monykalyn

Sittin in bed, drinking hot coffee (freezing outside) and wishing we were back in GT! Missed the beginning of the live but sure looks like fun! We were on Freedom last august for our anniversary. Had so much fun. Think we closed alchemy down most nights 🤣

On 1/18/2024 at 8:15 AM, ninjacat123 said:

Carnival started the Towel Animal invasion a couple years ago. It’s a huge endeavor and people (especially kids) love it!!❣️

My sons first cruise (on Sensation-RIP-we got an awesome offer to upgrade to suite) he discovered the towel animal takeover on his own and came back to cabin all excited. So cute. 

14 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

We are home and all is forgiven 😻

sweet face! 
No cruises booked this year 😞. Sons graduation from HS and he wants Disney. Have tried talking him into another cruise for 3 years but no go. 
 

Thanks for taking us along!

Thanks for the live review again!! 

3 hours ago, WhiteOptima said:

It was the best and I am not a roller coaster person.  Only lasts like 45 seconds.

We did ropes on Panorama last year and the skyride. Think I would love the roller coaster!!

2 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

Don't be hatin' on me, I can't control the temperature here...

 

 

 

 

 

 

UGH-downside to following along on these live reviews is fighting the urge to book a cruise ASAP. We might get above freezing tomorrow for a couple hours. Now how to break it to hubs that we do have a cruise next January that I booked 2 years ago...

Wait for the $500 OBC promotion and use that towards CHEERS.  Much more than 10% saved 😜

On 4/14/2023 at 7:31 AM, Ferry_Watcher said:

 

I like the Mayflower.  It is close to the Monorail and the light rail station (about 2 blocks).  If you want to walk to Pike Place Market from the Mayflower, it is easy to just walk to it avoiding the sketchy 3rd & Pine intersection by walking down Stewart Street.   There is a drug store, Bartell's also close by where you buy sundries, snacks or wine.

https://mayflowerpark.com/things-to-do-in-seattle/

 

The Mayflower also has a great restaurant which serves a great breakfast, and Oliver's a fun place for Happy Hour drinks (and old school windows which are Instagram worthy).  

https://mayflowerpark.com/seattle-hotel-dining/

 

Yes! Stayed there 4 days last month. Great hotel, easy walkability (even with having to get thru 3rd&Pine-daylight hours ok). Took monorail to Spaceneedle, MoPop etc. walked to Pike Place for breakfast every day, walk back up hill not that bad lol. Did Oliver’s HH twice. Good appetizers. 
 

Highly recommend getting an Orca card-super easy to do, set up online account and load $ in as you need for light rail, monorail, bus. 

• Ugh not sure why upside down but hubs and daughter on the glass floor of space needle. Hubs not fond of heights but he managed with coaxing. the view from Gasworks park is pretty amazing too. Brig a picnic lunch or snacks to enjoy the view, people/boat/plane watch.

To get back on the subject-check out Surfjack hotel. Offsite parking but no charge. Large “bungalow” rooms. It’s not on the beach but only a few easily walkable blocks away. We stayed here one night before our week at our timeshare started (as an owner at Waikiki Banyan we didn’t have parking fee here-might want to check TUG -Timeshare user group-for rentals). 
if you do want to rent a car check out Discount Hawaii Car Rentals. By far the lowest prices with all the major rental agencies (yes lower than than the perfect Costco 🤣)

On 5/9/2023 at 1:51 PM, crooooze said:

Exactly what I do. Book as early as possible and every few weeks, look for price drops.

Unfortunately in the past year, prices have only gone up to ludicrous levels.

We are just touring Vancouver (no cruise) but I was shocked to find hotel price drops for both our Vancouver hotel (Blue Horizon) and Seattle hotel (Mayflower). Booked them in January, checked last week and both had dropped ($145, $350) -here now. With start of cruise season wasn’t expecting that!

On 4/11/2023 at 6:25 PM, monykalyn said:

And I’ve had an issue with physical card-still waiting to get it figured out: card wasn’t loaded with the money. First time I’ve had issue with physical cards in a few thousand spent. Prefer the e-card by far! Cruise is paid for but want to book excursion and steak house so need a few more!

Got my refund + the shipping fee. So it did get resolved

and YAY to eCards!!

2 hours ago, n6uqqq said:

It looks like under the terms on Carnival's website for gift cards that it is billed to CCL gifts LLC. This may not trigger the cash back for these offers by buying the Carnival gift card. To be safe I just make a 100 dollar payment to a booked cruise that still has a balance due.

Yeah it’s billed to carnival Corp. and I did this last time an offer like this around and worked fine.  At any rate I dont have the  email for the e-card I bought so I have $100 charge and no e-gift card.

Well I have the offer,  bought an e-card directly from carnival-charge posted on April 16 and still no confirmation email! Ugh! Will give it two days and then calling on that

Ha won 1500 points on the scratch off!!

No answer yet on missing money on gift card but did get email saying they were looking into it and "working as quickly as possible to obtain resolution"

On 4/9/2023 at 1:00 PM, n6uqqq said:

I think the number of point codes has gone down but now they give you so many with the spins, scratch off, memory game etc instead. I have almost 700k points and nowhere to spend them until they bring back ecards. Now 1.75 per card to ship in mail and I don't have enough faith in mail where I live. The last ecards I was able to buy were in late November 2022. 

And I’ve had an issue with physical card-still waiting to get it figured out: card wasn’t loaded with the money. First time I’ve had issue with physical cards in a few thousand spent. Prefer the e-card by far! Cruise is paid for but want to book excursion and steak house so need a few more!

On 3/23/2023 at 9:18 AM, havanadaydreaming said:

Only done one Long Beach cruise and it was fine.  But, as a resident of the midwest i much prefer the offerings out of Canaveral and Miami.  shorter flight, a plethora of itineraries, etc.  

we did Panorama last March and enjoyed it but yeah-getting from Midwest to west coast is a pain compared with Galveston or Florida. Plus we have 2 kids living in Florida so we go there more often. But also done with Cozumel port stops lol.

22 hours ago, Joebucks said:

I'm not sure what anyone expected out of the west coast. There's the Catalina/Ensenda, Cabo/Ensenada, Puerto/Mazatlan/Ensenada, 2 days at Ensenada, 2 days at Cabo/1 Esenada. Personally, that's more than I expected.

 

I really enjoyed the Puerto, Mazatlan, and Cabo itinerary. 2 days at Cabo piques my interest. 

Yeah an 8 day on the new ship with the 2 days in Cabo would have me seriously looking at it. Our 630-230 port time wasn’t long enough. As it stands now I think we’d rather do a land vacation for a week in Cabo anyway-or join my in laws for their yearly (months long) stay in PV for a week

ok it's NOT a 3 letter word.  you have to enter the words that go with the hints  IE sweepstakes & daily deals, then you get another puzzle and 2 hints (and enter those words per the hint)-local offers and auctions 

got a 1000 points after trying multiple things UGH

2 hours ago, Yehootu said:

Won 3000 on spin, but could only get dailydeal on crossword, can't figure out the 3 letter word. Ahh

what is the word for 3 letter??

8 minutes ago, geovet said:

How long does it take to get a email for purchase gift cards and what does the email look to be opened?

 

Thanks

For allstate within 10 minutes usually-and I get 2 emails-one saying it's coming and order confirmation  and one where the gift card is attached you can download.

On 2/28/2023 at 2:44 PM, OceanZena said:

Oh God no lol. Part of the joy is getting away from him for a few days. I don't know if there are other bird parents here, but they're a lot of work and attention and I can't stress enough what a joy it is to not have the responsibility for a few days. As much as I love him, if he were with me on vacation it wouldn't be much of a vacation. 😄

I have 3 chickens (backyard flock). Used to be 5 but one had an accident last spring and a predator got another one last July when we were in Hawaii. Even though family was staying at the house they couldn't save her. We have 2 dogs as well-it is hard to be away from them for long time!

PS one of my hens will be 9 on April 1-she will outlive the dogs I think just to spite everyone. 

35 minutes ago, OceanZena said:

Speaking of Deaf, just in case it may help someone else here who may also be or knows someone who is---I use and app called Live Transcribe you can download off Google Play. I

Love the peaceful pic spot!!

This is good to know on the app-kinda surprised more cruise ships don't have hearing loop-at least in the theaters. I am part of a service group that the main national mission is hearing health-our groups (several of them) recently had an older live theater looped and looking at doing our regional airport. 

Thanks for the review! We are booked for the 5 day in August for our anniversary. Was looking for shorter inexpensive cruise and Freedom fit the bill. Was also worried after so many neg reviews.

4 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

1kcruise23

I also tried "2kcruise23" and got 2000 points 

19 hours ago, marnie2005 said:

Thank you so much for your valuable information. We have secured a car and will do our own tour. Now to plan our day!

Hawaii vacation Guide (they have free guides and paid ones, along with videos on youtube) has helpful hints

For easy walk to beach (not beach front) but no resort fees try SurfJack hotel-they call the rooms "bungalows"-2 room units, balcony and has parking (offsite). Reasonably priced without the extra fees the big resorts charge

Highly recommend a tour for first time. There is road etiquette and you will NOT be able to concentrate on scenery, may not know how or when to pull over etc. I know many say "do it yourself" but our tour guide called RTH on way up the "honeymoon" and way back "the divorce road"-for a reason.  The reason so many locals hate tourists is tourists have ZERO clue about etiquette or or what is private property etc. It's also a MUCH longer drive than you think 🙂

We did a private tour (6 people max) that did the drive to hana, access to the black sand beach, and helicopter back. Pricey but 100000% worth it-allowed us to appreciate the drive and beauty of island!!

1 hour ago, asalligo said:

I mainly mean Marijuana which I have seen openly smoked on deck in the last year on two Carnival cruise ships. Security knew this was occurring, everyone could smell it. They were just letting it happen. Her threats have no teeth until this is stopped People have become accustomed to Carnivals lack policies and this attracts those kinds of people. You can bet that in groups they are asking each other, which ship can I bring my drugs onboard? Carnival. 

 

 

Recent reports seem to show drug sniffing dogs at embarkation. 

Cruise last year on Panorama (spring break time) and no issues even with "rude" people. Was a fantastic cruise.

CHIEFS!