KeithG

@Kendall James-Vargas They showed it live on the big screen by the pool and it was a good time for sure. I believe Gwen Stefani sang a few songs but the broadcast cut out during that portion. The ceremony was fun and different from the normal cruise departure so can't really complain about that. It was well done and the Jubilee is fantastic.

@Kendall James-Vargas Yep, invitaiton only according to the email, although it will be shown on all the screens. Should be fun though and maybe the later departure will help with traffic around the terminals. Here is part of the email they sent us: Dear Diamond & Platinum Guests, You may have heard that Carnival Jubilee’s naming ceremony will be taking place Saturday, February 24. To ensure a smooth experience for our guests and manage all the activities, Terminal Arrival Appointments will begin at noon. Please DO NOT arrive prior to your Terminal Arrival Appointments as they will be STRICTLY ENFORCED and all guests who arrive outside their designated times will be asked to return. Although the ceremony itself will be an invitation-only affair, we are delighted to share that it will be televised on big screens around the vessel, starting at 3:30 PM.

@3Sisters We normally book a balcony and we get the $500. We are on the Jubilee here next week Balcony cabin, $500 to spend on board.

@Woody14 I usually book a balcony and I get $500. I included a booking up above for an inside cabin at $900 that also got $500 on just a 5 day cruise tinerary:5-Day Western Caribbean from Galveston, TX Mon Jan 27, 2025 - Sat Feb 1, 2025 Ship:Carnival Breeze 1 Room 2 GuestsChange Room 1: Interior Upper/Lower PLAN NOW SAIL LATER $500.00 Credit to spend onboard Included Guest 1: $374.00 Guest 2: $374.00 Taxes, fees & port expenses: $210.38

They also sent an email saying the ship will not leave port until 8 p.m. and that the ceremony will be shown on the big screens on board.

@Old Cruiser @Kendall James-Vargas Thought I would attach a screen grab of what I see on the deals page right now

@Old Cruiser @Kendall James-Vargas I know this seems strange but I've never played in a casino and our VIFP status just now turned Platinum, so these deals have been available to us off and on before the new status. I just see them under the Todays Deals on the Carnival site. They don't contact me or email me anything. The only thing we've ever done is occasionally spend on higher end cabins such as Havana & Captains Suites but thats maybe 3 times over the years. I wish I could explain it but that's the story.

@Zebby I think, in general, if you are unfamiliar with a port or want a safe, no hassle visit, just sitck with a Carnival excursion or stay in the built up area of the port with rest of the crowd. They give the same warnings for Jamaica but we go there and either go on a Carnival excursion or stay in the secured area fo the port.

@Cruising Caribbean CCL is our cruise line in general, we've been on Royal and will eventiually go on Princess / NCL and MSC when it gets to Galveston.

@Cruising Caribbean I should note I do see the $500 on board credit on and off throughout the year but it seems it is usually limited to certain months and certain cruises, last I looked it was for the entire 2025 year. Anyway, just food for thought for those looking to book well in advance. This also assumes that everyone sees the same deals, I don't know that for sure but its just on the website.

@Cruising Caribbean You know, I initially thought the stateroom type or cruise length mattered, I usually do balcony so I get the $500 but just for fun I tried a 5 day cruise and got one for $950, so grab a cruise for $950 PLUS get $500 to spend. I haven't tried spending it on tips but anything else from excursions, drinks, in room gifts /water. I see the promo code on a few times a year. Cruise Summary Itinerary:5-Day Western Caribbean from Galveston, TX Mon Jan 27, 2025 - Sat Feb 1, 2025 Ship:Carnival Breeze 1 Room 2 GuestsChange Room 1: Interior Upper/Lower PLAN NOW SAIL LATER $500.00 Credit to spend onboard Included Guest 1: $374.00 Guest 2: $374.00 Taxes, fees & port expenses: $210.38 Room 1 Total:$958.38 Total :$958.38

@Zebby I would concur with a lot of the opinion about timing, mid-October is always a good time for me, not necessarily to the Bahamas (although I am doing that next October) but the Caribbean in general. Low prices too due to less family demand. One thing I do, if you can plan a year out, is take advantage of Carnival's $500 on board credit offer. We have done this several times, including a trip on the Jubilee this February. They have the offer right now in the VIFP deals on the website for all the months in 2025 as far as I can see. Cheap deposits and $500 on board spending, not bad.

@euroguy We've stayed in a suite 3 different times and each was a different type of suite. Each time it was due to having 4 people..my wife and I and a two girls. First was my first Carnival cruise and was on the Freedom. Carnival called us and asked if we wanted to upgrade to the Captains Suite. For a considerable fee of course. We did it and enjoyed the hell out of it. 2 bathrooms, forward facing windows, separate bedroom. Of course we got a fantastic break on the price otherwise we would not do it. Next was an ocean suite, worth the money for us due to the 2 girls. Had 2 real beds and a more closet space. Last was the Havana Suite on Vista. Again, had 2 teenage girls and we wanted the Havana section so really had no choice. Love the Havana Section and have been back since but if you don't need the room a regular Havana Cabana suite gives about the same experience. The rest of our cruises have all been balconies, in some cases multiple balconies or an inside across from our balcony.

@Robert Stanley First I will say, I'm a Shaq fan, especially since I saw him on Shark Week. 🤣 As for the overhead projector and cables and such...yep...that's too much. I do agree on the in cabin "entertainment" system...kinda crappy on the ships I've been on and definitely slow and not intuitive. A lot of people will tell you you're on vacation you should be out and about but you know if you're going to be on the ship for a week, maybe more, it's nice to get out of the heat and just relax every now and again. Plus, it's your vacation, stay in the cabin the whole time if you want. We have a lot of our own favorite TV shows and movies on our personal devices we watch in the cabin, it would be nice to show them on the TV through an HDMI input, I've looked at the TV's in our cabins and most of them I couldn't see the back plus didn't want to get in trouble. There are very small projectors I suppose you could use like the Anker Nebula and I think Kodak makes some small ones also. So far...not worth the price for us.

@Cruising Caribbean Carnival says they base the number of FTTF they sell on the number of Diamond/Platinum guests, more of those means less FTTF.