Barsnikel

We have about 45 cruises now (Holland, NCL, Carnival) ... the past 4 have been on Celebrity. So we are not BRAND new, nor are we under 50. We have found the quality of food to be a little better (not significantly, but better), the ships about the same (some old, some new, some big, some small). The entertainment was slightly better, but much less subdued. If Celebrity is wanting a much younger crowd, they do need to step it up some. A piano bar would work well. We will continue to book Celebrity, as well as the others.

In other ports, I can often find an inexpensive massage, but as many times as I've been to Cozumel I have never seen one. For example, in Costa Maya or Progreso, there are massage tables out on the beach. I can usually negotiate a 1 hour massage for 25-40 dollars, and they are very good. I've never seen massage tables advertised or set up in Cozumel. Has anyone ? (I know there are professional massage parlors in Cozumel, but I'm talking about independent discount massages...)

Possible, but unlikely

well... as I just posted in another thread... Cruise pricing is just like the airlines..., it goes up and down, and changes daily. No one can figure out the math involved. Based on my history of cruising, most all of it is "marketing" games. Spin it a different way with different words, but the price stays relatively the same. That's not to say that good deals can't be found.. they can. But you have to be diligent in your searching, and knowledgeable in how they spin things.

Cruise pricing is just like the airlines..., it goes up and down, and changes daily. No one can figure out the math involved. Based on my history of cruising, most all of it is "marketing" games. Spin it a different way with different words, but the price stays relatively the same. That's not to say that good deals can't be found.. they can. But you have to be diligent in your searching, and knowledgeable in how they spin things.

Jonekl3... just to add what others have already said.... Dinner service in the Main Dining Room has 3 types of seating : Early (ie: 6PM), Late (ie: 8PM) and Anytime Dining. You select which you want at the time you book your cruise. There are advantages and disadvantages to all three, depending upon your needs. You need not worry about missing shows, as most show times are staggered and repeated so that all passengers have an opportunity to see them, regardless of dinner service. For families with kids, Early Seating is often the right choice, as kids tend to want to eat early. However, on port days, this may mean you have to rush back to the ship in order to change and get to the MDR on time. Late seating is often the choice of those without kids, and means you are not rushing back to the ship – but you eat late. And Anytime Dining is just that – you are seated anytime you wish while the MDR is open for service. Early and Late seating are assigned seating and assigned tables. This means you will eat with other passengers (and the same passengers) each night. It is a great way to meet others on the cruise, and life-long friendships have been made this way. Conversely, you may also be seated the entire cruise with people you don’t particularly like or enjoy. Anytime Dining is somewhat “open seating” – meaning they may seat you at a table by yourself, or it may be with others… but it differs each night, depending upon what table is available at the time you arrive. With Anytime Dining, if you request, you can often be seated by yourself if a table is available). Anytime Dining offers great flexibility, but you may also have to wait several minutes for a table. If you select Early or Late seating, you need to arrive in the MDR on time. Being 10 minutes late is acceptable, but late more than 10 minutes is not, and some people have been refused seating for being late. The dinner staff have this down to a science, and a late arrival can throw off service for the whole table. Be on time. If you are running late, it is probably best to just have dinner in the buffet.

Yes, and they know that. I experienced something similar. All cruise lines advertise these "sales" with conditions that make it tough to really get the discount promoted.

I have booked a December cruise on the Pride for myself and my son. He has a job that allows him to work from any location, as long as he can use WiFI. In the many cruises I have taken, I have never needed (or wanted) WiFI on the ship, but obviously it is something he will require. He will need VPN capability, which is something that can be turned off or enabled by the WiFI service provider. Has anyone attempted a VPN connection on a Carnival ship ? And if so, which package is required ? I intend to contact Guest Services, but they do not always give the most accurate answers 🙂 Thanks in advance for your guidance....