Brand new to Carnival - help me please

[colesc15]

Hi all. My wife and I have been loyal to Royal for a handful of years, but recently got a casino offer to try Carnival. I think I've narrowed it down to Mardi Gras since the date works for us. One of their newest ships seems like the best option to use a casino offer.

 

8 nighter to grand turk, amber cove, etc. With my offer, I'm able to get an oceanview cabin OR a Havana interior for the exact same price. Is the Havana area worth giving up the oceanview window? I can upgrade to a cove balcony for about $200 a person but I'm not thinking we're going to do that. 

Thanks in advance! 

[jeniceglassman]

For 8 days I would suggest ocean view. We did a Cove for Mexico & loved it, but wouldn't pay that $ for upcharge.Whatever your choice, enjoy!

 

[colesc15]

Is the Havana area anything special or not worth giving up the oceanview window? 

[ninjacat123]

10 minutes ago, colesc15 said:

Is the Havana area anything special or not worth giving up the oceanview window? 

I have heard that MG's Havana area is not as special as Horizon's.  We are booked in a Havana Cabana on Horizon for the "ship within a ship" benefit.  MG's may be different but would still have the "ship within a ship" feel.  Is that something you would want?  Make sure you go to Emeril's on MG (odd hours, excellent food), Big Chicken, Street Eatz (food selections change daily) and gelato on Lido near the Shwarma station I think.  Free and delish!  Have a great time on MG!!

[colesc15]

4 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

I have heard that MG's Havana area is not as special as Horizon's.  We are booked in a Havana Cabana on Horizon for the "ship within a ship" benefit.  MG's may be different but would still have the "ship within a ship" feel.  Is that something you would want?  Make sure you go to Emeril's on MG (odd hours, excellent food), Big Chicken, Street Eatz (food selections change daily) and gelato on Lido near the Shwarma station I think.  Free and delish!  Have a great time on MG!!

Thank you! Would you agree it makes most sense to try Mardi Gras/celebration / jubilee as our first carnival cruise since the cost is the same for us regardless if it's the new class or one of the oldest? 

[Elaine5715]

3 minutes ago, colesc15 said:

Thank you! Would you agree it makes most sense to try Mardi Gras/celebration / jubilee as our first carnival cruise since the cost is the same for us regardless if it's the new class or one of the oldest? 

The Mardi Gras is my favorite ship

[ninjacat123]

19 minutes ago, colesc15 said:

Thank you! Would you agree it makes most sense to try Mardi Gras/celebration / jubilee as our first carnival cruise since the cost is the same for us regardless if it's the new class or one of the oldest? 

If you are happy with a "big" ship then YES!!  I loved MG with all of it's bells and whistles and I was traveling with my at the time 84 year old mom who needs my help getting around.  We thought it was a blast!!

FYI I had a deal for an Interior at $65/person for a week on MG (Oct 2021) and yes the rooms are a little smaller than other Carnival ship Interiors but it was the deal I couldn't pass up!😉

Edited January 21 by ninjacat123

[colesc15]

Does Carnival have a bidding system of some sort to bid on upgrading cabins as it gets closer to sail date? Also, is there an average price of a drink package? 

[Hoosierpop]

42 minutes ago, colesc15 said:

Is the Havana area anything special or not worth giving up the oceanview window? 

We have been on Mardi Gras Havana as well as the Horizon. It’s true the Havana is better on the Horizon (or Vista class ships) but we liked having an area to lay out and easy bar access on the MG without having to worry it’s too crowded. For the same price, we would go Havana every time over an ocean view room. Not close for us. And I get it’s all subjective. We just spend almost no time in our cabin.

[ninjacat123]

Just now, colesc15 said:

Does Carnival have a bidding system of some sort to bid on upgrading cabins as it gets closer to sail date? Also, is there an average price of a drink package? 

I've never heard of a bidding system for Carnival though I know other lines have that.  Carnival will sometimes offer an "upsell" on your Cruise Manager site and you can decide if that upsell is worth it or decline it.  You need to check your Cruise Manager at least once a week to see if an offer is there.

CHEERS! the drink package is $59.95/person (must be ordered by all adults in the cabin) when purchased before the cruise.  After that, on board it's 10% more and needs to be ordered the first day of the cruise, I believe.  This doesn't include the 18% gratuity.

Are you wondering if the drink package is worth it for you?

[silvercrikhix]

No bidding system. Drink pkg $60/day & 18% required gratuity / per person. 

[colesc15]

14 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

I've never heard of a bidding system for Carnival though I know other lines have that.  Carnival will sometimes offer an "upsell" on your Cruise Manager site and you can decide if that upsell is worth it or decline it.  You need to check your Cruise Manager at least once a week to see if an offer is there.

CHEERS! the drink package is $59.95/person (must be ordered by all adults in the cabin) when purchased before the cruise.  After that, on board it's 10% more and needs to be ordered the first day of the cruise, I believe.  This doesn't include the 18% gratuity.

Are you wondering if the drink package is worth it for you?

It seems within reason of royal caribbeans package. On Royal, we get 5 free drinks a day for being diamond plus and free drinks in the casino whenever it's open, so we haven't purchased a package in a while but obviously don't get the free drinks on carnival and casino drinks are set up a little different with carnival. From my understanding there's a daily cap on the drink package with carnival as well, although not really applicable since we aren't looking to get tanked. 

[PayneAS]

1 hour ago, colesc15 said:

It seems within reason of royal caribbeans package. On Royal, we get 5 free drinks a day for being diamond plus and free drinks in the casino whenever it's open, so we haven't purchased a package in a while but obviously don't get the free drinks on carnival and casino drinks are set up a little different with carnival. From my understanding there's a daily cap on the drink package with carnival as well, although not really applicable since we aren't looking to get tanked. 

Daily cap on the amount of *alcoholic* drinks. 15. There's plenty of nonalcoholic drinks that the package covers that the limit doesn't touch. 🙂