sooner33

I asked John about enhanced turn down and water if its 1 bottle or replaced as needed

I was told that the announcement for the new suite perks have not been announced yet and they will be this week.

Take that as you wish im wondering if there is more to it ?

So I get a bottle of water.... I got one of those free on my last cruise in an oceanview... does this mean I get two now? I will say Im curious about enhanced turn down service... what does that mean!?!

This reads weird - complimentary in-suite bottled water

I wonder if its bottled water that is replaced every day etc... doesnt sound like 1 bottle , guess need to wait for JH to say something so we can ask

Wish they would of added special line at guest services

Just got this email , i think these are the new perks

Dear Carnival Guest,

We'd like to take this opportunity to provide you some important information regarding a change to our gratuity guidelines.

Our gratuity guidelines will be increasing from $12.00 to $12.95 per person per day for guests sailing in standard staterooms and $13.95 per person per day for guests booked in suites with cruises departing September 1, 2016 and onward. In tandem with this change, in addition to priority embarkation and debarkation in all ports and confirmed main dining room preference, suite guests will now receive priority tender service, complimentary in-suite bottled water and one complimentary bag of laundry per voyage, as well as an enhanced turndown service. Guests who have pre-paid their gratuities as of May 9 will not be affected by the increase.

While gratuities are automatically added to your onboard Sail & Sign account as a convenience, tipping is always at your discretion. Please feel free to adjust, up or down, as you deem appropriate, by visiting Guest Services after the gratuities have been posted to your account.

Our shipboard team members work hard to provide exceptional service so we hope you will agree that this slight increase is well deserved.

We thank you for your understanding and we look forward to welcoming you aboard for a fun and memorable cruise!

Hey all I just got this ,

Dear Carnival Guest,

We'd like to take this opportunity to provide you some important information regarding a change to our gratuity guidelines.

Our gratuity guidelines will be increasing from $12.00 to $12.95 per person per day for guests sailing in standard staterooms and $13.95 per person per day for guests booked in suites with cruises departing September 1, 2016 and onward. In tandem with this change, in addition to priority embarkation and debarkation in all ports and confirmed main dining room preference, suite guests will now receive priority tender service, complimentary in-suite bottled water and one complimentary bag of laundry per voyage, as well as an enhanced turndown service. Guests who have pre-paid their gratuities as of May 9 will not be affected by the increase.

While gratuities are automatically added to your onboard Sail & Sign account as a convenience, tipping is always at your discretion. Please feel free to adjust, up or down, as you deem appropriate, by visiting Guest Services after the gratuities have been posted to your account.

Our shipboard team members work hard to provide exceptional service so we hope you will agree that this slight increase is well deserved.

We thank you for your understanding and we look forward to welcoming you aboard for a fun and memorable cruise!

Are there things conveniently close to the Intercontinental? I have a reward stay through IHG and I could use it at the Intercontinental or the Holiday Inn Port of Miami for no cost. I'll be traveling with our younger kids so I'd like to be able to grab any items we missed or didn't want to fly with. Any help is appreciated!

Just a FYI , look at VRBO , they have condos right there by the intercontinental ( 3bd 3ba ) for 250 a night , and they are nice with views and everything , we are going with another couple and sure beats getting 2 rooms for 700 total at intercontinental

That cannot be right. That means that you have to spend a minimum of $2,000 on slots. I was with my friend, and I know she did not spend that much, and she was awarded a free cruise.

Very easy to do , last year i gambled 25k on the cruise only lost 1k the whole cruise though

Now remember thats wins and losses

the points are based on everytime you hit spin so you win a little here and there and go back and forth

In the offer it should of told you what " you " get , it differs for everyone

Also you might get the DOU card as well if you earned enough points on your last cruise

Other than that no more real perks

I do not see it for the Vista out of Miami in Feb of next year ?

Bottom level of Lincoln dining room , mid ship

Washinton is the other and that is AFT , but YTD is only in Lincoln

Both Forts will stamp it for you

I spend most of my time in the casino during the evenings , now people who smoke will be filling up the casinos , lounges and even the Lido deck

Is this really better for the non smokers

FYI I am a smoker

sorry -- no, you don't have the right to smoke anywhere you want. On other lines repeated violations can lead to being put off the ship.

 

In our city, beaches and parks are non-smoking areas. Maybe that's why we're so sensitive to smoke, we rarely come in contact with it in our daily lives.

Not what the announcement says

Says you will be charged a $250 cleaning fee

" Guests who smoke in their staterooms or on their balconies will be assessed a $250 cleaning and refreshing fee on their Sail & Sign shipboard account. Information on this fee is included in Carnival's ticket contract."

So i will pay the $250 simple as that

Im a smoker , and if i want to smoke on the balcony i will still do it , I will just pay the $250.

I do like the idea of having one side of the ship smoking and one not

I do understand how non smokers dont like smokers , but its legal and we have the right to smoke

my 2 cents

FYI i have gone on this cruise in October , and we were the only ship iin port everyday as well , its the way The Valor does tis cruise that typically they are the only ship in ports on that day :)

Sheraton Old San Juan absolutely has a 2 night stay , but I was able to get one night via expedia , so check other travel sites :)

When a casino rate becomes available for a cruise I'm interested in, I see if Es is available. If so

I call and book under ES and while on the phone I price match to casino. still keeping my ES status.

Only problem with that is the casino cash you get for casino rate right ?

My wife is getting $300 this cruise and Im getting $250

Sorry, I am living under a rock: what's a Casino Rate???

 

 

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When you play in the casino you receive points , and since we play so much :) we get special offers every 3 months or so " casino rate " Where we get the lowest price ( better than ES ) and usually casino cash, and since we play so much we always get the drinks on us cards ( so we can drink fro free in the casino the whole cruise )

We also get " premiere casino offers " but those are limited to the 6 or 7 cruises that carnival picks

Just a FYI I always book Casino rate , and I get price drops until sailing , I just call my PVP and he takes care of it for me , if it is after finali payment he adds on the OBC

He told me a long time ago , the casino rate will always be the lowest possible and i can always get OBC for any rate drop

I am going on the Valor for the second straight year and was on the Victory 2 years ago , so basically 3 straight cruises out of San Juan , and every time we have gone beginning of October , its the end of Hurricane season , and its a great time to go , schools are back in , weather is great

my 2 cents

Yes I always book via casino offer , I am booked on one for my Sept cruise

Typically they come out and you have 2 months to book and must sail within 8 to 9 months.

Then typically a few months later I receive another casino offer , so it is typically 3 to 4 times a year a casino offer comes out

Hope that makes sense

I will be going on this cruise for the 3rd time , but still love reading other's reviews as well , So great start :)

For those who have responded, how long did you have to wait between drinks?

I tried to order 2 drinks ( on shot and one drink ) at one time , and i was told i have to wait 5 min in between

I have had this card on every cruise

So typically what I do Is order a drink and when they drop off the one i put in my order for my other drink , and by the time the server walks around a little and goes to bar to get my drink its been 5 mins

This is where the $1 tipping comes in , I have never ever had to wait for drinks or servers... :)

I've found if you tip the server a buck for every free drink, they check on you about every five minutes.

I tip a dollar on every drink so does my wife , and i have never ever had a issue getting a drink , most of the time i get to know the servers , and i dont even need to be playing they see me and come right to me , i dont even have to show my S&S , they know my number by the 3rd day ;)

I have been told that I will receive this perk on my next month but I do not know much about it. How many can I order in a day? How often can I order? I don't wanna wait 45 min between drinks.

You can order 5 mins apart , you can only order in Casino from one of the Casino servers walking around , and you can drink as much as you want :)

I should say unless you are very drunk and they wont serve you , but there isnt a limit like on the cheers package