ShakyBeef

1 minute ago, mz-s said:

I don't think you actually prepay for the steakhouse on carnival.com. You're just reserving.

 

You can cancel any time because you're not actually charged until you go to eat.

You can absolutely prepay for Steakhouse online.  I did it for my upcoming cruise months ago.  It gave me the option of using my OBC to pay, but I chose to use my Carnival FPs Mastercard to get the extra points.

48 minutes ago, RD64 said:

Retired teacher here -I used to shudder every Christmas and June when I would easily get 20 “Best / Favourite Teacher” Coffee mugs and smile and say thank you plus write a thank you card for parents. Multiply that by 30 plus years and we are talking well in excess of 1000 mugs donated to Goodwill.

 

While all gifts were of course appreciated, some (gift cards to book store, liquor store, coffee) were always appreciated more. Honestly, my favourite gift was a box of thirty pairs of socks because I was known for my patterned socks - one pair from each student - and I still remember each one of their names. Obviously - like a doctor this was something on a more personal level with people that you have some sort of relationship with it.  That being said gifts were never expected or solicited. 
 

I find it insulting that John Heald is encouraging gifts of hats and trinkets - it must be painful for those poor employees who are more than likely professionally educated and doing this job because it pays more than being a professional back home - to smile and say thank you for that 3 for $1 trinket and gush and say how grateful they are.

I apologize for going slightly OT here, but I can't resist the chance to pose this to a teacher that isn't one of my kids':  I was aware of this tchotchke / dust-collector teacher gift issue already (my mother was a school nurse for over 20 years), so I have always encouraged my DDs to give their teachers consumable gifts with the teachers' particular tastes in mind (a set of fancy teas for a tea lover, a gift card to our favourite sushi restaurant for a sushi lover, etc.).  Sam's Club gift packages of cookies, etc. for those of whom we did not know the tastes.  I figure, everyone eats.☺️  Is this the right way to go?  Or have I unwittingly been one of the ignorant offenders of giving unwanted gifts?😳

I have never heard of this situation before, so I'm sorry that I can be of no real help, but, FWIW, I don't think it will be a problem.  I can't imagine a situation in which anyone - port staff or Carnival staff will be verifying the sex of your child.  I understand your concerns and as a planner and worrier, I would probably be experiencing the same trepidation as you is this situation.  l  just can't imagine, though, that anyone will notice / ask / check on this.  Go with all the documentation you have and enjoy your cruise.🙂

ETA: And welcome to CruiseCritic!🙂

11 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

This is the glass staircase in the Atrium which goes from the Nouveau Restaurant to the Lido Restaurant, (La Playa Grille). Pretty scary walking down that thing!

10 hours ago, pirate4me2 said:

I love love love the steakhouses on the Spirit class being under the funnel! And I love the glass staircase…but it is unnerving walking on it, especially if you’ve had a few too many like I do sometimes! 😂

You haven't lived 'til you've done that staircase in a gown and stiletto heels.  With a wine glass in your hand.🤪

11 hours ago, EngIceDave said:

Time for my dumb question...

 

Are the laundry perks per person or per cabin? 3 bags on a 7 day, ok....if we are both platinum, do we each get 3 bags?

Per Platinum person, so yes, if you are both Platinum, you get 6 bags total for the week.

46 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

I assume (Deluxe) Suites do as well, but I can't say for certain.

Yes, you assume correctly, Suites use the Priority line as well.

31 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

Another thing that Patti and I agree on is that we will never do a stand-alone cruise shorter than seven days again. Five days is just too short. If the ship we’re booked on is doing shorter than seven-day cruises, we will make it into a B2B to make sure that we are on that ship no less than seven days.

Good decision!😎  This is exactly what DH and I decided several years ago, hence our 5 + 5 day B2B on Elation in January 2020 (with the same itinerary as this cruise of yours).  Extended family members had picked this cruise and really wanted us to join them on it, but 5 days just wasn't 'worth it' to us, so we added another 5 days.😁

The tote bag might make a good reusable shopping bag.

Wow, Jack's Shack has changed since the last time I was there (2020)!  I know it will never be the same as the ols days, and I'll always miss Topher when I'm there, but I'm glad the new owners seem to making a good go of it and I'll keep going back as long as they are there.

Thanks again for this, the memories you are bringing back for me of past cruises and the hopes of future cruises.🙂

17 minutes ago, wemjam said:

So first hand experience on Sunrise 2 weeks ago - Two Starters / Two Sides and Dessert to go - all were fine:

 

My Order:

Risotto starter

Salad

Rib Eye

Potato & Mushrooms both for sides

Cheesecake to go (came out on covered plates)

Don't forget you get an amuse-bouche from the kitchen and bread to start as well.

How was the ribeye?  That's my go-to steak and they have always been good in the Carnival Steakhouse, but with these quality cutbacks, I'm wondering if I will be disappointed.  How did you order it cooked?  Was it cooked properly? 

37 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

The pedi-cabs are waiting for passengers. It’s a long pier, so we always use them for the cost of a tip…..

 

 

Ah, thanks for the memories.  We put our two teenage DDs in a pedicab, so they could have the luxury/fun of the experience, and DH and I walked behind them.  I'm waiting to see if you got the same Poolside Cabana as we did.🙂

Same sailings? Same dates? Same ships?

Just now, mz-s said:

 

I absolutely do not tip at for example a Holiday Inn Express. If you do, more power to you.

 

I did not initially respond beyond my laugh because I don't want this thread to get deleted for spiraling into a tipping debate.

OK, thank you for the response.  I'll refrain from further discussing hotel tipping here to keep it on topic.

mz-s, I'm not understanding your laugh response.  Does this mean you don't tip hotel housekeeping, find it amusing to do so?  I'm sorry if I'm being dense, please enlighten me.

49 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

You tip at Marriott?

Don't you leave a tip for housekeeping at every hotel in which you stay?

5 minutes ago, asalligo said:

I very much preferred that though and not because it was a lower amount. The family loved tipping the people who made our cruise great back then. 

You know, you can still do this.  Leave your auto-grats in place and in addition, give out envelopes of cash on the last evening to those special crew members that make your cruise great.😉

1 hour ago, wemjam said:

Guess it had to happen sooner or later.   Just got off Sunrise last week (Monday) and last night on the cruise got violently ill.  Spent entire night in bathroom.  No exaggeration, didn't leave bathroom for 9 hours (at one point I was literally curled up in the fetal position with a towel under my head laying on the floor).  Took Covid test that I brought we me so knew it wasn't that.

 

Made it home and went to doctor - Norovirus!  This is the new bench mark by which I will measure all other sickness when a doctor asks me "on a scale of 1 to 10" 🤪

 

Called Carnival and alerted them Tuesday so they could take precautions.

 

Funny thing is, on day 2 of cruise our main room steward went out sick (his assistant cleaned the rest of the time and when we asked after him, he said he was out for medical reasons).  My husband also saw people cleaning with bags that said "biohazard" on them not too far from our room... down the hall a ways.

 

Now mind you, we are still super hyper vigilant.  We cleaned and sanitized the entire room ourselves upon arrival.  Washed and sanitized our hands ALL the time.  To the point of sanitizing when we sat down at table, again after menu, again if we touched the salt/pepper or anything else on the table, etc. etc. etc.

 

 

I'm so sorry you had to go through this.  I've had it once - not from a cruise, but on land, most likely from a restaurant.  It was incredibly intense and miserable.  I completely empathize.  Also, I'm totally with you on all the precautions and sanitizing.  Keep it up, although it didn't save you from this infection this time, I'm sure it has saved you from others over the years.😁

1 minute ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

About the only good cheesecake left on the ship is at the specialty coffee place. Even there, they no longer have the carrot cake... at least I have not seen it there my last few cruises. And those cupcakes --- all show and no go.  😞

 

I'm not trying to complain --- but when given good reason, I won't keep quiet !

 

Tom

Crap, the carrot cake gone, too?😢  Well, I guess I can Pollyanna it by saying that all this is going to help me maintain my weight on my next cruise and not come home my typical 5 lbs heavier than I was on Embarkation Day.😏

2 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

On Celebration in December they offered to bring me Wasabi for the mashed potatoes. In January on Freedom I asked for it and was told no.

 

The cheesecake had a new recipe also. It had the same flavor as before but the mousse like consistency of the buffet desserts.  It was basically all frosting and crust no actual cheesecake.

 

It was a disappointing meal especially since the included food on Freedom was actually much better than recent trips.

Darn, yet another disappointment for me.  The cheesecake is my go-to Steakhouse dessert.🙁  I'm a bit of a cheesecake snob - I make very good cheesecake.☺️  And the Steakhouse cheesecake used to be solidly decent IMO. Well, pooh.  Not looking forward to my Steakhouse reservations as much as I was before this thread.🙁

I'm bringing my own wasabi, in case when I ask for it they don't have it.  But I can't exactly bring my own cheesecake.

4 minutes ago, RenoNanaOz said:

We were on Horizon last week and ate in The Steakhouse. We both ordered Filet and Lobster. Lobster smelled strongly of bleach, which means it was bad or on it's way. It also looked no different that Dining Room other than it was grilled. We were asked if we wanted another one and that would be a big fat NO!

That is very disappointing to hear.🙁  I was hoping the quality of the Steakhouse food would not drop off the way that of the included food has.  I thought the (recently increased) upcharge would keep it, within reason, from going downhill.  I guess I was naive. 

Yep, the menu has definitely changed.  One thing of note: no more wasabi mashed potatoes.🙁  And, am I misremembering  or is the lobster no longer specifically listed as Maine lobster?

Another update:  I decided to go ahead and purchase the decor and cookie package for my daughter's birthday.  You can indeed select the decoration delivery date once you are into the purchase process.  It defaults to Embarkation Day, but if you click the EDIT button in that box, you can change the delivery date.

OK, edit:  I just tried to do it, because, coincidentally, my DD will have her birthday onboard our next cruise.  I was able to choose the recipient of the guest in our cabin, but not the day.

From Carnival's homepage, hover over MANAGE in the blue bar across the top, and then click on In-Room Gifts and Shopping.  Then, click Gifts and Stateroom Decor.  After that, you can narrow it down by clicking on Stateroom Decorations on the menu to the left.  I'm not sure if this can still be done once onboard.  Once upon a time this was possible.  As far as I can remember, once ordering a decorations package, a date for the installation of the decorations is requested.  It's been years since I've done it, so this info may be outdated.

Just now, reeinaz said:

It was the signature tower.

Oh, yeah, I remember that.  Had it once. It was good.