Tom-n-Cheryl

Promoted... to what/where? I guess he's the current CD (I was just onboard a couple of weeks ago).. shows you how much I pay attention to announcements! 😉 Tom

What's the process with that --- slot winnings over $1,199 get the W2-G? Does Carnival automatically take a % out, or is that only if you don't cough up your SS# ? Tom

Yep - Celebrity has that down! Tom

Yes, it was a nice cruise ! Tom

STOP while you're ahead (do as I say, not as I do) !! Tom

Still happening - been happening for months. It's aggravating - I'll be watching a particular sailing (many dozen cabins still open), then I get the red/error message. I'll go back later in the day or a couple days later, and it's working again. Then, let's say, later that afternoon --- POOF again. Obviously, Carnival has cut their IT budget (even more!) owing to their financial straights... Tom

I wonder (sorry!) if it's ship specific. My two recent sailings (yes, on Carnival) are a case in point. On the Liberty in August - I was asked for positive ratings by perhaps 3 people over the course of 3 days - it seemed desperate. Just a couple weeks ago (7 night Celebration) nobody mentioned a thing. Tom

Looks like a great itinerary! Happy to see that they still have tablecloths in the Steakhouse. Good luck sneaking in a couple more WINNING days at sea than you've anticipated. 🙂 Tom

Actually, I'm looking for a good chunk of fat to go along with the rest of the meat. I'm in this for the decadent flavor, and... it's VACATION !! 🙂 Tom

We're going on the Allure next (January) - and really am only focused on the kummelweck sandwich in the Park Cafe. That will be my lunch every day -- providing it's up to par. Any observations as to changes in the quality of the Coastal Kitchen experience? Tom

Correct me if I'm wrong, but we met once, and then played at a later point? I was oblivious to the playing part (my BJ tunnel vision perhaps). Cheryl was telling me later "that was him playing at the table with you"! (Yikes, sorry) Tom

Nice meeting you 🙂 Hope your cruise was GREAT ! Tom

I hope everyone had a great time - we did (even with the two days of RAIN, RAIN, RAIN). It was picture perfect leaving Miami (first one out - out of perhaps 5 ships in port): Even with 3 Steakhouse and 3 Rudi's dinners, I somehow gained less than 1 pound (just wanted to throw that out there - as it's not uncommon to hit 5+)! One of my favorite meals at Rudi's is their crabcake entree --- YUMMY ! Cheryl usually orders the mushroom appetizer one night in the Steakhouse, but this time it was much better than in the past - 4 large mushrooms and a baked/crusty coating. Why didn't I order that too! It's not that way fleet wide, as I mentioned the change to @DGP1111, who's on the Liberty now - and he, unfortunately, was not able to replicate/enjoy the change. I wonder whose idea it was to stack all the cups here at the coffee place - I guess they think everyone already knows all the menu options? 🙂 Other than a pile of cash the casino was kind enough to "gift me" (two hands a time at the $100/table BJ), the only thing I brought home was a significant cold - woke me up at 2 am of debarkation morning. Probably handling too many filthy casino chips, lol. Well, we did also bring home some wine care of the casino host. They had already treated us to a bottle of Stags Leap, but on the last day the host found me saying "I've been looking for you"! --- and handed me this: I played in there 5 of 7 evenings (had to take a couple breaks) probably approaching 4 hrs each time. I picked up a little over 11,000 points. Ahhhhh -- BLISS !

But of course, lol 😉

They mentioned it before opening the bottle 🙂

Well, you would think that would have given them plenty of time to update the signage! 😉

We enjoyed our first night on the Celebration with dinner at Rudi's yesterday. For the last (40-50?) Carnival sailings we have a tradition where we'll treat ourselves to a bottle of Dom Perignon on night one. Having that half-off promo represented a significant savings (over $100), and often meant that we could enjoy that bottle for less than it could be purchased for in the states. 🙂 I thought all was on track when I saw the following sign outside Rudi's last night. Upon being seated (with our requested bottle already sitting tableside) we were informed that, as of Sept. 3rd, the 50% discount now only applies to bottles under $100. Since we have CHEERS (actually "drinks on us everywhere"), we were able to at least benefit from a 25% discount (a $60 savings). I wasn't going to point it out in the restaurant, but I see no asterisk or disclaimer on that poster indicating the limits on that promo...

#5 - the same one we had on the Celebration earlier this year, and the same one we'll enjoy again TOMORROW !!! I discovered last time (the hard way) that, in that cabana at least, there's enough sun coming from overhead to get quite the sunburn on the top of your head - thanks to diminished natural SPF (hair) up there!! Tom

Oh --- HERE'S the link to the roll call if anyone else is interested 🙂 Tom

What's your game of choice? I can be found mid-evenings at the non-smoking $25 BJ table. Tom

HERE'S what I keep an eye on when heading out on cruises, to give me an idea of the sea conditions. 🙂 Tom

We'll be there too! Stop in to the CC roll call and say HELLO (granted, not a great deal of activity there, but...) Yes, I recall that there was a casino sailing too (is that what you booked with @surfjock27?). It was much better for us going with one of the standard casino booking promos though - getting an aft-Excel for something like $2,600. It would have been a couple grand more to book the Ultra/Elite (can't recall). Tom

The gambling gods (BCC) shine on you. 🙂 They SH&t on me ... I have some hands where I have that much or more in a single deal - and I got the same offer (well, it sounds like the same offer)! Apparently my being friendly and tipping well builds no karma points either. 😞 Tom

Over the past several weeks I've received 3 postcard mailers from BCC. Each offering an inside cabin on a limited number of (older ship) sailings. I'm not even going to call them about upgrades - I was how pathetic that was earlier this year, where I'd often be better off just booking through the website for the cabin we want. To say I'm not impressed is an understatement. I give them good black chip (BJ) play, but often less than the 4 hour/day figure I read about. We always sail in a suite with Celebrity - and used to get 60% off those rates... no more. If they ever come "back to the table", I might as well. Tom

I've noticed changes (yep, not for the best) even in the specialty restaurants... see THIS thread I put together earlier this year regarding the Mardi Gras. Sad, but true. Tom