HarleyDad13

The hardest part is seeing nearly $1000 (two people on Cheers) on your portfolio that first (or second) day. However, as another person mentioned, it's great to see page after page after page of $0.00 for your drinks.

You will find yourself counting up what it would have cost you the first 2-3 days if you wouldn't have done the Cheers program. But then it turns into almost a game of getting to the "cut-off" point of 15 drinks. After all, you did just pay nearly $1000, so you drink up and drink up and drink up. Your first time of getting "cut-off" is like a celebration of sorts - "I did it!" The second time (night) it pisses you off because you know you can drink more. LOL

Seriously, if you want to let loose and just relax and not worry about the money, it's a great program. You can get drunk - trust me. Or you can just drink 15 drinks in a day and not be drunk (hard to believe, but true). If you don't drink that much, then you almost feel obligated to drink alcohol at every opportunity. Again, it's really all about what you feel comfortable with at the given time. One tip: order your drinks from a bar and not from an individual. You can tell the bartender to make it a little stronger or weaker to your taste. Otherwise, you may end up with a little watered down drinks too.

We just got back from Carnival Freedom this past Sunday. We did the package and it worked out great. However, I didn't buy it until after buying my first bucket of beer ($25) and just felt like I would spend way more without the package. In the end (and about 8 pages on my portfolio at end of cruise), the program more than paid for itself.

Let me start by apologizing. I was offered a "free" cruise by Carnival and I accepted it. Afterall, who can't pass on a "free" 8-night Southern Caribbean cruise - regardless of cruise line?? That noted, I just posted the below on the Carnival forum:

Just returned from Carnival Freedom yesterday morning. Did an 8-night Southern Caribbean and it was wonderful except…………..yep, the smoking was abundant throughout. I really don’t know if it was even regulated - as it was rampant throughout the inside and outside of the ship. The Promenade smelled of cigar smoke (one of the lounges) and cigarette smoke from the casino. It was rather common to see folks smoking walking down the Promenade. Long story short, it was rather overwhelming to us but obviously not to all. To top it off, the folks next to us and below us were also smokers on their balconies.

Now, before all the smokers jump up and thump their chests and tell me what an awful person I am for voicing my opinion (not complaining), let me explain a couple of things. My parents were chain smokers my entire childhood – to the point that I was often asked by my teachers, “where are your cigarettes?” because I smelled so much of the smoke. I lost my Father to lung and brain cancer, both caused by his excessive smoking. Today, my Mother is nearly bedridden and on 24-hour oxygen due to severe COPD, a pacemaker, and extreme emphysema (again, all caused by her earlier days of smoking). I throw it out there not looking for sympathy or argument, but simply as a fact. My Father died and my Mother is dying all from the excessive smoking they did in their lives.

Now, I’m also not trying to take away your “right” to smoke. I retired as a United States Army officer. I certainly know about “rights” as I have fought for your freedom to “light one up” whenever and virtually wherever you want. I just simply ask that you respect my "rights" too.

Finishing my rather lengthy post, I will also add one more little tidbit. I was one of the fortunate ones to receive a “free” cabin for this cruise. It truly is difficult to pass up on a “free” cruise. However, I haven’t sailed with Carnival for nearly 6 years. I didn’t gamble a great deal in the past, and I certainly didn’t stand out in the crowd to get the “free” cabin. I was just fortunate I guess. Regardless of the “free” aspect of this cruise, I will choose to cruise with other cruise lines in the future – preferably those who are either smokeless or that actually regulate when and where you can smoke. Carnival just didn’t impress me this trip and I truly contribute that to the amount of smoke throughout the ship. And yes, that is my “right” to choose other cruise lines. I can only hope that those of you who do smoke will also do so respectfully of those of us who choose not to smoke – regardless of whether you are on a “free” cruise or one that you paid $5k to cruise.

Thought it was a rather unique thread, but I"m sure there are many like it. If you are like me, then you have a favorite drink - a drink that may or may not be available aboard your specific ship.

I love Fat Tire beer and have recently enjoyed Strawberry and Apple Ale beers. My wife loves her Smirnoff Ice (especially Apple). I would imagine that none of these are available onboard, but wanted to ask the masses who have recently cruised. We leave for Freedom on Saturday so the info is most appreciated.

Does Carnival serve:

1. Fat Tire?
   
2. Smirnoff Ice?
   
3. Strawberry Ale?
   
4. Apple Ale?
   

Follow on comments can always include their favorite drink to search for too!!! :D

We received our $50 inside cabin (plus $50/pp OBC) offer via snail mail in early/mid December. I was skeptical but took it to work the next day and searched online. It was legit - or appeared to be. The cabins weren't available on all cruises but there was an abundant group to choose from for this offer. I took the chance and booked online - still thinking it was too good to be true. In fact, I even called Carnival after originally booking to make sure everything was good. And it was. I was giving this to my DW as a Christmas gift so I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to disappoint her. Then I started thinking, I wonder how much an upgrade would cost?? I called Carnival back a second time and was upgraded to a D1 balcony for $129 for an 8-day cruise. I was absolutely beside myself with excitement. It was literally the hardest present to keep to myself for those 2-3 weeks before Christmas. When the DW saw it, she began to cry. It was a great Christmas!!!!

All that said, we leave in 25 days (but who's counting?!?!?!). I haven't cruised with Carnival in the last 6-7 years, but I know we are going to have a wonderful time. I took my DW on her first cruise last year and she has fallen in love with it. I hope we get another mailing as I will certainly jump on it!!!!!

We received our $50 inside cabin (plus $50/pp OBC) offer via snail mail in early/mid December. I was skeptical but took it to work the next day and searched online. It was legit - or appeared to be. The cabins weren't available on all cruises but there was an abundant group to choose from for this offer. I took the chance and booked online - still thinking it was too good to be true. In fact, I even called Carnival after originally booking to make sure everything was good. And it was. I was giving this to my DW as a Christmas gift so I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to disappoint her. Then I started thinking, I wonder how much an upgrade would cost?? I called Carnival back a second time and was upgraded to a D1 balcony for $129 for an 8-day cruise. I was absolutely beside myself with excitement. It was literally the hardest present to keep to myself for those 2-3 weeks before Christmas. When the DW saw it, she began to cry. It was a great Christmas!!!!

All that said, we leave in 25 days (but who's counting?!?!?!). I haven't cruised with Carnival in the last 6-7 years, but I know we are going to have a wonderful time. I took my DW on her first cruise last year and she has fallen in love with it. I hope we get another mailing as I will certainly jump on it!!!!!

Yes, I should have clarified in original question. We are in a Grand Suite. Sailing next week of FOS, so I'm doing the last minute scramble.

We have made contact with Willie, our Concierge. He is doing great and I'm thoroughly looking forward to meeting him.

I just need a few off the wall, unique things to help celebrate with my family.

Not sure if this is the proper thread for this question or not, but here it goes anyways.

My Mom has many medical issues - too many to include for this thread. She wanted to see the ocean "one last time". You get the general gist of her condition. My DW is celebrating a birthday on our upcoming cruise next week. I have a wonderful 15yr old DD and 13yr old DS also coming with us.

I have never experienced the Concierge services. I know what is included, but I'm interested in any "special requests" that some of you have done in the past. How do I get the biggest bang for my family? What are some of your unique requests that I could consider to make this the memory of a lifetime?

That's what I was afraid of Bob. Like I said, it will likely be hard to step down once I've introduced my wife to the suite life!

But, on the remote chance that I give to a friend, help me understand the reduced deposit benefit for the other types of Staterooms. Is that a significant reduction?

Another newbie here, but extremely intrigued at the possibility of reducing deposits for future cruises. This is my wife's first cruise so only time will tell whether she likes it, hates it.........or simply LOVES IT like I do. We are doing a Grand Suite on FOS, so I tend to lean towards her LOVING IT!!!!

Regardless, I need clarification. I am able to put down $100 towards a future cruise using this program. Is that the deposit? I keep reading about a "reduced deposit", but is this the deposit? In other words, we are looking at the possibility of doing a TA in May, 2014. If I were to book today, I am looking at a deposit of roughly $1500 for another GS. But, with this program, is that deposit reduced to the $100?

I'm sure I'm making this way more difficult than is necessary. Please advise. Thanks!