hihosilvers

Here's the thing with a 'kids sail free' promotion (and I'm guessing this is not coming from Carnival): It just doesn't make as big a price difference as you might think. 3rd, 4th, and in my case 5th passengers (kids) in a cabin, are already charged at a significantly reduced rate - but, still pay full taxes and port fees. With kids sail free, you can guarantee that kids will still pay full fees. So, in my case for example, we would only save a few hundred bucks (again, assuming that this would apply to kids max 12 years old). It's definitely something nice, and I'm not complaining, but it's not as huge a deal as it may appear at first glance.

it can change. A couple times, we've boarded a ship to find OBC on our account. Didn't know what it was, and found out that it was a tax adjustment. Don't know how it would work in reverse though.

me too, please and thanks.

marcsilver1002(at)Hotmail(dot)com

Breeze

If the quality of food and the dining atmosphere is at the top of your priority list for a great cruise vacation, then Carnival is not the line for you. I would think that most people who cruise on Carnival are not cruise snobs, and do appreciate a good value.

 

For the record, my DW and I do cruise NCL quite a bit too, and the food in their MDR is so bad, that we go to the extra fee restaurants almost every night on that line. With that said, Carnival may be no Celebrity when it comes to dining, but the cruise on the whole is pretty "fun".

Exactly. Carnival is great value for the dollar. In fact, it can't be beat - and they intend on keeping it that way.

Sorry if you dont believe me but saw a few NCL and HA for less than Carnival.

 

Overall Carnival is cheapest out there but not always.

If you compare similar itineraries, and length, Carnival is always cheapest.

Excellent entertainment is also gone.

 

For a few years, Carnival really did a great job of upgrading their product & experience, but these dining changes contribute to its budget line reputation.

 

Disappointed, but not surprised.

+1 on this

In the last few days we decided to do a December cruise and checked out all the options.

 

carnival was not the cheapest.

Oh come on now.

The amazing thing is when you price out a room Carnival really isn't that cheap, unless you take a room with bunk beds of two twins that don't connect.

There is no cheaper cruising option out there. Based on what Carnival's product has become, what other reason would anyone have to choose them over the competition?

Carnival is trying to keep themselves at the entry-level price point for cruising. There will always be an automatic customer base for the cheapest option - and they are intent on staying there. The are making constant (I won't say cost cutting) adjustments to stay there. Simple business. If NCL and RCCL wish to improve their product, and raise prices accordingly, they can fight with each other. Carnival will still be alone at the bottom, which is not a bad thing. My family is about to sail on our 5th Carnival cruise, and if they can keep the value/$ about the same, we'll keep on going.

I'm not doubting your report but can you share where and how far in advance you booked because even the 4 day cruises in an interior room were almost twice what I paid for a 7-day oceanview. I would love to take my kids on DCL but I personally cannot justify the price. I would rather take a 7 day on Carnival and do 4-5 days in the WDW parks for that price but if I could find a deal like yours we might rethink it :D

There is simply no way you can get on Disney for the same price as Carnival. Not even close. For the price of a 7-day Carnival, you can MAYBE get a 3-day Disney. I'm with you - I could never justify the price difference.

We were on the Breeze October 12 and we did purchase the full cruise pass.

 

The movies were Sponge Bob, Happy Feet, The Bamboo (I think Roller Coaster) and the Log Ride.

 

They were a little bit jarring on the back, but it was fun. We went three times and it was never full.

Same movies as last January. I suspect they won't be changing any time soon, but here's hoping.

We were at the Thrill Theater last January. Headed for the Breeze again in January, and wondering if the movies had changed. Can anyone answer the original question?

Would love to use this service in January. We have a late flight out of MIA.

Can anyone answer this question:

There are five of us in the cabin (mom, dad, and three kids). If we have, say, three bags, can we just do luggage express for two (2+1) or three (1+1+1) people?

For anyone who has been on the Breeze recently - what were the movies?

I don't think that's something that you should want to do, or be allowed to do. Play at home.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Good or bad, it sounds like things are about the same. I do agree that for the $$, Carnival can't be beat.

I did experience the new production shows last year, and this is an area of great disappointment for me. I used to love the live orchestra/band, and the broadway-style production shows. These new ones are show-in-a-can productions, and suck big time. Definitely a cost cut, but still, not a deal breaker for me.

Can someone elaborate on the hamburger/hot-dog grill that was eliminated from the Lido dick on the Breeze?

Hey all.

As a former daily (all day!) visitor to this forum, I have to say that it feels strange to have been away for so long. In the past, we've always booked almost a year in advance, and then I browsed the board for all the nitty gritty details of our upcoming cruise. A winter 2014 cruise was simply not in our plans - THAT IS UNTIL YESTERDAY!!!

Friends and former cruising partners convinced us to join them on the Jan 12 Breeze sailing, and we're so excited - but - I need to power through some of the stuff I've missed over the past year....and I feel completely lost.

So, any volunteers who would like to bring me up to speed on the latest and greatest (or not-so-great) news regarding Carnival?

What are we looking at?