kangforpres

Thanks Idtr, New England is an expensive place to live too, just like California. I understand some peoples sticker shock at what things coast out here, since I live with California prices everyday. Remember you can always cruise out of Texas and go on a DIY Mexican Walmart shorex.

In comparison what do the New England ports of Boston and Bar Harbor charge compared to the California ports? I live in California so I don't feel the need to cruise it's shores. I do like sailing from San Diego on HAL and have sailed once on Princess RT from SF. I've only down one "California Coastal" and that's because it was a dirt cheap Casino cruise. -Paul

You will probably get an assignment about 7 days out, maybe less. If the cruise is sold out inventory control takes more time

Roy- The Westie is in dry dock at Singapore until it's next cruise on 02/03

Not sure, I think the chips have the ships name on them. So maybe not?

Oh no we just had this thread, maybe moderator will merge

My latest offers: see attached for upcoming cruises including an Antarctic 22 day! I Can't go on any shucks. Plus there is a $25k slot tournament cruise 04-9 to 04-29 Panama canal from FLL-SEA. I can't go in that one either. my Offer is VH + $300 free play + Drinks. -Paul HEP2306CO_USD.pdf

After I get an email offer I always contact my PCC with the campaign code and ID #, she then does the booking. -Paul

The HAL Club 21 rewards system offers is a bit rando, there are the email offers which usually have a free cabin, some free play and free drinks in the casino. (They list lots of eligible sailings with a sperate PDF, see my above attachment) Then there are the "come back and sail" offers which you get at the end of a cruise. These have been recently more free play offered and no comped room and can be used for any new booking but must be book within 30 days of you getting off the ship Then there is the standard Casino Discount booking rate if you a are booking a cruise just for cruising sake and are not using a specific Club 21 offer. Happy Hunting, Paul

Thanks and more people have been posting them on cruisedeckplans.com

Thanks could you link some

Booked the 14 day "Northern Isles" on 8/23 on the NS. Upgraded to a VH for $200. Norway, Iceland and Scotland in late Summer should be fun! -Paul

My latest offer received yesterday with a free OV + $150 free play + free drinks in casino. Thinking of something in Northern Europe in August or September. HEP2305CO_USDv2.pdf

Drakes passage has been very harsh to cruise ships this year, how was your passage?

Thanks, I just want some recent pictures since it became a Carnival ship

boy what if lobsters smoked? Then this would even be a more continuous topic!

I often see HAL passengers order 2 shrimp cocktails when they are offered since then you get 8 shrimp instead of 4. Almost a "Galaxy of Prawns" ---Curb Your Enthusiasm

Great! I will be on my first Carnival cruise in April for a 24 day trans-pacific!

They haven't had them since the Covid re-start, maybe even before? Hal is not an upscale line, it's a mass market premium line akin to Princess and X. Do those 2 lines still serve lobster 1 night on a 7 night cruise? I think the parent company made the decision in order to help pay down the $32 billion or so debt.

Yes, they will keep track to see if you came and played your free play, but won't offer you anything if that is all you play.

Ship wide, and not just in the casino it seems lots of new hires just learning their jobs. I think the Casino Manager has too much work to figure out what offer to give what players on the last day of the cruise.

My last come back and sail offer was no cabin and $750 in free play. I prefer a free cabin since it gets you on a ship. I played every night for about 2 hours a night both tables and machines and accumulated 3400 points on a 7 day cruise, oh I only played 6 nights since we had a late port call one evening. I think since bookings have rebounded, free cabin offers will become harder to get

Well they are down to just 2 smaller ships now. The Zandam and Volendam which are usually scheduled for more port intensive cruises. (Amazon, South America ect...) Could Tampa be served by a Vista class ship like the Zuiderdam? -Paul

We asked the person telling people where to sit and after he asked someone they told us to sit with the A's. Could be a training issue at some locations

Another Month, another cruise, such is the life of a lucky retired man. I brought the wife on this one, embarkation was smooth with 4 stars you can always board with group A, no matter what your assigned time is. So we got to eat lunch in the MDR on embarkation day instead of fending off the masses in the Lido, We've been to Mexico so often we don't do any shore ex's there. We did go ashore at Puerto Vallarta and did a little shopping. We had dinner 5 nights in the MDR and 1 night in Tamarind and another in Rudi's, (see photo) food and service was good every night we had early fixed for the MDR No Mariner brunch, recognition ceremony or tile in room, we did get a we're sorry note blaming supply chain issues. This is the 2nd cruise in a row this has happen, same situation on NS in November sailing out of FLL. Wife enjoyed her thermal suite spa pass for the week which was almost sold out and she reported as being busy most of the cruise, I enjoyed the Casino 2 hours every night and walked off the ship a winner, also won some $ at Bingo. Staff reported ship had 2600 pax onboard which is capacity since space for 300 saved for possible outbreaks. I only used cell connections in Mexican ports instead of buying a ship's wifi package, since I'm retired I can be disconnected for days at a time and not really care about it. Come back and sail offer from casino was $750 in free play but no cabin offer. What I call a "half Laminator" I guess I could use it with a private sale fare. Happy Holidays! Paul