8 hours ago, dixiejen said:

Is this some type of not-so-latent gluckschmerz that compels someone to try to diminish another’s excitement or happiness — over the definition of “upgrade”?? What can it possibly REALLY matter to anyone whether it was free or paid for? @mouche was clearly ecstatic (as I would have been!) and wanted to share with fellow cruisers who she EXPECTED to share her excitement.  Do words matter so much that it was worth trying to deflate her enthusiasm? SMH….

 

But, for the lexical semanticists out there, I looked up the definition of “upgrade” on numerous online dictionaries and not one of the various meanings included the word ‘free”.  
 

Anyhooooo…. @mouche, I think it was a PRECIOUS surprise for your husband!! What I want to know is HOW HE REACTED when you opened that door and he saw that balcony???!!   Hope you guys enjoyed every second of it!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your kind reply, we had a great time, and yes, my husband was very surprised when we open the door. He thought we would have a premium interior for the week like last time, the weather was great all week too, so we got to enjoy it day and night!!!

2 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

It does matter.  Upgrades are free.  All the clickbait blogs tell newbies to go to Guest Services and ask for a free upgrade.  They never say go to the Guest Services and ask how much to pay for a different room.  It is important to be clear for new cruisers.  You can request free upgrades on airplanes and hotels, both with and without earned status.  The implication that some people are being given free upgrades and others want to know where is my freebie? 

LOL!!! No one said anything was free, when Carnival called, they themselves called it an upgrade.

2 hours ago, ledges1 said:

Carnival is very good at separating you from your money and making you feel good about it. Now, add the spa package and the cheers package, you will feel even better.

Heavy sigh!!!

18 hours ago, bg2310 said:

People really do the most over semantics huh

 

Especially when it's all really a mater of preference or taste, who cares what you call it as far as I'm concerned, so long as we all understand what you mean. Doesn't hurt me that someone calls it an upsell rather than an upgrade!

Thank you!!! There are better things in this life to care about.😁

Wow folks, I had no idea saying "upgrade" vs "upsell" would be such an issue. Too funny!!!🤣🤣🤣

20 hours ago, john91498 said:

in before the "upsell" people 🤣🤪😆

Wow!!! Didn't know this would be such an issue, LOL!!! So john, this is just for you, I got the "upsell" call. Feel better?🤣🤣🤣

On 1/20/2024 at 8:26 AM, grimpil said:

We received a survey from the casino for our upcoming cruise on Venzenia. It was asking questions about how much time/ money we plan to spend. It also asked the percentage of time compared to other venues we plan to spend in the casino. Other questions about role of the casino host, comps, drinks for guest etc. I have never received these before (nor never heard of them). Wondering if changes are coming to casino offers?

I got the survey too, I did not answer the question about how much I plan to spend.

I just got off the phone with Carnival upgrade department and the offer was to go from our premium interior cabin on deck 9 to a balcony cabin on deck 14 on the Mardi Gras. The total price was $380 and I took it!! I will be surprising my husband once we open that cabin door, Happy Valentines Day to us!!! We sail this Saturday Feb 10th Woo Hoo!!! 

This will be my second time sailing during super bowl, the first was way back when the Sunshine was the Destiny, we watched in the big theater where the shows are, they had drink service and food set up. It was a blast!!!

This time we will be on the Mardi Gras sailing Feb 10th and cannot wait!!! 

On 1/22/2024 at 6:41 PM, Travelling2Some said:

Thanks for your report.  We are boarding on February 10th, so will be following along.

We are also boarding this sailing on Feb 10th, won't be long now!!!

I have a few, this one is just okay, I remember a lot more being offered back in the day for a Premier Cruise😁

PREMIER CRUISE OFFER: UP TO $1,240 OFF WITH CASINO RATES + MORE!

What You Get

• Up to $1,240 off with Casino Rates
• Up to $100 Onboard Credit
• Available on a wide variety of sailings
• Drinks On Us! included for you while playing in the casino
• Eligible VIFP Club^® Member must sail to qualify for this offer
• Book by March 4, 2024
• Rate Code OJX will be automatically applied at check

Yes, the fish and chips were very 

On 11/25/2023 at 11:50 AM, pcvtmom said:

Dr. E's announcements and muster drill were the best! I really miss him.

That's what I said too.

Dr. E (Everson Bevelle) doing the safety drill on Carnival Magic many years back, it was the first time I paid attention to a CD before. He had us cracking up and it was the best safety drill ever. Dr. E and Kendall Fire are my favorites.

On 1/2/2024 at 9:44 PM, Lovetocruisefar said:

Hello all. Would this be a good cruise to go on for the superbowl? Its a group of at least 6 of us. Thanks everybody in advance.

   We will actually be on this sailing, I did a super bowl cruise back when the Sunshine was the Destiny and it was a blast. 29 more days until the Mardi Gras and my husband and I can't wait, I think you guys would love it!!!

On 8/17/2023 at 9:44 AM, VentureMan_2000 said:

I've always been curious... and wondered is someone would answer honestly if I asked,

How much money do you gamers lose gambling in order to get a free cruise ?  Said another way, a balcony stateroom is about $3000... and I'm assuming that casinos are not staying open because they are giving money away... would, on average, you lose $3k - $5 during the cruise duration ?

Normally when in the Cansino I start off with $200, and normally I go back and forth winning and losing without having to put any more money in. (slots only). Then within the 3rd or so day I usually hit a average win of $500 to $1,000, I then cash out and put that money up with the exception of $200 and I start the process over again, but once that $200 out of my hit is gone, I'm done!!! I always go home with more than I started with, sometime with more than my cruise fare was, (casino offers).

So, while I am not a big gambler and I have had all sorts of casino offers from free room, free drinks, and OBC, the best offer I took was a free room with $250 OBC and all I had to pay was taxes and port fees, so with the OBC that cruise was free. You do not have to spend big bucks in the casino to get these offers, I'm proof of that.

On 1/19/2023 at 8:29 PM, LMKakaThing2 said:

Received the following email from Carnival for my Legend cruise next month. Is Carnival quietly changing the rules on bringing wine onboard? 
 

FAQ’s still say you can bring a bottle but water must be in cartons. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Almost scared me, we sail tomorrow and have already bought bottles of wine, but as I read there is no change.

I would personally choose light.

Rudi's hands down!!!

Deck 6 Forward Portside (ORANGE) (Sunshine) Feb 2023

Deck 9 Forward Portside (GREEN) (Mardi Gras) Feb 2024

Too many to name, but right now I'm craving these two...

Cioppino (Fishermans Stew) from Rudi's and Beignets from Emeril's

I would never cruise during spring break, the best time for us to cruise is October, Jan, Feb, April and May.

I got the call and missed it for our Mardi Gras sailing last month, heard it on voice mail two weeks after we got back. I never keep up with my voice mail and do not answer unknown numbers, I may need to change that.😁

Rudi's and Emeril's on the Mardi Gras are excellent, worth every penny especially Rudi's.

I enjoyed my Getaway Cruise on the Sunshine back in Feb 2020, we had the same perks, priority boarding, drinks on us card and I even won $200 in the fireball raffle. We had a blast; the pics are the gifts that we received during this cruise.