wlc108

Wow, it hit $8.69 per share.

Per the President's tweet: "At my request, effective midnight tonight, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC have all agreed to suspend outbound cruises for thirty days. It is a great and important industry – it will be kept that way!"

That must be why

It's all a moot point now that they're cancelling all cruises for now.  I have a feeling the requirements in some form will be around when they re-open, but I also have a feeling the cancellations may be extended

Carnival just emailed me 10 minutes ago about their Friday the 13th deals.  Good timing

41 minutes ago, john91498 said:

 

I highly doubt there will be any federal bail out. 

I agree with you. The cruise lines already get around federal laws with their flags of convenience and pay peanuts to foreign workers.  It's not like they go out of their way to support our economy. 

Why in the world would purchasing WiFi not be optional ??

Like all other packages involved in cruising, no one is going to require you to purchase something you are not interested in.

Carnival could decide to offer "free wifi" and raise their fares. I'm not interested in swimming in the pools or using the waterslides, but I pay for them as part of my fare. Wifi could be similar in the future.

I ordered an upcharged NYS from the steakhouse on our Vista cruise last week and found it to be very fatty with little flavor. Definitely not what I was expecting.

Just out of curiosity, how did you order it? Contrary to popular belief, some cuts of meat aren't that great if you order them rare/medium rare. The more expensive cuts usually do have more fat, and the cooking process melts that fat giving more flavor to the steak. If you order one of those cuts rare/medium rare, you'll end up with fat that hasn't melted and therefore a fatty, less flavorful steak. Other less fatty cuts of meat are more suited to medium rare/rare.

My wife got a drink in a pineapple on the Miracle in April of 2016. I don't remember what it was, but it was whatever the drink of the day was. I think I saw them serving them again last month but don't recall what the drink was. She wasn't drinking then so we didn't buy one.

As for getting drinks from waiters, I've found it much easier to just go to the bar. Usually takes less than ten minutes as opposed to 40+ from the wait staff.

On my last couple cruises, I found myself doing this most of the time whether on the Lido deck, or even at a show. It took so long to get drinks at the shows that I'd get the drink more than half way through, then get interrupted again to sign the receipt. It was quicker to just hop by a bar on the way and get whatever I want. In the past I've formed relationships with certain waitstaff by tipping well, but that takes a little while and it wasn't always the same people.

I didn't personally go, but my wife did a couple years back I believe. The event she went to was free, they showed off a few things they offered, but then mainly tried to sell the products they were showing and the services the Spa offers. She's skipped it on subsequent cruises.

Hopefully someone else chimes in with more info, but based on what I heard it was basically an advertisement.

As for Weather.. from past experience this time of year (I didn't check the weather) the first day tends to be chilly, the rest of the days pretty warm and nice, and then the last sea day(s) {1 or 2, depending on port order} it gets progressively colder and they seem to close parts of decks.

If you have Your Time Dining and enjoy finishing dinner quickly (while having great service), see if you can sit with John's team if he's still there. (It was less than a month ago that I was on the ship.)

We usually like to eat dinner early (~6-ish), finish in time to see the 1st Playlist show, slip back to our room to change or listen to some live music, and then go see the late night comedy. That's really only possible when the dining staff are able to get you out quick enough to see the first show (which is meant for late seating.)

John was able to get us our dinner quickly without making us feel rushed. He definitely earned a big tip from us (in addition to the auto grats).

Also, if you haven't done a Behind The Fun Tour, it's totally worth it on the miracle.

Splendor was sold to China and will be going sometime in 2018.

They're still advertising cruises on the Splendor through April of 2019 from Long Beach.

I was on the 3/25 sailing. I cannot speak for internet speeds themselves since I didn't have a package, but when it comes to connection strength I can speak to that. I was unable to connect to their wifi at all from my cabin or balcony (deck 6 forward) -- I know this because I was using the Hub App occasionally. Cellular At Sea data also did not connect in my cabin.

Wifi Connection strength (WiFi itself) was fine in the Atrium, Alchemy Bar, Red Frog Pub, Lido, Serenity Deck, piano bar, and main theater. The Mad Hatter's Lounge was hit or miss when it comes to connectivity.

I just got back from the Carnival Miracle and did this tour. I paid $95 (I think) and it lasted from 9am to 12:30pm. It was a GREAT experience and I'm so glad I did it. An HR director led the tour and it seemed like all the crew knew her, greeting her by name as we went by.

I got 2 "free" 8x10 pictures of the group with the captain and in the galley, and some nice other things. It was worth the price for the experience.

On the other hand, I wouldn't do it again on the same ship or on a smaller ship since I've already done it on this one once, but I'd do it on a larger ship :)

I don't know about glass blowing companies, but in the past there has been a guy in a booth right on the docks in Puerto Vallarta that does glass blowing. He even made us a couple of custom pieces. Unfortunately I don't remember his name, but he was there the past 3 years we've gone. I've also heard of a place called Mundo de Cristal in PV, but I haven't been there.

We too are looking at the Miracle for next January, just wish it had the 2.0 upgrade!!

The did a dry dock and upgraded the Miracle to 2.0 a year or two ago. It has all the Carnival stuff (for better or worse) such as Playlist Production, Red Frog Pub, Alchemy Bar, etc. It doesn't have the licensed things such as Guy's Burgers and ESPN Bar (though it does have an updated sports bar.)

I am traveling with a new cruiser. I know that laptops do not fit in the safe. My daughter always brings hers and we have always left it in the room with zero problems. We did not even think about it. Does anyone have any suggestions for storing lap tops?

I've never taken my laptop on a cruise, but when I take it on land-based vacations and leave it in the hotel then I use this lock:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000K4KH

You just lock it to a permanent (or heavy) piece of furniture and it's pretty tough. They can (of course) break your laptop or try to use it (so keep it secure that way), but you won't have to worry about it wandering off.

They also sell ones that use a code instead of a key, if you don't want to carry a key around on a cruise.

I heard someone mentioned "Cinnamon Toast Crunch." Sounds horrible, but i am likely to try it

I've had it and it really tasted similar to cinnamon toast crunch. I wasn't a huge fan (I'm not into the sweeter drinks), but my wife liked it

Do you remember how much this cost you? I have always wondered.

Carnival publishes their rates in a few places on their site so they can be easily found. Here's one of them: https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/~/calling-home

It looks like the price is currently $1.99/minute

I dont drink the shakes anymore, but I like the protien bars for a good shot of protien.

Do you eat Quest's protein bars? They are great -- but the original recipe was better before they changed it.

I completely agree. PJ's and robes have no place in any food venue. If you want to stay comfy in your bedtime clothing, there is always the room service option. It is just as easy to throw on a pair of shorts and t-shirt or a sundress to go into the restaurants/buffets.

How'd you manage to resurrect this zombie thread from last year? I'm honestly just curious if pajamas or something are in the 'news' now and caused you to search for it :)

Do you think the vibrations of the ship would make a first timer sea sick?

I've been on the Miracle multiple times and experienced the vibrations, but I don't think it would make someone sea sick by itself. Of course the movement of the ship might. The vibrations are a bit annoying during dinner time, but I never really associate them with movement.

Last cruise on the Miracle the MDR was used for Diamond/Platinum debarkation. Only option was the buffet. The MDR did have juices and pastry available on a cart.

When was that? The last time I was on the Miracle (last March) we had breakfast on the bottom floor of the MDR. (This was like our 4th time on the Miracle, and it was the same way previously.) They usually only use the bottom floor for breakfast from my experience, anyway. The top floor was where Plat/Diamond/FTTF waited for priority debarkation. I always enjoy one last breakfast onboard and chatting with other passengers about their experience and the plans for their trip home.

I have used the netti pot for 10 yrs now a swear by it. And have been on 8 cruises and just use the water that comes out of the shower, just like I do at home. No problems.

You're taking your chances... Neti pots are great, but using tap water isn't.

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm316375.htm

Does this cruise line actually confiscate electronic items ?? I want to bring my curling iron, clothes steamer, hair dryer and a few other plug in comforts of home. Has anyone ever had or heard of things actually being confiscated ?? I know they threaten it, but do they really do it ??

They do. The most I've personally had confiscated were power strips until I learned to put them in my carry-on. On my last trip, someone else's luggage (matching mine) was delivered to my room. Inside was a notice that said a curling iron was confiscated -- that confused me since I hadn't brought one but then I noticed it was someone else's clothes.

If they do confiscate the items, then they'll have you pick them up on debarkation morning.