samiam0403

I didn't even want them if they were complimentary, though! But kudos to you for getting some free treatments - heaven knows that is rare in Carnival's spa.

I write it in on the paperwork they have you fill out pre-massage. Has never failed me. However, when I was getting a wash and style on Liberty this last weekend, the guy kept asking me things like, "would you like a deep conditioning treatment?" "Would you like some eye cream for your wrinkles?" "Would you like some skin cream treatment for the redness on your cheeks?" Dude. I politely kept telling him no (no paperwork to fill out before a hair styling appointment), but my self-esteem sure took a hit. 🤣🤣🤣

The salon and the spa are two different areas. I wouldn't bat an eye at someone bringing a cocktail to a mani/pedi type appointment - and I would think the staff wouldn't either.

Just off Liberty yesterday, and I was AMAZED at how orderly and efficient the disembarkation was. For the first time, I carried off my small suitcase (usually put it out the night before), and I had a leisurely breakfast and a latte and strolled off the ship at 0800. Small line, but it never stopped moving. No one parked on the stairs with 5 pieces of luggage. No hordes of people blocking stairs and elevators. I was pleasantly surprised - especially as it was a fully booked holiday sailing. Liberty, at least, has disembarkation down to a science!

Depends on the ship. Just off Liberty today, and the $1000 Fun Play was handed to me in cash.

Thanks for the review! Heading out on Liberty tomorrow and had completely forgotten the BBQ place tucked away upstairs. Have been wondering where to get lunch on embarkation day, and BBQ before the masses discover it will be perfect!

Carnival definitely does not.

Nope. I started getting Elite offers long before I received any Ultra offers.

On Riviera in February, we asked our butler about the lack of a tote bag in the suite. He told us there was a supply issue, but he would see if he could find us one. We had one later that day. Wonder if there's still a supply issue, and they only give them out upon request?

15 days!

Nov, Dec, and Jan are my favorite months to cruise! (At least in the Caribbean.) I find the other months too hot or too hurricaney. If I didn't already have plans for a cruise in November and a month in Paris in January, I'd have booked one (or more) of the Elites. Ah well.

Just before COVID. Had 2 Elites booked earlier this year, but since Australia was still closed, had to cancel. The OP didn't put a time limit on their question of when people sailed. 😉

The Elite gifts I recall were: a crystal block with the ship and ship name lasered inside, a fleece blanket, a set of packing cubes, a beach towel, and a travel blanket/pillow set. I only remembered those because they were the ones I kept. 🤣

Hopefully they still offer the 50% discount on wine the first night. I always like starting my cruise with dinner in the steakhouse with one of their best bottles of wine - the 50% off makes it a steal! (Relatively speaking, of course.)

Offers have been great lately. I haven't sailed on Carnival since March 2020, and am still getting Premier/Ultra/Elite etc offers. Got one I couldn't turn down last week and so snapped it up for Labor Day weekend - comped balcony, $200 OBC, $1000 free play, and drinks everywhere on board. Not too shabby for not having sailed for 2+ years!

Thank you for this! Hoping I can do this on Liberty in a few weeks.

The lack of paper door hangers for breakfast orders is the worst for me. Everyone keeps saying that the article says you can still call the night before to set up your order, but all I found was "While room service offerings will not change, guests must now call room service to place their orders." If I have to call when I wake up and then wait an hour plus (if they even answer the phone) for coffee and whatnot, I'm going to be super unhappy. Coffee in my PJs and robe on my balcony is how I start every day on cruises. If I missed something in the article, please point me to it!

While it is true that wagyu and Kobe are not interchangeable, there are types of wagyu that are as good (if not better) than Kobe. Kobe is just the most well-known type of wagyu. I had an A5 ribeye from the Miyazaki Prefecture of Japan a few months ago, and it was spectacular. As in brought tears to my eyes spectacular. (The Miyazaki Wagyu has won first place in Japan's leading Wagyu competition for 15 straight years.) Basically, if a restaurant won't/can't show you the certificate of authenticity from Japan, it's not Kobe or any of the other true Japanese Wagyu cuts. I'm about 99.999999999% sure Polo Grill is not serving Kobe anything.

Sailed in 11010 in Feb, and loved the location. No issue from the bridge lights, and we like the overhang (especially as we sailed out of port on embarkation day in the middle of a massive thunderstorm). And as mentioned previously, the location puts you between cabin decks, so no noise from the pool deck overhead. In fact, we liked it so much, we've booked 11012 on Marina for our transatlantic.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that is not the case these days - although I surely wish it were! I purchased the premium package on my Feb cruise, and also did one of the French wine tastings - paid the full price of $75. But I had a great time, and thought it was worth the money.

Sailed on Riviera in February, and there was no spraying or misting in our suite and/or closet. My (and my husband's) clothing in the closet was perfectly fine.

Definitely Tea Forte. After my first Oceania cruise, the Orchid Vanilla is a must-have. Hubs is a big fan of their Estate Darjeeling.