ChinaShrek

I guess if people didn't buy the WiFi Carnival wouldn't keep raising prices but I intend to look at cruise lines that include it as part of the total price.

You keep saying that as if it justifies price increases. One fewer comedian or production show will easily pay for free WiFi and attract millions of millennials who need to be connected to the internet to enjoy life. Carnival needs to think outside the box if it wants to survive.

I haven't seen any enhanced cleaning protocols since the masks came off. They used to happily provide room cleaning twice a day - a full cleaning and now it is done begrudgingly once a day. They used to have wine stewards that knew about wine and now the waiter has to deal with the wine, That's reduction of service. They used to put napkins on my lap and unfold them as I sat down. Now, they do not. The list goes on and on. I see less work being done.

The reality is the service charge is used to pay the worker's salaries. It has nothing to do with how much or how little service you receive on the ship unfortunately. That's one of the problems I have with calling them gratuities or tips. If I (the customer) really paid people on the basis of their worth on a cruise, the amount I give would vary immensely from cruise to cruise and worker to worker. I suggest you adjust the gratuity amount as you please.

They (whoever they are) have reduced service since Covid, however.

I think the term Asian food is too broad. I would prefer a true Chinese restaurant with Kung Pao Chicken, Peking Duck, mapu tofu, egg fried rice, etc. I like Chinese food. I like Thai food. I like Vietnamese food. However, for some reason, I dislike Asian fusion. A Chinese restaurant with a small $10 up charge would be packed each night.

Complimentary WiFi is standard at hotels and restaurants throughout the United States. Delta will have free WiFi on all flights next year. Young people today wish to be connected to the world 24/7. WiFi will be a standard amenity on cruise ships within 10 years.

I was hoping they would just include free WiFi in the price of the cruise. It really should just be standard like water or meals.

Okay, thanks. I should have booked it for 2024.

Does anyone know when cruises out of Amsterdam and Copenhagen will be released for the summer of 2025? I thought it was this month but I am not seeing any. I am looking for the Arctic Circle cruise.

Because I don't trust HAL to give me a quick refund.

I don't like paying in advance with no guarantee of a spot. This also wouldn't work if there are multiple cruises on the same day and want to bid on all of them.

Casino has not counted for me. I charged thousands on one cruise and didn't receive any points for it.

I wish we would know in advance when it will be offered on my cruise. I am sailing on the Nieuw Statendam on 7/10/24 and need to book two specialty meals in advance. I also want to give Morimoto a try. I guess I can change my reservation if needed when I get on the ship.

HIA works well when it includes crew gratuities and if I can use the shore excursions.

I am going to start saying I am in Orange class. It sounds more sophisticated.

It was free in Seattle this summer. They were offering a promotion to get people to use it. A great deal!

Are these even real, original paintings by Thomas Kinkade?

I'm really torn but think checking the MDR out the first night would be worth it.

You really make Club Orange sound inviting compared to the MDR.

That's what I'll do. Thank you!

That's a good point and kind of why I posted my question. I will definitely choose one or the other.

The big draw for me was saving almost $1000 from an Obstructed Verandah Guarantee to an Unobstructed Verandah on Deck 8.

I have Club Orange booked for my cruise next summer on the Nieuw Statendam. How does dinner work? Do I have to eat in Club Orange every night or can I alternate one night there and the next night in the MDR? I am traveling solo but I want to sit with other people at dinner. If they offer to seat me alone, I may just go to the MDR where I know I can eat with a group. Conversely, I might eat in the MDR on the first night to see who my dinner mates would be for the week. If they're cool, I might eat with them all week and avoid Club Orange entirely. I guess I want a plan before I arrive on the ship. I have early fixed seating for dinner. What would you folks advise?

Thank you for posting all of the information about the bus and train. This allows me to visit Edinburgh without doing a tour, which I really didn't want to do.