ProgRockCruiser

The accurate answer was posted in the second post, almost a week ago. Your answer is not accurate - it is notionally "up to 10%", but no pricing structure actually supports that figure. When Cheers was $50 you saved 10% by pre-purchasing. Long time ago now.

FL taxes (6%-ish) will be not that big of a deal, IMHO, no matter how much you try to drink before getting into International waters. On a $10 drink you're talking 60 cents. If you can pound back 6 or more drinks (maybe $4 in taxes) while still in State waters, well, you might be a compatible drinking companion! 😉

Out of curiosity I just downloaded "new" luggage tag for an upcoming cruise, which I had previously downloaded. Color changed from Red to Indigo (a blue-purple). Nothing else changed. (Also amusingly, there was a "cabin upgrade offer", my first ever I think, which was very much not an upgrade for us - it would have been mid-ship right under the Lido deck, whereas current cabin is between two other decks of cabins, and right near the aft - where we like to stay.)

You don't need MS Edge, that was probably just your email associating the file type weirdly (do you use MS Outlook by any chance? MS is always looking for a reason to plug Edge). You could have downloaded the PDF from your email to your device, then printed natively from your device using regular Acrobat Reader or whatever is your preferred PDF file reader.

Meh, those definitions are so unreasonable, almost everyone I know is classified a heavy alcohol user, yet I would consider none of us lushes or alcoholics - I've known my fair share of those.

The intent of that wording is that once you start using it, you can't ask for a refund if you had too much on day 1 and think you can't continue to justify the cost on the remaining days.

While the Brass Magnolia makes an excellent selection of bourbon-based (and related) drinks, the best traditional martinis are probably found at the Alchemy Bar. And martini-like drinks there too. Alchemy has a few unique ingredients available that I'm not sure you can find (easily) elsewhere on the ship.

Out of curiosity, did you go to the main Carnival Website? I mean, great to ask here, and you have your answer (cut and pasted direct from said website), but the direct source is (usually) more accurate.

But how else would media outlets sell enough ads if they didn't attract eyeballs with "end-of-days" headlines?

Well, since my wife and I typically average 12 per day each on a cruise, guess we'll keep buying the Cheers package. BTW, we typically cruise 7 days or longer so this specific change doesn't affect us, but I'm sure Carnival will eventually increase the price for longer cruises too. But that's classic targeted marketing: your family members probably never bought Cheers, but do buy a few drinks every day, so this is Carnival upselling them to Cheers for a first-time discount, in the hopes that next time they'll buy the package at full price.

The website has been majorly glitchy. So I would take every oddity with a large grain of salt.

No, they are different classes. Vista is a Vista-class ship. Magic is a Dream-class ship. Vista is a bit bigger than Magic/Dream, and carries more pax. But yes, Vista is newer. The itineraries are essentially the same, so maybe go with Miami due to easier access to/from the airport? Or maybe let price (including airfare) drive the choice? (I live in the Orlando area, so Port Canaveral is always the immediate choice for me, because it's an easy drive.)

I guess I could clarify: to me, fish dishes in general are underwhelming if overcooked, which they usually are in the MDR (and I understand why, but that doesn't mean I'm going to like it). Whereas the rest of the dishes are served in a state that is not so critical, and even Carnival's steaks can be served as we like them (med-rare) without much drama.

We cruised to Bonaire in Dec 2022. We did not pay any additional fees or taxes. So it must have been included.

OK, so the "wide" vs "high" thing might be what's confusing the issue. Carnival wants suitcases that fit through their x-ray/scanner, so the two smallest dimensions need to be within 24" (the width of the opening to the machine) and 16" (the height of the opening) - they don't state the "length". In theory you can run a six-foot-long item through there. If your suitcase is 32"x20" in two of your dimensions, I bet it is about 12" to 14" in the last dimension. Which means it is 20" wide and 14" high, so you are fine.

Yes. 😉 One thing to consider trying if you experience this and have the gumption: Step 1: go to the cabin on the opposite side of your cabin from the slammers (i.e. slammer - you - party #3) and ask them if they are hearing the slamming too. Regardless of answer (the question is just an ice breaker), let them know that sometimes you accidentally let the door slam, and want to apologize in advance. Proceed to Step 3. Step 2: (alternate): Or, more connivingly, knock on the slammers' door and let them know that you accidentally slammed the door last night, and want to apologize for it, because it can be so loud and disturbing. Proceed to Step 3. Step 3: Then when the slammers return to their room, at an opportune and appropriate time "accidentally" slam your balcony door, but then yell out: "Oops, sorry! Won't happen again! Slippery little suckers, those handles!" Extra points for getting the movie reference.

Well there's a question for the ages.

Understood. I guess I haven't pored over the new (non-Vegan) menus enough to notice it missing as an everyday item - I make much better salmon at home, so I don't even try Carnival's any more.

Seeking financial or legal advice online is probably not recommended - you should go to the source (i.e. Carnival). Of course, in a sense the statement I wrote above is a form of legal/financial advice, but...

I don't recall seeing a new vegan-inclusive menu in totality, and certainly not a whole cruise-worth. How can you be sure they've removed the salmon?

Ah, I found a recent menu - it is Hawaiian Shrimp Poke.

I believe that is already on the menu, except is uses Ahi Tuna?

The bars on board generally can make most of the common drinks. But there are exceptions: e.g. the Dirty Mojito only seems to be available at the Red Frog Rum Bar, you can't get it from the Blue Iguana Bar (and maybe nowhere else). The bar themes are what drive that: I would imagine (IIRC, etc) that the Havana Bar will specialize in Cuban and similar drink types, and of course we know the Alchemy bars specialize significantly, as do the other specialty bars on the Excel class ships. Right, that makes sense, since rum would be the theme-liquor at that bar.

FWIW, I just checked Vista, which is my next cruise. JiJi Asian Kitchen and Cucina del Capitano are listed as Dinner, additional cost, but the Captain's Pasta Bar (located at Cucina del C) is Lunch and complimentary. There is nothing listed for anything like JiJi or Mongolian Wok for Lunch. But that doesn't mean something won't be offered one day as a Lido Buffet offering anyway, I suppose.

One of the appetizers intrigued me - the vegan poke - so I had to look up "plant-based salmon". I found this website describing one version of it (no idea if there are multiple types): https://gizmodo.com/vegan-salmon-plant-based-meat-impossible-beyond-burger-1850087658 "the company [New School Foods] created a “proprietary muscle fiber and scaffolding platform for making whole-cut meat alternatives with the same colors, flavors, fats, texture and mouthfeel of traditional fish.” " Hmm, not sure about whether that sounds like a good thing or not. But hey, if the vegans in the crowd find it satisfying enough, good for them? Just don't take away my real salmon/poke.