. Thanks guys.

 

 

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Just one more bit of advice, During cruise 1 stop by guest services and make sure you are on their B2B list. One time we were not.

No idea, but I can tell you I have been to over 20 ports and have never been asked to show an ID. Only my S&S card. I have no idea why Carnival always tells people they will need an ID.

 

 

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Cozumel and St. Thomas once checked cards and IDs. It hasn't happened at Cozumel recently and I haven't been to St. Thomas for a while.

Some of the OBC I receive from my TA doesn't even show up when I print out an account statement from the machine once I am on the ship. When I go to guest services they can show me that it is there.

I have sailed on 3 of Royal Caribbean's mega ships. The Oasis OTS, the Allure OTS, and the Harmony OTS. None of these ships felt crowded most of the time. These ships all are about 225 thousand tons and have about 6,000 to 6,500 passengers. Carnival's new LNG ships will come in at about 188 thousand tons. So Carnival plans to carry the same number of passengers in 16% less space. Can they do it and not feel crowded? Maybe and maybe not.

In August of 2008, I bought 101 Carnival shares at $35.74/share an investment.of $3,610.75,. I have automatically invested all the dividends so my current holding of 125.919 shares is worth $8,031.22. I have taken approximately 80 Carnival cruises since then so probably have received in the neighborhood of $6,000 in OBC. Carnival has been very good to me.

You will be able to apply your 25% OBC on any cruise from number 25 to number 49. If you get a letter about it, (I never got one after cruise 25, cruise 50 or cruise 75). the letter may say it must be redeemed in the next 18 months. In reality, they are very flexible about this. I applied my 75% OBC on my 93rd cruise in September that had already been booked. I phoned the milestone desk and they were very cooperative. I would give you the milestone phone number, but it is on my desk in Florida, and I am now in Copenhagen, Denmark. Congratulations on earning the milestone reward.

I know. and am friends with entertainment staff and CDs on a number of ships. But I also have been greeted by staff and officers who unfortunately remembered me better than I remembered them.

I purchased the 4-night package on the Serenade OTS cruise that I am on now. I ate in Chops the first night, but used the D+ BOGO offer, not the package. They told me I could pick any 4 nights I wanted for the package as long as the restaurant had space.

• I am on the Serenade of the Seas now about to dock in Belgium. The ship TV has the British Sky news channel and they have been advertising that they will be broadcasting the ceremony.
  

This is one reason we use a Capital One debit card, no foreign transaction fees and ATM fees reimbursed up to $30 per month.

I am in LeHavre, France right now. I bank with Ally bank and used their debit card at an ATM in the Azores and 100 Euros cost $123 and today in France 100 Euros cost $122 with no exchange premium.