innkeeper17

I think y'all got it wrong. PREMIER cruises state how much cash y'all receive. CASINO cruises state UP TO how much cash y'all might receive.

Agree mine stated the amount right on the flyer. One did say up to a certain amount but that was based on how many days the cruise was. I also called and verified with the Casino people on the phone. Surprisingly very nice as I was confused with my fist offer. My next offer was more to the point, maybe they corrected the wording on the earlier ones cause I shrugged my head at first and thought ehh.

Don't forget all the small lines worldwide. I'm sure many would jump at the chance to pick up a Destiny class ship at a reasonable price. It could easily be decades newer and hundred of passengers larger than their current ship. They could either then expand their fleet or retire their older ship.

Possible but do you think the worldwide credit markets are that liquid yet...

Maybe Carnival can do a "Buy here, Pay here" promotion

Not being a smart ass...just objective

Not to be glib, but ask the Navy how well that works.

 

It doesn't. The ship still needs to be maintained. And now when you are ready to take it out of mothballs years later, it is woefully in need of upgrades and repairs to match the current fleet.

 

A much better solution is to sell excess ships. You old beater is another cruise line's sweet new ride.

 

Personally, I think that is what they should have done with the Destiny. Sell her off and let another cruise line put millions into her in repairs and refurbishments. It would be a brand new ship to them and their passengers versus a retread to Carnival's existing passengers. Just from reading on here, I don't get the feeling Sunshine is going as well as they had hoped. I definitely have not heard of plans to do it to any other ship from the Destiny class.

I thought of that to at first then came the question to whom..

I am not totally convinced that even with an Asian market strategy will help with expanding the use of the excess ships. I say this for a few reasons... First the Asians are very protective of their markets. They will say to themselves, as they should, why don't I develop and cater to my own demand. Second I don't think the Cruise Industry understands the culture or demands that come alone with an Asian market.

This is no way a reflection of ignorance or racist feelings. I lived in Asia for many years, I understand how business is done. I know the culture and the business practices.

I am not totally convinced that the target consumer has even come close to recovering from the recession. Has the idea been brought to possibly "mothball" a few ships until things truly turn around...

I am still struggling with how the capacity in the cruise industry particularly in the Caribbean can be controlled. I have always thought that the super ship mentality was a poor one. Did anything ever go further with Richard Branson dipping his toes into the industry...

I'm sorry to hear of this. I hope this is just an experiment that Carnival will pull the plug on due to bad feedback, but I doubt we'll be that lucky.

 

I do wonder if they're going to change the Blackjack Pro machines. I guess I'll find out in 11 days.

They were on the Legend. Two of them, one with a 2 $ min and another with a 3 $ min.

ALSO when the ship arrived in Long Beach on its way to Australia (Which I could never swing) The CRAPS table was removed. In its place was a corner area where slots use to be and they are running Keno (Yay for keno and its odds) and virtual horse and dog racing on a large screen. Like an off track betting parlor, except the screens and the racing as computer generated. Very good details and the track would change with weather conditions...but still run with a computer.

I also noticed fewer slots and no named slots like wheel of F and others. There was ten 5-card poker machines and 5 of the penny machines that had reels. All other slot machines looked the same just different programmed games in them.

It was my impression that this ship is going away for awhile and they are going to run with this overseas before it does come back to the US. It seemed they were training everyone very seriously in this different setup.

I was off the Legend also on the P.C. cruise. 6:5 was the word and its going fleet wide. After a few days I wore on the management about moving the odds and they replied it is a growing policy in Vegas and whats left in Atlantic City. I almost fell out of my chair as Carnival Casinos never follows any etiquette when sited from the same places. As it has been sternly spoken to me when I did make a reference in the past two those places it was shot back at me that this is Carnival and they play by their rules. Well 3:2 is still alive and well in most markets and this is a further move to try to either take advantage of the less informed or move us to automated devices. Many I talk to, in house casinos I enjoy, agree this is a corporate move that may end up killing the goose that lays the golden egg. A very greedy move, borderline insulting. What I did not get an answer about was when I lay a side bet for the dealer does he get paid 6:5 on the bet.... Well the answer turned out to be NO. Dealers who get a player side bet get paid 1:1. During the conversation I looked the dealer very hard and without caution said out load the house is stealing from us. Period, the placard does not state that limitation on the payouts. The house has no right to change the odds that are not specified on the min-max placard. So lets say I leave a 2 dollar side bet it should be paid 6:5 if I hit Blackjack for the dealer. Its late so I am doing the math in my head but at that rate the casino has to pay 12.5 cents on the dollar for the side bet (Yes please correct me if I was wrong on the fractional payout I just being friendly with my argument) Under this scenario in most Casino Control jurisdictions this would be an illegal game. I have seen tables shut down for merely not being marked right. I follow the wizard of odds rules about gambling and one of the is "thou shall not cheat the house", well the house cheats the bettor and the dealer. If the house is willing to make such obvious oversights and collect a fractional take against its own rules then one has to wonder what else do they modify in the day-to-day operation.

With the rotating shoe and the 6:5 adjustment the advantage improves for the house by at least 3 percent. I am not going to play period in this arrangement. I spend enough to get the offers and I will finish out my cruises though those programs. I will go kicking and screaming (No not really) not for myself but for those who don't understand how badly things have changed on these tables.

On a side note in AC at one of the last still well functioning casinos as patrons we call this variation CrapJack.

Good luck to all

there's an app on the market now for iphones / apple products. google ripple cruise communicator....there's also a fb page for it, i've used it on both the elation and the dream and it worked great for us

Thumbs up on ripple.

After my second cruise, back when, I have used a PVP. Its nice to get assigned one, they get to know your habits and cruises that fit your tastes. The good ones will even go to bat for you if something happens. As another poster said, if the price changes I just call her and its done. Sometimes she has beaten me to it.

I am a bit partial when giving out good machines and great payouts but surprisingly you will find two of these machines on the floor. Great return with little chance of losing your shirt!

All I've ever played was a little Roulette. I think I want to try Blackjack. I'm going to practice online before going. Is it correct that the dealer has to hit on 17 or less?

 

Are there any other EASY table games you would recommend?

 

I'm probably only going to set aside a couple hundred to gamble away, so you can tell I'm not a "real" gambler. Just wanting a little entertainment that will hopefully last me for a few hours over the course of our cruise.

 

Thanks!

Try going to

Wizard of Odds

Great website about casino play. He teaches about playing all games of chance and is well known for his advice and strategies. Its free and has practice games.

Good luck

For those interested check out

wizard of odds

Its a non gambling website that breaks down every odd in all situations in a gambling house. I used it to improve and remind me why I should play pat!

Anyone who would be profiling your one-way ticket purchase knows perfectly well that you have an additional one-way for your return. They also know you have a cruise booked. ;)

 

 

 

 

 

Just curious and not being snarky at all - why the soft interrogation for two tanzanite pieces? I've gone through CBP plenty, always honestly, occasionally over the free duty amount, although never with jewelry, only liquor and/or cigarettes, and I've never been questioned. I did witness a spectacular bust of someone returning from Ireland at the height of the Mad Cow days with a suitcase jam packed with meat products - 100% not allowed to be imported.

 

 

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I went over my personal duty amount not by a few dollars. Those tanzanite pieces were bracelets that had to be insured. I spent two months planning the purchase and felt I got a great deal. Possibly the issue of the amount. They did take it seriously.

As I mentioned I did not feel it was a big deal. But I guess a solo man bringing back two nice bracelets may look odd to them

I also thank you for your service!!!

 

I think honesty can be read by an experienced person -- and so can politeness and "duty." I wonder if they "checked your history" or he just assumed???

 

Again, thank you and thank your family for the sacrifice of allowing you to serve!!!

Thank you for that comment.

I was very upfront with them. I did feel the drill and observation. Its possible he did an agency check while I was waiting. I never thought of gaming the system. While I processed my duty and witness people young and old crying or handcuffed, I don't think its a good idea to do something stupid that could ruin ones life.

My first solo cruise I went without my daughters. I am a single father and they are getting up in the college age so I took the solo cruise and got hooked. Well My daughters for years always wanted a peculiar Tanzanite bracelet and as a gift for them doing so well in school I bought each one a bracelet. Yes at two I went over Duty. I was honest and reported it on the form. I was pulled out of line and taken to that room you don't want to go to. Being retired from the military I recognized I was being softly interrogated. At one point I was asked to provide pictures of my daughters and complied. The officer went back into a office and came back and asked me to provide a form of payment for Duty. I gave him my card and watched as other people who didn't do the right thing were either handcuffed to a chair or the contents of their suitcase was dumped out. After 20 minutes I was let go and as I walked out the door the Officer thanked me for my service. (Interesting as I never revealed my military background)

I guess I am in the minority about the 18-20 yo group. It is always about alcohol. There are a lot of people that don't drink alcohol. Many in all age groups. They can still go to the night club, order virgin drinks, gamble, and other things the adults can do, except drink.

 

I think this age group has a much better opportunity to meet others in their age group, then say a 30-50 adult, who doesn't drink and is traveling solo. Somehow they seem to find their own fun.

Yes both myself and my soon to be 18 year old daughter, who will be a senior in High School, thinks its a great idea she will be in a club atmosphere with 30-50 year olds. I guess using your logic this will be the perfect opportunity to teach her blackjack. Yes 30-50 solos do have a better chance of having fun, cause they have the experience to be social with their own peers. I think the former attitude was that if they were 18 and still in high school they are welcomed in O2. As a single father of young adult daughter(s) I can assure you they don't have the skills to be social with grown adults at 18...or even 19. That being said I have great communication with them and try to guide them in the right direction, but if you think they are going to the adult club to dance and not get hit on or offered drinks, then that might be mistaken. I like NCL position if the person is 18-20 they can drink light alcohol drinks like beer with my permission. As one poster in another thread pointed out, we end up on islands where the age drops below 21 and this crowd attempts to drink mixed drinks. This is not a flame on you, it just seems strange that 18 year olds will not be welcomed in O2 based on a story posted on this board. Heaven forbid we continue to let these 18 year olds remain in High Schools.

Well another person on this board has started a vendetta against anyone 18 and over in Club O2. My oldest daughter was let in while she was 18 and early 19. She was in school and as the last person pointed out it was up to the discretion of the person in charge. She says a 20 year old get involved with her 15 year old. It seems its on the Carnival website now and from what I read they will forbid anyone 18 and over. My youngest is turning 18 a few weeks before our summer cruise. She already hates the idea that if she wants to go dancing it will be with the adults. The oldest caught on she could get bought drinks and started hanging there at 19. Uhhh the efforts to keep an eye on her! If they are going to get rigid about this there should be something for 18-20 year olds.

As far as 'free' cruises, I wish that Carnival would either stop doing that altogether or reveal the process and/or criteria. It would eliminate a lot of butthurt for their 'tetchier' customers.

BINGO!

Hey I am all up for bring back some of the older perks like the future cruise certificate that they claimed wasn't making any money. It doesn't make any sense to look forward to a milestone and its perks when people can score a free cruise for no reason. To everyone who gets free cruises, congrats I am happy for you. Please don't brag it to me over dinner where I paid a full rate.

Sadly I have been around on Carnival to see the changes and the perks I use to look forward to. Now most of the perks can be bought for 49.99.

Okay I am a big boy so you can flame me about my observations!

What is the real kicker is that Carnival is beginning to pit its own customers against each other. They either have a very bad PR and Marketing advisors or they are making a decision about the direction to take Carnival Cruise Line in. Its a rather odd approach as I don't think it is working!

Thank you for the heads on this promotion. Never got any notice from Carnival about it. Great way to get 10 percent on money, I would have spent anyway!

Well no luck for me either, although my father left a voice mail wanting to talk about planning a cruise. They cruised with myself and daughters once two years ago and been getting some of the mystery offers. My parents are more Holland America folks, its always fun to watch them marvel at the energy on a Carnival ship.

I think Carnival has done a poor job with the Marketing and PR on this offer. I am still curious as to why they just don't tell us how this really works. I mean if marketed right, it would attract more people if they just say its a contest...sail once and get put into a lottery for future great offers! I am a grown adult I can handle not "being selected" if I knew why.

I really made up when the single cruise rates opened up at the beginning of the year! As a single father of teenage daughters who grew up vacationing on Carnival it was fun to get away by myself and only have to pay for me. Great move Carnival, I took two since! Plus I appreciate the Military offers they include with some of my bookings..nothing too much to complain about.

As a Platinum, I really have only minor issues with Carnival. I only hope that Carnival doesn't take my loyalty for granted, that's my only concern. With that said, Carnival is still the best bang for the buck!

In a dream I once had, we were complaining about the apox take of 15% on the machine. By the end of the second day where there was a regular group that met. A thoughtful member of our group suggested a game among ourselves. Each one of us would go to the casino and pull around 150.00 in chips. Craps was a good table for small and on roulette it wasn't unusual to ask for 20 one dollar chips. Met in places such as the library and kept a low profile. We would use the chips and pass the shuffle with the deck of cards bought in the casino. A good time was had by all and no complaints or crew members fret. Of course the dream lasted around 8 days....

I was on the last 8 day cruise on the freedom, 5-13th. Very little of signs of a prep for the dry dock, most of the crew was talking about working and spending their time at Freeport. I took the Behind the Scenes tour and it became very obvious that there was a full effort to do the dry dock. Lots of workers milling about, a lot of supplies of replacement equipment in the holds. The last two days at sea the stage was under going some work. The last day while debarking the arcade game area was being stripped, I am not sure if they were doing a one day rehab of the area or not. As I walked around the tour there where miles of wiring and cables being replaced. We pulled into St Thomas at midnight and they did some testing that lasted till 8ish, before the passengers were permitted to get off the ship. Until I took the Behind the scenes tour I would say I saw little interruption of service or venues on the ship. With that said going into the crew area, it was a beehive of activity. While not trying to blow smoke here, it was quite impressive how well the work that was being done went unnoticed

I was also on the recent cruise (9th) also in the spa area. I have to say I was very disappointed in the quality and professionalism of some of the staff there. I had the luck of booking a balcony under the gym area. On the second night I was awoken by a big whoomp. Then another, and another... While they may close down the gym to cruisers, the crew uses it during those times. The big boom sounds where crew members dropping free weights on the floor. I went to the spa desk and they were quite nasty with me about anyone using the gym after hours. Guest services said it was waves hitting the side of the ship...I said really, I would hear that up on the 10th deck. Yes a lot of new cruisers confuses noises. I quietly kept my platinum card in my pocket and wondered what else they were going to tell me.

I have taken the train to Penn from both Philadelphia and Trenton. If taken from Philadelphia it is a Septa Regional to Trenton to NY Penn station. If you are seniors you might find out taking this route very reasonable. The rates are decent and NJ transit is very good with the times getting in to Penn. Its really not too hard and if you do the transfer in Trenton I ended up on the same platform where the next route started. The money saved using SEPTA to Trenton through NJ Transit for myself was respectable to other ways (Military Rate same as seniors). Its not bad and easy to do... I think I paid 7 Dollars for the whole ride a week ago...

Was booked into an 8 day cruise on a Caribbean run under early saver when they announced the Legend was doing the Panama Canal. I asked my PVP if I could switch the cruises without the penalty, normally no....but she said if there was a situation where there was either an upgrade on the original cruise or if the cruise I switched to cost more I could grovel my case to her supervisor. Surprisingly I was able to come to an arrangement. Was charged the 50.00 per person fee but was given 50.00 OBC per person on the Legend. So it seems like a wash but I also got the feeling this is a one time adjustment as I think they keep really good records on when I call and what I ask for. I am also a regular cruiser so I don't know how that would play into anything.