kona_wahine

I got two “free” inside rooms this year, 7 day Panorama and 12 day Venezia. All we had to pay was taxes/port fees. Do I gamble on the handful of cruises I have had? The cruise before I started getting the offers  I won almost $900 on a $1 machine. It paid for all our port stuff and most of universal studios after. (I did not put it back!) The cruise before that I played $50 in a machine, Alaska cruise. I know it was only $50 as I was traveling with my granddaughter and that $50 was gone so fast it wasn’t funny. Or fun! I was done. The couple cruises before that I might have gambled a few hundred. I always set a limit, like $50 a day. That’s my story, but truth be told I have gambled way less than those rooms are worth, especially figuring in the $900 I won. 
 

and, btw, I haven’t received anymore offers since I booked the Venezia. 🤷‍♀️

We booked the Carnival bus from the ship to JFK, flying Alaska so will be looking for terminal 7. Does anyone know if they will make a stop at each terminal? If not, then we have to take the train? Tia 

We booked the front row for our cruise in a couple weeks. I can report back if you want. 

Single-Use Plastic Straws

• The United States uses millions of single-use plastic straws a day.

• Plastic straws are among the top 10 contributors to plastic marine debris across the globe.  

• Nearly 7.5 million plastic straws were found on U.S. shorelines during a five-year cleanup research project. Extrapolated globally, that is 437 million to 8.3 billion plastic straws on the world's coastlines.

• Currently, plastic straws make up about 99% of the $3 billion global drinking-straw market.

• Most recycling machines aren’t capable of recycling straws, given their size.

The thing that helped me the most was studying deck plans and figuring out where everything is. It’s kind of overwhelming when you first board and not knowing where to go. Head to the lido deck, and if you like Italian find that restaurant up the stairs at lido. We did that on Panorama in February and the food was great and not the massive amount of people. 

I just bought a 100 package PAPER straws on Amazon. Please don’t take plastic, there’s a reason Carnival quit using them. Reusable or paper only. 

We’ve always sailed carnival but tried NCL last year. (Alaska) the Encore is a beautiful ship and sailing her again next summer. I’m only a little nervous as last time was just after covid and it was very empty. But, also did the Spirit on Carnival last year as the offer was just too good to pass. I thought NCL food was better. I didn’t like EVERYTHING had to be booked, but the touch screen thing to do it was nice. Overall, for me it was a coin toss. 🤷‍♀️ I’d pick either based on itinerary and price. 

Thank you! I’m pretty sure the marriage license is LONG gone but we do have that divorce decree. 🤣

If you are married and have a different name (married) then what is on your birth certificate, how does that work? 

I think the chance of no up charges is pretty slim. 

I’m super excited, looking at Nov/December 2025. Dream has stops there and HMC. Same cruise, sign me up! Need to decide which one to book. I wanted to be one of the first but I don’t want to cruise in summer and go closer to end of hurricane season. 

Wad of cash? How much are you spending??? 🤣🤣🤣 I, too, don’t use credit cards in foreign ports. And I don’t carry huge wads of cash. That would be stupid. And always get travel insurance. Didn’t when we first stated but quickly realized something bad can happen. 

On our last cruise it got very X rated! I couldn’t believe how they shared! It was hilarious!!! Not the oldest couple, and they ended up winning. Definitely never miss it and have NO desire to participate! 🤣

We got the over the water cabana in Roatan for our February cruise. It includes a bottle of champagne, all you can drink, and steak and lobster for lunch. $400, I thought kinda expensive but I guess not! 

Wow, small world! 

3 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

Go Ducks!! (and Beavers😉) I grew up in the famous capital of Salem.😅 What parts to you hail from?

I grew up just outside of Independence, in Buena Vista. Do you know it?

On 8/28/2023 at 6:52 AM, ninjacat123 said:

I hope they are pronouncing "Illinois" correctly.  When I say I grew up in Oregon, most people say "Oar-ruh-gone"? Is that near Wyoming?😉

Check out where I’m from…. 🤣

Some people have reported it works, some say it doesn’t. I did the math and between this 10%, AARP 10%, and the OBC I have I might purchase it for our 12 day. 6 sea days so might just be worth it.  I have to discuss with my sailhubby, like I don’t know what he will say. 🤣🤣🤣 

So, I’ll be ordering my strawberries at the beginning of my cruise! It’s my first platinum and I’m getting all my bennies. I still don’t get the big deal about stopping by pixels and getting your pin or gift. We walk by it many times during week. One particular rude guy was picking up his can koozie giving the worker a horrible time, asking what he was supposed to do with it. Worker said it’s a koozie. The cruiser asked what he was supposed to do with it. The worker said it goes on a can. The guy was unbelievably rude. Why even pick it up? I admit, I loved just after covid, went on a couple cruises and the ships were so empty. Food went down hill, but it was a nice quiet vacation. I didn’t have to cook. Even when I got covid after a few days being home, I was still ok. 🤣 since then it’s back to “normal” but that’s ok too. 

Mine looked just like that and when I hit select button it turns to “selected” and quickly takes me to the payment page. 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ 

I just tried it on my iPad, and I hit “pay balance” and next page gives me the option of other amount, and allows me to put a number in. And then goes to the payment page. Maybe you just aren’t going far enough? Or it’s working ok now? 

Where’s the best place to head to chill for the day on the beach? Want calm, blue, clear water we can float in. Lunch, drinks, comfy chairs and umbrella/shade. Walking distance would be ideal. TIA! 

I just cancelled two, and I wish I had saw that to respond to the email. I just wanted to change the dates as one ended up falling on an elegant night and the other was at 5:00 sail day and I wasn’t thinking when I booked. Sailing out of NYC so don’t want to be stuck in a restaurant if sail away is delayed. Anyhoooo… I’m not sure why anyone would think OP or I don’t deserve a refund for changing our minds. Pretty ridiculous. I just couldn’t find a way to change the date unless I canceled and rebooked. I didn’t get an email confirmation that I cancelled bit I ALWAYS screenshot everything, just for cases like this. 

I tried 2X for our Venezia cruise in October and was denied. Booked casino rate so only paying taxes and fees. It’s ok, I’m good with the rate. I did get approved for our pride that we booked a non-casino rate on. I think those are pretty much the only ones getting denied. 

WHEEL! OF! FORTUNE!