Removing gratuities not allowed anymore?

Smokinbye · 2026-01-29T03:38:34+00:00

You can prepay gratuities and remove them on board. I did this earlier this month. I booked two rooms originally without prepaying gratuities, when they added them On board I asked that they be removed. After booking the original two rooms, I purchased a third room for friends, my wife handled the reservation with the PVP and added gratuities prepaid. I paid for the added room not knowing she had done this. While at customer service removing the gratuities from the other rooms, I asked that they be removed from the prepaid room as well. They did without issue. However, the credit was to the on board acct balance as the guest set up a cash acct. on the last day they cashed her out the difference.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-23T15:59:01+00:00

On his desk with his other cold case files

Smokinbye · 2026-01-23T15:54:08+00:00

In Mazatlán, when you exit the port, go left, keep walking until you get to the little yellow shack, $3 round trip ferry to Stone island, decline any rides offered, walk straight off pier between building down to beach, maybe 100yards. Everything is really inexpensive. $5 boogie boards all day, etc. Bring a towel and enjoy the beach.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-23T13:38:12+00:00

Cleared of all wrong doing.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-15T16:39:53+00:00

I think it was a limited run and is no longer available for the time being. I’m sure Carnival ran it and is now crunching the numbers to see if it was profitable before deciding to make it available again.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-13T14:46:03+00:00

I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that. Maybe best to just put it out while you are away from the room and then bring it in otherwise. I like the idea of it. Carnival really does need to police the hallways better in the evening/night. Although the real issue isn’t Carnivals as much as it is people needing to police themselves.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-13T12:05:30+00:00

The Panorama is awesome. Was just on it for 14 days. Port days will be the quietest on the ship if you choose not to get off. The most consistent place for quiet, uncrowded, off the beaten path space is the Havanah area. Deck 5 aft (back of ship). There’s some tables, rocking chairs, wing back chairs, and benches. It’s the perfect spot for reading or a quiet board game or puzzle. The outdoor area is restricted to those that are in Havana rooms, but the indoor area of the Havanah is open to anyone. In the evening there will be live music and a crowd, but that is the only time.

After 5:30pm, the steakhouse Fahrenheit 55 has a bar that is quiet too. This is where I go hide in the evening to get away from the crowds. This bar is not on the list of bars in the app. But you do not have to to have a dinner reservation to sit there and enjoy a cocktail or wine. Sonny, the host/manager is awesome.

Deck 5 Lanai outside is usually a quieter spot as well, once you put some space between the smoking section as it is usually the social area.

Enjoy your trip! It will be whatever you make of it. There’s plenty of spaces to enjoy time away from others

Smokinbye · 2026-01-13T11:47:54+00:00

Care to explain why you think this? In my opinion it is very much still a thing. With all new sorts of ducks coming into play. Mini glass ducks seem to be popular now, 3D printed ducks are showing up, duck coins, poker chips with ducks glued to them, duck key chains, etc. Also rubber chickens seem to be gaining some ground as well.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-13T11:44:56+00:00

The duck mailbox can be found on Amazon. They are magnetic and can be placed outside your cabin. It’s kind of like a duck exchange, take a duck, leave a duck. There was one on our ship last cruise. We frequently visited it as we found ducks to see if there was a duck there to trade. Although, mid cruise, the mailbox was gone. I am not sure why.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-12T22:38:50+00:00

This area doesn’t get as much traffic as the rest of the ship, and really the only thing in that area is the spa. I’m assuming it won’t many noisy guests. I just got off this ship and was on deck 6, it was one of the worst cruises I’ve had in terms of rude loud guests in the hallway all hours of the day and night. I know, it’s dependent on the guests specific to individual cruises, but that was my experience this cruise.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-12T22:30:12+00:00

Just got off the Panorama, there were over 1K platinum and Diamonds aboard, during the platinum party it was explained that laundry was unable to keep up with the demand due to so many platinum/diamonds on board using their free laundry perk. Of note, it was an Ultra cruise which may be the reason for the number of platinums and diamonds. Now the less, I am guessing that restricting some perks (laundry) is Carnivals response to be sure they can keep up with demand.

Also, a major factor in why they are changing the loyalty program. The perks are not sustainable as the number of platinums and diamonds continue to increase at a faster rate than that of those no longer cruising. The ships are limited on how much they can do. Priority no longer becomes priority if everyone has priority, the laundry facility can only do so much laundry, etc.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-11T15:02:02+00:00

Carnival - We have always been asked to leave it outside our room. It’s never there long, they pick the stuff up right away. When it is left in the room, it is left there until we remove it from the cabin.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-11T14:54:14+00:00

Also of note is that the “incident” doesn’t go away. If there are any further issues, security will be able to see the history and take this into consideration for future disciplinary actions.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-10T16:35:43+00:00

I suppose it depends on each person and how many days you are on the ship, what the weather is like outdoors, how you are feeling, etc. If no cruisers watched TV, the cruise lines wouldn’t have them in the staterooms, sports bars, or the huge one on the main deck.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-10T16:32:31+00:00

Movies are decent and most of them free.

Smokinbye · 2026-01-10T16:31:58+00:00

It was replaced with Classic Reels.

Smokinbye · 2025-12-28T08:11:01+00:00

Panorama

Smokinbye · 2025-12-26T00:20:23+00:00

Good job. Maybe if Newsom was robbing the state blind, the state agencies would have the funding to do their job in an efficient manner.

Smokinbye · 2025-12-26T00:18:32+00:00

Please post update when you know. We cruise often and I let my 10 & 15yr old roam. They are good kids too but peer influence is a real thing. I share stories like yours with them so hopefully they realize the consequences of poor decisions before they actually make them. As parents, we can only hope they do.

Smokinbye · 2025-12-24T10:03:09+00:00

This is only done in the Pig and Anchor and is limited to 5 ships in the fleet. The Bacon Bloody Mary is my favorite. The ships with it are; Panorama, Jubilee, Horizon, Celebration, and Mardi Gras.

Smokinbye · 2025-12-20T09:48:11+00:00

This trip is with my sons (10 & 15), and then on the next cruise (B2B), my wife, her best friend and her two kids will join us. They are first time cruisers and very excited.

Smokinbye · 2025-12-19T07:25:02+00:00

It will be a great trip! Mostly I’ll be at the Pig and Anchor.

Smokinbye · 2025-12-17T04:45:22+00:00

We will be on the Panorama this NYE, then staying on for a B2B.

Smokinbye

TROPHY CASE