carrieluvsgreg

This next trip we have booked and prepaid for our specialty dining, prepaid for the internet package and have CHEERs included with our rate... the only thing left is tips and excursions in port and a few souvenirs. I don't anticipate it to be too much-I think $1000 will be what we take for a 7 day and I expect to come home with a lot of it.

The Pig and Anchor is extra- but at lunch on embarkation day and sea days they have a bbq buffet that is included. They have various meats, coleslaw, mac and cheese, potato salad and rolls, if I remember correctly. The food is served outside the Pig and Anchor on the promenade. You can carry the plates back inside to eat if you wish.

As others have stated, I think Carnival's basic demographic is geared to 7 day and under sailings. They understand that the majority of folks that cruise the line are still limited on vacation time and doing longer than 7 day sailings leave many folks who must travel to the port out of those sailings altogether. The introduction of the Journeys sailings several years ago was to supplement their typical model. They have been doing them long enough to determine the success. If it were tremendously successful, they would add more itineraries. Apparently it isn't worth assigning more Journeys sailings to the current offerings. As another poster stated, within the brand they offer at least two lines that consistently offer longer sailing with more exotic ports of call. Having lived on the east coast for our entire cruising career, we have thoroughly exhausted the Caribbean ports. We took the Dream relo to NOLA several years ago to go to new ports, we took the second sailing on the Horizon in the Mediterranean to tick that box off the bucket list and our 2020 cruise out of Galveston was canceled due to Covid. We board the Panorama Saturday for our first time in the Mexican Riviera. Crossing the country requires more money and lots more planning for sure. I think Carnival isn't counting on people doing that-they understand most of their clientele will go to the closest port to their home

We board the Panorama on Saturday and that is the basic time for our stop in Cabo, My understanding that it is like that every week that starts with PV. My experience in the Caribbean ports with early port times is that the locals that are interested in making a buck open when a ship pulls in. On our Cabo day we are the only ship in port. So, they better get up and get ready for business if they wanna make any money. Also not sure it is dumb for Carnival either-they make "0" dollars on passengers who get off the ship. If you stay onboard, you might spend money on booze.

We've done everything up to Vista class. I view each class as it's own experience. So far, our favorite class is the Dream class with the flagship being our favorite within the class. (Even if she's an old lady- we still love her!) We love the Cloud 9 ships but have enjoyed many sailings on the smaller ships that do not have those facilities. We just know going in that it will be a different experience. I am hesitant to book the new class because I have looked at the ship layout and it seems weird to me that the spa is low in the ship and some spa rooms are still up top... That doesn't seem convenient to me at all. I know they now offer cove balconies in the spa which I can see would be a draw. Anyway- I do agree with another poster's recommendation to watch some YouTube videos and begin getting familiar with the "bells and whistles". Some with appeal to you and others will not.

If he is able to do the plane trip, the Mediterranean was an amazing experience. We never knew when the ship was moving or standing still. We flew first class to Paris a few days early and then took a short hopper to Barcelona. (the original plan was to take the train but they were on strike when we were there.) We didn't want to spend the extra on first class on the way home...that was a mistake... if we ever do it again, we would book first class both ways.

When you're looking on the Carnival website first select suite, then all of the options will be listed. You will have to choose a rate code that allows you to select your stateroom. The available cabins at that rate code will then show up as well as how much it costs to move up in the ship.

That's tough.... Our first cruise with our kids was very special. Our last cruise on the Horizon in the Mediterranean was amazing. It was incredible to see so many things that we had only seen in pictures in person.

The only way to skirt this on Carnival is to split your reservation when traveling with two (or more) children when booking two staterooms. You list one adult and one child in each stateroom. They cannot force a minor to purchase because they are not of legal age. Presto-you can purchase one drink package.

You will get a coupon for a free drink during the last sea day brunch. On sailings 5+ days there will be a platinum/diamond party that has free drinks. The party lasts 45 minutes and varies on the drinks and appetizers offered.

LAUNDRY! My favorite benefit-coming home with a suitcase full of clean clothes! Also, priority debarkation and priority tenders to shore on tendered ports.

Typically it has been chocolate covered strawberries for us... but basically it is a plate of special chocolate treats delivered to your stateroom.

We are some of those folks who made it with the old program that still continue to cruise. We were averaging more than once per year for several years then life changed and then a world wide pandemic hit... Our 2020 cruise was canceled and we moved to a new state in 2021, all of those changes caused us not to cruise again until this Saturday when we board the Panorama. I am especially glad that Carnival did not "kick us out". We fully intend to book another cruise and are glad to be able to be cruising again.

To compare your doctor to a vacation experience isn't a fair comparison... you build a relationship with a doctor and trust him with your health. His knowledge and expertise is key, his training and ability to provide quality healthcare are paramount. Carnival is a vacation option... it is a choice made by many things. (destination, onboard experience, ship, duration, price and amenities.) When considering those options the perks (mainly priority boarding, priority tenders and free laundry) that we have earned play a role in our decision. Since Carnival does not offer us anything for the loyalty to them across the brands, we would be just as inclined to sail with someone else, outside of the brand as a whole.

Does anyone happen to know if they try to work around other specialty dining that we have already booked? We sail on the Panorama next weekend and our Chef's Table is also DBD. We have scheduled the steakhouse for the first sea day and Tepanyaki the last sea day. I feel like we should be good... but it would have been good to be able to pick it ourselves.