bdever

I had an issue and was told to submit the form once on board the Panorama for Las Caletas Beach excursion as the tour operator offers it for $104 direct but Carnival offers it at $165. Well, that did not go well. Shore Excursions desk on board denied my claim because their excuse was the tour companies web site was offering a “discount” on price and they will only match to the original price. But the discount is offered from the tour company anytime you book 3 or more days in advance which of course anyone is going to do. 

Havana Bar - Live Salsa 💃🏻 Band. You should have parked there. I’ve never been on Mardi Gras but if & when I do that is where you will find me dancing 💃🏻 every night. 

If you’re staying in Havana then Salsa 💃🏻 dancing every night except Tuesday night (band’s night off) is mandatory. Cut that dance floor like there’s no tomorrow. But masks on the floor are required! The band is The Midnight Project. Singer is Carlos, base player is Bryan, drummer is Alejandro (goes by Chino). They are all from Peru 🇵🇪. Bar staff is Israel, Louiza, Victor & Mikol. Mikol is from Columbia and Israel is from Mexico 🇲🇽. Band goes live around 8:30 PM until around 12:30 PM, I know, short night but what can you do…. 

23 hours ago, ScottsSweetie said:

That was not our experience at all - we thought that the serving sizes had been drastically reduced. On the positive side, DH and I both got off the ship a few pounds lighter.

How strange is that?!?!? Totally opposite experience for me. HUGE portion sizes and I felt so guilty each time they brought me a plate. 

Following along with you on your journey on my home ship 🛳 

Let me know if you need a ride from LAX to the port. I live next to LAX and can come get you.

On 9/21/2021 at 7:48 PM, cruisegus said:

so are you saying that the "door or divider" I see in the left side of the picture, at the end of the Lanai or walk way between patio fences and glass side rail of ship, can only be used by someone with Havana Access of that is only opens in an emergency.

or

is it an entrance that can be used by anyone with Havana Access

 

 

That door is broken. You can get out but no one can get back in

13 hours ago, Roger88 said:

I mean there is always something else to choose from. I would try to cover the entire menu. I mean they got lots of other stuff

Hey I’m not complaining, my stomach is way too small to even complain but it just should be noted that sides may or may not be available that’s all. 

2 hours ago, Markmom18 said:

 We were on the Panorama last month. The tables around us in the MDR  were always filled. One of the last nights they sat us at a 2 top that was right next to a 4 top (by the window). I was hesitating, but my hubby spoke up and said it was fine. I went with the flow ….

 

We did the Seaday Brunch one morning. We were seated at a row of 2 tops. Nobody even remotely near us. Within 10 minutes of sitting down, they had a couple on each side of us! There were MANY open tables. Guessing  the ‘crowding’ was due to lack of Staff that morning???  
 

The ship was at 50% occupancy. There was definitely space & tables to NOT sit people right next to one another. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️  
 

I didn’t want to cause a fuss with my husband. But, I’m sure had we said anything, they would have moved us. Staff is still the BEST❣️❣️
 

🛳🛳

Bobbi

Agreed, they would have happily moved you. They are the best!

38 minutes ago, untailored bostonian said:

I saw recently that, I think it was CCL quarterly report, that even at these low passenger capacity they are doing better than break even.

Yes, capacity on my sailing was 60% and with like 13 different place to have dinner not counting room service it kinda spreads everyone out during meal times but still a capacity that fills venues for sure.

1 hour ago, untailored bostonian said:

 

I am concerned by "social distancing" in the main dining room.  I am full vaxes, 3rd dose 15 days before cruise, and I mask up everywhere here at home.

 

I hope my experience on the Freedom will reflect my concerns.

Based on my experience on the Panorama you do not have a reason to be concerned about social distancing in the MDR. On any given night the dining room was 25% occupancy. MDR staff extremely accommodating with my request for social distancing and it was never an issue for them or me. Lots of tables to choose from.

1 minute ago, BlerkOne said:

Not exactly our experience. One night asked for mashed potatoes, and they didn't have but did offer mac and cheese. Ask what else they have.

Good idea, in hindsight I should asked them to only serve me side portions of the main courses since all of the main course portions were enough to feed 2 people.

No sides. I asked for a baked potato but was told it wasn’t an option. 

No problems, easy peasy lemon 🍋 squeezy.

6 hours ago, Virga said:

Holy hell.

 

There was an unnerving post on the MSC board reminding people to bring fever reducers and sudafed because they wouldn't be available on the ship.  One person chimed in, agreeing, saying they've gotten a cold onboard before and sure wouldn't want to let on that they were symptomatic.  I really thought it was a joke or a troll, but apparently there really are people like that.  And advertise it on YouTube??  I'm going to just let myself believe you're joking as well...

I’m dead serious 

5 hours ago, momof3cruisers said:

Ahhh, that makes a lot of sense. I have to admit the way they handled their situation didn’t thrill me. 

Agreed, to put it mildly I was disappointed and it revealed a lot about character.

4 hours ago, momof3cruisers said:

There is a couple on YouTube who blogged about this. (Parodeejay) They we’re moved to a quarantine cabin which they were told had different air filtration. They ordered room service and did have to pay for the for cost items. They were only there one night as it was toward the end of the cruise. They had to wait in their cabin to debarked and security came to get them off the ship last. They then drove home.

The reason they paid for their room service meals is because they had kept their symptoms hush hush 🤫 at that point and were “self quarantining” and had NOT reported to the medical center for testing at that point yet. Whereas Josh Hocam @cruise with Josh reported his symptoms with the medical team on Mardi Gras right away and him and his cabin mate Peter were comp’d meals from MDR, Pig N anchor, Chibang, etc. during their quarantine. The obvious lesson here is it pays to be on the up & up and do the right thing like Josh & Peter did and not try to be sneaky and hide like Parodeejay did. 

I sail solo and always get assigned to a table alone that seats 2 people. I do request a socially distanced table and sometimes to accommodate that request they will seat me at a table that seats 4 people.

In the Havana Bar on Panorama it was announced that masks were mandatory while on the dance floor. Previously highly recommend to mandatory. 

8 hours ago, 1stin71 said:

I see you are in Culver City, have you ever considered taking the Metro all the way to Long Beach.

I am in the San Gabriel Valley and have done it numerous times....it does take a couple of hours but hey, there is plenty of time to get to LB. And it only costs a couple of bucks, even cheaper if you are 60+.

Absolutely safe, although you do see some "characters" along the way .... makes for interesting people watching.

 

Capt.

I had no idea the metro even went to LB from Culver City. I thought the CC train traveled east & west not north & south. Any rate, an Uber for $40 each way is fine for me. 

Got another price drop today for $346.00 on top of the first one I got last week for $190.00 on a Panorama Havana Cabana for 12/31/21 sailing!!! Shocked 😳 I now have enough OBC to cover Cheers! Rate code OS5 under mock booking options. Sale ended tonight and submitted the PP form at 7:30 PM PST and it was approved at 8:15 PM PST?!?!? Again, shocking/double shocked. 

Just a note - side gate that separates the lanai (Pig & Anchor from Havana) broken and you can’t use your key card for access. 

Just got off the Panorama on Saturday and was pleasantly surprised by the food after trolling this thread. The omelette station fantastic! Gelato 🍧 wonderful! And the empanadas & zucchini tarts amazing 🤤

7 hours ago, klfhngr said:

I was going to ask the same question!

No cabanas left on starboard side… and now we know why 😏

I picked late debarkation and took luggage tag 25, the latest available and got off Panorama at 11:22 AM. I was in the last group disembarked. 

I should put together a meet up called Noises in the Night where we all spread out on different decks with deck plans in hand, walkie talkies, with night vision goggles and our cell phones in night vision mode between the hours of 1AM (after late night Lido closes) to 4 AM. BYO gear.