Nic6318

Hi Don't worry, they might or might not ask to keep your extra bottles. They haven't asked to keep mine lately, either. If they don't allow you to keep your extra two bottles they will show you where to give them in. If they do, they will either deliver them to your cabin on the last night of the first cruise or you will be asked to pick them up. One benefit of the B2B cruises (whether they collect extra bottles or not) is that they give back extras at the end of the first cruise. You can buy more during that cruise and they will give them back after that first cruise. I imagine, that as long as you don't make it look obvious, you are able to bring on whatever you want, either at embarkation day or during the first cruise, and have anything they confiscate available for the second cruise. I have brought 4 bottles of wine, without them confiscating the extra two, and consumed them during that cruise, and purchased additional bottles during that cruise that were available for the next.

Hi Has anyone used or seen where the abouts of a Hertz car rental location near the cruise port? I am looking for any input. A location seems to be there on the google map, but it doesn't show a building. I haven't called the company, but would like to hear of any experience before. thanks

Hi Currently, it is prohibited. They do have dogs sniffing all your bags. The contract that you are presumably accepting when purchasing the cruise, state the penalties. It's in the fine print. You are accepting their rules. It is illegal to cross the Can/U.S. border with cannabis products. (even though it is legal to use within the country) People smuggle a kinds of things every day, but, is it worth it for the sake of a cruise?

Hi You don't need to contribute much to get casino offers and I have received a number of free cruises as well, but that has no bearing on the value of the plus packages if you don't drink much, and especially if you don't need an internet plan.

Hi This is how it usually adds up. The bottom line is that if you don't drink (much), there is no way any package of this sort makes sense financially. I don't need specialty dining, or the internet. Certainly don't need any extra deserts. I can buy what I want, when I want, and don't have to worry about how much I am spending, because I am just not spending that much. I control my spending to what I need when I am at home and I can do the same when vacationing. Now that I am retired, that is a lot of vacationing. I am not going to give away hundreds of $$$ each trip just because it is convenient. A long time ago, I realized that people who drink and gamble on cruises are subsidizing those who don't. All those upgrades and extras are how the cruise lines make that extra money and are able to keep down the costs of housing, feeding, and bringing us to all those destinations. Most of the time I find myself spending more on the pre and post accommodations and transport, than I do on the cruise itself. If someone wants to treat themself, good for them. Enjoy. Just don't lose yourself in the excitement of it all. It's your money, be a smart consumer.

Hi I believe you get $2 off buying a bucket. The total cost would depend on which beer you buy.

Hi I have done this in the POM. It was easy there. The ships only had one berth between them. It was an easy walk, and not raining. I would think the ease of getting between ships will make all the difference on how convenient it is. I have had two cruises departing from different ports, that was more the same as two separate cruises, since we had to take an Uber between ports.

I agree that the shows do fill up, but I wouldn't say that you need to show up an hour before. First of all the shows are only 45 min. long. They run multiple shows one after the other. If you arrived an hour before, you would be there before the one before yours started. 😀 I would say 1/2 an hour is more reasonable. If there are 2 or 3 shows in a row, they empty the venue before they start letting people in for the next show. If you leave after one show is over and get in line for the next, you will get seating. The comedians repeat shows. Watch for this. It says if the show is a repeat in the app. So, some of those PG shows put on in the afternoon, might be a repeat from the previous day, and you wont necessarily get a full house. I would say pretty much all the shows (comedy or production) put on in the theatre get filled quickly. They do the late night comedy shows there. For any show done in the main theatre, show up a little earlier still if you want good seats, otherwise, at least 1/2 hour ahead. If you come later, you will likely be sitting behind a post, if you find two seats together at all. have a great cruise

Hi You will get to the airport by 1:30 p.m.. So, you will still have lots of time to kill.

Hi If you don't get the change before, go to the dining room and speak with the maitre d' when you board. Ask the crew when they will be available. There are always many people doing the same. They pretty much can always help you out. Don't lose sleep over this. 😀 have a great cruise

Hi there They will typically get you back to the airport around !3:30. Your main alternative would be to rent a car. You would be able to do the same tour and see more for a lower cost (especially if there are more than two of you). Doing it on your own would be less convenient and require more planning, but possibly more fun. I have done both. 😀 have a great cruise

Hi Yes. You can check in whenever you want (through the app), and go to the dining room when your table is ready. The app lets you see approximately how long the wait would be, so if there is a longer wait time (sometimes on the "elegant nights), you just have to adjust the time you check in. There is no requirement to wait in any sort of line.

Hi Welcome to cruise critic. I think one of the questions you ask first is, are you expecting to eat as a group everyday? The main benefit of the set time dining is that after your first evening you just show up at your table every night at the same time. If you don't make it, you have the buffet. The main benefit is YTD is that you can go whenever you want. (as a group, or individuals/couples) If some of your tablemate aren't going to join you any given day, then they would not have another option for dining in the MDR that day. If you don't want the flexibility of YTD the opt for set time. If all you want is to go with your friends every night and you have YTD, then at some time during the day, you just have to ask, when do you want to go for dinner, and one of your group signs you all in about 15 mins. beforehand. hope this helps

Hi Yes. Of course people will go, just as I will likely go eventually and enjoy myself. But... as I tried to suggest, were you planning on going back again soon? What I said, was that it's not like going to Caribbean. I have 5 cruises booked for the Caribbean this winter.

Hi I am in my 70's and enjoy going on waterslides. What kind of problems are you thinking would be linked to age? Of course if you have back problems, or get dizzy, or panic easily, or maybe can't swim, you might consider not going. These issues wouldn't be directly related to age. They do have a height restriction. It is like anything. Would you go skydiving, or scuba diving, skiing, horseback riding, etc... at any given age? It would depend on how you feel physically and what you think you might enjoy.

Hi I have been getting these offers for a number of years now, as well. They are just trying to fill cabins. The number of takers will be few and far between. The airfare for flights to Australia make most people think again. The flight time to get there and back will turn off many more. Now, once you get there, you will do more than a one week cruise, so the expense just keeps going up. Finally, even if you are interested and plan a vacation to Australia around a cruise, which would be wonderful, very few would be doing it very often. It's just not like going to the Caribbean. 😀

Hi I don't know your situation apart from what you have just stated. A few points. The thing with larger groups: Not everyone will want, or be ready to dine at the same time. Unless you are able to control this, it just wont happen. (even if you have set time dining) If you all did try to dine together with anytime dining, and did want to all sit together (or close together), it would delay your seating process. (Think of a full/busy restaurant where you arrive without a reservation) If you don't get assigned dining before sail date, go and see the maitre d', as soon as they are available when you board. It might not be possible to change you all on the first day. Consider that if you do change from YTD to an assigned time for all, it might not be what everyone wants. If you miss your assigned time, you would have to go to the buffet. (which some prefer)

Hi, You might be overthinking this one. Mainly because the employees have a choice of where they wish to work and I can honestly say that I have never heard someone complain about their situation, beyond the fact that they work hard, and they have to spend a lot of time away from their families. I have on the other hand, heard from numerous crew members who have told me how much they enjoy their jobs. I am willing to accept that it is a competitive industry and it is difficult for any employer to keep their best employees unless they are fair to them.

regarding the gratuities here is a link to the information: What Are the Gratuities on Carnival Cruises? – CruiseBooking.com

Hi Sorry to hear that. You don't need any extra stress at this time of year, especially when you are looking forward to enjoying a trip.

Hi If you have been paying attention for some time, you will notice that it is pretty much the same for all cruise lines. Some small discounts are the norm. Maybe, an OBC, or perhaps a reduced deposit. The pricing for cabins are dynamic. Cabin prices don't all go up or down across the line for any reason. It is more that specific cabin classes on specific sailings will see a change in pricing depending on demand. You might find some special pricing at any given time. The company will change pricing as they see the occupancy demand. They have it worked out. They know how many cabins of any specific class they would expect to have sold at any period prior to sailing date. If there is an imbalance, they will do what they feel is necessary. Perhaps offer certain cabins at a discount or try to encourage some to upgrade their cabin selection. When you do find some very special price, it might come with a very limited choice of cabins. The bottom line, is that if you see something you feel is good value for you, book it. Especially if it is a booking rate that allows you to take advantage of any price drops. Pricing can change over the course of a day. What you see today might not be there tomorrow. Pricing that I am offered is not necessarily what you are being offered hope you find a good deal

Hi I just want to throw this out there. If you are not a "needy" traveler, or particularly messy, there is no need for you to feel it necessary to give more. You have already paid the gratuities suggested. This goes for bar staff as well. If you feel that someone has done something special for you that has made your vacation great, you can of course give them something extra, that is up to you. As has been mentioned many times, acknowledging crew members by name in post cruise surveys if they had done something that made your cruise memorable will likely be more beneficial to them in the long run, than a few extra dollars at this time. Of course doing both helps the most. have a great cruise

Hi I would go along with about a year would be reasonable just to give people the time needed to get things in place if they did want to attend. I am not really a fan of the idea of a destination wedding, this would seem to fall into a similar category. If it was just something like, "We are getting married, and will go on a cruise right after. Join us on the cruise if you like." I think that would be quite different than asking people to "Join us on a cruise, where/when we will be getting married." This (for me) would be more for family and close friends, more than the former invitation. Just thinking if any insurance would cover a cancellation if the couple changed their mind. 😀

Hi I don't think that Carnival will be doing any significant changes to their loyalty program. They have already made changes as it suits them in the past. Look at how cabins are not ready now for platinum and diamonds on embarkation. They stopped delivering the "goodies" to the cabins. Now many of these baubles aren't even claimed. Just as on journey cruises, except for the freebies it is meaningless. The actual perks are nothing really to start with, especially compared to other companies. They can continue to do the same without changing anything else. A few free drinks here and there, considering many already have the drinks package, costs them nothing. Their real challenge, has always been the same, and that is to offer a good product at a competitive price. Like everything else out there, their prices have been going up. People have pretty much used up their covid OBC's. There was a surge of new cruisers after people could start travelling freely again. With those higher prices many of those new cruisers will be taking a break from travel, in general very soon. Everybody is talking how hard it is to make ends meet. That isn't a good environment to find people willing to spend money on cruises. The cuts have already been made. How few shrimp can you have on a plate and still call it a shrimp cocktail, instead of what it is, "a few shrimp on a plate"? They will still be looking for more, but the low hanging fruit has already been picked. All they can do now is to watch their competition and do their best to keep their prices attractive and hope that people don't run out of money. As always, we, as consumers have to do our best in determining the value of what is being offered. Nobody should be patronizing a cruise line solely for the loyalty perks.