ShakyBeef

16 minutes ago, pe4all said:

I actually did not know you could put a cabin on hold - lol! I have always used my pvp to book our cruises.  I do all the research - ship, sail date, cabin # I want, then email AND ask her to call me.  She gets back to me within the hour, no matter what day it is. If a better cabin opens up, I contact her and she makes the switch.  Have never had to pay a penalty/difference with her.  Any problems or questions - she is right on top of it.  Have used her for at least my last 20 cruises.  It is a shame they are changing the way the pvp's make their commission. 

The way you do it is how I usually do it - except I don't bother emailing my PVP unless he doesn't answer his phone when I call.  But even if he doesn't answer, just like yours, he always gets back to me within an hour, even on weekends.  My upcoming Legend cruise is the first one I've ever put on hold on my own before.  I had never done it before because I thought he might not "get credit for it".  But for the first time ever, he didn't get right back to me, and once I had realized that this sailing date was the only one that worked for my family and that there were only two Suites showing as available, I got a little anxious and put it on hold.  Later, when he got back to me and I apologized for being impatient and holding it, expressing my concern that he wouldn't get credit for it, he said no problem, he would always get credit for the cruises I put on hold as long as he took the initial deposit.  But now that that is no longer the case, I guess that was my first and last cruise put on hold without my PVP. 

9 hours ago, kelkel2 said:

That’s an amazing zoom on that camera to be able to capture what ship it was!!

I was going to say the same thing!😃

1 hour ago, OceanZena said:

I'm just curious if this has happened to anyone else? After boarding today I headed straight to my cabin and set up my WIFI and checked my HUB account to ensure my $200 Cruise Cash was available to spend. Well, almost all of it was lol. Apparently someone beat me to it and there was a $15.73 Pool Bar charge for a Miami Vice including a $2.25 tip. 

My Sail & Sign envelope didn't have any rips in it and didn't appear tampered with, but I went straight to Guest Services to alert them of the mysterious charge. She nicely took off the charge and handed me back my S&S Card, but when I asked "Shouldn't I get a new card with a different Folio number to ensure the culprit can't buy more Miami Vices, or anything else?"....I was given a dumbfounded look, like why would I want to do that? 

She said they were going to investigate the charge and see if it was an actual person who made the charge at the Pool Bar or just a computer error...Ok, but what do I do in the mean time if it was an actual person I asked? 

Again, I got the dumbfounded look from her lol. But she finally conceded after some pressing on my concern and said "if you really want a new card, I can give it to you."...."Um, yes, please!"....With $200 available on there, I wouldn't want to risk more Miami Vices racking up on my account before the ship even sailed! 

 

All is well and I have my new card now, but the whole thing is just really odd because my envelope didn't appear to be tampered with. I'm just really curious if this issue has ever happened to anyone else? It makes me want to check my account every 10 minutes now to make sure nobody else has my new Folio number. 

That is weird.  I've never heard of that particular situation occurring before.  I know folio numbers get memorized and written down wrong occasionally, but I haven't heard of it happening so early in a cruise (before folio numbers for that sailing were disseminated).  And I understand your feelings - I'd be prone to be vigilant over my S&S account after something like that, too.  Here's hoping you have no more fraudulent charges and have a fabulous cruise!😁

35 minutes ago, Knights on the Beach said:

Ha! Looks like they used the little disc they put on the free cakes in the dining room.

 

"Ha!"  I see what you did, there.🤣

Yep, this sucks all around - for the customers and our PVPs.  But thanks for letting us, know, OP.  I'll be sure not to put cruises on hold without calling my PVP first.

6 minutes ago, BasicSailor said:

Well, there ya go people! Bring your own TP is no longer a myth.  According to JH its not allowed though. 🤣

Where, I wonder, is it on Carnival's Prohibited Items List?  I'll refrain from discussing JH and the reliability or veracity of any information that comes from him.  But I follow the stated Carnival rules (as in my cruise contract)  and trust Chengkp75's knowledge on the matter of ship's plumbing.

1 minute ago, staceyglow said:

This is a cruise line where people bring cans of pop and giant refillable drink containers into the MDR on elegant night. I don't think anyone is paying attention to a water goblet with wine in it. 🙂

As I said, I don't care about it and I'm not judging.  I was just sharing the information that the two types of glasses are different for those that do care and want to use the "proper"🙂 glass.  Most people don't stay in Suites, so when they see just that one type of glass (water goblet) in their cabin, without seeing the wine glass with which to compare it, they might (and many do) assume that it is a wine glass.  I'm just sharing the facts.  Not saying anyone is going to call you out on it if you put your wine in a water goblet.

13 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

Actually, they actively discourage that!  Because the black-water plumbing can't handle the variety of thicker land-based TP or wipes, so they want you to use what they provide.  Like when you visit someone who has a septic tank or lives in an RV.

10 minutes ago, BasicSailor said:

Yes, I know it was a joke. People do it though. I even read on here years back where people in suites are allowed to.

This is a myth which Chengkp75 has dispelled several times on these boards.  You are allowed to bring your own toilet paper, and, using it reasonably, it will not clog the ship's plumbing.  The ship's toilets are not like marine or RV toilets.  The cruise lines provide that cheap, thin toilet paper because it is cheap. This thread contains a recent example of his excellent explanation:

8 hours ago, staceyglow said:

I'm not so fancy - I have drunk many a glass of wine out of a Carnival water goblet!  😁

Not trying to be snobby, just mentioning the facts for those that may not know but may care about the difference.  So many people see those water goblets in their cabins and think that they are wine glasses.  They pour their wine into one, take it out and about the ship, including the MDR, and then report it here as advice to avoid the possibility of a corkage fee with such lines as "No one knows I didn't buy that glass of wine at the bar on my way into the MDR."  That's simply not the case.  It is obvious to all Carnival employees and most guests (not that that matters) that the person did not purchase that wine in a water goblet from a bar.  I don't care, I'm not judging anyone who does this.  Just trying to help inform.🙂

34 minutes ago, VentureMan_2000 said:

Thank you for the replies.  Does your room have wine glasses, or do you ask a bar tender for empty wine glasses ?

 

33 minutes ago, staceyglow said:

There are two wine glasses/water goblets in each room.

Suites have water goblets and wine glasses.  All other cabin types only have water goblets.  But you can get wine glasses from any (non-Lido Deck) bar.

I'm smelling a change in the air, y'all.  I suspect Carnival may be starting to institute the removal of this perk (early access to cabins for dropping off luggage or any other reason) from Diamonds and Platinums.  I have been hypothesizing that they will do this someday due to all the unauthorized PAX who have been doing this, many of them told to go ahead and do so by others on this board and by word of mouth.  They may be starting the process and the Stewards may have already been informed of the new protocol before the PAX have been.  As I've said before, mark my words, it's coming.

I just hope it remains a Suite perk that the cabin is fully ready.  This is a legit perk that is worth paying extra for and I'm so glad Carnival has finally stepped up and enhanced their Suite perks.  Traffic into the hallways could be controlled by giving Suite PAX their S&S cards at check-in in the terminal in the old style and presenting them (or boarding passes, with Suite Guest labeling, if the current S&S card delivery system is kept in place) when challenged.  Everyone else gets booted out of the halls. 

Definitely one strong drink per day from the bar will be cheaper than a litre bottle of Malibu at Carnival's price of $135 (plus delivery fee), assuming we're talking about a week-long cruise.

On 1/17/2023 at 9:04 AM, ShakyBeef said:

I dug up some of my old tags for you.  So, in addition to:

Deck 8, Starboard, AFT : Maroon (Dark Red) (Legend) 2023

I have:

Deck U, Port, FWD: Orange (Elation) 2020

Deck 8, Starboard, AFT : Maroon (Dark Red) (Pride) 2013

Deck 4, Starboard, AFT : Dark Blue (Pride) 2014

Deck 8, Starboard, AFT : Maroon (Dark Red) (Pride) 2016

Deck 8, Starboard, AFT : Maroon (Dark Red) (Pride) 2017

Deck 7, Starboard, FWD : Red (Bright Red) (Pride) 2012

Deck 6, Starboard, FWD : Deep Green (Pride) 2011

 

 

 

Going through my cruise supplies / luggage in preparation for my next cruise, I came across my most recent tags, from a January 2020 BTB on Elation, so I have added that one to my list in the quote box here.

2 hours ago, Pellaz said:

 

I was trying to remember when the infamous "Funnel Decks" went away.  It was a bit "before my time" on Carnival, alas.  

Carnival Inspiration still had one on my first cruise in 2005.  This is not one of the "special touches" I miss.🙄

23 minutes ago, MarkS said:

 

want a taste test?? hehe

No thanks, been there, done that (and very scientifically, I might add) in the linked thread.

From Left to Right: Carnival 2010 (with a slight mint flavour), 2011, 2012, 2013, and then some Celebrity 2010, thrown in for fun.  Don't ask me why I still have these.  It's ridiculous.

 Too late to edit my PP.  So edit follows:

Edit: I forgot that a mild mint flavour was detected during the very scientific study in a batch of Carnival "chocolates" from circa 2010, so I deleted (rather, I would have deleted, if it hadn't been too late to do so🙄) the "if they ever did" clause about mint flavour.  Just keepin' it honest, y'all.😁

Absolutely, you can.  Recommendations and rules are two very different things.

PSA:  Carnival didn't leave a "mint on the pillow."  The Room Steward provided fake chocolates on top of the paper Funtimes (previously, on top of the Carnival Capers), beside the towel animal near the foot of the bed.  This may seem nitpicky of me, but so be it.  This oft-repeated "mint on the pillow" line is fiction.  They were "chocolates" (and I use that term in the loosest sense) on the bed, but not on the pillow.  And they haven't had any mint component since at least 2011, if they ever did.

For those interested, a very scientific😉 study concerning the cutback in quality of said "chocolates" (before they disappeared altogether) was conducted and reported on this thread, several years ago:

https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/1796910-those-quotchocolatequot-quotmintsquot-cutback/

PSA over, please continue with your discussion.

Thank you.

I miss the Aft Deck Burger, the best burger on the Sea Day Brunch menu, recently cut.☹️  And, while I'm at it, the Chia Seed Pudding.😥

When my girls were little (they're 20 and 16 now), we would make construction paper loop countdown chains for the cruise.  I used to make these in elementary school for Christmas countdowns - an old Christmas card with the chain leading to it, one link is torn off for each day.  Like this:

For our cruise countdown chain, the girls drew a cruise-related picture to attach the links to.  The picture that represented Embarkation Day was taped to the wall outside their 2nd storey bedroom, and since we booked many months out, the chain would extend down the staircase and all around the living room.🤣  But the excitement would grow as they would tear off a link each day and watch the chain shorten.  And the making of the chain was fun for them, too.😊 (possibly a good activity for your evening? - and your chain would only have to be 100 links long, so not that big of a task.)

13 hours ago, FTLCruiseGal said:

They still do the birthday cake in the dining room.  Just make sure it is noted in your booking details.  I had one my last cruise, which was post-covid.

No, they don't.  It was announced that it was being discontinued months ago, in a notice from Carnival that included several other cutbacks (I think at the same time as the 'no more free Room Service', and the "SeaDay Brunch hours cutback") and kinda got overshadowed by the others, so there wasn't much buzz about it.

They've done away with the complimentary birthday cake at dinner, too.  My DD's 17th birthday will be on our upcoming cruise.  I'm going to try to order a "birthday cake" platter of chocolate dipped strawberries from the cafe for her.  I don't know if they will allow us to stick a candle in it (and light it), though.🙁

2 hours ago, cooncat_mom said:

Just wondering - when you look to purchase FTTF, does it show up up in its own category in the Cruise Manager or is it under one of the other categories? We’ll probably purchase it if it opens up on our sailing (although I’m more impressed with Royal’s The Key which includes WiFi and an embarkation lunch in the MDR).  

It's listed as a Shore Excursion for the Embarkation Port.

In fact, it's actually written in Carnival's Liquor & Beverage Policy that RedBull is allowed to be carried on:

On embarkation day, a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, energy drinks, juice, and milk), packaged in cans or cartons, may be brought on board and must be in the guest's carry-on luggage. A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12-ounces/354-ml each or less, per person.

7 hours ago, Amy Paperlady said:

Me neither--unlike Monsters, I've not seen cans of Red Bull larger than 12 ounces. I took fancy sodas that were smaller than normal soda cans with no problem.

RedBull comes in 16 oz cans as well as 8.4 and 12 oz.  But, yes, the 12 oz (and even the 8.4 oz) cans are allowed to be carried on from Embarkation Port as well as Ports of Call.  My Husband takes Redbull on every cruise.