dulcimergirl

Indeed. If you want enforced dress codes, or passengers that follow them, you have to move up the cruising food chain. Princess, Celebrity, HAL, Cunard, etc. Otherwise, just dress to impress yourself and the crew, and let the others stick out like sore thumbs! :cool:

This, I like the casual cruise I can get from Carnival. End of story.. My BIL does not, hence he doesn't cruise Carnival. Easy to do.

Hi, welcome to cruise critic!

 

My first cruise was on the Carnival Ecstasy, quite a small ship without updated amenities. It was crowded. There were chair hogs. Rude people at the buffet, elevator......

 

But we had an absolute blast. We were together, celebrating, sunbathing, drinking........ We made it OUR vacation.

 

You have an itinerary with amazing ports, you have your friends, you have all the food you can eat and you have (hopefully) sunshine and time off from work/school/normal life.

 

If they enjoy this and then go on a larger ship, i'm sure that they will be wowed.

Keep the trip as it is, don't read into the negatives too much, you'll be so busy that you won't have time to see the downside.

 

Enjoy your trip.

this! Enjoy each and every cruise like it will be your last.

Be aware, you will most likely have to hold your carry on on your lap while on the shuttle. There is no other place to put it. Your only on the shuttle about 15 minutes so its not bad. I'm pretty sure that's why they don't want you carrying on huge suitcases. Enjoy my ship, I will be back on in 46 days.

p.s. watch out for those aft elevators, they tend to get stuck sometimes..

We've done several B2Bs.. they have always walked us off and right back on. One time, they just handed us new cards, and we didn't have to walk off/on.

They make it very easy for you! It's the best way to cruise!

I would say if it is something that your sister wants to do then it would be fine. Did you ask her?

Personally I wouldn't be interested in doing it but as far as what everyone else thinks. That doesn't matter.

Of course I ran this by her. She is all for it. The best thing is, she will be flying in from OKC and will have nothing but her undies in her bag. I have supplied everything else. Of course, on the way back, she will be taking an entire wardrobe of clothing, and yes, I will supply a large suitcase for that.

No, not everything will match, but mostly..

Should be a fun thing to do for my "probably" last cruise. She thinks we are in a Porthole cabin... he he, I can't wait to see her face when I open the door to the balcony cabin. I am so excited I can't stand it..

Only 6 people have signed up for the Roll call of the Ecstasy coming up in Sept. Weird. I'm sure they just have a life and don't hang on every "cruising" post here.. Doubt the ship will sail empty. lol

I want to get on the ship early because it will be the boyfriends first cruise and I want to see his face. I find it fun and relaxing at the same time!(Sept 26 cruise).

 

I want to get on early so my sister who has cancer can relax and start enjoying herself and just remove herself from the pressures of life. She is platinum so that makes it very nice. (August 29 cruise).

OH wow, I thought you were my sister for a minute. We are on the Sept 3rd cruise, I'm the platinum one with cancer. It's her first Carnival cruise. I've surprised her with a balcony.. hey, it may be my last cruise. I'm going to enjoy it! Blessings to your sister, hope she recovers.

10. Do self debarkation, at least until new port is built.

Well, that's not going to happen for a long, long, long time. Just be patient and you will get off, no, its not easy, but it has to happen.

I am so sorry to hear this news. Thankfully the liver is rather durable. How large of a spot did they find? Is ablation an option? If so that's a fairly easy procedure. Resection, we'll that hurt like heck for a few days but you could go through much worse. [emoji4] hopefully they can go surgical (along with some possible radiation) rather than the chemo route. If you were not aware, I've been fighting sarcoma for 3 1/2 years now. Unfortunately I'm about to start looking into hospice, but it still isn't keeping me from making plans and traveling.

 

Hang in there and you'll be in my thoughts and prayers. If you're on Facebook feel free to find me there to chat... just search for sherilyn70 as my name.

 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy 7 edge using Tapatalk.

Thank you! Sadly, it isn't just one spot, but 7. Spread all over the liver. I did the biopsy yesterday, and will find out the results next week. I will still be around for awhile, and will enjoy every minute. I just wish I could spend every last one on a ship.. lol So sorry your not doing well.

Am I missing something? Why would they weigh the bags together. They have always weighed each bag seperately to my knowledge. Just curious, hope it gets resolved in your favor.

Well, things haven't been looking good for me. Just found out my cancer has spread to my liver, so I'm probably in for more chemo. Yuck, But, to make my day better, I just upgraded for a significant amount my sister and my cabin, we are now in a balcony! From a porthole interior yet.. lolNow we are really looking forward to it.. Rather, I am, she doesn't know yet, and hopefully won't until I unlock the door and she see's the balcony. Hoping this is not my last cruise, since I do have one with hubby booked for Feb. But, I intend to enjoy what time I have left. Keep Cruising!

Does it go back to Australia for the winter? I really miss the Legend being in Tampa.

No, you are not picky at all. Each time I cruise I always make a dining request.

Doesn't requesting something every time you cruise make you picky? Um, yes, it does.

This is pretty much my heaviest weight ever!

 

Just not feeling like myself. Just wish I could shake this "woe is me I'm fat" feeling.

 

I mean I hate to dwell on something as vain as weight when things could be so much worse and for many others things are worse with serious health issues.

 

BUT on the other hand, I want to feel comfortable in my skin, I'm working on losing weight and doing much better, but I wish I was alot closer to my goal weight for this cruise.

 

It's soo silly to have this wonderful cruise planned, with my son and our great friends and being worried about being overweight.

 

Trying to make sure I preplan all my outfits and know what I plan to wear each day, being overweight makes this alot harder.

 

I just want to feel better about myself.

Please don't worry about being a little "fluffy". In the end, it doesn't really matter. What matters is going, and enjoying the cruise for what it is. I will be going on my last (probably) cruise in early Sept, (since my cancer has spread to my liver) and mean to make the most of it. I will be cruising with my sister, and I'll be enjoying every minute. Being overweight is small in the scheme of things, now, isn't it?

Can you smoke in the cabanas.and villas

Yes, even cigars.

Here is mine, smoking should be restricted to outdoor venue's only. PERIOD. No indoor at all. That would be great, yes, give them a very comfy, area.

Because I want to pick the right cabana on HMC.

Ecstasy is a fun little ship, plenty of activities. We love to linger over meals on the aft deck. If you don't expect all the bells and whistles, you can have plenty of relaxation and fun.. The splash deck, slides, and that stuff is great for kids.

We haven't done any of the shows, but might in Sept. We are on the Sept 3rd sailing. looking forward to it..

It is customary to tip 2 to 5$ for a room service delivery. I keep a stack of ones just for this in the closest spot. The amount depends on you, and the amount of food ordered.

All else is covered with your prepaid tip..

thanks dulcimergirl.

 

We are considering an early/mid September 5 day sailing from Charleston.

 

The hotel you use, is the parking secure?

I suppose so, its just their general parking lot. I've never had any problems though, even when we did a B2B. We park where the front desk can see it. I wouldn't leave any valuables in it though.

I've done the Charleston thing, probably 8 or 9 times. Mostly its a family crowd. There will be "party" people, but not as much, and that depends also on what time of year. Go in spring, and you get the "spring break" people, who are definitely more into "party". Most of the passengers will be from SC, NC, Tn.

I'll be back in Charleston in Sept, its an easy port for me to get to, and I've got the "how" pretty ingrained by now.

Some of my advice,

Stay at one of the hotels on Patriots Point, an easy 10 minute shuttle ride to port.

Most have the park and cruise option. We always use points, and they will still "babysit" our car. 20$ for two to shuttle one way, very reasonable. I call for my own shuttle and go usually around 10:30 am.

Quick shuttle back from the cab stand in front of the port. Very easy.

I highly recommend a porter getting off the ship, they will quickly get you through the lines and gone. the line to check through customs is always shorter in the "porter" line.

When you are on your way to the port, get out your boarding pass, and passport, the first stop is to check these. So much easier when everyone is prepared, its a real hold up if they have to hunt the paperwork..

Any questions?

I scored a package deal right after I booked on the cabana and an excursion in Nassau. For my cruise coming up in Sept..

We had booked a cabana on our cruise last Feb, and loved it. Just the two of us, we had cabana 10.. Prime location.

Well worth it to us, I loved the snacks, a short walk to the restroom. The sand was wonderful.

HMC is truly a wonderful place to just "beach it".

Fill it up and had Sis pickpocket me. Easily removed with a sharp tug.

 

 

ETA--- at the fair I didn't test Running Buddy but a RooSport.

OH, well, that explains it. Running Buddy's are extremely hard to pull off. I mean, these really work. If your pants are snug, they won't come off.

Easily? Wow, mine is very hard to remove from my waistband, and the small one is very light. I like being hands free, and almost invisible under my tops. The midsize does hold my camera and lipstick, and card, money, etc. It's got to be safer in port than carrying a purse, or worse, shudder, a fanny pack..

I love my Running Buddy, small discreet, and the magnets do not bother the card at all. Perfect for walking around the ship, will hold my card, money (for casino) and camera. I have a larger one for shore visits so I can put my camera, money, card and extra's in it.