ALWAYS CRUZIN

Nice if someone would let a person know if there cruise was cancelled. Just went to the website and it shows my next cruise and my Cruise on the Voyager of the Seas was cancelled. Checking what port it iwll be at on that day, it changed from Fort lauderdale to Galveston Tx. It was a great price for that 7 dayer. Now nothing even comes close. I had to use up FCC by a certain date and now I am in a bit in a bind. Booked it 6 months ago. Anytime that has happend before I was just stuck on another ship not cancelled. No matter if the cost of that cruise was higher. Not this time.

On 7/28/2022 at 3:18 PM, lucylou67 said:

Can you walk around on your Carnival Cruise, with your insulated cup, with your alcoholic drink you made from your stateroom?

I would like to see any crew member wanting to sniff your insulated container. What a question.

4 hours ago, LEMJMcC said:

There is no such thing as gratuities within RCI; they are service fees and are at the mercy of RCI's whim.  Unless of course you request that automatic "gratuities" are removed from your account once onboard and truly tip those whose service deserves it out of pocket.
 

Exactly what we do on every cruise. 

19 hours ago, audcc77 said:

I usually get free drinks in the casino.  I don’t really care for the menu they have in the casino.  I usually get a vodka and sprite but I’m getting tired of that. 
 

Is there something else I can get which has vodka in it in the casino?  

 

I love a good Manhattan but that’s not vodka.  
 

I recently started drinking vodka as opposed to rum so if anyone has suggestions I’d be grateful.   TIA. 😎

I like it with Orange Juice.

13 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

There's no BIngo while cruising around the islands (but those would not be considered sea days anyway).  The casino is also closed, even in the evenings.  Unless the Captain decides to take the ship out to International Waters (outside of Kauai, sometimes).

 

Hula and ukulele lessons are specific to Hawaii cruises and/or sometimes the ones that include Tahiti.

 

Yes, be aware of the "SPA" seminars and Art Auctions.  

We cruise the Caribbvean and the Bahamas. There is ALWATS BINGO on sea days. Sometimes twice a day along with trivia. Casino is never closed on a sea day.

2 minutes ago, bguppies said:

Looks like I'll be switchimg to RCI after my next two cruises.

Kudos to them for taking a smart leadership role.

TYhings overnight as they just did now. You never know. 

5 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

 

Two more days - RCI is removing the test req't (for vaxxed) for cruises lasting 5 days or less.

 

And I suspect the reason for 5 days or less is: that limits the itineraries to the places that are "near eastern/Western Caribbean", like Bahamas, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, maybe Cozumel (Mexico), etc.  IIRC all of those do not require testing if vaxxed.  (I need to find that link someone shared...)

 

Many of the islands that still require testing are further afield - e.g. St Kitts, St Maarten, again IIRC.  Those are on the longer itineraries.

 

Once they lines prove the 5-days or less cruises are working with no testing (of vaxxed), those other islands will acquiesce, and perhaps all testing will be lifted.

 

Then will come the decision about allowing unvaxxed en masse, perhaps still tested, perhaps not.

You are correct. it says less then 6 days.

20 minutes ago, ultrafighter said:

If Carnival even just matches this it will eliminate testing for my cruise in September, and I'll be happy.  🥳

7 night Harmonuy in September, We have a 5 night for Halloween. The other one for this year is a 7 night. Next year we currently have one 7 night, two 8 night and one 14 night sofar. Wonder how long it will take the major lines to just drop the testing all to gether? I guess by years end maybe?

52 minutes ago, kdr69 said:

Welp since i have never cruised 6 days or less it doesnt mean much to me at this point.

Agree. Most common cruise is a 7 day cruise. One more day? Come on.

3 hours ago, happy cruzer said:

Princess which is part of the same corp at CCL.

Are you saying Princess willl let youpurchase one drink package? That has not been my experience.

44 minutes ago, bgrmini said:

I'm only one person and I have bought the drink package on a number of occasions. 

Were you ther only one in the cabin?

On 7/26/2022 at 1:02 PM, cr8tiv1 said:

It will depend if you have a Cultural Ambassador on board (they are considered "entertainers.  I can only speak about LA to Hawaii experiences.  So this is a "should have" list.

 

1.  Port talks (not shopping talks by Princess).  Usually given by Cultural Ambassadors who are familiar with Hawaii.  One port a day.  

 

2.  A naturalist.  Sharon ? was on the one from LA.  She was a Hawaii Volcano National Park Ranger and gave excellent talks about everything.

 

3.  Guest Lecturer.  Gary did his Route 66 presentation over 4 days.  He is wonderful.

 

4.  Cruise Director Staff will do ribbon leis and fresh orchid leis on the way back.  Plus other crafts.  VERY LIMITED space available.

 

5.  Ukulele Classes

 

6.  Hula Lessons

 

7.  Sometimes Cultural Ambassadors will have craft activities for a small fee.

 

8.  Maybe a couple of movies about Hawaii.

 

9.  Check out your Roll Call to meet other passengers.

 

10.  I am biased toward ELUA (LA to Hawaii).  Do a goggle search for Tiki Dave.

 

Lots more to do.  

 

 

Don't forget Bingo and Trivia as always. Maybe additional games you would pay to play.

3 hours ago, sheriday1980 said:

I'll be travelling with a 4 year old who is used to sleeping in a pitch black room. Due to the lack of interior connected cabins on the Sunshine, I had to get two connecting ocean view cabins.

 

Are the curtains blackout curtains? I was thinking about bringing some magnets to secure the curtain around the edges and some clips to clip it together in the middle, but does anyone recall if their curtains blacked out enough light that if I could seal up the edges this would work? My goal is to NOT have my sweet cherub waking up with the sun!

 

When we travel I tape tin foil in the windows but I'd like to actually be able to pull the curtains back during the day. And I'd like it to look slightly less like a meth lab.

 

Thanks!

I do the same. Bring them. However the top lets light in. I willstick two large towels on the top.

Everything is expensive. Be ready for that.

11 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

It's not a mixed drink if there's nothing to mix. 🙃

Mix the gin and vodka 

59 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Good luck finding Absinthe on the ship.

 

Really can't top a super dry martini though. It's basically just cold gin

 

I like The Pitch in Playmaker's. Basically a LIT with Midori and Sprite instead of Coke and sour mix. Pretty green color

Checking Google it looks like yes and no for Royal however as for carnival.

The Carnival Cruise Alchemy Bar Quick Fix Cocktail is the perfect green cocktail! Combining vodka, gin, rum, Midori, and Absinthe to make a drink you won't soon forget.

I forgot this. The house always wins. That is very true, is it not? Paying $50 for Bingo and there is over 200 players and the maximum total payout for 3 games is only $900.00 Hum. Who is the real winner? No need to control the outcome at all. That was on the last cruise the Liberty. First game $150.00 second game $150 third game $600 talk about low winnings. especially splitting it 2-3-4-5-6 ways. That is what happened. Wife won $150.00 only winner. Played 3 bingo games short cruise. So we played for free. Still fun for us.

Just now, CruzCra-Z said:

I've only played deal twice and both times I won more back than I spent on it. Not to mention the enjoyment. It's entertainment.  Same with Bingo.  I highly enjoy it and have won 2 large bingos. It's fun....  If you don't want to risk your money just watch or do something else. 

Exactly!

1 minute ago, Enryon said:

Depending on the price, it could be worth playing even if you lose everything. Entertainment can be had even when you lose. 

Exactly. We also loose enough to relate to that.😎 

34 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Good luck finding Absinthe on the ship.

 

Really can't top a super dry martini though. It's basically just cold gin

 

I like The Pitch in Playmaker's. Basically a LIT with Midori and Sprite instead of Coke and sour mix. Pretty green color

I guess if I ask for it I will get a very confused look anyhow. You are correct I am sure.

This is what it is.

A delicious cocktail recipe for the Aunt Roberta cocktail with Brandy, Vodka, Absinthe, Gin and Blackberry Liqueur

3 hours ago, dadm1n23x said:

The problem here isn't that the game operator (cruise line) has an advantage and intends to turn a profit. The issue here is that the game operator can blatantly cheat. The game runs under the premise that dollar amounts are assigned to cases prior to the game and then are opened and subsequently eliminated during the game. The problem is that the game operator has the opportunity to change dollar amounts in the cases after the start of the game. In fact, the dollar amounts could be changed in the short time period after a case is selected and before it is revealed. It's highly probable that values are never assigned to cases at all (until reveal) and the computer just has an order in which values will be revealed.

 

Let's say: A player picks the highest value case as their own. The operator/computer could then just reshuffle the dollar amounts so the player has something in the lower range. Or, during gameplay a case is selected to be revealed....It's the penny!. Nope, The operator can swap that with another value before the reveal. The computer could very likely be programmed to run the game to a specific outcome every time regardless of the gameplay. 

 

Or worse, the game could be programmed to lean towards a big-win for the player (early elimination of a lot of low values) which could boost the players confidence. Then, once down to just a few remaining cases, forcibly eliminating high-values. Another reason other than profit that an operator might engage in such a practice would be to manage the length of game/program/entertainment.

 

This is could possibly be nothing other than high-tech "3-card Monty". In a casino, you have a chance. Especially at the tables where the mechanics of the game are in sight. Slots are another story and head down this same road - your result is likely determined before you even pull the handle or hit the button. Now in this case, there will be winners, but will they win as much as they could possibly if the game was straight?

 

Now on the other hand, maybe we have a very honest and trustworthy game operator that isn't cheating at all. Without transparency into the mechanics (programming) of the game, or historical records of all outcomes, we'll never know.

 

One hint at the answer to this question is: Do you see this game being offered anywhere on-land where it would be regulated by a government agency?

 

 

All gaming in Vegas is government controlled. As for slots. The percentage is pre entered in the chip that controls the outcome. The higher priced games give you a better chance of winning. Nothing can be changed once that chip is installed other then physically changing the chip. You push the button and the results are instant long before the wheels stop. A random generator operates the results. As it is called and that is exactly what happens randomly. The longer you play at a machine the better your odds are. Does not mean you will win though.

On 10/28/2021 at 5:39 PM, Psych0St@r22 said:

I just got back form a cruise, and we watched the Deal or No Deal game. I'm a computer programmer by trade, and realized that this game could easily be rigged by Carnival.

 

I'm not going to analyze the person on stage, as it could be possible that the numbers in the cases are not determined before the person stand on stage, but actually after the case is chosen. Meaning that Carnival could guarantee that everyone hits the $0.01. I highly doubt they are doing that, but could be reducing the money earned by the person standing on the stage. The television show used physical brief cases, and could not be rigged in this manner.

 

What I want to address, is the problem with the cards they sell. The "computer" knows each card that is sold, and what each card's doors contain. Knowing all of this, a simple computer program could be written to determine where to put the values on stage to have the lowest possible winnings from the crowd. I fully believe that this computer program is doing this, and therefore I avoid the game altogether.

 

Generally if it is a computer program I know there are ways to cheat the system. I also noticed that Bingo is done via computer now, does anyone know if the bingo cards have an identifying number on each one? Bingo is not as much of a big deal as someone is guaranteed to win (except for the get Bingo in X number of Balls, i.e. Jackpot).

I do not think any of the games are rigged as far as I know the Cruise line does not control them at all. I think it is a company called Global Casino Services that controls all the gaming on the ships for carnival. So all the soft ware is probably locked so it cannot be changed or altered. As for bingo. Paper cards have numbers but the numbers are not entered prior to the game. The older heavy cardboard with plastic sliders to cover the numbers they have no numbers at all.

The numbers are used to verify a winning card after bingo is called. We have won Bingo several times and the jackpots also. Paper card and ipad card. On Princess we did win the final coverall grand prize using the iPad card. Had to split it with another. Still got $1,500.00 Princess raises the grand prize at every bingo game if it is not won before 49 numbers are called. The difference with Princess. The last game some will win it and it is a large sum. They do a coverall to win it for the last game. We play every game of bingo on a cruise. So we have played many games in 80+ cruises. Even with many great winning I still think they are ahead. Especially now when a game is $50 or so. Makes no difference. We enjoy the game as I am sure you can tell. We do enjoy Deal or No deal. However only won $25.00 towards OBC. The person that does well are the ones picked to play.

I thought Long island Ice tea or a super dry Martini were the strongest. Now I come across Aunt Roberta made with several different alcohols and no mixer at all. Anyone ever tried one? If so, how was the taste?

2 hours ago, Ret MP said:

 

I don't know if this is still true but they add tax to you're drinks (anything purchased) while still in port or within 3 miles of the U.S. Coast.  So, even today, I don't drink until the Casino opens.  Just a thing of mine, I don't like paying taxes if I don't have to.  Well, I have been know to have a beer while still within the international boundary.  But, that is all.

Florida ports YES

On 7/24/2022 at 4:08 PM, karena1 said:

HaHa a Miller Lite!!

Obviously you are not a Vampire on a diet. They drink BLOOD LIGHT!😏