Cruise, J.D.

The "pay-as-you" drink prices are not too bad, depending on what you get. The specialty cocktails on the various menus often contain two or more pours, so they become a really good deal. When we ordered a single pour drink, we were usually asked if we wanted an additional shot for only $3. I also think the 16oz SA Rebel IPA (6.5%) is a pretty good deal (and a good beer).

 

So I can just get the girls a state issued ID card? And they'd be good along with their birth certificate for this time?

No, you don't have to do that. If a minor is under 16, he or she does not need a government issued photo ID to cruise. Just a birth certificate.

Thanks for the review. You are so right about the pools. On our last cruise kids were running around the pool and jumping in on top of others. The only employees around were the drink servers.

It looks like on some of the fun times that I've seen, the pools stay open late.

I always remember the cruises we've been on in the past, that the pools have closed by about 7PM.

We will be on the Magic, and was wondering if the pools do indeed stay open late.

Thanks!

We were on the Magic recently and yes, the main pool was open later than in the past. There were people using it during the movies under the stars. I remember thinking I had never seen the pool open that late.

If you have YTD and want a "real" table for 2, ask for a booth. The standard tables for 2 are not very private.

In fact, some are almost like a table for 6 because Carnival will line up 3 tables for 2 very close together. The table in the middle will have to talk to both sides, which then causes tables 1 and 3 to have to interact. I've seen it many times and been part of it many times.

A few weeks ago while in port I walked back onto the Magic with a bottled soft drink in my hand. Security was watching me the whole time. I was waiting for and expecting them to stop me, but they didn't.

As usual, the application of any particular policy depends on the ship and/or employee. I would not try it at embarkation or with a package of bottles though.

It's so funny to see the misplaced anger when these posts come up. There are so many wanna be cruise credit police on here.

Carnival controls if the person gets a future cruise credit or not. If you don't like those without insurance getting cruise credit, then get mad at Carnival. They control the system.

And this is a much better place to come to for relevant and accurate information than calling the 1800# at Carnival.

As far as I know, this is only an option on certain ships. Have they implemented this fleetwide since January?

The Comfort Matters program, in which you fill the card out, no. But, you can always make your own arrangements with the steward.

Curious about the arcade. Did your children use it? If so, how does it work? Do you use your sign and sail card and get charged per game you play? Do you get a separate card and then charge it up with money?

The games use your S&S card. Yes, you are charged per game and per how many times you play it. It can add up quick.

Great I needed this information too, we love Dr. Cave beach and wanted to see what the prices where, is the Cab fare $7 pp each way? and if there are 20 plus of you i guess its best to get a shuttle? do you know what the fees to get in our these days?

 

Thanks in advance for any information.

Yeah, it was $7pp each way. I think the entrance is $6pp and chairs and umbrellas are the same.

Thank you for the information. Looks like I'll be staying on the ship.

YW. We took a cab to Margaritaville and walked the Hip Strip. I've been there two other times and this time I didn't feel safe. It was trashy and run down. I saw a few things that gave me pause. I'd rather have stayed on the ship and I normally love to get off in port. MB is not worth it unless you have an excursion or are going to the beach.

Thanks, i was wondering the same thing. Do you know which beaches are the closest to the port?

Doctor's Cave is the only one I know of (other than Sunscape Resort, an AI). It's a $7pp each way cab ride and $6pp entrance.

I wonder if it's gone back down now? We just finished our cruise on the Magic this past Sunday and it was $3.00 wash, $3.00 dry.

It was $3.00 the week before too :).

Thanks. Good to hear. Was hoping there wasn't a "drinkage fee" added on for bringing in something they don't serve in there. ;-)

No, there's not. Only for bottles of wine, and sometimes it is not charged. :)

Ps. What are the table minimums in the Casino?

Thanks

$5, except $6 for 6/5 BJ and $10 for 3/2 BJ.

OK. Then read the next line from Carnival's website.

 

$6.10 per guest, per day for dining room services

$3.90 per guest, per day for stateroom services

$2.00 per guest per day for alternate services which is distributed to kitchen, entertainment, guest services and other hotel staff members.

 

For your information, tipping applies regardless of the dining options selected, such as eating at the casual dining restaurant or open seating dining.

 

Sounds like the tip includes all "dining." :o

Thank you, I'm glad they have added that sentence in an attempt to clarify what is meant by "dining room services". It has not always been there, so I didn't notice it. I now believe the intent of the policy is for the $6.10 to cover all dining options.

I personally don't agree with the policy as someone could dine at Lido all week and pay the same gratuity as someone who dined in the MDR every meal. Obviously, the levels of service would be different (consider also the extreme example of ordering room service every meal and cash tipping for the delivery). There are also the issues with the "double tip" when paying auto gratuity at other dining venues.

I still wish they would just tweak the wording of the policy. It doesn't completely clear up the ambiguity, as it conflicts with the wording of "dining room services" and it is arguable whether alternate services covers the other dining options (although it does only specifically mention "kitchen staff members"). Again, this could all be cleared up with a simple change to the wording of the policy, rather than adding what appears to be an explanatory statement.

Did they not put one under the door or in the mail box by the door the morning you got off? We've never left a ship without a copy of the charges in hand.

They didn't on our recent Magic cruise and I wondered whether it was a new thing or we just got missed. I got one from a S&S kiosk while waiting to debark.

Dining services does include the buffet, so if he ate that day whether he was in a dining room or served himself on the Lido, it includes those folks whether you care to "interpret" it that way or not.

It is interesting that you used the phrase "dining services" to make your argument. There is a big difference between the two phrases "dining services" and "dining room services". The policy uses "dining room services". I agree that "dining services" would include the Lido buffet, but, the policy doesn't use that phrasing.

In all my years of cruising I've never heard the Lido buffet or other non-MDR food venues referred to as a "dining room" by staff or other cruisers. If such was intended, the policy could easily be amended to add that.

I don't see an issue warranting OBC.

I know for a fact that many behind the scenes folks are tipped out of the $6.10. You're free to be cheap, let's just not pretend that you're not. ;)

OK, you can call me names, but that doesn't change the wording of the policy. You can state anecdotes, I can quote the official policy on the website.

For me personally, though it is irrelevant to the discussion, I use the dining room at least once every day, so I don't adjust anything.

Thank you for saying this. If I went to a restaurant for ONE meal I'd tip at minimum $5-6 bucks no matter the cost... Your getting a whole day of meals for $6.10 tip. Come on.

Your personal tipping policy is irrelevant.

How much to tip is a personal matter and completely up to our guests.

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1123

Actually he did get services. He and his travel partner ate breakfast and lunch earlier, did they not? So removing tips for that day totally negates his meals earlier in the day. Secondly if you think your removing a tip just for dining services, you are sadly mistaken. Even if he removes say $2 for the evening portion of his dining it just lowers the tip for everyone across the board, not totally removes it. And that isnt hearsay.

Depends on whether they used the dining room or not. I'll take the policy posted on Carnival's website at its word over your interpretation.

The dining room tips are for your MDR wait staff as well as the behind the scenes staff both in the MDR and the Lido buffet stations.

 

Ultimately, even if I didn't eat a bite all day I have a problem with taking that $6.10 away from those people who come from extreme poverty and work so very hard, based on a whim of mine to eat elsewhere. YMMV.

 

Truth be told, these people should be paid primarily out of the cruise fare rather than gratuities, but since they're not I don't begrudge them their few dollars a day.

$6.10 per guest, per day for dining room services

$3.90 per guest, per day for stateroom services

$2.00 per guest per day for alternate services which is distributed to kitchen, entertainment, guest services and other hotel staff members.

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1123

This is what the policy states. I'll take it at it's face that "dining room services" means "dining room services".

Remove autotip for all the crew for a whole day just because you dont like the additional tip for an optional expense? Wow... :rolleyes:

He said "Remove auto tip for that night". The logical interpretation of that statement is a suggestion to remove the dining room services auto tips, which are clearly spelled out in Carnival's gratuity policy.

Do you typically tip for services not rendered?

About the dining onboard. I read that she has the American table. I'm a little nervous, as I have read so many bad comments about it. Do all the ships that have the American Table have the some menu. Someone posted the menus from a recent Glory cruise that was American Table, it didn't look bad to me. They didn't post the dessert menu though. Does anyone know if they still have the Baked Alaska? It was Dads favorite from the Paradise.

We recently cruised the Magic. I thought the American Table was fine. There was no Baked Alaska though.