staceyglow

1 minute ago, mfs2k said:

Somewhere, someone is being served ""the worst coffee known to man"  Maybe it was his lucky day. 

Less than six months ago,  a woman was caught putting poison in her husband's coffee:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/10/us/arizona-woman-pleads-guilty-poison-husbands-coffee/index.html

And I can say with the utmost confidence that that coffee was worse than than what @aborgman has been served in the Carnival MDR.

3 hours ago, aborgman said:

MDR coffee service is... awful.

 

Half the time I never get it.

 

The other half the time it's the worst coffee known to humanity, scorched/oxidized past recognition, and lukewarm.

 

I've just given up on that.

I am sure it was not literally "the worst coffee known to humanity ".

10 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I think the issue is hair splitting that no amount of CBD can cure. 🙂

 

 

You win the internet today! 

3 hours ago, mfs2k said:

I dont disagree with any of those things.  The app is extremely useful.  My original post was about using the phone as a menu, having to take it out for dinner, and being "almost" required to make a reservation for breakfast unless you want to have the Maitre D' glaring at you for not following the procedure and getting put on the list by the host.   (not so hard to do but apprently from their attitudes, it's the worst thing )

Are you sure you aren't projecting this "attitude" onto the crew members? I have been on 25+ Carnival cruises, and I have never witnessed anything close to "attitude". 

I have seen hostesses gently suggest that using the app might get a table more efficiently. I have seen servers look a little harried. But I have never seen any crew member be anything but polite to a guest.

15 hours ago, Pellaz said:

Another reason for having your luggage with you during embark is because after a certain time, the porters no longer accept luggage and you MUST schlep them onboard.  

Typically the cabins would be available by that time, though. 

Wouldn't that mean that you would carry them either way?  Either because you choose to do so, or because the porters are no longer accepting them?

1 hour ago, Stick93 said:

Always funny when people say go somewhere else. Great business model - come sail with us and if you don’t like it go somewhere else. 

It is indeed a great business model if you aren't interested in attracting that type of customer.  And there is nothing wrong with that.  Very few, if any, businesses can profitably accommodate the preferences or requirements of everyone.

And for the record, it has been my experience that in many cases, a waiter will bring over a paper menu the minute he sees me fumbling with my phone.  And I am not even all that old!

How in the world does CBD help in styling your hair?  You are literally spraying it on dead cells (which is what hair is).

I would rather ingest the CBD so that I don't really care how my hair looks.  😁

What exactly did the negative reviews say?

My experience is that on customer-based reviews, you have to drill down. If what they didn't like about the ship doesn't matter to you, or is actually a plus for you (for example, the kids' club was bad when you don't have kids), then you have to take that into account.

2 hours ago, Gamecock_Cruiser said:

Unless they upgrade me to an different room type, then no. I am not paying to move floors when the elevator ride is free!

And taking the stairs is good for you!

36 minutes ago, aborgman said:

 

That depends on the country in question.

It is very seldom enforced - but legally, Mexico requires you to carry your passport at all times.

 

Per Mexican law, all foreigners must carry their passports when traveling in the country. The law allows the police to stop you at any point and request your passport (and entry permit if issued).

If they ask you for a passport and you fail to provide one, they can detain you as they investigate who you are and whether you are in the country legally. As far as the law goes, it is illegal to walk around in Mexico without a valid passport.

You are being pedantic. If a cruiser had ever been detained for not having a passport, it would be all over cruising-related social media, and AFAIK that hasn't happened.

I have been in Mexico on cruises over a dozen times, and I have never been told, by Carnival or anyone else, that I needed my passport off the ship.  Nor have I ever heard of anyone been asked for one.

Carnival tells you to bring a government ID, and I don't recall ever being even asked for that.  I am sure if I needed proof that I had legal permission to be in the country, my drivers license and Sail and Sign card would be enough.

57 minutes ago, MAMA "B" said:

How does the welcome aboard drink work when sailing from NY port?  In NY Cheers doesn't start until the 2nd day.

Cheers and the Welcome Aboard drink have nothing to do with each other. They can sell you a drink the minute you get onboard. They can also comp you one. 

51 minutes ago, PrincessPatti said:

iPhone to iPhone — yes.  iPhone to android (or vice versa) — no.  
 

You can download WhatsApp and use that on the ship’s WiFi.  Also works if someone from home needs to reach you.

Texting between IPhones is a bug, not a feature. It doesn't necessarily work on all ships on all cruises. 

7 hours ago, totz808 said:

If you have an Android phone, you can just share the internet connection from your phone to other devices over the mobile hotspot setting.  I think iOS only allows sharing mobile data and not wifi, though this might be old info.  But I was on the Venezia last week and had no problem sharing my internet plan over my phone to all my other devices.

Or you can just log off the WiFi plan on your phone and log in to Wifi on your computer.

1 hour ago, klfrodo said:

Opinion? or documented fact? 

If documented fact, please provide a link. Otherwise, I'll have to assume an opinion. Which is okay and I respect your opinion. I just feel that those of us who do decide to carry should be respected also

TBH, I don't know if there are statistics or not.

However, I know at least 2 people who have had their passports stolen while sightseeing.  I don't know anyone who got left at a port without their passport.

7 hours ago, bguppies said:

If I'm ever in another country (Bahamas, Mexico, any of the other island nations) I always take my passport.

If not, why do you have it?

If for some reason you miss the boat (broken down excursion bus/cab or injured sitting in a hospital, etc.) your passport will sail on and you'll be stuck in a foreign country with a piece of paper with a picture of your passport (or a picture on your phone) which is good for nothing. (except maybe speeding up some help getting a new passport at the closest US Embassy.)

If you are not worried about losing your driver's license or phone, why would your passport be any different?

If you miss the boat, they will retrieve your passport from you room and leave it with the authorities on the dock.  You are much more likely to lose your passport (or have it stolen) than to be stuck in a foreign port without it,

Do NOT take your passport onshore.  It is not required and you risk having them lost or stolen.

I have been on over 30 cruises in North America and Europe and have never needed my passport on an excursion.

You will need a government ID, so I bring my driver's license.

1 hour ago, Out of Iowa said:

I've had some exceptional beef entrees on Carnival over the years - but the menu seems to be devoid of plentiful creative seafood options. Even the fish and chips restaurant disappeared.  Perhaps there is hope ahead for fish-lovers. 

 

Perhaps on our Alaska cruise we'll enjoy some new Carnival choices.

I think it is just really difficult to produce seafood dishes on the scale that Carnival has to.  Seafood can be a little tricky to cook, and trying to keep it warm dries it out.

2 hours ago, simplelife said:

I stand corrected. They do have several flavors of sparking water and Diet Starry.

I was actually hoping you were right!  LOL.  Love me a good vodka tonic, but would prefer not to have all the sugar.

9 hours ago, aborgman said:

 

Before includes lots of time prior to COVID.

I meant immediately before they offered the late night snacks.

But apparently there is no point too minor for you to argue about.

55 minutes ago, aborgman said:

 

When I cruised in 2019 - they absolutely had late night food other than pizza.

 

 

Not since Covid. 

As long as no one needs to use the WiFi at the same time, you can share one plan.

And it is a bit of a pain to switch devices by entering the birthdate and folio of the primary person on the plan, it's still better than paying for a multi-device plan.  It typically takes me about 15-20 seconds.  The folio number pops up as a drop-down list for me once I enter it for the first time.

7 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

or perhaps just go to the box office with appropriate ID. There has to be an alternative method for people whose cell phones die/are stolen/whatever.

 

Given we are in the age of extreme data thefts, someone might not want their personal data associated with mobile and/or etickets.

Unless they purchased their tickets with cash at the venue, their personal data is already associated with their tickets.

Before, they had no late night food except for pizza.

Now, they have other food besides pizza. 

If you don't like it, no one is forcing you to eat it.  And you aren't any worse off than you were before.  If anything, you are still better off simply because the line at the regular pizza place will probably be shorter.

There are several websites and apps that have luggage storage in places all over the US and the world.  I have used Luggage Hero in Miami.

26 minutes ago, simplelife said:

Gin and diet tonic. 

Do they carry diet tonic on CCL?