Old CCL Vet Needs Update

[camarowesley]

How are the cabin temps? The last several times we cruised our cabins were like a sauna. They were so hot we literally slept on the serenity deck one night. 

[camarowesley]

On 5/30/2022 at 8:11 PM, thecruiserofships said:

I first started cruising Carnival in 2007 and here are some of the highlights that have changed after 2010:

 

• Guy's Burger Joint - Carnival added a branded venue to all ship's Lido called Guy's Burger Joint which serves complimentary hamburgers at lunch and typically closes around 6pm. There is a toppings station (kind of like a Fuddruckers) by the Guy's Burger Joint. This replaced the old style chicken tenders, homemade chips, and hottdogs that Carnival used to have on the non-branded Lido hamburger line.
• Blue Iguana Cantina - This is a complimentary line at lunch that serves tacos and burritos. 
• Pizzeria - Carnival changed the Pizzeria menu around the 2012-2013 timeframe. The options for pizza are less. My favorite pizza onboard used to be the pan pizza with all the vegetables, but that is long gone. There are now only 5 or so choices for pizza and the pizza is much more thin compared to the old style. Pizza is not 24 hours right now due to the crew staffing shortage. 
• Lido Desserts - Carnival changed the Lido desserts a few years ago to be more cake/pie based. Different flavors are served each day at lunch and typically flavors are not repeated so if you see something you would like, eat it when you see it. The old style cookies, jello, and 24 hour ice cream are still available. 
• Introduction of Your-Time Dining - Depending on the last time you cruised Your-Time Dining may have not been introduced yet. Traditional fixed time seating is still available. Your-Time Dining allows you to eat any-time in a range of time. After Covid you check in for this using the Carnival Hub App. You may or may not get auto assigned to the same table or waitstaff under this, but if desired can ask the hostess station to see if they accommodate getting the same waitstaff.  
• Carnival Hub App & QR Code Menus -  Since the pandemic a lot of menus (dining room, bar, etc.) are digital. I highly recommend downloading the Carnival Hub App prior to your cruise as it is useful onboard. Some paper menus are still available, but it can take some time for the crew to track them down. The Hub App displays dining info, entertainment info, and more. 
• Daily Activity & Information - The Carnival Capers disappeared around 2010 and became the Fun-Times. After the pandemic this turned into a single sheet What's Happening newsletter and is not delivered to your stateroom. You can pick up a copy at Guest Services or Coffee Bar on the Promenade.
• Self-Mustering -  The old style muster station drill of having to stand or sit in a muster station at a set time went away with the pandemic. On your first day after boarding you go to your muster station and they will show you how to put on your lifejacket. Overall takes about 5 minutes versus the old style drill which took 30 at a minimum. I like this much more! 
• Embarkation -  You are no longer given your Sail & Sign card upon check-in at the terminal. It will be located in your stateroom door mailbox. Your boarding pass will be used to get you on the ship. This process started before Covid, but has continued even after the shutdown. Also, embarkation now has a Covid test and vaccine check added in besides having to show your passport or other travel documentation. 
• Stateroom Servicing -  Only happens once a day now, but your stateroom steward will let you pick morning or evening. The chocolate mints are no longer given. Also, the old freebie basket that used to be in the stateroom bathroom that had samples of various random products is no more.
• Since you mentioned you are Platinum I highly recommend printing the email Carnival sends you prior to sailing with the list of the benefits & how to get them. Once onboard they don't deliver anything to your room. You have to go to the Photo Gallery (or other designated location) to pick-up your platinum gift & pin. On cruises 5+ nights the Chocolate Delight is scheduled through room service. Priority boarding is temporarily not available, but platinum & diamond guests get to do online check-in 48 hours prior to everyone else. 

 

This is all I can think of for now and there are probably many other things that I did not think to write here!  I just got off the Carnival Breeze last week and have pictures of all of the various food items in the Lido & Main Dining Room as well as various menus (bar, dining room, etc.) from my cruise. It is on my personal cruise blog if you would like to look at pictures & menus: 
http://www.embarkandaway.com/carnival-breeze-cruise-review-2022.html 

I know you are going on the Sunrise which is a completely different ship than the Breeze, but a lot of food served could be similar depending on the length of your cruise as Carnival likes to have a semi-standardized offering across ships. 

 

 

Do Platinum cruisers still get early access to their cabin?