beachbum53

I could be wrong, but I suspect the ads you see are prompted by whatever else you have looked at on line. Her's a way to test my theory. Let's say you're interested in purchasing a certain dress shirt. Go to Amazon, or Macy's web site, or any other web site that might have what you're looking for. Look for that item on  4, 5 or 6  different web sites. Then come on here, and unless you have some sort of ad blocker, you'll see ads on here for that shirt (or similar). In addition to having an ad blocker, you may have to turn off "cookies" in your settings. Or, just ignore the ads like you would in a magazine.

Are the reps who answer 1800-Carnival PVP's?

No, they are customer service agents, not PVP's.

One thing that really does need to be eliminated from the buffet is the flat iron steak. It would almost be easier to eat a broiled tennis shoe. 

Our next cruise isn't until November 2021. I feel pretty confident that wearing masks will no longer be a requirement for everyone by then, with possibly the exception of nursing homes and certain areas in hospitals. 

23 minutes ago, Roz said:

 

Why would they be raising the auto grats?  Does this have some connection to the virus?

In a way, yes. But, keep in mind, this is just a guess. Because Carnival wants to do whatever they can to keep passengers safe and healthy, the staff is being asked to take on added responsibilities, such as serving the food at the buffet instead of letting passengers get their own food. Wiping down pretty much everything on the ship from end to end multiple times a day, and other added duties as required. To make the added work load a bit more tolerable, it wouldn't surprise me if the auto-gratuities are increased a little. And, it's not inconceivable that cruise fares could go up a few dollars so that Carnival could give the ship's staff a pay increase. Before you react negatively to this, ask yourself "What is my safety and health worth on a cruise?", especially since none of us know when or if this pandemic will ever truly come to an end. I believe most people want to continue cruising, but only if it's not a major health risk. 

22 minutes ago, arby70 said:

The bickering back and forth on this website is the reason so many have stopped using it.  I basically have myself, but scan it once in a blue moon.  Nope, nothing has changed.  Just wish it would stick with informative, courteous posting as it was originally set up to do.  Slash and run tactics are not the slightest bit helpful, and nothing on this site is that important that it requires rude behavior.  Just sayin '.  

arby70,  if we should ever meet on a cruise, I'm buying you a hamburger (or veggie burger if you prefer). 😉

4 hours ago, skridge said:

All I did was report what I saw John say on Facebook.  I will not be told the sky is green when I know it is blue.  You can go on and on replying and I will continue to present the unequivocal fact that all I did was report on what someone said on Facebook.  I will not be told I am wrong when the record in my post above says that I am right. By the way I never said that John was telling the truth on Facebook.  I just reported exactly what I saw.

You are entitled to your opinion. Have a nice day.

8 minutes ago, skridge said:

I was just posting a fact.  I saw a post saying auto gratuity increase?  I simply posted the fact that I had seen John Heald answer this question.  I understand the name of the website.  it is not reasonable for me to answer a question and then be accused of some sort of John Heald conspiracy.  If I post an undisputable fact on here which is what I did, noone should critisize it I don't care what the name of the website is.

Time to get this post back on the rails and not let it go sideways. I scrolled back through each person's response but did not see anyone accusing you of a John Heald "conspiracy". The only thing I saw was a personality clash between fyree39 and you. I too saw John Heald's statement about Carnival not increasing gratuities. However, as I have already said more than once, he was only posting what he has been told, and like you, this information was taken in good faith. But, it's not carved in stone. Due to the additional duties that the ship's staff are being required to do to try to keep us safe and healthy on our cruises, such as serving the food at the buffets, frequently wiping down pretty much everything on the ships from end to end, etc., it's not unreasonable to assume that gratuities will increase at some point within the next few months. It's also entirely possible for Carnival to raise cruise fares by a few dollars to pay the crew for their additional responsibilities, and maybe even hire on more staff. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

9 minutes ago, skridge said:

You can't write anything on this website without being criticized.  I simply pointed out a fact that JH said on his Facebook page that they were not upping the gratuity, and now somehow I am the ringleader of a conspiracy to get JH to hate CC.  Newsflash, JH has hated CC for a very long time and I have nothing to do with that.

Hello! The name of this web site IS "Cruise Critic". Yes, you're free to have an opinion about something and post it on here. However, there's no guarantee that others will agree with you 100%, or won't disagree with you or criticize you in some fashion. As far as what John Heald said recently regarding gratuity increases, his comment was based on what he has been told by those above him. In order to remain employed by Carnival and get a paycheck from them, he does not have the freedom to speculate about what those above him will decide to do at some future date. 

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

Honestly, this is one of the last things I expect to see happen anytime soon. It wasn't too long ago since they last raised it. The last thing they need is more people turning away from cruising because their gratuities went up a whopping $15 total.

 The current gratuity is $13.99 pp. If it goes to $15.00, that's only a dollar more. Not exactly what I would call "whopping".

2 hours ago, skridge said:

John Heald just said they will not be raising the gratuity on Facebook.

 

He can only go by what he has currently been told by the "beards". 

This is just a guess, but I wouldn't be surprised if Carnival raises the auto-gratuities some time before the end of this year. So, if you currently have a cruise booked, either for some time later this year or in 2021, it might not hurt to prepay your gratuities before there is any increase.

 Medium size. I'd guess about 38 inches, measured on the diagonal.

Since so many people are eager to go on a cruise again as soon as possible, and some ports won't be open any time soon to welcome cruisers, I wonder if Carnival will have some "cruises to nowhere" (with limited capacity), just to satisfy those that are going stir crazy?

This is just a guess, but maybe someone in the Promotions Dept. came up with this instead of saying "Free drink coupon for returning VIFP cruisers" since the coupon can only be used on board, and usually on the last day of the cruise.

Anyone else think this year's Black Friday sales will be excellent?

For cruises, no. For TV's and most electronics, probably yes.

Unless the price has gone up, it's $30.00 to rent a clamshell. You don't rent them at the Excursions Desk.  There's a little kiosk near the beach to rent one. Keep in mind, the clamshells don't have any ventilation, and can get hot and stuffy very quickly on a hot day (which is pretty much every day there). If you walk on down the beach a little way, at about Cabana #9 or #10, you'll find plenty of lounge chairs under shade trees. The lounge chairs and shade are free. Don't forget your sunblock. 

Our next cruise is in November 2021. We're being optimistic that we won't have to cancel and rebook. In the meantime, we'll gladly take advantage of whatever price drops and additional OBC Carnival offers. So far, the rate for our cabin has dropped by $30.00 pp, and we've gotten an additional $25.00 pp OBC. After the Triumph misfortune a few years ago, and so many people cancelling cruises, we ended up with about $300.00 OBC for the cruise we had booked on the Liberty. 

I'm going to guess that the cruise industry will survive much better than the thousands of small businesses here in the U.S. that have been made to shut down. I'd be willing to bet that the cruise lines have far more money in the bank than Marie's Beauty Shop or Bill's Tire Service. No doubt, it will take a little time for the cruise industry, and related industries such as the airlines, to recover from the financial losses due to this pandemic. But there are hundreds, if not thousands, of small business owners that will never recover.

Before I even book a cruise that would be sailing within the next 5 or 6 months, I would first try to find out if the ports on my chosen itinerary are open to tourists. Also what, if any, restrictions might be in place for visitors. I would not want to go on a cruise if I had to wear a mask all of the time outside of my cabin, and I definitely wouldn't enjoy just sailing around on the ocean for a week because the ship can't dock anywhere.

October 2020 will happen??

Yes. As always, right in between September and November.😉

It's our second favorite ship, right after the Breeze. 

On 4/21/2020 at 6:04 PM, INeedAMaiTai said:

On my last trip, the hooks for my shoe holder hooks didn't fit the threshold at the top of the door.  Does anyone have any recommendations where I can get super thin ones that'll work with the doors?

I found these on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Misslo-Packs-Over-Door-Metal/dp/B013SBC2AI/ref=sr_1_31?crid=3V69IA5N9GJDL&dchild=1&keywords=over+the+door+hook&qid=1587594329&sprefix=over+the+door%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-31  You may be able to find something similar at Lowes, Home Depot, or a neighborhood hardware store. 

21 minutes ago, Hokiehog said:

 

Can't do it... Many of today's children dont have the smallpox vaccine but can travel anywhere is US... no proof necessary 

 

It's flu version 50, gang... If you easily get sick, stay home... Let us others have fun...   

It's already been said on the news that Covid-19 is not like any flu we've seen before. Yes, one type or another of a flu virus comes around every year, and people can get a flu shot if they want to. When flu season comes around, you don't see millions of people getting infected, or thousands dying like what is happening with this pandemic.  When you say " If you easily get sick, stay home..." shouldn't the same thing be said about norovirus? Yet every year, people do contract and get sick from norovirus when on a cruise. This pandemic is not like anything we've seen in a very long time. It's been stated more than once that a person could be a carrier of the virus and not be aware of it, or show any outward symptoms, but could easily infect someone else that would get sick and possibly even die from it. I wouldn't be at all surprised that, once a vaccination is developed and found to be 100% effective against Covid-19, it will become mandatory. Yes, there will be those that will refuse to get the vaccination, citing religious beliefs or some other reason. But as deadly as this virus has proven to be, it's entirely possible that certain businesses, amusement parks, airlines, cruise lines and various travel destinations would refuse those that have not been inoculated. 

Before I would consider booking a cruise within the next 4 or 5 months, there are a few things I'd want to know first. Since we fly to whichever home port we'll be cruising from, what (if any) restrictions will be in place with the airlines? Since we fly in a day early, will the hotels be open to accept guests? Will the restaurants be open for regular dining, and not just carryout or drive-through? Will the ports of call on our chosen itinerary be open for tourists? I love the ocean, but I don't want to go on a cruise that just sails around for a week without ever going to any ports. That's not my idea of a fun vacation.