coondog99

1 minute ago, sid_9169 said:

I'm going to be test driving a "new to me" hangover prevention supplement called Cheers Restore... I actually bought some of this back in early 2020 intending to use it on upcoming cruises. Of course that never happened, and they sat up there in my kitchen cabinet until they expired. I guess I could have at least gotten some use out of them with my daily bouts of heavy drinking, but they just slipped my mind. Costs about 35 bucks on Amazon for a small bottle, so hopefully these things work magic. Getting older, I just don't seem to bounce back like I did only a few years ago... 

 

I'll also be armed with my Water Boy hydration multiplier for the mornings after... Much more expensive than Liquid IV, but supposedly higher quality...

 

 

 

Looking forward to hearing your "side review" on these products. 

13 hours ago, 3smithboys said:

Bonaire was the best snorkeling we’ve ever done on any cruise! 

Same for me. The north shore of Klein Bonaire is like snorkelling in an aquarium. Nothing compares to it. 

You seem to be on top of it with a good set of guidelines.

Our two boys (19 and 23 this year) have cruised with my wife and I since they were little. The last two cruises they each brought a friend which helps with keeping them occupied and safe when on board and out by themselves. My wife and I get a balcony and the kids get an interior cabin near us. Trust is a huge factor with that. 

Funny story (before Carnival Hub and wifi) ......when our oldest was in his mid-teens, we were on a cruise and he gathered with a group of kids his own age from the Carnival Club that included another boy he/ we got to know on a previous cruise. At around 1230am, he wasn't back to his cabin so we went out looking for him including a member of the other boy's family who also hadn't returned. Couldn't find them anywhere. We never really doubted their safety but needed to ease our minds. Where were they? Ship front to back/ up and down decks.....no where to be found. Finally, I met up with the other friend's family member about 20 minutes later who tells me he found them. Where? In the library....sitting as a small group of 6 or 7....talking. Yup, behaving and acting like adults. We never got mad at them but told them it was time for bed. 🙂 

Great to hear that Patti's surgery went well!

Is the Ocean Plaza coffee a premium blend like Java Blue or is it like the Lido servings?

On 5/9/2024 at 7:32 PM, Jamman54 said:

We’ll get back to Patti in just a second, but I’m heading over to the Pool Cabanas with JT. He knows us from previous visits and is happy that he doesn’t have to go through his whole spiel with us. He just tells us that if we need anything at all to just call him. We requested the Pool Cabana closest to the bathroom. This is the only Pool Cabana that we haven’t been in. I took a few quick shots with the water camera from our deck..….

 

 

This picture shows the VIP area where you can get cushioned loungers, umbrella, pool floats, zip line and water slide passes, and a dedicated server for around $100. This is where we would go if we didn’t have a Pool Cabana…..

 

 

Looking over towards the Restrooms…….

 

 

This is the alcove on the lazy river that I like to hang out in…..

 

 

Let’s see what Patti is up to. This is the Dufry Tax & Duty Free Shop. You have to walk through here to get in and out of Amber Cove…..

 

 

Here are a few views from the Plaza…..

 

 

 

 

Patti heads over to check out the amber exhibit….

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

Any insight on the VIP area? $125 per person or for a group?

Any one know what the earliest arrival window is for non priority cruisers?  

Keep checking on the excursions you like. Carnival may add tickets or open up spots if people cancel. 

Yes. If another person within the same booking# logs on, it auto logs the other off. 

17 minutes ago, bjkTX said:

Sorry - I didn't realize that!

No worries. I joined AARP but the rewards portion wasn't available so I cancelled it. 

Even with Newegg, I have to use a US billing/ shipping address but it works. 

10 hours ago, bjkTX said:

I don't know about Newegg but AARP has the $500 and $100 cards available all the time for 10% off.

Yes but unfortunately non-residents of the US cannot purchase them.

How often do these go on sale? I picked up one of these and a $300 one a few weeks ago. 

We sailed on the Mardi Gras in Dec '22 coming back on the Christmas Eve day. It was a busy ship but my favourite so far. Zero complaints about it.

Embarkation day--Funships, wine at dinner, beer

Mornings--coffee

Midday--craft beer, mixed drinks

Dinner--wine

Evening--change it up

8 minutes ago, DukeASUGirl said:

Are they digital or physical cards?

Digital sent by email.

I live in Canada and just bought one using a US address that I knew of. My Canadian credit card was authorized even with the US address. Card was delivered by email about 5 minutes after. I used it to reduce our balance without any issue.

Thanks to the OP for the info!

Still good and still very popular while on board.

52 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

How did you book>|? Thru a TA, PVP or Carnival direct?

PVP

On 2/19/2024 at 3:12 PM, jimbo5544 said:

When we normally lead groups, prior to the cruise, we work with the groups department on seating (number of tables, size of tables), things like that.  On this cruise, we had a bunch that were doing ATD and (16 of us, mostly our family, and some friends) that wanted late seating (not my favorite, but cruising with family, so what the heck).  
 

We had asked foe two tables of 8, and when we got on we found we had not gotten that.   We went sown to the Palm restaurant and met with one of the asst maitre’d and they told us they would take care of it. They did. 

How is the groups department contacted? We have a group of 20 sailing in December and want to arrange MDR seating. 

19 minutes ago, jxtgreek said:

Just off the Vista, beautiful ship, great entertainment, so many bands especially the Havana Bar.  My one issue is that our room, 6207 was so loud from the wind I wish I had ear plugs (yes that loud).  Be careful with this room.  Anyone else ever have issues with wind noise in their room?

Did you pick it or did Carnival assign it?

1 hour ago, Frank12 said:

Sitting in her Atrium right now enjoying a Funship

Great photo!!

Can you tell the ship has been freshened up? I'm 301 days away from it.

Awareness---the AARP rewards system is not available to residents outside the US.

OP here---Thanks for your tips everyone.
Background.......8 day Carnival cruise in a group of 20 friends/ family with teens/ young adults with Cheers pkg.

Despite the obvious of not drinking alcohol, does anyone have any experience or opinions about supplements to prevent or lessen the impacts of hangovers while cruising? eg Liquid IV, Bytox, etc.

Has anyone ever snorkelled here before? If so, opinion?

Upgraded Carnival Cruise Ship Returning to Florida (cruisehive.com)