Call from Carnival Rep ???

[euroguy]

Oh and yes my personal CCL assistant has earned her number in my phone with speed dial. I feel so prevledged and very appreciative.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy I have only been on one Costa ship and I absolutely loved the overall cruise experience. I'm curious, as an avid CCL guest, have you cruised on both a Costa Cruise ship and a CCL Italian Fun Style ship? 

https://www.carnival.com/fun-italian-style

I'm curious how the two experiences would compare considering they both fall under the Carnival Corporation umbrella. 

Carnival Luminosa is going to surely be an awesome getaway! I recommend reviewing this article to learn more about the ship before your cruise. https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-luminosa-cruise-ship/99249

[euroguy]

 

 

@Kendall James-VargasOh and yes my personal CCL assistant has earned her number in my phone with speed dial. I feel so prevledged and very appreciative.

[euroguy]

@Kendall James-Vargas thank you for providing the link. It was an interesting read. Some of which I had recently read and some new information. 

it would have been nice to have more food options but for me I've eaten from street vendors in 3rd World Countries to Michelin rated restaurants in NY and everything in-between. So I will find something that satisfies the taste buds and fulfills the nutrients needed lol. Besides I absolutely love sea food and at every Alaskan port I can get my food fix on... if needed. Glass half full. I was glad to see that the ship has the lido canopy especially on the Alaska cruise as it will be more climate controlled, where as on warmer climate cruises the open lido is great.  Of course I was excited to read about the newly refurbished casino ... go figure!! 🤣 

I have sailed on 2 or 3 spirit class ships previously and found them to be enjoyable and easy to navigate vs the Panorama was a massive ship and felt like I walked the entire ship constantly to the point of almost exhausted and feet hurting. It will be interesting to see the cross over / duel ship construction/layout the Luminosa provides. 

No I have not saved with Costa or any of the Italian fun ship previously however at the end of next year the Italian fun ship the Fenzia will be port at my nearby port of Long Beach CA so I will definitely be trying g out that ship in the very near future.

The bottom line is the Luminosa is not the newest and fanciest of ships and lacking in certain ways. Everyone has a choice on a cruise to be as disappointed or happy/fun as you want. I personally  look at it as another adventure to destinations untraveled and prefer to keep it on the positive. Regardless it's better than the alternative... being home and working.

I'm looking to possibly cruise out of Florida in April. Any suggestions as to must go to ports on the carribean side? I've been to Costa Maya, Progresso cancun and Belize previously.

As always enjoy your input and feedback.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy A newly refurbished casino will be absolutely perfect for you! I know you will be spending some time enjoying those enhanced amenities while on this vacation. It's certainly more relaxing when a cruise ship is easy to navigate. I enjoy getting the flow of the ship in the first day or two on board and not having to be lost every day on vacation due to confusion in design. Carnival Luminosa is a 92,600-ton ship that can hold 2,826 guests. It's really an ideal cruise ship size, somewhere right in the middle of a small and a mega-ship. 

That would be your first Costa Cruises experience! You would love it, possibly even more than Carnival Cruise Line. I hope you provide a review of the Italian fun ship if you end up booking an itinerary with your personal CCL assistant. Would your personal assistant be able to book you on any other Carnival Corp brands or only offers CCL options?

I do love cruising in the Caribbean! Have you done any cruising in the Eastern Caribbean? If you enjoy lots of time spent in the water, Phillipsburg, St. Maarteen could be a great choice for you. 

Cheers to not working and cruising instead! 

Edited June 13, 2023 by Kendall James-Vargas

[East Coast]

Hi Everyone! I'm new to this board! I have had a personal cruise assistant for a few years now. When you gamble in the casino enough, you get a lot of personal attention. The offers are amazing. I would like to know euroguy if Carnival offered you the ECHO program? That is for people who play often in the casinos (note that you might lose a lot of money or win a lot). ECHO gives you free casino play, includes a driver to/from the airport or free parking at the port, free gifts, free drinks anywhere on the ship, and more. The reduced cruise fare is worth it if you are an avid casino player. We booked two rooms going out of Baltimore to Canada in late 2024 for just over $1000, and it's an 8-day trip. Well worth it! If you can afford to play in the casino, and do so each cruise, and cruise 1-2x per year, then you will receive special offers. Enjoy your trip!

We can't go on any cruise more than 8 days because of our work schedules, and we're confined to going out of the East Coast, but cruising to anywhere is better than cruising to nowhere!

[Cruising Caribbean]

@East Coast That's pretty cool you, too, have a CCL personal assistant. Do you use your CCL personal assistant still or do you utilize this ECHO program instead? The ECHO program sounds very interesting! I'm assuming this is a program that's not offered through the cruise line but is a secondary affiliate? I would be interested to see how the ECHO program works and benefits its guests.

I like your perspective on cruising! You must truly enjoy the experience if you cruise for the ship, not for the destinations. 

[euroguy]

@East Coast I've not received an echo offer as I just started returning to cruising after taking a few years off for personal al reasons. I have received the Premier, Ultra and Elite offers. I was not aware of the Echo offers until now and after some research I'm not sure they still exist as what I can see would have had to book by Octber 2022 and use by end of August 2024. My most recent cruise and 1st after returning was just this last April 2023. I do have another scheduled for very end of August 2023 and also looking at either March or April 2024... basically every 6 months or so. Receiving Elite offers after my last cruise in April tells me I spent way to much time in the casino 😆 but I do like the free cabin offers. I'm hoping that after August 2024 they will have a similar new program.

@Cruising Caribbean the ECHO program is through CCL which stands for Executive Casino Host On Call.

[euroguy]

My most recent experience having a CCL Personal  Assistant  was when setting di ING time for MDR early dining was already full. I put in one phone to her and the next morning I had a conformation email that I was early dining...Awesomeness I won't have to race to the restaurant manager on day one and argue for dining change and hope he/she will do it. 

Erica also said I could call even after normal hours since I'm 3 hours behind her... amazing!!! 

[Cruising Caribbean]

@euroguy Thanks for your itinerary updates! I know all of these offers are a lot to manage but you are certainly blessed to be able to have all of these opportunities. I'm sure these offers are all well deserved. I too am unaware of what the Echo offers are like so I would love to learn more about the program @East Coast. At least now I know it stands for Executive Casino Host On Call!

I really think your personal assistant, Erica goes above and beyond for you! She definitely knows how to treat a special guest and take care of her VIPs! It's almost like your wish is her command. I'm impressed she's even available after hours for you.