TEXSUN46

I got one, ended up with like a 6 pack of beer, and haven’t used the card since. I use aarp gift cards to pay off the cruise, and I always use my air miles card for everything else. The Carnival MasterCard isn’t a great deal...

Really just a six pack? In the past year we have used our points for luggage, a really nice toaster and $100 OBC on our cruise coming up in October so we got a little more than a six pack. No yearly fee, we don't carry a balance so interest rate is irrelevant...not only rewards card we use but seems like a pretty good deal.

Obviously you didn't take the time to ready my posts. I already said my DW beings her own tea bags. In fact she usually brings enough to supply most of our table every night.

It was NOT about the money but about Carnival being the only cruise line who does something as cheap as this.

Cheers

Len

[/quote

 

You mentioned that your wife will drink $70 in specialty tea for a 7 day cruise, so are you saying that you think Carnival should provide your specialty teas for the whole cruise at no extra charge or just during the tea time? I am sure everyone would wish that any cruise line would provide their favorite beverage at no additional cost, I guess I am not understanding how tea is different, and as you admit it is not about just one serving, you seem to expect it for the whole cruise. At home does the grocery story charge the same for her favorites as they do ordinary tea?

Food palatability is subjective and no one really has been specific with what they consider good or bad quality other than menu options. If someone is comparing cruise food from the 80s to today then you must consider that the cost of cruising now relative to then is very inexpensive. You have economic classes that can afford to cruise now for whom it would never have been an option back in the glory days. There are varying price points in cruise lines just as there is a difference between Neiman Marcus and Walmart ( not calling any particular cruise lines Walmart of the seas ) and many levels in between. You don't expect Neiman Marcus quality at Walmart prices, so what it comes down to is are you getting value. Though CCL, RCI and NCL are more budget oriented lines I feel that the food offerings are of good value all things considered, but that is just my opinion based on expectations and my own opinion, doesn't mean anyone else will like or dislike what I do.

It’s terrible because you’re stuck with Carnival. Get a better CC that gives you cash back or let’s you redeem points for ANY travel expense. Buy the 10% off Carnival Gift Cards with your 2% or better CC and use them for your Booking, Shore Excursions, and FTTF.

 

Since I’m about done with Carnival I’m glad I don’t have a bunch of points I have to worry about not using. I do, however, enjoy “erasing” many of my travel expenses such as Uber, and any seat upgrades I may purchase with my free airfare.

 

Haven’t used my Carnival card since I got the initial free $100 offer.

You are not stuck with using points with Carnival, you can use it for merchandise I know. My wife manages the Carnival MC and I know she used points to get other items, I can't swear it but I seem to want to think you could use it to book other travel as well. Myself I have Capital One MC and earn cash back and I don't know if they are the best I have just had it so long and I am not going to spend time on finding out if I am missing some pennies. Like all things there is something out there for everyone, what works best for you may not work best for someone else. Not done enough with Carnival to not hang around the CCL forums eh?

I will have mine on a lanyard and sometimes wear it around my neck and sometimes have it in my pocket, whatever is convenient without concerning myself with how others think it might look. I am sure the anti-lanyard crowd does plenty of things that others would find odd and goofy, concerning themselves with how a lanyard looks on others being at the top of the list.

No, I just see things for what they are and I wouldn't have booked another Carnival Cruise a month ago for next year if this were the case. I criticize all cruise lines. Like the other poster said about you, it's your position that Carnival can do no wrong .... ever. You're a hardcore fanboy and not everyone is lying or has a perfect experience with Carnival.

I have no doubt it could happen and have no reason to believe the OP was not being truthful. However, I have never had anything even remotely similar happen to me on CCL or any other cruise line. I find it peculiar that OP found it to be so appalling regardless of what cruise line they were on, and would not affect my decision to use that cruise line.

I love the Tandoor, besides being different than the usual offerings it really never is that busy so never have to stand in long line. I miss it when on a ship that does not have it.

I have never understood the relationship between cruise ships and selling art, but maybe that is because I don’t appreciate art enough.

I barely noticed, other than being aware in passing that the gallery in was there I paid no attention and also probably would not notice if it was gone. As far as the connection between art gallery/auction and cruising I would guess it appealed to the same people that get up in arms about tablecloths missing from tables.

We are going on Freedom in October, I will turn Gold a couple of days in and I show on my booking as Gold.

66 Days to Freedom!

We always cruise during times when school is in session. There is always some kids around but never is any areas over run with them and I don't recall every being annoyed by unruly children. That could be why no matter what ship I am on it does not feel all that crowded.

We have been on Magic twice and never felt it was crowded other than times and places where other ships are crowded as well. There is a lot of areas to go and have seclusion. We always sail at time of year that school is in session so there is never a lot of kids and that no doubt will make any ship feel less crowded.

We are on the Freedom leaving Oct 20th, I don't participate in Halloween so didn't even think about it when we booked the cruise, but I look forward to seeing other people dressed up and think it will make for something different on this cruise.

If it is just me and my wife we just leave whatever is assigned and don't eat in the MDR. If we are cruising with friends or family everyone will choose YTD so we can all go on a time we agree on. For us it will always be an early time since we both practice intermittent fasting so we only eat between the hours of 11am and 7pm.

for me, it was just for the thrill of it. But it got to be too much planning at some point. Now I throw a few bottles of wine in checked luggage, maybe they make it maybe they dont, and I boy a bonvoyage bottle for the room. Thats all the energy I have for smuggling these days :p

Same here, my first cruise I had visited the forums and it was hot topic so I smuggled some just to see if I could, and I got away with it. Ever since I just buy a bon voyage bottle for room to do night cap and just pay my way as I go.

I don't watch network TV at home other than college football, I wouldn't have noticed it was missing from the ship.

As long as container has no metal I suppose you would be able to manage carrying on your person if you were so inclined, unless you want to smuggle just for the thrill of it why create something to worry about to start off your vacation. If could not afford to buy my alcohol on board I would not cruise.

I get frequent emails from CCL at least once a week. I got regular calls from PVP until after a few times that I started booking them myself online. One thing the OP might consider is with 15 cruises CCL might have come to the conclusion that one might already be very familiar with their product.

For me and my wife I take $100 per port for spending cash and usually come home with a big chunk of it left, and we budget $1000 for onboard spending but always spend a lot less than that.

Cheers seems like a lot of hassle to me, you are prepaying for drinks then spend a lot of time figuring out how to make it a good value and then others try to figure a way to beat the system. I am not going to prepay when I am pretty sure I would not drink that much but so what if I do, I don't have to give it any thought, I just pay the tab at the end. But these discussions are entertaining.

The whole Cheers debate...definitely a first world problem LOL.

For a month prior to your cruise increase your workouts, lean up stay active while on board and your metabolism will help take care of those extra calories. Or just figure you are off routine, have a good time and not worry about it then get back on your routine when your get back home.

15 drink limit is only for alcoholic beverages only. If you think you and your husband together would spend more than $100 a day on beverages then cheers would be a good deal, if you wouldn't spend that much then it would not be a good deal. My wife only drinks water and does not matter to her if bottled or from fountain, I might drink 4 alcoholic drinks a day on a cruise so it is not worth it for us. I would not consume enough specialty coffee or milkshakes, juice or whatnot to make up the difference so we don't ever get the cheers package.

For all the "sharers" out there do what you want but realize that if you are caught they do have the right to cancel you beverage package and not refund you any money

Also that will cause the price of to continue to go up, and maybe eventually lead to something like everyone in room regardless of age would have to have a beverage package for anyone to have it. Of course underage would be restricted to non-alcoholic.

What would be example of bad attitude you encountered in casino. Not putting napkin in lap for you....really?