Wheatie59

We went there off Dream. Not too crowded. Chairs and umbrellas for rent. Servers will bring you food and drinks from their restaurant. Yes, there are vendors.

This has been discussed numerous times. They will not waive their "everyone over 21 in the cabin has to purchase" for any reason. You can certainly try, but its unlikely you'll get a refund while the other person(s) in your cabin can still get Cheers. You'll still have to pay or all of you will have to cancel.

The vast majority of cruise ship cabins have two twin beds that can be pushed together to make a king sized bed. Then, cabins that can accommodate more than two will have a couch that can be used as a bed and/or a "pullman" type bed that folds down from the wall. Cruise ship cabins are tiny compared to most hotels rooms. Two queen beds would completely fill most. Unlike hotels, there's no "sneaking" in more people than you've booked. Everyone has to have a berth and a seat in a lifeboat. Two cabins is your best bet.

Using original poster's words "they made her dangerously ill with a pudding that had "an error in production" in regards to her stated allergies" Since Princess has nothing to do with the "production" of the pudding mix they "buy", how are they responsible? Now if they served the wrong dish, that's a totally different scenario.

turkey2001 lists their location as "norfolk". That may be in the UK where "pudding" means what us American's would call "desert".

We were on Dream in January and, after all the discussion here about these mini-fridges, I pulled it out and had a look. It was not a compressor based unit, just a thermoelectric type cooler. Maybe changed out in the drydock that's happened since them. But definitely no compressor. Spa balcony cabin, don't recall the exact number.

Yes, they enforce the check in times at New Orleans. If you show up before your check in time and don't have FTTF or status, you'll wait outside.

We did this cruise this January. Enjoy the trip down the river. I though it would just be a waste of time, but found it very enjoyable. Foggy and spooky. Visit a few of the voodoo shops in NO to get in the right mood :-).

My wife has issues with milk, too. We informed them when booking at the start of the meal and they were very accommodating both times we've done it. I would not let this discourage you from doing Chef's table.

Carnival has you pay for internet access by the day, not minutes. They have three plans. The lowest limits access to specific social media sites. The middle and top tier get to most things, though not anything streaming audio or video. The on-board computers require you to have an internet plan to do anything useful on them.

You can request an Uber XL. Though with six of you and luggage, two regular Ubers may be easier.

Is it worth it? If you're a meat and potatoes person and don't like unusual food, its absolutely not for you. If you're a foodie who likes trying new and unusual dishes, you will love it. One thing I was confused on the first time I did it was the menu. You're served everything on the menu and more. Pace yourself.

They don't really seem to hold you to the check in time they say. We always get to the port early.

Depends on the port. If they have implemented staggered check in you will not be allowed inside the terminal before your scheduled time. New Orleans does check and does enforce it.

No, it does not have to be a closed 12 pack. The can's don't even need to be in a 12 pack. They do need to be in your carry on.

She was our first cruise in 1997 out of Long Beach. Time passes and steel gets recycled.

I've wondered lately how Canadians would know about a 20 year old DUI charge.

Canadian border agents have access to the US criminal records system.

Cash.

Noise cancelling earphones are great for steady noise, like the engine noise on a plane. I wouldn't do a long haul flight without them. They're not effective on other types of noise. For that matter, I can usually hear voices more clearly with the noise cancelling turned on than without them. So, if you're expecting them to help with scraping chairs or noise from a music venue you're likely to be disappointed.

I can't see using them while laying down because they're so bulky and I sleep on my side. Maybe they would work if you sleep on your back. Even on a plane I struggle with them.

I have ones from Monoprice. I'm sure the Bose or other more expensive ones work better. I just can't justify the price.

My wife has tried everything. The only thing that has worked for her is the scop patches. Those work great.

Yes, IMHO, you do notice the motion all the time. Usually its not that big, but its always there. And then you notice the lack of it for several days after you get off.

I did. My wife is not much of a drinker, but we gave it a shot on Dream in January because they added all the other non-alcoholic drinks. I added up the total drinks for the cruise and it worked out to about $11 per drink. We only had a few drinks in the steakhouse that were priced higher than that and many beers, coffees and sodas that were much cheaper. So, for us, it was not a good deal even with the additions.

Will it be expensive even with a "roam like at home" type thing that just came about for EU cell phone plans a month or so ago?

It depends on the cruise line, the specific ship and your cell phone carries. For the most part, international roaming plans do not cover cruise ships. They may cover you when you're in port. But on the ship any cellular connectivity is going through the ship's cell infrastructure and that is usually not covered by roaming plans. An AT&T phone on a Carnival ship will be $2.50 a minute for voice and they have no plans that reduce that cost (last I looked, probably nine months ago.) Data and texts are similarly outrageous.

But check with your carrier and your specific ship. Some are better than AT&T and Carnival.

You might be asking this because you're thinking "I have cellular data on my phone, why do I need the ship's wifi?" Your cell service will work on the ship, but it will be incredibly expensive. If you want connectivity, wifi is the way to go. If you're willing and able to disconnect, you don't need wifi.

There is nothing right at the port. No shops, bars or restaurants.

We went to Doctor's Cave beach when we stopped there in January. IIRC the "taxi" (bus, really) was $5 per person each way. No problem getting on in either direction. Doctor's Cave was $6 admission per person, $6 for each chair and $6 for an umbrella. Its a nice beach. Not crowded like Grand Cayman near Calico Jacks or Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel. Servers will bring food and drinks. Yes, there are vendors on the beach. If you don't want what they're selling, say no and no problem. I'd happily go back. In fact, our next vaca is likely to be a land vacation to Negril.

Do be aware that going to the scheduled ports of call is not guaranteed. Though unlikely, you could end up bringing that bag back home.

Just checked Four Seasons Miami for Sunday Aug 19 and the cheapest room is $292 with taxes. So $70 for two people doesn't seem bad. We would have gladly done this but it was in the 40s when we debarked.

We had stayed at Z Ocean before the cruise and they said we could hang out there after we came back.

It will seem like you're not getting much food because each portion is tiny. If you eat everything as you go, though, you will be stuffed before desert. They will send it to your cabin, though.

We've done it on Splendor and Dream. A dining room on Splendor for most of the meal, in the galley on Dream. I prefer the dining room. The galley is noisy.

Go with an open mind. This is a foodie's paradise. Don't drag a meat-and-potatoes person to this.

Yep, old news. Our last cruise had a stop in Jamaica, so I picked up a new hat because the one I normally use has camo on the underside of the brim.

Four Seasons in Miami offered day passes last time we cruised from MIA, Jan 2016. They were $35 per person at that time.