oomwizard

Sounds like ES time is not a problem at all. Did do YTD once and didn't like it. We've always made friends with the servers and tablemates at assigned seating. YTD was ok, just not as fun.

Thanks for info!

I bring a large thermal plastic mug with cap and drinky hole. Mix up a huge cool rum drink and head to the pool. (I buy a bottle of rum from the bar.)

I've found, after years of buying Carnival, that the best rate usually comes into play about 4 - 8 weeks before sailing. If the rooms aren't filling fast enough they'll drop the price as the sail date approaches.

Some sailings they don't/won't fill all the cabins and you can get an extreme price cut by waiting till the last week or two. Downsides are: the less desirable rooms are the last to book, the ship may fill quick and you'd be out that sail date and/or you may not get a category that you like.

If you're close to a port and able to travel on a moments notice, you can buddy up to one of the carnival reps and let them know you're available. This can be an unbelievable deal but I think the ship must have it's passenger manifest ready at least 3 days before sail date. And, you get what you get.

When a cruise is imminent, I check rates daily as well as number of cabins still available by doing a mock booking. Once I think the rate is as low as it might go and there's fewer cabins available, I book.

The other option is to book ES (early saver) and hope to get a On-Board-Credit if the price drops. But, now you're regularly checking prices again and if you forget or don't file for the credit you're out the credit.

GL!

Edit: Also, Spring Break and holiday sailings almost always sell out early. Those, book early.

Book early enough and you will have a larger choice of balcony rooms. You can select your own instead of being assigned one. Some cheapest rate plans don't allow selection, but they are cheaper.

If you try a mock booking on carnival website you can see which rooms are available.

Aft and aft wrap balconies are the best! Great for entertaining!

GL!

Hi all,

Although Platinum I've never had early seating in the MDR, always, always been late seating. Usually, after dinner I/we get coffee(s) and expresso(s) and linger till we're done nibbling on dessert and finishing coffees.

Question is: I assume at early seating they might require you to "move out" to get ready for the late seating. Anyone ever get asked to leave or is there way more than enough time to never be rushed?

Awesome, thanks for the info. Looks like it's way better to stock up before boarding. ;)

I won $1000 on Legend 2 cent machine [Diamond 7X machine]. 9 pay lines X max bet, so, $1.80 a pull. (I think)

Paid off for 45 minutes. (I wanted to see how long it would "ding" and nobody could figure the final payout.) I was in it for $20. Big fun.

If last 7 on reel was red instead of blue... would have won the car. :eek:

Damn $6 BJ minimum. Sure they do that to promote tips, side bets or befuddle betting strategies.

Has Carnival started selling "5 hour" and other energy drinks? (5 hour is a great pick-me-up for me without jitters or insomnia)

Sailing in a week and thinking I'll probably have to bring a couple of spares.

Thanks

Got to correct my last post: Made mistake of looking at wrong ship.

For a surfer/hula poster try Amazon. Search for surfer hula girl cutout or "

stand in."

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Couple-Photo-Banner-Poster-Party/dp/B001FVPL66

Less than $3? wow.

At this time of this post there is 1 Inside and 1 (very large) Suite available.

7:10 EST

Are you Platinum or Diamond or did you buy FTTF? Priority is granted to those. Is it a casino perk cruise?

You can buy one of these. And, put your face in... like we do!

Should have, should have, should have run the virgin commercial. Sure, it would have ruffled some feathers. But then, it would have been even more memorable.

It was a good commercial but I'm positive "virgin" angle would have been better for the bottom line.

Already forgot what was in the SB commercial. /sigh :o

Cabanas are nice. Enjoy!

The casino tracks players in the casino, unless you never use your SS card to log in while playing slots or tables, you'll get rated. Even if you gamble a little bit you can probably get a $25 voucher, maybe just for asking.

Try emailing the Ocean's Players club, you never know.

casino@carnival.com

GL!

Best thing was winning $1000 on 2c slots. Damn thing dinged for 45 minutes (I wasn't going to touch it.) If the last 7 was red instead of blue I would have won the car.

Winning the hairy man contest. (no hair) But I knew I'd win it with my perfect Tarzan call and secret naughty dance. LOL!

First cruise ever! It was 1985 and I was living in Germany but had come back to Tampa for my sisters wedding. While home, an old neighborhood friend and I were at a bar and he introduced me to an agent friend of his that worked for the cruise line. He said that since the boat wasn't fully booked he could get me on for $100. I called my commanding officer in Germany, got the go ahead for another weeks vacation and went on a 5 day cruise for $120!

Dang those rooms were small! Ended up befriending an older English gentleman (name: John Holmes :eek: who owned some casino in England) who was on holiday and he clued me in on what to do while cruising. And we swapped girl chasing stories.

Also remember shooting skeet of the back of the ship. Think I remember shooting all of them! Last day of the cruise I met the couple in the cabin next to mine. It was my backdoor neighbors from my old neighborhood! They had been shooting a promo video for the cruise lines and said if they had run into me earlier they would have put me in the videos.(laughing/splashing in the pool and such)

That ship was so small you ended up knowing about everyone.

When I got back to Germany I had the best tan ever. LOVED IT!

Why do you want to book as a group? I don't think there is any group discounts (it may actually be more expensive.) If you want collective dining assignments or reserve a party room most of that can be arranged onboard. If you wanted a row of rooms then you could have bought online or agent booked early enough to picked/booked adjacent cabins.

Don't see any need to book as a group. The hassles of group management don't make for a more fun trip. As long as all are on the same boat you can arrange meeting times and activities via cabin phone, door notes, maybe even bring all walkie talkies.

As far as your shipboard credit. It is usually the difference from early advance booking and the price drop that occurs shortly before that cruise date. If you paid in advance you can check and ask for the difference. If you haven't paid yet then you've probably saved as the fare prices drop.

Suggestion: don't worry about being a group. You WILL be a group and should still have big fun!

Had a large, odd shaped room at bow of boat once. Room very quiet, only heard water slosh once as I assume they were filling the ballast tanks. Room had no portholes and with door closed and lights off it was dead black, even midday. Best sleep I ever had.