Colorado Cruzer

I have never done it because I don't care for seafood or lamb and the chefs seem to always use those on the menu.  Too pricey to not eat it.  I do the steakhouse several times instead.  Good luck and if you get a different menu, please post.  

Thank you.  I'll keep checking. 

When does FTTF appear in excursions for purchase these days?  Our cruise is April 2025 on Liberty out of NOLA.  Thx

We're gonna try.  The tour operator said he never has any issues with cruise passengers being late.  We will see.  

Weare on the Miracle so about half the passengers as Panorama.  I sure hope it all works out!

4 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

You can get up super early and grab one of the first tender tags. They are fairly prompt in making it a 20 minute turn around. 

ok, we have never done that before because we always get off late, thanks!

The private tour I booked with Picacho Adventures decided to move up the tours by 30 minutes on me so I'm wondering if anyone has done this cruise recently and can tell me what time they got to the tender dock?  We arrive at 10am according to Carnival's schedule and our tour pick up is all the way over by the Puerto Paraiso mall or the Pancho statue at 11am.  I have never tried to get off in Cabo right away so I don't know if we'll make it. Is that enough time to get on a tender boat and get to the mall in a cab, no way we can walk it in that time I think? 

Thanks for your help!

I like to visit cruise destinations in the winter around Jan or Feb.  I really don't like hot humid places so if I go in the winter, the temps are more bearable. Also, less crowded and less kids running around the ship.  

5 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

I don't know if every ship is using the same menus right now or not. I would think they probably are. I posted mine from Celebration last week here:

 

https://www.saintgregtravel.com/celebration-mdr-menus/

 

 

How were your MDR experiences last week?  And which dining did you have?  Curious if the situation has improved since we cruised Panorama in March 2022.  We're on the Miracle next weekend so I'm hoping our 1st timers don't have to experience a 2 hour breakfast...lol

I got mine this year during the regular, in person license renewal for Colorado.  CO makes you go to the DMV every 10 years or so when they won't allow you to renew online.

The only way you will know is if you don't buy it and add up your bar, soda and coffee expense while onboard. We always buy it, day one we go hard on the party vibe as vacation starts so it pays for about 3 days of cheers "value". 4 cocktails from the alchemy bar and 1 coffee gets us to break even.

Have a great trip!

Thank you!

We're on the Miracle for the 12/18 - 12/23 sailing and I"m wondering if there will be any Holiday themed events or deck parties.

It's not Christmas week yet for our sailing so was curioius what others have seen or experienced in the past.  Thanks!

49 minutes ago, Despegue said:

But tips of 18 % are Already included! This tipping culture is getting out of control in the USA. Sorry.

lol, that 18% on the package price of $52 per person/per day is about $9 per day for tips.  Bartenders usually get more than that even for 5 drinks per day.  You're only tipping on the current package price, not the actual number of drinks you get. As others have said, it doesn't matter how you want to tip but if someone asks for what we do, i'll let them know.

11 hours ago, BoozinCroozin said:

What is the magic number where you are not a "cheapo"? Seriously, tipping is going insane now instead of paying a living wage. Everywhere you go, there is a tip jar. So, what is this mythical number to tip? 

 

In the end it is not just 18%. It is 18% on an inflated number to begin with. Plus, they raised the price almost $10/day which increases tips to an additional $2 per day. It sounds small, but it severely increases. A majority of people don't drink 10-drinks per day. That equates to $1 tip per drink pre-paid. Lets figure out the amount of tips per day for 2 adults, with Cheers: $12pp/day for Cheers, $15pp/day for room stewards. 7 (days) x $27 x 2 (adults) = $378. That is a lot of money in tips that are basically required. Then everywhere you turn there is a TIP line. And don't forget the baggage guys that literally take the luggage I wheeled to them, scan it, and have me put it in on the luggage cart. I did the work, why didn't they tip me?

 

All I would like is someone to put an EXACT number that is considered acceptable. Is it 18%, 25%, 50%, 2,000%, just tell us? I want to know what my new tips are for my salaried job. I would love that 18% tip. That would almost cover what we pay in taxes, so I actual get what I earn. So please, tell me the percentage or dollar amount. 

25% minimum for complicated drinks, 20% is standard for tipping at American food and beverage establishments.  

The food quality was pretty bad back in March on Panorama and the poor service and lines for everything were a real bummer for us.  We have one more cruise in DEC and nothing booked after that.  I think if I want to cruise again, I'll try Celebrity or one of the nicer quailty lines. We usually book a suite so the cruise fare isn't a deal breaker for us, it's the experience once on board that matters to us and Carnival just hasn't been delivering like they did just 5 years ago even. Oh well, plenty of people will stil cruise Carnival and maybe someday the food in the MDR will be edible again and not take 2 hours...lol

On 10/26/2022 at 6:47 AM, tmarquez said:

 

 

Sadly we will smuggle now and Carnival will lose more money.  We cruise to chill on our balcony and watch the ocean and for the ports.  I won't buy Cheers to lose money on it and I am on vacation and won't be leaving my balcony to go to a bar to get a drink. 

 

  

How do you smuggle booze on? I use rum runners all the time for other types of trips via plane where I don't want to spend time or extra cash buying booze at the destination but never brought any on a cruise ship. 

lol, just move the stuff onto the ground and have a seat.  I don't subscribe to people hogging lounge chairs, if no one has come back for 15 min and I'm waiting, I'm taking that seat.

21 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Hate being rushed through dinner. If you want fast food, eat on Lido.

If there were better, faster options for dinner on lido, we would definitely not take the time for a long, poor service dinner. 

One hour or less is an industry standard for dining, even if it is 3 courses as some have stated. 

I do not consider the dining room to be a nice restaurant, it's more like a banquet hall. 

We typically avoid it if possible when there are multiple specialty dining options.  On smaller ships like the Miracle coming up for us, only one steakhouse so we will likely give the MDR a try again but if it's slow and the food isn't good, we'll try to eat early dinner before all the places on lido close.

It's rare for me to want breakfast during traditional breakfast hours so I just like that I can have it at noon.  Now, if it takes 2 hours to have brunch in DEC on Miracle, I may rethink doing it on the 2nd sea day...lol

We just add a buck to every drink slip they give us and if we have a very good and attentive server or bartender, we give an extra $20 or so on last night. 18% isn't even full tip % for American standards and that is only 18% on the package price.  For us, that is 5 alchemy bar drinks each to put it into perspective so the extra buck helps even it out in my mind.

Last cruise was so crowded and I'm thinking they were very short staffed in March on Panorama because none of the bartenders were good and the service on lido was very slow for drinks. I hope our Deecmber cruise on the Miracle is a better situation.

On 10/8/2022 at 7:18 PM, peoriaguy1958 said:

As a monthly cruiser on carnival, correct they removed captain Morgan spice rum when they switched to Pepsi ( don’t know if coke owns Morgan or not) but now they offer a Bacardi Spice Rum not nearly as good especially with Pepsi. I just sneak on my captain and bring my 12 pack of coke cans each cruise, it’s by far my favorite drink.

I've never considered sneaking it on but now that they are limiting the brands they carry, I may. lol, I have no idea how to do it though...

We usually tip a little extra on each drink because the 18% gratuity added really only covers about 5 drinks for us per day.  We love the Alchemy Bar so those are around $11 each before tax and grats.  

Have a fun cruise with Cheers!

Burrata, Short Rib with the eggplant side and potatoes, lemon polenta desert with that yummy lemon sorbet.  Have a great time! 

1 hour ago, kwokpot said:

They're done on the other cruiselines. It's great to see Carnival jumping on the bandwagon. 

the silent disco has been a staple at festivals for over a decade so it's fun that Carnival has finally decided to give it a try.

bonine. take 2 days before the cruise and every day of the cruise.  You should be able to buy online so you have it before you go.