trixiegal

Really? Well, then must be the leftover tourists from the Festival that are staying through the weekend. I always thought they had them the weekend after the 4th unless it fell on a Monday but I guess Tuesday is also early in the week.

I've been to the Festival 4 times but the last time I went, I thought it was way too crowded. I want to go for the Jazz Festival. Getting too old for the wild parties lol

Good luck!

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Jimmy J's Cafe. Great breakfast. Their bacon infused Bloody Mary is amazing! http://jimmyjscafe.com

2nd vote for Jimmy J's. I had my best meal of my entire visit in NOLA there last year. The ambiance is not the greatest but the food was amazing! Unique craft beer choices, too.

I so want to go on this itinerary!

Simple google search would've shown it's the Essence Festival. Every single year for almost 30 years it's been the week of 4th of July.

Try booking.com for other options in the Garden District or Metairie.

 

I shop mainly online, but I don't have time to scour every sale. I subscribe to Brad's Deals, a daily email blast with info about just about every online sale. I have found great deals that way.

The Charles David cork heels are so cute!

BTW, I also subscribe to Brad's Deals and I highly recommend them. I've found some great online shopping deals with free shipping via their daily emails.

Just ordered this: http://www.lechateau.com/style/jump/Knit+Halter+Cowl+Neck+Gown/productDetail/ALL+DRESSES/334798/

 

 

 

I hope it fits.

The dress is stunning! And thanks for giving me a new website to shop for dresses [emoji4]

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Just found out they're only $16 now! [emoji15] but that's how it works on Amazon. And, yes, they are real leather.

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I'm joining the club! I come from a huge family of Shoe Divas. There's even a picture of me at around 2 years old wearing my mother's heels- probably a pair of Yves Saint Laurent ones since it was the 70s. [emoji3]

My first retail sales job was even in a shoe store. I own over 50 pairs work heels, going out heels, wedge sandals, work flats, weekend boots, beach flip flops and strappy sandals. I've had to slow down a bit with my shoe addiction because I have a DD in college and a DS who's on his way to college next Fall. Teens are expensive.

But Amazon is my BFF and I have a huge list of flats/boots/heels/sandals that I watch on a bi-weekly basis for the prices to drop. I just snagged a beautiful pair of Nine West black leather pumps for $20!!!! Nothing better than gorgeous shoes for a great price.

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Not yet... Is it similar? What is your favorite?

It has similar notes but more of an Asian-inspired finish. I wear it at night in the colder, winter months. TBH, I love almost all of the Jo Malone scents because they are so diverse yet clean and fresh. I tend to prefer unisex fragrances that aren't overly sweet. And the sillage is off the charts so a little bit goes a very long way.

Have you tried Wood Sage & Sea Salt? I really like that one for the summer.

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What about 2375 & 2379? We are booked in those coves in December.

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Me too! My favorite of all time was Cedar and Sweet Lime. My heart broke when it was discontinued.

Oooh yes, I loved that one! Have you tried the Sweet Lime and Mandarin yet? It's nice, too, but not my favorite.

There are many different neighborhoods in DC all with a different vibe and charm. If you like shopping and being close to the waterfront, I'd recommend Georgetown but it is very expensive. There are also areas like Downtown (near the White House), Dupont Circle, Penn Quarter, Logan Circle, Foggy Bottom and Woodley Park, which is near the Zoo as someone mentioned above. I'd stay away from any other areas because you have small kids. There are variations in apparent safety, as with any city, from neighborhood to neighborhood and even from one street to the next that may be of no concern to single adults but I wouldn't take young children.

But, overall, DC is a fairly safe city in general and the METRO is one of the nicest and cleanest subways I've been on. Your kids will get a kick out of the futuristic architecture in the stations and the very long escalators. Also, take a tour of the Kennedy Center. It is absolutely beautiful with stunning views of the Potomac. I think on most Saturday mornings they do a free children's presentation. Check their website for more details.

I'd also visit the Newseum. I've been a couple of times and enjoy myself so much I wish I could make it there more than once a year. I think it gets overshadowed by the other more popular Smithsonian museums but it's definitely with a day's visit. During the summer, they usually offer a special where kids are free with a paid adult admission. Prepare yourself for the very emotional 9/11 exhibit. It's been almost 15 years but it still feels so raw after seeing the exhibit.

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I have another question. Is it possible to transfer the sleeper cruise reservation to a TA for even more perks in addition to the OBC given by Carnival?

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Thanks for your review and all of your pics of the Fantasy. I'm also from the DC/MD area. I'm holding a cabin on the Fantasy for 4/4/16 to continue a tradition of taking DS on a cruise to celebrate his birthday. I just want a quick getaway for he and I, plus I love Key West and Cozumel- no matter how many times I've already been.

Do you have any idea how active the teen club is? Just curious if you happened to walk by and noticed any teens in there. He enjoys going on cruises for the teen club and activities only second to the unlimited food. [emoji38]

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I'm the one who started the thread. I had 2356, but gave it up because a Havana Aft Extended Balcony came open, so I grabbed it.

 

 

 

Here's what Sam Eagle posted about it:

 

 

 

 

 

______

Wow, you're lucky! I had to give up our 2 side by side Havana Aft Extended Balconies when we switched sail dates. I'm hoping against false hope that another 2 will open up around final payment but it's a long shot.

I'm going to try and make the move into those 2 cabins and get the $80 price drops. Thanks for the info!

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Ours aren't technically connecting cabins. Just side by side. I wonder if that makes a difference.

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I just saw your message! I have too many posts bookmarked. [emoji57]

2354 & 2356 are my next options. What do you think?

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My family was booked on the 11/27 6-day sailing out of MIA and we paid $2100/cabin for the Havana Extended Aft balconies on Deck 6. That was back in July 2015.

A few weeks ago, I had to change to the 12/17 sail date and am now paying $2700/cabin for Deck 2 cove balconies side by side but it still works out to the same $175/day and we are getting an extra day on the ship! And the itinerary is better. Also, it's during Christmas season but the prices have been dropping. I've already had 1 price adjustment since I booked.

I admit I was sad I had to give up those 2 aft balconies in the Havana area but I've never stayed in a cove balcony before. Plus, my sis is booked in the Family Harbor Lounge area on Deck 2 so we will all be close to each other.

I think that's all I have for y'all. I hope the review helped a little with your plans.

 

Hopefully I will be able to do a review for another cruise sooner rather than later. I think my next one will be a Cloud 9 Spa Balcony on the Breeze when it comes to Galveston

 

I prefer Galveston to New Orleans. I don't know anything about the port at New Orleans but it's not my favorite city. Galveston is much easier to navigate. And the drive to Galveston doesn't seem quite as never ending as the drive to New Orleans. So that's just our preference.

You will love the Breeze! We cruised on her 2 years ago and it remains my favorite Carnival ship thus far. The spa area is absolutely beautiful. And it has a really nice Lido deck and Serenity area, too.

Thanks again for your very through review. I really want to sail on the Liberty now, so I hope I can make it happen for this July. :)

We have 2302,2304 and 2306 and that is what I thought too.We had a Cove on the Magic in the Med and loved it.

I have two cove cabins next to each other on the Vista. Do you think they will open up to be one big balcony? We've never had a cove balcony before.

We're in 2375 & 2379. I'm really hoping the balcony partitions will open up so we'll have a bigger balcony and (sort of) connecting cabins. This is our first time in cove balcony cabins so I'm wondering if I will like the more closed in feeling than a regular balcony. It will be nice to hear the water. TBH, that's one of the things I love about being on a cruise ship in general.

I need to look on the deck plans to see what we're under. We are a late to bed family but my sis and nephew may be more susceptible to any noise from above.

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Thanks for your review! I'm thinking of booking this ship as a last minute bday cruise for my DS and I since he will be in Texas for a pre-college program at the end of June. We would be doing this exact same itinerary. I've been on the Breeze, Dream and Sunshine so I don't have the highest expectations for the Liberty, as she is an older ship- but was refurbished a few years ago with 2.0 upgrades. Doesn't matter because we love Carnival! I'm really interested in trying out the American Table menu in the MDR.

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My oldest son and wife hit the treadmill HARD everyday. The youngest son will just do some weights and basically get in the way. Me... I prefer to walk around the outdoor "track" as the sun continues to rise. The I go to the very front stairs, take the elevator down to the lowest possible deck and then climb the stairs to deck 14 (this was the Magic X 2)....then repeat 5 times. Hit the buffet and get a snack to enjoy on the upper deck while I cool down. Then to the adult area in the spa for some fruit water, shower in the Spa and meet the family for brunch about 9am. Love it!

I'm stealing this workout regimen for my next cruise. I don't like being cooped up in the gym- even on the ship with those views.

Yes, that's a better example. But let's be honest, and play Devil's Advocate for a sec, how will they police people in the Havana area that will try to do this? Will requiring wristbands be a deterrent to those who don't have them?

I don't think its appropriate and I do feel that area really should only be for those reserved in the room. We are probably going to switch cabins when we get on the ship but my DS-17 just won't be able to go in the Family Lounge. My sis and my nephew will have access and she can grab whatever they need to bring back to the cove balcony cabin. I'm just curious as to how they will limit access because I'm more than positive we are not the only family split up like this on Deck 2.

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Very true. No biggie because my DS will be more interested in the teen activities in Club O2 anyway. I was thinking about it more like the example of people who have FTTF or that are Platinum status are allowed to use its privileges for everyone in their cabin or even in their party. There are many posts of people who bring guests to the Platinum cocktail parties that are not on the same status level because they are a relative or in a group of cruisers. Not quite the same as the spa pass, which has limited space and access for thermal rooms/thalassotherapy pool. The lounge will be an area to grab a drink or snack, etc. Not to hang out and take seats away from those with young kids- like my sister and her baby.