GeauxCruise

Unfortunately this could happen with any mode of transportation. Plane, train, cruise - heck your own personal car.

Congratulations, I've been on the Freedom three times, love that ship! Best wishes to you Marky Mark!

I am preparing for my first cruise and after much debate have decided to get the CHEERS program. I was concerned about not getting my moneys worth but I have developed a plan to maximize the CHEERS drink package. Both my wife and I will be sailing on a 7 day cruise and purchasing the CHEERS plan. I am guessing we will consume between 6-9 alcoholic drinks per day, logic being 2-3 during day, 2-3 before/during dinner, 2-3 during evening fun. Since we get up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day, I plan to periodically throughout the day/night order a single of premium alcohol ( Hennessey VSOP is $12, Patron Silver is $18, Grey Goose VX is $25). Once I get the single serving, pour it into a container/water bottle etc, wait the mandatory 5 minutes and repeat until you hit the 15 drinks limit. You can either stock it and take it home at end of cruise or you can take the water bottle on shore excursions and order cheap virgin drinks onshore and spike it to your liking with premium pours. Thoughts/flaws?

I love the Cheers Package and I get it on pretty much all of my cruises. It's definitely worth it if you're an "at least 6 alcoholic beverages per day on a cruise" drinker.

I like your idea of taking your stockpiled shots to your excursions! Enjoy your Cheers Package!

Very, very well done. Thank you for all the detail and great photos. It's been a while since I've sailed the Triumph so it was nice to be reacquainted with her before my sail on her 9/8/16. I really enjoyed your review and appreciate the generosity of time you put into posting it.

Thank you, thank you thecruiserofships!

I bought the Cheers package twice, both times I was in a solo cabin. Shared it one time with a friend. It was a little inconvenient but not really a deal breaker. I say give it a try. You have just the right situation -- only one over 21 in the cabin and your hubby in another cabin.

Cruise prices go up because the economy dictates it, not becasue someone shared a $8.50 drink that costs Carnival less than $2.00.

I agree! :D

Your information is 1/2 correct. You will get the white card, with "MILESTONE" printed on it. You'll get 25% of of ONE future cruise. I've been told that you can save that perk for up to two years. That's 25% of your base fare, not the entire cabin, and not the taxes/port charges, etc. I'd save it for an expensive cruise if I were you. Other than that, I'm not aware of any other perks for "Milestone".

My next cruise will be my 50th Carnival cruise, so I'll get 50% off another cruise, in the future. I'm saving it for Hawaii! :D

 

"SKY"

Thanks Diamond Cruiser Sky!! And kudos on your 50th Carnival cruise!! :D

Copied & pasted from Carnival's FAQ's.

 

Milestone Recognition Program denotes a guest’s 25th, 50th 75th and 100th revenue cruise with Carnival. Guests will receive a special Milestone Sail & Sign card on their corresponding Milestone cruise. We want to distinguish guests on their Milestone sailing with a unique card so that we can make his/her Milestone experience extra special and memorable. After this milestone cruise, they will revert to the card that corresponds to their VIFP level. Guests will receive the full set of benefits according to their VIFP level.

 

In addition to a special Sail & Sign Card, the guest will be granted the opportunity to redeem a future onboard credit equivalent to 25%, 50% or 75%, corresponding to the milestone reached. A letter will be sent to the guest advising them of this earned benefit that they could redeem for any sailing in the next 24 months. This letter will include a redemption code and redemption instructions.

Thank you so much Wanna Cruize!! I asked the rep if there was verbiage online and he told me it was not. I appreciate this info.

I'm just off my 24th Carnival cruise and a guy I met on the ship said that the 25th cruise on Carnival is considered a "Milestone" cruise and that perks include:

• Getting a white colored card that's imprinted with "Milestone Cruise" on it
  
• All future cruises at 25% off
  

I'll be taking my 25th Carnival cruise in about 2 months.

I called Carnival to inquire and was told I'd get 25% of my cruise fare as an onboard credit, but the rep I spoke with was not able to confirm any other details. He gave me another number to call, but I have not have had the chance to call yet.

Anyone know any details about perks on and after a 25th Carnival cruise?

What you have to do is all show up at the same time. The table is assigned upon arrival and based on availability.

Happy cruising and happy dining! :D

Excited about hearing the rest since I'll be going on my first B2B on the Dream next month.

And thanks for replying in my post asking questions about B2B! :)

Awesome!! So far, very good info that I would not have considered!! Thank you everyone!! :D:D

And keep it coming if others out there would like to share. :cool:

Hello fellow cruisers!

I'll be sailing on my first B2B on the Carnival Dream Oct 19 - Nov 2.

I called Carnival to inquire about my debarkation/embarkation process between cruises and was told I will have to get off the ship - escorted by Carnival personnel - and go through customs. I have different stateroom for each cruise.

I'd appreciate any tips, hints, info or experiences anyone has to share!

I am an avid Tom Joyner Fantastic Cruiser. My husband and I have been on 9 of the voyages since our first one in 2004. We missed 2011 and 2013. We were able to make this most recent sailing on the Conquest in 2014. I'm so happy we did!

I'm a cruise lover in general, so for me, there is not much negative I see in any cruise.

Here are my quick points about the Tom Joyner cruise.

• 
  
  • Yes, it is a lot more expensive than a regular cruise
    
  • But it's THE BEST, MOST FUN vacation I've ever had
    
  • As stated, part of your cruise fare is a tax deductible donation
    
  • Many of the TJFV veteran cruisers are not happy with the switch to Carnival
    
  • Besides Studio B and a slightly larger Promenade (on RCCL ships) my husband did not notice a stark difference in being on a Carnival ship vs. Royal Caribbean
    
  • But it's THE BEST, MOST FUN vacation I've ever had
    
  • I can only imagine the logistics of getting all the entertainers and events planned for this cruise, for that, I commend Tom Joyner and his staff.
    
  • Can improvements be made? Sure, as in anything else in life. But, one can NEVER please EVERYONE
    
  • But it's THE BEST, MOST FUN vacation I've ever had
    
  • I signed up for pre-booking for FV 2015 and I can't wait! I don't care which ship it is
    
  • I look at the cruise at a whole, not in parts. So some things may not be perfect, but for me it's all about the people, the entertainment, the theme nights, the beautiful islands.
    
  • it's THE BEST, MOST FUN vacation I've ever had
    

I went on the Festival at Sea cruise last year in 2013 since it was conveniently leaving from my home port of New Orleans. While a nice cruise, I would not go again. It is NO COMPARISON to the Tom Joyner cruise. Ain't no party like a Tom Joyner party!!!! :D:D

Hello Kenyon and Cynthia! Words can barely describe how appreciative I am for your time and efforts that have gone into this amazing review so far! Wow, such detail. Thank you so much. I really admire y'all's passion for cruising and the fun you have together. I was especially interested in seeing photos of the ship itself as I will be aboard her twice this year. I booked the 10/25/14 Halloween sailing last year in November and just booked the 4/14/14 sailing on a whim Thursday of last week. And get this! I'll be doing the 4/14/14 sailing as my first ever cruise SOLO! I'm so excited! I got a pretty good single rate on a balcony guarantee, which ended up being a Cove Balcony. That's cool too. I think I'll like being closer to the water.

My specific interest in seeing pics of the ship was to see if there is an Alchemy Martini Bar...but I fear there is not one as I saw no pics or mention of it in your review. :( I simply love the Alchemy Bar! Oh well..

Thank you again and again. And I wish you and Cynthia many more wonderful cruises and a happy healthy life! :)

Best regards,

Barbara

I'll be cruising solo for the first time on April 14 on the Dream. While I am an avid people person and never meets a stranger, I too am planning to dine alone.

I thought I was weird for feeling this way. Thanks for making me feel normal! :D

I choose My Time Dining and will ask for a table alone. I do plan to eat in the Steakhouse at least once during the cruise. Again, alone.

wooohooo!! After 31 cruises, I just booked my first one solo!! And got a great rate on a balcony. It was cheaper than an inside double!

I'll be cruising on a 6-day maiden voyage from NOLA on the Dream.

I'm ridiculously excited!!! :D:D

Just curious if someone has gone recently to Atlantis & wouldn't mind giving a report on how clean it was. Early in this post (2012) people were saying how they neglected to clean the tanks, glass & other animal areas as well as the grounds. Has it changed?

I was there last Thursday off the Carnival Splendor. The entire property was impeccable and not crowded at all as it was in the 70s. I think it is one of the cleanest resorts I have been to. A few of the tanks with fish are showing their age and may be a little cloudy, but they do their best to make it a top resort. We were there for the entire day, and still did not get to the whole resort. Go it is well worth it...

Great question DeepSkyBlue! I was wondering the same thing. I'm planning on going to the water park in mid-March and was hoping the reviews had changed for the better! Thanks for the feed back robertwcook16!

I'm excited now!! :D