schazzy

18 minutes ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

Everyone who does this "thinks" it's ok because it is ok. Carnival allows it, so for those who want to do it, it isn't wasted effort at all. You say, "to each his own," but don't seem to stand behind that assessment. They also allow drinking-aged adults to bring a bottle of wine on board, even though there's plenty on the ship. If we choose to save money by carrying our own 12-pack of soda on board, which is allowed and doesn't hurt anyone else, I don't see why that's so bothersome to you.

This! While my DH and myself have no need to carry any on for ourselves, I completely understand that others, like my In-laws, like to do so, to, like you said, save money and/or to simply have what they like to drink. And as long as it's allowed by Carnival, I see so problem with people doing it, and I don't understand why something like that, that is completely within the rules, bother others so much.  

16 hours ago, aggieamy55 said:

Hi. I've searched some on these boards, but can't find an answer to this within the past couple of years. When carrying on a 12 pack case of soda, does the soda HAVE to be in your carry on bag or can we simply just carry in on the ship with us in it's card board box? The reason I ask is we have FTTF and our stateroom should be ready right away. I didn't want to waste a bunch of space in our actual carry-ons for it. Thank you!

Even if the security screeners don't rip into your 12 packs like others have said can happen, I'd still carry your drinks in a rolling bag or cart like was suggested in case those cardboard boxes rip while sometime before you get them to your cabin. We saw an abandoned busted 12 pack of Cokes and a sticky puddle outside the terminal in Charleston a couple years ago that you could tell ripped while they were standing in line.  

34 minutes ago, Butterbean1000 said:

I've never brought sodas on because I don't drink them. I am considering bringing on La Croix, but I don't want to bring an entire 12 pack.  Am I understanding correctly that I can't just bring on, say just 6?

Well, last year my MIL brought a 6-pack of V8 juice with no problem, I think by what Carnival says, it's a 12 can maximum, so you can bring any amount up to 12.

 "A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12 ounces each or less per person."

22 minutes ago, OCruisers said:

 

Noticed even people with smart phones liked the Fun Times printed version so they didn't ALWAYS have to carry the smart phone with them.  

That too 

24 minutes ago, Butterbean1000 said:

They still have the paper a Fun Times,  but it can also be found on the Carnival Hub app. 

I noticed last year that the HUB app didn't list everything that the printed Fun Times listed in the daily schedule, so one feature of the printed version I liked was that the little flap the daily schedule was on was easily detachable and fits comfortably in your pocket.    

25 minutes ago, 2wheelin said:

So I know how to use Excel but when I click on these links, all I get is a web page—cannot edit. I am on an IPad and use numbers. Is that the problem or something simpler—like user insufficiency. Lol

I don't really know much about iPads, but unless Apple has software or an app that can open excel files, you might just be getting a preview of the file using a browser. I don't have Microsoft office on my laptop, so I use Apache OpenOffice, it's free and works well.  

Well, I can't really comment on 2 and 3, as we haven't been to most of those ports yet, but we did #1 last year and enjoyed it. Going to see the Mayan ruins in Belize made the whole trip worth it in my opinion. 

Cruise on the Sunshine in 36 days, already booked for the Elation same time next year, and if we like the Sunshine, gonna book the Radiance for a 8 day in 2021. If they had 2022 sailings up, I'd be looking at those too! 

I may have a problem...

22 hours ago, hotsauce126 said:

Apparently the cans will be available on all ships and available in four-packs to take home.

Who says the cruise has to be over when you leave the ship, pick up a couple 4 packs for the drive home!! 

Don't drink and drive, kids.

2 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

 

This.

 

They have slightly enticing offers for past cruisers that have not cruised recently because they want to get them back.  If you regularly cruise with Carnival, you don't need to be enticed.

 

I took my Mom on a cruise once.  I used my email for contact info on her booking for convenience. (She's not exactly net-savvy.)

 

I get at least one email a week from Carnival with an offer for her.  I myself never get them.

I have my In-laws VIFP and such tied to my e-mail since they say I'm their "travel agent" and they trust me to do all their cruise booking and other stuff for them rather than them trying to figure it out and call me a dozen times asking how to do stuff. 

So now that my FIL has a VIFP number after going on his first cruise last year, I get several e-mails for him with deals that he shouldn't let sail away. I just get occasional emails reminding that I can book shore excursions and spa treatments at the lowest prices.

1 minute ago, SandiLynn said:

Thank you so much, that would be GREAT! We have to wait 128 days 21 hours 29 minutes until our seventh Carnival,but first time on Glory.

It'll be here before you know it, one minute it seems like forever away, next minute you are panicking because you need to be at the port in less than 36 hours and you are quadruple checking you have everything!!! 

This one coming up will be my 8th cruise and my first on the Sunshine. I'm so ready!

1 hour ago, candigirl41 said:

I loved that tuna on the english muffin.  They didn't have it on my last cruise on the Miracle, I was disappointed.  Tuna in the deli was okay, bread was white and way too soft sandwich fell apart.

 

Candi

That was my experience as well with the tuna sammich I had on the Miracle last year, I ended up eating it with a fork.

But still, the tuna and the BLT are my favorites from the Deli and I see the new menu still have them which is good, I'm curious to try some of the other sammiches on there as well.

9 minutes ago, SandiLynn said:

I would love to be able to charge those bartender tips and not have to bring so many $1 bills, but I was not certain how the charges for tips got distributed. Thank you , hopefully someone will confirm your thoughts. 

Yeah, we didn't want to bring a ton of cash last time, so we just wrote in tips on the receipts, and like I said they seemed to be just as happy with that as the crew was with cash on our cruise before that. We plan to do the same and just write them in on the receipts again for our cruise in 37 days from now, I'll report back on how it goes.   

3 hours ago, SandiLynn said:

Thank you so much for clarifying the issue of cash tips. Do you know about when charging tips on SS card for bartenders? Do they themselves get the charged tip or is it sent to the pool of everyone who is working that shif?   

While I'm not 100% certain of this, from what I've seen, the person whom served you and who gave the tip to on the receipt is the one gets that tip. I noticed at the bars the bartenders and servers had their own cups that they would stick their receipts in that had tips on them. 

Also I've noticed they are just as happy to get a tip whether it's written on the receipt or handed a couple $1 bills. 

If you are so inclined to have a drink upon boarding, be sure to get a Funship Special. Waiters will be going around on embarkation day with them on their trays and I feel you can't officially start a Carnival cruise without one!

Great review, I loved the humor, especially the tips for the hot tub 

I agree the service was great on this ship, we had some of the best dining room and bar servers when we sailed on the Ecstasy a couple years ago. 

The old gals got some age on her and a little worse for wear in some places, but we still enjoyed our cruise as well.

7 minutes ago, elcuchio24 said:

 

I do agree. I think the 'dining room with set dining' will be gone sooner than later. I think what the younger generation is looking for is more options and more flexibility. Nothing wrong with that.

I agree, we actually looked at maybe trying NCL not long ago because we liked the idea of the freestyle dining, unfortunately I couldn't find any cruises that matched our preferred cruising dates. One reason we are giving the Sunshine a go is it does have several dining options other than just the buffet for dinner. 

1 hour ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

 

So bizarrely, not long after I wrote this, John Heald posts on FB a message he got from "Marion" asking why the place "where we eat" is called the "dining room", because that is so old fashioned, and when they go out to eat they go to a "restaurant".

 

"She" claims to be doing a synopsis for "her" college course on cruises.

 

I'm starting to think that indeed, Mr Heald (or someone on his team) either does review this forum for interesting topics, or someone here likes to snag topics and throw them at Mr Heald pseudo-anonymously.

 

For the record, I am not "Marion".

Whatever you say, Marion

I kid, I kid, I was about to post about that, and yes, I too think that he or his team gets ideas for posts from here. I've seen too many times where something will be discussed here and before you know it, there's something about it on his FB page in one form or another. 

I'd have to say the hand carved wooden tea set my DH found in Grand Turk. They had an nice little marketplace right buy the duty-free shop that had several interesting local handicrafts. I'll have to post a picture of it when I get home.

2 hours ago, Aplmac said:

.

That looks like it could be dangerous

being stored in a ceramic container for safety's sake ..and..

WTH is that.. a thermometer it it? for a stirrer?

 

You drank that?!

Oh, you must be one of those fancy people who would never drink a margarita out of a coffee mug!

And the thermometer is to ensure your drink is at the perfect drinking temperature, of course.

34 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

So speaking of "restaurants", I have noted something that possibly was discussed ad nauseum back when Horizon was first announced, so sorry of this is a dead horse that I am re-animating for the purposes of beating it again:

 

On Horizon, Panorama, and Mardi Gras, there are no "dining rooms" - they are all "restaurants".  On Mardi Gras we will have "The Palm Restaurant" and "The Flamingo Restaurant".  On Horizon they are the "Meridian Restaurant" and "Reflection Restaurant".  Compare to the Breeze with "Blush Dining Room" and "Sapphire Dining Room".

 

Yeah, the ships still have "Main Dining".  But I wonder whether this is a subtle effort to get the pax to explore the other "restaurants", and move away from the "boring old stuffy formal dining room for old people not in a hurry" (not my opinion, but one that seems to be growing).

Yeah, I think it's just a modernization thing, using the term "dining room" outside of being a room in your home, it is more likely to make the younger generations to think more along the lines of it's a "boring old stuffy formal dining room for old people" as where they would be more likely to associate the term "restaurant" with going out to eat and having a good time.  

10 hours ago, Joebucks said:

If you're going to do Cheers, try a few new things as well. Be adventurous!

This! Since you've already paid for them, try them all!

1 minute ago, Saint Greg said:

 

That's better. It removes the Brady Bunch feeling.

 

Funny enough, I tease my MIL about her Brady Bunch kitchen, remove the Avocado colored items and that's her kitchen color scheme! (Granted they bought their 70's house a few years ago for a really good price with the intention of updating it and it's been a kind of slow process.)

13 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

I would've guessed that was from 1976. It looks like a good place to eat on St. Patrick's Day.

Well, it looks like they changed out the chairs and bench cushions, but the green tables tables are still there.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/carnival-valor-338/lido-restaurant-271881/

9 hours ago, BoDidly said:

Valor back in 06 

3 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

 

Eeeesh...I hope they’ve spruced that thing up since then.

 

 

Idk, I kinda like the retro look of that Lido restaurant.