AtSeaWithChris

I think the XL class of ships has done a lot for Carnival but they need to fix a weak spot with the grand central area for shows. The seating is not great due to sight lines. Not sure what they could do unless they make a transformation somehow. They could go bigger allowing for more space and better sight lines or move some of the venues like the coffee and bonsai places. I think they did such a good job on the layout with the XL class that bigger could be good for it. It really wouldn’t have to be much bigger to address the downside and they really do have a great overall layout.

I believe the pizza is $6 or $7 now as opposed to $5. It’s pretty quick though. On the Mardi Gras I sat at a table next to the pizza place and the line was longer than I wanted to deal with. I ordered a pizza in the app and got it before the person that was in the middle of the line.

My my my so many people all in a dither over hypothetical offenses. This started over the Serenity area which is not intended to be serene but rather adults only. Adults s should know how to be adults. Unless someone is slapping your face physically if you don’t like something then stay away.

This has been brought up to John Heald before and there is no expectation of serenity despite it being in the name. It is an adult area not a serene area.

First, if you want to tip extra that’s up to you, not saying you should or shouldn’t. If you prepay or pay gratuities you’ve already paid them. I fail to see why you would need to pay extra gratuity for an up charge dining experience. Whether you eat in the MDR or a specialty restaurant you’re only being served once. You’re paying extra for a higher quality meal. The service should be the same. In the beginning the cost of the specialty restaurant was only to offset the increased cost of the nicer cut of meat. It used to say in the description that the gratuity was included in the price. Now they make it obscure so it’s easier to have people overpay the gratuity. If you eat at a specialty restaurant and you order a drink, if you have the drink package, they give you 2 receipts. One for the food and one for the drinks with a line for extra gratuity on each one. Why should I have to tip on both receipts? Additionally, in the bars, on the receipt they show that 18% gratuity is already charged but leave another line to tip extra. Its mere presence rakes in a lot of extra gratuity. It’s time to just include gratuity in the price of everything. You’re even expected to pay gratuity on a self serve beer or soda machine. Even fast food places are putting gratuities in their web ordering systems with gratuities pre-added. You’re taking your own order, paying, and picking it up in the drive through and they want you to tip. They are making an hourly wage not reliant on gratuities. It’s really ridiculous.

Deck 8 has the outside seating and bar areas as well as the aft infinity pool. The casino has windows. The central area has the 3 deck windows. There are plenty of opportunities to see the ocean without having to be on the top decks.

I miss the bacon crumble at Guys and I also miss the good fries.

We like the brisket the first night in the MDR. I always get the crème brûlée and bitter n blanc. Usually order several shrimp cocktails.

The other cruise lines work it out. This is a business decision by Carnival.

Thank you. We sail in 3 weeks. I hope they get the flight simulator working. I am also 6 ft tall and worry that I may have problems fitting. Oh well, we will see what happens. I’m more interested in the flight sim..

Does anyone know on Meraviglia the max height or weight for flight simulator and F1 Simulator? Also, for bowling, what shoes are allowed, if they don't have shoes that fit? We are looking at a fun pass to take advantage of the $140 value for $80. We are both Gold (matched) and I think we get F1 and Flight simulator for half price. Does that include bowling? I am on the fence as to whether or not new would spend more than $80 on that activity. DW is not nearly as adventurous as I am.

What I am saying is that other cruise lines in Texas ports work around it. Carnival has made a business decision to not allow the drink package line other cruise lines do allow it.

It doesn’t seem to affect other cruise lines like it does Carnival. They have made a business decision.

If you plan on doing a specialty dining package you can get the shows for $5. But you can’t book them at that rate until onboard.

No. Cheers starts the 2nd day.

You have to wait until you’re onboard to make any dining reservations.

You may be talking about freeboard. You do count the weight of the air in the ship spaces so a higher freeboard will obviously add more weight than the same size vessel with a lower freeboard.

Pretty much most everything. Up to $16 a glass.

A TA can purchase it online at mscbook.com or you could call in.

I’m pretty sure Florida does charge sales tax. It’s Texas and NY and I think Alabama that charges alcohol tax as well as sales tax.

It’s the cruise Critic site. They are critiquing.

I may be a little off with the technicalities but I believe Texas law requires that only alcohol sold by Texas alcohol distributors can be sold in a Texas port. Also Cheers is not effective in port due to this law as well as the alcohol restrictions. Other cruise lines deal with it differently thus allowing the use of drink packages on day one. Again this may be off a little but is the basics.

I worry about that too lol. If I have to Google what something is I’m scared of that lol.

I’m curious about that. We have 2 devices under my name. Are you talking about the MSC and Me app account or an account for the internet? If it’s the MSC for Me app were you able to chat?