RecoveryDude

I CANNOT BELIEVE NO ONE HAS MENTIONED "FLICK" !!! Its a new show ... debued on the Conquest back in October ... Its the BEST show ive ever seen on a CCL ship.

I saw it again recently on VISTA ... was just as impressive as the first time I saw it. I'm hoping it's also on the Sunshine in a couple months ... I'll see it a third time.

FLICK is the only show ever that I "wanted" to see twice, let alone three times.

I agree that the other shows are not really entertaining at all ... Flick is the first one that has some really cool effects (they do some things with a circle of fans and scarves, it's so cool to watch!)

If you see "FLICK" offered on your ship, ITS A MUST SEE!!!!!!!

Anyone have any pictures to post of the view from either deck 10, 12, 14, or 8???

AH, see? That food that has been moved to the steakhouse was once served in the MDR and was part of your fare.

 

You just ruined your own argument.

I am not following your logic ... I never said the quality of food in the MDR was "moved" to the steakhouse. The quality in the MDR is the quality. I dont see it any differently than I did when I cruised back in the 80's. It was "banquet quality" then, just as it's Banquet quality NOW. Many people say it's "gone downhill" with cutbacks, I don't really agree. The only thing I miss was the lavish midnight buffets of those early days. (Yes I know about Journeys ... that's a bucket list for me).

If anything ... I think the addition of the steakhouse is a GOOD thing, for those who want elevated food. On all of my cruises ... I have NEVER been presented with food like I get in the steakhouse in the MDR.

Hi! In a couple months I'll be on Sunshine out of Canaveral ... we are doing Universal Studios the same day we disembark so time is of the essance ... Im trying to figure out the FASTEST way to get FROM the ship TO Budget Rent a Car in Port Canaveral???

Do I need to arrange something in advance? Or Will their be taxis waiting at the port? We have FTTF so we will get off the ship first with Self-Assist....

Thanks everyone!

Hi! I want to book on Harmony of the Seas. I'm thinking a Boardwalk balcony just because it's "different" than the tranitional sea-view balcony I get on CCL ships I typically sail on. I know that on some decks that Abyss slide really obscures the view. Saw some pictures from a deck 9 balcony and it really blocked a lot of the view. I still want to get a little view of the blue sea, and would also like to maybe see a little of the Aqua-Theater too ...

Anyone have any pics from the balcony of those cabins? Ideally, I want to be as much AFT as possible ... I'm thinking no farther back than around cabin 15-13 ... Otherwise I wont see much of anything towards the theater anyway.

I will be booking once 2018 becomes avail and I want to be prepared to jump and get what's best. Plus I see that sometimes the different decks are hundreds of dollars more....

OP, if you're tired of people complaining about the main dining room food, a simple solution would be for you to stop reading those threads.

 

Food is a big part of a cruise, and it's going to be discussed. Yes it will be discussed over and over if you're a long time poster here, but for new people they want to give their opinions about it, as they should.

 

:)

....Thank you for the suggestion! I do try to avoid reading posts that "only" talk about food. The ones that I DO read tho, are the "full cruise reviews." And often people just go on and on about how "terrible" the food was. ...Also, I have NO problem what-so-ever with someone complaining "in the moment" if they are not happy with something while actually dining, no matter if they are in the MDR, Lido, Stakhouse, or where ever - but, Like previous posters, I'll bet the loudest complainers on CC also ordered the most food while on the ship.

It just seems like (and this is what I was frustrated with) people have very high expectations with what they want the food in the MDR to be. It's like they feel some sort of entitlement to get super high quality "fine dining" food ... this is just not possible when you are serving dining rooms full of thousands of people at the same time. Should it be hot? Yes. Should it taste good? Yes. Should it be overcooked? No. Most of the time, I think the MDR on the many CCL ships I'm on have accomplished these things. There are exceptions of course ... Some of which have nothing to do with the kitchen. A poorly executed wait staff can cause cold or overcooked food either by taking too long to serve it.

Let me be clear: I am HAPPY with the MDR food. I think it's a very good value and love the fact that cruises still allow you to order as many items as you want without charging extra. I also think they have a wonderful variety of different things avaiable and it changes every night. I think there are Def some "hits and misses" ... it's not all good ... but typically there is always something I like on the new AT menus.

I guess the whole point of my post originally was that sometimes it seems like people are very picky and have lofty, unreasonable expectations. ...and when these expectaitons are not met, they flame CCL or whoever. These "reviews" can scare away new cruisers thinking they are going to be "stuck on a boat with terrible food" and this is just not the case IMO.

Thank you for everyone who commented, tho. I enjoyed reading everyone's take on this topic. :) ....49 days till I will be "not complaining" about the food on Carnival Sunshine!!!!!!!

Love reading these boards but so tired of people complaining about the "quality" of the MDR food on Carnival. THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FINE DINING FOOD, people .... Perhaps some people just need to adjust their expectations? I consider the MDR food to be "Banquet Quality" ... which is as good as anyone should expect ... its not possible to push out thousands of "fine dining" meals in such a short amount of time. With my "Banquet Quality" expectations ... I am rarely disappointed with anything I get in the MDR, and If I am, I just order something else. Better yet I typically order multiple entrees and starters anyway and usually like at least one thing they bring. :)

If you truly want an elevated food experience ... then simply factor an extra $245 into your cruise fare and book the Steakhouse every night for your 7 night carnival cruise -

.....And before you start saying that "This line or that line has better food than CCL" ... consider that "those lines" also charge significantly MORE to book your cruise than carnivals fare + $35/day for the steakhouse.

Thank you for letting me rant. :)

I like the Monster Rehab ... and they ONLY come in 16OZ. For my most recent VISTA trip ... I packed the 16 oz cans in my checked luggage, inside my shoes and such ... and it went through and made it to my cabin with no issue. There were about 10 split between my two checked suitcases. Additionally, in case those didn't make it, I ALSO had 12oz Red Bulls in my carry ons, which ALSO made it through security in Miami. In fact they didn't even look at all at the cans, they could have been beer for all they knew. So the day I went in MIA all was good with the energy drinks.

I'm sailing out of Canaveral in a few months so I'll try the same thing with that port and report back :)

I just don't like Rockstar or I would just buy from Carnival.

I just brought mine on the Vista ... It's a travel one, and plugs in either via regular plug or USB. I ran it almost the whole time I was on the ship, including when I was not in the cabin (although mine will automatically turn off after 3 hrs or if it runs out of water). My cabin steward never questioned it at all. I just use for the scent, and I get Satsuma oil from The Body Shoppe which I LOVE. It makes the room smell nice when we are in there. Never noticed it in the hall.

In Grand Caymon I would book the excursion that goes to the turtle farm. you can learn about all kinds of turtles, hold and interact with them, and they also have a huge pool and water slide. Sure to be a hit with the 6 year old!

I am not a fan of Jaimaca - I would book a VIP Beach Club for the day, there are some available thru carnival. The vista has a great waterworks area so you also have the option to stay on the boat in that port and have the slides and rest of the boat to yourself. If you do get off to do a little shopping ... as long as you stay in the two shopping areas right near the ship, you should be safe ... I was just there last month and there were police and security guards all over.

Have fun!

Call the C&A phone number, agent can book over phone for Symphony thru 2019!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't want the Symphony ... I want the Harmony... I'm not against the Symphony but I want to sail August or at the latest September and Symphony is not in USA yet ... I would have pushed the cruise back to Nov but I don't like any of those itineraries ...

Carnival's timing sucks with this one. WHY would you plan a waterworks upgrade during prime "spring break" cruises? People pay a premium not only in cruise fare, but also in airfare to travel this time of year, not to mention it's "kid heavy" on ships during this time ... if they knew they were doing a water slide demo ... they should have done it another time of year. My Mom and my neice will be sailing on the 11th so they get the $200 OBC but it's still a disappointment for my neice.

First of all, congratulations on your milestone! I do think it will be a great ship for your celebration. There are so many things that are unique to the ship that she is likely worth waiting for.

Thank you!!! Yes, staying clean and sober 10 years is a miracle for me ... and I'm "worth it" to be on a special ship like Harmony ... I looked at Symphony but I don't like those times/itineraries so I'm stuck waiting until the RCCL fairies get the schedule loaded.... ugh.

The release of the Symphony last night with no C&A pre-sale sort of shows there will be no early access.

 

I sent RCL a facebook message asking when Independence would go on sale and got an immediate but generic response, saying sailings would be released starting this week and continuing to the week of April 17. Not terribly helpful.

I mean if there will be no early access ... FINE. But don't tell people there will be something, and then just don't do it.

I'm typically a carnival cruiser, I have taken 6 CCL cruises in the last 2 years ... and now I really want to try something different, like an Oasis class ship, to celebrate my 10 year sobriety anniversary in August 2018 ... so it's a "milestone" cruise for me (and on a huge "special" ship ... so that's why i'm anxious to get it booked ... and I've been checking daily for MONTHS on RCCL's site to see if 8/2018 was loaded yet ... and so to finally be told a date "Week of 3/6" ... and also to be told that as a platimnum member I would have early access to get best cabin access ... I have been excited and waiting ... so to NOW be told that I have to wait until the week of the 16th ... well that's just bad customer service .... It's like Santa Claus saying "Sorry Kids, North Pole is not ready for Christmas as planned. Don't worry, though, you will get your gifts the week of January 6th!" :eek:

I was under the impression that as a C&A member, I would get "Early access" to new deployments for the 2018/19 season. I'm looking to book the Harmony for August or September 2018 ... so I thought I would get an early access??? I was expecting an email ... but if they are doing "staggered deployment" how will we get early access?????

Looks like East/West Harmony bookings won't open until 3/16

I thought all the 2018-2019 itineraries were being relased "the week of March 6th" -- that's what they said when I called. . . . . . . where are you getting the information that they wont be released until 3/16?????????????????????

I have no patience either, lol -

Thanks for everyone's reply ... I'm still confused as ever as to which deck I should pick, lol ... but seems the consensus is that HIGHER decks are better??? Also seems that the closer to the "end" (as in XX11 to XX29) offer a much better view of ocean and aqua theater than the ones closer to the middle of the ship.

Any new opinions as to which DECK is better ... and why?

Thanks Everyone!

WHEN are they releasing itineraries ??? I called RCCL and they said the 2018-19 schedule will be released "The Week of March 6th" ... and I was also told that C&A members would have early access to book (they said "At least 24 hours" before the genreal public) ....

I keep stalking the site ... or maybe I will get an email telling me the new itineraries are LIVE? Anyone have experience with this? How long before general public do we get access and does it just pop-up under our member area online or will we be emailed?

Thanks!

Thanks for the info! Guess once I book the cruise I'll book internet in advance if that's a 30% DISCOUNT. Also thank you for posting that flier about all the specials they give you. Sadly, not as many as their used to be. . . . I remember getting match play coupons for the casino and many other (and better) deals years ago but costs go up and cruises in general are trying to be more profitable .....

Hi! I know that diamond level apparently get a VOOM discount ... I'm wondering if there is also a coupon for VOOM for Platinum members? Just trying to decide if I should book the internet prior to sailing or if I wait till I get onboard ... cause the last time I sailed on RCCL, years ago, I remember they gave you a coupon book according to your C&A Level.

Well ... I would say besides eating, we would spend about 50% of the time down on the deck with the casino ... and 50% of the time on the pool decks ... so on CCL I was able to get a deck a couple above and a couple below ... but these RCCL ships it's not possible to do that so I'm trying to figure out if its better to get a lower deck closer to casino or a higher deck closer to the pool. . . any advantages/disadvantages to any of the decks? I'm a seasoned cruiser so I know to not stay directly under the pool deck cause of chair noise, or right above a theater or nightclub, but these ships have way more options so just trying to get people's opinions.... Thanks!

Hi! I'm new to RCCL and Oasis Class ships ... About to book a Boardwalk Balcony (most likely on Harmony of the Seas) for August 2018 when they release them this week.......and trying to get opinions on which deck is the best location as far as view/noise/location. We will stay up till around midnight or so, just don't want loud music disturbing us "all night" ... On Carnival, we usually try to avoid the elevator by staying a couple decks above/below the main attraction decks ... but it doesn't look possible on these huge ships. I like the "Eat/Play" perks of the Boardwalk balconies much better than the perks for the central park balconies ... but if you guys really think they are "better" then I guess I would consider one. Also, I realize that I can pay a little more for an ocean view, but I always get an ocean balcony on Carnival and I thought maybe the boardwalk would be something "different" ... just don't know what deck to choose. What is everyone's opinion???? Thank you!!

I reserved my ATV from GrandTurkAdventures. They also rent golf carts. According to the person who answered my email, they have ATV's and carts that are much newer than other vendors and in much better shape. They charge $10 for gas as opposed to $6 at the other guy but the rest of the price for ATV's was the same. Worth a few extra dollars to get new equipment anyway.

Hi, I was reading a review of the Carnival Sunshine ... and happened to notice someone mention that while on the Sunshine ... the cruise director announced several times that there were NO SHELLS ALLOWED to be brought back onboard while in Grand Turk?

I was just in Grand Turk last October and brought several back from Conch Graveyard. I also brought shells back from St. Kitts and St. Maartin.

Is this is a new Carnival Rule? Is this "just" for the Sunshine? Is this "Just" for Grand Turk?

In Grand Turk especially, going to the Conch Graveyard is a highlight... will be disappointed if Carnival no longer allows shells on board.

Hello! What are the prices for Jiji's and Cucina?

Also, can you order more than one app and/or more than one entree and/or more than one side and/or more than one dessert?

Thanks!

Jeff