I am interested in the private island tour in Belize when we go on Glory 10/17. I see it posted as an excursion, but when I go to book it, I am not allowed to do so. Is it because it isn’t offered on Glory or is it because it can only be booked onboard? I have heard that Carnival is no longer doing this tour (Bannister Island) but others on Cruise Critic have posted that they are going there.

My second question is one that is driving me crazy. It is about tipping. I have to admit I spend too much time reading Cruise Critic and one person in particular, always tells people to remove their auto-tips because Carnival takes a percentage of the tips kind of like a service charge. He is even telling people to remove them THE MORNING OF DEBARKATION.

Others have posted that if one removes the auto-tip, the person, ie, steward, waiter has to explain what he/she did to have the tips removed. If the answer is nothing, and the person has been tipped in cash, that money has to be turned into the “pool”. The person who tells people to remove the tips says Carnival never knows if the person receives cash and no one asks so he/she gets the full tip.

I just don’t like to see people not get paid for the week. I know there are many people who remove tips and say they will pay in cash, and they may–$5 to the steward etc.

I would like to know what the policy is. I don’t want to keep defending the tipping policy in vain.

I would love to see the tips become a non-removable service charge. Hotels charge them and people pay them. NCL does this and unless something is reported when it happens, the charge can’t be removed. It doesn’t even get removed then unless nothing can be done to fix the problem.

I’d love to see the same on Carnival. I get upset with people trying/succeeding in (to) removing them.

Thanks for your help in answering this. I do plan to post your answer on Cruise Critic to quell the nay sayers.

Gerri & Frank

Keep the funny stories and the pictures of Kye coming. Love the idea of putting the pins in the gift shops. That way Carnival would make some money and those of us who wear and collect them could get them. Hope it happens!

You are a good dad.

Mike & Lori

Just a quick thought on how Heidi & Kye can join you on the Dream. If there is no TA to NY in November, and if she’s willing to fly, then it’s just to NYC to join you on the Dream for BC3.

It would be nice to have the whole family on the cruise.

Carol

Your sweet baby is a star now, three publications, way to go Kye. She really is a beautiful baby.

Keep smiling John, you truly are one of the good guys.

My best to Grandma, Heidi and the Kye.

Congrats once again on baby Kye! She is adorable

Will you be introducing us to the CD Staff, captain, and heads of the different departments aboard the Dream? It was very nice to see the faces aboard the Splendor when it started up, and I hope to see those of the Dream as well.

Please post more photos of Kye. She is beautiful!

More Kye photos please.

But thanks for the photos of San Juan and St. Thomas – one of my favorite places in the whole world. I too went to Trunk Bay on my first cruise and thought it was one of the prettiest beaches ever. Sad to say I haven’t been back in a while.

It was great hearing that Jaime will be on the Dream. I haven’t seen her since the Imagination.

I’m glad Heidi’s Mum is there to help you. You both need some R&R, even if it’s just for an hour or two.

Hugs to all of you,
Carol