I feel like a traitor...

[CKM]

I did a B2B in April to achieve diamond tier. On embarkation I received a diamond sign and sail card and on the second, when actually I wouldn’t be diamond until the end of the second cruise.

How’s that for service?

I also received my 25% off when I reached 25 Carnival cruises, received it as OBC for an international cruise out of Rome. I have not used my complementary specialty restaurant  or upgrade/free 3rd/4th person in same cabin. I will probably use the upgrade for a more expensive cruise or for my grandchildren.

 

Unlimited wash/fold is very nice.

[CKM]

Once diamond there is no more levels to go and no other perks. That’s why we tried RC but on longer cruises the wash/fold is well worth having bc not as much clothes to pack.

[CKM]

Since I’m diamond on Carnival, it will have take many cruises on another cruise line to get any quality perks, that’s mainly the reason for sticking to CCL. Yes, it’s also a pet peeve of mine that CCL does not reciprocate to their other cruise lines. Celebrity and RC do, maybe not equally but better than nothing.

 

On another note- just sailed on RC (disembarked Saturday), talk about loaded with old people! So many scooters blocking hallways, people in wheelchairs and walkers, etc. Activities more or less shut down at 8-9pm. I have nothing against “old people” , in fact I’m reaching that distinction faster than I’d like 🤪😟 but cruising activities need to be geared for everyone, young, not so young and “old”.

[CKM]

Yes CCL has the coin pusher.

 

Talk about free!

Just got a casino offer for free balcony, $100 deposit pp then get $100 OBC pp.

looking to book an 11 day Alaska cruise in May. Hopefully it works out . We usually get an inside cabin but after that RC inside box (cabin, smallest ever) I’m down for a balcony.

[ray98]

We have bounced around since we started cruising.  Our first was RC, then Carnival and then NCL.  It has been an assortment ever since.  I could not imagine being 'loyal' to a cruise line.

[Illbcruzn4life]

On 9/14/2023 at 4:16 PM, CKM said:

Since I’m diamond on Carnival, it will have take many cruises on another cruise line to get any quality perks, that’s mainly the reason for sticking to CCL. Yes, it’s also a pet peeve of mine that CCL does not reciprocate to their other cruise lines. Celebrity and RC do, maybe not equally but better than nothing.

 

On another note- just sailed on RC (disembarked Saturday), talk about loaded with old people! So many scooters blocking hallways, people in wheelchairs and walkers, etc. Activities more or less shut down at 8-9pm. I have nothing against “old people” , in fact I’m reaching that distinction faster than I’d like 🤪😟 but cruising activities need to be geared for everyone, young, not so young and “old”.

nvm I see it was the Mariner

Edited September 16, 2023 by Illbcruzn4life

[highSeas22]

13 hours ago, ray98 said:

We have bounced around since we started cruising.  Our first was RC, then Carnival and then NCL.  It has been an assortment ever since.  I could not imagine being 'loyal' to a cruise line.

I've been treated very well on ncl, royal, princess and carnival

Cruising is cruising

[CKM]

Just so everyone knows, I’ve cruised Carnival, RC, and NCL. They were all good, just some were better than others. Maybe it was the tiny inside cabin that affected my attitude on this latest cruise bc all other cruises were just fine. NCL was first class. Carnival even though it’s considered a “fun ship”, as older adults, I’ve always had a great time.

 

I’ve even been on a cruise when a drunk passenger thought it would be better to jump overboard than face consequences of being belligerent.

 

I’ve always been of the mindset that each cruise is what you make it. I just couldn’t help compare RC to CCL on my last cruise. 
 

The staff is ALWAYS great!  Variety of activities are somewhat lacking at times I suppose on all cruise lines.

 

So, let’s cruise and have a great time. Who knows! Maybe we’ll be on the same cruise one day 😉

 

Blessings,

CKM

[JandPB]

We are trying VV in February out of San Juan. Looking forward to a change of pace. I’m not as far along as some in loyalty, but we are close to Platinum with Carnival. We booked this for the itinerary more than anything but we’re excited to try something different. We have been on HAL, Royal as well as my better half being on Disney and Princess. 
 

~PB

[Rudyard]

We just cruised with Royal last week for the first time in 12 years. It felt a bit odd at first but that feeling passed pretty quick. We mainly booked it because we wanted a cruise that went to Roatan and Allure had much better rates than Vista when I booked it. Plus I've wanted to try one of their mega ships for a while now so I finally got to see what that was like. Back on Carnival in less than three months, but we'll book with Royal or another line in the future just for the variety. Hoping the fourth terminal at Galveston doesn't get held up for too long as the city has been in negotiations with both MSC and NCL to get ships there year round. Would love to cruise NCL again and would like to try MSC. 

[Tssweety]

On 9/12/2023 at 3:11 PM, cyntil8ing said:

I have been lucky enough to do four cruises this year. On four different cruise lines! I am currently on my first ever NCL cruise and really enjoying it.

 

We were on Carnival two weeks ago, so I am pretty conscious of the differences.
 

Honestly, this cruise feels throwback. We picked up our cabin keys in the terminal. We shared a table in the dining room for embarkation lunch. We get menus in the dining room, and the dessert menu is separate, given after the meal. The daily newsletter is delivered to the cabin the evening before, and it has ads for the spa and shopping (that I throw away). I am really enjoying it!

 

My next two bookings are on Celebrity and Carnival, but based on this cruise so far, I will be looking carefully at Norwegian in the future.

Going on our first NCL .. do you know if you can you request a private table for 2 for dinner?  We do with Carnival and RCCL. Just wondering! Looking forward to the escape !

 

[sparks1093]

9 hours ago, Tssweety said:

Going on our first NCL .. do you know if you can you request a private table for 2 for dinner?  We do with Carnival and RCCL. Just wondering! Looking forward to the escape !

 

It's been a hot minute since we've been on NCL but unless things have changed drastically if you show up with two people you will be seated at a table for two unless you request otherwise.

 

And there is no need for anyone to feel like a traitor for trying another line. This is a business transaction, pure and simple. We were getting super attached to NCL back in the day and then a new guy took over and really emphasized for us that it is a business transaction. We book cruises based on which one costs the least for when and where we want to go. Most of the time, that is Carnival, but if we do find a less expensive cruise then we would have no qualms booking with another line.

 

(Recently booked with Celebrity because when we added what Celebrity includes in the fare to the Carnival fare then Celebrity came out less. Unfortunately they decided to move that ship's home port and cancelled the cruise on us. When we looked for a replacement cruise Carnival came out less.)

[cyntil8ing]

13 hours ago, Tssweety said:

Going on our first NCL .. do you know if you can you request a private table for 2 for dinner?  We do with Carnival and RCCL. Just wondering! Looking forward to the escape !

 

We were seated with others only for that first lunch, and they asked before doing so. When we had dinner, we were not asked and always seated at a table for two.

[Tssweety]

1 hour ago, cyntil8ing said:

We were seated with others only for that first lunch, and they asked before doing so. When we had dinner, we were not asked and always seated at a table for two.

Thank you!! 

[Cruise till you drop]

We are Platinum on Carnival but have sailed Princess and Celebrity since 2015.

 

Other than avoiding children on cruises, I got kind of tired of the waiter entertainment at dinner.