ray98

Very similar across the board. It is surprising how similar NCL, CCL and RCCL are when it comes to service standards and customs. If you could somehow take away all the company logos and just put someone blindly on a ship I would be most would have a hard time deciding what line they were on.

I went through the booking engine yesterday comparing prices. On the NCL site it added somewhere around $68ea which was the gratuity on the package. Either way it is a heck of a deal, it is saving me at least $600 because we always budget in the drink package no matter the cruise line.

It usually evens out because most ships in the Caribbean run primarily N & S.

I was just on the Liberty and do not share some of the experiences above. The food, especially the new American menu, was great and the staff was wonderful as usual. I thought the ship was in great shape and the 2.0 options were fabulous.

Wow....not for me but pretty amazing.

I start really watching 60 - 75 days out. Some will rise, some will stay the same but a couple always drop. If I am strictly looking for a deal with little concern over ship or itinerary, when the fare hits the low $40 range pp/per day is when I go for it. I just haven't seen them go much lower than that routinely.

BC is completely adequate. In the event of emergencies there are procedures in place to deal with it, a passport is the standard for routine travel. A letter from the consulate and an interview with CBP upon arrival is the extent of it.

They get the extra....standard add on tip goes to the pool.

How in the world did he get by this far without a state issued ID at least? I have to show ID for stuff all the time.

Have an open mind. You read so many complaints if you browse the web many go in expecting not to like something, remember most are BS or are from hard to please people.

4 months tops, usually less than 90 days.

I love ATD. It fixed every complaint I had. I can dine with who I want and when I want. No more odd conversation with strangers. No more starving because I had an early lunch. No more not being hungry because I had a late lunch. Now it is like real life, I eat when I am hungry.

We did it one day on the last cruise....very peaceful.

Chateaubriand....I was very pleased with everything else.

Nope...15% is customary for someone going the extra mile and serving a meal. It is more than adequate for a simple drink.

So it sounds like that's just a marketing tool to try and increase sales.

Obviously...they are in the business of selling cabins. They are giving you a more expensive cabin for no additional cost.

So is there anything different between those 2 cabins other than location? Are they the same size and layout usually?

No...an inside is an inside. Location changes.

Every class is divided into categories depending on location. A 4A on the lowest deck is less desirable than a 4E several decks higher even though they are both inside cabins.

Not very steep, very gradual incline.

Mine was in the cabin by 7 on the final evening.

If, in your life, you are a complainer, you will always find something to be upset about.

Quote that for truth.

 

The fact is that Carnival has its business model down pat, they know exactly what their passengers want, and there are far more satisfied Carnival passengers than one would imagine from reading Cruise Critic boards. I've cruised other lines and no doubt will again, but Carnival works great for me.

Yup...they successfully tapped the large market of people who normally partake in beach vacations and all inclusive type resorts. Cruising is now seen as another variety of the Caribbean vacation experience. Once cruising had a fairly limited clientel, normally well to do people (or those who thought they were) who dressed in their finest and enjoyed afternoon tea. Now the people you see the same people you would find at a resort in the islands who would rather enjoy that type atmosphere than a stuffy formal type environment. It works and is one of the reason Carnival has exploded over the past few decades, they understand their customer base and what they expect for their money.

It is the most relaxing vacation for me plus it is budget friendly. Nothing is worse than trying to keep a group entertained and fed 3 times a day in a crowded resort or beach town. Sometimes I am ready to go home just to get a break. On a cruise it is all taken care of which means the weight is off my shoulders. I love it because I can be as active or sedentary as I want with a plus of waking up in some pretty amazing places to spend the day.

CatgirlNC -

Also, at one point, I thought they were serving certain appetizers “for the table” style, but then they went back to just serving everything individually. Can anyone clarify on that?

All appetizers were individual. The only change was the table got a basket of assorted bread. Thankfully no more waiting for the waiter to come.

Changing the menu would be a waste of time for my children. If anything was delivered other than chicken nuggets or pizza on the cruise, they would not eat it.

 

I may be missing a point here, but can't any child order off the adult menu if they wanted it?

Yes...it is a non-issue.