Tom-n-Cheryl

I picked these up at Walmart (yes, you read that correctly) a couple of weeks ago, and broke in our new grill. These steaks (brought to room temp, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper) were as good as they looked - and that doesn't always happen. 10 out of 10 !! -- oh, and a generous portion of horseradish !! Tom

Oh, and they do - that's been brought up more than once! Tom

Yep, for everything, there is a price to be paid (sometimes in spades)! EDIT - OH, and I've never approached the 15 drink limit anyway ! Tom

Man - I wonder how thick the concrete under the ship must be !! Tom

I can't recall, do any other lines have daily limits? The thing I like about Royal is that, by being Diamond with them, they put 4 free drinks on your card/account every day - to use where you please. In addition to that, booking in a suite, I can get wine/beer throughout most of the day in the suite lounge - and, from something like 5-7pm (or 8?) they'll include mixed drinks in there too. With that scenario, I'd be hard pressed to consider adding in a drink package ! Celebrity is much the same - though booking a suite with them generally includes a premium beverage package to begin with, so... Yep - to some degree, the cost of those "included" drinks on both of those lines are built into the cabin pricing. I can see if someone is not a drinker, that they might feel they're paying for something they're not receiving any benefit from. Tom

I've really been enjoying your very detailed review! We'll be onboard 5/3 for a quick 3-nighter ... giving a Signature Suite a try. We really enjoy the Reflection. I was sad to learn from Sini & Liz that, on our cruise at least, the Lawn Club Grill will not be open for lunch (two days, two ports), so no specialty burgers for me. I was, on the other hand, pleased to see that they're going to have The Porch open those two port days (we're not planning on visiting Nassau or CocoCay). Mexologist - I like that! I'm kind of a lightweight, but I don't think I could manage 5+1 drinks then a swim, LOL !! Tom

I'd have to be very much in need to utilize their laundry service. We've used it on rare occasions, but don't send them anything you value (or don't want whites to turn slightly grey, etc). The fact that they now have the guest request/seek out most of the perks was a smart move. So much of the junk they give is something I'd either trash or give away anyway. Tom

FWIW - I'm not a fan of their brunch, especially what it's morphed into over the years. Good cost savings on their part though. And, to me at least, there's nothing about that meal (atmosphere/selections/etc.) that makes me want to mix in an adult beverage with it.

Correct - just a different set of rules. Tom

Yep - but I wonder if it's hot enough to boil water... lol

I wonder if these really work, and if Carnival would allow them onboard. Of course, there's that whole "is there bright sun on my balcony?" issue... LINK Tom

Carnival almost (ALMOST) "gave in" to popular demand. We had a presidential suite booked for the second sailing of the Mardi Gras - 8/7/21. I'd been keeping a close watch on various sites/pages trying to gather all the info I could. I was very pleased to see that, in that category at least, they were now listing a Coffee Maker as one of the features (that page was "current" as recently as 6/29/21). Wouldn't you know it... the one thing (I noticed) that they ended up pulling from the feature list - after appearing there for 2-1/2 years - with under a month before she set sail (updated page 7/13/21)? You guessed it ! I'm sure it was so that someone didn't accidently start a fire right above the bridge with the Ronco 😉 coffee pot they provided... right... Tom

True. Our youngest was Platinum when the program started - and never spent a penny (that wasn't mine). Tom

We've made a few trips to the Naughty Room. Once was when they spied a flat iron (hair) and said they would not allow it onboard. Let's just say, don't tell Cheryl she can't take her personal items (could have been the last time we sailed Carnival, but they came around). Another trip down there they thought they spied a knife in our suitcase... turned out to be a metal shoehorn. Actually, almost every trip down there (there have been several) were cases of overzealous screeners or misinterpretation of their own guidelines. I honestly can't recall ever being subjected to the same scrutiny on other lines. Some will hear that and cheer on Carnival, others will see it differently. 😉 Tom

Well, at least being Diamond, our laundry is covered. 😁

I've scratched my head regarding this for years. It's like the owl and the Tootsie Roll lollipop... The world may never know! To.

I wonder what makes Celebrity, NCL, Royal so different (wiring?) such that they offer kettles in some cabins (and coffee makers in many more). Heck, on NCL I was able to request a full size iron for use in our room. Tom

What if.... what if Carnival actually started to take onboard spend into account? I'd bet that some of those "freeloaders" are actually contributing more to the bottom line than you might think. I, for one, have sailed on several free/reduced rate cruises. In some cases, I've left with several times less $ than if I had paid for the cruise in full and stayed away from games of chance. FWIW, many of our cruises on the way to Diamond (yes, we were already "there" too when the program started in the summer of '12) were in suites. That's earned us nothing in Carnival land... Tom

Upper level starts at appx an RS.

But, is food in Craft Social covered if you're in an upper level suite? Tom

So, if I go there for a burger - that's not covered... but if I order it through room service, it is ? Tom

I was curious about that as well - it's buried in the T&C: Terms & Conditions: This offer is valid for one complimentary cruise fare and/or one cruise fare discount, as indicated, and may only be redeemed by the Individual named on the offer (“Cruise Invite Holder”) and one guest (together, the “Passengers”). The Cruise Invite Holder or casino club member (“Casino Club Member”) must be present onboard for the sailing. If the Cruise Invite Holder or Casino Club Member is not on board the sailing, MSC Cruises will charge the full cruise fare at the current rates for the individual guest who boarded. This offer may not be used for payment of any other services or products offered by MSC Cruises or any other fees, charges or expenses incurred by the Passengers including, without limitation, airfare, ground transportation, fuel supplement fees, land programs, travel insurance, gratuities, amenities, goods & services available for purchase on board MSC ships. This offer is valid only with a reservation made through MSC’s Casino Reservation Department. Reservations are subject to stateroom availability and may exclude certain holiday and blackout dates and cannot be combined with any other offer. This offer may be used in conjunction with the payment for a higher category stateroom, subject to availability, and the payment of additional charges, which apply. Third and fourth passenger accommodations may be provided, subject to availability, at an additional charge based on MSC’s prevailing rates. Promotional amenities are determined based on the complimentary stateroom offered not on the purchased upgrade. This certificate may not be sold, assigned, or transferred, is non-refundable and may not be redeemed for cash. If two qualified players in the same household receive an offer from the same promotion, they may be redeemed for separate cruise dates. A minimum deposit of $200 per person is due at the time of redemption, $400 for single occupancy. Deposits and upgrade charges are non-refundable within 90 days of departure. The selected sailing date cannot be changed within 90 days of departure date, any changes of sailing date must be completed 91 days prior to selected sailing. Deposits will be applied onboard as a shipboard credit and are non-refundable. Your cruise will include accommodations in a beautiful stateroom, port charges, taxes and complimentary drinks while playing in the onboard casino. The use of this offer is subject to all applicable laws and regulations. By redeeming this offer, Passengers agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of MSC’s terms and conditions. MSC Cruises reserves the right to refuse to honor any prices/sailings that are erroneously printed or quoted. Other restrictions may apply. Cruise offer is valid only for dates listed in the offer. Alternative dates will not be accommodated. Ships’ registry: Panama and Malta.

That happened many years ago on Carnival... it's the trickle down effect. Tom

Ask, and ye shall receive ! I guess I should have just been more patient! I just received a certificate in my email good for (up to) 8 nights: Suite Stateroom Aurea Experience + Casino Drink Package Hopefully it won't be too much change to bump up to YC. 🙂 Tom

We're booked in early May. There are not any sea days on our cruise (Nassau and Coco Cay are the only ports), so I'm wondering... are they going to have The Porch and Lawn Club Grill closed for lunch both port days ? I really enjoy lunches there, but on longer sailings, I know that they're only open on sea days. Tom