rolloman

4 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

In that fun loving, speculative spirit, I’d extend your hypothesis about a standby-by price: it might be a sum.  The stand-by price might include the whole cascade of bids that be fulfilled if an upper level cabin went into the RoyalUp system. If the vacant suite is an OS, the bid from a person in a GS may not look impressive in isolation, but there is a nice bid for a GS from a JS dweller, and a nice bid for the JS from a balcony dweller, etc. If the OS goes to RoyalUp, the whole cascade of winning bids is collected, so that would be my interpretation of the stand-by price.

That stand-by price you speak of can go away with a simple click from the passenger bailing out of the system. I say they have a set algorithm they follow and if everything lines up the system won't hesitate to implement the upgrade. My previous post was only an example to explain a full ship will not necessarily halt the program. Through the Royalup program they can effectively squeeze as much juice out of the lemon as they can until the bitter end. Personally, I like the current system as the old way back in the day was to talk to the pier coordinator at check in and see what kind of a deal you could work out. This system also eliminates a few thousand people standing in line on day one at Guest Services asking the same question lol....

On 2/7/2023 at 11:15 PM, fredmdcruisers said:

Yes. Some have said R Up is pretty much over with full ships again.

It does not matter if the ship is full... whoever came up with the idea is a corporate genius.  For example, all they need to do is hold back one suite in the inventory...then the process begins of upgrading cabins begins bottom to top with the existing passengers. Creating found revenue on an otherwise sold-out sailing. 

4 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

Sailed Ovation in Sep,Quantum in Oct.  DL was packed every night, Other than the first night the rear doors in the DL were opened into the music hall which was used as overflow. DL was pretty busy in the day time filled with people reading and game playing. On Quantum there was a good offering of breakfast items, every day a good variety of sandwiches for lunch.  HH appetizers were non stop.  

That is what they call an anomaly. 

7 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Give D+ access to the suite lounge?  Are you aware that on many sailings Pinnacle members don't even have access to the suite/concierge lounge.  

M

Calm down...I was being sarcastic about the suite lounge...however...I am serious about the waste of space Diamond Lounge. The anytime drink vouchers have all but eliminated the once fun perk.  

Since they have effectively killed the Diamond Club...maybe it would make more sense to move the Casino there? It is actually a few steps closer to the main casino than the Jazz venue. Give D+ access to the Suite lounge for those who just have to have the free coffee machine and light snacks in the evening. 

Are there any noticeable enhancements since the return? I understand it was mostly technical but there were a few minor upgrades. New machines in the casino perhaps? 

29 minutes ago, teddie said:

I initially booked a cruise for December 2022 and switched that booking to the 2/4/23 Anthem sailing from which we just returned. The December one is showing as a past cruise on my list on the RCI site in addition to the February one. Hmmmm. What, if anything, should I do? 
 

teddie

It may show on your list but I doubt if it shows points received. The one you just returned from will show points in about a week or so.

2 hours ago, ARcruisin2 said:

I would ask to have this escalated. The statement you receive should show how much carnival charged you that week... and you should get double points for any Carnival purchases. 

 

Also, I can confirm with others... as i learned from these boards, you get more for your points using them towards your carnival purchases on your statement. 

When I purchase a carnival cruise using the card...yes...I get double points for that purchase. When I go on the aforementioned cruise and use my same Carnival Mastercard for onboard purchases I do not get double points for those purchases. For example if my sign and sail card final bill is $500.00 and charged to my carnival Mastercard I should get 1000 points. I do not and have not for quite some time.

22 minutes ago, CeleBrat said:

  And, there's the added bonus of getting double points for $ spent while onboard a Carnival cruise.

In theory they are supposed to. It has been my experience they do not give you double points for onboard purchases. I have called them on this several times and have never received a logical response nor have they changed the point total for me. A couple cruises ago I did not get any points at all for onboard purchases and Barclays says it is up to the ship to report it. 

59 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

On a recent cruise on Harmony some guy had a $100 slot pull and had around 25 people join it.  I am not against slot pulls. If that is the only gambling you do on the ship I think it is a great idea.  But if you plan to gamble more than that, I think it is smarter to gamble using your own card.  Based on your comment you know how easy it is to get free cruises from the casino. One thing I have noticed lately is I am not getting as many offers in the mail as in the past. I am assuming/hoping this is due to cruises being pretty full these days with all the FCCs people are using from COVID cancellations. 

I think it has slowed down a bit but I do know someone who racks up about 4000+ points a trip...she has a ton of offers I do not get. As for the slot pulls...there is a famous you tuber who is a high roller who actually has a slot machine created in his caricature. His slot pulls in Vegas have $200.00-$500.00 buy in...kind of crazy but people do it...more than likely just to be a part of his online shows. 

1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I agree with your example but that is a small slot pull with a very low entry fee. If I organize a slot pull at $50 per person and 75 people participate (not unusual on an Oasis class ship), that is 750 points minimum. Add in that often people agree to do another round based on current winnings and you are easily over 800 points. 

You think it is "not unusual" for 75 people to be in a cruise ship slot pull for $50.00 pp ??? I am going to have to check the exaggeration meter on that one... as that kind of a pull would be very unusual. To me, it seems you are trying really hard to make a point about your disdain for slot pull organizers and slot pulls in general. Most cruise ship slot pulls I have been in (or viewed) had about 10 to 30 participants with $20.00 or so entry fee. For the record, I was on 11 casino cruises the past year and currently have 4 in the hopper. I doubt anyone joins these pulls dreaming of getting rich...instead it is a fun way to meet people and spend your time....especially when your only other option is the basket weaving seminar or the Nassau port shopping show. 

43 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

It only takes 800 points to get a free cruise. So any decent size slot pull is going to get the organizer a free cruise or close to a free cruise. And if an organizer runs several slot pulls on several cruises, they will easily make prime (2500 points), which gets them another free cruise plus free unlimited drinks for over a year in the casino. Plus you frequently get additional free cruise offers once you hit prime and often even before you reach prime. Just my opinion, but I would rather win my own free cruises (I have 9 free casino cruises booked this year so far including one on Odyssey today) than have my money help someone else get free cruises. 

Well let's fact check your math. Every 5 dollars spent equates to 1 point. Typically, each player gets 3 five dollar max spins. This equates to a total of 3 points per player accrued on the organizers card. So assuming, as you say,  "any decent size slot pool" equates to 50 people (which is actually a lot), the total amount of points accrued on the organizers card would total 150. Even if you add another complete round, the number of points is far short of any free cruise as you described. 

1 hour ago, BND said:

And, if they started being required,  they would come up with the money if they wanted to cruise, correct?  This is my personal opinion.  No group here.  I think it's a horrible assumption to think that so many people can't afford passports.  I think you're making a lot of assumptions about people without any data.  You're basically doing the "elitist" group think.  Those poor people are just lucky to be cruising type thinking.  How many people cruising do you think fit in the category you mentioned?  I'd hazard to say less than 10%.   After 35 cruises, we have met many people and they pretty much all are very comfortable financially.   Everyone has to choose how to spend their money, but I see some who justify what they do by whining.

 

Alcohol packages aren't required either, yet plenty of people buy them, some of who probably don't have the money, but want to drink all day.

Well I have a hundred (100) cruises if you want to brag...and I have met many who were happy after scrimping to be on their first cruise. As a matter of fact just last week while onboard I had some lady come up to me and say she wanted an omelet but couldn't afford it and I happily mentioned to her they were free. With my current position, I know first hand...yes...first hand...there are quite a few passengers who save for their cruise. There is no way the cruise lines will advocate to have the birth certificate rule changed as you propose. Next time you get off a ship watch how many people go through the birth certificate line in customs vs. passport. That should open your eyes. Well, then again, maybe not yours as you are desperately trying to work in the "they have to be birth certificate drunks with a drink package angle"

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

OK...did you prepay at #6...or just #5?

You pre-pay at number 1. You pay after on #5 and #6

5 hours ago, BND said:

 

 

My feeling also is that if you can afford to spent $1,000 or more on a cruise, you can afford to spend $120 on a passport.  How many of those saying they don't want to spend the money on a passport are spending $1000 and up on drink packages?

It is just a horrible assumption on your part. Whether you believe it or not, there are quite a few passengers on each ship who saved (in some cases for years) to be on the ship and then they arrive with the bare minimum in ancillary funds.  In some cases you will see these same people forced to remove tips, not because they want to but because they have to. Therefore, several hundred dollars in passports fees which are not a required expense is just not going to be an option.  Secondly, I also believe the Cruise Lines would never promote the idea to only allow paid in full passengers to board who possess a certain cash threshold in their bank accounts. Never a good idea to "group think"

I sailed both 5 and 6 the past couple of weeks. I did not have a problem getting in the garage either time. 5 seems to fill up quick but they have an over flow ground parking  right next to the garage they divert you to if necessary.  This is the big problem...you pay when you leave and you must scan your ticket and then put in your credit card. When people do not have a ticket because they lost it then guess what...cars exiting have to wait and the line backs up. On Sunday it took almost 45 minutes just trying to leave the garage. Super frustrating. Even folks with their ticket seem to get confused and cause delay. I think one reason is when they scan their ticket a pre-recorded voice continues to say scan your ticket and people freak out. The trick is...scan your ticket, it beeps... and then the little display to the right shows what you owe...put in your credit card and then the gate opens once processed.  Disregard the annoying voice trying to give you instructions because it is out of sequence.  

7 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Nothing compared to the interest they lose by giving away cabins to gamblers 

You really seem to be hurt over the cabin perk for certain gamblers. I am pretty sure the bean counters have analyzed the data (of which you are not privy to) and the results are positive income. Looking at it from a somewhat different angle...would you rather sail with empty cabins or fill them with revenue generating passengers? I am sure there is a one off or two who may make out but in the end,  however, statistics prove the casino always wins. 

 I just got off the NY Eve sailing on Freedom and it was embarrassing.  For instance on the big night they had a "special" menu. The main entrée was called jumbo shrimp and it came on a big plate with 4 tiny shrimp on a skewer with tomato sauce dribbled around it...no sides...nothing. So I ordered the chicken parm...same thing...burnt piece of over cooked breading with a wafer sized piece of supposed chicken hidden inside it and no sides. Even the normally awesome pizza was bad on this ship. I have been on 11 cruises the past year and this was taking dining cut-backs to a whole new level.   As far as the ship goes...two sections of shattered glass...one in the buffet across from the quick sushi station and the other in the gym. Filthy carpet.  Minimal lighting...the ship is super dark throughout.  I think they have given up on this ship since the fire. I would not be surprised to hear it will be taken out of the fleet along with a few others they have already mentioned. 

Just now, staceyglow said:

Wrong.  Those gratuities are not profit; they are liabilities - a debt owed to their employees.  If I gave you a $20 bill and told you to give it to someone else a month from now, it is not $20 of income to you.

 

It might temporarily help their cash flow a little bit, but that is something entirely different.

They make money on your money when you give it to them. Even if you give it to them for 1 day...they draw interest on it...Not You....

Don't get caught up thinking Carnival is doing everyone a favor by giving you ample time to pre-pay before the announced large gratuity price increase. Every dollar they collect in advance goes in their pockets to improve their bottom line. Just another corporate gimmick to show shareholders a boost in income prior to the next quarterly shareholder meeting. 

5 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

 

 

All said, yes people want to "relax" and often forget they're not at home.  But MJ use in foreign ports will still land you in the pokey.

There are a lot of laws in different laws in foreign countries which will land you in the pokey...some more bizarre than others (by American views)...the cruise lines "usually" try to make passengers aware of these prior to going ashore. For a simple example, in some countries you can not wear camo clothing.

1 minute ago, chengkp75 said:

That is on the cruise line then, if they don't enforce it.

No, there is a zero tolerance for anyone on a ship.

 

Did I disagree with the supposition that it would be legal federally soon?  Nope.  It is you who are distorting things.  I pointed out that US federal law has very limited applicability to foreign flag cruise ships.  It is up to the flag state, not the US, as to what laws apply.

 

Let's see, does nicotine affect the safe performance of a mariner's job.  Not that I am aware of.

I simply made reference to the poster you chastised with your incorrect statement of ZERO tolerance for drugs. In addition I mentioned nicotine as a drug...which goes against your ZERO tolerance statement. The fact of the matter is the poster was correct. When MJ becomes legal federally and  globally...and it is well on its way...maritime law will adjust. 

2 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

 

I believe Chief is referring to zero tolerance for the crew, not the passengers (and that extends to alcohol use as well by crew).

He is distorting what has been said. The topic was about passengers smoking MJ not crew. He was wrong to chastise the poster who said MJ will soon be federally legal in the US. The fact is Alcohol is a drug and so is nicotine and they are both tolerated by maritime law and as MJ continues to become legal...maritime law will adjust as well. This is reminiscent of his failed muster drill stance. 

3 hours ago, CharmedLifer said:

Never have I ever had so many people smoking weed on a cruise. Don’t bother w a balcony. All day and all night people around smoking weed. No open balcony or enjoyment just sitting outside.
 

Carnival pretends to have and enforce a no illegal substances on board. But security takes their time and has no ability enforce. This is more than 10 cruises. The worst - food, service and the smell of weed everywhere - including smoking deck w impunity. 

I have noticed an uptick in the smell as well. I have had a situation before when a couple sat on their balcony every day smoking and then spraying Lysol. I don't know which smell was more annoying but today, with all the edibles currently on the market, there really is no need for someone to sit and smoke the stuff. 

52 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

What difference would that make?  You do realize that the ship is not part of the US, and not subject to most US laws?  Under maritime law, all ships have a zero tolerance for drugs.

Zero tolerance for drugs? Alcohol is a drug, and a highly addictive one. Specifically, It is classified as a Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant. When the US and Europe make marijuana legal, the cruise industry (maritime law) will modify their rules similar to how they have for alcohol.