mz-s

The proof is in the pudding. If most cruisers wanted small intimate ships, lines like RCCL and CCL would still be building them. The lines that cater to the mass market offer what the mass market wants, or they go out of business.

Maybe in another few decades for me. I'm about to graduate from CCL to Virgin I think, but I'm still a little young for Windstar or HAL.

They really are the Walmart of the Seas. Not being derogatory when I say that. They are the mass market. They appeal to the maximum number of people. Most folks looking at cruising today want a mega ship with all the trimmings sailing to prepackaged ports of call. They just want to have a good vacation, and who can blame them. Those of us who prefer something a little more downtown, like you said we can choose Spirit class (at least for the foreseeable future...), HAL, etc.

The business model of modest ships sailing to far off ports is on life support for RCCL and will be dead for Carnival as soon as they can catch up. It will live on for years with other lines though.

People are obdurate. That is the only reason they continue to offer set dining on Excel class.

They do not appear on deck plans but they are there...they are not going to remove them.

I'm not sure I would recommend a Summer cruise on Carnival's largest capacity ship to someone who is "crowd averse". The first day of the cruise will have the worst crowds as everyone is going to the same place - the buffet, to eat lunch. After sail away everything opens up so the crowds are dispersed. But during embarkation everything is closed except Lido and a few other restaurants so the crowds are concentrated. So maybe choose a later arrival appointment? That way you avoid crowds at the pier, your cabin is already ready so worst case she can just go to her room, etc. If somebody who can't walk refuses to use mobility aids then I'm not sure what we can do or say to help that situation. They'll have to hit rock bottom first. At least make them bring on a cane or walker. The last thing they want is to fall in port.

In general, yes they do. If you arrive outside of your arrival window you'll be waiting while they clear the line of those who arrived on time. Then you'll be allowed to enter. It varies somewhat from port to port and day to day but this is the general policy.

I'm sorry, but anything other than a Pizza Hut meat lover's pan pizza isn't real pizza.

I've been on Sunshine out of Charleston probably 8 or 9 times so I know that ship and experience like the back of my hand.

I am tired of pizza snobs telling me what I should like. And the beer snobs. And the coffee snobs.

No direct experience with Barclay card. But with the Disney Chase Visa, any portion of a payment for a Disney vacation (the down payment or payments along the way) can be financed for 6 months same as cash. I would assume the Barclay card would work the same way.

I have not sailed on Carnival since the new menus debuted. My most recent cruise was one of the last cruises on Magic before the new menus. They were phoning it in by then. Food was mediocre - hospital quality. Anxious to sail again.

Sites like the points guy are full of ads disguised as articles. Who paid for this particular article?

Everything that is open is in the buffet area. One option is to go back past the buffet area to the Havana Bar area. There the italian and asian kitchens serve noodle bowls for lunch. The Havana Bar area is always open for lunch, and is a good place to find a table when you're eating lunch in general.

I have a combination card sleeve/popsocket on my phone when I travel. It's very convenient. It's called the PopWallet. My phone is magsafe so it just snaps on with magnets when I need it and pops off when I don't.

Sadly my most recent Carnival cruise was one of the last on the Magic before the new menus debuted. The food was really not good on that cruise. I am looking forward to cruising again now that the new menus are fleetwide. But nothing booked at this time.

Typically reviews do tend negative because average people who have positive experiences won't bother to write a review. Only people who seriously love cruising like folks here. Average people only tend to write reviews when they have something they want to get off their chest.

I was on the Dream's sister ship, Magic, over Labor Day. The food was basically hospital food. The crew by and large were average to below average. The shows were seriously bizarre. Everything was stained or dirty. Nothing about the cruise was good or exemplary, which is a complete change from how Carnival usually is. I cruised 4 or 5 times between my Magic cruise and the COVID restart. During the sip and cover era, the controlled capacity and mandatory testing era, where things were closed because of staffing issues, etc. And the Magic cruise was by far the worst. I cruised it for free and that's the only way I'd ever get back on the Magic unless I hear that it's seriously improved since. Otherwise I would honestly rather just stay at the La Quinta by the airport next time. I don't know if the Dream will be the same or better or worse. I am just relaying my experience.

Pretty sure they're $15 or $20 onboard...

it is printed on your boarding pass which you can print after you complete online check-in, 14 days before your cruise.

So are all the new menu items from here on out going to be upcharges?

If it was just a reduced deposit sale then it's unlikely to trigger a refare in my mind. But when you call to change the names just ask and they'll tell you.

Since you're used to Royal, I'd stick with Excel class so that would mean Jubilee, Celebration, or Mardi Gras.

The only thing the Carnival desk in MIA is for now is to arrange airport transfers. They don't do anything else.