sunshine002

On 4/5/2024 at 2:40 PM, Donnamarieisme said:

Location suggestions needed please. I will be meeting people to hand out Magnets to those who have committed to meet with me for pick up.  Because  I have never been on this ship I dont know of a good place to pick as a meeting spot.. Im looking for somewhere that I can sit at a table and that people can find me at with no problem. What do you all suggest?  Thank you 

Hi, I have been on this ship 3 times.  There are a few places that would work.  One is the Heroes Bar which is also where they show the sports on TV.  Its on deck 4 and never gets very crowed.  Also midship on deck 5, right next to the Frizzante bar/ there seating area with tables.

18 hours ago, jkkjcolter said:

Hello this is Jerry & Krista Colter of Ohio. We would like to join your Azores tour. We emailed and asked to join the tour. Should we wait or just book the 9am tour and say we want to be part of the Venezia group?  Thanks!

Hi Jerry,

This is what my cabinmate and i did.  See you on the tour.

Karen

4 minutes ago, NCcakelady said:

It took a couple days. But I feel sure there is room on this tour for you guys.  I think you could go on and book online with them and put in the notes that you are on the Venezia and want to be included in the van with the other cruisers. 

Yes, we did exactly that.

On 4/18/2023 at 9:51 PM, Cruiser Art said:

Just realized I forgot to mention that if you do book your tour with Pure Azores (the fellow I have exchanged emails with was Filipe), please be sure to mention that you are on the Carnival Venezia so that he can put you on the same van as Penny and Art!

Just reread your directions and saw we can book online and just did so.  Looking forward to this tour.  Thanks for setting this up.

15 hours ago, Excursion1 said:

Now we just need 2 more companions to make 8 for this delightful Azores tour!

I am hoping to join you , but the company hasn't responded to my email

16 hours ago, Cruiser Art said:

That's great to hear, Karen.  Do let me know what you hear back from them. It should be a wonderful tour and we'd love to do it with friends from our ship!

I wrote them but have not heard back, did they respond to you right away?

12 hours ago, Cruiser Art said:

Just realized I forgot to mention that if you do book your tour with Pure Azores (the fellow I have exchanged emails with was Filipe), please be sure to mention that you are on the Carnival Venezia so that he can put you on the same van as Penny and Art!

Hi,

Just noticed you post about this tour, my friend and I are intersted and I just sent off an email to see if there is still room to join.

Karen

10 hours ago, familycruzinnewbie said:

I am looking at cruises for next February on the Celebration and may go with an inside cabin for hubby and me. But I'm trying to figure out the best location where things have been spread out so much on the ship. There are no premium interior left, but there are regular, spa and Havana. I'm not sure if spa or havana are worth the additional cost.  We've also considered other cabin types - ocean view, balcony options etc., Im just not sure we will spend a lot of time in our cabin. We've never cruised on Celebration or Mardi Gras before. We tend to go to serenity deck on sea days, though many other options on Celebration, I check out the gym a few times, will take advantage of the eating options, go to comedy club and other entertainment in the evening etc. I'm looking for suggestions for cabins or cabin locations. Thanks

I was on the Celebration on the Ta in November.  I had an inside and was on deck 5, which was originally a semi handicapped cabin.  I did not request nor want such a cabin, the bathroom had accommodations but the cabin was no bigger than any other normal/small inside.  I was able to move to a cabin a few doors down to a standard cabin which was the same size.  I must admit I had to get into the bed which was 2 beds put together from the front, since thee was not enough space to walk along the side of the bed.   In getting to know others I saw some other cabins.  I saw one that was 50 -100% larger than mine with a couch that was also an inside.  I saw another inside cabin that was more square than rectangle and that also seemed more spacious. Just wanted to give a heads up that there are a few different types of inside cabins, as well as location being  a consideration. I was very happy on deck 5, and a very short walk from the elevator.

I loved the Celebration, enjoy your cruise.

10 hours ago, RoadTravelled said:

 

These are great tips.  I would also add that you should always charge everything you possibly can to a credit card.  And, always charge it in the LOCAL currency, not US dollars.  That will save you all sorts of conversion fees and poor exchange rates.  Otherwise, I've always just gotten small amounts of cash at local ATM's of large national banks.  Check with your bank to see if they have any foreign arrangements. 

DO NOT use the Euronet ATM machines that are notorious for charging high fees.  They are just one step above the Currency Exchange Bureaus.  Also, check with your bank to see if they have a "senior" program.  Many do for those over 50 or so that will highly reduce your fees.

yes, great info.  Which reminds me you always want to have a CC that doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.  Many do, but its easy enough to find one that doesn't.

On 3/22/2023 at 7:53 PM, Illbcruzn4life said:

Just wondering who the CD will be for the April 30th cruise on Celebration.

 

I just saw a you tube video and the CD was the Flying Scotsman. Wondering if he will still be there and what people thought of him as a CD if so.

 

 

Lee will be the CD, he just rejoined the ship.  I sailed with him on the Celebration TA last November. He is a great CD, was my first time sailing with him and  would love to do so again.

On 12/1/2022 at 11:56 AM, ABQrobin said:

OMG... why would anyone want to go to Greenland?.  My hubby was stationed there for a year remote in AF and it was horrible... no trees, just ice and snow and dark.  Summers weren't better even though the sun was up.. he hated it and gained 30lbs since there was nothing to do but eat, work, and sleep.

I took a cruise there about 5 years ago and loved it.  to be honest no snow or ice, just beautiful areas, and lovely locals.  Love the fact there was no noise or air pollution.  

4 hours ago, andypeters said:

Hi my wife and I book the Transatlantic on the Venezia this will be are first TA cruise. This a part of are bucket list we are staying at Arc la Rambla Hotel in Barcelona for one night we are leaving a day early.  I have a question where due you by euros?. Thank

If you belong to AAA then give a decent rate, I was able to get some British pounds last Fall within a week.  In the past I always used a local ATM, but this past summer when in Amsterdam there were no banks around with a ATM, all banking is done online.  Ended up using an ATM that was outside, and only did so since saw no other way to get Euros.  Also if you choose to use an ATM look into a Charles Schwab account, they reimbursement all fess at ATM's worldwide, otherwise it can be very costly due to the fees.  One time it cost me $16 for 100 British pounds in fees from my bank.

10 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Anybody on the TA from Barcelona May 29?  Casino offer right now is cheaper than free for that 15-day cruise (OBC + Casino Cash > $100 fare + port fees and taxes).  I'll already be in Europe May 1 - May 29 so it's tempting on one hand, but hard to imagine being away from the dogs and ferrets that long.  Easy to imagine losing a bunch in the casino on a TA though.

I will be on the TA, love the ports of call.  Did the TA on the Celebration from Southampton last  Nov,was an amazing cruise, especially with Lee the cruise director.

On 3/22/2023 at 12:45 PM, Kellyann said:

Oops!  I meant to say the Greyhound bus goes into the Port Authority terminal on 8th avenue.  From there it's almost walkable to the cruise terminal if you weren't carrying luggage.  It is a very short cab ride to the terminal.

The terminal in Mount Laurel on route 73 closed awhile ago and it was free.  Then they were leaving out of the Clarion on rt. 73 and now they are not doing that either.   The last time I left out of a NY port was before covid and Carnival had moved to Brooklyn at the last minute.

Good luck and enjoy your cruise!

I have walked there from the ship with luggage, just depends how much luggage you have. 

On 3/20/2023 at 5:47 PM, cruising forever said:

Thanks for the updates.............if I missed some, please let me know.......

 

Mik0227    

SCOOBY3015                    mid-Michigan

Fergie33972                      Virginia

TravelerK           Karen        originally Butler, PA, now Alexandria, VA

belkin                            Fort Myers, FL

LuvtoCruise50                    Georgia

Bily                               Alberta, Canada

Repogirl49          ulieG         Texas

Bluejays29                       Ontario

maryann2                         Vancouver, B,C,

nwcruiselover    Nancy & Vince  Seattle area

redrn13                          Cedar Springs, MI

JoseyP                           New York City

Movingimages                            Laredo, TX

Edam               Ed & Pam    Orlando & Asheville, NC

Lyttleone1977                    SW middle part of the “mitten”

4iCX                              Baltimore, MD

Njsonja                          The Villages, FL

RoadTravelled                    Dallas, TX

Varnar                                  Kentucky

eaglecruiser2016

nmarsh             Nancy       Oakland, ME

Jim02351                        Murrells Inlet, SC

MNM1011                        Central Illinois

DKNYC        Denise aka Denny New York City

Kmptamale72

Lettienets   Lettie or Loretta   Hamilton, ON

Froufie      Janet               Ottowa, Canada

gortfamily                        NC

abodom68                        Statesboro, GA

louzan

Incognito1

avd79                            Toronto, Canada

Debiwood                         Orlando, FL

DoeCO      Deb & Scott           Colorado

SKNG Cruisers   Steve & Sharon       Ocala, FL

Gbaladad                         Carson, CA

PennyNC    

Jazzybaz                         Saskatchewan, Canada

JeriB                             Minnesota

SabrinaSmith45  Sabrina & Lawrence  Georgia

cruisedivas          Linda        Glen Dale, MD, NY & DC

cruisinhabsfan                    Montreal

tonythewop                       Montreal

Dtredennick     Bill & Debera   Celina, TX

freezincold                       Ottowa

cruising forever    Pris & Jim   Columbia, SC & Denver, CO

Little Dog                        Canada

gentlehyena  Tere & Larry              Buckhead (near Hot-lanta), GA

Pls add, sunshine002  Karen from NYC

thx

22 hours ago, cruising forever said:

Soooooooooooooooooo I just put a list together; please correct me if I messed anyone up ~  I'll do my best to keep the list current...........

 

Sunshine002

Karen - NYC

Last Nov no problem bringing wine on to the Celebration.  Also could bring on beer and alcohol in ports.

wow, all booked.  Did air and hotel and  booked the cruise that I had put on a hold.  Yikes took hours to find hotel with so many already sold out or more than I wanted to spend. 

Looking forward to meeting the other solos.

Any one interested in doing a precruise dinner in Barcelona?

On 1/2/2023 at 5:25 PM, lettienets said:

Booked in late Dec and finally got here to check in. Hi! Looking forward to my first cruise since the beginning of covid. 🙄

 

Hello to maryann2 Mary, Froufie Janet, nwcruiselover Nancy and repogirl49 Julie. Have to get used to our old names. It has been awhile!

And TravelerK Karen I think we have met before too. I would like to know about the 1898 Hotel. 

 

Seems like a very small roll call though I understand there are others talking on social media. Looking forward to this TA.

The ship looked beautiful on the Carnival zoom I watched with CEO Christine Duffy.  Lots of European flair. Gelato!

 

To all others, hello! Looking forward to meeting you.

lettienets Lettie or Loretta

Hi Loretta,

I think we cruised together on a Princess cruise to  Greenland and Atlantic Canada.  I happened to be looking at this board since I am tempted to book this cruise.  I love doing a TA, I did the Celebration last Nov which was a great cruise.  Would be great to cruise with you again.

Karen

23 hours ago, BroadwayGirl said:

A couple in our travel party (who we haven’t seen as they live in another state) who are supposed to cruise with us next weekend found out today they were close contacts to two positive Covid cases. They were sitting next them at an indoor gathering for an extended period of time on Thursday. 
They are getting tested tomorrow as one feels under the weather.  Potential positive test aside…I know they will “fail” the Royal app health questionnaire end of the week as I believe contact in the last 14 days is still a question.

 

What is Royal doing in this situation? I am assuming they will be denied boarding by answering yes to that question on the app?  
 

Before anyone asks…we think they should just use Cruise with Confidence at this point if there’s any doubt on having picked up Covid. 

This happened to me for my 13/31 sailing.  I was on a cruise in Dec, and  those that I shared a connecting cabin with came down with COVID 3 or 4 days after the cruise.  My Dec 31 cruise was less than 14 days after my last cruise.  I tested 3 times, all came out negative, and asked the Royal reps what will happened when I fill out the questionnaire, and got mixed answers.

Bottom Line filled out health questionnaire day prior stated yes I was with someone within 14 days who came down with Covied and my cruise was immediately canceled.  I did get a full refund about 2 weeks later.

I never did come down with COVID, but there were many other cruises I have done since.

I have sailed lots on Carnival and Royal.  i have also sailed Princess and NCL.  I must admit I find that the food and experience can vary from cruise to cruise even within the same line.  After doing many RCL cruises the last few years I recently did a Carnival cruise and had a great time.  I do find Carnival overall to be more fun.  I loved  my first few Princess cruises but the last two which were 14+ days not so much. 

I will be doing my rd or 4th X cruise soon, I am sure it will be great but I enjoy most of my cruises.  Often a cruise is the experience and the people you meet and yes the entertainment and the food, but that can be subjective.

I agree I have often found I can cruise more reasonably on Royal.

Honesty if you see a cruise and a ship that you like then by all means try it and see if its for you.

13 hours ago, capsplace said:

1-954-628-9325. Opt 3

Thank you

8 hours ago, capsplace said:

Just spoke with Shareholder Benefits and they assured me the $100 has been added to our invoice.  So, I'll get an updated copy of our invoice to support that, even though the credit isn't showing up on our Planner OBC yet.

Do you have a phone number?  I called today about a request I sent via email on Nov 23, and am still waiting to get the OBC applied.  The person I spoke to said to send an email to inquire, and when I stated I wanted to talk to someone she made a few phones call, but gave me to name or a direct number to call for shareholder OBC.  Instead she gave me a precruise number and some other number. The only thing I know for sure is that they have yet to apply my OBC,   Thx

3 hours ago, gerig said:

Were you in the area when super storm sandy hit?  this will have the same punch as sandy.

I was on a RCL cruise ship going out of Bayonne.  We boarded as planned and pretty much left on time.  We left Bayonne as they were shutting down the NYC city subway system, and the terminal was closed as soon as we left.  We were headed to Bermuda and headed south as Sandy was headed north.  We went as far south as Jacksonville, Fl and then headed North to Bermuda.  The  first morning I didn't leave the cabin till late morning.  We did a lot of rock and rolling with many sick people.  Then had to stop serving breakfast in the dining room and buffet since everything was flying so I was told.  They put out 6 ft hero's and reopened the dining areas at dinner.    Those who parked there car at the Pier that was not elevated found there car was underwater during the storm, so much for those cars.  It was an interesting cruise for sure.

On 7/5/2021 at 11:20 PM, frantic36 said:

 

nini it is okay, we know that many Americans are clever but we do get tired of those that seem to think that American money, ideas etc are the only important consideration. That is why we like to tease a little. Those that realise we are teasing initially we have a laugh with  and enjoy their company. Because we realise they just need some education but there are some who just don't get it.

Being an American, I see your point, and agree with you.  Part of it depends how much some have traveled or if they live in the city or a small town.  I love to travel meet locals and learn about the local culture and customs and use the local currency.