icft

I might look into this. If nudity is not a requirement it would add a new dimension to people watching...

16 minutes ago, cellfree said:

I think the “leather trinkets and steak dinners” you speak of are when you hit Diamond. 

Upon reflection I think you are right. Carnival ignored both occasions and I confused the two. But there was zero recognition of the milestone cruise so Greg is still special. 😁

1 hour ago, UKstages said:

... and remember, if you haven't connected to a mobile network while in port, your phone's time will - most likely - not be updated. (it won't update over wifi.) finally, remember that - under certain circumstances - the ship's time may be different than the local time.

Glad you mentioned "most likely." I had to chuckle because on our last cruise my phone, while on airplane mode the entire time, changed a couple of times. On many, many cruises I've never had that happen but on this cruise the time flip-flopped. I couldn't use it as my alarm because I never knew if it would change in the middle of the night.

I suspect the reason is that in addition to checking the phone's date and time options to use my carrier I also had the option to set time based on the phone's location checked. The spam ads Gmail sends all changed to Spanish once we were around the ABC islands so somehow my location was known by the internet.

2 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Nope. Didn't get either of those on both my 25th and 50th. In fact, my Milestone card on my 50th didn't even have the number 50 on it! Patti said she would put it on with a sharpie! 

Greg is definitely special. On our 25th cruise we didn't even get special cards. Got nothing until half way through the cruse I went by guest services and asked about the leather trinkets you are supposed to get and the steak dinners. They weren't sure what I was talking about..

6 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

(Mentally) going back to my internet beginnings. We'll, I should back up a bit and admit that my first computer was a TRS-80... early model (4K ram, cassette recorder/drive). I never went as far as to build a kit computer though. I subscribed to BYTE magazine (should have kept issue #1, lol). HECK, why didn't I keep all that stuff... and my baseball cards too ! ! !

 

Tom

Am I the only guy who ever used an Osborne computer? Everyone seems to have had a TRS-80 but no one lugged an Osborne to work it seems. I lugged that thing all over Houston doing audits; my left arm is larger than my right to this day 😜 (keeping right hand free to open doors).

2 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

 Your comment about the Haven stealing space from the rest of the ship was stirring the pot.

 You can make the same point about 'stolen' space with suites.

WilsCM made an innocent, easily understood, rational comment. Why twist it into something nefarious?

We've been to Aruba and Bonaire several several times but Curacao only once. Curacao is our favorite; lots to see and lots of interesting history.

Just hearing "Aruba" brings a smile to my face these days. Not because it is so fun, but because many of the tours still take you to see the "Natural Bridge." The thing is, the Natural Bridge collapsed in 2005.

The first answer you got from mz-s is, in my opinion, the best answer.

Our experience, be it long ago, was that Carnival didn't pay attention to one cruise unless you racked up an amazing pile of points. We got no offers after our first three cruises in one year; with only medium betting on our part. After that first year of cruising we were steadily inundated with offers. 

Even today, racking up 15,000 points on a cruise does not result in immediately better offers, but if we have a good year then the following year we get much better offers even if we don't cruise on Carnival or gamble much that year. We have mostly switched to NCL but still get great offers from Carnival. I expect those will get smaller going forward (since we are mainly NCL now) but for the time being we are still riding the wave of last year.

I find the talk of Carnival not being as transparent as other cruise lines interesting. Our experience is only Carnival and NCL. On Carnival you don't call them, they send you offers. On NCL they have "tier levels" based on points earned during the year (and your level at the end of the year is your beginning level for the next year). They have schedules of benefits for each level, but those are only for things like priority boarding, free water, onboard credit, free or discounted internet and the like. As far as free or discounted cruises you have to call the casino operation, tell them what cruise you are interested in and ask what they can offer you. We were pleasantly surprised that after our first cruise when I called them about a cruise they offered a comped balcony, other than taxes/port fees, gratuities and the usual you have to pay on "free cruises." Strangely, they also have an administrative fee the casino operation charges that is $20 per day per person in the cabin.

Having to call NCL casino operations to find out what kind of deal they can offer on a cruise seems to me to be less transparent than Carnival straight out telling you their offers.

All that is just our experience. Since covid folks have said they have gotten offers even though they don't gamble. Like mz-s said, any answer you get is just speculation.

6 hours ago, Beachcreature said:

I am generally defensive of NCL and have enjoyed all of our 9 cruises with them.  One department, however, that needs improving is the whole drink package process.  You pre pay tips which is usually a plus for staff but when you order drinks, if you have the drink package with the prepaid tips you shouldn't have to tip again.  Once a server realizes that you are not tipping it seems that they prioritize other passengers that are tipping.  I don't have a solution but NCL needs to look into this or lose some loyal passengers.

We're relatively new to NCL having sailed extensively on Carnival, where they shove a paper receipt with a tip line in front of you with every drink, but the "no need to tip" aspect on NCL was an unexpected bonus.

We have rarely seen cash tipping during our NCL cruises but we usually have bartenders give us preferential treatment; giving us a questioning look as we approach and starting on our drinks when we can't even get to the bar. It has nothing to do with tips. It's  because we get to know them. Find out how to properly pronounce their native name, find out where they are from, treat them as a friend and they treat you well. It is not something we set out to do as a strategy, it is just normal for us to talk to folks.

We're darn sure not going to carry around a stack of cash bills and NCL doesn't shove that paper receipt in front of you for a reason (the tip has already been paid). On the last day of the cruise we do put tokens of our appreciation into envelopes and give them to those who have made our cruise special. Without fail we are told it was not necessary and we say we know, but they have been special to us and we wanted to let them know that.

I have a hard time understanding those who object to those cruising on casino comps getting credit in the loyalty program.

The Carnival ships are in separate corporations from the casino operation. They are separate businesses. The ships are in the cruise business and the casino is in the gambling business. The casinos find it to their advantage to buy cruises and drinks packages for certain of their gambling customers and give them to those gambling customers. Some land based casinos do the same thing and buy cruises for their customers. It is not uncommon to find them on NCL. The cruise business gets paid for the rooms and drinks packages.

Following the reasoning of those who don't like including casino comped cruisers, if your grandparents buy you a cruise and drinks package then you should not get credit in the loyalty program. According to their logic only the person who pays for the cruise with their own funds gets credit; no credit for the kids when their parents take them on a cruise, no credit if your boss bought you the cruise as a bonus, no credit if Caesars Entertainment bought you the cruise (which they do on occasion) and no credit if Global Casino Operations (the company that runs the casinos on Carnival, Seabourn, Princess, P&O, Holland America, Costa, Cunard and Aida) bought you the cruise.

The cruise business has its loyalty program and the casinos, and others, have their marketing programs. They are separate things. The fact that casinos, some bosses and some charity raffles buy cruises and give them away is not relevant to the loyalty program.

3 minutes ago, kd1044 said:

 

This is clearly listed in the NCL Website below.  The legal bit about the third-party contractors is for the liability of NCL.  The NCL Excursions tour operators are themselves individually insured.  If there are any issues on the excursion you would have to sue the tour operator and not NCL.  But the wait for delayed NCL excursions is true.  I have seen it several times. 

 

WHY BOOK WITH US?

We work with reputable, local tour operators to offer you a wide variety of excursions to choose from, in every port you’ll visit.

Flexibility & Convenience

We offer you flexibility, convenience and peace of mind.

• Dedicated pre-cruise and onboard specialists are available to assist you
• Convenience of one-stop shopping for all of the ports you’ll be visiting
• Flexibility to modify or cancel excursions without penalty up to 48 hours prior to arrival into port. Any exceptions are noted in the tour descriptions.
• In the event that your tour is delayed, we’ll hold the ship for you
• All tour operators are fully insured

 

 

That's how I read the legal bit also.

12 minutes ago, john91498 said:

What would the older, retired folks do???

I don't know about the others, but I would complain about there not being something like CC...

10 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

You're missing the point. Regardless of whether stores normally open for someone after closing (and they occasionally do as I've had it done for me at least once in the past...), that action does not put the customer in danger with risk of injury or death as this transfer at sea apparently would have.

7 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

Missing the point...Not going to repeat myself again. Just read through the thread.

Calm down my man. No need to stroke out. I think everyone got you point and they have moved on to another point that also supports the position of NCL not being the bad guy. Folks accepting your point and not arguing about it is a good thing...

1 minute ago, MrsTocko said:

Please tell me the store that the employees will open back up an hour after close so I can do my shopping, because I couldn’t get there before closing.  

Unless things have changed drastically, last folks I knew that worked retail started closing out the registers as soon as the door closed. Perhaps a one man company would do it though.

37 minutes ago, PATRLR said:

Why wouldn't the port agent have handed over the passports if they were indeed being brought back to the boat?  (Not that I believe they were.  I suspect the CG offered to bring them out and the ship said "no")

In the story the folks never mentioned the port agent. It is not like everyone on the island was sitting around a table trying to figure out how to get them back aboard. I suspect (guess) the port agent received the passports and the passports sat there waiting for the passengers to come get them. The passengers didn't show up. The port agent probably had no idea what the passengers or the coast guard were up to.

While they describe emailing NCL they never mention the on-the-spot port agent. I have always been amazed at the number of experienced cruisers who have no idea the port agent exists. On cruises on which you keep your passport most folks don't seem to know that if you are late to the ship then ship personnel will enter your cabin and search for your passport and turn it over to the port agent to facilitate your necessary travels. 

So I don't think the port agent had any idea what these folks were up to. 

I'm of the opinion the there is too much questionable or missing information.

One thing I would point out is that if the local coast guard did take them out to the ship then of course the ship would not take them. Their passports had been turned over to the local shipping agent and were with the agent on shore. They would not have had passports. When a cruise collects the passports (which they did in this case) it is because they are visiting some ports that require all passports be available for inspection before the ship is allowed entry. If any of their following ports were such ports, or the disembarkation port, these passportless folks would have created problems for the whole ship.

I don't think anyone has anything to worry about as far as the rules changing for the next level thereby taking that away just as one was about to get there.

I also don't think any new loyalty program will be designed to cost Carnival anything more than the current program.

So, my wild guess:

All the current levels and requirements to reach the level will remain the same.

Additional levels will be added to address the problems of "if everyone is special, no one is special." Borrowing terms from the casino cruises, let's say they add a "Ultra" level and the new top level is "Elite."

What they can do to take care of the problems of too many having priority boarding is to just add two higher levels in the priority of boarding. Instead of boarding Diamond then Platinum, their boarding order would be Elite, Ultra, Diamond, Platinum.

They may make all the Diamond and Ultra events with the Captain drinks and hors d'Oeuvres and the Elite event a proper sit down lunch. 

The priority spa and tender items would again have a Elite, Ultra, Diamond priority order.

That kind of approach would not cost Carnival any more than the current cost but would take care of the main areas where everyone being special means no one is special.

Yes, Diamond and Platinum would be less special, but still special.

5 hours ago, RoperDK said:

We are searching for a way to safely park our car for a Brilliance cruise in January.  We usually stay overnight in Biloxi and then park at the port, but I am getting nervous about secure parking.  We are Diamond with Hilton, so a free room night is easy for us.  Don't know about timely shuttles though.  I sometimes have a gimpy knee so hauling luggage and walking is iffy.  Looking forward to your input.  

I second what St. Greg said. Fulton is secure and provides excellent shuttle service. 

We found out about Fulton by following St. Greg's reviews, so thanks St. Greg.

We have mostly stopped sailing Carnival EXCEPT for Journeys cruises. The biggest difference, and it is huge, is the clientele.

The passengers are older, more polite and considerate, and more experienced cruisers who take things in stride. There are few kids, including college kids. For us this is a big plus. If you prefer a booze cruise it is a detriment.

As for smokers... Yes a greater percent of older folks smoke. But if you don't smoke just stay away from the places you already stay away from because of smoke.

As for reduced perks... Priority boarding, including tenders, is the only thing we noticed though I suspect if guaranteed dining times and reservations matters to you that may also be affected. But we have always gotten Your Time Dining and haven't had any problems.

There usually are more scooters and folks generally walk slower.

The Diamond Captain's event is usually broken into two events such as half scheduled for a lunch one day and the other half the next day.

There are usually some unusual activities offered like dancing classes.

We absolutely love the Journeys cruises.

8 hours ago, mz-s said:

I really think the "there are too many platinums and diamonds" thing is something that people on here have dreamed up. If it was an issue for Carnival they would have changed the program by now.

I think they kind of changed it already.

They cut down on the labor cost by not delivering your water, pin and nylon bag (in the shape of a fanny pack or makeup bag or whatever the shape of the day) to the room; the value of pin and water might be the same as old, but the nylon bag is cheaper than the pre-covid gifts; the chocolate delights are not what they once were (less quantity and lower quality) and the platinum/diamond party has done away with hors d'oeuvres.

None of this is of any real concern because the platinum and diamond benefits never were impressive, with the most valuable items being service items (like priority boarding and laundry etc) but they have whittled down the benefits about as much as possible without officially declaring certain benefits gone.

The only thing I feel sure of about concerning any new loyalty program is that it will cost Carnival less than the current program.

29 minutes ago, purpleally said:

Wow. Talk about a nothing post. Harsh. 

Yep! But it kind of feels like eavesdropping on a old married couple...

4 hours ago, marktwothousand said:

This might be my last NCL cruise…

4 hours ago, marktwothousand said:

Oh here we go. The Cruise Critic tough love brigade strikes  again. 
 

as it turns out, we’ve already heard from the CNC dept. apparently this orphan credit was left over from peace of mind COVID booking and then transferred within family (to me) and that’s why there were issues around using it.

 

CNC got back to me personally this morning to let me know they will apply it if the agent emails them.

 

So in response to your tough love, I say:

 

So there, buddy. So there.

53 minutes ago, marktwothousand said:

I dunno why NCL has to get clearance from my agent. Maybe because this involves money and it goes thru the agent?

 

anyway good news is my

agent has already heard back from NCL and my voucher is being applied as an overpayment which will be refunded in cash

Gee... A strange situation involving odd denomination credit left over from "peace of mind COVID booking" transferred through family and in 24 hours NCL had it all squared away. I wouldn't sail with them again either. 🙄

On 3/20/2024 at 11:45 PM, BirdTravels said:

You can carry any amount with proper reporting. 
 

 

CBP: It is legal to transport any amount of currency or other monetary instruments into or out of the United States. However, if you transport, attempt to transport, or cause to be transported (including by mail or other means) currency or other monetary instruments in a combined amount exceeding $10,000 (or its foreign equivalent) at one time from the United States to any foreign country or into the United States from any foreign country, you must file a FinCEN Form 105 (“Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments”) with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. You may file in paper form or file electronically at FinCEN Form 105 CMIR, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (dhs.gov). International travelers entering the United States must declare if they are carrying currency or monetary instruments in a combined amount over $10,000 on their Customs Declaration Form (CBP Form 6059B) and then file a FinCEN Form 105.

On 3/21/2024 at 12:31 AM, UKstages said:

 

not sure where you got this curious notion, but the bird is correct. it's 10K in any monetary instrument, into or out of the country. your million dollar check is not exempt.

 

                   *                                *                                *t

 

The experts might want to refer to this CPB site:

https://cbpcomplaints.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-332?language=en_US

I can carry a million dollar check made out to a person or entity and not endorsed and the CBP doesn't care.

In particular the part that says:

31 CFR § 1010.100 (dd) defines “monetary instrument” as:

• Currency
• Traveler’s checks in any form
• All negotiable instruments (including personal checks, business checks, official bank checks, cashier’s checks, third-party checks, promissory notes, and money orders) that are either, in bearer form, endorsed without restriction, made out to a fictitious payee, or otherwise in such form that title passes upon delivery
• Incomplete instruments (including personal checks, business checks, official bank checks, cashiers’ checks, third-party checks, promissory notes, and money orders) signed but with the payee’s name omitted
• securities or stock in bearer form or otherwise, in such form that title passes thereto upon delivery.

The following do not fall within the definition of “monetary instrument”:

• Warehouse receipts and bills of lading
• Monetary instruments that are made payable to a named person, but are not endorsed or which bear restrictive endorsements
• Credit cards and prepaid cards
• Virtual currencies including (a coin CC won't allow to be mentioned)

We've done Premiere, Ultra and Elite cruises in the past, but generally ignore those offers these days because we like to actually play in the casino before 11pm. Cruises full of casino enthusiasts taking up every machine and table don't work for us. Plus we get other casino offers for non Premiere, Ultra or Elite cruises that are better deals if you don't take the Ultra big gift or the Elite room beverage and free parking into account, and we get to play in the casino during the day.

We've done forty two Carnival cruises and in January took our first NCL cruise. We are early in the process of basically switching to NCL as our primary cruise line.

Chances are you will have a great time on your Carnival cruise. Compared with the one NCL cruise we have taken on the Breakaway you will probably find food to be worse on Carnival and comedy to be far, far better on Carnival. Another big difference is that NCL seems to have lots of entertainment options that are in dinky little rooms, thus the need to book before the cruise. On Carnival we can Feel Free and decide on the spur of the moment what we want to do rather than need a social secretary to keep up with our schedule and hurry us along to our next appointment. But outside of comedy the entertainment is better on NCL, if you can get in.

On Carnival you will generally have two comedians the first half of a 7 day cruise and a different two comedians the second half. One of the things they have started doing is having the two comedians do back-to-back shows in the main auditorium near the end of that pair's time on the ship. So you have a long adult comedy show in a huge auditorium that can fit all who want to come. Carnival really does have great comedy between the individual comedian shows each day in the Punchliner club and the two big shows.

The main reason we are moving on from Carnival is that it has never recovered from covid. Food quality (quality of the ingredients) is very low. And a biggie for us is that just after covid Carnival made a big pitch to be the cheapest and has attracted some unsavory clientele who, even after their covid cash is gone, still pop up more often than we are comfortable with. Combine that with Carnival not enforcing its rules against antisocial behavior and we feel less safe than we like on Carnival.